Introducing Sabrina and Barbie...

Grandma bought more fishes for the girls and this time, each has their own mini aquariums. Suffice to say, after a few days of interest, I was the one who made sure they are fed and their tanks cleaned. So, one day, I made sure that these responsibilities are theirs and theirs alone.

Come to think of it, having pets for them is also another way of making sure they understand responsibility and also, the cause & effects of their actions. Way to go, Mum. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Left is Sabrina (Kaelynn's) and right is Barbie (Kristine's)

Seeking shelter the SMART way

Just experienced a very heavy downpour and minutes later, it was all Sun, Sun, Sun. So now, its no Fun.

No image manipulation here, just the effect of rain water coming down the windshield.

iCP07A

I got this from the website called iCircuit Technologies. This, I believe, comes from somewhere in Puchong, which, incidentally, is very close to my office but they do not believe in self-collect. I don't know where I got the info but it could be from their Facebook (no more aledi, la). Anyway, the reason I got this was because I was trying out the PIC12F629 and sometimes, using the prototype board is really demotivating when I want to try out a circuit fast. I do not want to spend what precious time I have, trouble shooting if the circuit or the programming was faulty.

So, the answer comes in this little board which you can plug in straight to your little prototype board.

With features such as 300mA I/O, a voltage regulator plus ICSP connections, it is really difficult for me to say no...

Or maybe their address was from here? Too late. its binned.

I bought two sets and each set comes with the board plus three connectors for you to solder. iCircuit also gives yo the choice of PIC chip when you order; PIC12F615, PIC12F629, PIC12F675, PIC12F683 and PIC12F1840 and the price difference is not much either.

Yes, I could design the board myself and all, but what am I going to do with the rest of the few hundred extra boards? Remember, there is a MOQ when I design  PCBs of these qualities. I mean, you cannot ask a bread manufacturer for just one loaf...

[Update: 02052012]
Since they're so 'tiny' I actually misplaced them. But don't fret, once I get them back, I am going to try with ICSP. Heh Heh.

Some eating place in Mid-Valley

We were quite hungry while at Mid-Valley. And the Food Court is a few levels too high for us even by using escalators. The lifts are out as people going in and out of them non-stop as if they live in there. And, so, since the Basement Level Food Court is nearer, we decided to go there. But I have warned the girls ahead that we're not going into the Chicken Rice shop. Because, IMO for such a humble Chinese dish, it is too costly. Every time I was there, I felt as if there was a con going on.

And so, after looking at the other shops, we felt this one needed our attention. The only problem is that I am writing this months later and so, a lot of details have been forgotten; I forgot the name of the shop and what we ate.

There was a lot of waiting, that one I remembered and also, most of the dishes were not compatible with the girls's taste buds

This is what I ordered. And after looking at it, despite its taste which I forgot, I think I liked it. Just that the thing in the middle reminds you of something else.

Now, this is colourful and nice...

...which both girls agreed. I liked it mainly because of the mango.

Girls's meal, which is Kampung fried rice

Mommy wanted to try this

And it was delicious! Pricey but delicious!

Don't ask me why I forgot too.

Boring night

Boring night.

The usual.

Girls learning origami while I ponder polygamy...

The look on their face as I look at their face...

Bye.

Survival Science Comics

Because Kristine's mastery of the Bahasa is weak, I decided to get her some locally translated comic book since I noticed that she like to read books and ones with pictures. What I got her was the Survival Science Series, which has been translated from Korean. This edutainment combine science facts with comics so that its easier for children to learn stuff. I think the series is still being taken up with the company, Gempak Starz but it still very hard to get them

This is the problem with them as when you need to get some books, there are the usual problems I faced:

1) Availability

I need to scour/hunt/ a lot of 7-11 shops, Popular stores and those mamak bookshops before I can find anything. And when I do, its always...

2) Two Languages

Most of the titles come in either Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese or in English (they usually come out later, or not at all because I cannot find them). I like to ready them in English because a sudden change in language is a real mindfuck.

So, because I want to get a title, I have to choose between English or Bahasa and if I want to get both in a set, I have to choose any title. Which is very difficult as my main aim is for Kristine to read the page and then use the other book as a rough translation. A very bad idea since the Bahasa version tend is not the standard I expected.

In the end, it was Kaelynn who hungrily pored over them

This was the only title I could get that comes in two languages

See the differences in the translation?

18060211 Going to the Sb. Buloh Nursery

Ultra HM has decided that today is a good day to... get some green thumb stuffs.

And so, when Ultra HM says so, Ultra HM said so.

Everyone has to 'Make it so'.

This is the place where the operators are required to move out because its unsafe. Right. All the while, they were safe for 17 years. You can Google for information and make your own mind. Politics for me, is boring.

It is also the place where you can get a lot of plants and flowers for your gardening needs. Its like (OK, what the normal Politicians would say) the Flower HUB of Malaysia

For the girls, its like a flowery wonderland.

This is just me, testing out the Panorama software, shot from my Nokia n8

The girls were literally running up and down looking at all the flowers and we had to keep them in check because of the traffic and also, potential insect bites, which are not commonly found at home.

Man, this is going to be fun...

Kaelynn with an impromtu puppet show

After that, it was lunch in Kepong. Unfortunately, being slightly after lunch hour, and on a Saturday, its not easy to look for food. And no, we do not want KFC or Pizza Hut or MacDonalds.

05112012 Trip to Amcorp Mall

Not being content with infecting only a handful to ICW, I decided to try for a larger crowd and where better than Amcorp Mall. Alas, I should not have gone there because there is nothing interesting and my Flu has gone. Awww......

They have erected an Automatic Ticket machine instead of the normal pay as you exit booths

And here are Laurel & Hardy, standing by, eager to help in case customers have problems with their tickets.

Eww.... was I gone that long?

I haz der something from ICW

Its a quick rush to ICW then, while my medication is still working. I wanted to drop by there and also, at the same time, spread my flu to them. Please don't see me as being heartless for I believe that if they caught the flu, then when the actual flu round comes, they would be immune to it. But then again, if they're already having flu when I was there, then its a matter of seeing whose flu is stronger...

These are Photo-etched rotary blades which you can attach to your rotary tool for well, some power cutting, jobs, I suppose.

Wanted to get this a long time ago but most of the shops are out of it and so, luckily, ICW still have them. They can be used for any situation, from a 1/100 hatch to a 1/18 petrol cover and so on. Or even a 1/1 model for a 1/100 hatch...

I haz der Flu

OK, I don't feel so well today. And this is not a good sign. Weeks ago, most of the staff in the office had flu and just as everyone is healing up, its my turn...

With phlegms and boogers this colour, you can bet that its not a normal cold. Ok, don't try using them as glue because I just found out some paper that I had glued only have yellowish stains for my troubles.

RM65.00 for some cough pills, a vapor rub and paracetamols. This is the reason why I do not like going to the Doctors. I am paying them to tell me what I needed to do earlier, except that this one comes with certainty.

Hours later, the medication seems to work wonders (except when it wears off). You can tell by this booger being semi-solid and not runny. Quick, its time to salvage whatever's left of this beautiful Saturday.

Of morning breakfasts and heavy bags

With Kristine's morning routine of waking up so early in the morning, sometimes Kaelynn wakes up as well so she can join her sister for breakfast. Why, I am not sure but she cares a lot for her elder sister, which is quite obvious. Kristine on the other hand, pfft.

But its not easy to get the both of them to eat something for breakfast, though

Still, Kristine being the eldest, she is my prime target in my mission to get the food eaten and once that is done, Kaelynn will follow suit.

Another thing, despite her timetable, I am a bit worried about the increasing bulge in her bag. Its getting heavier too.

And most of them are exercise books....

Sleeping on the Floor again

And after some long chats and a bit of work from the office, its time to go to sleep. I find that it is very easy to go back to my old habit of sleeping late even though I have promised my Wife many years ago. But I just can't seem to break this habit nor worry about work. And then, there is always the Internet. Anyway, I made up my mind to go to sleep early tonight...

OK, Kaelynn is fast asleep but where is Kristine? Did she wander off to Grandma's room?

Oh, there she is. OK, I have to sleep on the floor tonight, no point waking her up and I am not in the mood to carry a 16Kg girl in the middle of the night. Neighbours might talk.

Chilied La-Las

OK, I am also a fan of chicken rice chilies. Not the rice but the chili sauce. This is because they have garlic in them and not only that, they used garlic on the chilies. So, with garlic here and there, I am hooked.

Add some chicken rice garlic chilies to the La-Las and its wonderful

Spicy macaroni & Fish

There is one malay stall in Wisma Cosway which I like to frequent when I was working in the old company. This was because they cook a mean spicy macaroni and some other tid-bits (chili potatoes, chili tempeis and so on) which I loved. So, whenever I was there, I would go for their stall. But ever since I lunched at Wagons... its Mee Jawa all the way too...

As a special treat today, I got some fish too

Don't ask me what kind of fish it is. All I know is that its cooked and its delicious.

Going to Barbie's

I cannot remember why I brought the girls to the Mid-Valley's Barbie store as it was a 'forbidden' place. I can't even remember if I drove them there or we walked. Heck, I can't even remember if I spent the money or not....

Actually, to tell you the truth, I can't remember the actual reason why I brought them there since by the time I posted this (30.04.2012) I have completely forgotten what it was all about.

All I can remember is treating the girls to some pastry and drinks

Yep, this looks familiar. I am such a cheapskate...

And Kristine knows it

Only had enough for one drink too...

Anyway, in the store, I had to be the bad guy, not letting them buy what their whims desired

But eventually, got them we did. Except I can't remember what...

Do you trust Mr. Pinkie?

All the time when my finger was in there, I have the impression that the booger is big, sticky and is about to block the nostril. I waited for this opportunity to take a photo to see what it was like when the same feeling came again, as reported by my pinkie.

Apparently, my pinkie was exaggerating because although I felt it, I can't see it. As punishment, Mr. Pinkie will not be meeting Ms. Earwax or Mrs. Belly Button tonight.