Tidbits At Work: I'm Not Crazy!

The other day I was working as the cashier in our store and then a coworker came by with her children to buy groceries. It was rather quiet at that time and before I started serving her, I pressed the button to call another cashier. My coworker turned around and then turned back at me with such a surprised look on her face and then I realized why she had that look.

I laughed and said, "I'm NOT crazyyyyy!!! It's time for my break, so I pressed the button."

She laughed, replying, "I was wondering why on earth you'd call another cashier because I saw nobody else behind me." 

LOL LOL LOLLLLL!!!! 


Oh yeah, while talking about this theme, today after work I went to another supermarket to buy something that wasn't sold in our place. While there, I browsed around to see if they had other interesting offers or products, so I was walking slowly around the store when a grandpa stopped me by asking, "Can you tell me where the cat food section is?"

I don't remember him at all, so I don't know if he just thought I was working there (which was odd because I wasn't wearing the store's uniform and I definitely looked like a foreigner so I had no idea why he knew I could speak Finnish), but I thought that I wasn't in a hurry anyway, so I asked the worker there where the cat food section was and he asked me to come along with him.

So I did. I showed him where the cat food selection was and he told me to take some for him. I had NOOOO idea what kind of cat food he was looking for, so I asked him what kind of cat food he was looking for - dry or wet? He told me that he usually bought the ones in bags, so I picked one and he said, "Yeah, that's the one. Take some."

Again I got a bit confused because that type had three different flavours and I told him about the selection, but he said, "It doesn't matter which kind."

I picked two and put them in his cart, but he told me to take more, so I asked him how many cats he had. He said it was a stray cat that had been abandoned by somebody, so he took the cat in. How thoughtful of him! :-D

After I took about a dozen in total (they were small bags), he thanked me and we parted way. What an interesting encounter! :-D  
 

Childhood Memories: French Baguette

One of the memorable treats that we got when we were children was the long French baguettes. At that period of life in my hometown, it was quite a rarity. At that time kids were still playing folk games with their friends and computers were unheard of. Plenty of my neighbours didn't have any fridge yet. There were no big malls, just small private owned stores selling daily needs and snacks and goodies. It was a very different period of life.
 
At that time there was this HUGE supermarket in Dago Street catering to expats and rich people in Bandung. Well, the place looked especially huge for small children with short legs, though if I compare them to the huge malls all over that city nowadays, it's not that huge after all. 

Anyway, this particular supermarket sold plenty of exquisite goods at a rather high price and at the back of it there was a bakery. The bakery sold lots of things, but we only went there to buy French baguettes and some ham or sausage. The ham and sausage were so delicious when eaten with the freshly baked baguette, but we knew they cost a lot of money, so it was a rare treat and we enjoyed every bite of it. :-D


Until now I still remember clearly coming home on a motorcycle behind Dad while holding the French baguette in my hand tightly while the neighbours' children looked at the long bread in awe, because it wasn't something that you could find everywhere. I remember feeling as though I was holding a Light Sabre in my hand HA HA HA HA...I don't know if the supermarket is still there now or not. The last time I was there years and years ago, I think the supermarket chain has changed owner or something (my memory is getting blurry), but don't know what happens to it now. 

Do you have any special childhood treat that you remember fondly? 
 

Bulgarian Trip #1

Going back to work after holiday is never easy. This time was especially tough 'coz I started working again by doing something completely new, something that I had received some training prior my holiday but never really got any chance to have some real practice yet. I was a bit worried about it, but thankfully my coworkers helped me, so I wasn't completely lost. Still the first day was tough and my body was very sore after the first shift was over ha ha...The second day went better and I'm thankful that today was a free day 'coz I have two weekend shifts. :-D

Anyway, let me share a few photos of our Bulgarian trip. As I had stated before, we were pretty lazy travellers this time, so we didn't really roam too much. Here are some of the things I bought:

1. A fleece jacket.
2. A pair of jeans at around €20 (at least I don't have to shorten them - in Finland I can get them cheap on a discount as well, but more often than not I have to shorten them and shortening a pair of jeans the last time around cost €10/pair).
3. A pair of relaxing pants.
4. A few types of body butter that cost double in Finland. I LOVE body butter!!!
5. A pair of polarized sunglasses at €18. 
6. Half a dozen bottles of chili sauce (local and Indonesian brand LOL!!!), emperor's rice AKA ketan hitam, Indomie (Indonesian instant noodles), and chocolate. 

We had a full-body massage twice at the hotel we stayed in (it's called Relax Holiday Complex & Spa). It was GREAT. :-D The bad thing was that there was only one masseuse, so we couldn't have the treatment side-by-side, but it's still cheap compared to the same kind of treatment in Finland (in Finland it can cost double). It cost around €30/person/hour.

I also tried billiard for the first time in my life (it cost around €2/game) he he...they had a pool table and a gym and sauna and Turkish bath in the basement floor, but we only tried billiard a few times. I laughed so much the first time I tried billiard 'coz I often miss hitting the white ball ROFL ROFL ROFL...but it was fun anyway!

Here are some pics:

Arttu's first taste of local beer on the beach nearest our hotel. We decided not to stay in a hotel directly across the beach, so in order to reach the beach (esp. the central part of Sunny Beach), we had to walk a few kilometres. I ordered a glass of fresh orange juice in the bar below that cost only €1. :-D VERY cheap!!!

Below is a sneak peek of one of the 5-star hotel along the main part of Sunny Beach. If you wonder why the photo angle is strange, it's because I didn't dare get inside the area 'coz there was a guard standing in front of the gate, so I only took pictures from above the bushes on top of the gate surrounding the hotel.

Me trying billiard for the first time in my life. Yep, that pillar next to me was quite annoying indeed he he he...

This car was parked in the yard of the nearest Zora supermarket. :-D

Found this butterfly while walking towards the beach area...

Posing in front of this Buddha statue in front of the Chinese resto. We tried eating there once and the food was quite good, but rather pricy. No wonder the place never looked full! However, the service was VERY VERY quick!!! We ordered two dishes and in about 5 minutes we could start eating already (even though I did hear the cook prepare the dishes in the kitchen). The fastest service ever in our entire time in Bulgaria!

I just thought the colours looked nice 'coz it's rare to find buildings with this colour in Finland he he...

While walking towards the beach from our hotel, look what happened below!!! We ran out of sidewalk!!! But just keep on walking...the first time around I felt a bit giddy walking there 'coz I was a bit afraid a car might hit me or something he he he...

 

A half moon and a full moon. The first beach photo was taken in the middle of the centre of Sunny Beach, whereas the second one was taken nearer our hotel at the end of Sunny Beach (actually closer to Sveti Vlas area).

We also went to an Indian restaurant once, which was again very empty. Why? I suppose it was quite expensive, as well. In my opinion, the food was OK, even though R2 thought it was great, but I think I've had better Indian food. I can't stop remembering the lovely Indian food we had in Vienna or in a small resto in Helsinki he he...

R2 swimming...the water was cool! :-D

OK, I think this is enough for now. I'll continue sharing some more photos later on. Have a blessed and relaxing weekend, people! I'll have a busy weekend at work ha ha ha...

Felt Like a Dork!

Earlier today I went to the supermarket to buy some spices 'coz I was craving for some kind of Indonesian food called "Soto Ayam" (ayam = chicken). I knew that it was probably impossible for me to cook it EXACTLY like the recipe I found online since I wouldn't be able to find all the necessary ingredients or spices, but I thought as long as I could produce a similar taste, I'd be happy.

First of all I went to a store since they had discounts. I needed tank tops for housewear and found two at a 50% discount. I also needed to buy a birthday gift for Pirita's mother who's going to throw her 40th birthday party on Friday, January 4th. I was at first thinking of buying her a package of lotion, body scrub, and stuff like that, but they proved to be expensive. If I chose a cheaper package, then the tubes would be SO TINY ha ha ha ha...

In the end I decided to buy her a warm shawl which was on a 50% discount. I was torn between choosing a dark brown one and a colourful (cheerful) one. I fell in love with the colourful one, but I wasn't sure that she was the kind of woman who liked wearing too colourful dresses. And I thought that if I bought the dark brown one, it'd be easy for her to mix and match it with any colour of clothes.

Anyway, after buying all those, I went to the supermarket and while I was busy looking for the spices, I realized there was someone near me with a child and the person was waving once, but since that person didn't say a thing, I kept on browsing at the shelves. Since I don't have many people that I know here, I don't normally browse for familiar faces anywhere, you know? BIG mistake!!!

After some time, the person called my name, "Amel!" WHOOOPPSSS!!! It was Pirita's mother and Pirita!!! (For those who're new to this blog, Pirita's Dad is my hubby's best friend and cousin) And since I was SO shocked, I didn't know what to say! I just stood there like a dork that I was and smiled at Pirita. I wanted to talk to Pirita, but then all the Finnish words flew out of my mind HA HA HA HA HA...

After some awkward silent moments, Pirita's Mom asked me if Arttu was still at work and I said yes. Then she said that she went to the supermarket with her brother and wife (or was it sister and husband?). Then somebody phoned her, so she said goodbye to me and I was relieved.

I'm really NOT good at small talk and I'm much better off with someone who's talkative so I don't have to think of anything to say HE HE HE HE...Actually I was thinking to myself to say to her, "Grocery shopping, eh?" But I didn't say it since it'd be a pretty stupid thing to say. After all, it was a supermarkkkeeettttt!!!

Oh well...maybe next time I should prepare some small talk before I go anywhere. I just hope she wasn't offended by my silence he he he he he...

Almost forgot to add: I did cook "Soto Ayam" after I went home and it tasted DELICIIOOUUUUSSSSS!!!!! It brought me back to Indo for a while hi hi hi hi hi hi...However, I don't know if Arttu will like it or not. We'll see about that he he he he...

All in all, today's been a WONDERFUL day (except for my dorky moments HA HA HA...) and my rashes are almost gone. I still feel a tad itch here and there sometimes, but it's nothing much.

3BT: December 18, 2007

1. One of my closest friends who didn't have an internet at home came back to her old house just to chat with me and I was at home when she sent me SMS to ask me to chat. So we had quite a long chat. HUA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA...It felt SO GOOD to reconnect, baby!!! ;-D

2. Teasing that friend who tried to tease me. Here's the conversation:

Her : Hey, I LOVE looking at your pics in Friendster. You look SO tiny when you're beside R2.
Me : Yeah, but a sexy tiny girl. *grin*
Her : Ah, but you still look like an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GIRL!
Me : Yeah, an elementary school girl with a body like a guitar HUA HA HA HA HA HA...
Her : Oh no...not again!!!!

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL!!!! Then I got to tell this conversation to R2 and he laughed, too!!!

3. R2 meeting me at the supermarket since I was afraid of walking home with two big supermarket bags since it was slippery outside. And he was right on time HUE HE HE HE HE HE HE...

4. Having a hubby who's also a VERY generous and VERY patient lover. He's THE BEST!!! And we always cuddle and kiss and praise each other afterwards HUE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE...Ehem...am I being too blunt here? But this is my blog, right? I have the right to remain open (not silent) HA HA HA HA HA HA HA...

5. Feeling naughty and sassy and sexy and excited whenever hubby comes home. I feel like jumping around like a little puppy to greet him (and sometimes I do imitate a little puppy jumping around to meet him) ha ha ha ha ha ha...

6. Dark chocolate. YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS!!! ;-D

7. I found oranges again on sale. They were only €0.99 per kilogram and they were SO delicious. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-D

3BT: October 1, 2007

1. Today I was SOOO ecstatic 'coz when I was walking home from the supermarket, I spotted a cute squirrel trying to find some food near my apt. building, so I stopped and tried to approach it slowly, very slowly, then I stopped when it was about 1 metre away from me.

It kept on moving up and down nimbly and then after a while it moved to a tree on my direction. At first it jolted to see me, but since I didn't even move once inch, it MADE EYE CONTACT WITH ME! WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I was only about 40 cm away from the squirrel. It felt SO GREAT!!! ;-D The first time a squirrel made eye contact with me!!! YIIIHHHAAAAA!!!!! I wish I had had my camera with me so that I could have had it on tape he he he...Oh well...

This is a pic of a Finnish squirrel that stole a Kinder egg he he he he...Found it in the below site:

Pic taken from this site: Caffeine Overdose

2. Making my own pizza from scratch and then it tasted SOOOOO GOOD hi hi hi hi...Topping: mince meat (of course cooked with garlic and tomatoes), reindeer meat, salami, mushroom (only on my side of the pizza), pineapple (only on his side of the pizza), jalapeno chili, and cheese. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...Yeah, I'm a foodie he he he he...

3. Hubby hiding behind the door when I went home from the supermarket and spooked me (he was home for lunch). DARN him he he he he he...

3BT: Weekend Wrap

1a. Enjoying my fave songs from this band, Mr. Big. Here's one KEWL video, To Be With You. I LOVE Eric Martin's voice!!! MMMMMMMMMMMM...



1b. Watching a perfectly cloudless, starry sky and a crescent from our apt. window. SUCH a lovely, lovely night!

2. Watching thick fog in the early morning. It was breathtaking!!!

3. Having a chance to pick lingonberries on such a SUNNY day!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY!!!

4. My mother-in-law's thoughtfulness. She asked me if I got tired after berry picking and then she offered us food. Again!

5. My mother-in-law's delicious chicken curry. VERY spicy!!! YUM!!!

6. My mother-in-law gave us a KILO of reindeer/moose meat. It's marinaded already, so I don't have to slice up the meat or process it. Plus we can't really afford buying that much reindeer meat, so I TRULY appreciate it!!! HALLELUJAH for wonderful mother-in-laws!!! God bless her!

7. Saw two MOST BEAUTIFUL deer in the forest right after we finished picking up the berries. I'd seen other deer before, but those two made me feel like I was in a Fairy Tale land. As if I were Snow White who went to the forest to pick berries and play with the deer. I LOVE this lifeeeeeeeee!!! ^____________________________^

8. Receiving SMS from my future sister-in-law he he he he...

9. Having a chance to chat with two of my closest friends today via YM. YEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!

10. Hubby drove me to the supermarket today to buy food plus ICE-CREAM!!! I'm going to eat it later tonight. And being grateful that there's a regular un-pricey supermarket which is open every Sundays in this little village. YIIIPPPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!! ;-D

WHOOPS!!! Almost forgot this one...

11. Hubby downloaded a movie I had wanted to download, so I could watch it already on Friday. That day was his gaming day at his cousin's house, but he spent a minute to send me a very sweet SMS. I LOVE that guy!!! ;-D