Mmmm's Brain Dump

As of 8:25pm today, I've officially been in Seattle for 3 years! Moved out here 3 years ago today with 2 suites cases and 1 backpack and my life on my own started.

3 years had gone by.  Lots changed. 

Things you encounter on the bus rides can be quite amusing some times. 

Last weekend, on ST545 from Redmond to Seattle, at Microsoft campus stop, some Chinese dude comes up to the bus and tells the driver in his heavy Chinese accent, "Sorry, could you wait for few min? my friends are coming".  The bus driver looks at his mirror and doesn't see anyone running or crossing the street.  He goes "It's your responsibility to make sure you are at the stop.  I don't see anyone coming".  The Chinese guy goes "Sorry sorry, they are coming they are coming".  After like 2 minutes, finally a group of Chinese people runs over and smiles and gets on the bus.

Today, on ST545, again at the Microsoft campus stop, more than usual number of people gets on the bus. The bus is literally packed.  Five of us were sitting at the very back of the bus, spanning the whole row.  This Indian lady comes over and without asking, aims to sit in between us.  Now, I know Chinese people aren't big build, but 5 people 5 seats...

Friend 1: Eh..excuse me, there isn't an extra seat here
Indian lady: (silence...still approaching)
Friend 1: Sorry, no seat
Indian lady: (now right in front of Friend 1 and Friend 2, begin turning and initiates the sitting down movement)
Friend 1: Uh oh...ahhhhh her arse is coming down!!!! (all of us scrambles to squeeze to avoid her sitting on us)

I was like wtf, there isn't a seat.  You don't just go and force your butt into people and expecting them to move or you just gonna sit on them.

Wendy's has this great amazing way of upselling.

All of their meal menues are priced at Small Combo.  But when you order, the cashier will ask "Would you like your meal as Medium or Large?" and making it sound as Medium is the default size, but in reality it isn't!

Medium is 50 cents more and Large is 90 cents more than the price on the menu which is Small.

How clever.

I want to see how many people actually get con into saying Medium thinking that's what the menu says.

It's pretty true that "Christians are the reason people come to believe, and Christians are also the reason people get turned off about Christianity"

This week I had the experience of feeling exactly what that statement meant.  While trying to ask my parents to go to church, my Mom said: "I have co-workers with different religious backgrounds, some Christians.  Sometimes some of the things they do, I feel like I am way better than they are"

I feel talking to my parents is hard.  I don't know if they are Chinese or if because they are Shanghainese (Shanghainese people are cocky, calculating, judgmental and feels they are all that...yes I am included).  They seem to holding very strongly on what they believe religion is, and one comment my Dad made made me think, to the question of "If I go to church once, do I need to go every week?", he says "Nah...just go when you want to listen to the message.  You don't have to go every week.  Your cousin who is Catholic in the States doesn't go every week".  Sure, I can understand that to most people attending church on Sunday is just a typical what Christians do...and aside form that religion is religion, you do stuff.  Thus, I can understand that if they feel they are a better person, it's fine to live without religion.  Although that's not what Christianity is about. 

I have no clue how to talk to my parents.  Nothing I can carries any weight.  Just hope and pray that their hearts will soften...

I have some luck this trip.  Coming in, I lost my luggage at Denver and had to rent the camera gear and pull out my old suit for the wedding.  Now on my return trip, the flight from YYZ to DEN was canceled 10 minutes prior to boarding.

The whole flight had about 70 people.

Some had alternative routes today.

United offered to put me at Sheraton tonight and find me another flight tomorrow.  Instead, I asked if they can put me on direct flight to Seattle on Air Canada.  Yeeppee, worked and I got put on first class too.  So, I have an extra day in Toronto.  I think this is good, it'll be a good breather for me.

Dinner voucher: $15.  Spent on: Swiss Chalet

Breakfast voucher $10.  I think I will spend it on Tim Hortons

Gotta enjoy this.  Services are horrible.

Beautiful wedding.  Great photos.  Time to touch them up and print out an album.

Love it.

Although I worked in the travel industry, I gotta say as a fellow traveler I have no faith what so ever in the current travel system.  When airline tells you 'don't know worry.  we will make sure your luggage makes it", how much is that just a bullshxt, manual stated response?

I took United Airlines flight from Seattle to Toronto, stopping over in Denver.  First leg landed 24 min late and by the time I got off, the second leg is already finishing boarding.  I ran and made it.  I asked the gate person, 'first flight just landed...' before I could finish, she says 'don't worry. this is international flight, your luggage has to travel with you.  so this plane will wait until all luggage are on board'.  Fine.

Arrived in Toronto.  First it was the ground crew didn't have a clue how to unload the luggage, apparently 737 has a special mechanism that ground crew don't know how to use.  After 30 min of delay, the bags started to roll...where the bleep is mine? I don't see it.  Along with 10 others.

Went up to the kiosk, and they go, yea your bag didn't get on the plane.  We'll deliver it.  Fill out this form.  - Great.  All my camera gear and wedding attire for tomorrow?  I was mad.  At that point I was like, what kind of shxty service do you guys offer? BS flows out of your employee's mouth without even stop for a second and think about what you are saying.  Try to make it up for the inconveniences and shxt that I have to go through to re-plan everything for my friends' wedding the following day? "yea we are sorry" my ass.

When is the next flight? Eh...in the afternoon.  I was like, why can't you guys put the luggage on another airline's carrier to bring it over ASAP? Why have to wait for another United flight?  You already inconvenienced the customer, now shouldn't you do something about it beyond finding a way around that is convenient to you?

Losing luggage due to airport facility break down is one thing - example: Heathrow or Vancouver.  It's another due to operation process stupidity is totally a separate issue.

Don't fly United or Air Canada.  Heck, don' fly any of the ones that have filed Chapter 11.  Fly Cathay, Virgin, BA, Quantas...