Early Birthday Present

I ended up getting my birthday present a couple of months early. For the last couple of months, I’ve been lurking around eBay in search of a good deal on the phone that I’ve been wanting.

For those of you who don’t know, I’ve had my eye on the Sony Ericsson s710a after some very careful consideration. Seriously! I did phone comparisons and read tons of reviews and did way more research than I normally do. Of course, me being my impressionable self, the fact that famous photographer Robert Clark uses this phone factored into the desicion making process quite heavily. Also, I like the fact that it looks more like a camera than any other phone I’ve ever seen. It will serve as a great conversation piece and ice breaker with strangers.

So anyway, the biggest hurdle has been the cost (upwards of $700 through Expansys). You all know I don’t have that kind of money because no one will friggin’ donate to my cause. What is the deal with everyone donating to sister and not to me, anyway?

But I digress.. Getting back to the phone situation..

I’m not going to sign up for Cingular phone service just so I can get my phone for cheap. I am actually quite satisfied with the service I’m receiving from T-Mobile so I’ve been looking for deals on eBay. I’ve bid on some of the s710a auctions, but since my birthday is not until the end of October (a hint to those who want to make my day and send me a surprise birthday gift) I really hadn’t been taking them seriously. I hadn’t really won any of the auctions so no big deal.

A couple of days ago I found an enticing offer for the phone on eBay. I sent an email to the seller to confirm that the phone is, in fact, “unlocked” as advertised in the description and I could, in fact, use it with my T-Mobile phone service. The seller replied, that the phone is indeed “unlocked” and all I would need to do is put my SIM card in to start enjoying my new phone.

I think the starting bid was pretty high ($299.99) because after a couple of days there were no other bidders still. These phones have been pretty popular so that struck me as a surprise. I decided to place a bid on it this morning because the auction was about to come to close. I fully expected to get out-bid by some jerk at the last ten seconds of the auction process as I have in the past with other items that I have bid on. But, much to my amazement, I found an email confirming that I had won the item when I arrived home after my waxing appointment this afternoon.

I didn’t really expect to win the auction because I didn’t really plan on buying the phone this early. However, so as not to get bad eBay karma and so as not to piss people off, I went ahead and paid. So there you have it. I should be sporting a new phone next week.

I’m excited to get my new phone and start playing with – the only downside is that since I’m getting it early, I’m not going to get anything to unwrap for my birthday. Oh, well. Maybe some nice blog reader will send me something and I will still have something to open (hint-hint).

August 27, 2005 | Posted by Ching under Toys, Wishlist

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Yummy Mussels

Brian and I treated his parents to lunch at Granite City Food and Brewery today. They have had a rough couple of days so we wanted to take them out to lunch and maybe get their mind thinking more positive thoughts, like good food and good brews. LOL. I took the opportunity to try the mussels on the appetizers menu. One would think I would’ve learned a thing or two from the whole Siam Cuisine experience yesterday. But you know me, I can’t help being adventurous when it comes to food. Anyway, these were excellent! I love mussels, but I hadn’t had mussels in several years. We used to have them all the time in the Philippines, but since Brian doesn’t really like seafood we don’t ever go to any seafood restos and I don’t know of any other regular restos around here that serve mussels. I like Granite City because their prices are pretty reasonable. Our damage was well under $100. Of course, it was lunch time and no one really drank any alcohol – except for me. I had another Hawaiian vacation. I’m not sure what’s in it, but it’s so yummy! Anyway, drinking is normally what drives up your dining bill. At $8 a pop, by the time your fifth drink rolls around you can plan on eating ramen noodles the rest of the week. Ha! Ha! Ha! Of course, that just applies to us poor folk. All you filthy rich people out there who can afford to eat at Cibola once a week can bite me. LOL. Maybe that’s why I like champagne brunch at Legends so much? Those mimosas rock and they’re only like $2 or something. So for about $25 a person you eat all you want and get a good buzz going. What a way to start the Sunday weekend wrap up! Geez, I wandered off topic again! Anyway, Brian mentioned at lunch that mussels are an aphrodisiac. Too bad he doesn’t like them. Isn’t it ironic that I’m the one who loves to eat mussels? Like my libido needs any help! I ate every single one today (and then I ate pork chops; I know, I’m a pig) so now Brian is hiding from me. He’s probably worried that I’m going to rape him or something. Ha! Ha! Ha!

August 27, 2005 | Posted by Ching under Family, Life

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New Tool for Blogger’s

This is awesome; Blogger now has a program that allows you to post Blogâ€™s directly from MS Word. Itâ€™s great. This entry is a test to see its effectiveness. Iâ€™ll post a better entry tonight.

August 27, 2005 | Posted by Brian under Web

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I Should’ve Gotten a Whopper

Since I didn’t eat lunch today, I was kind of hungry on the way home from work. I was thinking, “Hmm.. How about a Whopper? That sounds good. I think I’ll get a Whopper.”

As I got closer I thought, “I wonder if I should try that Siam Cuisine place. They’ve been around for almost a year and I still haven’t tried their food. Maybe I’ll go there today since Brian won’t be with me and I don’t have to listen to him whine.”

So at the last second I decided to go to Siam Cuisine. I actually passed it and had to turn back. But that is where I ended up going for dinner. Big mistake. Maybe my missing my turn was a sign. You know, God telling me not to go there. I should’ve paid attention.

It doesn’t look too bad on the outside. The inside is furnished in your typical hole-in-the-wall resto style. There was only one other couple there. I was thinking of just getting my order to go, but then I figured I didn’t want to have to contend with the cats so despite my dislike for eating alone I decided to stay and eat there.

I look at the menu and, out of all of the food choices, my idiot self goes directly for the “Adventures” section. I ordered eggplant in black bean sauce with pork as my choice of meat. I was expecting a concoction similar to my favorite eggplant dish at PF Chang’s. Was I ever wrong! It looked and smelled scary.

I had asked her for mild, but she either didn’t understand or didn’t hear me. She seemed to comprehend and speak English fine, so it must’ve been the hearing thing. My mouth was on fire!

I’m actually quite surprised that I haven’t had to go to the bathroom yet. If I were Brian, I would probably in the bathroom right now instead of blogging. Think of Ben Stiller’s character in Along Came Polly. Thank God I have a strong constition.

I really should’ve gotten a Whopper. This is what I get for trying to be adventurous. Never again.

August 26, 2005 | Posted by Ching under Food

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Half-Nekkid Thursday

This is my contribution to Half-Nekkid Thursday. I may not be “nekkid” per se, but my better half is behind me!

August 25, 2005 | Posted by Ching under Memes

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My New Obsession!

ogme
Originally uploaded by flip0674.

My new obsession is great. I was turned on to it by a co-worker. OGame was originally designed by some Swede and they have been playing it in Europe for years. It has just recently hit the main land and is great for those that like to plan, strategize and just over all conquer the world without having to sit in front of your TV or computer for hours. Itâ€™s mostly text based, no intensive graphics. You sign up, build your resources and let it go. Check back on a daily basis (unless youâ€™re me. I check at least three times a day. I have a tendency to piss people off and they attack me). If you wish to play just click here and sign up for “Universe 4″ thatâ€™s the one that my family and I are in. Then do a search for an Alliance Tag “killmall”. Trust me its fun and not very time demanding, perfect for those lazy gamers!

August 22, 2005 | Posted by Brian under Toys

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Drunken Karaoke in the Car

Whie we were driving to Brian’s parents’ house I noticed that Brian was singing along to the radio. It was System of a Down’s “B.Y.O.B.” and he was barely mumbling the words under his breath.

“Come on. You can do better than that,” I goad Brian. “If you’re going to sing along, you need to sing out loud, like you mean it.” I tell him while making exaggerated hand gestures like hyped up crack fiend.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing. I’m just saying. I can barely hear you when you sing along to the radio.”

On the way home from dinner at Brian’s parents’ house, Brian turned the radio to B98 (they play “the right mix” of soft rock and a good selection of oldies, which everyone knows I like). I thought that was really sweet and thoughtful because usually I have to beg and plead and often even fight him to change the station.

There was one day we ended up wrestling in the car while parked at a Sonic stall. He was trying to hold my arms down so I couldn’t change the radio station and I had my legs raised so that my big toe could push the button. We looked like a couple of boisterous five year olds, roughhousing inside the car. I bet the other people there thought we were a couple of nut jobs.

Anyway, this time, he voluntarily changed it to the station. It’s usually Delilah who’s on around this time of night. Her playlist consist of love longs and nothing else. Right when he switched to the station, Delilah was playing Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” – a karaoke classic.

I wait for my cue to sing along to my favorite part and, in typical Ching fashion, I belt out the words at the top of my lungs.

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you’ll only hold me tight
We’ll be holding on forever
And we’ll only be making it right
Cause we’ll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don’t know what to do and I’m always in the dark
We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonightÂ

Picture me singing the words emphatically (because when I sing along, I really sing along; there’s no mumbling for this girl; and I could care less that I’m totally off key) complete with a fist next to my mouth as my imaginary microphone.

Brian just smiles and shakes his head as if to say, “You are hopeless.” Reading his thoughts I respond “There’s nothing like drunken karaoke while riding in the car – especially when you are sober.” We both just laugh at ourselves. Well, actually, we both laugh at me mostly because of how ridiculous I act.

Truthfully, I’m glad we don’t patronize karaoke bars because after a few drinks (my tolerance for alcohol isn’t what it used to be) I would probably be singing unabashedly off key in front of total strangers who would probably be thinking (or maybe even screaming; let’s hope they’re not hurling rotten tomatoes at me at the same time) “MAKE HER STOP!”

Think of Cameron Diaz in My Best Friend’s Wedding, only a hundred times worse. Awful. Awful. Awful.

August 21, 2005 | Posted by Ching under Life

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Day 3 Photos

Ching Reading Notes from Previous Guests

I’m done blogging about our anniversary. If you want to see the video, holler at Brian. He is yet to upload the footage to the computer. =P

August 20, 2005 | Posted by Ching under Life

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Let the Spending Begin

I’d been having problems with my computer for a while. However, I thought I would stick it out for a little bit because I don’t really have enough money to buy a new one. Computer problems aside, guess what actually gave out? My battery backup! I must have turned my computer on a dozen times yesterday. The minute I would turn around and walk away it would immediately shut off. So frustrating!

If you were wondering why the live webcam has been off a lot lately, it’s because of the stupid battery backup. It kept shutting my computer down and thus, no live feed. You know how much I love you all and even though no one really cares about me (as evidenced by the lack of donations), I still want to make sure that the webcam stays on so you can watch me.

This brings me to a quick decision to buy a new batter backup today after the NCCJ walk. It was a hasty decision, but I believe it was the right one.

Brian and I went to Best Buy as soon as I arrived home from the NCCJ walk. While there, we got to play with the new Roboraptor. Oh, and they had these new gaming chairs there also. Brian just had to try it out.

The funny part is that he thought it was like the rocker and so he leaned back on it – but as soon as he did, he flipped backwards and hit his head on the shelf behind him. I wish I could have taken a picture of it because it was totally hilarious! His legs were up in the air and everything! What’s worse is that a lady who was walking through the aisle saw the whole thing and started laughing, which made me laugh even harder!

So anyway, we got me an APC UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for like $110 (after taxes). Naturally we end up browsing the aisles and checking out other stuff. Somehow I got in my noggin that we needed a second printer. I think it’s because I’m tired of looking at the stupid broken one on my desk.

We ended up going to Office Depot and then CompUSA and getting an HP. Brian hates HP products, but their TV commercials have been pretty good lately so I’m hoping that means the product quality has improved also. Seriously, though, this wasn’t a bad price for an all-in-one. The damage came to about $130 for the printer after taxes. You might think that is frivolous considering we already have a printer and a scanner and I could just as well print my documents using Brian’s printer through the home network – that is true and I can’t argue that – and I could just as well ask Brian to scan my stuff for me – ah, but this one I can argue because whenever I do it always takes him like a half an hour to do it when it would take a normal person two seconds.

So, once again, we are back to having two printers. Just the way I like it.

P.S. We also had a nice lunch at Applebee’s today. The highlight was a frozen Bailey’s cappuccino, which is my all-time favorite beverage to drink at the resto.

P.P.S. The trend of not being carded continues and I am really starting to worry. I know I used to whine a lot about how annoying it is to keep getting carded at various establishments and even the movies, but now I’m very, very worried. I know I’ll be turning thirty in a couple of years, but do I really look that old?

August 20, 2005 | Posted by Ching under Toys

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