One of Those Bad Days (2) - Wrong Flight

Sunday, 1 June 2014

Whole time during the day, Uncle CN was in Mike's mind.   Talking to Roger that evening, Mike learnt that Uncle CN had passed away that morning.   Mike love and respect Uncle CN for his kindness when Mike was a young boy.   We talked about driving the 21 hours or flying there for Uncle CN's funeral.

Monday, 2 June 2014

It was after 5 pm that the funeral was confirmed for 10 am on Wednesday in Okemah Oklahoma.   Mike accepted my views to fly to the funeral himself.   We could not afford the cost of airfares for both of us.   And I did not feel up to the drive, due to gastric attacks since Friday.    He bought his air ticket from the US Airways reservation agent, via the phone.    I saw the fare in the bank account.   An hour passed and Mike had not received the itinerary.   I called the airlines and found that the email address was incorrect!  I had heard Mike reading the email address over the phone but I did not hear the reservation clerk reading it back to ensure it is accurate.

Tuesday, 3 June 2014

The flight that Mike thought he had booked was Tampa/Charlotte/Fayetteville AR but the flights that he got on was Tampa/Charlotte/Fayetteville NC (10:20/12:05-14:37/15:30).    

6:24 pm, Mike messaged that he was in the wrong airport!     I checked the itinerary email.  It read Tampa FL to Fayetteteville NC!   It was partly my fault for not noticing the error in the name of the State!   Mike carried a hard copy of the itinerary and didn't realise the mistake as well.  Mike didn't realised he had boarded the "wrong" flight (right flight according to the confirmation email) nor did he realised the mistake inside the plane (with the announcements) or at landing that it is NC and not AR that the flight has taken him! 

Mike's cousin had waited at Fayetteville AR, called and asked him where he was. Mike said he was already there and then he saw a sign that said Fayetteville NC! We are thankful that the US Airways humbly recognised that there was a mistake on the part of the booking clerk.   Mike was put up at the Holiday Inn hotel (910-323-1600, room 1061) for the night.   US Airways arranged for him to fly tomorrow by Delta Airlines: Fayetteville NC/Atlanta/Tulsa (6:00/7:19-8:35/9:35)(ref. 5084Y).    His return flight, on Saturday, was also amended to Fayetteville AR/Charlotte/Tampa (7:05/10:20-11:35/13:12) by US Airways.

Wednesday, 4 June 2014

Mike arrived at the Delta counter as directed.  A young lady confirmed his name was on the their list, however the US Airways had not booked it properly.  5 mins to 6 am flight, Mike was handed a ticket and told to go the departure gate.  The boarding pass was not done properly and Mike was denied boarding.

Long story short, Mike missed his Uncle's funeral.   He was very unhappy with the way US Airways handled the situation.   He asked that US Airways would just fly him back to Tampa FL.   They said they have to charge for the change in date!   Mike was no angry that he bought a ticket with the Delta Airlines and flew back this day.

This whole situation and mistake cost us $819.32 (inclusive of $523.50 wrong return ticket by US Airways, $211.50 one way ticket with Delta Airlines, and other expenses).   It is as if that amount has been thrown away.   It is very upsetting when you are already living on a budget.

Personally, both US Airways and we (the customers) are to share the mistake.   US Airways should have accommodated Mike's wish to just fly back to Tamps on the 4th June without any charge for the change of date.   Also Mike should have realised the mistake, through the announcements, etc.

As of date, the US Airways gave Mike till the 1 June 2015 to use the remaining of his ticket with no charge in the change of original date.

One of Those Bad Days (1)

Wednesday, 7 August 2013

Mike has booked to fly Tampa/Atlanta/Little Rock (5:25/6:48 - 7:45/8:13) but couldn't get on the flight because he had to conceal his unloaded gun in a box.   He ended up buying a tool box and a lock.   He was put on a 8 something flight and arrived in Little Rock at 1:30 pm.

Question:  Didn't Mike check the carrying of gun policy on flight?  If he did, there must be a misunderstanding.

Mike booked to pick the budget truck from a place near the Little Rock airport but the truck was not available.   Thankfully our friend SeanM who was meeting Mike at the airport offered to drive 40 miles to the nearest dealer to pick an available truck.   I had confirmed with the landlord that we are moving out of the condominium this day.

Question:  Why didn't Mike write to the budget truck to voice his grievance of unavailable truck and the distance to get one?   Budget truck should compensate us for the mileage incurred.

9 Months In the Womb

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

This is an amazing video (in Indonesian). Evariny Andriana did a great job clipping the original National Geographic video. The music by Vina Panduwinata is lovely.



I don't know you, but it brought tears to my eyes - the miracle and creation of God.

Learning to Love?

Saturday, 2 May 2009

Thank you Sister Cathy for forwarding this to me. Maybe the Lord wants me to hear this. You didn't know it is my second wedding anniversary today.

I wish I have learnt this and your presentation on the five languages of love when I was young and single. I guess there is a reason for everything that had happened.......... and it is never too late to learn.

This is a very good article, read it.
Those who are still single may learn something from here....
Those who are already married may take it as a guideline to improve your marriage....

DID I MARRY THE RIGHT PERSON?

During one of our seminars, a woman asked a common question.
She said, "How do I know if I married the right person?"
I noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so I said, "It depends. Is that your husband?" In all seriousness, she answered "How do you know?"

Let me answer this question because the chances are good that it's weighing on your mind.

Here's the answer.

EVERY relationship has a cycle. In the beginning, you fell in love with your spouse. You anticipated their call, wanted their touch, and like their idiosyncrasies.

Falling in love with your spouse wasn't hard. In fact, it was a completely natural and spontaneous experience. You didn't have to DO anything. That's why it's called "falling" in love...

Because it's happening TO YOU.

People in love sometimes say, "I was swept off my feet." Think about the imagery of that __expression. It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing, and then something came along and happened TO YOU.

Falling in love is easy. It's a passive and spontaneous experience.

But after a few years of marriage, the euphoria of love fades. It's the natural cycle of EVERY relationship. Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse's idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, drive you nuts.

The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship, but if you think about your marriage, you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage.

At this point, you and/or your spouse might start asking, "Did I marry the right person?" And as you and your spouse reflect on the euphoria of the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with someone else. This is when marriages breakdown. People blame their spouse for their unhappiness and look outside their marriage for fulfillment.

Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes. Infidelity is the most obvious. But sometimes people turn to work, a hobby, a friendship, excessive TV, or abusive substances.

But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your marriage. It lies within it. I'm not saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else. You could.

And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a few years later. Because (listen carefully to this):

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON. IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER just happen to you. You can't "find" LASTING love. You have to "make" it day in and day out. That's why we have the __expression "the labor of love."

Because it takes time, effort, and energy. And most importantly, it takes WISDOM. You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your marriage work.

Make no mistake about it. Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific things you can do (with or without your spouse) to succeed with your marriage.

Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships. Just as the right die and exercise program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your relationship WILL make your marriage stronger. It's a direct cause and effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable... you can "make" love.

Love in marriage is indeed a "decision". Not just a feeling.

Definitely Growing Older and Forgetful

Friday, 15 December 2006

Counting down. 16 days and it will be 2007. One year older definitely and hooooooooooopefully not one year more forgetful.

For the past few days, I got mixed up with my passwords. That is the problem with having different accounts in the internet. Today, I forgot a new password in less than 6 hours after I have changed it!! I was sure I typed in the new password but it was rejected. I have been able to solve the problem before but not this time.

No choice, but to write to Technical Support. Let's see how clever the system is.

Am I allowed to choose the way I want to die?

Tuesday, 8 August 2006

It is one month since Mum had stroke. Diagnosed with brainstem Infarct, due to hypertension, and is now completely dependence and bed-bound, she was discharged (after 2 weeks at the General Hospital). Nothing more can be done, medically. It is now down to us, to nurse her at home.

As we took care of Mum day after day and looking at her almost lifeless, except for her hands, feet and eyes movements (behind the closed lids) at certain times of the day, I am wondering whether she is really in coma. Mum didn't choose to be like this. Mum would rather die than be in this state. She has always been an independent woman and reminded us to be self-reliant always. She is always on the move despite her age, planting vegetables, flowers, etc. etc. She was not prepared to be like this and we weren't as well.

It breaks my heart to see her nauseating when the nurses inserted a new NG tube through her nose and down her stomach on the day of her discharge. I asked the nurse "why?" and they said this is a common response of the patients.

I know this is part of our trials on this mortal world. But I still wish Mum did not have to be afflicted like this. If her spirit is in this body of hers now, I know she is crying out for release and I wish God will just take me and spare Mum.

I don't want to be like this. I don't want to die like this. If I ever have a stroke or afflicted in any other ways whereby I am totally dependent on tubes, etc. I want to be put to sleep. Is it against Heavenly Father's law? Wouldn't I be taking my own life and taking a easy way out of my trial in this mortal world?

Wednesday, 9 August 2006
I was thinking of the question. I know the answer! Regardless of what some of the world thinks, the answer is NO NO NO. I am not allowed to choose the way I want to die. That is accordingly to God's will. He has a reason and purpose for everything.

Another Trial or Affliction

Monday, 17 July 2006

It is over a week since mum had a stroke. She didn't fall down. She wasn't sick. That very Saturday, 8 July, morning she had been at her garden. She had spoken with my eldest sister-in-law on the phone before she had her afternoon nap. The stroke came like a thief in the night, while mum was having her afternoon nap. The next thing was my youngest sister-in-law applying pressure on her chest and calling her to wake up. She was taken to the GH by an ambulance and since then have'nt open her eyes yet. Doctor said something about brain stem and that she might remain in this state indefinitely.

Medically, I don't understand exactly what is happening but I do know that Mum might not be able to see or walk again, that she would be bedridden for the rest of her life, that she would be fed through the tube, etc. It is heartbreaking to see her in this stage of helplessness. Is it another trial for her and for all of us?

You Never know

Monday, 19 June 2006

Death is part of life. If we read the newspapers, we would see death announcements everyday. I hardly buy the newspapers now since I could access the news from the internet.

Today, the news came to me in 3 different forms: telephone, email and person:

Morning: Gan phoned me last Friday and I agreed to meet him, at his office, this morning. He said he would be in between 10-12 am, but I thought I phoned and doublechecked. He had wanted to meet with me since our last meeting on the 17 March but I was away from town.

I couldn't believe my ears! The receptionist answered "Gan had passed away". I said "Are you joking?" "I spoke to him only 3 days ago." "When and what happened?" She said "During the weekend, heart attack". I think I said to her a couple more times "True kah? How come?"

Afternoon: Jackie emailed me and informed me that Chiam's father had passed away. I don't know Chiam's father but I know Chiam.

Night: Looks like there was something going on with a neighbour. Canvas were set up outside their house. There were tables and chairs. I had to be guided while I reversed out of my garage so as not to knock the cars that were parked in the narrow street. I asked another neighbour "What happened?" He answered "Chua had a heart attack this morning". I know Chua.

Gan's death had an effect on me, which no other deaths had. He was someone I had put off meeting with until this morning and our meeting will be forever put off! Life is unpredictable. It is not according to our will but God's will. Gan didn't expect that he would die. He had promised to meet me! Let us do what we want to do and can do, as if today is the last day!

Mid LIfe Crisis

Monday, 19 December 2005

What is mid-life? Middle of your life? How long is one's life?
What is crisis? A crucial or decisive moment? A turning point"
A time of difficulty or distress?

The sea has been rough. One giant wave after another. Pulling one's roots up to replant them into another soil. Failed marriage. Youngest child left home to study elsewhere. Hormonal imbalance. Major physical operation. Father sick and died. Readapting to a new settlement.

Nothing is more depressing than a marriage gone wrong. No wonder divorcement is listed as one of life's top crisis.

Personally, falling in love, getting married, becoming a mother, family life and commitments and everything else that evolves around the family unit is the most satisfying journey and experience in one's life. What went wrong with mine? They said it takes two to tango. I guess I have failed on my part as well.

I thought I have lots of friends but when you arrive at this platform, you realised who are the real friends. When you got everything running smoothly in your life, they are happy to be associated with you but when you are in the midst of a personal crisis (yes a crisis) they seem to be in hiding. Why do I feel they are shunning me as if I am a plague? Am I a bad influence? I did not commit adultery. I did not kill anyone. I did not violate the laws of the land.

Some women chose to suffer in silence. They hold on their marriages and let their husbands abuse them physically and emotionally. Regardless of the hell they live in, within the four walls of their homes, they want to be known as 'married', instead of being 'separated' or 'divorced'. They are scare that the world will look down on them.

They opted for divorcement. Lawyers would tell them "you have tolerated him for the last so and so years, why bother now? Be patient" What he is trying to say is "close your eyes (not one but both), let it be, you are too old to start a new life with anyone else"

Religious lawyers would advise "pray". These lawyers should become priests! And so the women would go home and pray, pray, pray. These religious lawyers never knew why the women did not come back to them. Not because their prayers have been answered, their marriages restored but because they have gone to another laywer. They have come to the lawyers to ask them to take up their case, fight for them but instead told to pray instead!! They forgot they are lawyers not priests!

Agreeements signed but the men failed to pay alimony. The wives went to see their lawyers, paid them to chase their ex husbands. After doing that month after month, the women got fed up and stop pestering the lawyers.

The world says "it is normal for a man to have extra martial affairs" "he is not a man if he does not have that passion" and so they post their profiles in the internet seeking out younger females for romance, relationship. Worst of all they are not ashamed to reveal their marital status as "attached".

Where are religions, morals, values? What will happen to the innocent children who look up to their parents for direction and role models? What will happen to the world?