2004 has been one helluva adventurous year. A roller coaster of eventful episodes, which affected my life, spiritually, emotionally and of course, financially.
In March, we moved to our new house in Bukit Mahkota. It was supposed to be a mark of independence. For the very first time, we finally moved to our very own house. We had to change Opi’s school, had the basic construction done and a lawn to plant all the fruit trees that Husband had always wanted. It was physically exhausting and financially straining. Not to add, rather frustrating because the things that we were so used to, are just not there in Bukit Mahkota. I was exasperated over the fact that the nearest Carrefour is in Cheras, Opi’s school is a rundown facility with broken chairs and there were no decent restaurant within 30km radius!
Somehow, the silver lining began to appear behind the cloud and I received the much-waited phone call from Shell to confirm that I was accepted in Shell IT in Cyberjaya! At least I know that I no longer have to suffer the horrible traffic jams of Jalan Tun Razak!
So I moved jobs. After spending almost a lifetime in my previous company, I finally put forth my letter. It felt good and at the same time, scary. Good because I needed the change…scary because I’ve to start all over again. People often wonder why I did it – leaving my so-called managerial position, huge cubicle, an army of staff, company phone and PDA, IBM T41…for an analyst position with a small workstation. My answer is simple – money! And (a lot) lesser responsibilities.
Starting again from bottom means I’ve to learn to take instruction (again) rather than give. I’ve to photocopy all the notes and not simply waiting for the notes to be passed to me like previously. Quite frankly – I’m enjoying myself. No more business plans to brainstorm, draft, re-draft and present. Just my work – 8am to 430pm and no more late nights.
Scenes at homes were changing too. My faithful maid/companion of 3 years left for good. Emi and I had this wonderful understanding. She knows what to do, when to do it and how to do it well. Husband and I could lead our normal social lives without having to worry too much. But she needed to go back home and stay with her parents, she needed to get married, so I let her go.
We then had to suffer one maid from hell. My life then ranged from throwing fits of angry lashes to being downright emotionally depressed.
In between, Opi started primary school, the children had their very first overseas trip, Husband completed his MBA, Dodek left to work in Singapore, Jim Bob moved to his own place as well, Pona moved job to be in the government sector and met Rusa, as much as still virtually, Baby Aqlan was born on 8th of May, Bang Jai got a fantastic job in Nilai, Odin bought his very first Satria, Mak and Abah finally decided on having our family home renovated.
What a colourful year… and what a tragic ending to Malaysia - now everyone shall remember Tsunami...
And what will 2005 brings to us?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
Monday, December 27, 2004
Going into 2005...another candle to blow..
Another week...then we'll be off to another year...another additional candle to blow on birthday. A time to reflect what had happened in 2004 and what will happen (differently) the next year. Opi is going into Year 2, Isya will be three and most dreadful of all - I'm going to be 34! People will refer to me as a person in her mid-thirties...
I received this in my mail this morning...hopefully to cheer me up..haha.
Here is a piece written by Andy Rooney - CBS 60 Minutes. Andy Rooney says:
As I grow in age, I value women who are over 30 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:
A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.
If a woman over 30 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.
A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 30 give a damn what you might think about her or what she's doing.
Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.
A woman over 30 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women.
Women over 30 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 30. They always know.
A woman over 30 will look good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women or drag queens.
Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 30 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over 30 for a multitude of reasons.
Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 30+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.
Ladies, I apologize - Andy Rooney.
For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free". Here's an update for you. Now days 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire Pig, just to get a little sausage...
I received this in my mail this morning...hopefully to cheer me up..haha.
Here is a piece written by Andy Rooney - CBS 60 Minutes. Andy Rooney says:
As I grow in age, I value women who are over 30 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:
A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.
If a woman over 30 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.
A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 30 give a damn what you might think about her or what she's doing.
Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.
A woman over 30 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women.
Women over 30 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 30. They always know.
A woman over 30 will look good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women or drag queens.
Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 30 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over 30 for a multitude of reasons.
Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 30+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.
Ladies, I apologize - Andy Rooney.
For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free". Here's an update for you. Now days 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire Pig, just to get a little sausage...
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Renovations...
As I’m writing this, the house that I grew up in is being torn apart. I heard from Abah yesterday that the kitchen has been knocked down, the cabinets disjointed and the water supply cut-off.
I do feel sad. The address will remain the same but the look and feel will not. What will be left is just the middle portion of the double storey house. The rest will be new…or simply, just different. Mak is even planning to change the current iron grill – the same one that I helped a small bird stuck in-between the intricate design, when I was 14.
The kitchen may look old and had what we called, the 70’s design – mosaic and all. The cabinet was worn out. But I guess, as with all family homes, they have memories. It had always been in the kitchen that we trashed out all our problems, had family meetings, cari uban and of course, where I learnt how to cook. It was also the place where Mak poured a bottle of orange juice on my head. She asked me to prepare a bottle of milk for Pona, but I gave her orange juice instead. It was easier to do. And that was in 1981 – I remember that because I scratched ‘1981’ on one of the tiles in the bathroom.
The renovation will also mean fresh-looking rooms for Dodek and Pona. The same two rooms I used to swap with Jim Bob. Those were the same rooms where I had endless puff of cigarettes while burning the phone lines – the room smelt like rotten tobacco that Abah refused to even breathe if he needed to use the staircase. And I was only 15-16 then…
And who would’ve thought that the same room would then smelt of minyak urut and minyak telon during my confinement period of both Opi and Isya?
But reminiscences aside, I’m happy that Mak and Abah are finally building their dream home. Everything has an expiry date – even memories.
For now – No 8, Jalan 1 is off limits.
I do feel sad. The address will remain the same but the look and feel will not. What will be left is just the middle portion of the double storey house. The rest will be new…or simply, just different. Mak is even planning to change the current iron grill – the same one that I helped a small bird stuck in-between the intricate design, when I was 14.
The kitchen may look old and had what we called, the 70’s design – mosaic and all. The cabinet was worn out. But I guess, as with all family homes, they have memories. It had always been in the kitchen that we trashed out all our problems, had family meetings, cari uban and of course, where I learnt how to cook. It was also the place where Mak poured a bottle of orange juice on my head. She asked me to prepare a bottle of milk for Pona, but I gave her orange juice instead. It was easier to do. And that was in 1981 – I remember that because I scratched ‘1981’ on one of the tiles in the bathroom.
The renovation will also mean fresh-looking rooms for Dodek and Pona. The same two rooms I used to swap with Jim Bob. Those were the same rooms where I had endless puff of cigarettes while burning the phone lines – the room smelt like rotten tobacco that Abah refused to even breathe if he needed to use the staircase. And I was only 15-16 then…
And who would’ve thought that the same room would then smelt of minyak urut and minyak telon during my confinement period of both Opi and Isya?
But reminiscences aside, I’m happy that Mak and Abah are finally building their dream home. Everything has an expiry date – even memories.
For now – No 8, Jalan 1 is off limits.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Is it 18th December already??
The department is going to have an Xmas party tomorrow, together with some birthdays and farewell for a few who are leaving for the Netherlands soon. It’ll be at the Ceylon Hill near Jalan Damai in Ampang. People at my workplace just lurve all these bungalows/restaurants thingy. They had dinners and parties at Mango Tree, Tamarind Hill, Bon Ton, Frangipani…the likes. And I’ve never attended any of those.
(2) Who’s willing to drive me to the place – I’m partially night blind.
Gone were the days of dressing up…I just wanna show my face…fake some laughter…eat a bit and just go back home…and sleep...
Now...can my maternity dress double-up as elegant, dinner attire????
In my previous workplace, people waited and waited for the annual dinner. Here...one can actually pick and choose - there are so many dinners, parties, get-togethers etc that I stopped bothering.
But I have to go tomorrow. Its in my appraisals. This has got to be the only company that includes entertainment as part of one’s performance (??).
Everyone’s buzzing about what to wear and what to bring since the place is a BYOB (bring your own bottle) restaurant. The fact that there are only 3 Malays (read:muslims) in this department doesn’t help either. So there’ll be bottles of merlots and sauvignons and large bowls of spiked eggnog.
All I care to know are only 2 things:
(2) Who’s willing to drive me to the place – I’m partially night blind.
Gone were the days of dressing up…I just wanna show my face…fake some laughter…eat a bit and just go back home…and sleep...
Now...can my maternity dress double-up as elegant, dinner attire????
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Life 101 (Part I)
A message for my darlings - Opi and Isya.
You are definitely too young for me to explain this, but there will be other issues as well. So let’s just tackle one day at a time. One fine day, I hope you will read back this blog and understand what we went through to reach where we are.
Number One: Humans are never satisfied with what they have, until they lose it/him/her.
Its not your fault entirely – its just called nafsu (desires), and everyone suffers from it in varying degrees. You can be at either end - The one who wants more… or (worse) if someone doesn’t want you because he/she wants something more! Just remember to do good onto others because life is like one bloody boomerang…for what goes around, comes around. And sometimes it comes unexpectedly that it throws you off balance.
Your mummy’s real advice – Get up on your feet again! Don’t you ever let the opposite side does that to you. You’re smart, attractive and good-hearted. Whoever says that my children are any lesser…is scumbag of the earth!!
Breathe in…breathe out….
Number Two: Money is not everything.
It provides the fundamentals in life like proper house, meal and of course proper education but…corny as it may sound – it doesn’t buy happiness. If one day you have more than enough and more than you should…please ponder on those who are less fortunate. Do sedekah (donate) to the really needy ones. Remember that the hand that gives is higher than the hand that receives.
What I really want to say is: If you have so much money later…don’t you dare come to my house and flash your fat wallet here and there (and not give a cent!). You’ll make me a lot contented if you remain low-key and I know that money has not gone to your brains.
Pheww……….Ok let’s go on…
Number Three: Looks can be deceiving.
You must never ever judge a book by its cover. A properly dressed lady who sits demurely and walks gently can be bitchier/nastier than a bleached blonde lady. Hehehe…yes children…your mummy is speaking through experience. Hush now and listen good for this is very important – a serial rapist may have the looks of Brad Pitt (or whoever you fancy in your time)! So…don’t jump into conclusion, don’t assume based on first impression, learn to hold back a bit and get to know one another.
My opinion is: You’ll learn this over time…and will still make the mistake of under/overestimating another person. Just don’t be too hard on yourselves.
Opi and Isya – I guess we’ll do this as and when I think of something. Three lessons in one post should be sufficient for you to digest.
Ooo…by the way…the two words people like to hear most but find them difficult to say (as in, say them sincerely) are – thank you and I’m sorry. Master saying those words sincerely...you're good to go.
You are definitely too young for me to explain this, but there will be other issues as well. So let’s just tackle one day at a time. One fine day, I hope you will read back this blog and understand what we went through to reach where we are.
Number One: Humans are never satisfied with what they have, until they lose it/him/her.
Its not your fault entirely – its just called nafsu (desires), and everyone suffers from it in varying degrees. You can be at either end - The one who wants more… or (worse) if someone doesn’t want you because he/she wants something more! Just remember to do good onto others because life is like one bloody boomerang…for what goes around, comes around. And sometimes it comes unexpectedly that it throws you off balance.
Your mummy’s real advice – Get up on your feet again! Don’t you ever let the opposite side does that to you. You’re smart, attractive and good-hearted. Whoever says that my children are any lesser…is scumbag of the earth!!
Breathe in…breathe out….
Number Two: Money is not everything.
It provides the fundamentals in life like proper house, meal and of course proper education but…corny as it may sound – it doesn’t buy happiness. If one day you have more than enough and more than you should…please ponder on those who are less fortunate. Do sedekah (donate) to the really needy ones. Remember that the hand that gives is higher than the hand that receives.
What I really want to say is: If you have so much money later…don’t you dare come to my house and flash your fat wallet here and there (and not give a cent!). You’ll make me a lot contented if you remain low-key and I know that money has not gone to your brains.
Pheww……….Ok let’s go on…
Number Three: Looks can be deceiving.
You must never ever judge a book by its cover. A properly dressed lady who sits demurely and walks gently can be bitchier/nastier than a bleached blonde lady. Hehehe…yes children…your mummy is speaking through experience. Hush now and listen good for this is very important – a serial rapist may have the looks of Brad Pitt (or whoever you fancy in your time)! So…don’t jump into conclusion, don’t assume based on first impression, learn to hold back a bit and get to know one another.
My opinion is: You’ll learn this over time…and will still make the mistake of under/overestimating another person. Just don’t be too hard on yourselves.
Opi and Isya – I guess we’ll do this as and when I think of something. Three lessons in one post should be sufficient for you to digest.
Ooo…by the way…the two words people like to hear most but find them difficult to say (as in, say them sincerely) are – thank you and I’m sorry. Master saying those words sincerely...you're good to go.
My priceless moments...
To each, his own.
One of life’s ultimate joys is to see the people I truly love, happy. And you can tell from the genuine smile, the relief gestures and the sighs of contentment. In all honesty, I hope last night one was of those moments because it was one for me.
Had my salary came in earlier yesterday (that was it, Jim Bob…heh heh) and just to have a little celebration, we took Mak, Abah, Pona and the whole clan of Jim Bob’s family to a small dinner. Nothing fancy – just a good meal at Juara Tomyam. We even had no-frills dinner just tom yam, daging masak merah, prawn fritters and telur bungkus. However the looks on everyone’s faces was more than enough. The dishes came and were gone in no time. Almost everyone burped in satisfaction but more so for me. It was neither the meal nor the place. Just inner gratification.
Then we had a good walk to the nearby reflexology center. Rather relaxed ambience and friendly masseuses. Mak and Abah had theirs done. Jim Bob, Pona, Sarimah and I were busy laughing at them and catching hold of the running (and extremely noisy) kids. I asked the owner if the massage were painful and told him to look at Abah’s frowning face. He then laughing told me,” I’ve been in this business for quite some time…the massage is not painful at all…the look your father had is actually pain in the heart…because someone else is touching and massaging your mom…”. I looked again at Abah with a different view. After 40 years of marriage…how sweet…
Anyways:
Meal at Juara Tomyam = $240.00
Massage at Reflexology = $80.00
One of life’s ultimate joys is to see the people I truly love, happy. And you can tell from the genuine smile, the relief gestures and the sighs of contentment. In all honesty, I hope last night one was of those moments because it was one for me.
Had my salary came in earlier yesterday (that was it, Jim Bob…heh heh) and just to have a little celebration, we took Mak, Abah, Pona and the whole clan of Jim Bob’s family to a small dinner. Nothing fancy – just a good meal at Juara Tomyam. We even had no-frills dinner just tom yam, daging masak merah, prawn fritters and telur bungkus. However the looks on everyone’s faces was more than enough. The dishes came and were gone in no time. Almost everyone burped in satisfaction but more so for me. It was neither the meal nor the place. Just inner gratification.
Then we had a good walk to the nearby reflexology center. Rather relaxed ambience and friendly masseuses. Mak and Abah had theirs done. Jim Bob, Pona, Sarimah and I were busy laughing at them and catching hold of the running (and extremely noisy) kids. I asked the owner if the massage were painful and told him to look at Abah’s frowning face. He then laughing told me,” I’ve been in this business for quite some time…the massage is not painful at all…the look your father had is actually pain in the heart…because someone else is touching and massaging your mom…”. I looked again at Abah with a different view. After 40 years of marriage…how sweet…
Anyways:
Meal at Juara Tomyam = $240.00
Massage at Reflexology = $80.00
The feeling of making someone happy = Priceless!
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Sugar and Spice...and all things nice..
The program may not work. It may miraculously happen but I don't want to keep any of my hopes high.
Am I disheartened and frustrated or edgy?
Absolutely not…because this whole episode has taught me a number of priceless lessons.
To get started with the “program”, Pona and Dodek have to invest a large sum of their savings. And pass the returns to me and Jim Bob and here’s the best part….the money is to be used as down-payments to buy us better cars. Not for us to pay mortgages or food or clothings…but better, nicer cars. Please note that both Jim Bob and me have two cars in front of our porches already as it is. Somehow Maslow’s hierarchy of needs just went flushing down the drain…hahaha.
Initially my answer would be – I seriously have no idea why they would want to do that… maybe some people are just nicer and more generous than others. Or maybe these people don’t have an ounce of selfish streak in them. I don’t know…I really don't...
Later on, my answer was – I guess when you love a person; you just want the person to be happy.
And Husband was more satisfied now.
Last night, we hung out at Jim Bob’s place and over a pot of teh tarik, we talked some more about it. We made jokes about us driving those big cars and how much of a kadok naik junjung we are behaving. Then Jim Bob said “Baik betul depa kan?”. Surprisingly, I realized that I was holding back my tears.
I am so fortunate. I wish the world for them, and even if the ‘program’ does not materialize…at least I know the value of their hearts.
But if does…
Am I disheartened and frustrated or edgy?
Absolutely not…because this whole episode has taught me a number of priceless lessons.
To get started with the “program”, Pona and Dodek have to invest a large sum of their savings. And pass the returns to me and Jim Bob and here’s the best part….the money is to be used as down-payments to buy us better cars. Not for us to pay mortgages or food or clothings…but better, nicer cars. Please note that both Jim Bob and me have two cars in front of our porches already as it is. Somehow Maslow’s hierarchy of needs just went flushing down the drain…hahaha.
I’ve learnt about the thoughts that matter, about the joy of daydreaming and most of all, the value of another person.
Husband will ask ever so often – What’s in it for Dodek and Pona? Who would want to give that amount of money over nothing?
Husband will ask ever so often – What’s in it for Dodek and Pona? Who would want to give that amount of money over nothing?
Initially my answer would be – I seriously have no idea why they would want to do that… maybe some people are just nicer and more generous than others. Or maybe these people don’t have an ounce of selfish streak in them. I don’t know…I really don't...
Later on, my answer was – I guess when you love a person; you just want the person to be happy.
And Husband was more satisfied now.
Last night, we hung out at Jim Bob’s place and over a pot of teh tarik, we talked some more about it. We made jokes about us driving those big cars and how much of a kadok naik junjung we are behaving. Then Jim Bob said “Baik betul depa kan?”. Surprisingly, I realized that I was holding back my tears.
I am so fortunate. I wish the world for them, and even if the ‘program’ does not materialize…at least I know the value of their hearts.
But if does…
I’ll update this blog from home, as I don’t need to work anymore or maybe after I’ve finished my session at Marie France…or after my afternoon tea by the patio…maybe even after that holiday in Vienna. I’ll also post a pic or two from the places I visit. I may take up classes on egg-decorating…do I look better in Harrier or X3? Wait…I’ll definitely look better after the facials by Sisley…
The joys of daydreaming…
The joys of daydreaming…
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Lesser of Two Evils
My handphone has been busy with SMSes and calls. Which is very much expected considering The Big Story. Some were just…FYI, some were generous in their opinions, while others were downright bitchy.
To me (and my dear Husband)…we really don’t see any point whatsoever…or even why people are making such uproar over this tittle-tattle.
The basic new is – two persons are planning their marriage. Simple, ain’t it?
The superfluous spices are – She is 26 years old and single, while the man is a 52 years old married man with (?) kids. And no one is sure the number of marriages he had gone through and the number of current wives he has left. He’s a direct member of a royal family; being the brother of the current Sultan and he gave her a brand new 3-series beemer for her birthday. The first wife is gravely ill, or so has been for the last 8 years.
Why I’m not bothered? Because she has been going out with this man for 8 years, his children are aware of the relationship, she’s already on his ‘payroll’ (nice condo and nice car), the man is very much capable (financially) of providing for her and…its better to make things ‘halal’.
I’m maybe a cynic when it comes to love. I do believe in love, but love between a man and a woman has to be conditional. Unconditional love is only between parents and children…and between the humble beings and God. Love alone cannot make a marriage work. You have to have genuine respect for each other; you need to find the value in each other’s judgment and opinions and to accept each other’s flaws and imperfections.
Oklah…in short; Mills & Boons = pure bullshit.
Where do one meet dashingly good-looking single man, driving a black Lamborghini and is the founder/CEO of a large business conglomerate??
But if you find one….please tell me…
So back to the story. Oops…The Story. When I say that I don’t care nor do I mind, people’s reaction will be “But he’s someone’s husband…what do you do if his your husband??”
I don’t care but at the same time, I don’t condone either. Mainly because who am I to say or dictate a person’s life and decision? Who am I to pass a decree of life’s guiding principles? Just do onto others what you want others to do onto you. What you give is definitely what you get back in return…sometimes in ten-fold.
I will continue listening and I will be there for her, if need be. Just don’t expect me to jump in joy…
To me (and my dear Husband)…we really don’t see any point whatsoever…or even why people are making such uproar over this tittle-tattle.
The basic new is – two persons are planning their marriage. Simple, ain’t it?
The superfluous spices are – She is 26 years old and single, while the man is a 52 years old married man with (?) kids. And no one is sure the number of marriages he had gone through and the number of current wives he has left. He’s a direct member of a royal family; being the brother of the current Sultan and he gave her a brand new 3-series beemer for her birthday. The first wife is gravely ill, or so has been for the last 8 years.
Why I’m not bothered? Because she has been going out with this man for 8 years, his children are aware of the relationship, she’s already on his ‘payroll’ (nice condo and nice car), the man is very much capable (financially) of providing for her and…its better to make things ‘halal’.
I’m maybe a cynic when it comes to love. I do believe in love, but love between a man and a woman has to be conditional. Unconditional love is only between parents and children…and between the humble beings and God. Love alone cannot make a marriage work. You have to have genuine respect for each other; you need to find the value in each other’s judgment and opinions and to accept each other’s flaws and imperfections.
Oklah…in short; Mills & Boons = pure bullshit.
Where do one meet dashingly good-looking single man, driving a black Lamborghini and is the founder/CEO of a large business conglomerate??
But if you find one….please tell me…
So back to the story. Oops…The Story. When I say that I don’t care nor do I mind, people’s reaction will be “But he’s someone’s husband…what do you do if his your husband??”
I don’t care but at the same time, I don’t condone either. Mainly because who am I to say or dictate a person’s life and decision? Who am I to pass a decree of life’s guiding principles? Just do onto others what you want others to do onto you. What you give is definitely what you get back in return…sometimes in ten-fold.
I will continue listening and I will be there for her, if need be. Just don’t expect me to jump in joy…
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Broken Bicycles and Broken Dreams
I came home early yesterday with Opi covered with bruises, cuts and dried blood all over, watching Cartoon Network. Besides him were Isya, in her swimming suit and Aboy in his pyjamas (the same pyjamas he was wearing when I left for work). Isya was munching what looked like an egg sandwich – prepared by Aboy.
Sutinah? She was at our back porch…looking aimlessly to nowhere.
At moments like that, I’m quite unsure whether to be upset, or to laugh at my (mis)fortune or whether to just bang my head several times at the wall.
And I have people (like Jim Bob and Bang Long Ali) who wonder why I’m looking such a mess these days??!!
The explanation?
Opi rode his bicycle, forgot how to use the brakes and crashed into something and toppled down the hill. Isya complaint that she was feeling a bit too warm, hence why she was wearing the swimsuit in the house and Aboy mentioned to Sutinah that he could cook and thus the cooking chore went to him. I couldn’t even be bothered to ask why the plates were not washed, why all my comforters were on the floor and why Jim Bob’s motorbike was parked smack in the middle of the porch.
On another note, Husband has been very excited about trying to get Odin started on his steamboat dream. “The worst act a person can do… is to kill another person’s dreams” That’s his code of life and I concur his beliefs.
Odin has what we don’t have. He has been doing that ever since he was in primary school. A knack for business and an eye for opportunities. A talent that no one will know where it leads to if its not cultivated correctly. All of us long for an opportunity and the best gift one can offer, is opportunity.
I’m getting too philosophical. Geez….
I wonder what awaits me at home today…
Sutinah? She was at our back porch…looking aimlessly to nowhere.
At moments like that, I’m quite unsure whether to be upset, or to laugh at my (mis)fortune or whether to just bang my head several times at the wall.
And I have people (like Jim Bob and Bang Long Ali) who wonder why I’m looking such a mess these days??!!
The explanation?
Opi rode his bicycle, forgot how to use the brakes and crashed into something and toppled down the hill. Isya complaint that she was feeling a bit too warm, hence why she was wearing the swimsuit in the house and Aboy mentioned to Sutinah that he could cook and thus the cooking chore went to him. I couldn’t even be bothered to ask why the plates were not washed, why all my comforters were on the floor and why Jim Bob’s motorbike was parked smack in the middle of the porch.
On another note, Husband has been very excited about trying to get Odin started on his steamboat dream. “The worst act a person can do… is to kill another person’s dreams” That’s his code of life and I concur his beliefs.
Odin has what we don’t have. He has been doing that ever since he was in primary school. A knack for business and an eye for opportunities. A talent that no one will know where it leads to if its not cultivated correctly. All of us long for an opportunity and the best gift one can offer, is opportunity.
I’m getting too philosophical. Geez….
I wonder what awaits me at home today…
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
If dreams are made over lunch
I just came back from an extremely heady lunch date – with Pona, who has just been appointed as my financial adviser. Yup, my lil’ sis is now the equivalent of my personal finance minister – she shall dictate, decide, implement, finance and observe.
Heady because we went for our vitamin C jabs as well. The sight of my blood being slowly sucked into the syringe and impelled out again into my vein is rather too much to take. I keep reminding myself of the high dose of ascorbic acid waltzing through my vein with a bit of collagen, pumping up my dead beat skin to baby's like perfection. This is my 6th vial and I’ve yet to see any difference. But all in the name of beauty – haha!
Over the rather tasteless lunch, Pona and I talked about my issues with the maid and how un-ambitious I am. Basically if all my self-inflicted debts were paid, I’d rather stay home with Opi and Isya.
Pona came up with a program for me. Bottom line, if everything goes as planned, then I may quit when my contract expires in June 2006 – with my loans all paid, the children’s education plans set up, a generous amount of monthly grocery money and to top it all – ample $aving$!!
Too good to be true? That’s why it was a heady lunch!
We’ll wait for mid January 2005 to see if the whole idea is feasible. Then the program starts the following month. I told her that if it becomes a reality, I’d quit my current job and be a primary school teacher. Just what Opi has always wanted…
Until February…I shall continue setting up the (stupid) LAN connection in Bangalore…
Heady because we went for our vitamin C jabs as well. The sight of my blood being slowly sucked into the syringe and impelled out again into my vein is rather too much to take. I keep reminding myself of the high dose of ascorbic acid waltzing through my vein with a bit of collagen, pumping up my dead beat skin to baby's like perfection. This is my 6th vial and I’ve yet to see any difference. But all in the name of beauty – haha!
Over the rather tasteless lunch, Pona and I talked about my issues with the maid and how un-ambitious I am. Basically if all my self-inflicted debts were paid, I’d rather stay home with Opi and Isya.
Pona came up with a program for me. Bottom line, if everything goes as planned, then I may quit when my contract expires in June 2006 – with my loans all paid, the children’s education plans set up, a generous amount of monthly grocery money and to top it all – ample $aving$!!
Too good to be true? That’s why it was a heady lunch!
We’ll wait for mid January 2005 to see if the whole idea is feasible. Then the program starts the following month. I told her that if it becomes a reality, I’d quit my current job and be a primary school teacher. Just what Opi has always wanted…
Until February…I shall continue setting up the (stupid) LAN connection in Bangalore…
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Driving Miss Maid...
Can I live without a maid?
That’s like the ethereal question that’s been lingering in my tiny brain for the last couple of weeks. I was without one until Opi was 5. I handled everything – cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, mopping as well as all Opi’s infamous antics. And I survived. But the main success factor was the fact that I sent Opi to Mak’s house when I went to work. My mind was absolutely peaceful, knowing the care, love and discipline Mak places on Opi.
Then when I conceived Isya, we took our first maid – Emi. She worked like a horse and during her 3-year period, had never fallen ill except for minor cold once a while. She took care of the house like her own and the children enjoyed her company, especially Isya. I was lucky, I admit. But all good things come to an end and so did her contract.
As succession plan (I’ve been in too many biz plan meetings, obviously), I took in another maid – Sutinah. Quiet, slow, couldn’t talk in Malay (apparently Jawa is her only tongue) and above all – gives me the creeps!
I now sleep with my bedroom door locked. I have these haunting images of her, looking down at me with the butcher’s knife. Isya is feverish from last week and at nights; she has recurring dreams of hantu, which she has never experienced before. I’m not a great believer in these ilmu-ilmu hitam or the black magic…but Sutinah is like…*no words to express*
Husband had enough of her for not being able to remember details like cups are for breakfast and glasses for lunch/dinner. She broke Husband’s beloved Bodum just because she untangled the wired spirals that filter the coffee. She fed Isya with 4 packets of Maggi a day and bathes her 5-6 times a day because she said that Isya loves water. She keeps forgetting when Opi should go for his mengaji classes because she doesn’t know (and refuses to learn) how to look at the time!
Cleanliness of the house? After hours of meetings, I’ve to come home (is it home anymore?) to tuna leftovers on the floor, hovered by armies of ants and a dead carcass of a bird next to my shoe rack.
The rest like Opi loves to say is – infinity!
This morning, I left them in the care of Mak and Abah – again. What do you do without your parents?
That’s like the ethereal question that’s been lingering in my tiny brain for the last couple of weeks. I was without one until Opi was 5. I handled everything – cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, mopping as well as all Opi’s infamous antics. And I survived. But the main success factor was the fact that I sent Opi to Mak’s house when I went to work. My mind was absolutely peaceful, knowing the care, love and discipline Mak places on Opi.
Then when I conceived Isya, we took our first maid – Emi. She worked like a horse and during her 3-year period, had never fallen ill except for minor cold once a while. She took care of the house like her own and the children enjoyed her company, especially Isya. I was lucky, I admit. But all good things come to an end and so did her contract.
As succession plan (I’ve been in too many biz plan meetings, obviously), I took in another maid – Sutinah. Quiet, slow, couldn’t talk in Malay (apparently Jawa is her only tongue) and above all – gives me the creeps!
I now sleep with my bedroom door locked. I have these haunting images of her, looking down at me with the butcher’s knife. Isya is feverish from last week and at nights; she has recurring dreams of hantu, which she has never experienced before. I’m not a great believer in these ilmu-ilmu hitam or the black magic…but Sutinah is like…*no words to express*
Husband had enough of her for not being able to remember details like cups are for breakfast and glasses for lunch/dinner. She broke Husband’s beloved Bodum just because she untangled the wired spirals that filter the coffee. She fed Isya with 4 packets of Maggi a day and bathes her 5-6 times a day because she said that Isya loves water. She keeps forgetting when Opi should go for his mengaji classes because she doesn’t know (and refuses to learn) how to look at the time!
Cleanliness of the house? After hours of meetings, I’ve to come home (is it home anymore?) to tuna leftovers on the floor, hovered by armies of ants and a dead carcass of a bird next to my shoe rack.
The rest like Opi loves to say is – infinity!
This morning, I left them in the care of Mak and Abah – again. What do you do without your parents?
Monday, November 29, 2004
Things people keep...
Finally – Jim Bob moved to his house in Salak Tinggi. And Mak moved temporarily to Bukit Mahkota. All in one Saturday, two lorries, one Pajero and a few cramped cars. When the lorry that carried Mak’s stuff came, all I could see was her plants. She brought all her prized orchids and anthuriums. Those potted plants took up half of the three-tonne lorry!
Our mission – fix the bed. We went from one room and bed to another. Then we came to the last room, the room where Abah will sleep. Suddenly, Bang Li stopped short. I looked at him and noticed that he was staring at the corner of the room. There they were…2 (scary-looking) old, worn-out canes. The rotan, which Abah will whack the boys when they were ‘not behaving’. Out of the blue, both of us started laughing. “Dia simpan lagi benda ni…”
After settling the important ones, we went over to Jim Bob’s house. Since, most of the big matters were settled, we didn’t do much. Over teh tarik, Jim Bob took out a folder which the previous tenant apparently hid over the ceiling. The file contains – reasons why he should marry another person. He had about four scribbled lists and a couple of rejected/wrongly-written (?) marriage forms.
Get this, the man wanted to marry another one because the current wife refused to work nearer to their house (huh?). He also listed petty reasons like the wife enjoys having makeup on, likes to shop and refuse to have any more children. She already has three, mind you. He also stated that he has ‘more than enough’ to support two wives. His salary slip showed a monthly salary of half mine. Geez! I can’t even do a proper mind-blowing shopping with mine!
So Abah keeps his sacred rotan and an unknown guy keeps (hides) his alter-ego.
But again, to each - his own, so who am I to say?
Our mission – fix the bed. We went from one room and bed to another. Then we came to the last room, the room where Abah will sleep. Suddenly, Bang Li stopped short. I looked at him and noticed that he was staring at the corner of the room. There they were…2 (scary-looking) old, worn-out canes. The rotan, which Abah will whack the boys when they were ‘not behaving’. Out of the blue, both of us started laughing. “Dia simpan lagi benda ni…”
After settling the important ones, we went over to Jim Bob’s house. Since, most of the big matters were settled, we didn’t do much. Over teh tarik, Jim Bob took out a folder which the previous tenant apparently hid over the ceiling. The file contains – reasons why he should marry another person. He had about four scribbled lists and a couple of rejected/wrongly-written (?) marriage forms.
Get this, the man wanted to marry another one because the current wife refused to work nearer to their house (huh?). He also listed petty reasons like the wife enjoys having makeup on, likes to shop and refuse to have any more children. She already has three, mind you. He also stated that he has ‘more than enough’ to support two wives. His salary slip showed a monthly salary of half mine. Geez! I can’t even do a proper mind-blowing shopping with mine!
So Abah keeps his sacred rotan and an unknown guy keeps (hides) his alter-ego.
But again, to each - his own, so who am I to say?
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
The new Volvo S40..
This morning, I took a slow drive to work. And I looked at the cars that went passed me…a few CRVs, a couple of Beemers, quite a numbers of Citys and not one Civic. I also glimpsed at the spacious Naza Ria and stared at the grand beauty of a Citroen C5. I was also upset with a few speeding Aveos and Satrias, assumingly driven by the students of UNITEN and MMU.
I’ve never quite been a car-person so I never really noticed all the other related matters like…the price! So after a thorough chat with the Honda dealer in Ampang, I just realized that with a 10% down payment (and that’ll be a hefty $15K), I still have to fork out $2,500 per month just to drive a CRV!! Or worse, the ‘affordable’ City means a cut of $1,500 per month from my monthly salary! And I haven’t even gone to consider the other luxury cars…Shit.. now who told me “beli aje Honda…murah..”??
Its almost the same as when Dodik gave me her face cream, SKII Sign Treatment. She said “ambiklah..too oily for my skin”.
I gawked. The cream costs more than RM300 per jar. For every (extremely tiny) dot I put on my face, I feel like a movie star. I walk with more confidence. Lantaklah yang orang lain tak tau what I have on my face…
Coming back to cars, I now looked in the car. At the person who is driving the car. And I’ve to admit that I will then wonder about the drivers’ lives…their money…their careers…
Oooo…its like a sickness…like an addiction. Its not good...but its not easy to stop…
Like Opi likes to say...belilah the new Volvo S40....
I’ve never quite been a car-person so I never really noticed all the other related matters like…the price! So after a thorough chat with the Honda dealer in Ampang, I just realized that with a 10% down payment (and that’ll be a hefty $15K), I still have to fork out $2,500 per month just to drive a CRV!! Or worse, the ‘affordable’ City means a cut of $1,500 per month from my monthly salary! And I haven’t even gone to consider the other luxury cars…Shit.. now who told me “beli aje Honda…murah..”??
Its almost the same as when Dodik gave me her face cream, SKII Sign Treatment. She said “ambiklah..too oily for my skin”.
I gawked. The cream costs more than RM300 per jar. For every (extremely tiny) dot I put on my face, I feel like a movie star. I walk with more confidence. Lantaklah yang orang lain tak tau what I have on my face…
Coming back to cars, I now looked in the car. At the person who is driving the car. And I’ve to admit that I will then wonder about the drivers’ lives…their money…their careers…
Oooo…its like a sickness…like an addiction. Its not good...but its not easy to stop…
Like Opi likes to say...belilah the new Volvo S40....
Monday, November 22, 2004
A Peaceful Monday...
Its already the ninth day of Raya, and I’m back to work after a too-short, yet too-tiring 11 days of traveling back and forth, ketupat & kuah kacang, gossiping & laughing, 2005 financial planning (with Dodik, Mak and Jim Bob) and losing my tempers with Sutinah.
Husband had to work from home during the Raya week and due to non-existent of phoneline in my place, we slept over at Mak’s house. It was a win-win situation – he had his much needed internet connection and I had my undisturbed time of gossiping, reflecting, laughing and rolling on the floor with Mak, Dodik and Pona. Though Pona did disappear rather often, and kept staring at her mobile for some signs of incoming SMSes (I’m just guessing – been there…done that…kinda thing.)
All the visiting left a lot of “desires” as well as a big hole in my pocket. When we went to Mama’s house on the first day, I strained my neck while peeping through the curtains, staring at the brand new 3-series BMW driven by Husband’s youngest sister. Then Mak told of the many (expensive) cars parked outside Nya’s house. Then we had to see a brand new $100K-plus superbike infront of Bang Jai’s house during the barbeque. The arrival of the new sofa…the wall-to-wall surround sound system and the flashes of overly fat wallets.
Mak called up Jim Bob and myself. She then called up Dodik. In the cosy corner of her kitchen and a steaming pot of teh tarik, she laid down her ‘plans’. The ultimate objective – get rid of our current cars and buy a better (more expensive) ones! A plan that sounds too good to be true…but it is. What if money is not an issue? What would one buy?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sutinah (The New Maid) is really testing my patience. To the point that I finally admitted to Husband that I’m missing Emi. First of all, I doubt she actually passed her medical tests. She gets sick in the car, she has gastrics, she has toothache (which she refuses to see the dentist because a fellow villager died after having his tooth extracted), she is forgetful, she cannot seem to remember her daily routine (as much as I’ve written it down for her) and the list goes on.
I’ve reached the end of my patience with her. Yesterday when Isya fell down and cut her lips so I yelled for her to get some ice – she came out with a saucer, full of air masak! At that point in time, no amount of Marlboro could calm me down…I needed ganja!
Husband is normally the cool one. When he mentioned “I guess you better ask for a new one…This girl has delayed reaction...by one year!!”, I knew that I had to do something.
I’m ever so thankful that Aya is in the house with Isya and Opi.
When it comes down to the nitty gritty….be thankful that you have your family to fall back on.
Husband had to work from home during the Raya week and due to non-existent of phoneline in my place, we slept over at Mak’s house. It was a win-win situation – he had his much needed internet connection and I had my undisturbed time of gossiping, reflecting, laughing and rolling on the floor with Mak, Dodik and Pona. Though Pona did disappear rather often, and kept staring at her mobile for some signs of incoming SMSes (I’m just guessing – been there…done that…kinda thing.)
All the visiting left a lot of “desires” as well as a big hole in my pocket. When we went to Mama’s house on the first day, I strained my neck while peeping through the curtains, staring at the brand new 3-series BMW driven by Husband’s youngest sister. Then Mak told of the many (expensive) cars parked outside Nya’s house. Then we had to see a brand new $100K-plus superbike infront of Bang Jai’s house during the barbeque. The arrival of the new sofa…the wall-to-wall surround sound system and the flashes of overly fat wallets.
Mak called up Jim Bob and myself. She then called up Dodik. In the cosy corner of her kitchen and a steaming pot of teh tarik, she laid down her ‘plans’. The ultimate objective – get rid of our current cars and buy a better (more expensive) ones! A plan that sounds too good to be true…but it is. What if money is not an issue? What would one buy?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sutinah (The New Maid) is really testing my patience. To the point that I finally admitted to Husband that I’m missing Emi. First of all, I doubt she actually passed her medical tests. She gets sick in the car, she has gastrics, she has toothache (which she refuses to see the dentist because a fellow villager died after having his tooth extracted), she is forgetful, she cannot seem to remember her daily routine (as much as I’ve written it down for her) and the list goes on.
I’ve reached the end of my patience with her. Yesterday when Isya fell down and cut her lips so I yelled for her to get some ice – she came out with a saucer, full of air masak! At that point in time, no amount of Marlboro could calm me down…I needed ganja!
Husband is normally the cool one. When he mentioned “I guess you better ask for a new one…This girl has delayed reaction...by one year!!”, I knew that I had to do something.
I’m ever so thankful that Aya is in the house with Isya and Opi.
When it comes down to the nitty gritty….be thankful that you have your family to fall back on.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Hari Raya
I'm dedicating myself to work for these two days...two more days to my Raya break. I've my performance contract to complete, some pending issues with the contractors in Belgium, an underpinning contract to sign-off for Qatar and the list goes on forever. Woman...you got to prioritise.
I've to finish all those silly 'work-in-progress' that keep on bugging me, like those irritating langau - garbage flies! And then I can fully balik kampung...la la la la...balik kampung....
This is my very first year to balik kampung. I'll spend the malam raya in Mak's place so that will be the event that Opi has been waiting for. Lots of food...lots of playing....lots of laughing...and lots of quarelling and crying. Opi has been counting his supply of bunga api and mercun..one for him..one for Aboy...one for Apiz...one for Pak Su...and none for Isya. Which without fail, makes Isya let off her ear-deafening shrieks! Isya has been trying her Raya shoes on a daily basis..with socks, without socks, with socks of different colour and let me tell you...that pair will be worn off by Raya time.
I put up some Raya cards on the front door last night. Husband gave me his 'look' and I replied "kalau ada pokok kering...I buat Raya tree tau..". When I was small, Mak will collect Abah's collection of Raya cards, stapled them together and decorated the walls of the house with the self-made Raya cards banner. I would watch with great delight and Mak would give me a bunch of cards and the stapler. I would choose the brightest and nicest ones and stapled them on the leaves of Mak's pokok buluh.
I would watch Abah came home daily and would glee in anticipation when he opened his briefcase to show us the dazzling 50 sen coins which he just changed in Bank Negara. I knew then my duit raya will be 50 sen. Those were the days when the thought of holding 50 sen meant several trips to the nearby kedai runcit.
When I was small...our nights were definitely the highlights. After berbuka, we would wait for Abah to solemnly nod his approval to us. And when he did that, we would jump out of the house and Bang Li would bear the responsibility of lighting the candle. Jim Bob and I would be the ones jumping up and down, making silly shapes with the flickers of our bunga api. One time, I burnt a hole in Jim Bob's pyjamas and burnt his thigh. But whenever he wore the pyjama after that, both of us would ask each other "bila nak raya lagi?".
We never experience balik kampung ourselves. So every year, we would dress in our best on Raya morning, salam-salam and received our duit raya. Then Bang Li and Bang Jai would take us around for any open houses...well in those days, any Malays houses which open their gates were considered as open houses and the owners would always serve us with a glass of air gas each.
As we grew up, the Raya experience changed. Instead of house-hopping, we would then go to Ampang Park for some games. Later we grew up from arcade games to bowling and pool in Yow Chuan Plaza.
My memories of Raya may not be the most traditional. But the joy is the same. All my brothers and sisters grew up in boarding schools so Raya time was the only time we would actually gather and enjoy Mak's ayam masak lemak.
We'll do it again this year...I can almost smell the cooking ketupat with the bubbling water...
I've to finish all those silly 'work-in-progress' that keep on bugging me, like those irritating langau - garbage flies! And then I can fully balik kampung...la la la la...balik kampung....
This is my very first year to balik kampung. I'll spend the malam raya in Mak's place so that will be the event that Opi has been waiting for. Lots of food...lots of playing....lots of laughing...and lots of quarelling and crying. Opi has been counting his supply of bunga api and mercun..one for him..one for Aboy...one for Apiz...one for Pak Su...and none for Isya. Which without fail, makes Isya let off her ear-deafening shrieks! Isya has been trying her Raya shoes on a daily basis..with socks, without socks, with socks of different colour and let me tell you...that pair will be worn off by Raya time.
I put up some Raya cards on the front door last night. Husband gave me his 'look' and I replied "kalau ada pokok kering...I buat Raya tree tau..". When I was small, Mak will collect Abah's collection of Raya cards, stapled them together and decorated the walls of the house with the self-made Raya cards banner. I would watch with great delight and Mak would give me a bunch of cards and the stapler. I would choose the brightest and nicest ones and stapled them on the leaves of Mak's pokok buluh.
I would watch Abah came home daily and would glee in anticipation when he opened his briefcase to show us the dazzling 50 sen coins which he just changed in Bank Negara. I knew then my duit raya will be 50 sen. Those were the days when the thought of holding 50 sen meant several trips to the nearby kedai runcit.
When I was small...our nights were definitely the highlights. After berbuka, we would wait for Abah to solemnly nod his approval to us. And when he did that, we would jump out of the house and Bang Li would bear the responsibility of lighting the candle. Jim Bob and I would be the ones jumping up and down, making silly shapes with the flickers of our bunga api. One time, I burnt a hole in Jim Bob's pyjamas and burnt his thigh. But whenever he wore the pyjama after that, both of us would ask each other "bila nak raya lagi?".
We never experience balik kampung ourselves. So every year, we would dress in our best on Raya morning, salam-salam and received our duit raya. Then Bang Li and Bang Jai would take us around for any open houses...well in those days, any Malays houses which open their gates were considered as open houses and the owners would always serve us with a glass of air gas each.
As we grew up, the Raya experience changed. Instead of house-hopping, we would then go to Ampang Park for some games. Later we grew up from arcade games to bowling and pool in Yow Chuan Plaza.
My memories of Raya may not be the most traditional. But the joy is the same. All my brothers and sisters grew up in boarding schools so Raya time was the only time we would actually gather and enjoy Mak's ayam masak lemak.
We'll do it again this year...I can almost smell the cooking ketupat with the bubbling water...
Friday, November 05, 2004
A Week before Raya
It'll be Raya very soon...dam...dam..dumm...bunyi mercun. God! I've been having this tune replaying itself in my brains ever since Pona mentioned it.
Opi and Isya's outfits are all bought and tested over and over again. This year I shopped at Reject Shop - Ampang Point for their attire...as compared to previous years, where it would always be Baby Guess, OshKosh, Esprit, Mothercare et al. I'm quite proud to say that I managed to get 3 dresses and 3 t'shirts for less than $100! This year I spent less than $300 for their baju raya and shoes raya...a real saver compared to my average of $1500 in the previous years. What's up with the brand anyway? I guess I better save now, cause the kids will demand some brand names when 'peer pressure' starts playing a role. So for the meantime, it shall be Factory Outlet and Reject Shop.
Well...the only indulgence was Isya's Kickers shoes. Even Opi's LA Gear is much cheaper than her shoes. We went to Lot10 to get Opi's Nike. But with over $250 pricetags...enough said.
Yesterday I celebrated in triumph as I managed to secure the last stack of the new $5 polymer notes in BCB Cyberjaya. The teller told me "Kak..duit plastik ni tak bolek lipat ok. Nanti dia tak boleh tegak balik". Uh huh... "Does that mean I've to find a big angpow packets?" I asked her...only to realise how stupid my question was. Who cares? Like other people gonna handle those notes with such meticulous care...
Husband casually mentioned to me that he doesn't have his baju raya just yet. "Same here" I replied. "Err... I actually want baju raya" He said. "Ooo...awat tak cakap yang you nak...?". Ok, it'll be another trip to Ampang Point then this weekend. Maybe I can have my eyebrow threaded then. Ooo....nice, trimmed eyebrows for Raya is like a total must.
For this Raya, I've chosen (really) dark brown colour for my hair. No more bleached blonde looks for me. Erm..let see how long this last. I've never had my original colour eversince I left Seri Puteri...ooo..what nightmares. But that's a different topic altogether.
Ok now, what else to prepare for Raya? I've changed my duit raya, bought all the clothes and shoes for Opi and Isya, will buy some new shirts for Husband this weekend, ordered my raya cookies, coloured my hair...
Dam...dam...dumm....
Opi and Isya's outfits are all bought and tested over and over again. This year I shopped at Reject Shop - Ampang Point for their attire...as compared to previous years, where it would always be Baby Guess, OshKosh, Esprit, Mothercare et al. I'm quite proud to say that I managed to get 3 dresses and 3 t'shirts for less than $100! This year I spent less than $300 for their baju raya and shoes raya...a real saver compared to my average of $1500 in the previous years. What's up with the brand anyway? I guess I better save now, cause the kids will demand some brand names when 'peer pressure' starts playing a role. So for the meantime, it shall be Factory Outlet and Reject Shop.
Well...the only indulgence was Isya's Kickers shoes. Even Opi's LA Gear is much cheaper than her shoes. We went to Lot10 to get Opi's Nike. But with over $250 pricetags...enough said.
Yesterday I celebrated in triumph as I managed to secure the last stack of the new $5 polymer notes in BCB Cyberjaya. The teller told me "Kak..duit plastik ni tak bolek lipat ok. Nanti dia tak boleh tegak balik". Uh huh... "Does that mean I've to find a big angpow packets?" I asked her...only to realise how stupid my question was. Who cares? Like other people gonna handle those notes with such meticulous care...
Husband casually mentioned to me that he doesn't have his baju raya just yet. "Same here" I replied. "Err... I actually want baju raya" He said. "Ooo...awat tak cakap yang you nak...?". Ok, it'll be another trip to Ampang Point then this weekend. Maybe I can have my eyebrow threaded then. Ooo....nice, trimmed eyebrows for Raya is like a total must.
For this Raya, I've chosen (really) dark brown colour for my hair. No more bleached blonde looks for me. Erm..let see how long this last. I've never had my original colour eversince I left Seri Puteri...ooo..what nightmares. But that's a different topic altogether.
Ok now, what else to prepare for Raya? I've changed my duit raya, bought all the clothes and shoes for Opi and Isya, will buy some new shirts for Husband this weekend, ordered my raya cookies, coloured my hair...
Dam...dam...dumm....
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
I need a Ponstan drip...
I’m having this bad attack of migraine. I can almost feel my white hairs popping out. I worry too much. I hardly worry about me. But when it comes to the children… I fret myself crazy. I lose sleep, have anxiety attacks and what comes after that, is my mood swings!
This is the time I wish I was a child again, so that I can run off to Mak and be comforted of all the devils and ugly creatures. Worst when today’s my birthday and I’ve to remind myself that I’m now 33 years old and I have Opi and Isya to care for.
I’m bothered about the new maid. Her first time in Malaysia and she hasn’t got a clue what I’m saying. Aren’t they supposed to at least know some ‘easy’ Malaysian words? Maybe because Emi talks like us. My new maid is rather slow and needs everything to b explained to her in details…maybe I’ve been too long with Emi. Bottomline is, I hate changes.
How am I going to leave the children, Isya especially, with her…home alone?
Last night, Opi said something to me. For a 7-year old child who hates school and screams uncontrollably, he is one sharp-witted fellow. As I was changing Isya’s pyjamas, he held my hand and said “Mummy…don’t worry-lah…nanti Opi tolong tengok-tengokkan Isya bila mummy gi kerja…”
Thanks Opi!
And I worry for Isya’s hair. She burnt her scalp while playing firecrackers in her Habib’s house on Sunday. It happened so fast and under adults’ supervision. A small speck of the bunga api landed on her hair and somehow, the tiny speck grew bigger and razed off a handful of her hair. Despite everyone’s effort, her scalp burnt a bit. The size of a 20-cent coin. Isya is extremely vain of her Avril Lavigne-like hair. Now the burnt mark is rather obvious as it is really at the top of her head.
Will the scalp be better? Will the hair grow again? What is it doesn’t and she’ll be scarred for life? What would I say if she’s all grown up and ask me, why didn’t I do anything?
I worry for Opi’s front tooth. Apparently, its not growing correctly and I may need to see a pediatrician-dentist to get a clearer diagnosis of his teeth. Do I need to do this now? Can’t I wait until he’s 12 and send him to an orthodontic surgeon?
I worry so much…in fact I worry too much!
This is the time I wish I was a child again, so that I can run off to Mak and be comforted of all the devils and ugly creatures. Worst when today’s my birthday and I’ve to remind myself that I’m now 33 years old and I have Opi and Isya to care for.
I’m bothered about the new maid. Her first time in Malaysia and she hasn’t got a clue what I’m saying. Aren’t they supposed to at least know some ‘easy’ Malaysian words? Maybe because Emi talks like us. My new maid is rather slow and needs everything to b explained to her in details…maybe I’ve been too long with Emi. Bottomline is, I hate changes.
How am I going to leave the children, Isya especially, with her…home alone?
Last night, Opi said something to me. For a 7-year old child who hates school and screams uncontrollably, he is one sharp-witted fellow. As I was changing Isya’s pyjamas, he held my hand and said “Mummy…don’t worry-lah…nanti Opi tolong tengok-tengokkan Isya bila mummy gi kerja…”
Thanks Opi!
And I worry for Isya’s hair. She burnt her scalp while playing firecrackers in her Habib’s house on Sunday. It happened so fast and under adults’ supervision. A small speck of the bunga api landed on her hair and somehow, the tiny speck grew bigger and razed off a handful of her hair. Despite everyone’s effort, her scalp burnt a bit. The size of a 20-cent coin. Isya is extremely vain of her Avril Lavigne-like hair. Now the burnt mark is rather obvious as it is really at the top of her head.
Will the scalp be better? Will the hair grow again? What is it doesn’t and she’ll be scarred for life? What would I say if she’s all grown up and ask me, why didn’t I do anything?
I worry for Opi’s front tooth. Apparently, its not growing correctly and I may need to see a pediatrician-dentist to get a clearer diagnosis of his teeth. Do I need to do this now? Can’t I wait until he’s 12 and send him to an orthodontic surgeon?
I worry so much…in fact I worry too much!
Monday, October 25, 2004
More than a week into Ramadhan
Husband is away again. I told him that I only want 3 things from France – Choc Drink Mix, Choc Biscuits and Choc Spread, Nutella-style. In short, all 3 items spell calories with the capital C!
++++++++++++++++++++++++
I haven’t really spoken to Emi since the incident. Its best this way, I guess…since she’s going off to her homeland in 2 weeks time.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
My search for a feline companion is still futile. The colleague who wanted to give a cat decided against it at the very last minute. So now I’ve to haunt SPCA till I find my replacement for Tinkle. Tinkle was my cat when I was small (and died when I was 8) and I’ve always vowed that I’d replace him one day. Someday I will…
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Opi is starting his Iqra classes today. I wish him all the best!
++++++++++++++++++++++++
I haven’t really spoken to Emi since the incident. Its best this way, I guess…since she’s going off to her homeland in 2 weeks time.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
My search for a feline companion is still futile. The colleague who wanted to give a cat decided against it at the very last minute. So now I’ve to haunt SPCA till I find my replacement for Tinkle. Tinkle was my cat when I was small (and died when I was 8) and I’ve always vowed that I’d replace him one day. Someday I will…
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Opi is starting his Iqra classes today. I wish him all the best!
Friday, October 22, 2004
The Price of Beauty
I’m obsessed with this new technique of beautifying your skin. The latest craze in town – Vitamin C injection!
All you need is one celebrity who swears by the product, and you’d see us (the fairer beings) run off helter skelter to search for the elusive elixir – the fountain of youth. The miracle water that promises to stretch our skin to the limit, to whiten the Asian skin to tepung gomak-like complexion and peel the skin in unveil the unborn skin.
So we allow ourselves to succumb to these promises. Wait...let me be frank…let’s not get others into this self denial episode. Its just me, probably. I allow myself to believe what the products promise and consequently, my $$$ too.
What’s the deal with this Vitamin C injection?
Cost
RM600 onwards for a box of 6 vials. Note: one has to buy a box, they don’t sell per vial.
Method of treatment
Intravenously – you have to get a certified doctor to inject the liquid into your arms; around $10 - $25 per injection handling.
Frequency
First month – Once in 3 days.
2nd and 3rd month – Once every week.
4th month onwards – Once every month.
Claims
Whitens, stretches, cleans face off any pimply stuff, uplifts sagging breasts and minimize pores.
Who uses it
Please note that these are all unauthorized claims. Anita Sarawak, Erra and of course our darling Siti.
All in all, for me to get myself drenched with Vitamin C, I’ve to invest $1,200 for the first month alone! That’s higher than my Wira instalments! And Opi and Isya need to be sent overseas (Russia: remember) for their studies. Not to mention, my credit card payment, my loan, bas sekolah Opi….oooooo…..can almost feel a wrinkle developing!!
All you need is one celebrity who swears by the product, and you’d see us (the fairer beings) run off helter skelter to search for the elusive elixir – the fountain of youth. The miracle water that promises to stretch our skin to the limit, to whiten the Asian skin to tepung gomak-like complexion and peel the skin in unveil the unborn skin.
So we allow ourselves to succumb to these promises. Wait...let me be frank…let’s not get others into this self denial episode. Its just me, probably. I allow myself to believe what the products promise and consequently, my $$$ too.
What’s the deal with this Vitamin C injection?
Cost
RM600 onwards for a box of 6 vials. Note: one has to buy a box, they don’t sell per vial.
Method of treatment
Intravenously – you have to get a certified doctor to inject the liquid into your arms; around $10 - $25 per injection handling.
Frequency
First month – Once in 3 days.
2nd and 3rd month – Once every week.
4th month onwards – Once every month.
Claims
Whitens, stretches, cleans face off any pimply stuff, uplifts sagging breasts and minimize pores.
Who uses it
Please note that these are all unauthorized claims. Anita Sarawak, Erra and of course our darling Siti.
All in all, for me to get myself drenched with Vitamin C, I’ve to invest $1,200 for the first month alone! That’s higher than my Wira instalments! And Opi and Isya need to be sent overseas (Russia: remember) for their studies. Not to mention, my credit card payment, my loan, bas sekolah Opi….oooooo…..can almost feel a wrinkle developing!!
And get this...the whiten your skin Anita Sarawak-like, there's Glutatione injection! That's a cool $1,000 per box of 8.
Now you know why there's no ugly women in the land of the rich.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
On my 6th day of Ramadhan
Trust - By general definition is having a firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.
What the dictionary fails to note is the fact that trust is also earned and not bought. It is earned through time, may take months and years. Trust is not a written guarantee; banks don’t work based on trust but humans do. Trust is built out of processes, incidences and outcomes. The course is painstaking but the result is gratifying. However, just like fine porcelain, it takes one careless act to break the trust. And once broken, no matter how hard you try, you can never put back it together like before. It may appear whole but if observe carefully, you can see the cracks. Just like fine porcelain.
Our compassion may allow us the peace of forgiveness yet our logical minds snub such weakness.
My mind is so drained that I feel nothing.
I came home yesterday and a stranger called me out. With half whispers, he told me stories that cringed my stomach and left me shaking. Apparently he works as a teksi sapu driver who shuttles people from Bangi Komuter to Bukit Mahkota. And during the course of his work that he knows what he told me about.
A man has been coming into your house, 3 – 4 times a month. Comes in around noon and leaves at 3pm.
Emi – my maid has been with me for 3 years. She’s due to leave for good in 3 weeks’ time. Why now?
The worst feeling is that I know the guy. But I thought she has more sense than that.
Both, Emi and the stranger profusely wanted to swear by the holy Quran. One of them was definitely lying. In the month of Ramadhan.
I told Husband who are as perplexed as I am. I asked Opi who swore that no one has ever been in the house, but it might have happened after he went to school. Isya would've been sleeping from 1230 to 3pm.
Who do you trust?
A stranger who has no motive in lying to you…or a friend who has stayed with you for almost 3 years.
What the dictionary fails to note is the fact that trust is also earned and not bought. It is earned through time, may take months and years. Trust is not a written guarantee; banks don’t work based on trust but humans do. Trust is built out of processes, incidences and outcomes. The course is painstaking but the result is gratifying. However, just like fine porcelain, it takes one careless act to break the trust. And once broken, no matter how hard you try, you can never put back it together like before. It may appear whole but if observe carefully, you can see the cracks. Just like fine porcelain.
Our compassion may allow us the peace of forgiveness yet our logical minds snub such weakness.
My mind is so drained that I feel nothing.
I came home yesterday and a stranger called me out. With half whispers, he told me stories that cringed my stomach and left me shaking. Apparently he works as a teksi sapu driver who shuttles people from Bangi Komuter to Bukit Mahkota. And during the course of his work that he knows what he told me about.
A man has been coming into your house, 3 – 4 times a month. Comes in around noon and leaves at 3pm.
Emi – my maid has been with me for 3 years. She’s due to leave for good in 3 weeks’ time. Why now?
The worst feeling is that I know the guy. But I thought she has more sense than that.
Both, Emi and the stranger profusely wanted to swear by the holy Quran. One of them was definitely lying. In the month of Ramadhan.
I told Husband who are as perplexed as I am. I asked Opi who swore that no one has ever been in the house, but it might have happened after he went to school. Isya would've been sleeping from 1230 to 3pm.
Who do you trust?
A stranger who has no motive in lying to you…or a friend who has stayed with you for almost 3 years.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Lucky Star and Little Einstein
If Opi is so much like me…then I’m really worried.
Friends and families will always say that both of us are so alike. He’s like my mini-me. He talks like me, and looks like me. And I can almost predict what he’s going to do and say, before he says it. He cries watching sad movies and the best part is, we would always look at each other because we know very well, which part will bring tears to our eyes.
Having said that, you can tell his competence and aptitude towards studying especially anything got to do with calculations!
Opi came home with 40% for his maths yesterday. Dear Husband hit the roof, totally upset. He kept on saying “I spent hours with him...he still got them wrong...its just so easy…I don’t know where he put his head…I don’t even know if he has brains in there..”. I simply asked Opi to take his shower and told him that after berbuka, we’d talk about it.
Now – everyone who knows me knows that I had to take out the calculator to get the answers to 6000/6!
I’m not joking. All my life, people will mention that I’m lucky. Because looking at my exams record and how I struggled through kindergarten. Ok, so I went to an all-girls boarding school – well, that was because Abah pulled some strings. Yeah I went to Australia for my degree – in Linguistics! I had some snide comments about my degree, but I couldn’t be bothered.
Explaining to Husband about Opi’s situation is easier said than done. He holds two degrees in Applied Science and Aerospace Engineering plus an MBA, and has just decided to pursue his doctorate next year. This is a man who couldn’t find the humor when I mentioned that I could ‘buy’ all my MBAs and PhDs…
Isya is so much a daddy’s lil’ girl. She's like this little Einstein with lipstick!
Last night, Husband repeatedly asked Opi “What comes after first?”. Isya had to sashay in, flicked her hair and said “Second” and walked away.
Its not that Opi doesn’t know. He knows. Its just that, when pressured or in exams situation – he freezes. I hope that explains…if he’s so much me.
If people say that I’m lucky…I pray very hard that Opi is too!
Friends and families will always say that both of us are so alike. He’s like my mini-me. He talks like me, and looks like me. And I can almost predict what he’s going to do and say, before he says it. He cries watching sad movies and the best part is, we would always look at each other because we know very well, which part will bring tears to our eyes.
Having said that, you can tell his competence and aptitude towards studying especially anything got to do with calculations!
Opi came home with 40% for his maths yesterday. Dear Husband hit the roof, totally upset. He kept on saying “I spent hours with him...he still got them wrong...its just so easy…I don’t know where he put his head…I don’t even know if he has brains in there..”. I simply asked Opi to take his shower and told him that after berbuka, we’d talk about it.
Now – everyone who knows me knows that I had to take out the calculator to get the answers to 6000/6!
I’m not joking. All my life, people will mention that I’m lucky. Because looking at my exams record and how I struggled through kindergarten. Ok, so I went to an all-girls boarding school – well, that was because Abah pulled some strings. Yeah I went to Australia for my degree – in Linguistics! I had some snide comments about my degree, but I couldn’t be bothered.
Explaining to Husband about Opi’s situation is easier said than done. He holds two degrees in Applied Science and Aerospace Engineering plus an MBA, and has just decided to pursue his doctorate next year. This is a man who couldn’t find the humor when I mentioned that I could ‘buy’ all my MBAs and PhDs…
Isya is so much a daddy’s lil’ girl. She's like this little Einstein with lipstick!
Last night, Husband repeatedly asked Opi “What comes after first?”. Isya had to sashay in, flicked her hair and said “Second” and walked away.
Its not that Opi doesn’t know. He knows. Its just that, when pressured or in exams situation – he freezes. I hope that explains…if he’s so much me.
If people say that I’m lucky…I pray very hard that Opi is too!
Epok-epok and teh tarik
When fasting month comes – so does Mak’s epok-epok. The thought of piping hot epok-epoks and its accompanying zesty homemade chili sauce is just so remarkably scrumptious!
Mak’s epok-epok is really simple. I’ve seen and ate the more extravagant ones, but I still prefer Mak’s version. She sautees shredded carrot, taugeh, daun kucai and tahu with a bit of garlic for the filling. She kneads the karipap dough using ghee instead of the normal butter/margarine. Then in goes the filling into tiny karipaps.
But the real killer has got to be her chilli sauce. She taught me over and over again, yet I still could get the right amount...of anything. Basically the ingredients are fresh chilli, sugar, salt, limejuice and lots of crushed garlic. The taste really teases the tastebuds - a bit hot, slight soury, somewhat sweet and complemented with the taste of crushed garlics..
So you should break the freshly fired epok-epok into half and spoon some sauce into it and….yummy!
Another delight is her super smooth crème caramel. This is like the official dessert for every first day of ramadhan. I tried on Sunday…it turned out to be a bit bitter and very holey!
And her teh tarik, of course!
Mak’s epok-epok is really simple. I’ve seen and ate the more extravagant ones, but I still prefer Mak’s version. She sautees shredded carrot, taugeh, daun kucai and tahu with a bit of garlic for the filling. She kneads the karipap dough using ghee instead of the normal butter/margarine. Then in goes the filling into tiny karipaps.
But the real killer has got to be her chilli sauce. She taught me over and over again, yet I still could get the right amount...of anything. Basically the ingredients are fresh chilli, sugar, salt, limejuice and lots of crushed garlic. The taste really teases the tastebuds - a bit hot, slight soury, somewhat sweet and complemented with the taste of crushed garlics..
So you should break the freshly fired epok-epok into half and spoon some sauce into it and….yummy!
Another delight is her super smooth crème caramel. This is like the official dessert for every first day of ramadhan. I tried on Sunday…it turned out to be a bit bitter and very holey!
And her teh tarik, of course!
Friday, October 15, 2004
Ramadhan
Ramadhan is here.
Every year I will hope to be a better person, not miss my prayers, to express my shukur more and basically refrain from all the bad things that fasting should. Almost every single year, I would fail. And failed miserably.
Today is the first day, and I’m still holding on.
My hands are trembling from nicotine withdrawal. My heads throbs slightly for not having the daily dose of caffeine and the attention level still starting to waver – my glucose level is going down…My vision has tiny yellow dotes floating around.
Wait..I’m getting all these wrong, I’m supposed to concentrate on the good deeds…all these are merely the devil’s obstruction to my faith.
Ok…breath in…..
Husband dear – what’s for berbuka again??
Note: Don't mind me....this happens every first day of puasa.
Every year I will hope to be a better person, not miss my prayers, to express my shukur more and basically refrain from all the bad things that fasting should. Almost every single year, I would fail. And failed miserably.
Today is the first day, and I’m still holding on.
My hands are trembling from nicotine withdrawal. My heads throbs slightly for not having the daily dose of caffeine and the attention level still starting to waver – my glucose level is going down…My vision has tiny yellow dotes floating around.
Wait..I’m getting all these wrong, I’m supposed to concentrate on the good deeds…all these are merely the devil’s obstruction to my faith.
Ok…breath in…..
Husband dear – what’s for berbuka again??
Note: Don't mind me....this happens every first day of puasa.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Car Affair
My dear 4-year old Wira enjoys poking fun at its owner. Yes – it brings me from point A to point B. Period.
The door at the driver’s seat can no longer be opened. The passenger seat’s window cannot be wound up or down. The right signal light has broke its latch, so I have it plastered using the masking tape. As such, when it rains, I have my ‘right eye’ dangles in high speed! The speedometer is not working – I’ve no idea how fast (or slow?) I’m driving. The petrol indicator and the lights have konked out since moon-dog-years ago – so I’ve no clue how far I’ve traveled and how full / empty is the tank!
At my very best day, all I’ve to suffer is to crawl in and out of the car, using the passenger’s door. The most it can do to my ego is having my (big) butt stuck in between the two seats and cramp my legs in the process.
But today might as well be the worst!
I went to a petrol station. Lifted a bit my kain baju kurung and crawled out. Noticed that the right signal light was dangling. Went to the cashier, queued up and put down $50, because I wanted to fill in full tank. I filled and realized it stopped pumping at $11. Walked back to the cashier, queued up again and took back my balance. Much to the annoyance of the girl behind the counter. Tried my best to squeeze the light into its socket, but to no avail. Crawled back into the car…only to realize that I haven’t put back the tank cap on!
So I had to crawl out again.
And I had to do this in front of the morning crowd.
One mamat motor actually had the guts to come up to me and said “Kak Long…ni kereta pinjam ke? Macam nak terburai aje…”
The new Toyota Avanza is nice....and affordable. The new Vios MPV is gorgeous though I’m sure the price will be ‘attractive’ too. Kia Picanto is almost perfect, except for the extra mini boot space. Honda City is just so tempting…errgh!
Of course I would love to just pick and buy an X5…………..
The door at the driver’s seat can no longer be opened. The passenger seat’s window cannot be wound up or down. The right signal light has broke its latch, so I have it plastered using the masking tape. As such, when it rains, I have my ‘right eye’ dangles in high speed! The speedometer is not working – I’ve no idea how fast (or slow?) I’m driving. The petrol indicator and the lights have konked out since moon-dog-years ago – so I’ve no clue how far I’ve traveled and how full / empty is the tank!
At my very best day, all I’ve to suffer is to crawl in and out of the car, using the passenger’s door. The most it can do to my ego is having my (big) butt stuck in between the two seats and cramp my legs in the process.
But today might as well be the worst!
I went to a petrol station. Lifted a bit my kain baju kurung and crawled out. Noticed that the right signal light was dangling. Went to the cashier, queued up and put down $50, because I wanted to fill in full tank. I filled and realized it stopped pumping at $11. Walked back to the cashier, queued up again and took back my balance. Much to the annoyance of the girl behind the counter. Tried my best to squeeze the light into its socket, but to no avail. Crawled back into the car…only to realize that I haven’t put back the tank cap on!
So I had to crawl out again.
And I had to do this in front of the morning crowd.
One mamat motor actually had the guts to come up to me and said “Kak Long…ni kereta pinjam ke? Macam nak terburai aje…”
The new Toyota Avanza is nice....and affordable. The new Vios MPV is gorgeous though I’m sure the price will be ‘attractive’ too. Kia Picanto is almost perfect, except for the extra mini boot space. Honda City is just so tempting…errgh!
Of course I would love to just pick and buy an X5…………..
Monday, October 11, 2004
Teach me again..
Opi is having his final exams this week. And I'm worrying myself to death!
I worry because he's still struggling to read...and as such, any revision on all the subjects include primarily on just how to read the instructions. He could read, but his memory is rather low. Sometimes I feel like 'upgrading his memory size' to a P4 processor and have his 'HD' increased to 50gigs!
I'm nervous..and I have to raise my hat off to Husband who will always calmly and diligently spend time with Opi - reading and revising. I can never do that...I tried but my tolerance level is pretty low when it comes to studying. Hell! I, myself struggled through kindergarten...
On the other hand, I'm not even sure of my parenting techniques now. Yesterday, I swiped some chillies onto Isya's lips. Just because she was yelling "Bodoh!" non-stopped to Opi. It took me half an hour just to pacify her and tone down her swollen lips. She was sobbing so hard that I broke down too. I hugged her and took her for a walk and tried my damnest to explain how much I love her.
Basically, I'm just a totally confused mom.
What worked for Opi just doesn't do it for Isya. There are times that I do wish they come instruction manuals or better still, like programme application where you control the output.
I worry because he's still struggling to read...and as such, any revision on all the subjects include primarily on just how to read the instructions. He could read, but his memory is rather low. Sometimes I feel like 'upgrading his memory size' to a P4 processor and have his 'HD' increased to 50gigs!
I'm nervous..and I have to raise my hat off to Husband who will always calmly and diligently spend time with Opi - reading and revising. I can never do that...I tried but my tolerance level is pretty low when it comes to studying. Hell! I, myself struggled through kindergarten...
On the other hand, I'm not even sure of my parenting techniques now. Yesterday, I swiped some chillies onto Isya's lips. Just because she was yelling "Bodoh!" non-stopped to Opi. It took me half an hour just to pacify her and tone down her swollen lips. She was sobbing so hard that I broke down too. I hugged her and took her for a walk and tried my damnest to explain how much I love her.
Basically, I'm just a totally confused mom.
What worked for Opi just doesn't do it for Isya. There are times that I do wish they come instruction manuals or better still, like programme application where you control the output.
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Sweet Dreams of Isya
Isya woke up from her sleep, screaming and crying. She screamed for help..and she didn’t ask for Emi but she asked for me.
“Tolong Isya…mummy….tolong Isya….” She sobbed in a state of half asleep.
Quickly but very gently, I woke her up.
(Has to be very gently because Mak always said that if you wake a person up suddenly, then the spirit my not return to its body properly. But that’s another story…)
Isya sat up..still clutching her dear teddy bear and bantal busuk. She looked at me in her most tearful face and asked “Why didn’t you come earlier? I needed you in my sleep…”
“What happened? Come and share with Mummy, meh?”
“Isya jumpa ular…besar sangat”
Oh my God…is this one of those ‘benda-benda’ that follows her home…oooooo….I was getting the creeps.
“Apa ular tu buat?” I asked cautiously.
“Ular tu ular tua...”
“Ok......then apa ular tu buat?”
Isya started sobbing again...Emi was already trembling......
“Ular tua tu takde gigi…dia tanye Isya nak belon tak….tapi Isya tengok-tengok…Isya takde duit…Isya cari Mummy….tapi Mummy takde…apasal Mummy takde….penat ular tu tunggu tau……”
Emi rolled on the floor, laughing.
Ciss...no wonder she asked for me...I'm her walking ATM counter...........
“Tolong Isya…mummy….tolong Isya….” She sobbed in a state of half asleep.
Quickly but very gently, I woke her up.
(Has to be very gently because Mak always said that if you wake a person up suddenly, then the spirit my not return to its body properly. But that’s another story…)
Isya sat up..still clutching her dear teddy bear and bantal busuk. She looked at me in her most tearful face and asked “Why didn’t you come earlier? I needed you in my sleep…”
“What happened? Come and share with Mummy, meh?”
“Isya jumpa ular…besar sangat”
Oh my God…is this one of those ‘benda-benda’ that follows her home…oooooo….I was getting the creeps.
“Apa ular tu buat?” I asked cautiously.
“Ular tu ular tua...”
“Ok......then apa ular tu buat?”
Isya started sobbing again...Emi was already trembling......
“Ular tua tu takde gigi…dia tanye Isya nak belon tak….tapi Isya tengok-tengok…Isya takde duit…Isya cari Mummy….tapi Mummy takde…apasal Mummy takde….penat ular tu tunggu tau……”
Emi rolled on the floor, laughing.
Ciss...no wonder she asked for me...I'm her walking ATM counter...........
Monday, September 27, 2004
Time flies when you're...
I foresee that this coming week will be very hectic. Subconsciously I'm running a virtual planner in my brains - what to do, when to do and how to do. Not just that, I'm trying my best to juggle the children's times as well.
Let me give a run-down of the things-to-do / events for the week.
Let me give a run-down of the things-to-do / events for the week.
- Monthly grocery shopping is due. Monday - have my Fear Factor, Tuesday - my pasar malam night, Wednesday - my CSI: Miami night, Thursday - still empty and Friday - Husband's convo dinner. Ok Thursday then..Alamanda's Carrefour.
- Husband's birthday on Wednesday. Again my ethereal question - where do one shop in cyberjaya? In fact - what to get him? Dinner...like where?
- Husband's convo dinner on Friday night. Its not that Husband gets his MBA every year and call me insecure, I'm not going to let him go off to some dinner alone. So we forked out RM60.00 for me. Yup! Its that expensive to bring a guest. So I gotta go after office. I can shower in the office but like helllooooooooo....who's gonna do my hair? Or do I have time to do my hair? What am I gonna wear? Dammit......
- Husband convocation on Saturday at 8.00am, Renaissance Hotel. Now - who in the right mind who be able to get ready (note: gotta do my hair, make my face up) and be seated by 8am! No children below 12 are allowed so Opi and Isya cannot go...how can you deprieve these two angels from witnessing their daddy's graduation?? But wait - these two angels can also be the never-before convocation destruction machines......
- The convo should end by noon and we'll zoom back home to pick Opi, Isya and Emi and off we'll go my my mom-in-law's house. So that will be Bukit Mahkota to KL, KL to Bukit Mahkota, Bukit Mahkota to Sri Damansara and Sri Damansara to Bukit Mahkota. All in one day. And from 8am to 12noon, I'll be sitting properly watching the graduation procession...back and forth, back and forth... No offence, dear Husband - but I couldn't stand my own graduation! But I promise you, I'll behave. No nasty comments...no eye-rolling...no heavy sighs...
- Then on Sunday, Mak is holding a doa selamat cum sambut ramadhan kenduri. It'll be at 1130am but obviously we have to be there earlier to prepare all the necessaries. Then the basuh pinggan...kemas rumah...then have to travel again to Bukit Mahkota!
For the first time, I'm actually looking forward for next Monday....
Silent Luncheon
Husband joined me for lunch just now. No..that's not right. He didn't join me for lunch. We had a date...in Street Mall.
I just want to say a great thank you to my dear husband for being able to converse with me...without me having to say anything!
We had a fantastic silent lunch!
I just want to say a great thank you to my dear husband for being able to converse with me...without me having to say anything!
We had a fantastic silent lunch!
Silent memoirs
I'm voiceless. I'm not having the froggy-croaks day, I'm simply...voiceless. I'm now communicating with unintentional breathless whisper, and a piece of paper and pen. Not so easy especially when I've to chair a dispute meeting this afternoon. How does a voiceless person dispute?
*******************************
I'm tired...physically. Had a full weekend...which was rather exhausting. On Saturday morning, Opi and Isya had the experience of wet market. I never realise how a smelly, noisy, congested place like that can truly fascinates the younger ones. I think I'm just too jaded to stop, observe and learn..especially the smaller thing in life. Isya was totally mesmerised with the whole de-feathering (of a chicken) process. My 2 1/2 year old girl thinks that the men should use a shaver (just like her daddy's) to shave off the chickens' feathers...and not yank them off! Opi was more 'environmentally-friendly' and concerned about the coconut sellers who dumped the empty shells into the nearby river. "Nanti anak ikan sesat..banyak sangat kelapa tu..how nanti Opi ikan or Isya ikan nak jumpa mummy ikan??". And he repeatedly pestered me with the question while I've to fight with 3 other makciks for the biggest prawns!
"Well Opi...nanti mummy ikan jeritlah panggil Opi ikan...ok?".
"Well Mummy (following my earleir tone of voice)...what happens to Isya ikan? They are still babies, you know..how to answer-lah?"
"Mummy...mummy...chicken nak beli cukur janggut daddy ke? Mummy nanti bagi chicken cukur yek?" Isya had to shrill her squeaky voice in-between.
I was ever so relieved when I reached home. Peace and quiet......because Opi and Isya changed their attention to 'bother' Husband, who just woke up then.
**************************************
Went to my colleague's wedding on Saturday night. A beautiful inter-racial wedding between a Chinese girl and an Indian gentleman. Husband pointed out, "Why are the two families don't sit together? Why the girl's families at one side and the guys on the other?"
To which I answered "Dear...it happens in almost all weddings. The bride's and the groom's families hardly mix with one another. Its normal to keep within the comforts of the people you know.."
Husband gave me a weird look.
"I was not talking about us-lah!!" I quickly went on (blabbered, actually) and on about what I exactly meant.
****************************************
Bang Long Ali fed us with sate on Sunday - Ayin's 10th birthday.
Goodness...so much food! Mak prepared nasi ayam and mee bandung. And the ever famous choc banana cake, courtesy of Secret Recipe.
A Sate Sunday, indeed!!
Husband and I went rounds and rounds of Ampang Point and I couldn't find anything suitable for Ayin. So we setteled with a box of Dunkin Donuts, instead. But I will try to get one before this weekend....hence the great question, where do one shop in Cyberjaya??
**********************************
I'm so voiceless now................
*******************************
I'm tired...physically. Had a full weekend...which was rather exhausting. On Saturday morning, Opi and Isya had the experience of wet market. I never realise how a smelly, noisy, congested place like that can truly fascinates the younger ones. I think I'm just too jaded to stop, observe and learn..especially the smaller thing in life. Isya was totally mesmerised with the whole de-feathering (of a chicken) process. My 2 1/2 year old girl thinks that the men should use a shaver (just like her daddy's) to shave off the chickens' feathers...and not yank them off! Opi was more 'environmentally-friendly' and concerned about the coconut sellers who dumped the empty shells into the nearby river. "Nanti anak ikan sesat..banyak sangat kelapa tu..how nanti Opi ikan or Isya ikan nak jumpa mummy ikan??". And he repeatedly pestered me with the question while I've to fight with 3 other makciks for the biggest prawns!
"Well Opi...nanti mummy ikan jeritlah panggil Opi ikan...ok?".
"Well Mummy (following my earleir tone of voice)...what happens to Isya ikan? They are still babies, you know..how to answer-lah?"
"Mummy...mummy...chicken nak beli cukur janggut daddy ke? Mummy nanti bagi chicken cukur yek?" Isya had to shrill her squeaky voice in-between.
I was ever so relieved when I reached home. Peace and quiet......because Opi and Isya changed their attention to 'bother' Husband, who just woke up then.
**************************************
Went to my colleague's wedding on Saturday night. A beautiful inter-racial wedding between a Chinese girl and an Indian gentleman. Husband pointed out, "Why are the two families don't sit together? Why the girl's families at one side and the guys on the other?"
To which I answered "Dear...it happens in almost all weddings. The bride's and the groom's families hardly mix with one another. Its normal to keep within the comforts of the people you know.."
Husband gave me a weird look.
"I was not talking about us-lah!!" I quickly went on (blabbered, actually) and on about what I exactly meant.
****************************************
Bang Long Ali fed us with sate on Sunday - Ayin's 10th birthday.
Goodness...so much food! Mak prepared nasi ayam and mee bandung. And the ever famous choc banana cake, courtesy of Secret Recipe.
A Sate Sunday, indeed!!
Husband and I went rounds and rounds of Ampang Point and I couldn't find anything suitable for Ayin. So we setteled with a box of Dunkin Donuts, instead. But I will try to get one before this weekend....hence the great question, where do one shop in Cyberjaya??
**********************************
I'm so voiceless now................
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Husband's back....!
My dear Husband is back from Toulouse, France yesterday morning.
I woke up at 530am to drive to KLIA, stood for 1/2 hour at the arrival hall just because I hadno idea which flight he was on. And even from where exactly - Frankfurt..? Amsterdam..? Geez..it was much simpler when I picked him up at KL Sentral previously. All I have to do was just sit at McDonalds until he comes. Reminder: Need to check his flight number the next time he goes away again.
He brought back lots and lots of bonbons...I guess he must've remembered how I salivated over the ones Dodik brought back from London. He said now I can cocmpare whether French bonbons are better than the British bonbons...hmmmph...
I missed him alot when he was away. He's like my 'mengumpat' friend, you know. The type that would listen to all my yappings and still be on my side no matter how 'wrong' I am.
Having a friend whom you can spend time with, complete with all your imperfections is a total must. But having more than just one, is even a lot better. I've a few...depending on what I want to talk about. If its about work and people at work - definitely my husband. If its about everything else under the sun, its definitely mak. But there are no fine lines.
I find talking to Dodik about her life as very refreshing. In her stories, I see parts of me which will never materialise. The places she goes to, the people she meets and the work that she's doing. When there's a situation that has the elements of panic, anxiety, excitement or even anger - the best person to share it, is Pona. Pona has this magical aura surrounding her which is similar to the mood ring. The one that can easily changes colour according to the situation...and Pona can do that in a snap of the finger!
Jim Bob will be the first I call if the situation involves my parents or the other siblings. Like if mak is upset and I'm not sure why. Or Odin was in a fight. Or if Bang Long Ali will attend a certain function. Jim Bob is like the family's resource center.
So..Opi and Isya, what I'm trying to say is that I'm very lucky that I have 3 elder brothers, 2 younger sisters and one 'baby' brother. You two only have each other. I hope one day, despite all the fights and tears and laughters, you'll realise that 'air dicincang tak kan putus'.
I'm babbling now..but you know what I mean.
I woke up at 530am to drive to KLIA, stood for 1/2 hour at the arrival hall just because I hadno idea which flight he was on. And even from where exactly - Frankfurt..? Amsterdam..? Geez..it was much simpler when I picked him up at KL Sentral previously. All I have to do was just sit at McDonalds until he comes. Reminder: Need to check his flight number the next time he goes away again.
He brought back lots and lots of bonbons...I guess he must've remembered how I salivated over the ones Dodik brought back from London. He said now I can cocmpare whether French bonbons are better than the British bonbons...hmmmph...
I missed him alot when he was away. He's like my 'mengumpat' friend, you know. The type that would listen to all my yappings and still be on my side no matter how 'wrong' I am.
Having a friend whom you can spend time with, complete with all your imperfections is a total must. But having more than just one, is even a lot better. I've a few...depending on what I want to talk about. If its about work and people at work - definitely my husband. If its about everything else under the sun, its definitely mak. But there are no fine lines.
I find talking to Dodik about her life as very refreshing. In her stories, I see parts of me which will never materialise. The places she goes to, the people she meets and the work that she's doing. When there's a situation that has the elements of panic, anxiety, excitement or even anger - the best person to share it, is Pona. Pona has this magical aura surrounding her which is similar to the mood ring. The one that can easily changes colour according to the situation...and Pona can do that in a snap of the finger!
Jim Bob will be the first I call if the situation involves my parents or the other siblings. Like if mak is upset and I'm not sure why. Or Odin was in a fight. Or if Bang Long Ali will attend a certain function. Jim Bob is like the family's resource center.
So..Opi and Isya, what I'm trying to say is that I'm very lucky that I have 3 elder brothers, 2 younger sisters and one 'baby' brother. You two only have each other. I hope one day, despite all the fights and tears and laughters, you'll realise that 'air dicincang tak kan putus'.
I'm babbling now..but you know what I mean.
Monday, September 13, 2004
Fuck Problem explained....
It was a typo error. It was supposed to be "Fork".
How can you messpelt something into "fuck" and presented in worldwide??
Worse...none of us audience said anything.
How can you messpelt something into "fuck" and presented in worldwide??
Worse...none of us audience said anything.
Friday, September 10, 2004
Fuck??
Was in this high priority / urgent meeting on a global back office asset refresh project. The situation was intense, the discussions were thought-provoking, timelines were laid down, argued upon and discussed. After two days of arguing, agreeing, delegating, accepting and planning, the project manager started his wrap-up session.
I was already rather tired but this is going to be one of my main tasks in 2005, hence all my attention and commitment.
I looked at the projected slides…and jotted down loads of notes.
Came the third slide – wait…what was that again?
“The unavailability of site access may lead to serious fuck problems.”
Did I get that right? I never knew that data centers have fucking problems!
I stared around and nobody even bothered.
Did I mention that I was the only woman there? And there were about 15 guys.
So I’m thinking now…was that a typo?
I was already rather tired but this is going to be one of my main tasks in 2005, hence all my attention and commitment.
I looked at the projected slides…and jotted down loads of notes.
Came the third slide – wait…what was that again?
“The unavailability of site access may lead to serious fuck problems.”
Did I get that right? I never knew that data centers have fucking problems!
I stared around and nobody even bothered.
Did I mention that I was the only woman there? And there were about 15 guys.
So I’m thinking now…was that a typo?
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Opi's Merdeka (Mahathir) Parade
I have vowed not to write / talk about Anwar’s release. But I just have to share this one. I thought it was uproariously comical. Husband thought it was just plain suicidal. Isya enjoyed every minute of it.
We were at the airport on Saturday night. Husband’s flight to Frankfurt. Everything went on as per normal until Husband said “let’s go outside, I need my ciggies before going in.”. Off we went…..into hundreds and hundreds of Keadilan/PAS/Anwar’s supporters! They were chanting his name and screamed “Reformasi”!
“Is Anwar traveling tonight?” Husband asked me.
“Eh..mana I tau?”
“He’s going to Munich…hey…maybe the same flight as I..” Husband hurriedly searched for his wallet and let out a huge sigh of exasperation “ Shit! Didn’t bring my name card”.
While he was looking for anything to scribble his name, I noticed Opi and Isya were jumping with joy over the whole entire demonstration. They’re totally mistaken this for the recent Merdeka parade, I thought.
Suddenly – “Hidup Mahathir!” Opi screamed.
“Mahathir! Mahathir! Mahathir!” Opi screamed again and again. And Opi can really scream.
Everyone nearby stopped their chanting and looked at him, hard. Then with killer looks, they stared at me – the mother of a hardcore Mahathir’s supporter.
I laughed and I laughed. Husband pulled Opi aside. “Jom masuk”. Opi protested “Tapi Opi tak pernah tengok Mahathir!”
We had to pull him inside.
He’s still upset that we didn’t allow him to look at ‘Mahathir’.
We were at the airport on Saturday night. Husband’s flight to Frankfurt. Everything went on as per normal until Husband said “let’s go outside, I need my ciggies before going in.”. Off we went…..into hundreds and hundreds of Keadilan/PAS/Anwar’s supporters! They were chanting his name and screamed “Reformasi”!
“Is Anwar traveling tonight?” Husband asked me.
“Eh..mana I tau?”
“He’s going to Munich…hey…maybe the same flight as I..” Husband hurriedly searched for his wallet and let out a huge sigh of exasperation “ Shit! Didn’t bring my name card”.
While he was looking for anything to scribble his name, I noticed Opi and Isya were jumping with joy over the whole entire demonstration. They’re totally mistaken this for the recent Merdeka parade, I thought.
Suddenly – “Hidup Mahathir!” Opi screamed.
“Mahathir! Mahathir! Mahathir!” Opi screamed again and again. And Opi can really scream.
Everyone nearby stopped their chanting and looked at him, hard. Then with killer looks, they stared at me – the mother of a hardcore Mahathir’s supporter.
I laughed and I laughed. Husband pulled Opi aside. “Jom masuk”. Opi protested “Tapi Opi tak pernah tengok Mahathir!”
We had to pull him inside.
He’s still upset that we didn’t allow him to look at ‘Mahathir’.
My Yellow Tarzan
Sent dear Husband off on Saturday night. Every time he goes away, somebody will be sick / something happens. Well – that record stands.
Opi is having major case of mouth ulcers. The house is so quiet without all his screams. To add more pain, he’s also suffering from this bad bout of rashes and itchiness all over his body. The rash looks like mosquito bites, only bigger and terribly itchy (judging from the way he scratches!).
“Apa ni?”
“Gegata. Memang gatal.” quipped my dear sis-in-law, Sarimah.
“Kutu air. Kat Indonesia selalu dapat” replied Emi, my maid.
Now I have 2 self-proclaimed doctors in the house. Amazingly both had the same remedy – lumur with grated fresh turmeric.
Jim Bob quickly offered assistance and off he went searching for the biggest, most yellow kunyit he could find. Emi prepared the grater, Aboy and Ninie took off Opi’s t-shirt and pants, Isya tried her best to fan her brother with a magazine…and I chewed my nails…I could feel my migraine coming…..
Jim Bob came rushing back. I grabbed hold off the kunyit and started grating. I grated and grated like a crazy maniac. Then I held Opi (who was still scratching himself silly) and started scrubbing the grated turmeric all over his face, head and body.
Digress – At this point or later; don’t ever ask me why did I not go to the doctor!
There you go – Opi stood in the middle of his grandma’s kithcehn with only his underpants, his body all bright yellow and swollen lips. Goodness! He almost looked like a scrawny yellow tarzan with Angelina Jolie’s lips!! What have I done???
The results?
He received two jabs in Ampang Puteri. And a bottle of calamine lotion.
His lips are still swollen.
And he is still very yellow.
Opi is having major case of mouth ulcers. The house is so quiet without all his screams. To add more pain, he’s also suffering from this bad bout of rashes and itchiness all over his body. The rash looks like mosquito bites, only bigger and terribly itchy (judging from the way he scratches!).
“Apa ni?”
“Gegata. Memang gatal.” quipped my dear sis-in-law, Sarimah.
“Kutu air. Kat Indonesia selalu dapat” replied Emi, my maid.
Now I have 2 self-proclaimed doctors in the house. Amazingly both had the same remedy – lumur with grated fresh turmeric.
Jim Bob quickly offered assistance and off he went searching for the biggest, most yellow kunyit he could find. Emi prepared the grater, Aboy and Ninie took off Opi’s t-shirt and pants, Isya tried her best to fan her brother with a magazine…and I chewed my nails…I could feel my migraine coming…..
Jim Bob came rushing back. I grabbed hold off the kunyit and started grating. I grated and grated like a crazy maniac. Then I held Opi (who was still scratching himself silly) and started scrubbing the grated turmeric all over his face, head and body.
Digress – At this point or later; don’t ever ask me why did I not go to the doctor!
There you go – Opi stood in the middle of his grandma’s kithcehn with only his underpants, his body all bright yellow and swollen lips. Goodness! He almost looked like a scrawny yellow tarzan with Angelina Jolie’s lips!! What have I done???
The results?
He received two jabs in Ampang Puteri. And a bottle of calamine lotion.
His lips are still swollen.
And he is still very yellow.
Friday, September 03, 2004
Mak's many hats...
Mak never fails to amaze me. She plays the part of all characters and fit them in her 24hours/day life. Just like Eddie Murphy in the Nutty Professor.
That lady should own her own set of iPac…yet she has all the details down in pat. Let’s try to go through her life for a day.
She gets up at 6am to pray, shower, get the breakfast ready and tend her garden. In between, she’ll make phonecalls to all possible people in getting me a new maid. That lady definitely is the epitome of ‘networking’! She will know someone who knows someone.
She is also the shaman who knows everything about all the traditional medicine..the herbs..the dong qwai..spirulina..daun jambu…belimbing besi…minyak gamat…you know the sort.
Then she plays the architect cum interior designer cum accountant part. She starts designing the house, estimating the cost, re-designing the house, re-arranging all the house beams, tiling works, piping works then estimate the cost again.
Somehow, miraculously, she finished sewing the curtains, the pillow cases and Isya’s baju kurung! And magically – the lunch will also be ready!
Mak hardly misses her afternoon naps. She’ll snuggle on the sofa with a Mills & Boon (Did I mention that she’s also a hardcore romantic?) and dozes off to sleep.
Abah will always get his Milo and some cookies/kuih around 330pm. And Mak will sit with him, filling him with all the details of what have all their 7 children up to. Just like a Personal Assistant…in fact better…she never misses any details.
By night time – she accomplishes so many roles…a pharmacist, a chef, an architect, an accountant, a PA – who sews, cooks, cleans, gardens…and still manages to sneak out to her Avon/Cosway shops.
But her best role remains a Mother – we, the children can call her anytime and she’ll come up with the best advice and ever ready to lend both her ears. Errr….did I mention that she’s also a psychologist?
That lady should own her own set of iPac…yet she has all the details down in pat. Let’s try to go through her life for a day.
She gets up at 6am to pray, shower, get the breakfast ready and tend her garden. In between, she’ll make phonecalls to all possible people in getting me a new maid. That lady definitely is the epitome of ‘networking’! She will know someone who knows someone.
She is also the shaman who knows everything about all the traditional medicine..the herbs..the dong qwai..spirulina..daun jambu…belimbing besi…minyak gamat…you know the sort.
Then she plays the architect cum interior designer cum accountant part. She starts designing the house, estimating the cost, re-designing the house, re-arranging all the house beams, tiling works, piping works then estimate the cost again.
Somehow, miraculously, she finished sewing the curtains, the pillow cases and Isya’s baju kurung! And magically – the lunch will also be ready!
Mak hardly misses her afternoon naps. She’ll snuggle on the sofa with a Mills & Boon (Did I mention that she’s also a hardcore romantic?) and dozes off to sleep.
Abah will always get his Milo and some cookies/kuih around 330pm. And Mak will sit with him, filling him with all the details of what have all their 7 children up to. Just like a Personal Assistant…in fact better…she never misses any details.
By night time – she accomplishes so many roles…a pharmacist, a chef, an architect, an accountant, a PA – who sews, cooks, cleans, gardens…and still manages to sneak out to her Avon/Cosway shops.
But her best role remains a Mother – we, the children can call her anytime and she’ll come up with the best advice and ever ready to lend both her ears. Errr….did I mention that she’s also a psychologist?
Gothic Blogs..and cheap read!
I've been kept 'busy'....
Husband knows how much I enjoy a good read...its just that..it can get a bit pricey.
So ke gave me this instead...and I'm hooked!
Husband knows how much I enjoy a good read...its just that..it can get a bit pricey.
So ke gave me this instead...and I'm hooked!
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Holidays and lonely nights
School Holidays again!
Opi is at his Nek’s house. Isya will be going as well today. And the house will be very, very quiet and empty! As much as I want to come back to their squealing and screaming, I think they deserve some breaks. Haha….I can sort of tell that they’re a tad too bored of ‘entertaining’ me. I can tell from Opi's side comments when he starts to compare food at home vs. the ones his Nenek cooks. Hey! That’s not comparing apple to apple…unfair comparison.
Other tell-tales will be when Isya starts rambling on and on about how Wut knows exactly how to cut her nails and how Mak Na will slather on tons and tons of lotion after shower. She will stare through the windows and said casually that Pak Su’s motorbike is a lot better than those she sees around the neighbourhood.
And normally both of them will repeatedly ask “Bila nak balik kampong?” Opi sometimes will go to the extent of packing some of his clothes in his backpack, and he'll place his bag on his bed...in full view. Its like a silent request to 'ship' him back to Nenek's house.
So its time they’re off to ‘kampong’.
This is the time for them to enjoy endless arrays of goring tepung, cakoi, cakes, nasi lemak, lontong, asam pedas and pajeri nenas (Isya’s favourite – the one that she’d refuse to eat if I try to cook!).
This will also be the time when Opi walks with his Wut every morning to buy newspapers and more often than not, both of them will come back with more than just the morning papers.
Opi is at his Nek’s house. Isya will be going as well today. And the house will be very, very quiet and empty! As much as I want to come back to their squealing and screaming, I think they deserve some breaks. Haha….I can sort of tell that they’re a tad too bored of ‘entertaining’ me. I can tell from Opi's side comments when he starts to compare food at home vs. the ones his Nenek cooks. Hey! That’s not comparing apple to apple…unfair comparison.
Other tell-tales will be when Isya starts rambling on and on about how Wut knows exactly how to cut her nails and how Mak Na will slather on tons and tons of lotion after shower. She will stare through the windows and said casually that Pak Su’s motorbike is a lot better than those she sees around the neighbourhood.
And normally both of them will repeatedly ask “Bila nak balik kampong?” Opi sometimes will go to the extent of packing some of his clothes in his backpack, and he'll place his bag on his bed...in full view. Its like a silent request to 'ship' him back to Nenek's house.
So its time they’re off to ‘kampong’.
This is the time for them to enjoy endless arrays of goring tepung, cakoi, cakes, nasi lemak, lontong, asam pedas and pajeri nenas (Isya’s favourite – the one that she’d refuse to eat if I try to cook!).
This will also be the time when Opi walks with his Wut every morning to buy newspapers and more often than not, both of them will come back with more than just the morning papers.
Its the break that both of them yearn for. It also means an extremely quiet and lonely house for me and Husband.
But tomorrow, all of them will come back, together with Aboy. Then…no more lonely nights (and days!). That reminds me, I got to fill up the fridge with all the drummets, nuggets, hotdogs and ice-cream .
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Catty catty people!
Since this is my blog and I can write as I wish, then I’ll say working with women is like twisting and turning a jagged sword into your chest a thousand times.
The ‘women’ do not have to be your boss. These creatures can appear in many disguises; your colleagues, your staff, your vendor..anyone..but if they are classified as ‘women’, the you’re in for a torturous nightmare in the office.
Yes – people don’t have to hark me back me that I am one. A woman. But put all of ‘us’ in one confined area like the office, then you get a blistering backdrop that even Lucifer himself dare not step in.
The female species is by nature; manipulative beings. In my 32 years of age, went to an all-girls boarding school, went through the ‘young/dating’ period in my twenties and still going through my career life, all I can say is they are scheming, complicated, overly sensitive, easily threatened creatures.
They say one thing and meant the other. They are nice if they want something in return. Honesty is never in their dictionary. If you think a woman is nice and honest, you’re being deceived. The worse part is that some of them do not even realize that they have ‘hidden agenda’ up their sleeves. But trust me..they do.
That’s the whole reason why reality shows are such hits; Amazing Race, For Love or Money, The Bachelor et al. They focus on the catty fights, bitchy comments and ‘mengumpat’.
Rather frankly, I find it easier talking to the guys. Completely platonic relationship. Maybe I grew up with three elder brothers…maybe guys are more straight-forward. And what you see is what you get. Simple as that.
The ‘women’ do not have to be your boss. These creatures can appear in many disguises; your colleagues, your staff, your vendor..anyone..but if they are classified as ‘women’, the you’re in for a torturous nightmare in the office.
Yes – people don’t have to hark me back me that I am one. A woman. But put all of ‘us’ in one confined area like the office, then you get a blistering backdrop that even Lucifer himself dare not step in.
The female species is by nature; manipulative beings. In my 32 years of age, went to an all-girls boarding school, went through the ‘young/dating’ period in my twenties and still going through my career life, all I can say is they are scheming, complicated, overly sensitive, easily threatened creatures.
They say one thing and meant the other. They are nice if they want something in return. Honesty is never in their dictionary. If you think a woman is nice and honest, you’re being deceived. The worse part is that some of them do not even realize that they have ‘hidden agenda’ up their sleeves. But trust me..they do.
That’s the whole reason why reality shows are such hits; Amazing Race, For Love or Money, The Bachelor et al. They focus on the catty fights, bitchy comments and ‘mengumpat’.
Rather frankly, I find it easier talking to the guys. Completely platonic relationship. Maybe I grew up with three elder brothers…maybe guys are more straight-forward. And what you see is what you get. Simple as that.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
If wishes come true...
If Husband is reading this, take note – this is just my wishful thought. I meant no insinuation in any way whatsoever. There you go…that’s my disclaimer heh heh…
My greatest wish is to be a homemaker. Yes – a homemaker, a housewife, stay-at-home mom..whatever. Note: I didn’t say lady of leisure. That carries a different notion to the ‘wish’ altogether.
I just want to be a simple, average woman who stays home, looking after her children, cooks meals, teaches her children the lessons they learn in school and mengaji Quran, does the laundry, waters the plants, cleans the house…you know.
I want to be the woman who prepares the breakfast for the husband who’s going off to work at 7am, then still be there when the children wake up. I want to walk around the block with them, enjoying the fresh morning air, then come back and water the plants with them watching and splashing gleefully in the lawn. Then I want to be the one who chides them and ushers them in the bathroom.
I want to be the one who dresses them up and sits with them for their morning homework. Around 10am, I’ll prepare lunch while listening to the sounds of Cartoon Network.
In the afternoon, I want to be the one to lull Isya for her afternoon nap, while Opi goes to school. And how I wish that when Isya wakes up, she wakes up to the sweet smell of goring pisang. We’ll sit together, nibble our ‘hi-tea’ and chat about the lost kitten we found that morning. I’ll tie her hair up in colourful pins and she’ll in turn comb my hair, looking for those elusive ubans.
As evening comes, I’ll get the children all showered up, waiting for Husband to come back. And we’ll have dinner together – a homemade dinner.
My wish is pretty simple. I don’t wish to marry a rich guy who leaves me stacks of ringgits for me to spend. Yes – those thoughts do come to mind but very rarely. The thought of me wearing Liz Clairborne’s casuals to go shopping can hardly compare to the thoughts of me wearing kain batik and stays at home. Not that I have any kain batik….
But…for now, the reality is – I’m a working mother who leaves home at 730am and comes back at 630pm. At work, I pretend to be concern about the corrupted MSI patches, the 3-year IT architectural roadmaps, the expiring hardware contracts, setting up of the new IT center in Bangalore and arranging conference calls with my counterparts in the Netherlands. All these, when all I want to do is be at home….
This is life. You can never have the best of all worlds!
My greatest wish is to be a homemaker. Yes – a homemaker, a housewife, stay-at-home mom..whatever. Note: I didn’t say lady of leisure. That carries a different notion to the ‘wish’ altogether.
I just want to be a simple, average woman who stays home, looking after her children, cooks meals, teaches her children the lessons they learn in school and mengaji Quran, does the laundry, waters the plants, cleans the house…you know.
I want to be the woman who prepares the breakfast for the husband who’s going off to work at 7am, then still be there when the children wake up. I want to walk around the block with them, enjoying the fresh morning air, then come back and water the plants with them watching and splashing gleefully in the lawn. Then I want to be the one who chides them and ushers them in the bathroom.
I want to be the one who dresses them up and sits with them for their morning homework. Around 10am, I’ll prepare lunch while listening to the sounds of Cartoon Network.
In the afternoon, I want to be the one to lull Isya for her afternoon nap, while Opi goes to school. And how I wish that when Isya wakes up, she wakes up to the sweet smell of goring pisang. We’ll sit together, nibble our ‘hi-tea’ and chat about the lost kitten we found that morning. I’ll tie her hair up in colourful pins and she’ll in turn comb my hair, looking for those elusive ubans.
As evening comes, I’ll get the children all showered up, waiting for Husband to come back. And we’ll have dinner together – a homemade dinner.
My wish is pretty simple. I don’t wish to marry a rich guy who leaves me stacks of ringgits for me to spend. Yes – those thoughts do come to mind but very rarely. The thought of me wearing Liz Clairborne’s casuals to go shopping can hardly compare to the thoughts of me wearing kain batik and stays at home. Not that I have any kain batik….
But…for now, the reality is – I’m a working mother who leaves home at 730am and comes back at 630pm. At work, I pretend to be concern about the corrupted MSI patches, the 3-year IT architectural roadmaps, the expiring hardware contracts, setting up of the new IT center in Bangalore and arranging conference calls with my counterparts in the Netherlands. All these, when all I want to do is be at home….
This is life. You can never have the best of all worlds!
Monday, August 16, 2004
Mirror...Mirror on the Wall
So Zahid won the second season of Akademi Fantasia.
Expected. Judging from his huge scores of supporters in the stadium. It was obvious that he was pretty confident as well. The only moments of doubt came only when Kudsia cried after Bob’s performance and stated that “you voice is so pure..”.
Results are out and all we can do is wait for the 3rd season next year. The only question remains in my head is the fact that we are all judgmental when it comes to looks. The only distinction is the variance of the feeling – a little to downright extremely ‘into looks’ approach.
There’s a new English proverb – the saying that beauty is only skin-deep is nothing more but a skin-deep saying.
A friend of mine mentioned that the speed of light far exceeds anything else. That’s his reason why looks are important. Fundamentally people are taken by first impression, then depending on how the impression leads them.
There are so many articles written on how far your looks can take you, the same goes to so many documentaries on searching for the perfect looks. We know that the best looking has to have the most asymmetrical features. Basically, photostat your close-up photo, fold it in the middle and check if your right eye falls nicely onto your left eye and your nose and mouth fits perfectly between the left and the right. Or the Malays will put it as ‘hidung mancung bak …oh my..sorry..really cannot remember..but you know how it goes..’
Went shopping yesterday at KLCC when went straight to the ‘bigger’ women’s section of Isetan. Husband loitered around and all the sudden, he came to me laughing and pointing at the mannequin.
“I was thinking to myself, what’s wrong with these mannequins, then I realized that these are ‘fat’ ones..hahahahahahaha”
5 seconds later, he was following my behind and asking me what was wrong. Duh?
My point is, we have driven obsession with beauty. We judge people and we are being judged.
Its just that, it doesn’t feel so good if you are the receiving end of the verdict!
Expected. Judging from his huge scores of supporters in the stadium. It was obvious that he was pretty confident as well. The only moments of doubt came only when Kudsia cried after Bob’s performance and stated that “you voice is so pure..”.
Results are out and all we can do is wait for the 3rd season next year. The only question remains in my head is the fact that we are all judgmental when it comes to looks. The only distinction is the variance of the feeling – a little to downright extremely ‘into looks’ approach.
There’s a new English proverb – the saying that beauty is only skin-deep is nothing more but a skin-deep saying.
A friend of mine mentioned that the speed of light far exceeds anything else. That’s his reason why looks are important. Fundamentally people are taken by first impression, then depending on how the impression leads them.
There are so many articles written on how far your looks can take you, the same goes to so many documentaries on searching for the perfect looks. We know that the best looking has to have the most asymmetrical features. Basically, photostat your close-up photo, fold it in the middle and check if your right eye falls nicely onto your left eye and your nose and mouth fits perfectly between the left and the right. Or the Malays will put it as ‘hidung mancung bak …oh my..sorry..really cannot remember..but you know how it goes..’
Went shopping yesterday at KLCC when went straight to the ‘bigger’ women’s section of Isetan. Husband loitered around and all the sudden, he came to me laughing and pointing at the mannequin.
“I was thinking to myself, what’s wrong with these mannequins, then I realized that these are ‘fat’ ones..hahahahahahaha”
5 seconds later, he was following my behind and asking me what was wrong. Duh?
My point is, we have driven obsession with beauty. We judge people and we are being judged.
Its just that, it doesn’t feel so good if you are the receiving end of the verdict!
Friday, August 13, 2004
Demam!!
Dah demam?
My mails today is so overloaded with Akademi Fantasia (AF2)’s mails that I’ve to perform spring-cleaning. First, you have all the mails on AFUNDI who and who, then you get all the gossipy mails on this person done this, that person is going out with this famous actor/director etc.
Isya is so demam! She can sing the AF advertisement (the one with Vince singing) everytime its on the air. She’s so into Adam. The same goes to Pona. I just think due to his cute face. Pity Dodik for not being able to follow th fever, but she downloads the songs through the net, just so she will not miss anything.
Opi goes for Adam as well and he wants to wear the silly looking bandanna on his left hand going to school. Of course I said no.
For me – its Zahid all the way. Partly because I’m a Gombak girl at heart…I don’t know.
Well now with the gossips flying around about Brandon being Linda’s son and she’s a divorcee really makes it more appealing to watch!
Anyway…no one shall disturb my Saturday night tomorrow. Off the phone and ignore any visitors. For I am demam!!
My mails today is so overloaded with Akademi Fantasia (AF2)’s mails that I’ve to perform spring-cleaning. First, you have all the mails on AFUNDI who and who, then you get all the gossipy mails on this person done this, that person is going out with this famous actor/director etc.
Isya is so demam! She can sing the AF advertisement (the one with Vince singing) everytime its on the air. She’s so into Adam. The same goes to Pona. I just think due to his cute face. Pity Dodik for not being able to follow th fever, but she downloads the songs through the net, just so she will not miss anything.
Opi goes for Adam as well and he wants to wear the silly looking bandanna on his left hand going to school. Of course I said no.
For me – its Zahid all the way. Partly because I’m a Gombak girl at heart…I don’t know.
Well now with the gossips flying around about Brandon being Linda’s son and she’s a divorcee really makes it more appealing to watch!
Anyway…no one shall disturb my Saturday night tomorrow. Off the phone and ignore any visitors. For I am demam!!
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Pride or Prejudice
This is something rather prevalent in our society, and I’m speaking within the Malaysian context – prejudices. Since the definition is extremely sweeping, let me just scope it into preconceived preferences or ideas.
Noted that it is one’s own choice to favor something or someone as against others but what I cannot comprehend is actually the need to exaggerate. Worse if it is a reversed discrimination, I actually do not have a better word or term for this behaviour.
Scenario: A malay person who goes out of his/her way to prove that he/she is very ‘worldly, unconventional, open-minded’ by putting down his/her own roots i.e. being a malay! It goes to the point that he/she would denounce the malay customs and started acting like…oh so hip!
Maybe I’m way too old for this.
The scene continues: A malay lady asked me to join the after office happy hour down at the pub. When I refused, she started making comments like “Pleaselah don’t give me this melayu tak boleh minum crap”. Excuse me – that is definitely not crappy at all.
Another scene: When asked to join for lunch, a Malay man refused on grounds “Why the malays got to eat together?”. That’s another excuse me – I was just asking in random, please don’t think too much of the invitation.
Or maybe, its just the Merdeka month that makes me so patriotic this month….whatever….
Noted that it is one’s own choice to favor something or someone as against others but what I cannot comprehend is actually the need to exaggerate. Worse if it is a reversed discrimination, I actually do not have a better word or term for this behaviour.
Scenario: A malay person who goes out of his/her way to prove that he/she is very ‘worldly, unconventional, open-minded’ by putting down his/her own roots i.e. being a malay! It goes to the point that he/she would denounce the malay customs and started acting like…oh so hip!
Maybe I’m way too old for this.
The scene continues: A malay lady asked me to join the after office happy hour down at the pub. When I refused, she started making comments like “Pleaselah don’t give me this melayu tak boleh minum crap”. Excuse me – that is definitely not crappy at all.
Another scene: When asked to join for lunch, a Malay man refused on grounds “Why the malays got to eat together?”. That’s another excuse me – I was just asking in random, please don’t think too much of the invitation.
Or maybe, its just the Merdeka month that makes me so patriotic this month….whatever….
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Let the Flag flies high
Yesterday, Opi pasted a self-made Malaysian flag on the garbage disposal door, in front of the house. It has a full moon, a 4-edged star, 4 red lines and 5 white lines. Obviously that was his interpretation of the Malaysian flag.
On it he wrote “selamat hari medeka” (note: not my typo; it was exactly what he scribbled).
“Ini bulan Merdeka. Kita kena ada flag”
“Why?” I asked him.
“Sebab…kita duduk kat Malaysia. Kenalah flag Malaysia. Kita bukan duduk kat US“
I was quite stumped by his answer.
So Husband bought both of them two proper Malaysian flags. They perched the flags on my side lattice. And started jumping red-indian style, “Merdeka…Merdeka…Merdeka…”
Whatever it is, Opi’s self-made flag is still being displayed in full, proud force.
If a 7-year old can appreciate Merdeka..I’m sure all of us do too.
On it he wrote “selamat hari medeka” (note: not my typo; it was exactly what he scribbled).
“Ini bulan Merdeka. Kita kena ada flag”
“Why?” I asked him.
“Sebab…kita duduk kat Malaysia. Kenalah flag Malaysia. Kita bukan duduk kat US“
I was quite stumped by his answer.
So Husband bought both of them two proper Malaysian flags. They perched the flags on my side lattice. And started jumping red-indian style, “Merdeka…Merdeka…Merdeka…”
Whatever it is, Opi’s self-made flag is still being displayed in full, proud force.
If a 7-year old can appreciate Merdeka..I’m sure all of us do too.
Smile...and be nice
I went for a talk yesterday. Shell is having a global week on Diversity and Inclusiveness. Basically, you have to respect people are different and we have to accept each other’s differences.
So managing micro-inequities does sound so imperious, but it is actually rather simple. Micro-inequities simply means:
Small, often very subtle actions (may even be subconscious) that make another person feels alienated. Malays have a better definition – Buat orang kecil hati.
It was an insightful course that taught us simple gestures could initiate unhealthy feelings. Things like rolling your eyes when a person is talking, talking about going lunch to bak kut teh when there’s a muslim in the group and missing out a person in your email distribution list.
So today, in the spirit of embracing diversity, inclusiveness and micro-inequities….I shall smile to everyone!
Today, there will be another talk – boys will be boys and girls will be girls! Oooo….I’m definitely going for that one.
So managing micro-inequities does sound so imperious, but it is actually rather simple. Micro-inequities simply means:
Small, often very subtle actions (may even be subconscious) that make another person feels alienated. Malays have a better definition – Buat orang kecil hati.
It was an insightful course that taught us simple gestures could initiate unhealthy feelings. Things like rolling your eyes when a person is talking, talking about going lunch to bak kut teh when there’s a muslim in the group and missing out a person in your email distribution list.
So today, in the spirit of embracing diversity, inclusiveness and micro-inequities….I shall smile to everyone!
Today, there will be another talk – boys will be boys and girls will be girls! Oooo….I’m definitely going for that one.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Fairy Tales
Now that its Tuesday and the weariness has long gone, I looked back at my weekend and I cherish every second of it. I looked past the noisy, irresponsible contractor and small remarks that hurt me a bit.
I begin to appreciate the smaller minutiae.
About Mak bringing me more plants for the house, not to mention some pesticides, nasi lemak to feed the hungry Opi, Isya and me and the look on her face when she saw the blooming flowers at the porch.
How Abah immediately sat on our do-it-yourself bench at the front porch. Pulled out his newspapers and settled comfortably outside, making himself at home. He called out for Isya and the little angel sat on his lap. Both of them just sat there awhile, staring at nothingness.
Dodik and Pona quickly switched on the TV, grabbed some pillows and asked “ Ada teh? Nak makan nasi lemak dulu ni”. And when Dodik said,” Don’t worry. I know where the cups and plates are”, she made me smiled.
Most of the times in our lives, we tend to overlook things that really matter. Sometimes, we let our energy wasted on things that don’t at all. We miss seeing the contented looks in our loved ones because we were looking for something, which are not there to begin with. We care too much about one second of silence that we close our eyes to hours of laughter and loving.
Yesterday I felt very down, and I couldn’t pin the reason why. So I closed my eyes and let my thoughts bring me to a time or place I feel most relaxed, most calm and blissful. One particular scene came to my mind.
A time when I was 5 or 6 years old and I was with Mak at the back room of our old house. And I remember begging her to tell me more stories – of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, of the bad thieves and Prince Charming. I would ask her to tell me more stories, and she would do that amidst yawns. She would hug me and tell me that everything will be fine. Just like all the happy endings of the fairy tales. I would feel so loved then. All my problems seemed to wither away and everything will be fine again.
Nowadays when Isya keeps on asking me to repeat some stories about her favourite Ba Bear and colourful balloons, I obliged. Parts of me want her to have similar loving memories, but parts of me just want to recall and relish in my own memoirs. Life is a cycle. What goes around comes a round. Somebody told me once, “itu hukum dunia”.
I made a resolution today. Life is too short....life is too sweet and too fleeting. Let’s just be grateful for what we have and not dwell on the unnecessary.
I begin to appreciate the smaller minutiae.
About Mak bringing me more plants for the house, not to mention some pesticides, nasi lemak to feed the hungry Opi, Isya and me and the look on her face when she saw the blooming flowers at the porch.
How Abah immediately sat on our do-it-yourself bench at the front porch. Pulled out his newspapers and settled comfortably outside, making himself at home. He called out for Isya and the little angel sat on his lap. Both of them just sat there awhile, staring at nothingness.
Dodik and Pona quickly switched on the TV, grabbed some pillows and asked “ Ada teh? Nak makan nasi lemak dulu ni”. And when Dodik said,” Don’t worry. I know where the cups and plates are”, she made me smiled.
Most of the times in our lives, we tend to overlook things that really matter. Sometimes, we let our energy wasted on things that don’t at all. We miss seeing the contented looks in our loved ones because we were looking for something, which are not there to begin with. We care too much about one second of silence that we close our eyes to hours of laughter and loving.
Yesterday I felt very down, and I couldn’t pin the reason why. So I closed my eyes and let my thoughts bring me to a time or place I feel most relaxed, most calm and blissful. One particular scene came to my mind.
A time when I was 5 or 6 years old and I was with Mak at the back room of our old house. And I remember begging her to tell me more stories – of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, of the bad thieves and Prince Charming. I would ask her to tell me more stories, and she would do that amidst yawns. She would hug me and tell me that everything will be fine. Just like all the happy endings of the fairy tales. I would feel so loved then. All my problems seemed to wither away and everything will be fine again.
Nowadays when Isya keeps on asking me to repeat some stories about her favourite Ba Bear and colourful balloons, I obliged. Parts of me want her to have similar loving memories, but parts of me just want to recall and relish in my own memoirs. Life is a cycle. What goes around comes a round. Somebody told me once, “itu hukum dunia”.
I made a resolution today. Life is too short....life is too sweet and too fleeting. Let’s just be grateful for what we have and not dwell on the unnecessary.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Opi's 7!
Opi is SEVEN today!
He woke up early this morning. I sang the birthday song to him in my just-out-of-bed croaky voice and Husband switched on his PDA to prove to Opi that "Computer Daddy pun tau Opi punye birthday...".
"What do yu want for your birthday?"
"Yo-yo...yg jual kat pasar malam tu...Opi nak yang warna putih"
Nothing fancy for my boy.
He woke up early this morning. I sang the birthday song to him in my just-out-of-bed croaky voice and Husband switched on his PDA to prove to Opi that "Computer Daddy pun tau Opi punye birthday...".
"What do yu want for your birthday?"
"Yo-yo...yg jual kat pasar malam tu...Opi nak yang warna putih"
Nothing fancy for my boy.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
One drowning kambing
I remember an excerpt from my farewell note, before I left my previous company. “Putting me in IT was like dumping a kambing in the middle of the sea…”
Now, in Shell IT, I realize that was certainly an understatement of the century!
Maybe what Jim Bob said holds some truth “Adik saya ni tak pandai sangat” or Husband’s remarks when I pretended to doze-off when he was relating a technical explanation of something “..in your tiny brains, don’t you ever wonder how things work….” Or Pona’s twisted joke “you cannot buy 50…cos 50 is an odd-number” and I believed her!
To put it simply…I am a simple person. That’s why I failed my add maths! I cannot stand complicated things.
Why I’m now in IT is one of those complicated things. Let me relate an example. I just came out from a meeting with Getronics and HP about servers/storage. Most of the time, I mustered aha..aha..ehem..yes..aha..and rigorously jotting down any info I could understand. Then the unthinkable happened…..someone asked me a question “Can we do without the controller? The MSA equipment is an extension of the current server. So do we still need a controller?”
And I blinked..and I blinked…and I blinked again.
In my most intelligent tone, I looked at HP and said “You will obviously said that we need a controller, right?” They smiled and nodded. So I looked at Getronics and asked “Do you?” They shook their heads. “C’mon guys, we’re the client here. Can you come up with some sort of agreements?”
I let them discuss again. And I continued my aha…aha…hemmm.
What in the friggin’ hell is a controller to a server????!!!!!
Now, in Shell IT, I realize that was certainly an understatement of the century!
Maybe what Jim Bob said holds some truth “Adik saya ni tak pandai sangat” or Husband’s remarks when I pretended to doze-off when he was relating a technical explanation of something “..in your tiny brains, don’t you ever wonder how things work….” Or Pona’s twisted joke “you cannot buy 50…cos 50 is an odd-number” and I believed her!
To put it simply…I am a simple person. That’s why I failed my add maths! I cannot stand complicated things.
Why I’m now in IT is one of those complicated things. Let me relate an example. I just came out from a meeting with Getronics and HP about servers/storage. Most of the time, I mustered aha..aha..ehem..yes..aha..and rigorously jotting down any info I could understand. Then the unthinkable happened…..someone asked me a question “Can we do without the controller? The MSA equipment is an extension of the current server. So do we still need a controller?”
And I blinked..and I blinked…and I blinked again.
In my most intelligent tone, I looked at HP and said “You will obviously said that we need a controller, right?” They smiled and nodded. So I looked at Getronics and asked “Do you?” They shook their heads. “C’mon guys, we’re the client here. Can you come up with some sort of agreements?”
I let them discuss again. And I continued my aha…aha…hemmm.
What in the friggin’ hell is a controller to a server????!!!!!
Friday, July 30, 2004
I need Parenting 101
For those who have been in my house can vouch that I don’t have a lot of furniture. Only bare necessities, and even then the cost for most items is never on the high side. To put it simply, most of the items are relatively cheap. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t hold them dearly.
So imagine my surprise, to say the least when Husband asked me about all the scratches on all the handles on my lazy chairs. Do note this: I have only two lazy chairs and one chocolate-stained sofa in my living room. And the handles of both chairs were scratched so deep and repeatedly that you can feel the grooves if you put your arms on them!
Husband’s immediate response was “Isya! You better come here!”
I stared at the scratching. Then I saw something – some legible characters like the letters O…P…
“OPI!!!!” I screamed on top of my lungs.
Opi cowered in between the cushion. I knew then very well that he did it.
“Why?” My voice was shaking in anger and frustration.
He couldn’t answer. He didn’t have any answer. He just did what he did – period.
I was (am) very upset about the whole incident. Not so much on the scratched handles. More on Opi’s refusal to grow up. He’s going to be seven next week. I doubt that I’m expecting too much. All I want him to realize basic can/can’ts, do/don’ts and nothing more.
Last night he slept hugging me. Of course I love you, Opi but I can’t help feeling like I failed to be a decent mother.
So imagine my surprise, to say the least when Husband asked me about all the scratches on all the handles on my lazy chairs. Do note this: I have only two lazy chairs and one chocolate-stained sofa in my living room. And the handles of both chairs were scratched so deep and repeatedly that you can feel the grooves if you put your arms on them!
Husband’s immediate response was “Isya! You better come here!”
I stared at the scratching. Then I saw something – some legible characters like the letters O…P…
“OPI!!!!” I screamed on top of my lungs.
Opi cowered in between the cushion. I knew then very well that he did it.
“Why?” My voice was shaking in anger and frustration.
He couldn’t answer. He didn’t have any answer. He just did what he did – period.
I was (am) very upset about the whole incident. Not so much on the scratched handles. More on Opi’s refusal to grow up. He’s going to be seven next week. I doubt that I’m expecting too much. All I want him to realize basic can/can’ts, do/don’ts and nothing more.
Last night he slept hugging me. Of course I love you, Opi but I can’t help feeling like I failed to be a decent mother.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
My darling plastic babe!
I was having a meeting, a tele-conference actually, when all the sudden my mind went poof! All because I suddenly remembered that Isya needs her plastic bracelets….like today and she has to have two of those, one for each wrist. It has to be plastic, preferably bright pink in colour.
Hers just broke the day before yesterday. It’s her daily ritual that after her afternoon nap, she’ll have a makeover by Emi, my maid cum makeup artist, of course. This is when she gets her hair tied up in numerous different styles, clipped with colourful hairpins, put on her powder and a touch of my lip gloss and as the finishing touch – she’ll wear her pink bracelets, which I bought for her from Nilai3 for $2.00.
And off she goes, smelling so sweet and wait for us to come home.
Then…after serving Isya so many months, the bracelets’ lifespan came to an end. It broke…one after another.
So yesterday started like just another weekday for Isya. She woke up from her nap, asked Emi to put her hair up in her choice of purple ribbon. She powdered her nose and put on her baby cologne. She looked for her bracelet…and she couldn’t find them. Then came a strong WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
It took Emi half an hour to pacify the wailing princess.
That was the first news I heard when I came back yesterday. And I promised her that I’ll get her a new one by today. Silly me! Where do you get pink, plastic bracelet in Cyberjaya??!
Maybe if I go home earlier, I can her off to Nilai3....hmmm...that sounds more......ridiculous!
Hers just broke the day before yesterday. It’s her daily ritual that after her afternoon nap, she’ll have a makeover by Emi, my maid cum makeup artist, of course. This is when she gets her hair tied up in numerous different styles, clipped with colourful hairpins, put on her powder and a touch of my lip gloss and as the finishing touch – she’ll wear her pink bracelets, which I bought for her from Nilai3 for $2.00.
And off she goes, smelling so sweet and wait for us to come home.
Then…after serving Isya so many months, the bracelets’ lifespan came to an end. It broke…one after another.
So yesterday started like just another weekday for Isya. She woke up from her nap, asked Emi to put her hair up in her choice of purple ribbon. She powdered her nose and put on her baby cologne. She looked for her bracelet…and she couldn’t find them. Then came a strong WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
It took Emi half an hour to pacify the wailing princess.
That was the first news I heard when I came back yesterday. And I promised her that I’ll get her a new one by today. Silly me! Where do you get pink, plastic bracelet in Cyberjaya??!
Maybe if I go home earlier, I can her off to Nilai3....hmmm...that sounds more......ridiculous!
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