Spent over 5 hours today for work permit renewal.  They changed the process so now we submit paperwork as if it is the FIRST time!

Its ok though, in the end we save money because they now are basing fees in large part on a security bond.  That will run the 2k we expected and then renewals are just under a hundred bucks (ringgit).  There might be other fees or costs but I’ll exclude them (like my extension fee).

In the morning I’ll go and get a few pages added to my passport – its nearly full!  Should get all the approvals done and new permit this month sometime. While the process was really really slow, the customer service was good.  Only a few were grim faced most being friendly.

Waiting!:

Well Singapore IS clean but I spotted this security guy clipping his toenails and digging out crud from between his toes.  Where?  Suntec! 

Anyway, I found it kinda funny.

Back home things have turned cold again!  Looks a little something like this:

Meanwhile, our weather here is warm (hot).  Shovel your snow suckers! ha!

Actually, some snow would be good right about now.  :(

I dunno, something is just off about this.  I was stuck in line and after a couple of minutes it went into "creepy" stage.

Awrighty....

GPS? - Check
Mounted in a good viewing position and connected? - Check
Page long list of directions taken over the phone? - Check
Being less than 30 minutes away from lost anyway? - Check

Came across this on the way to a client site.

That is me on the right... co-worker sitting @ my desk.

Wow!  Now THAT is a good looking kid! I hope Karmini is ready for a blonde set of Indian twins... if only for a short period.  The first image is obvious.  The second is from 1 year 6 months of age... third is a mystery.  The fourth is from 1977 or around age 7 - lets call it the "hat pic" to call attention to how cool I was.  Somewhat close to when that pic was taken several things happened:

Carter as president (unemployment was 7%)
Elvis died, as did Charlie Chaplin, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx, and a few more celebs
Star Wars was in theaters!  Yes I watched it when "new".  Ticket prices were just over $2
I never wore bellbottoms or plaid pants again.
I took to shorter hair.  For a while.
First episodes of "LOVE BOAT" and "Three's Company".  "Roots" owned TV - everyone watched
The original "Fun With Dick and Jane" was in theaters.  Oddly, I just watched the new one a few hours ago
TRS-80 From Radio Shack, Commodore "PET", and the Apple II were introduced
"Saturday Night Fever" was out... as was "Close Encounters of the 3rd kind"
Rocky was up for some awards in from prior year.
Space shuttle anyone?
Three's Company debuts
Optical Fiber used for the first time
Son of Sam murders going on in NYC
Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Live Tyler were born

Below are three pictures from locations in Wichita Kansas where I lived for a period up to around the time my "hat" pic was taken.  The first is a local Dillons store where I and some other kids figured out that if you put ONE penny in the gumball machine you could just keep turning it over and over.  My jaw still hurts.  The second image is of some neighbor kids house... didnt know him real well but he had a moped.  Cool.  The third image is of the gas station VERY near the apartment we lived in.  It was here we all felt the need to air up our bicycle tires, but onl the kid with the chopper bike had a blowout.  Quite loud and very funny.  Being a 2" slick, the rear tire was unique for its day - way ahead of the Orange County boys.

Douglas and Meridian area,  moped house just a few blocks south, and gas station @ Maple & Meridian

Pictured below is the front then rear of the apartment my mother and I were living in.  I remember building my "car city" with roads and stuff in the back as there wasnt much grass.  The upper floor toward the front was our apartment.  If I recall, its the righthand windows only. 

The last picture in this set is of I *think* Meridian Elementary School (now Metro-Meridian Alternative High School).  Its here that some other kid broke all my new crayons then sat on me in a closet.  Actually, he sat on me with the help of some other kid but he was too big to remove on my own so a buddy came by and pulled him off - yeah I was smaller.  This must have ticked off mister bully because I found the crayons after that.  See the pics?  Too poor to buy more! Grr.  Wish I knew who that was, would be fun to call up now.

I was near Sedgwick and Burton when I found out Elvis was dead.  I was facing North and as kids did at the time, standing in the street.  Maybe walking.  Anyway, someone came half jogging down the road telling everyone.  I reserve the right to be completely wrong but pretty sure the car is parked where I stood that day:

That is all!  Hope you got a kick out of this, it was fun gathering the photos and thinking back to that time.  I only wish there were pics of my BigWheel... or a vid of me on it vs the "new kid" and his Green Machine

• An alien looking thing
• Giant Gojira crashing through a snow fort  <-- my favorite
• Snowchick in bikini
• "Will work for frosty" snowman on North Main street

 If you look close through the Prairie tallgrass <wink>, you can just make me out standing on the porch.  It worked out that I had to leave the camera behind to fight my way through, otherwise I wouldnt have the picture at all!

Getting past the thick growth, one can see its not a bad house... Just small.  Nobody was home, but it was refreshing to see the owners still had some holiday spirit to leave decorations up.  Or maybe just lazy... oh well. 

 Another house... its a little larger.  They must have money! I would have went for a closer shot but landscaping like this says, "keep off" unless invited.

 Edit: below is "proof" via the Newton Kansan that a whole neighborhood of mini houses are planned.  <grin>  Story appeared the day after my entry.  Funny.

*If you buy this, then I have things to sell you.

Wow.  Houses here are kinda pricey for what you get on the OUTSIDE.  Inside you can do pretty good, but forget carpets.  Yeah, they have them but its more like a "rug" and you bring your own.  The weather prevents it I suppose.  Ditto for plaster walls and lasting wallpaper. 

Looked at a few today and some of them are dang big inside.  One in particular was very much what I would like inside but not so sure on its location yet... still looking to compare.

Going to concentrate on Sunway area (not far from Pyramid) and see what we come up with.  Might take 6 months, but we will be home owners again!  :)

I am contracted by Nazar Travels & Tours SDN. BHD. to work on web based promotions and maintenance so I come to their office to work.  I COULD work from the apartment, and do, but this is a good location in Bangsar and gets me out of the "house".

There are a number of rooms here... this is what you see when walking in and turning slightly to the right.  Most of the staff here deal with booking/ticketing.  The majority of clients will come to this area when visiting in person.

Working your way to toward the rear of the agency you find a little room... not much bigger than a closet! Ok, its not that small.  Room enough to share with one of my BIL's!  Funny how my jobs always seem to keep me hidden and out of sight. heh.