Deer and Cars Don't Play Well Together

Living in Northern Michigan, one becomes accustomed to wild life and the fact that they sometimes dart across the road in front of your vehicle.  Or they stand in the road as you rapidly approach them.  They don't know any better to stay out of the road - they are just interacting with their environment.  I have been very lucky that I have been able to avoid hitting deer with my car - until recently.

Two Saturdays ago, I had left my parents' house about 10:00 pm or so.  I turned onto a road that is very common for people hitting deer with their vehicle.  Icalled in a pizza order real quick and hung up the telephone and put it away.  I saw one deer off to the left side of the road - it never moved and I never came close to hitting it.  Later I see a deer further off the right side of the road - not even close.  Later I look down at the clock to check the time and look up and see a huge deer standing in the middle of my lane.  I knew it is dangerous to swerve - often people lose control of the car.  But I was too slow in applying the brake and I hit the deer going about 55 miles per hour.  The deer hit my hood, flew about 10 feet in the air and I never saw it again.

I was pretty scared.  I pulled off to the side of the road, stepped out of my car and heard a loud hissing underneath my hood and part of the hood was all crinkled up.  I got back in my car and shut it off and called Phil (who luckily was borrowing my dad's car for a few days since we only have one car) and my dad.  A police officer happened to be driving by and he stopped to make sure I was OK and filled out a police report for insurance purposes and called the tow truck for me.  When Phil got there we left and picked up the pizza (I had called to tell them why I would be late) and went home.

Long story short, the insurance company determined that my trusty little car with 245,000 miles on it was fixable and it has been in the shop waiting for parts and work since Feb. 28.  It was finished Wednesday but I am not able to leave work early because I left early Monday for a Dr. appointment and left again early on Tuesday with a severe sore throat.  So I will finally pick up my car tomorrow.  I hope that it is all the way fixed!!

Through it all I learned how to deal with insurance companies and car shops!  I was not hurt at all - the air bags didn't even go off and I didn't really even feel any impact to the car.  But my car sure felt it.  I am glad this ordeal is over.

People have been very gracious in letting me feel not so bad - apparently most of my friends have been through the same experience at least once in their life.  It is one of the costs for living in rural Michigan and loving to drive!

Air Asia X Low Cost Carrier

I took Air Asia, low cost carrier back home from Japan to Malaysia on January 15th night. It is my first experience taking this low cost carrier. Overall, the flying experience was alright except for some setbacks when I was flying back from Kuala Lumpur to Japan.

My check in time was at 1350 and the plane was supposed to depart at 1440. Basically, I still have 45 minutes to stroll to the plane. However, I was told by the officer that for Air Asia passengers, it was the last call. Stunned from the remark, I discharge like a missile to the gate. I was glad that I did not stay for a little longer with my mom and sister. Customarily, if you are riding normal airlines, checking in 45minutes earlier, gives you the chance to be a bookworm. In this case, it was necessary for me to abandon my reading luxury and command my legs to be like Mr. Usain Bolt, the world champion.

Unlike the normal airline services, where you walk on the ‘speed up electric line’ inside the terminal building, Air Asia requires you to be a little adventurous like Indiana Jones too. Be it rain or shine, you are required to walk outside to your airplane. As stated above, I check in at 1350 and reached my plane at 1400, blessed with Mr. Usain Bolt’s similar legs. On top of that, the rain master was kind enough to let me settle comfortable in the plane before giving orders to the clouds to pour and drenched everyone who was walking to the plane after 1400.

Setting apart the setbacks, I was asked by my in-laws about the plane structure, safeties and service. Does Air Asia get full marks for the 3S? I think it depends on the person personally. The plane I rode was a brand new craft. Everything inside is clean. In spite of that, if you have Mr. Usain Bolt and Indiana Jones long legs and limbs, I won’t recommend you to take Air Asia. The seats are restricted dimensions, reserve only for small people. As for the safeties, so far, there is no news about any crashes. Even fancy airlines have their fair deal of airline disasters. Lastly, the services are fairly good. Not the best, I believe there are still rooms for improvements. Therefore, I will give Air Asia a ‘B’ for their performances.

Would I recommend you to ride Air Asia? I dislike their website. It took me more than 3 hours to buy my online tickets 2 days in a row. The destination offers are limited too, but if you have the guts to be a little of Indiana Jones character with Mr. Bolt's speedy legs, why not give it a try? After all, low cost tickets benefit people like me with limited budget. Oh! Ensure you check the weather forecast and carry a raincoat with you too.

 

Sugar Love

Sounds like a title for a song, doesn't it (and who knows, maybe there is a song with that title in it...), "Sugar Love"?


The reason I am writing this blog entry is because I guess you could say I am addicted to junk food!  Not all "junk" food (and I guess what one considers "junk" food may not be considered junk to another) but I particularly love candy.  All types of candy - gummy candy, chocolate candy, fruity candy, crunchy candy - you name it, as long as it doesn't have nuts in it, I probably like it.


However it is one thing to love something like that, and another thing to love it and indulge in it too much.  Not a day goes by where I don't eat candy.  And again - it would be one thing if I could say, "I only have one piece of candy a day / one after a meal" but usually it is, "I had many pieces of candy throughout the day!"


I exercise at least 1/2 hour a day - I usually aim for an hour but not always able to do so.  Now if I could just begin to eat healthier, I think I could reach my fitness goals!  Plus it would help prevent diabetes, a disease prevalent in the health history of my father's family.

I read often about nutrition and exercise, so it is not out of ignorance I am a junk-food junkie - it is from needing help telling sugar "NO!"



Do you have any tips I can try to help give up the "sugar love???"

Hot Summer

Whew!  It has been soooo hot over here in Michigan this summer!  Although I shouldn't complain because last summer seemed chilly to me every time we had a get-together outside.  It is difficult to exercise outside when it is so hot unless it is in the early early morning.

To keep cool we have been running the air conditioner for about an hour at a time, the shutting off to preserve energy.  I typically don't like to sleep with the air conditioner on because it is too cold for my taste so whenever possible I like to sleep with the window open and a fan on in the bedroom.

I went swimming twice, once in Lake Huron (about 36 miles East of me) and then again at an inland lake by my uncle's house (about 1 hour West of me).  I like to swim, although I am not a very strong swimmer so it tires me out fast!

In two weekends there is my family vacation.  I posted pictures from last year's vacation.  I hope to do so again this year!

Congratulations to Japan for FIFA Cup championship win!

Easter Preparation

This week is a busy week for me.  Me and my family are preparing for the activities surrounding Easter weekend. 

This Wednesday I am in a church musical depicting the Last Supper.  I am part of the choir.  Only about 8 people are in the choir so we have to sing really loud to be heard!  Then on Thursday I will be doing some cooking to prepare for Good Friday which is spent with my mom's side of the family.  I will be making a pasta salad and maybe bring an apple pie I bought from a friend - she makes them and you can freeze them (raw) and then bake them the day you plan on eating.  I think for certain my mom's older brother will travel to my parents' house, but not sure if my grandma will come (she doesn't like to travel) or my younger uncle (he might be working).

On Saturday I will travel to my grandparent's city (about 1-1/2 south of my house) to spend the day with a friend, and the spend the evening and night with my grandparents.  Then on Easter Sunday I will go with my grandparents to their church (I have never been there so it will be interesting for me) and then we'll hurry back to their house to get everything ready for Easter dinner.  I am not sure what I will be preparing for the meal.  We have an Easter egg hunt in the afternoon, where the plastic eggs are filled with candy.  My family and my cousin's family will be there.  Phil will be at his grandma's house from Friday to Sunday.

I am working on a craft to enter into our county fair in the summertime.  I will try to take a picture of the work in progress with my camera at home and post the photo to show what I am working on.  It was kind of difficult to figure out how to read the crochet pattern but I'm glad I stuck with it.  I will post a photo soon.

I hope that things are improving in Japan.  A tragedy of that size is difficult to overcome but can be overcome as people work together!