An Intriguing Tale Of Being An Owner

“Native chiefs meeting in Halifax have passed a resolution that would allow them to move forward with Ottawa in dealing with 800 outstanding land claims. But some chiefs are saying the 250 (m) million dollars a year for 10 years just isn’t enough. Chief Joe Knockwood of Fort Folly First Nation in New Brunswick says he doesn’t know how much money would be enough to settle all the claims. But he says it would be a lot more than that.” (news from CJLS)

This reminds me of a conversation.. that PB, Vien, AngelEyes and I had on MSN a couple of days ago.. about the government .. giving out welfare money. PB had told Vien.. that there is no way.. the government .. can stopped giving out these money… because if they did.. there will be a CIVIL war .. here in Canada..! and we’re not even joking about it.. it WILL happen.

You just look at what these crazy indians wants here.. Indians here are not from India ya.. they are the native here.

Every day.. at the store.. PB would ask me.. “what do you want to eat” .. if i didn’t make extra food from home.. to bring to work. And everyday.. my reply would be the same.. “Arrrgghhh..!! donch even ask me.. that anymore..!!”

Sometimes.. i just end up ordering a bowl of soup. But if you asked me.. what kinda soup i want.. i’ll pick our wanton soup anytime.. at about the same prices as any “ang moh” soup you can find here. Because “ang moh” soup not filling leh..!! At least wanton soup.. got like 4 big wantons.. got meat inside..and some char siew.. and bits of cabbage. Sure it’s not great.. but if i wanna drink soup.. i’ll take the wanton soup anytime. How i wished there are some herbal soups to be bought here for 5 bucks a pop.. !! like we have back home… but no such luck.. !! Bak Kut Teh .. that i make at home.. is the closest herbal soup.. i get around here.. hahhahahahaha!!

NOT FUNNY AT ALL..!!

PS : Guess what i had for lunch..??

Ppl in this town hor.. never fail to amaze me lah..!! $7.50 also donch have..!! can die or not..!!! If i didn’t have 7.50 .. firstly .. i wouldn’t go into a movie store.. and try to rent a movie. Secondly.. if i didn’t have $7.50, I think I prolly should go DIE..!! of maluration..!!

But really..! it shouldn’t have surprised me.. because.. some ppl come in to ask how much a cd-rw is.. and cannot even afford to get it .. gotta wait for welfare day.. or baby cheque day..! Yes.. can die..!! I for one can never lived like that..! What about you ..??

The Tall ships has been here every year.. but i’ve never gotten to go to it. The arrived in Halifax yesterday.. and will be in town .. sometime this week.

This year because of Chloe.. we are gonna try and make it into the tall ships. Maybe .. we can dressed up as pirates..?? hahhahaha!! anything is possible eh..??

PB and i confirmed that the lil’ brat of ours.. is street smart but not book smart at all. She can repeat whatever you’ve said.. and remembers it for days.. but she wouldn’t say her 1,2,3 .. or ABCs.

She knows exactly what you are telling her.. and replies smartly .. but refuses to sit and read a book or even have us read a book to her. The longest she ever sat thru’ a reading was like 10mins.. max..!

And really it’s not even that we are lazy.. we try.. and try and coax her.. even by bribing her.. with smarties.. but nope.. she refuses to say .. 1,2,3,4,5. She would say.. only 1, 2, 3, 5, 17, 18 and the strange thing is .. we never taught her 17s and 18s .. so where did she get that from..?? And she is able to count in spanish.. because i caught her repeating after Dora the cartoon.

She remembers to fix her pockets properly.. because “gary is gonna give her money, to be put in her pocket”. See what i mean by being street smart..?? Should we be getting worried..?? oh-oh..!!

Customer walks in.. I laughed the loudest.. he smiles like a good sport.. PB .. he sniggers. Gives 8 bucks to PB .. without needing to say a word. PB took his money, gave back change.. and punched in a few numbers into the computer.. and customer left .. after saying thank you . .and PB said thanks too. Why leh..??

Well.. he rented the same game for the last 12 weeks… or more. Meaning.. dude already paid like at least $100 over bucks for that game.. and already we earned money outta it. Tell me you donch like customer/s like dat leh..??

Customer like dat makes it worthwhile for us to stay open in business.

A month or so ago, I was approached by some Seafest organizer to participate in a ethnic food tasting for the Seafest for this year. Of course, I happily agreed thinking what a nice way to introduce Seafood Thai Pineapple Fried Rice or Fried Udon to the people here. I was all geared up to cook a store.. for at least 100 people who will be tasting my food. But knowing that when it comes to free food, one has gotta prepare more… because I’m sure there will be more people who will be attending seafest.

Little did i know.. that when i agreed to participate in this community service.. i can’t cook in my own kitchen.. and ingredients and other stuff are not provided either. Meaning.. i have to pay for the food .. from my own pocket..?? And cooking at the YMCA kitchen.. is sure inconvenient for me..!! how am i going to marinate.. and cook in a kitchen i am not familiar with..?? what about the pot and pans .. that i have to use..?? chopsticks.. and stuff..?? If i used my own.. is it against the hygiene regulations..??

I would have gladly cooked .. if they would provide the ingredients.. or if i can cook in my own kitchen… but with so much red tape.. i told the lady from the Agriculture department.. that i won’t be able to do it. I really do wanna do the community service.. but truth be told.. i doubt ppl here would appreciate. So i’m not gonna waste my time.. and a few hundred bucks to come up with 100 samples.

Yes.. we decided to try no diapers for chloe tonite.. hoping for the best.. and prepared for the worst. In the mornings.. it is of no problem.. she never ever peed in her pants.

At 4am.. this morning.. because it started to rain.. i went into chloe’s room to check the heater.. and then i saw that her blankie was all over the place.. and she was half hanging on the bed… with her legs out.

I had just wanted to straighten the blankie.. and found out that the girl had indeed peed in her pants.. and bed and blankie.. and continued sleeping..!! Alamak..!! really take my hats off to this girl. Anyhow..i woke her up.. and changed her.. brought her to the puter room..and gave her some milky.. and she went back to sleep. I then went to change the sheets.. and put everything into the laundry.

Oh well.. only first nite.. ! will try again tomorrow.

 Cont’d from Part I

Well.. we also found out that the “one” customer is living with those crooks. Now normally we wouldn’t have suspected anything.. if that “one” customer had come forward to let us know.. that he knows the crooks. But that “one” customer told PB that he sorta knows them. That was his first mistake..!! So we figured they must be in it together..?? or he actually knew the crooks were gonna try a stunt like that.. to see if they can get away with it. Renting 4 games and 1 movie .. would have cost us a lost of about $320.00 for the games.. and the movie another $30.00.

Anyhow.. we left a general message for the lady crook.. telling her to bring the games and movie back the first time. The second day.. when i didn’t see it back. I called the “one” customer and first left a message for him, telling him.. that since someone used his SIN card to rent under his name.. it is considered fraud.. so if he is not able to come down.. and identify those crooks.. i was calling the cops. Then i went ahead to leave a message for the crooks… telling them that they were caught on camera.. and using someone’s SIN card to rent.. is considered fraud.. and if i didn’t see them returning the games and movie by that day.. i was calling the cops..!! period..!! and that i was gonna paste their wonderful crook pictures on my “Wall of Shame”

I was just joking with PB .. that if i ever take off my fibroids, I will instantly lose 30 pounds..! Yup.. that’s how huge my fibroids are.. hahaha!!

Before i had chloe.. my fibroids did not bother me at all. It is only after i had chloe.. my fibroids started to act up.. every now and then. If you are wondering why i never got it out..?? it’s because when Chloe was younger.. she was a very needy baby.. on top of that.. PB has a business to take care of.. and cannot be spending time with me.. in the hospital. So being the better other half.. muahahahhaha!! i parked it away.. till we have more reliable workers .. or when my MIL can come help with chloe.. or till it is a slower period at the store.

But of course as always.. everything else took priority before my own health.. afterall it isn’t life – threatening.. just very uncomfy at times. But i tell yer .. the minute i take out my fibroids.. muahahhaha!! i’m gonna be a sexy one..!!! yer just watch and see..!! hahhaha!!

I swear the crooks are real stupid here. A few weeks ago.. we saw on our late list for movies and games.. that “one” particular customer rented 1 movie and 4 games.. on the same day.. when Keegan was working alone. So PB .. seeing it was already almost a week late.. decided to give this “one” customer a friendly reminder. And guess what..?? The person on the phone said.. he haven’t been in our store.. for a few months now.

Now that of course sent us down to the basement.. to look at the security camera files.. and true enough.. it wasn’t the “one” customer. So detective work starts for us. First PB had to find the best angle shots of those thieves and then we have them printed out on photo paper, and we started asking everyone who comes into our store.. if they know the couple .. and their baby.

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Yup.. ! that was what PB told the ladies i was chatting to.. a few nite.. on MSN..! Can die or not.. !! ang moh..!!! But nevermind.. i “terajang” him already..!!

But yes.. to be honest.. i sit alot on my own side of the store.. i have a computer.. dedicated.. just to do my own stuff.. surf the net and all. And then if my favourite customer/s come.. then i will chat with them.. and do a little PR.

Chloe doesn’t usually bothers me at the store.. except for when i have work to do..! she got radar lah.. i tell you..!!! whether is cooking or writing an assignment..!! if i get excited.. that i got an assignment.. that’s when she wants attention lor..!

But yes.. mostly i’m a professional chair sitter..!! good job eh..??

I’ve been meaning to talk about this for a long time. It is for the benefit of those .. who are thinking of migrating to Canada. You’ve heard alot of horror stories.. about migrating to Canada .. ??

Well to tell you the truth.. immigration and its ppl in immigration has been nothing but good to me. They have always been reasonable.. and all. We didn’t need a immigration lawyer or anything to help us fill up the forms. Sure there was alot to fill up.. and i had to do my health check a few times.. but they were always reasonable.. and if we missed out anything.. they would write.. or try to contact us by phone.

Like i said.. i had great success with immigration… i hope you will too. But i have to forewarn you .. that if you are thinking of migrating.. make sure.. you do have money to help you out for at least a year.. because taxes is high.. and finding work.. in different part of canada.. is hard for some.

I’m luckier.. coz’ PB owns his own business.. and i didn’t have to work .. and make my own money .. while waiting for my papers to go thru’ . It might take a long time.. for the papers to be all done .. because in my case.. i did my papers.. while i was in Canada. But like i said.. i’ve had good success with immigration in Canada.. and whatever horror stories you’ve heard.. i’ve NOT experience. So i hope.. that anyone finding this article on the internet.. can find some assurance.. and comfort in knowing .. that ppl like me.. nothing special.. i went thru’ immigration with no problems. And i know of another person.. who married a china wife.. and he didn’t have any either.

Customer was in on Friday.. long time customer/friend.. Sherry came in today to pick up her movie (the desperate housewives series) .. and .. gave the lil’ brat $20 bucks.. for her piggy bank. This is not the first time.. that Sherry is giving money to my brat.

Sherry is the other person… who gives money to chloe besides Gary and they never ever mentioned things like paying for her college fund .. like some customers do.. when they are paying their lates. My chloe is so blessed.. and lucky .. to have ppl give her money for absolutely no reason eh..?? And of course.. we have generous customers/friends who has never demanded anything special from us.

Chloe would have more money in her piggy bank.. if not for one of our ex-worker stealing from her piggy bank.. when we were moving from the old location to the new. And i tell ya.. it was quite a fair bit of money that the person stole. I hope that the person will get diarrhea every now and then.. for the deed she has done. Stealing from a less than 2 yrs old kid.. is terrible, donch you think..?? I think that’s the lowest one can go.

A big man and his father came into our store.. after the cursory greeting.. we left them on their own. The walked around the store.. and the son.. started digging into PB’s stuff .. at the bottom of one of his working desk.. where he has all his wires.. and what nots.. for computer stuff in it.

Now what pisses me off big time.. is .. why the hell.. wouldn’t that fella ask for help..?? instead of digging into things.. without even asking if he can or not..?? Surely.. you go into someone’s business.. you donch do this kinda thing..?? I can never imagine.. going thru’ someone’s things like that.. not even my sister.. or my mom.. !! so why do ppl do stuff like that..??

Wouldn’t you be pissed off..?? because i’m sure.. PB has all his things.. all packed properly.. and know exactly where his things are.. and all. Like if someone comes into your kitchen.. and mess things up for you ..?? how you feel right..??

On Christmas.. Keegan gave chloe a Webkinz .. and we only knew about it yesterday. Yup..!! we are lousy parents.. muahahahahha!! It was in Chloe’s wardrobe all this time.. like most of her stuff.. that we didn’t open.. because she had far too much presents.. during her birthday .. and christmas.

Anyhow.. she finally got to play with her adopted doggie.. and when PB asked her what she wanted to call her doggie.. she said.. “chrisome soldier” ..! I suggested charlie.. but she had said no..! So Chrisome soldier it is.. !! Chrisome soldier is supposed to be a girl .. and a St Bernard adopted on 05th July 2007.

Some kids really makes me mad.. !! this afternoon at about 5.50pm.. some kids came in and looked around the store. Asked a few question.. and then went to where .. Chloe’s bike was.. and sat on it..!! the kid was like big and fat.. and like 12 or 13 yrs old..!! i can understand.. if a younger kid were to do something like that..!! but a 12 yrs old ..??? WTCHECK..!!

These days .. i rarely kicked kids outta the store.. but i shouted at the dumb kid.. “Can you please not do that..??” twice.. !! and yet he was on Chloe’s bike still..!! can die or not..?? So i shouted at him.. “Get outta my store.. !!!” for he was saying.. he wants to exchange his bike for Chloe’s. I know he was just saying it for fun..!!! but those damn kids..!! really got no father and mother to teach..!! therefore they run wild like that.. and try and destroy ppl’s property.

Very angry you know..!! and fuming..!!! my daughter.. who is only 3.5yrs old.. never does things like that .. in other store.. nor in someone else’s house..!! so why the heck.. do this damn kids.. get all brazen.. and try and do whatever they want.. without respecting ppl at all..??

A customer came in to pay for a VHS movie and asked me how much it was, right in front of me. PB wasn’t in at that time, and i had replied ” 2.28 tax included”.

She gave me 2 bucks and walked out..! muahahahahahha!! ppl are so freaking.. i donch know what to call it anymore..!! not like i’m hard up for that .28 cents .. but that’s taxes that the government wants..!!!

And it’s not like i donch speak freaking english.. !! ello..!!!! 2.28 !!! NOT 2 bucks..!!!

The WOK..!

I hate to do it but i’m left with little choice, since it is not cooking my food properly anymore. On top of it.. it’s hard to clean it these days, all the scrubbing and soaking and washing still does not give me a clean wok anymore. I’m afraid the teflon is gone.. and we might get poison because of it. As el-cheapo as I am .. I cannot risked the health of PB and the brat.

I love my Wok alot..!! it has made cooking so easy for me.. and it’s not even a T-Fal brand.. it’s one of the local brand here .. and when i bought it .. it was on sale ( i never buy anything that’s not on sale). So yah.. i know i’ve gotten my money worth.. but so “sayang” to part with my most trusted wok.

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I guess this week is gonna be one of those days.. where we will see more ppl trying to sell things to us then to buy things.

It is just too, too sad.. to see grown up men coming in to sell stuff.. with the excuse that “money was needed to buy milk” for his children. I mean.. how can you not have money .. for milk and food for your kids..?? Truly .. i donch know what to think of ppl like that.. and it’s not just one person doing or saying stuff like that.. it’s alot.

People just donch know how to manage their money. When they have it.. they just spent it like nobody’s business.. buying whatever that’s unnecessary at all. How lah to pity ppl like that.. ??? But PB .. he would buy.. irregardless.. because when someone said.. they need food for their children.. he would help. So although .. some might say PB is nonchalant.. i don’t think so.