geniusbarb's Xanga

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:54:11 GMT

It's been weeks...I haven't written much and even gave up my yearly diary this year. I should have a lot to write, but...I don't know, I'd like to write to an audience, yet at the same time I like not to. Hah, in fact, I don't know if I still have an audience and how many people have that automatic email thing. Maybe I should get me a diary for next year and start writing in it again. Problem is, I bet that all I write is negative stuff. Complaints. Anger and pain. I actually thought about that. I need a black book for that. Write down everything and then burn it.

But to make some sort of update, I still and should post my Dubai travels from last year. My apartment pictures. I've much stuff around 3 or 4 times now. I think I have it at a set up that I really like. I was back in Malaysia in June and I got to see my niece. I miss her....

I lost my 2 best friends. I can't even explain how except that I guess they got tired of me. It was easier to forget about me and replace me with someone else than it was to deal with my crazy antics and tell me to stop my bullshit and get myself together.

Mike and I made our yearly travel again and we went to Germany, Budapest, Prague and Amsterdam. Honestly I think I tried to block most stuff out of my mind. 1/3 of the time I was miserable over the lost of my friends, 1/3 I was trying to ignore the hurt of being dumped by Mike for his friends and then conveniently rejoining me when they ditched him (all of this was preplanned, I was just trying not to remember and focus on it), and 1/3 of the time I actually enjoyed myself. I will post stories and pictures, but it'll probably be a lot shorter and less interesting.

Oh yea, I transferred departments and avoided being fired in July. I love my new job and the responsibilities that come with it. Along with the people. It's definitely much easier to handle. I also got my green card approved, hooray!

Mike and I also celebrated our 4 year anniversary in October. I don't know how I feel. I guess not excited...4 is a bad number for us. He broke up with his gf after 4 years and Roger and I broke up after 4 years. So I think I'd rather forget that we've been together 4 years. No good can come out of it. No wonder the Chinese don't like the number 4. If we can make it to 5 then it'll be something to celebrate.

I had a new year's resolution (yea yea, I know it's not the new year's yet, but if it's a resolution it can be made anytime and start anytime). It's to try/do something every month. Last month, me and two good friends took cake decorating classes. I was gonna go swing dance this month, but timing didn't work out. So instead....I'm taking a free massage class tomorrow.

I've also started reading again. Now that my commute is about 45 minutes long I can read on the train. So far I've been averaging 1 book a week. I'm on Twilight right now. I can see why people love Edward. I want an Edward too, and then I realize, I have an Edward. All that crazy emotion....

Speaking of emotion. I noticed that mine changes from the books that I read and the movies that I watch. Is that normal? Do I have some kind of mood/emotional sickness? When I was reading "The Da Vinci Code" I thought that there was a conspiracy on the way that my 2 best friends treated me. That is was all planned out....by one of them. I just watched "Basketball Diaries" and I am depressed and "in pain". Everything is so bleak.

Writing is good.....it clears my head. Somewhat.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:34:59 GMT

Just because you care about me doesn't give you the right to control my life.

With friends like you, who needs enemies.

Day before D-day

Sun, 31 May 2009 14:49:46 GMT

Tomorrow I'm going in for my immigration interview. Basically, they will determine if they will extend/grant me a green card for me to remain a permanent resident. Should the officer/government decide that Roger and I got married for illegal reasons (to obtain a green card), then I will be forced to leave/deported from the country. Needless to say I'm nervous as hell. Although me, you and all my friends now that we never got married for the green card, the government/officer can only base his/her decision on any support that I can give. Naturally...it's a little more difficult since we're divorced, but also the fact that we do not have the "normal" support that "normal" couples would. Such as a lease or mortgage (we lived with his parents), joint account (we weren't making money), joint utility bills (his parents paid for everything), children, etc.

I can only be totally honest and try to obtain as much proof as possible, but I can only go so far. So I'm nervous as hell. For those who pray, please pray for me. Otherwise, well wishes and positive energy is also appreciate. Gosh....I dare not even buy groceries for fear that I'd have to leave in a week. For those who care, I'll let you know what happens on Monday.

Awan & Abu Simbel, Egypt

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:37:39 GMT

It's been a while since I posted. And it's been a while since I talked about something fun and interesting, like my Middle East trip! So let's get back to that and hopefully I'll be able to post pictures of my old and new apartment soon.

After Giza, we flew to Aswan. From there, we were going to take a private car (about $75 per person) on a 4 hour ride to and from Abu Simbel to check out the Abu Simbel Temple. So the whole trip was about 10 hours long.

Anyway, you're going to get a kick out of this. I know Mike did. He was practically on the FLOOR laughing. This is what we saw at the airport when we got off the plane to meet our guide.

Do you see what's wrong? They totally messed up my name!!

Since we had some time to kill, we went to see the most famous thing in Aswan. A dam. Hahaha, it's really nothing, but the history behind it was that they had to build the dam in order to prevent flooding and to provide electricity. If I remember correctly, the guide said that the dam provides for electricity not only for Egypt, but for some of the surrounding countries.

After that we went for breakfast and the guide actually suggested McDonald's! We laughed and politely turned him down and I said I wanted something local. So we got...tamas, I think they're called. It's SO GOOD!

This is what the store looked like.

This was our DELICIOUS breakfast. One had eggs, the other beans, and another falafel.

Then we went to meet our other guide and started out on the long track (with envoy) to Abu Simbel. 4 hours...very boring...but our driver does look like President Obama!

Finally we got to Abu Simbel. The big thing with Abu Simbel is that it's a temple that was built by Ramses II. This is really cool, it was built in a location so that every year on the day of Ramses II's birthday, the sunlight will shine into the temple and light up his statue along with two other gods. However, when they built the dam in Aswan, the temple, if left where it was, would be flooded. So in order to preserve this great monument, the Egyptian government took the temple apart (cut it into a couple hundred pieces and numbered them) and then put it together again some 200 meters up from the water. Wikipedia has a cool picture comparing where the temple was and where it is now. In fact, during the process of deciding what to do with the temple, someone even suggested making it an underwater temple and have people take a submarine to go see it.

The temple of Abu Simbel.

This was another nearby temple for his wife Nefertari. Apparently in Egypt it's a big deal when a king builds a temple for his wife. This is only the second temple built for a wife. She was obviously his favorite.

Here's a view inside the temple. You can't take pictures inside in order to preserve the paintings.

Then it was back to Aswan and then we took the night train to Luxor, where we will stay for the next 3 or so days.

The move

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:32:27 GMT

Mike moved out yesterday. I feel....really sad. I cried Saturday, Sunday, Monday and
today. I hate this. I honestly loved the apartment we were in. I saw Mike's
apartment for the first time yesterday. It is small, but I hate him for being
able to afford it. I think about the apartment that we have now and I hate
having to give it up. I think about the apartment that I could have had and
I hate Avalon for not working with me. On top of that, I was talking to one
of the leasing agents the other day and she basically told me that she
would have worked with me and gave me the apartment at the time that I
wanted it. I was shock and regretful, but then, she say that now, but she
was in the room when I was telling the other lady that I don't want to move
in immediately because I do not want to be paying for two apartments. And
neither her nor any of the other leasing agents did or say anything.

I went to look at the apartment that I'm moving into today and it looks worse at night.
For some reason I seem to see all the scratches and cracks. On top of that, I found
out that the radiator is leaking and they are going to fix it tomorrow, but the floor
is damaged. I'm fine with that as long as I don't get hurt walking barefoot. I'm a
barefoot kind of girl. I hate this I hate this I hate all this. I am a very hateful
person this month.
 
It has been a rough month. First it was busy season at work and working
everyday from 9 am till 12 am. Dealing with my annoying senior and a new
manager. Finding an apartment. Arguing with Avalon. Planning on moving.
Immediately starting work with another client. Then immigration sent me a
letter after one year saying that they need more prove that I did not marry
Roger for a green card and I have till April 10 to prove that. And
apparently they lost some of the previous documents that I sent them. So
now I have to scurry and put together all the paperwork from four years ago!!! Poor 
Roger. I asked a shitload of stuff from him. And he moved a couple of months ago, so
he threw away everything...Well, good for him! Finally a clean home. But now I have 
rush my friends to write me letters and all that shit. And of course, I'm moving...
so now I'm afraid that the mail might get lost. On top of all that I had to make 
travel plans asap because 92K of my miles are expiring today. So I guess that's one
good thing that has happened. I found out that my sister is taking my niece back
to Malaysia and I coordinated to go back at the same time as her so that I can see my
niece and the rest of my family. Of course it had to be difficult because ALL FLIGHTS
ARE FULLY BOOKED. 

Anyway, March is coming to an end. April is an almost new beginning. I look forward to 
a happier post. There are people worse off than me.

Apartment

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:53:19 GMT

After all the whining and moaning, two nights ago before I went to bed, I went to check online and found out that….someone had signed for my apartment. In less than 24 hours, the apartment was gone. I cannot believe this…and now that it's gone and I sit down and look at stuff in perspective I tell myself, I would have had to pay $445 extra upfront for that apartment. It is only $20 more than the other one per month. Yes, as a whole, the other apartment is cheaper, but…I really liked the apartment at Avalon. As much as I hate the people and the management, I really liked the apartment and really wanted to stay there. If I can go back to Monday knowing what I know, I think I would have signed for that apartment. But then of course, today you'd hear me whine and moan about having to pay more. Mike was right. If it was him, he would have signed for the apartment. I on the other hand am too indecisive and cheap. But the question should have been, do I want to pay a $445 premium to stay somewhere I like? And that is newer and slightly better? With extra closet space?

However, to put things in perspective, a friend of mine made a good point. "One thing about apartment hunting is while every detail seems very important at the moment, once you move in you get used to everything and it becomes your cozy home before you notice it. So let it go, you did a good search despite busy season."

So I'm going to let it go….soon…ok, now. *breathes in and out* I'm going to love this apartment! I'll take pictures before and after I move in. Which reminds me, pictures of my current apartment needs to be put up!

Finalizing the apartment hunt!

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:43:12 GMT

All right! It's down to two.

1) City Lights: It is a condo and I will be renting from the owner. The rent is $1550. There is a $300 move in fee and a $350 application fee. Net effective rent is $1,593. However, the agent is in the process of convincing the owner to waive the application fee or at least pay half of it. Net effective rent is either $1,570 or $1,582.

Pros: It's a studio with an amazing view facing NYC. Laundry is on the same floor. The gym is amazing with classes and trainers and a sauna for no additional fee. There is a dishwasher, microwave, full size fridge (yes, some places have half size fridge), and full stove/oven. Concierge is professional, knows the residents and the building is well maintained.

Cons: The building is 11 years old. There is no detachable sink head, garbage disposal, or ice maker (when put into perspective, I don't often use these anyway). There is only one closet.

2) Avalon Riverview North: This is where Mike and I are currently staying. The rent is $1,570. However, because I need to take possession of this within 10 days and my current lease does not end until 20 days later plus there is an amenity fee, the net effective rent would be $1,614.

Pros: It's a new building, 2 years old. The laundry is on the same floor. There is a gym, pool, and community room. All appliances are new and full size. There is a dishwasher, microwave, fridge, super large stove/oven, ice maker, garbage disposal, and detachable sink head. There are two closets.

Cons: Mike and I hate the leasing management and I would love to see them loose money over this apartment assuming that they don't rent it out before next Monday. They would not budge a single inch to negotiate with me. The gym is not as nice as the other place. I have no view, but I don't really care about that. I actually prefer the layout better as the width is longer instead of the height.

The size of both apartments are about the same. Maybe a 16 square feet difference. Here is a layout of the avalon floor plan. It's call the Chelsea.

Which should I choose????

Friday, March 13, 2009

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:55:13 GMT

I have returned! Momentarily.

*sigh* So this whole apartment move out thing...well, Mike has finally found his place. I, on the other hand was banking to stay in the same building. However, because they are asshole and REFUSE to negotiate any price OR time so that I can sign a lease with them, the only studio that fell into my price range has been given away. The next cheapest one available is $1,615. Out of my price range, plus I will only be able to move into it on April 18th. My lease ends on April 5th. There's another one that's closer to my move-in date, but the rent is like $1,715. I'm just really disappointed with how they are handling this. Most places would drop the rent if you sign for a longer time, they don't. Most places are a little more flexible for when you can sign for, they aren't.

Anyway, 3 more weeks before I have to move out and once again I fall into my indecisive character. Here are my options:
1) Midtown west - Ideally I do not like living on the west side, however, this would be close to midtown and close to work. I'm able to find luxury (elevator, doorman, gym, sometimes a pool, laundry, dishwasher, etc.) buildings in my price range. I'm going to look at one this Saturday.

2) Midtown east - My idea place to live, but most apartments in my price range also are regular buildings. Which means it might not have an elevator, not a great kitchen, no gym, and no doorman. Basically just your regular walk up.

3) Upper east side - A lot more stuff in my price range. But for some reason I feel like I'm farther away to everything, unless I'm near an express train. Not much luxury building choices either. It's old school New York apartments, but I can find something that's nice with an elevator and not necessarily a door man.

4) Long Island City - This is where I live now. I'm super close to work. There's a condo next door that has a studio that I am going to look at on Sunday. It's a very old building, but it's basically a luxury building. I really love this area because it's close to everything.

5) Queensboro Plaza - This area has the best access to subway trains. Although it can be a sketchy area I like it. Apartments here are kind of in my price range.

Aaaahhhh, don't know if that makes sense to any of you who are still reading. I just needed to hash things out and ask myself, what do I want? A nice place within my price range, but not in the area that I might ideally like? Or what about somewhere old school? Or something much cheaper so that I can save $200 - $300 a month. I've been spoiled with this apartment and I like the dishwasher, ice maker, and removable head of the sink faucet. I know stupid....I'm totally spoiled. I HATE THIS!

Big news/decision

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:31:09 GMT

Mike and I have decided to live separately after our lease ends in early April. No, we're not breaking up.

Mike actually brought it up and we talked about it. I don't think it's a bad idea. I think our relationship has gotten to a point where we need our own space, physically. Some people might think, "I told you so" or "Obviously it's not working out", but it's not that. I agree that we're going backwards so like some people have gotten to the point in their relationship where they want to commit more to each other and live together, we have gotten to the point in our relationship where we are so comfortable and committed that we want to move apart a bit and develop ourselves. This doesn't mean that we're going to see other people. We're just going to live apart, invest in ourselves, and enjoy the "single" professional New York City life. Plus, I agree with Mike that it's going to be good for our relationship because right now we're just at each other's throat almost all the time.

Still, it all kind of saddens me because I wasn't expecting or planning on it. Plus, we have this AMAZING apartment (which means I'll have to take and put up pictures soon). Since neither of us can keep it by ourselves on our own salary we'll have to find another place. Plus, this means that I'll have to go searching for an apartment. Right now I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a studio in the building that I'm in. Mike wants to move to Hoboken or Downtown as he'll be closer to work and doesn't have to commute 45 - 60 minutes everyday each way. Hahaha, my commute is 15 - 20 minutes each way. But worst case scenario I'll just put my stuff in storage for and stay with friends until I find a place. Anyway, we have 2 months to find a place so I'm not worried. Especially with the way things are with the economy, it's actually working to our advantage. Wow, my own place, how exciting!!

Giza, Egypt

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:15:07 GMT

Giza! That's where the pyramids and the Sphinx are and where we stayed the first couple of days in Egypt. Our hotel is the Le Meridien Giza. When we arrived, Mike told the concierge that he wanted a room facing the pyramid. We got a junior suit with a balcony facing the pyramid on the fifth floor. Aaahhhh, the beauty of having Starwood Platinum status!!

Our view from our balcony.

We started our pyramid excursion at about 10AM in the morning. The guy who first brought us to our rooms told us that he has two camels and would like to be our guide to the pyramids and sphinx (not for free of course!). So we set up our trip with him. So we met him at the corner of the street and got on his camels. Charlie Brown and Mike. Yes, Mike sat on Mike. He took us through the back roads to the pyramids. It was really cool. We got to see how the locals lived in their day to day life. Oh yea, in Muslim countries, Friday is like a Sunday to them. Friday and Saturday are their weekends. Anyway, here are some pictures.

This was a view we saw while riding towards the pyramids. The pyramids and the sphinx are actually quite close to civilization and is probably the easiest Egyptian monument/landmark to get to. The green section is actually part of a golf course.

The first thing we saw was the Sphinx. So Abdul, our guide from the hotel and owner of the camels, told us that it was built to guard the pharaohs in the pyramids. There are two entrances to the pyramids. The above ground one where everyone sees and the underground passage through the Sphinx. We asked him about why the nose was missing and Abdul said it was because Napoleon shot it down. Here you can see that the Sphinx is facing the city of Giza.

This is a view of the nine pyramids of Giza. Hopefully you can see the 3 large ones, for three different pharaohs who were actually related if I remember correctly. So you have father, son and grandson. The smaller three on the left belong to 3 wives of one of the pharaohs. The grandson I believe. The very right large pyramid is the largest and belongs to the father. There are three small pyramids on the very left (you can barely see it) and they belong to his 3 sons. Hmmm...maybe the three pharaohs aren't related. Haha.

This is the second largest pyramid. See how tiny the people are?! One block is bigger than one person and weighs...a couple of tons.

Around the pyramid is just dessert. Dessert as far as the eye can see. And tourists and lots of people asking if you want to rent a horse or camel. By the way, our camel ride and guide costs us EGP$600 (about $120) and we tipped our main guide $20 and the boy with him $10.

After our ride, which lasted about 2 hours, Abdul took us to this museum/shop where they sold papyrus and essence. Essence is a big thing in Egypt. According to the owner, all perfume companies get their smell from Egyptian essence and add alcohol to it. Essence is best from Egypt because that's supposedly where it started from since they had to make it for the mummification. We bought two 60 gram bottles. One for Mike's mom and one for me. It was $1 for 1 gram! Very expensive, but if you are a perfume person it's actually very cheap because you only have to use a SMALL drop to get the smell you want. And you can add water (1 part essence 9 parts water) or alcohol to it to make it a "normal" perfume. I have a .25 ounce bottle of perfume, which has lasted me the past 3 years and is still going strong. So this bottle is going to last me a lifetime. Plus, I can use it in a bubble bath too! I used it once since I was back and Mike says I smelled really nice and my skin was very soft. Hehe. Mike's mom's essence is called Friday and is made up of 5 flowers. Mine is called Arabian Night and made up of 25 flowers! There's one for men that is made up of 100 flowers!!! Hahaha Mike didn't get any, but the owner did give us about 15 grams of the orange essence in hope that we'll buy another bottle. He's a very tricky, nice, and good business man. Unfortunately for him I'm too cheap to fall into his trips. Oh yea! He also gave us these really cute glassblown containers to keep our essences in.