My first car

Finally, pictures of my 2000 Ford Focus SE.

Cool???

I like the headlights

Side view

Back...

My Michigan plate...

Not so cool...

Really high milleage...

scratched at parking lot...

And another...

New brake drums...

Doesn't matter if it's cool or not, I am totally dependent on this car coz

no car = no work

since there's no public transport to get to Flint...

One thing that I will definitely not miss at the end of my internship is the drive everyday...

Car, oh car!!!

Initially, I plan to take pictures of my car and post them on my blog, just for remembrance before I sell it off after I'm done with my internship. When I reach home, I try to bring out Joo's stuff from the passenger seats at the back just so that I can get a better picture later. The back doors are locked and I try to unlock by pushing a button at the driver's door...and WALLA!!! I hit the wrong one and instead I LOCK MY CAR!!!!

My ONLY car key, cell phone and purse are all locked up. Although I know it's useless, I try opening every door but they are all locked!!!

I get Joo out of the apartment to see if she has any idea to open the doors but she is clueless too. I try opening my trunk (the lock is broken) but there isn't any button that I can push to unlock my car.

After many unsuccessful attempts to open the car, I suddenly remember that the back seats of some cars can be opened from the inside. I try to examine my car from the trunk and conclude that the back seats can be opened too. I look at every possible angle to see if I can open the back seats from the trunk and finally, I see a spring which I can release to push back the back seat.

Finally, I manage to get back my keys by going through the trunk and my back seats.

Mind you, this is just one of the many experiences that I have had since I got this car and they are "wok wok sen sin wok wok gham".

It was not long ago that I had yet another dreadful experience.

Last Thursday, my car broke down and I had to send it for repair at Flint. I needed to move into Willowtree in the evening on the same day and of all time, my car chose the very day that I needed it to fail me. Well...it could still move, but there was a loud noice from the back and later it started to sway to the left and right of the road when I was driving on the highway.

Seriously, I was kind of afraid that I will lose control of the car but luckily I made it to Flint by driving slowly. Apparently, something in my brake drum wasn't greased properly and as a result, the surface was overheated and it became glazed. Also, the heat damage the brake ball bearings too. According to the mechanics, after a long time, all these reduced the brake efficiency and if I don't change my brake drums soon, the tires will fall off.

My guess is that the brakes were in a bad condition when I bought the car and the 2 hours a day driving plus the "driving without releasing hand brake" on Wednesday must have deteriorated my brakes.

Anyway, the repair cost my $400+ and since I need to wait for a day til they fix my car, I rented a car which add on another $60 to my loss of use.

Ouch!!! I guess this means less shopping for me....

It's move out day!!!

I take a day off from work and start off by going up north to get the Budget truck with Jason. When we arrive, we smell burned rubber...and after taking a closer look at my car, we see smoke coming out from my tire!!! OMG!!! I am guessing it's because I forget to release the hand brake...gosh....I hope no serious damage is caused.

Anyhow, after getting the truck, Jason help Andrew to move out his furniture and I start moving my stuff from my apartment at the third floor to the car park. Moving stuff alone is definitely not fun and tiring. I really miss the days when we all move in and out together...the work might be still the same...but I don't feel as tired as I am today...and we have more fun moving together.

I try to count how many rounds I need to go up and down the stairs but I lose count half way...but I'm guessing....20+ rounds maybe....which means I have lots of exercise today...haha :)

Boxes of stuff that I need to move to the car park...

and food...

I was so happy (and proud) when I finally move all the boxes and clear my hallway...

As soon as I turn my back and walk into my room...
"Opps....I almost forgot I still have stuff in the closet that I need to move down..."

When I finally carry everything except the tv and futon (which are too heavy for me to carry) Jason, Wei Chieh and Andrew come to help me out (Thank you guys so much, I owe you a big one).

And now, my stuff are all stored in the truck...and I am sleeping at Jason's place for a night...

I'm really tired now and I plan to go to bed early to get some rest before I start my day tomorrow working and MOVING IN....

Zzzz....

Be careful with what you wish for

Not long ago, I wished to get more directions...

I do get more directions now...

but most of them are either wrong, questionable or not applicable....

I would rather find my own way...

I gotta be more precise with what I wish for....

Packing

Moving has became part of my life as a student. Since freshman year, we move out at the end of winter term and move in before the start of fall term. After doing this for so many times, did I get better in packing and moving?

NO!

Conversely , I take more time to pack every year...because the amount of things that I have grows almost exponentially. I remember the first time I moved out, I could fit everything in a car....and now, I need a Uhaul truck...I have more clothes, books, cooking utensils, sauces and food, and not to mention furniture...

Packing is not only about boxing everything up, it also includes finishing my food in the fridge (which is still not emptied) and disassembling things like lamps to place them back to their boxes. As I mentioned in my previous post, I'll be moving out this Wednesday. I'm now about.....75% done with packing...

Some of my stuff and 2 of Mas's
(Mas, can you spot yours? =P )

More boxes in the closet...

Finally, I manage to fit this lamp back into the box...

They look like they want a picture!!!

Well...packing this time is not too bad after all....since most of my stuff remains in the boxes since I move in....however...moving still remains an unpleasant thought....

and thanks Renjie, for the moral support!!!

I need a break!!!

So many things are going on concurrently.

~My supervisor is asking if I wanna stay in this company.

~The person who sublet his apartment to us just decided that he is not gonna stay here next year, so we need to move out by 13th and I can only move in to Willow on 14th. Willow still can't tell if I can move in earlier and hence I will be homeless one day...nevertheless, moving is such a pain...thinking about packing, cleaning and moving stuff gives me a headache...

~The incoming freshmen are all coming at different time...I need to think about transport, temporary housing...

~Studying for C...

I am tired....

Listening

In one of our meetings, all but one person did not understand what the major problem is, let alone how we try to resolve it.

The thing is: He WASN'T LISTENING!!!

Perhaps, I should get him a coffee in the old Starbucks cup with this quote printed on it:


The Way I See It #280

You can learn a lot more from listening than you can from talking. Find someone with whom you don't agree in the slightest and ask them to explain themselves at length. Then take a seat, shut your mouth, and don't argue back. It's physically impossible to listen with your mouth open.

--John Moe
Radio host and author of Conservatize Me.