I am with stupid??

Yesterday at work, I got a call from our so called "Quality Management team" asking me whether I had used my 4 movie tickets that I gained from compliments I received from customers. I told them I haven't yet.

They then ask, "Oh, since we are going to 'redesign' our compliment reward system, would you like to trade those 4 movie tickets for $100 cash grocery coupons?"

Without second thought, I rejected them! :D Come on!! We all work at a bank, don't you think I at least can calculate 4 movie tickets ($60 value each) != $100?!?!?!?!

Crazy crazy management at work!

My Chest!

I just got my Chest x-ray result. Everything is safe and sound. Whew. So worried I had lung cancer or something!!

Here's the picture of the x-ray. I apologize for the background. :D The only appropriate light source is the light above the sink :D

The doctor wrote:
Patient is having a prolonged cough for investigation.

The lung fields appear clear, with no suggestion of parenchymal infliltration, focal consolidation, collapse, cavitation or mass shadow. The costophrenic angles are also clear. The hilar and mediastinal shadows appear unremarkable.

The outline and size of the cardiac shadow appear normal.

Comment:
No significant abnormality is detected. The lung fields and costophrenic angles appear clear.


To sum it up. It means my lung has no problem. Prolly just my airway is sensitive to the poor quality air in Hong Kong. Nothing 'exercise, healthy diet & sufficient rest' could not cure about my illness. :D

Now I can R.I.P.

你呀, 係磚豆腐o黎o家!

I think my Bronchitis' come back was due to 'La Nina effect'. The weather man on TV says this year, we are suffering the La Nina Effect which will bring cooler temperatures and heavier rains.

As my cough was recording gradually, suddenly on Sunday, there was this pouring 'black rainstorm'. When I went to work that day, I was soaked from head to toe. The umbrella I bought didn't help shield the windy rain.

I think being soaked sorta got me a chill again and I got sick again.

My boss, Gladys described me as a chunk of Tofu! (你呀, 係磚豆腐o黎o家!) :D Solid outside, but soft inside! :P I couldn't agree more.

I am taking an hour slow walk along the seaside everyday for light exercise per Doctor's orders. Fresh air and circulation might help.

Now I am waiting for the x-ray result. Prolly nothing too serious... I hope.

When Bronchitis Strikes again!!!

The title says it all.

I went to doctor today again as I find a little strands of blood in the mucus.. It seems my Bronchitis has resurrected.

He wrote me up to have my lungs x-rayed tomorrow. So scary.

I just drank some warm milk now. (lost my appetite) I think I will go to bed now.

Ron Paul 2008!!!

In respond to my "registered voter" post yesterday, my best friend and I had below conversation:

Sonia says (10:59 AM): "Those people who come out to be elected are bozos and definitely no Ron Paul!"
Sonia says (10:59 AM): :D
Tickle LaBean says (11:00 AM): :D
Tickle LaBean says (11:00 AM): they are
Sonia says (11:00 AM): speaking of Ron Paul
Sonia says (11:01 AM): yesterday I noticed that some dude put this huge banner "Ron Paul 2008" on his window facing the street
Sonia says (11:01 AM): It was a NEW "decoration" of the window!
Sonia says (11:02 AM): I was like, "come on... the Rep. election is over already"
Tickle LaBean says (11:02 AM): hehh
Tickle LaBean says (11:02 AM): these people have a passion i tell you
Tickle LaBean says (11:02 AM): it's very touching
Tickle LaBean says (11:03 AM): they are holding up to their ideals even though they are the mirority
Tickle LaBean says (11:03 AM): that's what inspired me to register
Sonia says (11:03 AM): Seriously... I see lots of passion from some people on Ron Paul
Sonia says (11:03 AM): I SEE THEM
Sonia says (11:03 AM): As for the other candidates...I never "see" passions from people
Tickle LaBean says (11:04 AM): because if you studied Ron Paul, you will know he's the most just and smart candidate
Sonia says (11:04 AM): i don't study himn "{
Sonia says (11:04 AM): :P
Tickle LaBean says (11:04 AM): that's why you don't appreciate the passionate people for him
Tickle LaBean says (11:06 AM): I have a living case study of my boyfriend his choice of Ron Paul is not a blind one. he reads about him by himself to make his judgment
Tickle LaBean says (11:06 AM): and he stand up to his vote to the unpopular candidate
Tickle LaBean says (11:07 AM): a person of principle :D ohmygosh :D I love him so hahahha

我而家先登記做選民! I just registered to be a voter!

aAfter 9 year back in Hong Kong, I finally registered to be a voter yesterday! :D

I always think, what's the point!? We don't have a 'REAL' say in how the Chinese run Hong Kong. Those people who come out to be elected are bozos and definitely no Ron Paul! :D Recently, the passion of my boyfriend about Ron Paul has changed my mind.

Just like winning the lottery, if you didn't buy the ticket, you would never win. Same logic apply to election, although your candidate might not win, in the end, if you don't register, you may never know whether your vote counts.

Whether there is gonna be a candidate I like is still an uncertainty, but at least now I hold the power to vote or not. :D I always wonder, instead of voting for someone, why can't I just go in and say I definitely don't want this bozo to represent my district? Like when there's no one I like, why can't I just say I definitely don't like candidate "A". :D Votes would be taken away from dude A if I say I don't like him :P

環保回收的家

My parents went into a recycling craze lately. :D I am not saying it's a bad thing. It's actually good. But I find it interesting about their conversation:

媽：　　吾知執吾執到四十蚊呢? (Mom: I wonder if we can sell these paper for $40 bucks?)
老豆：　好鬼重，　要用車仔拉去至得囉 (Dad: So damn heavy! We better transport these with our trolley)
媽： 可能有五十添 (Mom: Maybe can get $50! $-D)
老豆:　嘩！　'呵楊'都幾好’錚’ (Dad: Whoa!! Mr Yeung got so much money from recycling!)
媽： 如果執到五十, 咁包貴米有著落囉 (Mom: If we could get $50, then the expensive pack of rice is paid for!)
老豆: 点可以避開'呵楊'呢? (Dad: Hmm How to avoid beening seen by Mr Yeung?!)
媽: 以前比開'呵楊', 而家吾比係米好哀呢? (Mom: We used to give so much paper and broken electronics to Mr yeung, now suddenly stopped, would we be very bad then?)
老豆:　自己錚好過比人執o丫! (Dad: Hey! We earn the money better than other earn it!)

'呵楊' (mr Yeung) is our garbage man, 係个垃圾佬，　my parents always saved the paper and magazines to 呵楊 for recycling. Lately, my parents found a recycle shop near our building which is just within 10 minutes walk. Since Hong Kong is suffering heavy inflation right now, my parents figure they might as well do the recycling and get back some money. :D Every penny counts! :D

Notice how my dad responded to my mom but not really responding to her? :D heheheh

Here's some of the price changes in Hong Kong's grocery market:

Rice: $35 a pack (2007) , now $50
Spam: $7 a can (2007), now $18
Milk: $20 a carton (2007), now $25
meat: my usual meal meat costs about $10 a meal, now $25 a meal!

These are just some examples... :D

女人老咗, 係中意呢D艷紅色嘅野啷!

老豆:　嘩！　因mud鬼咁紅呀！？
我： 好紅咩!?　都吾知幾鬼trendy 呀！
老豆： 嘻, 女人老咗, 係中意呢D艷紅色嘅野嘅喇!
我:　　　咩呀，　人地張曼玉都係全身黑色加紅鞋同袋啦，　都不知幾咁In!
老豆： 張曼玉都吾算老咩?!
我:　　　唓！

以上對話全因我剛用了我剛買的紅袋配襯我對ruby slippers! :D

"你D同事都痴線嘅!"

Yesterday was an eventful day at work. The usual system down, bug spray, complaints and crazy customer accusing my colleague of insanity. :D haha

Customer: why can't I use my card now?
CS: per your request on 06/04/08, your card has been terminated by yourself, 'mam.
Customer: WHAT?!! I only requested, but you never confirmed me!!!!
CS: (Thinking what the hell!?) Hmm.. you mean our CS had canceled your card without your authorization?
Customer: NO! I mean, how come nobody confirmed me that the card is REALLY Canceled!!! You should call me to confirm again!
CS: (Not knowing what the hell the customer is thinking and dunno how to respond)
Customer: I don't care! You reopen my account now this instance!
CS: No, can't do. Card is canceled, we can arrange apply reinstate a/c for you, but it takes a week.
Customer: I want to complain! I complain the CS who canceled my card! He doesn't value me! He doesn't try to retain me!
- without knowing how previous conversation with the previous CS, my colleague cannot be certain whether there's poor handling in this case-
CS: Well, if you accused poor handling from our CS, we will investigate for you, but as of this moment, you cannot use your card.
Customer: You are crazy too! Your whole bank is crazy! I want to talk to your manager!

Now below conversation is between me and the customer which lasted about 20 minutes

Customer: You are all crazy.
Me: I regret that we have such an impression on you, but 'mam, just as our colleague had told you, your card cannot be used until we successfully reinstate your a/c for you which is subject to the approval of our credit department.
Customer: (Interrupting me).. you are crazy, well, then tell your credit department to let me use it right now! I need to use it right now!
Me: Sorry, credit department won't open until Monday.
Customer: You are crazy!
Me: Mam, I assure you our bank tried her best to hire employees up to the sanity standard, if you stop thinking I am crazy, maybe you would accept my help? *snickers*
Customer: I complaint your CS who canceled my card!
Me: I get your frustration, but until I can listen to the tape of your cancellation request, I cannot lay out a judgment for now. I appreciate your understanding in this matter and give me some time to investigate?
Customer: What?! So you are saying my word is not enough, you don't believe me?! I complain!
Me: Of course I believe you, if I didn't believe you, why would i open an investigation for you? Just that in case of complaints, we need a thorough investigation.
Customer: You sound like you are not very patient with me, I want to complain to your manager. Because I don't want to bother you anymore, Miss, I know you are very busy and I am just a small customer.
Me: Oh, I apologize if you have such a misconception about me right now. I assure you, no matter how busy I am, i treat this case as a priority. But if you feel that I am not appropriate to handle your case, I am sure my manager, Mr Yeung, would not mind discussing with you about my handling.
Customer: (sensing i am not being frightened by her threat - since I am sure i handled her case with case and no fault) What!?! So after all this time I told you my story, you still feel that you have to escalate this case to your manager?
Me: No, mam, it was your request to talk to my manager, wasn't it? I am merely complying with your request mam. So now would you like me to handle your case again?
Customer: You are crazy!!
Me: .....
Customer: Well, so now open my a/c again immediately!
Me: not until we finished the investigation, mam
Customer: I don't see you are doing anything for me right now!
Me: There is nothing I can do that would give you an immediate solution. All I can do now is to assure you I will start my investigation now and will arrange my credit dept to review reinstate your a/c. The soonest I can give you an answer would be Monday.
Customer: All all the credit department people dead! Call them in to open my a/c now!!! I am telling you, I have just spent $5000 today, and you have 0 earning from it!! Serve you right!
Me: (pretend I cared) I regret the loss of business from you mam. But please give me some time to find a solution for you next week.
Customer: I want compensation!!
Me: It sound to me that by losing your business today, we suffered the loss instead of you mam. May I know what did you suffer today to warrant compensation?
Customer: You are crazy! Your CS canceled my a/c without retention! He is a fraud! I called in on that day to ask why there are late charges and finance charges!! Your CS told me I was late because I missed your stupid payment cut off time! So I ask him if your bank treat me that way I want to cancel card!!! How would I know he really would cancel my card!?!?!
Me: (HAHAHA! now finally know the problem!) Well mam, from what i understand, that means our CS had followed your instruction to cancel the card. It's not like he invited you to cancel? I must defend that our CS is trained to be most obedient to customers requests as long as it's legal.
Customer: Why he didn't retain me?! I know your procedures! I threaten to cancel, you would have a special person call me back and try to retain me! why didn't he send someone to retain me? He should have known that I was just bluffing!
Me: (HAHAH! I thought WTF! She admitted she was bluffing! just like she bluffed about want to talk to my manager! :D Good thing I called her bluff. Anyway, we didn't have such an arrangement for retention. But I don't want to escalate her irrational logic, I just ignored her) CS just followed your instruction. But now that i get the whole picture, after the investigation, let me offer to waive the late charges for you as a gesture.
Customer: Now you are talking some sense!

After retrieving the tape of the CS and the Customer, I find no mistake about the cancellation. However, CS missed some key points in confirming the cancellation, such as, she still have $1000+ cash dollar in her a/c, and 2 unfulfilled installments. CS should have reminded her about these before apply the cancellation for her. So, I cannot say our CS had 100% followed our guideline. In this case, on Monday, I will have to skillfully advice the customer to be more direct about her request instead of bluffing us! :D We are not a poker game! :P

Anyways.. rant ends here. :D

Kewl happenings at work

It's 2:12am.. :D I am getting tired. Just got off from work. so I will just make it short.

- For a donation of HK$60, we can wear jeans to work on Friday in April & May
- Software application revamp: our bank will be progressively migrate to using OpenOffice instead of Micro$oft Office suites! :D It's time to learn Linux!
boyfriend will be pleased :D

Coughing is slowly improving, but talking too much still triggers an outbreak of coughs. :P I think I will drink a couple more days of horse pees :P

Real tired now. zzzz....

馬尿有止咳的作用?!?!?

After almost 2 weeks of struggles with my cough, today i finally give in to my mom's instruction of drinking some cough medicine we called 'horse pee'. Why is it called 'horse pee'? I dunno, but it sure tasted like it!!!!! Ick Ick.

After extensive research on the internet, I found a little bit of info about it:

歷 史 悠 久 的 咳 藥 水 「 馬 尿 」 ， 究 竟 是 甚 麼 ？
馬 尿 的 英 文 名 稱 是 Mist Expect Stim ， 簡 稱 MES ， 因 為 它 含 阿 摩 尼 亞 ， 成 分 和 味 道 都 像 馬 尿 ， 所 以 得 到 這 個 稱 號 。 MES 主 要 用 作 化 痰 ， 通 常 政 府 門 診 都 會 處 方 這 種 藥 水 給 病 人 ， 一 般 很 有 效 。
(source: http://health.atnext.com/

祛痰的咳藥則有﹕guaifenesin及ammonium chloride（俗稱馬尿），都可令痰液變稀，容易咳出。
(source: http://blog.yam.com/bali1004/article/9067278)

Whew! It seems these so called "horse pee" isn't really directly from the pee pee of a horse. It's just smells and taste like it coz of the ammonia in it. Nonetheless, the best way to avoid it is to get healthy!

Well it's time for me to get more rest so I can recover faster.

Dream Chronicle II: Tickle's Dream Mud Experience

Hehe.. Too many dreams lately!

Last night I had this dream about going to this adventure in a foreign land where you could play Mahjong with a twist and go to places with different interesting unknown aliens. I even get to go into a newbie school, just like those in the mud I used to play, except the newbie mobs are all acted out by humans! :D I beat the crap out of them and they had to beg me to stop. Hahaha.

Such a vivid dream. Maybe the medicine is making me have all these weird dreams :D heeheh

It seems my Bronchitis is not 100% healed yet, coz if I don't say anything, my coughing is under control. However, if I talk too much, I'd start coughing again.

Dream Chronicle I: The Grim Ripper and I

Last night I had a dream. I wonder if I should call it a nightmare.. :D

I dreamt that the Grim Ripper had come to take me. Fortunately, with my imagined good bargaining skill, I sweet talked him into letting me stay behind this pitiful earth. In the end, I even became his girlfriend! :D hahah

The detail I couldn't remember much anymore, I only found my diary notebook next to my pillow this morning with "I become Death's girlfriend" written on it. :D

一個先人比生人重要的日子

Today is the Ching Ming Festival which is a day the living would go sweep the ancestors' graves. I was trying to get out of it because of Bronchitis, but my mom says it's good for me to go out and have some fresh air and exercise. Before I give in too easily, we had this conversation:

媽 (mom):　快起床啦！(Wake up!)
me: 吾舒服呀，　重陽至去啦！(I don't feel well, let's wait till Chung Yeung! [Chung Yeung is another sweep grave day in Luna Sept])
媽 (mom): 去拜下祖先便會好啦！(You go worship your ancestors, they will grant you good health!)
me: 癡線!　不如執剤香爐灰我食o丫!! (That's crazy! Why don't you just go scoop up a pack of incense dust and feed me with it! [Incense dust was an ancient superstitious remedy which was believed to cure everything from a paper cut to a stab wound to the heart! which is of course crazy. :D])

Now, back to bed! Doctor's order!

Bronchitis!

Aiya! I changed a doctor today coz my coughing doesn't seem to improve too much. New doctor's diagnosis is Bronchitis.....

My colleagues joked that maybe i'd get better when i cough my lungs out (你咳咗个肺出來先會好囉!)

Colorful Pills!

After 3 trials of medication, my coughing is improving, but not well enough. My voice is still harsh and whenever I try to talk louder, it triggers a round of coughs.

My mom jokes about she never seen me so "tender and gentle" in terms of my verbal communication. :D hehe

Can you believe how many different pills Hong Kong doctor would prescribe? I remember back in Canada, the doctor would only write you a prescription to buy a bottle of Anvil / nightquil + drink lots of water and rest! :D I think all these anti-biotics the HK doctor gave me is killing my immune system. ☠☠☠☠☠