七級肺癆鬼, 生人勿近!

My coughing is still very bad. So I was sent home early from work to avoid contaminating the environment.

Here's a look of me wearing the face mask per government's instruction to avoid another SARS-like epidermic.

I haven't talked to my boyfriend for a few days since I caught this cough. Kinda miss him :D Mom made me this "kam kwut" tea supposedly good for the throat.. maybe I be better tomorrow :D

Aiya!

Aiya.. you ask why there's no update on the blog!? :D

I've caught my dad's cough and flu!!!

Roy's Birthday Party

It was my colleague's birthday yesterday. So, a bunch of us went out to have seafood buffet to celebrate! :D

It was good food and good time. Here are the foods I ate! :D

Crazy customer strikes again! :D

I was sick yesterday! :D Stomach not feeling well, big headache.. :D Good thing is, I had a day off yesterday, so I don't have to report sick leave. But then.. the bad thing is, I wasted a perfect fine holiday! :P

Work the day before yesterday was exciting and fun for a change! :D heh

At about 23:00pm, a customer called in, demand to have all kinds of T&C mailed to him! However, he wouldn't provided his card number. We tried to search it with his id#, but in vain! My team member tried to explain to him that he has no card with us! :D But then, he accused of my team member for not understanding what his needs were and demanded to get another person on the phone. :P

Being her team leader, the chore fell onto me :P After talking to the man a little bit, suddenly it dawned on me that he's a legendary crazy case!! :D

I think because we didn't approve credit cards for him, he had a grudge on our bank! :D So regularly, he would call in and request to report his imaginary card lost! I swear to whoever created this universe that this is the perfect practical joke on credit card customer service personnels! :D hahahah

Anyways, so I firmly and calmly told him to bugger off because we cannot report a non-existent card number sir! :D After 1/2 hour trying to reason with him, he again said I didn't understand him and requested to talk to another agent who can speak English! So I said, sir, I can speak English :P Then he said, I don't believe you! :D

So fine, I transferred the call to Ken! :D I dunno what happened after the call was transferred.. but after about 45 minutes or so, Ken said to me that lunatic requested to talk to me again. :P

So I talked to him a bit more.. and then the funny part follows:

Me: Er.. Sir, seriously, we don't have a record of ever approving a credit card for you, therefore there is no action of reporting your non-existent card lost can be done at this moment.
He: You are lying!
Me: No, sir, our conversations are recorded, and I am not allowed to lie. I am not even capable of lying (this is done in jest because I feel the dude is not even being serious with us anymore)
He: Then your system is lying! I had a card before!
Me: Er.. System don't lie! :D
He: If you are not lying, System is not lying, who is lying then!?!?!?!?!
Me: Er... nobody is lying sir.. :D
He: Miss!! Please don't "Er" at me again, you know I am a man and you are a woman!! Your "Er" is making my 'down there' uncomfortable. You know what I mean!? My down there! below my waist above my knee!! Uncomfortable!!!
Me: Pardon me sir, I will try not to make you feel uncomfortable, but seriously about your credit card we had never issued, we cannot provide further service for you.
He: Then who can?
Me: Nobody.
He: When is your off duty time?
Me: Now (although still have 1/2 hour to go)
He: Oh now?!? Wow, I just wanted to come over to your card center to discuss my case with you in person.
Me: ..... (ignoring him)
He: My down there still very uncomfortable!....
Me: .... (silence)
He: What about if I find you the card number can you help me then?
Me: Certainly if you did indeed can locate your card number, we are all ready to serve you
He: You are so nice, okay, I don't need you to follow up my case anymore. But I will go to your bank branches to ask them again.
Me: By all means, please do so if you require any assistance in the future.
He: Well, you have a good night then, you are so kind. :P
Me: bye.

I think I just got sexually harassed by this dude! :D

Childhood Memories! (of 3 years ago) :D

Sonia says (1:03 PM): hey, do] you help Mike to find directions on the map whenevr you have any getaway trip?
Tickle LaBean says (1:03 PM):no
Sonia says (1:03 PM): ok
Tickle LaBean says (1:03 PM): i just sit there and he does the job
Tickle LaBean says (1:03 PM): even if he ask me for help, he won't blame me for reading the map wrong
Tickle LaBean says (1:04 PM): that's the difference between a boyfriend and a best friend
Sonia says (1:04 PM): bitch!
Tickle LaBean says (1:04 PM):same to you hahah!
Sonia says (1:04 PM): Now that I remember this, I'm mad at you again!
Tickle LaBean says (1:04 PM): likewise! hahahah
Tickle LaBean says (1:04 PM): this is gonna go to my blog
Sonia says (1:04 PM): What are you mad at me for?!
Tickle LaBean says (1:04 PM): see this is why we need our joint blog
Sonia says (1:04 PM): :D
Tickle LaBean says (1:05 PM): mad at you for yelling at me while I told you to get a gps!
Sonia says (1:05 PM): only if you can pay for it
Sonia says (1:05 PM): 10 USD per day
Tickle LaBean says (1:05 PM): i said i will pay you the GPS cost
Tickle LaBean says (1:05 PM): you were only there for a week
Sonia says (1:05 PM):Oh
Sonia says (1:05 PM): That's a lot man
Tickle LaBean says (1:05 PM):cheap jing
Tickle LaBean says (1:06 PM): even taxi drivers nowadays has one

The Forge in the Forest, Carmel

The inn keep at the Jabberwock Inn mentioned to us this restaurant in a forest. Originally, we didn't think we would stay so late at Carmel, but we were glad that we did.

After all those walking and shopping around, we were both tired and a bit hungry. So we decided we should take up the inn keep's suggestion. We had a reservation at the "Forge in the Forest" restaurant at 6:30.

However, it was too cold to wander off around while most of the shops and galleries are closed anyways, we found outside at the door of the Forge early. The hostess welcomed us and we picked a table in the outside area with gas heater lamps to warm us.



We started our evening with a glass of drink. I ordered this pretty pink color drink called 'ecstasy' and Mike ordered a Martini. He said Martini was a manly kinda drink. :D










I like the restaurant very much, especially where we were seated. It's outdoor with fresh air and live music. Our dinner was delicious as well. Somehow, both Mike and I had our eyes set on this duck dish. In the end, however, I ordered a pork chop so we can both have something different. We also shared a bowl of clam chowder, which was also creamy and rich. Why is clam chowder such a treat!? :D










Left: Clam chowder. Middle: Mike's "Slowly Roasted Half Duck with Ginger sauce". Right: My "Ancho Chile grilled Pork Loin in Mango and Jalapeno Chutney".

All the foods we ordered was tasty. As much as we tried to save a little bit of stomach space for dessert, we failed. :D But not to worry, the foods we ordered were enough to satisfy us without craving for dessert anyways.

We left the restaurant and bid Carmel farewell and head back home for a quiet weekend.

Carmel Mission, Carmel (29 Feb 08)

I Think I am still suffering serious jet lag :D I feel like a zombie the whole day. :D But my blog must go on.. :D hehe

Before dinner, we visited the Carmel Mission first. But when we went there, it was approaching closing time. I am not complaining because the nice lady at the entrance let us just enter for free. She said "We are 1/2 hour before closing, go in, see however much you can, dear". :) Maybe we will go again next time with a guided tour, coz I just keep snapping pictures in a hurry and truly not too sure about the history behind this historical missionary.



































































After the brief wandering inside the Mission, it's time for us to go. It's really too early to have dinner at 5pm, so we decided to find the "sea" of "Carmel-by-the-Sea".



It was a very cold evening, so we didn't stay on the seaside too long. However, we have found something else to entertain us around the neighborhood.



















Looking at the neat mansions, I thought it must be very enticing to live in this town. You get the salty sea breeze, cheery bird chirps, dramatic sound of the waves and colorful flowers here.
Although it was cold and windy when we took this walk, I enjoyed it very much. It was romantic to wrap my arm around Mike's and tuck my hand inside his pocket to keep warm. :-D

When we cannot endure the chill anymore, we headed back into town and enjoyed a lovely meal at a restaurant called "The Forge of the Forest".

Lunch at the Hog's Breath Inn, Carmel (29 Feb, 08)

cCarmel is full of fun little shoppes and classy art galleries. We arrived at Carmel around noon and I was hungry already. :D

But before we found our restaurant to eat, we didn't miss the chance to look at some art galleries first. There are so many galleries there, they even have a booklet with maps and introductions about each of the gallery.

I didn't feel it was appropriate to take pictures of the arts at these galleries without purchase though.. so I only able to take a few pictures of the paintings and sculptures.









The shoppes are so cute also. I kept thinking they looked more like a vacation cabin than a store. :)


Often, you can find statues or arts adorn the outside of the shoppes. I somehow interpret this one on the right as a tired man freeing himself of the boundary of materials. :P

After wandering a while in town, we finally located the legendary Hog's breath Inn. It was owned by the one and only Clint Eastwood although it had been sold awhile back.


Even the building which houses the Hog's Breath Inn is now named Eastwood building. There is also a Jazz radio studio (KRML) outside also. When we visit there that day, Captain Mike Hemp was running the show. :D




Following Mike to the Hog's Breath. The first look amazed us! :)










This is the restaurant's lunch menu. It's mostly sandwich and grills. Dinner would be more elaborate which includes prime ribs, roasts and wine.











The restaurant has its own outdoor sitting area. It was so unique. It has a few hearths around the outdoor area to keep the guests warm. California, although a sunny state, could get quite cold even in a summer day, so these hearths are very handy. We chose to sit outside right next to a fireplace just to enjoy the fresh air and the natural lighting.











off with a bowl of Left: Mike'ssoup each.We start artichokes soup and my soup of the day. :)


Our food comes very quickly after we finished the soup. Mike ordered a chicken salad and I ordered the "French Dip".
The portion of my sandwich was so big I only could finished 1/2 of it. I kept throwing the fries to the birds too. :D

One particular bird would only eat the fries instead of the bread! How strange.

I like this restaurant quite a lot. contrary to some others on the trip adviser website say. You can read my brief review of this place here.







Left: Mike and I enjoying our meal. Middle: There are lots of hog themed decoration around the restaurant. Right: The French fries eating bird. :D

After the lunch, we set out for more shopping around. :)

There are so many cute stores selling cute little things. I wanted so many of these little things too! But one must choose her favorite... Guess which of the below 3 little animals did I pick?










Mike bought me one of the adorable wooden hedgehogs after I struggled a long time to make a decision. :D

Even Mike bought himself a leather jacket too! :)


Here are some other scenes of the town of Carmel.




















After shopping around, it was bout 4pm already. We thought if we head back to Sunnyvale now, it'd be too early. So we decided we should head to the Carmel Mission to do a bit more sight seeing.

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