calls

I just got back from lunch and it was sunny. The ground was dry and there was a cool breeze. The air smelled fresh too. Still, the temperature was abit on the high side. Nevertheless, i continued my way to the usual coffeeshop to have my lunch. Walked straight to the usual mixed vegetable rice store, and ordered 3 dishes, paid 2.50 and it was done. I couldn't believe it happened so fast. i think it was a record. Oh well, as i was eating i noticed on the next table there were 3 ppl reading newspapers. I presume it was the mom, dad and son. The son was about 14 yrs old i guess and had crew cut with those thick black glasses - typical chinese look. But i noticed some white hair sticking out of his head. I looked more intently. Those weren't white hair, it was needles! As he turned more to my side, i could see that some needles were stuck in front of his head too. Yeah i know what it was -acupuncture. But why here? I've never tried that and not known people who does but is part of the treatment that of waiting some time before the needles are taken off? It sure looked that way as all of them were reading chinese newspapers except for the mom who read straits times. Later on, i walked to the nearby 7-eleven to get a copy of the straits times. I looked at the price and realised it was 80 cents now. Ok that's something new. I hadn't noticed when the price had risen to 80 cents from 60 cents. I paid for it and walked back home. Then i took a light shower because of the sweat and now i'm typing away.

Just thought i'll post about what happened yesterday. I got 2 calls from strangers. Stories below are the summarized version. The first one called in the early afternoon. The phone rang and i picked it up.

Me: yyyeeelllooo. (saying in a weird way)
caller: Hello. Is that Sean?"
Me: Yes.
caller: Hi, i'm margaret and i'm calling you because you were recommended by Grace to help do our website.
Me: Oh yeah, it's you. I've been expecting your call.
caller: Yes. What's happening is i've just started a drama and speech centre for young children and i need someone to help me spruce up the website that we currently have.(she gives me the url)
(As she goes on talking, i typed in the url and checked the site. Wow, not bad for the design.)
caller: It's not fully done yet and so we just put it as under construction. So i'm wondering whether you can do it.
I'm not a design person and i guess i'll pass.
Me: Erm...i'm not really a design person as i focus more on the dynamic programming.
caller: BTW, how old are you?
Me: I'm 24.
caller: So you just graduated?
Me: yeah, 3 months ago with a degree in computing
caller: ok, so you were saying you can't do it?
Me: i'm not a multimedia person you see unless you want to have dynamic programming inside.
caller: oh i've got all the content already so it's not problem for you to include it in.
(Obvious that she doesn't know what dynamic programming is)
Me: Ok basically i don't do design, what i do is the back-end functionality. This includes contact forms, forums, event calendar, stuff that requres a database and photo galle..
caller: Oh we have lots of photos to be put up so that shouldn't be a problem.
Knowing that she didn't quite get it, i explained to her again.
Me: I can't do this but i can recommend someone to you that i think is quite good in design.
i gave phillipe's number and we hung up. Immediately i messaged him warning him of the call. After an hour, he messaged me on msn.

phil: Hey, so what did this lady want?
Me: oh she didnt' call you?
phil: nope
Me: well she wants someone to help her in her website design of a speech and drama centre for children
phil: oh perfect, my wife is a speech and drama teacher and i just finished a website for music therapy for babies.
Me: yeah u're overqualified. haha.
Conversation continues and i guess she hasn't called him yet...anyway on to the next call i got at 7pm as i was going to leave for a meeting at clementi central.

Me: Hellooo.
caller: Hi. Is this Sean? i'm diane from prudential,. Remember we met at the comdex fair at suntec?
(thinks through)
Me: oh yeah so it's you(must be hoping to get some time from me to give me a briefing of their programs)
caller: So are you free to talk now?
Me; er...for a few minutes.
caller: So how's your job hunt?
(Yup, i knew i was going to disappoint her by saying i was studying.)
Me: Well, i'm actually doing full time studying right now.
caller: oh what course is it?
(She goes on to ask me questions about my study)

caller: So where are you studying?
Me: Tiong Bahru.
caller: oh, maybe we could meet for lunch sometime then i can give you a short briefing of our financial plans.
Me: er...perhaps but i'm not really looking out for plans now as i'm not working
(At that point, i knew she would have a difficult time continuing the conversation but i was wrong. She continued with a whole bunch of stuff that i forgot. At the same time, i walked down the stairs, put on my socks and shoes, opened the door all the time listening to what she said and of course answering her questions)
Me: ok, i think i've to go now (got my shoes on and door open ready to go)
caller: ok then, i hope you'll do well and i'll call you next time
(just then, a thought flashed through my mind)
Me: Oh btw, do you play tennis?
caller: yeah! how did you know?
Me: oh i'm actually looking for people to play tennis with. Are you good?
caller: oh i play quite regularly but i don't know whether i'm good. so where do you play?
Me: NUS. You?
caller: at pandan valley.
Me: oh isn't that near pine grove?
caller: yeah it is. So where do you live?
Me: Sunset Way
caller: sunset way???
Me: yeah sunset way.(i was going what's up dude))
caller: i live in sunset way too!
(At this point was walking along the corridor and got in the lift. Thankfully i could still do calls in the lift. I don't know what those technicians did but previously i couldn't. I talked in the lift and it was quite echoy. It sounded like i was in the bathroom or something. I didn't want her to think like i was and wanted to get out quick)
Me: oh yeah, i live in 115
caller: i'm at 116
(I looked at where blk 116 was. After living here for years i was still unsure of the block numbers. I found it.)
Me: wow. Actually i'm walking there now.
caller: oh you're walking back?
Me: no i'm supposed to go to clementi central. Yeah, hey why not you just give me a call when you're playing?
caller: yeah sure we play normally on the weekends.
Me: oh ok, i'll be busy on fridays and saturdays so i'm only free on sundays. And don't purposely start a game because of me ok? Just do it at your own convenience.
caller: sure thing. will contact you then.
(So i guess she was happy as she believed that this kind of contact would ultimately lead to me signing for a financial plan with her. At the same time, i was happy too as not only have i found another tennis partner but also i could have a chance to reach out. Of course she didn't know my hidden agenda...hehe)


(I was trying to pack my bag, switch off the computer and find my clothes as she continued to talk away)
caller: so