by Penny on August 15, 2010
Have you heard of the cool e-book reader called Kindle from Amazon.com? I’ve read raving reviews of the e-reader and it has even been scored better than the iPad as a reader. That must be something, to be placed ahead of iPad!
It’s sleek and slim, weighs a little less than a paperback book, comes with great looking accessories and the battery can last for weeks on end after just one full charge. It’s an amazing reader to be carrying around with lots of capacity to store countless books in. It comes with wi-fi too! Look at the latest generation of the Kindle pictured below, isn’t it so cool?
I was very keen to purchase it and after many weeks of thinking it over, I decided to give myself a treat and purchase it from Amazon’s website. But to my disappointment, I found that Amazon doesn’t deliver electronic products to Malaysia. Well, actually not just electronic products, there are some products they don’t send to this part of the world too.
After chatting with a friend about this, I was further enlightened with the “challenges” of trying to purchase a Kindle into Malaysia. Apparently shipping is only the first hurdle to cross. I was told that Amazon won’t even accept my credit card to pay for Kindle simply because it is a Malaysian credit card. I think due to the history of credit card frauds in this country, the USA has banned our credit cards for specific types of purchases. How sad, huh?
But it’s been quite long since this kind of credit card frauds have been happening here. I think most banks have already taken steps to beef up security of the cards to make it more difficult to clone them. Perhaps the level of security is still not as technologically advanced as compared to the US. We can’t be compared to the US where they even have rfid blocking wallets which are easily available to consumers.
I just hope that there will be some easier way for me to get a Kindle. It’s so sleek and useful. Such a pity we can’t enjoy such a gadget here. Anyone going to the US anytime soon? Can help to buy me one when you are there? 
by Penny on August 11, 2010
Ryan has a four-legged little brother now. His name is Snoopy. Snoopy is a 9-month old male beagle. We first took him home on Sunday so it’s just been a few days he’s with us. I must say he’s been very well behaved thus far, albeit some drama that happened on the second day he was here.
While we were all out in the daytime, the little fellow managed to crawl out of the house and luckily wandered into our neighbour’s place where he was kept until we returned. The same night while we were out for dinner, he again managed to “escape” and this time he wandered off further to a nearby playground. Luckily for us again, a kind neighbour saw the dog and someone walked him back to the safety of our neighbour’s home again where he waited for our return.
Since then we’ve made sure he’s got no room to squeeze out again. Now his favourite spot is to sleep under my car. I don’t know why.
He does like Ryan a lot. The first day he got here, he seems to only eye Ryan and whenever Ryan came near, he would wag his tail. When Ryan walked away, his tail drooped. So cute.
One thing about Snoopy is that he doesn’t bark much. Since he has been with us for 4 days now, I’ve only heard him bark 3 times. Even when people came by the house, he wouldn’t bark! Hmm…it doesn’t seem like Snoopy is the kind that guards the home for us. Still a good idea to get some sturdy Kwikset locks for the house despite having a dog now. Haha!
It’s been fun having Snoopy around although we have not spent much time with him yet. He’s really adorable. I’m sure both Ryan and Snoopy will enjoy each other’s company as they grow up together.
by Penny on August 5, 2010
Don’t get me wrong, I think I’m a pretty good driver. Just that when I drive the family car which is a bigger car, I don’t seem to be able to estimate distances well. Since we got the car, I think I’ve caused several damages to it already.
The most recent few times that I drove it, I scratched the tire as well as the rims. Ouch!! I’m not the one paying for those replacement tires but I know they aren’t cheap. Luckily we don’t own a 4-wheel drive where we probably have to maintain an extra tire and we’ll have to fork out more for a 5th wheel warranty.
Because of my clumsiness when driving the family car, I prefer not to drive it when I go out alone with Ryan. Although he’s a really good boy and doesn’t distract me while I’m driving and he stays in his car seat, I still don’t feel as steady.
Looks like the next time I change cars, if I decide to, I won’t be opting for another family car. I feel in total control when driving my own car, maybe because I’m so used to it. It’s like that isn’t it, once you get used to the car, it feels like second nature when you’re behind the wheels. So really, I’m not such a terrible mummy-driver…when you see me on the road, no need to avoid me OK? 
by Penny on July 31, 2010
A few weeks earlier Ryan suffered from a hip joint dislocation and went for Chinese traditional massage treatment complete with medical equipment and all. The morning he received treatment, he was pretty well by night. At least he could walk and wasn’t in pain anymore. Two days later, we brought him for a follow-up treatment and by then he was already like normal, running and jumping like usual.
We’re just very thankful that he’s alright and he had a very fast recovery. Although the doctor told him to rest and not jump for a week, he could never do that. Being the active boy that he is, he can’t stop his usual daily activity of running about, climbing and jumping. What to do, it’s so hard to stop him unless you watch him every single second.
We just hope that going forward this hip joint matter will not be a weak point. Now we have to watch him more carefully to make sure he doesn’t twist any which way he wants while playing. You know how kids are, though they are flexible, they shouldn’t be twisting and turning here and there. Now I know the consequences of them doing so and it sure is painful!
by Penny on July 16, 2010
A few months ago we bought Ryan a book from MPH called Zoo Animals. It only cost me RM16.90 and it’s really worth its value in terms of providing education and fun for all of us.
This book teaches about animals and there are plenty of them to learn about. We adults learned something from the book too. We also discovered a fun part to this book.
There’s actually a little “treasure hunting” in this book. Illustrations of animals crowd the pages of the book and on each, the author slips in a little surprise by putting in things that do not belong and we’ll have to find them.
You’ll have to find hidden dinosaurs amongst zoo animals, flying objects amidst metal buildings by the park, mammals mixed up in aqua life, etc.
Some of them are easy enough to find at a glance, so Ryan can easily spot them too. Some are more difficult, even for adults to spot them, it requires lots of patience.
Nevertheless, we are still having fun with the book as we have yet to find everything we need to. Am thinking of going back to the book store to see if they have more of the same series. I think I’m more hooked on the treasure hunt than Ryan is!
Try out this book. And if I find more I’ll let you know again
