同道中人

昨天下着雨, 天色相當壞, 卻是近來少有的輕快順利. 雖然都有令人輕輕氣結的蠢事.
早上沒辦法 tennis, 卻讓我乘機清了兩本食之無味棄之可惜半天吊的書.
中午到海運睇 car show 吃 lunch. 經驗所得停車場在雨天(lesser extent 暴曬天)特別爆, 因為大家都不想泊露天而都擠在下層有蓋部份. 一心想早點兒出發, 卻因喫書而晚了, 到達時已接近1點, 有蓋部份果然已 Full. 大部份人都不信邪, 還是先兜個圈碰碰運氣. 我們還是有點運氣, 加上一點策略與耐性, 吊着一對龜速漫步男女的尾, 終於等到他們驅車離開.
先吃個 lunch, 走到 BLT Steak 點了 Certified Angus Hamburger ($88) and Spicy Tuna BLT Sandwich ($128), both served with fries, 飲品另計. Burger 真的不錯, 是 Main Street Deli 以外有意欲再光顧 burger 的一家, 而且比 Deli 便宜多. 現在 Citibank 有優惠 $99 with coffee/tea, 如果 a la carte 的話 10% off. 至於 spicy tuna was overdone, 跟在美國吃的是兩回時.
稍不滿的是服務上的不足. 我們見門外有 Citibank 優惠, 便問 reception 優惠詳情是什麼, 姐姐只說是 a la carte 10% off, 完全沒有提有特別套餐, 坐下來後亦沒有人補充, 到我們發現之時已是 after the fact. 埋單時便跟西裝人"提醒"了幾句, 他的回應禮貌周周卻九唔搭八, 當下認定講多無謂, 有其上司必有其下屬, 打發他離去也罷. 這些小事情理應無需驚動鬼佬老闆, 不過若有下次, 就只能怪做細的不爭氣了.
VW Carshow 尚算人山人海, 相信不少是 Golf fans 或冒名而來的人, 想看看最新 MKVI 如果成為 World Car of 2009, 有機會一定要試試. 自己就真的十分十分喜歡 MKV GTi, 從來對"車仔"不以為然卻一試傾心, 不知道MKVI GTi 會有什麼更正的改動及何時引入香港呢... hehee. 雖然外型上, 暫時我還是較喜歡 MKV.
另外有趣的事, 昨天停車場內有不少 (relatively) Golf and GTi, 看見那麼多同道中人, 心中也是輕奮的. 離開時還正正遇上一架跟我們是一模一樣顏色的, yeah! 好似好低能, 但那奇怪 pearly greenish grey 不常見喎, 而且... (下刪30,000字)
另一驚喜是簽 Citibank 有3 小時免費泊車, 夠我們喝過咖啡才走, 滿足.
下午做了一個15min 水 mask, 還終於終於看了 HOCC "快樂是免費的音樂會" DVD, 重溫有感動有笑, 之前有提過, 不贅. [http://amoozing.blogspot.com/2009/02/sharing-is-happy.html] 還是那一句, 有心人請支持.
晚上再到尖沙咀跟20多中學同學相聚, 8,9 個墟好嘈好好笑, 跟昨天沒兩樣. 後來大家都滿場飛拍照的拍照, 吹水的吹水, 最後大家都不捨得離開, 癲一輪計完數還要多站半個鐘才在三催四請之下清場, 誰不知走到酒家的樓下, 還要在路邊'曬馬'吹水嬉笑多半句鐘才勉強散去. 現在想起來, 當時的情景在外人看來, 可能又要大呼'港女'哩樣嗰樣了... hahaaaa WE DON'T CARE!!!
真的, 一切在心中.
掛住講大家都志不在吃, 話說回來這家潮州酒樓我沒有到過, 但我吃到鵝片和蠔酪還不錯, 可能可以回頭細嚐清楚.

昨晚, 還是睡得比較像樣了.

Belated Merry

Yet to have the courage to tidy up the pictures in the States.
So, to mildly self-entertain...

This is a real stuff @ Fashion Island.
REAL stuff. Well, REAL but assembled.
150ft tall and forgot how many tonnes.
More to come... hopefully.

馬虎 Rewind 之四

Asparagus & Wild Mushroom Risotto @ Stormies, Elements
I used to like the Stormy Weather (now known as Stormies) at Lan Kwai Fong. Their clams (and the accompanying garlic bread) in white wine sauce were among the best that you could possibly get in HK. So was their pear crumble, while I've never been a fan of crumbles. Yet this Risotto was only so-so, too heavy with cream. Asparagus was good though, young and crunchy.

Fish & Chips @ Stormies, Elements
Looked good, but tasteless. Avoid.

Mo-liu shot at my shoes one day at a clothes-altering shop.

Favourites

Finally, got hold of w's 5th lightsaber. We were on the way to concert so couldn't (shouldn't) imagine carrying it. But we were wrong. As 1,000-yr-egg put it, a lightsaber is *the* thing to bring to a concert - beats all those little cyer-lume and tiny flashlights with just one gigantic life size light sabre...
Hurray!!!


很少聽電台節目. 今天有意的聽了一會以"流行音樂","年青人"為本的節目節錄, 已有兩處讓我頗不爽的對話, 為的是這些主持人的水準真的令人搖頭.
例1:
歌手嘉賓在介紹她的 ear monitor (aka personal monitor). 這些 monitor 基本上就是高階的 earphone / headphone. 其實正路一點來說, 高階的 earphone / headphone 就是借用了 personal monitor 的技術. 音樂會上很常見, 無論表演者台前幕後, 但凡需要鑑(監)聽指定人聲, 樂器, 效果等等的都會用到. 據我所知阿嘉賓的 ear monitor 外型很平實, 跟一般的 in-ear 看起來沒什麼分別, 雖然價錢是一隻打廿隻. 豆跟烏都咁啱用緊同一款.
Anyway, 阿主持人的反應大約就是 "都係黑色一粒... 睇唔出分別". 唔打緊, 又唔係玩浮誇. 可怕的是他然後自以為大發現的"挑戰"隻 mon 個平凡 look, 話 "噢... 但係通常啲歌手都係帶透明嗰啲 ga wor..." 然後發表更讓人噴飯的偉論 "因為透明易襯衫, 唔會阻住個裝扮..."
阿大哥, 我不懷疑透明 mon 可以帶來 "易襯衫, 唔會阻住個裝扮"的副好處, 但那不是重點. 很多透明 mon 都是"度耳訂造"倒模的, 基本上要什麼顏色花臣都可以, 當然透明也是一個"易襯"的好選擇, 但肯定不是什麼"(因為)透明易襯... (所以)先係上台用嘅 mon" 歪理. 況且阿大哥, 你係咪做呢行 ga? 該品牌(已經唔計型號)你都唔識? 唔聽音樂唔入錄音室冇去過 concert?
例2:
歌手嘉賓提到她的 studio 添置了一個70萬的鋼琴. 主持人(今次是個女的)二話不說先來一聲 "嘩!" 然後評價一番什麼 "side 錢" 什麼 "奢侈". 喂喂喂, 阿大姐, 你是否應該多了解一些才 comment 呢? 我不是說值還是不值, 因為無 details, 雖然個人傾向覺得70萬港幣的鋼琴不是什麼奇怪事, 況且價值觀見仁見智. 但是這種未認識清楚就嘈嘈嘈, 或知少少扮代表的行為是我最討厭的事情之一. 做主持也應該持平客觀一點吧, 教壞細路!

當然, 很可能我的反應是有點 intense... 畢竟自己對有關題目比較敏感比較有興趣. 但作為一個傳媒 /show business 單位, 有丁點專業加尊重的要求也不太過份吧? 5min ahead 都好應該 ah!

馬虎 Rewind 之三

20080813 - 20080819 東京之旅
臨時臨急, 反而成功用 mileage 換到機票. 買的話要5,000大洋了.
好 hea 的心情, 基本上是一個沒有拍照, 沒有 itinerary 的旅程.

住在這裡, 非常不賴 - Oakwood Apartments, Roppongi
玄關 (L) 廚房 (R)

大床. 半價雞毛手袋 (豆的. 香港買)

Living room, kitchen (partial), den (partial)

外景. 有東京塔 (L) LamB & Dragon (R)


漬魚餐 @ Suzunami, Tokyo Midtown. 最有趣的要算是上方黃澄澄的那個凍湯狀物體, 十分鮮味, 質地卻是糊糊的, 像毛茄裡面的東西. 因為言語不通, 始終搞不清是什麼, 只知道是用來伴飯吃的.


Roppongi Hills basement 的迴轉壽司. 高質素, 價錢合理. 雖說是迴轉, 但基本上 in motion 的食物很少, 我們的壽司差不多都是 order 的, 由這位師傅主理. (我相信他們利用 RFID 技術, 一掃結賬, 並控制食物"飄泊"的時限.)
(http://www.roppongihills.com/jp/shops_restaurants/details/restaurant.php?id=201220002)


Gold Stone 炒雪糕, 意料之中的不外如是, 只因要個地方抖抖.


後知後覺發現新大陸驚為天"仁"之開心果. 太愛吃了. 媽和我帶回來兩大包還不夠喉, 吩咐豆再後加碼三大包. 後來發現... 香港有售, 而且更便宜... (咁, 師傅都話覺得日本帶回來的比較新鮮可口 ga...)


整整一星期最最最最最滿意的咖啡, 就在臨離開前的午餐, 點了 Latte. 推介.
French Kitchen, Grand Hyatt, Roppongi


另外還去了至愛的今半 (http://www.imahan.com/), 可惜沒有吃天一 (http://www.tenichi.co.jp/) 的天婦羅, 反而試了另一家所謂有名的 新宿つな八, 比天一要差幾幾幾幾皮, 實在是一分錢一分貨. 一蘭的拉麵也不錯, 招待的方式也有趣, 閒名不如見面. 還有美登利的抵食壽司套餐 (http://homepage2.nifty.com/sushi_no_midori/), 但是它長龍的程度開始使人卻步, 我想我還是不介意多付一點到 Roppongi Hills 的那家迴轉吧.

還有 Tokyo Midtown (http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/en/) 每天必到, 主要因為就近 apartment, 加上其中24小時營業的靚靚decent 的 Precce premium food market, 買水果早餐飲品小食等等, 十分方便稱心.

又, 差點遺漏了這個"正嘢" - 坂角總本鋪好好好蝦味蝦片. (http://www.bankaku.co.jp/)
有天閒逛時跟媽無意中發現了, 推介! 各大百貨公司 fancy 食品部有售.

馬虎 Rewind 之二

But do you really understand me?

貴

兩個月冇買 cheese, 今日發現原本食開$28/100g的漲價到$34/100g.
六個星期冇買廁紙, $29.5 漲價到 $34.5.
都只是冰山一角.
條數真襟計.
正式宣佈: (已經又)進入減人工週期.
*sigh

To Whom It May Concern

Thanks for all the regards (and intellectual/gossipy curiosity alike) sent through re my once-in-a-life-time incident.
I'm intact. And lessons well learnt :)

2Q is always an expensive quarter personally:
Mom's birthday, Mother's Day;
Dad's birthday, Father's Day;
Mom & Dad's anniversary;
2nd tax instalment.
and this year with this once-in-a-life-time incident.

So I'd better skip fancy and unfunctional get-togethers in the days to come... :)

大陣象

20080404 晚飯 @ 九龍城

因mud事要勞動3架警車, 2架鐵馬...

原來抄牌啫, 仲要唔係最繁忙阻街嗰幾條食肆街, 而係至邊邊嗰條啟德道, 成條街都係得我地去開間泰菜叫做有啲人氣, 又無咪錶位, 得個細細爛鬼空地俾不知何方人士夾硬做個要放低車匙嗰種所謂"停車場". 我就親眼見過該"停車場"的泊車哥哥撞咗(兩)架車...

一嗌走鬼, 我地間泰菜館湧出十幾廿人, 都幾誇張 - 畢竟間餐廳都係得十零張枱.

完全包抄 feel, 1架警車1架鐵馬停在街頭; 其餘2架警車1架鐵馬就由街尾 'com'上(連同半打咖啡人), 真周到.

清場咗.

心意何價

心意何價 I
清理 Junk mailbox 時發現這個 Sotheby's 寄給爸的賀年卡. 查看一下這個心心是什麼東東, 可以成為'卡面' ~
Jeff Koons Hanging Heart (Magenta/Gold)
Sold for US$23.6mn at Sotheby's, New York on 14 November 2007.
哦... 又如何.


心意何價 II
剛巧日前在星巴巴又讀到這個. Starbucks owes staff US$106m in tips.

Extracted from cnn.com, 21 March 2008
Judge orders coffee giant to pay up after barista files suit over supervisors sharing in employee tips
A Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered Starbucks Corp to pay its California baristas more than $100 million in back tips and interest that the coffee chain paid to shift supervisors.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Patricia Cowett also issued an injunction that prevents Starbucks' shift supervisors from sharing in future tips, saying state law prohibits managers and supervisors from sharing in employee gratuities. Starbucks spokeswoman Valerie O'Neil said the company planned an immediate appeal of the ruling, calling it "fundamentally unfair and beyond all common sense and reason."
The lawsuit was filed in October 2004 by Jou Chou, a former Starbucks barista in La Jolla, who complained shift supervisors were sharing in employee tips.
The lawsuit gained ground in 2006 when it was granted class-action status, allowing the suit to go forward for as many as 100,000 former and current baristas in the coffee chain's California stores. It was not immediately clear how many current and former employees are affected by the ruling.
"I feel vindicated," Chou said in a written statement released by attorneys. "Tips really help those receiving the lowest wages. I think Starbucks should pay shift supervisors higher wages instead of taking money from the tip pool."
California is Starbucks' largest US market, with 2,460 stores as of Jan. 8, the latest count available. The Seattle-based company has more than 11,000 stores nationwide. Starbucks employs more than 135,000 baristas in the US. The company did not immediately respond to a request for a head count in California.
The judgment comes as Starbucks is struggling to revive its US business, where store traffic has slipped amid a sagging economy, rising energy and dairy costs, and growing competition from cheaper rivals.
The company's stock has slid more than 50 percent since late 2006, when it was trading close to $40 a share. Starbucks shares rose 3 cents to $17.53 Thursday. Starbucks earned more than $672 million on revenue of $9.4 billion during its 2007 fiscal year, which ended Sept 30. The judge ordered Starbucks to pay $87 million in back tips, plus interest of $19 million, bringing the total judgment to about $106 million.
The company said it planned to ask the court to stay the ruling while the appeal is pending.
"The decision today, in our view, represents an extreme example of an abuse of the class-action procedures in California's courts," O'Neil said. The coffee company also took issue with the brevity of the judge's ruling, which was only four paragraphs, saying she failed to address the unfairness to shift supervisors. "This case was filed by a single former barista and, despite Starbucks request, the interests of the shift supervisors were not represented in litigation," O'Neil said.
But attorney Laura Ho, who tried the baristas case, said the court's verdict follows state law. "Starbucks illegally took a huge amount of money from the tip pool to pay shift supervisors, rather than paying them out of its own pocket. The court's verdict rightfully restores that money to the baristas," Ho said.


還是waffle咖啡貼心. 跟媽豆@UCC.

Half-full Half-empty

又加價. 黃金15.20 白金16.04. 好貴.

未著燈已經入. 500個大洋半缸都冇.

ps 發現有25.5度, 居然有點不習慣

非.常

非常發生的二三事.
肯定20年都冇一潤的早餐 - 腐乳餸粥.

自從少 trip/酒店生涯後, 已很少吃炒蛋加 grilled 茄

闊別起碼5年的西湖春天. 與烏, a, jt, 四海伉儷.

1年1度的婦女節和 International Women's Day (HR同事說的, 原來不是一樣東西...?). "100"是指敝公司在亞太區已有超過100位女性 Executives, 是一項 accomplishment 云云.

旺旺旺旺旺角

微服出巡

Tams Family @ Hong Kong Disneyland, 20080227
經過1年有多的醞釀, 終於成行. 雖然在醞釀期內, 除了媽咪外, 我已 full-fare 去過1次, 豆免費去過2次, 爸出錢出力與客戶去過唔sure幾多次...
爸早早已 online 買了票, 原來的期限是去年9月或之前(半年期), 但一家四口有事的有事忙, 無事的也有無事的忙, 終於過了期才發現. 打電話去查詢, 廸廸尼固然不能讓我們失望吧, 把有效期延至今年3月頭. 於是, 一家四口很方便地繼續有事的有事忙, 無事的無事的忙... 上星期媽突然重新發現這'舊大陸', 急忙召集, schedule 左夾右夾之下, 終於成事.

早陣子天氣陰陰濕濕, 實在有點擔心. 幸而那天天氣真的很好, god's blessing.
原本爸大大聲話要0900出門口食早餐, 點知... 他自己 jet-lag 中, 終於1200才出門到飯堂飲茶再出發.

米奇(與)老死 - 泊車咭


重大採購 - 巴斯光年爆爆爆谷! 由爸負責全程全天候全面保護. (查實人影都唔多隻...)

Autopia (with Honda) - 全家玩了兩轉. 走第2轉時, 我們要求開排在最前的4輛車(同1跑道同1轉可有6架), 費事俾前面啲慢吞吞人阻住晒. 當然根據這個"唔想俾人阻住"的邏輯, 4個車手依次必須是: 爸, 我, 豆, 媽... hohohooo.

煙花後散場 (睇怕已經係全世界都喺晒度...)

Before & After - 入場前及離場時的停車場. 我們大約1400入場, 理論上是停車場繁忙時段, 可是現場停車只有40多. 晚上離開時就更冷清. 不期然又想起我們 (被volunteered) 是大股東的一份子, 個心赤一赤.