A Mummy's Diary

Nothing Is Impossible

2011-11-15T14:23:00.009+08:00

Yet another cliched topic..

Probably thousand, if not millions have used this as their blogging topic. Am blogging this based on my personal experience.

Only a couple of friends, and a number of family members supported my desire of quitting my 'oh-so-complacent' gov job and joining the corporate world. Some gave me that smirk, showing dissatisfaction, and doubted my capability. Did I care back then? Hell yes I did! It was a bit demoralizing, I tell you... I prayed hard, stayed focus and worked hard towards achieving my dream.

I was tested hard too. But I thank God, for all the tests brought me close to Him. All the trials and tribulations made me who I am today. Luckily hubby was there by my side. He rocked my world, and gave me endless support! *also in harsh times, you lost appetite, so slimming was made easy to me...wakakaka*

One fine day, I got a call from an 'angel'.. * she's one of my bosses now, and apprently one of the nicest people I know in the whole wide world* <----- watch this space after my performance review next year, see whether she'll still do me justice , LOL just kidding* seriously.. she is all motherly-sisterly figure, approachable, friendly, down to earth..and the list goes on.

One too many nerve-wrecking interviews later, I got the ultimate call from the HR. But... but... but.. before that, the bigger boss actually asked one of the managers to call and assign me with task *err dah dapat assignment even before I sign the employment contract!*. Imagine uols, I dunno yet whether I got the job or not, but future big boss oredi assigned work... fantabuluosly fantastic! I only got the official call from HR the day after.. heheheh am sure the HR lady anticipated a bit more enthusiasm from my voice.. but since i have the 'i-think - i-got- the -job -oredi' hint the day before, my tone was a bit flat...

Despite people saying how hard it is to get a job in this high performance company, i just wanna say, NOTHING IS INDEED IMPOSSIBLE.. if I can do it, you can do it too...(although having 1st class honor in your first degree helps too) *wink*

* the view from my office*

*Mind the dinos... hehehe*

Too Much Has Changed.. (part 1)

2011-11-14T09:57:00.009+08:00

One of life's difficult challenge is to have your children grow up before you, so fast, almost at an exponential rate!

Some instances:

A)
2009
Mummy: Adam do you want me to send you to school?
Adam: Yes please mummy. Can you come for breakfast too? (ala2 pijak semut x mati uolss*)

2011
Mummy: Adam I'll send you to school, k?
Adam: It's ok mummy.. I'll go with the school van. Dont trouble yourself.. (*moment sentap*)
Mummy: I'll drop by for breakfast then?
Adam: Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!

B)
2009
Mummy: Adam what kind of cake do you want for your birthday?
Adam: Mummy, I want Spongebob cake .. or Spiderman!

2011
Adam: Mummy make sure people wont mistaken my cake and adek's (or in bahasa melayu: 'mummy jgn dok memandai buat kek katun!!! mcm budak2 ok!') * err belum sempat plan lagi dah kena warning memang boleh mendatangkan marah! *...tsk tsk

C)
2009
Mummy: Adam let's go to mamak's to cut your hair.
Adam: Ok.. (senang bela RM5-7/hair cut)

2011
Adam: Mummy we go to the saloon for my haircut ok.. and i want the kakak to shampoo my hair and massage my scalp also... (pfthhh RM30-40 sekali hadap) * diva in the making!!* -

so what's next? mummy adam nak menikah... *pengsan*

11.11.2003

2011-11-11T08:45:00.000+08:00

I guess I should be doing this every year on this date. Just as a reminiscence of how the significant date brings joy to my life ever since.

Adam Harith, my firstborn is very special in every way. (maybe when Adik is old enough to read this, he'll be SENTAP that mummy asyek dedicate post to Abang).

To Adam: Happy Birthday my dear. Mummy loves you so much..(and yes to Adek too..mummy cayang adik oso).

Lemme tell you about my Adam.. He's a friendly chap, but can be a bit shy with strangers.. He's quite picky when it comes to choosing friends (errr macam mummy's traits saja ni). But his level of sensitiveness ... 5 star! I tell you! One thing for sure though, he never shout, nor does he ever raise his voice at me or his daddy. I just followed one of my mom's 'idiots guide to raising a kid'.. In Shout101, it says if you dont intend to get shouted at, then don't start shouting..as simple as that.

Adam is also very pleasant, as he's very polite. I pray that he stays the same throughout his life. So Adam if you read this, remember mummy loves you for who you are. you can be as sensitive as you want, i don't care.. * i love the way you hug and kiss me and says 'Adam loves mummy'..

I dedicate this song to you over and over and again.. Hope you don't mind..

Angel of Mine

When I first saw you I already knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of Mine

I look at you looking at me
Now I know why they say the best things are free
Gonna love you boy you are so fine
Angel of Mine

How you changed my world you'll never know
I'm here for now, you helped me grow

Chorus:
You came into my life
Sent from above
When I lost the hope
You show my love
I'm checkin for you
Boy your right on time
Angel of Mine

Welcoming Myself Back

2011-11-10T12:00:00.000+08:00

Hola!

Wow, I've been neglecting my blog for over a year now! damn.. blame it on my almost mid-thirty crises..LOL

The last time I wrote, my life still revolved around lecturing, training, research and stuff. Now, Bless Upon the Almighty I've 'migrated' to a greener pasture.. (says who? says me laa)

I'm with one of M'sian Giant MNC. I 'll just call it P*. It isnt totally, 360 degrees different than my last job.. This new post requires me to do research (more on country intelligence and stuff) and I still have to conduct training as part of my KPI. So still kenew jual air liyerw for a living..keh keh.. Salary-wise.. Alhamdulillah..cheq tak mau komen apa2.... :-)

I met a lot of new wonderful friends, despite some prejudice against people who work here. (they really are friendly, but competitive lot). Some are still the standoff-fish species, but most of them are the sincerest people I've met..honest!

Family wise, my sons are all grown up! Adam's turning 8 tomorrow, and the huggable Edrees just tuned 3 last month.

cayang busyuk mummy, walaupon adik shayang daddy lebeh and nak geng ngan daddy saja, mummy x marah.. *huk huk*

I tweet more than I facebook, definitely much less for blogs

2010-08-19T12:50:00.000+08:00

The title said it all.

I found solace in tweeting my not-so-ideal thoughts
I found new great friends in my daily tweet-haunt
I found new information, news being updated almost on every minute in tweet world
I found new means of complaining to the authority/telco/utility problems through tweeting *which I'm getting so good at*
I found people who speaks their mind *daintily* in tweeter
I found means to break my boredom in the jam *errr no such policy as no tweet on mobile whilst u drive 1 km/h in the jam right?*
I found means to kill some time whilst waiting for azan (iftar) through checking of tweets

I found out that facebook has become lame
I found that facebook is full of people who talks the talk (tho not all)
I found that facebook has become the means of 'friends' to tag u on dopey marketing *getting annoying actually*
I found that facebook takes a lot of time to load on either my IPhone or Blackberry *especially when your 'friends' play games n the a-page-long activity also gloriously and automatically posted on your News Feed*

I found my life is so content that I havent got time to scribble anything in blogs *which I have started in early 2000*

those are the startling findings of mine for the past months.. what's your findings on your love/hate odometer of social networking? I've answered mine

Why my life is SO content now :-)

xoxo

Do You Dare?

2010-05-25T20:57:00.000+08:00

aiyaaa..tatak masa mau update... sebok sama itu facebook aaa and twitter aaa... where got time to update maa..

so just feel that now is the right time to write something.

I wanna transform myself, not physically, but spiritually and mentally.
I wanna get out of this comfort zone.

Do I dare taking chances? Hell yeah I do *tho a bit apprehensive at first*
Who better to convince myself than me?

Who me Bodoh for going out of this circle? Hmmm we'll see in 10 years..

Do you dare taking chances if you are in my position? It's all about guts, babeh.

We'll see. WIth blessings from the Power Above, hope things will materialize...

(psst: Do you dare go to AF final concert and risked to be called orang kampung? Hell yeah I do! pfttttt)

x0x0
Jue

Dust Dust and Dust, Deko, Deko and Deko.

2009-11-10T14:20:00.000+08:00

heheheheh guilty as charged!..i collected nothing but dust in ma blog..

Haven't had much time to upate... and obviously didn't have much to write anyway.

Nothing interesting on my side, except that we're moving into our new house! a total blessing... from an apartment that gave us shelter for the past 2 years to this new (literally) townhouse. The kids look forward, so does the parent! haven't had the chance to photograph it. Will do soon.

I've hired an interior decorator to get her hands dirty on designing. I just speak out the idea. She took it from there and worked on it. I am so looking forward for this coming weekend's shopping trip to furniture-heaven. Hopefully things will be materialized soon. (InsyaAllah)

The family asked how am I going to manage the three-story townhouse with 2 growing kids in tow. Well I guess, I was never born a supermom, nor do I intend to be one. I'll just take it as it is. Habuk kalu, lap laa.. Kotor kalu, cuci laa..or if things get out of hand, I'll just hire the weekend maid.

Talking about one more lifetime achievement checked. More to come, with God's blessing insyaAllah...

see ya..

Ramadhan is here

2009-08-25T13:50:00.000+08:00

Haven't blog for a while. i guess being puasa, has its toll on me. most of them are positive, of course. but i just try not to surf the web as much (if FB could be exempted...:p). Anyway
so far my puasa has been superb. Last year I was pregnant with Ryan, the peak of my pregnancy actually: 8 months). I guess the temptation was even bigger, with feeling hungry ALL the time.

heheh but there was a time (tipu: 3 laaa ehheeh) that I was so tired, couldnt take it anymore hence got favors from my non-Muslim friends to buy me McD... heheeh .. oh yeah, there was once that I had problem with my back, and gulp a glass of iced-milo (errr apa koneksyyennya?? hanya mereka dan keluarga mereka yang tahuuuu)..

This time around, my Ramadhan's different. With Ryan in tow, it means bigger responsibility. Althoughthe bog bro's only 6, Adam has been trained to fast. In this 4th day of the Holy month, I'm proud to say that so far he.... hasn't succeeded any :-) But I love his determination to fast. He wakes up during sahur, eats rice with a glass of milk/milo, then perform his subuh prayers, then puasa until midday before he gives up. So far his greatest achievement is up till 3.00pm. Well done Adam. I think the temptation for kids his age is far greater than ours. Even at the slight image of food/drink on TV ad will make him go bonkers. Not to mention, he'll only look from afar if I were to feed Ryan.

I remember being exactly like him when I was his age. Out of the 29 days of Ramadhan, I succeeded the temptation for ..errrr not more than 10 days...kih kih.. I only had full 29/30 days of fasting at the age of 10! sungguh tak tahan godaan prempuan ini!!!... :p

Those days the Arab dramas are so in. Yeah laa..there werent as many channels. Then later years they had Rumah Kedai, featuring Kartina Aziz.. mannn I was hooked. jgn ada sapa nak kacau time tu. In fact I don't remember growing up with bazar ramadhan as a must-visit. My mom would cook all the main dish, my sistas would prepare desert, while my bro would be the tukang banchoh ayaq. Me??? being the youngest meant that I was collectively elected as tukang buat BODO saja...Later at night I would follow mak for tarawikh, but main objective was the 'moreh' served afterwards...*cess dasar suka makan free*..During day time, after school hours, I would just 'hibernate' at home, worried of losing energy. At times, i would breath on my sis' face with my stinky breath just to irritate them. And they would chase me throughout and did the same. Yuckkkkkksss!!!! Then, towards the end of Ramadhan, the middle room would turn into those of the tailor's. My sistas would be busy sewing the baju rayas, curtains, table runners and all sort. Baju kurung kain cotton a-la the late Yasmin was so in. I had few of those every raya. The Ramadhan spirit was so high those days.

These days, like yesterday for example, before Ifthar, lelaki ini turned the Nat.Geo channel. He had us all glued to the telly watching volcanoes. OMG have we lost the spirit of Ramadhan. I couldnt say much as the other two munchkins were attentively watching too. And yeah as far as sewing for their baju rayas are concerned, hehehhehe NEVER laa jawabnya.. Beli kan senang... In fact I had tonnnes for them from my Hong Kong, Bandung n Jakarta trips. Org kedah kata 'jenuh pakai oiii'..

Anyway... hope it's not too late to wish y'all a blessed Ramadhan. Hope all of our prayers for a better world, with culprits extincting forever from our soil, no more pandemic, better Rezeki (of course) and better health are granted by Allah the Merciful. In the spirit of Ramadhan, I wish for forgiveness to those whom I might offend. Peace!!!

Duodecaplet shock!

2009-08-18T07:57:00.000+08:00

what a beauty

I almost choked on my breakfast upon reading my daily haunt, the tweet message from The Sun, a UK tabloid that a woman in Tunisia is pregnant with a duodecaplet, twelve babies.

Yes I told you in the previous entry that I don't read tabloids. And that only applies here in malaysia. hahahah I used to live in England. The tabloids are so thrash-y that you wouldn't start your day without reading them. And they only cost like what, a few pence and hundreds of pages worth of crap news :p.

OK back to this story of duodecaplets. And then you've probably have heard of Nadya Suleman with her octolepts.. Here's the news:

The single mum swaddled 11-week-old boys Jeremiah, Isaiah, Macai and Noah in blue blankets and girls Nariah and Maliah in pink ones at her parents' pad in La Habra, California.

Other sons Josiah and Jonah were still in hospital.

Nadya, 33, who used a sperm donor to get pregnant, faced a public backlash after it emerged she lived off the state and already had six kids before the latest eight. (www.thesun.co.uk)

Nadya's pics can be found here and here

And then there were the Jon and Kate with their sextuplets. I blog about them before.

* both pics randomly taken from 3.bp.blogspot.com

I'm so lost for words. I had two successful pregnancies, plus 4 other brief pregnancies. Yes I suffered 4 miscarriages before I had Adam. I just couldn't believe (or is it more of refusal to believe) that a woman can actually carry more than one, let alone 12! God is indeed GREAT.

Why should I bother about these?

2009-08-17T10:56:00.000+08:00

Why should I bother about these? For some unexplainable reasons, I do. It might be too much to blame it on social decay, but ........ *sigh sigh* I don't use to buy tabloids but I think I just did this morning.

1. Akhil Hayy marrying Waheeda (betrayal)

"Ana dah kahwin"

beaming with glee and pride eh Waheeda?

(pic courtesy of http://www.hmetro.com.my)

2. Mek Wok missing her hubby who's sentenced to 2-years in rehabilitation center for drug addiction. (Love)

my heart bleeds..

Love and betrayal are two mutually exclusive topics (or it used to be)...

Idiot's Guides to Saving Money

2009-08-12T08:05:00.000+08:00

Wahh... it's like Saving Money 101. How to save enough money to get you to own stuff you don't actually need but tempted to (read: designer handbags, shoes, etc)

These are my ways:

Start car-pooling with hubby (time kena isi minyak buatlaa muka chomei to him and pretend mcm blurrr.. confirm tak payah kuar $) *or kalau dah chomei senyum ja laa :p

Skip lunch, (yang ni selalu terbabas jugaks)

Order warm water when you eat out (terbabas jugak because always ended up ordering Iced Tea)

Buy generic brand clothing for the kids (confirm terbabas.. tak sampai hati..ended up buying designer labels also)

Bring own food to work (un-cool act :p)

Stop using the laundry service, esp ironing. Do it yourself. (I promise :-) )

Stop using valet services. Park your own (I'll minimize, but won't stop completely)

Plan for cuti2 Malaysia only, instead of cuti-cuti oversea (at the recurrent of you-know-what.. OK laaa)

When one of your colleagues have plans for lunch elsewhere, ALWAYS volunteer, *not to drive your car*, but to be the passenger of their car laa. (Jimat minyak)

Cook your own. Minimize your eat-out habit. (This one do-able)

When there's a birthday at the office, try to spread the budget for gifts (read: share) with as many colleagues as possible.

Minimize window-shopping habit. (because u'll never do. err is there such thing as window shop in your societal dictionary? ..hehe yours truly is very 'pantang' to sales; pantang tengok!! huhuhu)

hihihihi.. any advice?

I heart these... (next year??? huhuhu wait n see)

OR

Photography Promotion

2009-08-11T12:17:00.000+08:00

promotion promotion promotion

(click on the poster to enlarge them)

My lelaki ini's getting serious into his passion in photography. Me, being his most critical and cynical jury of most of his photos, after years of experience and observation, I think he's ready to go PRO and make a living out of it. He has (or I have) appointed myself as his most trusted Marketing /Promotion/ Finance Manager. His niche, I would say are Black and Whites, Children/family/Event Photographies. So if you're interested, call him @ 6012-3042752 or email: shahrulghani@gmail.com. Visit his flickr or blog to witness his art pieces.

* turning Lelaki Ini's passion into reality..

Life is Full of Alternatives

2009-08-10T15:26:00.000+08:00

???????????? :-p

Yes indeed...

How often do you get cornered with choices? Like

McD vs Burger King
KFC vs A& W
Pepsi Vs Coke
Curly Fries vs French Fries
Blackberry vs IPhone
Maxis vs Celcom
Kurung vs Kebaya
Pizza Hut vs Dominoes
Coffee Bean vs Starbucks
Air Asia vs MAS
White Gold vs Gold
Carrefour vs Tesco
Jaya Jusco vs MetroJaya
Mawi vs Anuar Zain (BIGGER duhhhhh)
Roses vs Lily (both please)
TODS vs LV (tough!!)
Toyota Vs Honda
Merc Vs Beemer
Britney Vs Christina
Mamak Vs Melayu (I mean the fooood..:-p)
BN vs PKR (errr duhhhhh)

it's all about choice babeh! What would life be without choice? bummer..

The moment I lost my temper

2009-08-07T08:54:00.000+08:00

I remember started my first blog in 2001. It was purely on my personal diary in the UK. Then I had Adam and topics of diary evolved to the do's and don'ts in raising an infant. Without parent's supervision, I had to rely on readings.

However through blogging, I get to know quite a number of wonderful Malaysian mommies all around the world, many of whom I'm still in contact and grew closer and closer over the years. Some I haven't even met, but the friendship blossoms. We exchange stories about our children's developments, antics and the most wonderful of all, watch them grow over these years.

Now it seems that blogging has become a household thingy. Even kids at the tender age of 7 years, or whenever they can start spell and make a full sentence have started to blog. Is this a good sign? Well YES if it's for knowledge exploration purposes, enhancing your network of friends, but NO if it's used for something else.

If you'd ask me, I do enjoy blogging. But through experience and recent happening, I get a bit apprehensive over the idea of blogging. These 'new generation' of bloggers are using blogs to scrutinize somebody else's reputation and pride. Yeah we see that a lot especially in the political blogs. Is this even necessary?

I know a few of these 'budak hingusan' who does this. Well you know who you are... OOOH bugger off, you bloody wankers. Get a life. Or better still, get a REAL job like everybody else. Milking on somebodyelse's wallet aren't gonna do you good forever. Have a pride in yourself before taking it out from somebody. If these people, the so called future leader of the country gets away with this, I pity my children and the generation after to be living with these stupid idiots. They are so shallow on the inside but thick on the outside.

Yes people. I've lost my cool. Am in a bad temper. Not just any temper. But temper from an overly frustration mode.

Remember the world does justice to its living being. God is watching. As the saying goes:

"do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

A poem to you idiots

I mean no harm
I am ever so calm
My intention is pure
My vision is to cure
People told me you are fake
I didnt listen so I guess I made a mistake
Hope you strive an excellent future that you think you'd make
But even hopeful that one day you will think of what you did to me and you'd break.

My Sanity Level (Post anxiety attack scare)

2009-08-06T09:58:00.000+08:00

After my anxiety attack scare a couple of days ago, I couldn't help myself but focus on what causes it? yes I do have history of heart-related problems i had in the past (psst: now you can say..oooh patutlah..)...

Lelaki Ini rushed me to the clinic when I struggled to gasp for air. The clinic was overcrowded with flu patients. I even whispered to Lelaki Ini, "Yang.... I think I'd rather die of heart attack than this H1N1. Those people aren't mask-ed. What are they thinking?"

Few minutes of waiting (enough to kill me), I was called in, "Julaina, Julaina".. weitt the name's J-U-L-I-A-N-A.. Nyakitkan hati ok. The doctor was a decent guy. With S.O.P, he asked whether I had fever, flu etc. I said no and he immediately put off his mask, "phewwwwhh finally", he said. "It's getting annoying having to breath in those bloody mask the whole day," he added and broke us all in laughter..

I told him what had happened and he immediately took his stetoscope to check my lungs, heart beat, manually check my pulse, and finally using the sphygmomanometer (wow I'd better register for spelling bee contest) for my blood pressure check.

Then we had into talking about his day at the clinic. He actually said, "you guys are one of my first real patients. The whole day, I've been having monkey and donkeys who had the guts to come in and proclaimed they have H1N1 and demanded a week's MC!"

Then he asked me whether I had these:

Pounding heart
Sweating
Stomach upset or dizziness
Frequent urination or diarrhea
Shortness of breath

Tremors and twitches
Muscle tension
Headaches
Fatigue
Insomnia

To which I replied , "errrr....all of the above doctor". He then turned to Lelaki Ini for more concrete answers, "has she been in stress lately; work-wise, family-wise, or anything". "Not to my knowledge", Lelaki Ini duly noted. "Well then my dear you are having one of the episode called anxiety attack. you should relax more and learn the right breathing techniques"

Well we came home happy-er knowing it wasn't so serious and I chose to keep a positive outlook on live (as I've always had). As some famous authors said:

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them."

"Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life become more secure, more fraught with action, richer in experience and achievement."

In fact I've always had a list of things in mind, of things that keep my sanity at a healthy level. (in a disorderly manner)

Friends are just a call/text message/fb away
The cake-mania game on PSP
SWR channel on Astro
Chilly's Mexican delicacies
Cheese Cake @ Secret Recipe
Watching the late Yasmin Ahmad's movies esp Gubra
Mr. Bean
Anuar Zain's songs :-p
My sisters who are like my best friends in my whole world, we are 6 and 16 years apart but share virtually everything. We even call each other 'mangkuks' or 'hayuns' when the need arise :-p
Sinar Pagi Team @ Sinar FM. Salleh Yaakob you make my morning traffic jam worth every second of it..hahahahaha
My Teddy's Dream oil scent that I splashed on my office's carpet every morning instead of burning it on a burner like everybody should.
Always spare at least RM2 for beggars @ Pasar Malam
Feeding Ryan who's always hungry
My Dan Brown novels yang dah 17 kali khatam..huhuhuhu
Feeding Haqimi, my niece who's growing like a topooi
Having hilarious and witty friends at work like Kenny, etc.
Part time teaching...:-p
Part time book writing :-p
My youth organization that I spearhead

and many more....

and above all these three guys never FAIL to uplift my spirit every time.

Muahh muahhh Mommy loves you all so very muchh!!

Customer Service 101

2009-08-03T08:46:00.000+08:00

It was almost a week since I last posted an entry. Malaysia is having the H1N1 outbreak, so does any other countries... and probably so did my blog for the past few days.. Mortality rate thus far is 7, and growing I supposed (hope not!!). I've raised my concern in my previous entry about this pandemic. But what to do la.. 'they' once said there's nothing to be worried. But now, at a rate of ALMOST one life per day, latest being a new mummy in Miri, Hell..we SHOULD be worried..

H1N1 is not exactly what I'm going to discuss in this entry. Far from that, on a more unrelated topic, something closer to Lelaki Ini's bowl of rice: Customer Service.

Malaysians especially those involved in the service industry need to be educated with Customer Service lessons, or for a start Customer Service 101. I'm gonna reveal a few incidents that I had myself or the people close to me who had experienced BAD customer service, where else? none other than here, in Malaysia.

Customer Service Experience #1

It happened in one of the Kenny Rogers Restaurant. We have waited a mere 10 minutes to order, when we stopped a waiter and asked him, "can we order now?". The waiter replied, "yes you can," and he LEFT!!! Duhhhhhhhhhhh.. We actually had to stop another waitress after that!!

Moral: next time grab the waiter's wrist and command him to take your order there and then!

Customer Service Experience #2

In one of the toll booth of North-South Highway, Lelaki Ini gave his salam and smiled to the toll booth girl. Then he jokingly said to her, "tak jawab dosa". To which the girl (bertudung litup, sopan, ayu) replied "OI gatal ker? bini kat sebelah pun nak mengorat orang ker?" Then both hubby and I were like HUH????????

Moral: don't bother give salam to strangers in Malaysia.

Customer Service Experience #3

I was in a KFC for dinner with my mum and children. It was a 2 floor KFC. After ordering, I took the food upstairs to them. It was a mad night, with thunderstorm and heavy rains and the restaurant was flooded with unusually many customers. People actually stood beside other people's table (in attempt to be the earliest bidder for the table, once the patron finished eating their meal) Much to my annoyance, people had already stood beside my table. We didnt even had our first bite of food.. for God's sake! geeesh ..My sons didn't seem to be at a pleasing state.

Nonetheless, we tried to enjoy our food and time together and tried to pay no heed to the others. Then I realized that I forgot to take some plastic spoons (for Adam's jelly ice-cream, coleslaw and whipped potato). Mom knew that I was busy with the kids, hence offered her service of asking one of the KFC workers who was cleaning the table next to us. Mom asked politely, "adik, boleh tak tolong makcik ambik sudu kat bawah? makcik nak turun tangga ni licin. Tu ada pekerja dok mop". The KFC worker replied, "makcik turunlah ambik sendiri. ambik sudu bukan kerja saya. KFC ni self service. Lagi pun minggu ni saya kerja floor duty". HAH! hambik kau.. anak sapa tu? malu laa nak mengaku budak tu anak, if i were her parents!!!!!!!

I was so stunned. Kesian tengok muka my mom. Bloody Hell! She's almost 70 and and yet the KFC worker had the guts and heart to tell her off!!

Moral: Don't eat KFC (opppsss.. too huge a statement!).. or more like slap these people's face if you have to...hehehe or better still next time bring your own spoon to KFC!!

Customer Service Experience #4

In one of the Jaya Jusco, as I was choosing some shirt, I had some curiosities about the outfit that I thought could only be answered by the salesgirl on duty. I asked, "excuse me, which one of these are 20% and 50%. There's some mixed up on the brand and discount label". She bluntly replied, "I don't know. I just work here". ????????????????? WTF? I was flabbergasted!! Damn you woman!

Moral: Try to find your own answer, don't bother asking them, especially the muka 'poyo' one!

...........and countless other bad experiences..............

Being a marketing lecturer myself (bidan terjun nihhh), I always taught my student of the MAJOR importance of customer service. You can have a grand shop, with excellent choices of products, but if your customer service SUCKS big time, you can kiss your business good-bye.

so here's your Customer Service 101

I gave the example of this two sundry shops near my place (almost every semester without fail..hehehe in addition to my numerous shampoo examples :p ). The shops are located next to each other, selling almost 98% similar products, namely Kedai Makcik and Kedai Apek. However, from my observation, Kedai Apek gets MUCH more volume of customers than the Kedai Makcik. (yeah yeah.. for some of you, you might have had the idea of black magic, yadda yadda yadda.. nerde.. tarak laa pochik..)

The Kedai just have simple yet effective customer service strategies. The owners never failed to greet, smile and lend a helping hand if you need something. Whereas this Kedai Makcik's owners NEVER greet, smile nor help!!! the only greet they'll give you is this evil grin on their faces. There's a saying, 'if look could kill'. In their case, I would say, YES their look could kill any one of us. It feels as if the've just shoot you with a sharp arrow across your chest.. !! Therefore it's no surprise that I just shop at Kedai Apek. The simplest answer ever: I love being felt appreciated after all the dollars $$$ and cents spent there.

So.. please... learn to be more customer oriented to those of you who wants to stay LONG in this line of business ya.. More importantly it's not just your business at stake, it's the country's/nation's as well.

A tribute to Yasmin Ahmad, Alfatihah

2009-07-27T08:05:00.001+08:00

Greetings..

Before I start on my writing, Al Fatihah to the late Yasmin Ahmad, whom I dearly admire and respect. Her demise is in fact a great LOST to the country.

Breaking the news

These are some of the twitter messages that I got from my mobile in the wee morning of July 26th. I owe this to the advancement in mobile technology.

elvizaRT @KJ Innalillah wa inna lillahi rajiun. Semoga Allah SWT mencucuri rahmatNya keatas roh Allahyarhamha Yasmin Ahmad.12:25 AM Jul 26th from TwitterBerry

KhairykjInnalillah wa inna lillahi rajiun. Semoga Allah SWT mencucuri rahmatNya keatas roh Allahyarhamha Yasmin Ahmad.12:11 AM Jul 26th from UberTwitter

staronlineRT @chunwai09 Yasmin Ahmad has passed away. Prayers for her and family.12:46 AM Jul 26th from web

I started sms-ing families as soon as I heard the news.

Yasmin Ahmad and her brilliant work

It came as no surprise that I'm a big fan of her.

She is in fact an idealist in her own way. She puts things in greater perspective. (I insist on using present tense, as believe she's still with us in some way)It is evident from all of her movies/short films/commercials. In fact I think the country should call her the mother of OneMalaysia. She has begun long before our beloved PM started finding tune to promote. She started an era! An era of no racial boundaries. In fact she would probably question the word 'race' in the first place.

She is one of those who speaks her mind (for good things that is), and her multi-racial,and norm challenging film legacy will remain forever.. These are the kinds of movies that we should pass on to our children and the generations after. Inter-racial harmony, family relationships, friendship, etc.. none short of values and qualities, her movies have.

"Your films changed a generation. This generation will now rise to break down more walls of ignorance. Rest in bliss, Yasmin. " one of the sweetest 'tweets' in my twitter gadget.

"All the people who came to say goodbye to Yasmin are the Malaysia WE know n grew up with,we've had 1Malaysia all our lives." another tweet message

"The multi-racial crowd, many of them in tears, at the funeral this morning was testament to Yasmin's ability to reach across ethnic and cultural boundaries in both her films and the television commercials she created for Petronas." (source:www. the sundaily.com)

Azean Irdawaty even wrote a special poem dedicated to Yasmin:

She was an angel
God sent us
No, he lent us
To be a storyteller
Who spun stories of
Magic, joy and enchantment
Who we often lose sight of
Her fight was brief
Her leaving was a grief
Just like her movies
The end came too soon
But her wisdom remain
like words to a tune
That we will hold dear
Forever you will be near.
I love you Yasmin
I will miss you always.

Before I pen-off, I would like to share with you some of her greatest short movies that I play again and again every time I had the chance to visit her blog. (yes it is such an irony that one of her latest short movies is about funeral)

I can't help but shed tears with thousands or even millions other mourners.

Mengandungi unsur ketakutan yang KETERLALUAN

2009-07-22T07:35:00.000+08:00

Skrip 7707 Versi Saya Sendiri PL-18 (Mengandungi unsur ketakutan yang KETERLALUAN)

*mereka yang mempunyai sakit jantung dan ibu-ibu mengandung saya nasihatkan berenti di sini. Jangan baca ya. Sakit tanggung sendiri*

Ya. Ini adalah antara tulisan saya yang akan ditulis 100% dalam bahasa ibunda. (Tidak ada kena-mengena dengan PPSMI sebab saya MASIH 100% sokong PPSMI)

Cerita ini ADA kena mengena dengan yang hidup dan yang telah meninggal.

Selepas menyaksikan filem Skrip 7707, saya terpanggil untuk menceritakan perihal kejadian2 aneh dan mistik yang telah terjadi kepada saya dan keluarga saya sendiri. Sepertimana Skrip 7707 yang mempunyai banyak cerita seram, begitu jugalah saya hari ini.

Bismillahhirrahmannirrahim

Cerita Pertama.

Sewaktu saya berumur 10 tahun, keluarga saya dikejutkan dengan pelbagai kejadian aneh dan mistik. Cerdik pandai kata, ada orang hantar 'benda' ke rumah. Maklumlah mak saya janda. Cun pulak :-). Kes dengki la kot. Yang masuk meminang semua kena REJECT. Kebetulan anak saudara saya, Farah baru lahir dan kakak saya berpantang di rumah emak. Farah ni pulak memang asal tengah hari rembang, maghrib dan tengah malam saja, menangis macam budak kena sawan. Memang dia menangis pada ketiga-tiga waktu tu tiap-tiap hari untuk untuk 3 bulan pertama hidup dia. Walaupun dinasihatkan untuk merujuk kepada dukun kampung, kami sekeluarga memilih untuk memperbanyakkan ibadah, membaca ayat-ayat suci al-Quran dan Yassin setiap kali selepas solat dan berserah.

Pada suatu malam, seperti biasa pukul 12.00 tgh malam, Farah menangis lagi tapi laungannya kuat dari biasa. Hampir semua ahli keluarga saya (Emak, 3 orang kakak, 3 orang abang dan seorang abang ipar) terjaga. Pada masa yang sama, beberapa ekor anjing menyalak betul2 di depan pintu pagar rumah. Salakan yang menggerunkan. Emak dan abang no-2 (yang no-1 dan ke-3 penakut gila ok) selak langsir dan tiba-tiba muka diorang pucat dan terduduk. Emak kelam kabut suruh kakak saya bawa saya dan Farah masuk ke bilik. Dalam kekalutan itu, saya dengar abang saya buka pintu dan jerit "Allahu Akbar! Pi Balik! Jangan Kacau Kami! Jangan Kacau Umat Nabi Adam!" dan selepas tu saya dengar abang laungkan Azan..

Farah berhenti menangis, dan perkara ini berlarutan sampai dia berumur 3 /4 bulan. Seorang ustaz datang membantu keluarga saya. Ustaz itu juga berjaya jumpa satu bungkusan berupa tangkal yang ditanam bersama2 dengan kain kapan, darah dan macam-macam lagi, di depan rumah saya. Angkara siapa? Wallahualam..

Apa sebenarnya yang Mak dan abang nampak di luar pintu pagar? (Tak diberitahu kat sesiapa. ataupun saya yang tak diberitahu takut saya panik?) Baru-baru ini selepas menonton Keliwon (episod 30/04/09), Mak saya dengan selamba kata, "'Pocong macam ni lah yang mai rumah kita masa Farah kecik2 dulu. Dok lompat2 nak masuk rumah"... !!!!!!!!!

Cerita Kedua (cerita pendek tapi takut tahap MAKSIMA)

Abang ipar saya baru kematian datuk tersayang. Pada malam pertama kematian, setelah selesai majlis tahlil, semua anak-beranak, cucu, saudara tidur bergelimpangan di ruang tamu. Rumah kampung, ruang terhad, anak cucu ramai. Tengah malam, semua tidur lena. Abang ipar saya terjaga sebab panas dan terasa nak terkucil pun ada. Tapi bila dibuka matanya, MasyaAllah, datuknya, yang masih lengkap berkafan, tanah kubur melekat lagi sedang terlompat2 di ruang tamu sambil mata memandang anak2 cucu yang bergelimpangan tidur. Bau kapur barus menusuk hidung. Abang ipar tak bergerak (hehe dia teringat cerita Hantu vampire cina, jadi dia cuba tahan nafas, kot2 la dengan cara tu pocong datuk dia tak akan dapat 'kesan' dia..ahahah bukan nak baca ayat Kursi ka hapa kan?). Kebetulan ada seorang sepupu dia yang merupakan bijak pandai agama (budak sekolah pondok) bangun, baca ayat-ayat Suci dan laungkan azan. Serta merta pocong hilang dan semua yang tidur terjaga..(hahah ingatkan dah subuh kot). Maka malam tu, semua anak cucu disuruh membaca surah yassin sepanjang malam. Moga rohnya selamat dan aman di alam sana. Ada juga ura-ura yang datuknya memang membela saka. Wallahualam. Sehingga sekarang cerita ini memang jadi cerita favourite abang ipar dan adik-beradik dia.

Cerita Ketiga

Kisah ini berlaku pada saya ketika mengikuti Kursus Minda Waja, kalau tak salah saya di kawasan Ulu Langat atau Bentong..lupa. Kursus tu diwajibkan kepada bakal pelajar yang akan melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negeri. Selepas satu sessi ceramah malam, semua peserta balik ke asrama. Ramai yang terus tidor sebab letih seharian dengan aktiviti lasak yang tak masuk akal. Tapi saya 'perlu' ke tandas. Jadi saya mengajak rakan baik saya, Junaidah untuk temankan saya. Sambil membuat apa yang perlu dalam tandas tu, saya pun bersembang dengan Jun yang ada di luar, "Jun penatlah hari ni kan? Ntah apa2 kursus ni. Buang masa saja, bla bla bla..". Jun pun jawab, "Ya lah Ju. I tak tahan. Sakit badan ni. Minggu depan nak balik Tawau kena buat macam2, bla bla bla..." . Agaknya dalam 5 minit juga saya bersembang dengan dia.

Bila saya selesai 'urusan', saya keluar tandas and tak nampak pun batang hidung Jun. Tak fikir apa2 pun laa. Saya terus ke asrama dan nampak Jun dah terbongkang tidur, berdengkur tak hengat. Hairan, lalu saya kejutkan Jun, "Jun bangun! Bila balik bilik?Dok sembang sedap2, alih2 balik bilik tak ajak I. hish...". Jun pulak kata, "bila masa I sembang dengan you Ju? I hantar jer you pegi tandas tadi, lepas tu terus balik tido. Tak tunggu pun. Sorilaa tapi I memang penat".. Ya Allah dengan 'siapa' saya sembang tadi tu???? Wallahualam..

Cerita Keempat

Anak saudara say, Affiq belajar di UiTM Merbok (yes sekentot ja dari rumah mama dia). Pada satu malam, hampir semua pelajar dah pulang bercuti. Dia seperti biasa macam hero, temankan kawan2 yang kampung halaman jauh dan cuma akan balik pagi besoknya. 2 orang kawannya tu, bilik mereka di tingkat 2 asrama. Affiq balik ke biliknya (tingkat bawah) untuk ambik barang2 keperluan. Masa tu jam dah pukul 2.30 pagi. Tak sempat dia tutup pintu bilik, pintu tu tertutup sendiri. Konfem takdak angin masa tu. Siap ada bunyi 'orang' kunci dari dalam. (kes hantu baik, tolong-menolong..:p). Apa lagi Affiq pun cabut lari ke atas. Di anak tangga dia dengar perempuan mengilai ketawa sambil panggil Affiq, Affiq. Siapa yang panggil dia? Wallahualam. Selepas kejadian, Affiq tak pernah jadi hero dah. Tapi sempat berlakon drama RTM baru-baru ni. gerek Affiq..:-)

Cerita Kelima

Anak pertama saya, Adam memang ada kebolehan melihat benda-benda ghaib. Tapi ni dulu. Sekarang dah ok. "I see dead people, "Haley Joel Osment (the Sixth Sense). Macam tu lah dia. Ada beberapa insiden yang dia beritahu saya apa yang dia nampak, ropa paras, sahsiah diri, ketinggian, warna, bunyi, macam2lah. Ada satu insiden yang paling saya ingat. Ketika tu, kami sedang menaiki kereta kabel, turun dari Genting Highland. Waktu tu hampir maghrib, Adam tiba-tiba bagitau, "mummy Adam takut. Dia ni tak mau pi dari sini". Saya yang hairan pun tanya Adam, "Sapa dia?". Adam jawab, "ni hantu pocong ni la. Dok kat sebelah daddy". Maka daddy dan mummy pun diam seribu bahasa. Lidah kelu, nak baca ayat Suci apa pun dah tak tau....Wallahualam..

waktu ini lah agaknya Adam nampak 'benda' tu. Memang nampak Adam dah 'lain'. Dia bagitau kitorang pasal apa yang dia nampak 2-3 minit selepas gambar ni ditangkap.

Mummy dan daddy yang tak tahu lagi apa yang Adam nampak masa tu, sibuk tangkap gambar. Tak perasan anak sendiri dah 'cuak'.

Cerita Keenam

Berlaku tahun lepas selepas beberapa jam bersalinkan si Ryan (4 Oktober 2008). Masa tu tengah malam, suami saya tidur di sofabed di wad saya tu. (dia tahu saya akan lama disitu sebab bersalin 'ceasarean'. Jadi dia bawak segala macam mak nenek dia, PS2, PSP, wireless broadband, dvd, macam2 ADA).

Waktu tu dah tengah malam agaknya. Saya baru sedar setelah dibius dengan jayanya. Kalau tak salah saya memang 'out' lebih daripada 9 jam. Bila saya terjaga, sengal satu badan tahap puaka. Badan tak boleh gerak sangat. Tapi saya haus. Saya cuba panggil Lelaki Ini, tapi badan saya terlalu lemah dan pergerakan badan walaupun sedikit meninggalkan kesan yang teramat sakit (tahap serik tak mau beranak dah!). Jadi saya cuba gerakkan jari. Ini ja bahagian yang tak sakit. jadi saya cuba ketuk2 tepi katil dan cuba buat macam2 bunyi supaya dia dengar panggilan. Ini kes bini yang bersalin, hubby yang letih bagai nak rak. Macam dia yang meneran. Konfem dia tidor mati.

Tiba2 saya ternampak 2 kelibat hitam, berambut panjang di depan katil. Nak menjerit sakit. Saya kuatkan semangat dan baca ayat2 Suci. benda 2 ekor itu 'kebal' agaknya ataupun bacaan saya salah 'grammar' jadi mesej tak sampai. 2 ekor musibat ini tiba2 menjelma di kiri dan kanan saya. Ketakutan saya MasyaAllah, Tuhan saja yang tahu. Saya meronta2, walaupun sakit. Tiba2 dengar suara Lelaki Ini laungkan azan. Alhamdulillah dah bangun pun dia..

Saya tanya dia nampak tak apa yang saya nampak tadi? Dia jawab tak, tapi nampak saya meronta2 dan dia rasa bulu roma dia meremang. Masa tu juga 'misi' datang sebab dengar bunyi bising dari bilik saya. Kami pun ceritala dekat dia apa yang baru berlaku. Dis senyum ja. Cis! Tampar kang! Dia kata biasalaa. Selalu jadi macam ni di bilik wad ni... Ada orang bersalin pernah mati di bilik tu. Tumpah darah katanya. Wallahualam...

Selepas kejadian tu, Lelaki Ini kurangkan aktiviti2 dia yang kurang sihat itu dan bila terluang akan baca yassin di bilik wad sampai laa saya di'discharge' kan 4 hari kemudian.

Di bilik ni laah kejadian tu berlaku. Masa ni sedang bertarung dengan nyawa, tapi maseh gagah seperti 'Transformers'. 18 jam bertarung melahirkan Ryan, akhirnya kena operate jugak. Kalau tau, awal2 lagi dah suruh Dr operate. heeheh yes laptop untuk 'facebook', mengapdet status bersama rakan2 yer.

Moral cerita2 ni semua, kita kena sentiasa beringatlaa... banyakkan ibadah. Jangan percaya benda khurafat. Mintak tolong pada yang SATU. Sekian. Wassalam.

A Clean Desk Is a Sign of A Sick Mind: An Idiotic Old Adage

2009-07-20T11:38:00.000+08:00

office pun ada door signage camni..

"A Clean Desk Is a Sign of A Sick Mind": An Idiotic Old Adage

Well yes it's cliche' for the cluttered mind and soul..

For me A Clean Desk Is a Sign That I Can Start Work in Peace. But I know a particular 'John Doe' who swears by that old adage (A Clean Desk Is a Sign of A Sick Mind). Through years of cluttering his desks, the habit has become a truism to him. I seriously don't understand it..

See the transformation.

Before: A cluttered desk is a sign that I had too much work that organizing had somehow ranked second. Lesson learned.. Clutter*headache = less space to work + documents
jumbled up

Err act of vandalism and graffiti?

After: not that cluttered, but an 'ok' to my benchmark of a clean and organized office

well well well what have you got here?more spaces to work on wohoooo!!! (how nerd can I be:-p) oh yes. I need two computers to work at the same time. Don't ask me why.

A must have items: a mirror and a souvenir from a colleague who visited Paris recently. (Price tag is still there: a sign of appreciation ...lol... Thank You Serene)

Yes I breed butterflies.. and it is Adam's drawing of bugsies on the white board.

more books and files

Are you one of them?

My Pet Peeves

2009-07-19T11:07:00.000+08:00

"Good morning Malaysia. Am going out for breakfast..It's 11.05.. what the hell it's Sunday."

this actually is my facebook status that I posted just a little over a minute ago.

Pet Peeves yes it's plural as I've got MANY... I am normally a cheerful and bubbly person but when people take the mickey out of me with these peeves, all hell will break loose laa..

(I was inspired of writing this after a comment by Lelaki Ini's GM in one of his facebook status about PPSMI)..

One of her (many.. I'm sure) pet peeves is 'people who says "that's mean" (read: that means) or "it's mean"(read: it means)...

So these are the list of my Pet Peeves (inorderly manner)

People changing lanes without giving signals
People who run the red lights
People pick his/her nose whilst driving or even in public places (erghkk)
People who are rude or mean
Bad customer service (more story here)
People who talk loud in the public transport or elevator
People who talk loud on the mobile phone in movies
People who has bad body odour but wants to be near you.. ( go away go away!!)
People who boast about their achievement (tapi sebenarnya habuk pun tadak)
People who like to show off
People who talk the talk, but the never walk the talk (orang Melayu ramai ni).
Racist
People who pretend that they are religious, but mulut macam puaka.
People who think that they are cool, listening to hip-hop and all these new generation musics, but the actual fact is they don't even understand what the lyrics mean.. main taram ja..
People who don't flush the toilet
People who throw used-sanitary pad in the toilet bowl (manusia paling bodoh dan keji)
Pak Guard who think that they rule the planet
Noisy eaters (weii we are not pigs laa)
Couples who wear the same shirts on their outing (so Mawi and Ekin okay.. erghhh)
People who fart near you but pretend like nothing happen
People who litter everywhere
People who double park
People who make jokes but laugh it all to him/herself (duhhhh)
People who show their ugly butt-cracks
Long TV advertisements that in the end I don't understand the message (what's the purpose laa kan if the customer can't get what you're trying to say)
People who speak with accent, but grammar berterabur!!!
People who talk down to women
People who are still undecisive even after 15 minutes of queing at the fast-food counter.. (buang karan)
People who stare (err isn't this Malaysian's favourite past time??)

and the MOTHER of all my PET PEEVES is:

People who refer to themselves in the third person

(err Ju thinks that Ju is going bonkers!!! Ju wants to go shopping. oooohhh shut up already!!)

So what are your pet peeves? Actually I've got more in my list but 30 is good for today.

The Unbiased Review of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2009-07-17T09:46:00.000+08:00

Daily update? Wow is it a new me? Nope just the same old me, but different-approach-to-working me.. I've learned to better manage time between lectures, book reading, writing, case-writing, baby-sitting, and err of course shopping.

(Yes Dahlia, I owe u a chapter in a book, an Information System case study; and yes Pearson Education I owe u an Information Systems text-book writing, and yes Prof I owe u an IT-outsourcing research proposal)... OMG.. banyak keja sebenarnya..:-)

I've been dying to write about the review of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince actually.

Bad review notwithstanding, the movie was up to my expectation. There are things that you have to consider before watching this one (if you claim you are an ardent fan of Harry Potter laah kan).

There's more than just quidditch, broomstick, Diagon Alley, Hogwarts Train, Hagrid's love of freak creatures, Dumbledore covering Harry's asses every time, Snapes' sticky-rebonding hair, Hermione's aptitude for studies, etc.

You, muggles have to know:

They are in their 6th year, therefore more mature.
There will be more romance, yes. (I read somewhere about a critique that said this movie is saturated with the sexual yearnings of teenage youth).. indeed a lot of snogging in this one.
There will be less prank played, of course since the Weasley's twins are no more in Hogwarts.
The spells, charms will be more advanced.
Approach to killing The Dark Lord has changed.
The plot thickened and got darker.
Ron is still ever so awkward and clumsy, but in a more mature way.
And last but not least, Harry's no more a cute little puppy, he's HOT now :-) etc..etc..etc..

A review I found over the net:

"Dark, thrilling, and occasionally quite funny, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is also visually stunning and emotionally satisfying."

My analogy (of being the Harry Potter franchised movies follower) is this:

When you first saw The Philosopher's Stone it was like love at first sight. Things are new. This is when love starts to grow and new things excite you..

And then the next few movies (Chamber of Secrets until the Goblets of Fire), the plot started to get even more interesting. It's like you are already in love. You are still incredibly in love with it but what seems so fascinating before has become ordinary (like there's no surprise about the brutal sports of quidditch anymore). And then of course you will start to be emotionally attached. .

The movie is also about our real-live event. How we grow up, being more mature, things we have to endure, the sacrifices, emotional games, etc..

My own Synopsis: (the spoiler. continue reading or you may stop here if you haven't read the book:-)

The movie started with Harry (in muggle world) being apparated with Dumbledore to visit Prof Slughorn. There were attacks from the Dark Lord's army (Lestrange,etc) in London, which were witnessed by muggles. And many were killed too. The army attacked and burnt down the Weasleys' house. Then there was the usual Diagon Alley visit where the trio (Harry, Ron and Hermione) were suspicious of the Malfoys' mysterious visit to Borgin and Burke's. Soon the Hogwarts train ride, when Harry was caught eavesdropping Draco and was seriously hit by Draco (poor thing). Luna rescued him (phewwhh).

Emotions grew in campus. Them being teenager.. Hermione having crush on Ron, but Lavender wanted Ron all to herself. A student named Romilda actually sent Harry a love potion but to no avail. Ron being Ron accidentally ate them and became 'angau'. Meanwhile Harry found a used potion text-book by somebody named 'Half-Blood Prince'. He was so attached to the book that he read it almost all the time. Ron even said that Harry literally 'sleep' with the book every night. (This part was hilarious as Ron said it is as if Harry 'sleep's with Hermione...err get it?? Hermione = Book..duhhh).

Meanwhile Draco, the ever coward, anti-social and dark character had been plotted as Harry Potter's assailant as chosen by the Dark Lord. He learned a trick or two (more actually) to transport the Dark Lord's army to the Hogwarts' well-protected ground.

Whilst Draco learning the tricks, Harry had the priviledge of dwelling into Dumbedore's memory pensieve and saw a few memory of his meeting with Tom Riddle aka the Dark Lord when he was a kid. How cool is that huh.. fast forward to a few more memories and when they found the truth of the mortality of the Dark Lord; the 7 Horcrux...Surprise..surprise they've just destroyed 2. The third one was a fake. Oh-uh 5 more to go, hence the last installment: The Deathly Hallows

In the final battle, Dumbledore's love for Harry, which has been the alchemy to Harry's survival to date took its toll. He died of Avra-Cadavra spell just as Sirius did.

Harry had no choice but to start on a new quest to find and destroy the remaining horcruxes, while forbidding Ron and Hermione from following him.

.the end.

If you have read the book, you should've seen this coming. Normally the movie would end with them finishing the school-year and another triupmhant against the Dark Lord. But in Half Blood Prince, Dumbledore died in the middle of school-year, and then Harry went on his quest of getting the remaining Horcrux-es. (Just like Lord of the Ring (The Two Towers, 2002), when the movie ended in the middle of battle in Helm's Deep).

The anticipation for the last installment, the greatest battle of the good vs evil, will be worth it.. I hope they do include the last bit in the book... it would be nice seeing Harry marrying Ginny; Ron and Hermione's brilliant kids, etc...

5 star***

Truly an emotional roller-coster. I admit on shedding tears during Dumbledore's passing and Hermione's jealousy over Lavender :-)

why wait.. go get your tickets now..

The Harryth Potter and Juliana (his 8th series)

2009-07-16T14:10:00.000+08:00

This is truly an emotional piece of writing...*for me laa*

I started collecting (and read them of course) Harry Potter books since early 2001. To date I have all the 7 books, from the Philisopher's Stone to the Deathly Hollows.

The part that I'm an ardent fan of Harry Potter, is not really interesting as millions out there too are his fan. But the fact that how HP has been with me throughout my ups and downs in my adolescent life, is beyond anybody's imagination, hence I call this entry, "Harryth Potter and Juliana (his 8th series) featuring me...perasan!.

I remember the first movie in 2001. I was having trouble with my Masters Studies. Bukannya apa I've had a place to pursue my PhD, tapi I haven't finished my MSc thesis yet. Dalam kelam kabut tu, I watched the movie and really told myself I have to go to England for my PhD ASAP...

(I remember one of my niece actually asked me to kirim salam to Hermione should I bump into her in London... gila ka hapa)

that's me and Farah in Oxford University (the door to the dining hall of 'Hogwarts')

another picture in Oxford

Then in November 2002, they released the second movie; Chamber of Secrets. I completed my MSc and this time around I was already watching the second movie in England. And so my obsession over anything Harry Potter grew even more.

In November 2003, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy in Bath, named no surprise there.. Adam Harith (proses me-melayukan Harry Potter) .. at first he was to be registered as Adam Harryth, but Lelaki ini 'veto' on the idea and thought it would be hard bila che'gu di sekolah nak menyebot nama budak ni..

check tengok kot2 ada scar macam harry potter.. yes masa ni baru sangat2 lepas bersalin and masih SENGAL tahap hilang selera makan.

Hallo Adam..

Then the third sequel, Prisoner of Azkaban preceded in summer 2004. We brought our little 'Harry' to watch the movie in Bristol. He was 7/8 months and sat quietly from start to finish. Good boy, he was..

And then we had the Goblets of Fire aired in Fall 2005. Our little 'Harry' was 2!

hehehe okay up until now apa nya yang emotional.. takdaklaa emotional teruk.. cuma every time nak pegi tengok Harry Potter teringat kenangan terindah..

Today as of 8.20 pm kami anak-beranak sekali lagi will be watching the 6th sequel, The Half Blood Prince at GSC MidValley. I bought the Gold-Class tickets as I know it will be worth every penny of it..

errr come to think of it .. Harry Potter is a franchise. I wonder how much has Daniel, Emma and Rupert banked in for all the 6 movies? ?? enuff to feed the poor in 3rd world countries kot...

But they did grow up in the set..I just love seeing them transform throughout puberty (heheh yes it was hilarious when I first heard Daniel's 'jantan' voice) . They were so cute and innocent in the first movie..and a few metamorphosis years later they become some of the hottest teenage actors and actress.

from this: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa cutesies

to this: wow!!! they definitely don't need wands to charm the audience

See ya Harry Potter!!

oh yeah.. and this is my 'Harry' 6 years later.

Is Punishment a Culture?

2009-07-15T10:52:00.000+08:00

be gentle, will you guys? most of us are good Samaritans, we are not Mat Rempits of any kind

Yes.. I'm sticking to my promise that I will write about traffic summonses and road-bollocks..

I'm just wondering why aren't there any incentive (are there?) to my knowledge for good deeds or good driving?

I remember driving a constant 110 ( I was on cruise-control all the way) on my way back from KL-SP alone with Adam. There was a road-block somewhere in Perak. As usual the traffic cops just waived, giving the sign that I was free to go.. Hmmm why could't they just nod and thumbs-up for the good driver that I have been (yeah right.. only in my traffic-fantasies of other parallel universe lah). Surely their speed-radar would've indicated that I had driven within the speed limit. Plus I had Adam strapped properly at the back..

Last weekend, as we were driving in the industrial area of SP, with my mom well-buckled-up at the back and Ryan in his car seat (as any other babies should have been), we were stopped at the road-block. Lelaki ini had just realized after stopping for gas a few minutes ago, he forgot to buckle up. Mind you, we are responsible citizens who never fail to comply by the rules (errr almost all the rules). In my mom's consoling words, "takpalaa takdak rezeki".

I don't mind paying the summon, as clearly we were the outlaws of traffic for that moment. But if I were the traffic cop (whom I presume have got a heart of gold.. does he?), he would've just let us go. Just gave a warning and praise us for other things since we have made sure the passengers were well buckled-up, having infant/toddler car-seats etc.. Ni dengan muka macam belacan tanjung dawai and bengis marah pasaipa tak pakai tali pinggang...f***-off laa.. (sorry I've lost my grace for a while there..but I was and still is pisssed at him)

Oh yeah I never mentioned last 2 years a few days before raya, I bribed the abg traffic 50 hengget because I was stopped for using my mobile whilst driving on the Federal Highway. Guilty as charged!! I always had my hands-free tapi on that unfateful day, I misplaced it... But I guess we both sped off happier. I didnt have to pay RM300 and he was just 50 hengget richer... tapi kesian laa what can 50 hengget do these days?? but If he conned 50 other female drivers like moi with his 'nak-300 hengget-saman-ka-nak-hulog' charms.. u do the maths laa how much he would've earned for that raya celebration! hahaha dia raya awal from all of us...saya halalkan:-)

As I live near the police and army housing, I see them being outlaws themselves when they weren't in uniforms. No helmet, speeding through the red lights, you name it. Why laa?? tak serupa bikin.kepimpinan melalui tauladan..errrr SO NOT...huh!

Anyway my point is that; why is punishment a culture (or work-culture)? or is it within their KPI? seminggu 100 pesalah traffic musti di-hukum, di beri saman oleh sa-orang polis trafik..

Abang trafik tak salah sesekali senyum, puji pemandu yang berhemah..ya..remember ...We are watching....:-)

oppss font 'sengaja' dibesarkan hari ini because nafsu amarah yang agak melampau hari ni..

Top Tips When Travelling

2009-07-14T08:13:00.000+08:00

I've been asked time and time again about how I endure long distance journey up-north (almost weekly actually).

View Larger Map

It's all about distance, time, weather, err road-bollocks (I mean road blocks).. Distance from KL-SP is about 360km. On normal circumstances, it doesn't take longer than 3 hours 30 minutes to reach the destination.

So here are some of my tips (How you can make the most of your 3 hour journey feels like your weekly IKEA trip):

Brush up your math (no calculator pleasee). Count how long does it take from whichever point you are at, to your destination. For example let say you are already in Ipoh and the signboard shows it's about 230km to Alor Setar, and Alor Setar is 60km away from SP (for some reason, they never mention 'Sungai Petani' until like 5 km to destination.. **&&%%%).. If you are a slow-wuzz driving at 110km/h ; Physics 101 says that Velocity = Distance/Time. So just do the math: ETA = 170/110=1.55 (which is more or less 1 hour 33 mins). *See PPSMI isn't that bad!!!!
Listen to your list of favourite songs. Who wouldn't... But relying on radio isn't good especially when you have to go through the mountainous snake path somewhere after the Perak tunnel. Be wise, choose the CD or MP3 collections. I chose the latter.
Quarrel with the hubby for a bit over your selection of songs that probably had him choking throughout the journey. Yes lelaki ini feels like my selection of Anuar Zain's songs dries his soul!
Quarrel with the hubby for a bit over his selection of songs. It's okay when he started off with a bit of the 80's and 90's numbers. BUT when he started reminiscing his childhood, being Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music.. drama drama drama!!
Teaching my eldest to spell by looking at the billboard, etc. In fact one of the first few words he spelled was I-P-O-H.
Catching up with lecture notes.. Yes my dear students, I find peace and solace in the car. Sometimes, even grading your exam papers!
Attending to Adam n Ryan's pee pee and poo poo quest. Have I mentioned in previous entry about how Ryan loves doing 'his business' in the car? maybe not.. Pi mana2 pun dalam kereta jugak yang sedap. The car is in fact his comfort zone. *sigh*

These are my tips.. what's yours..?

I will write about road-bollocks by the traffic police in my next entry... ***%%%$***#

Things we take for granted

2009-07-10T12:53:00.000+08:00

It's Friday 1317, July 10th 2009.

Most of my colleague (so as most of you) are probably out enjoying your long lunch hour and for the Muslim men, attentively listening to the insightful Jumaat Qutbah..

But I chose to stay in the office throughout this quiet time at the faculty to catch up with long overdue tasks (yes.. guilty as charged. I am a queen of procrastinator).

In between tasks, i thought of something worth sharing here in my blog. Things we take for granted.. yes. At some point of life yes, yes virtually everybody takes things for granted. Minor or major? very subjective.

As for me, I admit there are things that I took for granted and still is. You know things like:

Personal
* Hugs by my significant other that I pushed off sometimes because of some hormonal reasons...
* Directing hubby to do this and that without consideration (heheh talking about queen control)
* Ignores my mother's advice
* Putting things off last minute

Universal
* Greedily takes a lot of plastic bags from the supermarket. Kalau boleh satu plastic satu barang..boleh?)
* 24 hour air-cond
* Wasting paper

AND many more..

So WHAT IF all these are taken away from me? (Talking about being an ungrateful b****h sometimes).

What if the person you are SO dependent upon is no more with you?
What if the world is so polluted that you would have to wear an oxygen tank anywhere you go?

All the What-ifs really makes me wanna pee in my pants.

What if blogspot and facebook are banned for life.. oppssss!!!! (my world would shatter..)

What are your what-ifs?

am a procrastinator queen and snake queen too?

Malaysian Education: A Step Backwards

2009-07-08T23:29:00.000+08:00

For the past 24 hours or so, the whole world mourned (still are) the lost of our beloved MJ. We were concerned of whether he would be buried Moslem or otherwise. We were concerned of what would the future hold for his children.

Sidetrack for a split moment, (most of us were) wondering the fate of others offshore, we almost forgot about the more important issue inland..

"PUTRAJAYA, July 8 (Bernama) -- The teaching and learning of science and mathematics in national schools will revert to the Malay language effective 2012.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the teaching and learning of the two subjects in Chinese and Tamil national-type schools would be carried out in their respective mother tongue.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said the cabinet today approved the suggestion by the ministry to empower the Malay language and strengthen the teaching and learning of the English language at all levels of schooling.

"This strategy was drawn up based on the study and monitoring carried out by the Education Ministry on the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English since the policy was implemented in 2003," he said when making the announcement at the Education Ministry, here on Wednesday." (BERNAMA)

Personally, I fear for my children's fate. It's not just about this whole Malay vs English. But it's about the whole education system. Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT against the system. Hey..I grew up in this system. This system is who I am today (at least the old education system that is).

I just don't get why the government has to change the system so often that it might jeopardize Malaysian Education(or become the laughing stock.. in fact we already are..)??

People kept saying ..'Look at how advanced the French, Japanese, Korean are. They are in fact branded as the role model of modern and successful countries despite using their mother-tongue languages at school'.

Well people.. wake up! smell the gas! Look around you. We definitely aren't French, Japanese or Korean! We DON'T have their work culture, attitude, perseverance, hardwork. That's what separate us. If we want to be like them, we have to act, think and value things like they do. Seriously, bottom line it's not the language.

I grew up with KBSR, KBSM. I didnt do well in my Bahasa paper for SPM. I only scored C6. Being a Malay, well that's not even close to a satisfactory grade. Then I further my studies in the US. When I came back, although I speak English more often than I speak Bahasa Melayu, that doesn't make me less Malay. Every now and then I picked some Bahasa Melayu novels at bookstore. I do read Malay newspapers. I read Malay articles. In other words, I never forget my root. I do 'martabatkan' my bahasa.

Again.. tell me why studying Maths and Science in Malay is a way to 'martabatkan' bahasa? As a matter of fact, why did they start implementing all this in the first place without proper research? Kesian some students had to be the guinea pigs. I wonder what's next? Wujudkan balik Penilaian Darjah Lima? PMR tukar jadi SRP or LCE?
SPM tukar jadi MCE?

Oh well it's our kids education we're talking about. Ouchh! We are indeed moving one (or is it multiple) step backward.

Michael Jackson forever in my heart

2009-07-08T14:27:00.000+08:00

Last nite i bid my farewell to MJ, my prayers, mourning me own way. . RIP my king of pop.

I was okay until Paris Jackson gave her words.. I tought it was just me, teary eyed..I think everybody else watching it must've felt the same... (If you haven't watch it... just youtube the moment yeah.. and make sure there's loadsa tissue in hand)

I practically grew up to his songs (yeah yeah as are most of you).. I remember trying to memorize the lyrics of We are the world (with my little vocab and comprehension of English when I was younger). Here goes..

We are the World (my version..a bit bodoh laa) 1985

We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brother day
So lets star giving
Theres a sauce we're making
We're saying our lies
its true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

When the real chorus is this:

We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving
Theres a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
its true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

24 years later, after owning many of his CD collections (err earlier were the bulky cassettes), I grow fonder of MJ... and was devastated to hear of his death (am still in denial actually)

I remember the morning of 25th June (0645 Malaysian time) my husband called on his way to work.. (yeah yeahh.. he goes to work REALLY early, while yours truly maseh di bawah selimut zzzzzz).

He said, "Yang.. Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett mati". (btw kesian Farrah Fawcett meninggal sama time dengan MJ.. terus yg dia not as fofular.. n takdak berita..tup2 dah tanam)

I replied, "Alaa tipu laa tu.. gossip ja tu". The sleepy head went back to bed. I woke up around 8am and normal routine.. check email and facebook. There it was.. the news.. i couldn't believe my eyes! I guess it's true then .. Only the Good Die Young.

Anyway, my point of writing this entry again is to dedicate this song, so close to my heart and hope that generations after me will cherish, value and treasure this song as much as I did. Michael May God Bless You. Rest In Peace .....

Heal the World (1991)

There's a place in your heart

And I know that it is love
And this place could be much
Brighter than tomorrow
And if you really try
You'll find there's no need to cry
In this place you'll feel
There's no hurt or sorrow

There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space
Make a better place...

Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me
.........................

Confession of a Cold Patient

2009-07-07T12:22:00.000+08:00

Huhu.. what can I say.. I have to confess and you'd probably say ..told ya so..(in malay harsh words, it would be 'padan muka'!!)

I did these for the past few days (despite having early cold symptoms):

Stayed up late (blame the workload and facebook!!)
Drank cold drinks
Ate spicy food
Early morning and late night cold shower
Did not drink enough fluid
Full blast air-cond

And definitely deserve this: Nuisance Cold ..

I realized how people get confused of these two words (flu vs cold)

"Colds tend to produce runny nose, congestion, sore throat. Influenza is more pronounced in that it infects the lungs, the joints and causes pneumonia, respiratory failure and even death. It tends to infect the intestinal tract more in kids, with diarrhea and vomiting. Because of the relative immaturity of the gut, they may absorb more virus and that wreaks more havoc on the intestines. Flu causes epidemics and pandemics with the potential for mortality, whereas the common cold is just a common sickness for most of us." *sources from americanscientific.com

In other words, Flu is deadly, while Cold is just irritation to us, the mere mortals' body and the surrounding of course! There you go first lecture on Cold and Flu (CFL 101) .

I remember the disgusted look on other clinic patient, sitting next to me when I sneezed and cough. Yeah who wouldn't be upon seeing the greenish phlegm coming out from a potential deadly stranger next to you... huhhuuu urghhhh!!!!

Yours truly has just had a string of antitussive medications.. and ready to take a nap ( it says non-sedative but am DAMN sleepy.. adverse effect on moi maybe??)

See ya.. Suddenly it's Katy Perry's Hot n Cold playing in my head.. oohh wait I'm her! Oh God.. I'm sooooo drugged!!

Perempuan Ini Pergi ke Konsert Lelaki Ini (This lady Goes to "Lelaki Ini's" Concert')

2009-07-02T15:00:00.001+08:00

Good Voice + Good Looks + Good Mannered = Anuar Zain

Whatelse can I say? he is indeed in one PERFECTO equation.

The concert was held last nite in Istana Budaya. Yes the venue was grand, but it was his presence, his aura that supersedes. I feel blessed and proud to be one of the few hundred first to be in his FIRST EVER solo concert in Malaysia.

A big fan I am of him, but I never realized he never had any solo concert. Yeahh... come to think of it, previously I went to his dinner shows, but never a concert like this.

With music by the chamber orchestra of National Symphony, the 2 hour show was AWESOME! REMARKABLE! SPLENDID! BREATHTAKING!! oh God.. am out of adjectives to describe...

The histerical audience actually sang his songs much LOUDER than they did for the National Anthem!!!

It was also a nite to remember for me as I've been reunited with my ex-Convent schoolmates... Gosh it must've been 16 over years that we didn't meet. Kudos to facebook!

Hirda, Fiona it was heartily touching meeting u ladies.. Hirda, lady of leisure is now stationed in Doha, Qatar. Fiona's a corporate lawyer in Ampang. Muahhhss!! Love u ladies..

Meeting them made me realized how I missed school days when things were much much easier (errr except for dating guys without Mum's knowledge... heheh What Your Mummy Doesn't Know, Doesn't Hurt, isn't it????)

well.. i'll leave u readers with the lyrics of 'Lelaki Ini'. Go get the CD already!! Buy ORIGINALS yeahh.. Don't SUPPORT piracy.

Kasih
Kenanganku ingatan saat-saat dulu
Kasih
Apakah dirimu
Merasakan semua itu
Ke manapun hendakku pergi
Ku masih melihat bayanganmu cintaku
Dan ke manapun arah
Angin ku berlari
Hati ini masih kau miliki

Lelaki ini
Yang selalu mencintamu
Selalu tanpa ragu
Lelaki ini
Yang selalu memuja
Hanya dirimu
Yang bertahta dalam sanubariku
Sanubariku ooo...
Aku yang mencinta kamu
Hanya dirimu
Oh...
Kerana cintaku
Tak berbatas waktuku
Kerana cintaku
Tak mengenal jemu hatimu
Hatimu oo...
Yang bertahta dalam sanubariku

One's a Crowd, Two's a company, Eight's a...Divorce on the Way?

2009-06-23T13:40:00.000+08:00

I was flipping through channels last night.. It was indeed a mundane monday.. Nothing appealed to me, So I let the TV on with God knows the crap they had on channel 101 .. Mind you I was never, and still am not a GREEN person. Guilty as charged! TV, Fan, Lights are always ON (except when we're out lohh)...

I played the PSP and won all the levels... How Good was I.... With my nose bleeding, tears falling..alas victory's in my hands... (standing ovation is quite appropriate now...LOL)..

well what can I say.. i was born with it.. the skills, enthusiasts, perseverance, patience..

" thank you God for giving me all these skills and thank you Mak for sending me to a good school from Primary One until I graduated high school with excellent grade ..... hehehe"

I never thought in a million years that I will reach the highest level of this game.. Well worth the effort, and I never played any other games except this one.. so indeed it has FINALLY paid off

.
CUT THE CRAP ALREADY!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

teheee... I am now an officially professional Cake mania!!

Oh well that wasn't exactly what I was gonna write in this entry..

I saw on E Channel (712..??) this show hosted by Giulianna (I wish I had my name spelled as cool as hers!!!) about Jon and Kate Gosselin's marriage is on the rocks!! I've been following their 'Jon and Kate Plus 8' on 733. If that rumour is ever true, my goodness what's gonna happen to those kids!

Cara,Mady,Aaden, Alexis, Collin, Hannah, Joel & Leah .. see.. I've even memorized your names kiddos.. you guys should stick with one another no matter what..

I truly think that they're both still pretty much love each other. It's the media hype that's intruding most of their lives. But hey, when you guys signed for that lucrative reality show deal, it's like you have made a pact with the Devil and it'll last FOREVER. ..

But then again, it's for the future of those kids, bla bla bla..and at least their education and future have all been well taken care off (hopefully!!). ..

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh picture perfect (source: eonline)

I still think all 8 look like Jon.. the Asian genes are strong.... Good luck guys...!

Signing off
Giulianna Geohari (aahah OVER laa tu kan??)

Aunty Swiny Piggy's here..

2009-06-22T12:23:00.000+08:00

here piggy piggy piggy

Hello my name's swiny piggy.. U can call me aunt swiny. Thank you for bringing me here. Malaysia's so lovely...

Errrrr SO NOT!!!... auntie swiny you are SO not welcome here... shoosh go away!!

image of the virus: taken from the ministry of health's web

"KUALA LUMPUR: SJK (C) Jalan Davidson at Jalan Hang Jebat here has been closed for a week after two local transmissions of the influenza A(H1N1) virus were detected in the school.

Two other schools with infected students – SRK Assunta 2 in Petaling Jaya and SM Section 9 Shah Alam – will also be closed if authorities discover local transmission of the virus there." sniplet from the Star online June22, 2009

"21/06/2009 : Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia ingin memaklumkan bahawa negara Malaysia adalah selamat untuk dilawati. Dua kes tempatan yang telah dikenalpasti merupakan kontak terdekat kepada kes-kes daripada luar negara." sniplets from Ministry of Health website

is this the best you can do? What do us public has to do? Sit at home and knit? are there any precautionary medication that can be taken? should we just let our kids indoor until the pandemic's clear?

SIGH SIGH!!!!!

Of things in my mind of late.....

2009-06-18T10:33:00.000+08:00

I actually wrote an entry last couple of days, but the autosave failed.. and then the electricity went kaput for a blink of an eye.. and the bengong computer's RAM was volatile in nature that huhuuukkkk what i wrote vaporized just like that.. bengong!

I have had nightmares for the past few days... I dreamt that the Malays won't be united ever!!! phowarrr mimpi saorang pemimpin.. but honestly, I did wake up sweating. why arrr???? I'm not being a racially discriminative person (just ask laa my colleagues at work.. I have more good Chinese and Indian friends than those of Malays..). Even in secondary school, I was in class of 21, where only 3 of us are Malays...Huh.. one or two individuals have even discriminated me at work probably for having this pair of mata sepets..choiii!!!

Being brought up in a small town, where everybody knows almost everyone, I still value that spirit. Nevertheless, in a big city of KL.. tak payah jauh2, I don't even know my neighbours' names. I smiled and nodded to some but they were like 'whatever'. Kereks and Poyos are like the 'in-thing' kot la ni.. apa2 laah... Kalau sesama jiran pun tak bertegur, camana Kerajaan nak unite all of us... hmmmmm .. masalah dunia ni..

I tend to not be a politically inclined person, but hey.. it's my sons and great grandchildrens' future and definitely yours' at stake. Of course I have to CARE....

tsk tsk tsk

There ... I've spoken my mind.. what say you?

On other irrelevant side of my knocked up brain is that.. hmmm our cuti2 overseas has to be postponed until the pandemic is declared negative... cuti2 malaysia it-is lahh..

L-A-N-G-K-A-W-I here we come!!!!!!

A letter to my sons, Adam and Edrees

2009-06-12T10:16:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum my dear sons...

It's friday June 21st morning and somehow mummy feels so emotional (yeah yeah Adam ... i know what u're thinking.. selalu pun mummy macam ni jugak).. I feel so protective of you two. It's not that I never felt like it, but it is more so as of this morning.

Your daddy and I had a long talk in the car enroute to KL about your future (yes Adam, u were busy with your PSP and Edrees was in Jitra, Tok and Wan 'pinjam' seminggu)...These are the plans that we have laid for you:

Your own savings that will last a lifetime for both of you
Your own houses
Your own cars
Your own businesses (or just continue 2 manage daddy and mummy's businesses)

It seems that all of it concerns monetary. Tapi in due process we will inculcate you guys with good personal, social and religious values.. But you guys have to promise me that I get the FINAL say nanti whom you are going to marry... haaaaah!!!!

Setuju? kalau setuju sign di bawah...

Here comes June..

2009-06-02T10:39:00.000+08:00

well oh well.. how time flies...

it's June already? so let me see. have i fulfilled my personal siorkk sendiri punya KPI (at least half way through)???

1) to write more (erkkkk.... struggling)

2) gain more $$$ (insyaAllah.. slowly but surely..:-) )

3) achieved purrfect bodyweight of 48kg? (am SOOOO there... wohooooo)

4) be more active in youth organization (am SOOOO very there)

5) more designers' handbags and shoes (*evil grin*) (KPI is 3.. tapi dah ada 5... am SOOO happy)

6) few overseas holiday trip (achieved 2.. 2 more to come before year end...) * forgot to blog about HK.. will do tomorrow.. janji manisku...*

7) more business in hand ... (dok mai dahh...insyaAllah)

work-wise..

there wasn't a day that i never felt of leaving this job.. yes!! CONFESSION of an UNGRATEFUL worker... hehehee...

don't get me wrong tho.. I have so many wonderful friends here and a promising career.. but it feels like I don't belong here and had to literally drag my oh-not-so-heavy-anymore ass up to work every day. What did u just say? am an ungrateful bitch? Yes I bet your ass I am!

social-wise

seriously I need to find more time with friends. when laarr got time.. 8-5pm (erkkk really aaaa.. see your attendance record ma'm? no need aaa.. can trust one ka that nobody help u to click in and out ?? :-) CAN ONE...

mondays-fridays - work my ass of to the office (why larr so many 'ass' word comes out today? answer: my ass hurts.. tsk tsk tsk damn u not from last nite. not an ass person.. first day of period laa LOL..)

saturday-sunday/public hols - youth organization, businesses, plantation.. wahhh

yes people, I do work 24/7 .... our family has been practically living out of suitcase week by week..

people ask me whether i employ maids.. yes I have 5 actually.. banyaknya!! sombong ka hapa...hidung tinggi ni!!

1) baju semua dihantar laundry (dah 8 bulan tak basuh sendiri...nyehnyeh) hence I shall kol her BIBIK Laundry
2) tapau nasi and lauk from a nearby restaurant eversince (my gas tak bertukar dah 2 tahun ..u do the Math laah) hence i kol him BIBIK masak
3) cuci rumah (my alter ego..all hell breaks loose bila i start to clean) hence BIBIK cuci

4) kemas rumah (hubby's alter ego .... that guy really kemas everything that I don't even dare of looking for my bedtime magazine if he has piled them nicely on the shelf!!) hence BIBIK kemas

is this Shah @ home? I let your imagination run wild people!

5) last but not least my sons' nanny (somehow last week I almost terminated her service due to some blunder)...hence BIBIK jaga budak..

there people 5.. hahahaa...

anyway.. have a nice 1/2 year left in 2009 ya'all.. hope for the best..

control ayu

The New Me

2009-03-18T18:09:00.000+08:00

wahhh not exactly new.. but meself with new body weight.

Am currently weighing at 49.8 kg, just 0.8 short of my IDEAL, healthy body weight... (though I think I'd look better with 46/47kg)..

perseverance, endurance, you name it.. i went through with it. I think it took me about 6-7 weeks to get to this weight...

almost 4 weeks of vege diet, now finally am on protein, less carb diet... I think I can live with the fact that I HAVE to eat steamed fish, grilled chicken... it feels like diet-heaven as those are my fav...

I guess the 4**** over that I have paid thus far is worth every penny of it. Now not only that I HAVE to eat healthy (it used to be a regime), it has more or less become part of me. I used to eat crap... well as the term goes 'garbage in garbage out'.. that was me, pre-diet. I feel healthy and happier, and at the end of the day it boosts my self confidence. I mean who wouldn't be if she could effortlessly slip into her size 8 (UK) petite jeans...

To those of you who wants to lose weight.. there are many options. As for me, I've tried the old school way. Diet and exercise. It didnt work as fast as I wanted, so I opted for the healthy, yet short cut method. .. I visited the local slimming center, for consultation and advice and walla!! I am back to the old me in just 7 weeks.

anyway, am off for my annual family vacation t'row. with my luggage packed with all of (no less than s-size outfits) my fav bajus.. I'm just SO OVER THE MOON...

why I'm happy on my 5th day of diet

2009-02-06T09:04:00.000+08:00

waaaa... 1 kg less and 1 inch less on the hips and butt.. too good to be true? just try and eat what I ate and you'll see..

breakfast: low fat natural yogurt with kiwi or apples
lunch: chicken soup with lotsa vege, esp celery, sans chicken (wtf??)
dinner: chicken soup with lotsa vege again, with few pieces of chicken strips, and 2-3 spoons of rice

and of course, in between i had apples, kiwi or papaya and lotsa water..

it's all detox, detox. I sleep, eat, dream DETOX..

enough on my diet.. (will write more as i progress through)

yesterday was probably one of my shittiest day (you can't beat what i went through even if you want to compare your experience shitting in your pants or being dumped on your first date!)

I knew it was my worst day when:

I feel DOWN (yeah yeah, who wouldn't?)
I lose my appetite
Working makes me sick
Walking makes me ache
Reading my favourite magazine makes me sleepy
The thought of going shopping during lunch time nauseates me
I look forward to lecture (this definitely is the most unexplainable of the lot!!)
WORSE of all I couldnt reverse-park my car at the designated parking lot at my apartment although I've done that like 40 billion times!

*sigh sigh**

Why I need to lose weight

2009-02-04T13:27:00.000+08:00

** just look at the after (54kg) and before (48kg) pics..or somebody wise told me maybe that overrated trishaw add some weight on me!

I realize i need to lose weight when

most of my pants and shirts pre pregnancy don't fit anymore
I look gemuk and montel for my height.
my sunglass don't look good on my superchubby cheeks.
my husband said I look' ok' (do u think I buy all those crap! just say that I'm gemok laa.. end of story..)
i no longer want to put my latest photo in my facebook (masalah besar nihh)

These are the things that I ate last 2 weeks (when I first started my konon-konon terrer diet meal plan).

Breakfast: soto (only that! without fail sampai jemu)
Lunch: only fruits
Dinner: anything I want with only half the portion (pembaziran tahap dewa..) before 630p.m
Exercise: naik turun tangga of my 10 floor apartment without fail (at least 5 times a day)

Alas I thought all the hard (ya ka hard??) work will do me good.. As of yesterday, rupanya I only lost 1 F******* kilo! Bloody hell.. and the best part is, instead of losing the inches at those vital parts, I GAINED big time. .. then i thot b**i punya penimbang.. :-)

This has prompted yours truly to go for extreme measures.. seek professional advice, slimming center consultants that is..(last resort and desperate measures!!).. so i went to here..

after analyzing my eating and exercise habit, she said, "mam, instead of burning fat, you build muscles." n the rest is history.. i signed up to something that i thought was a taboo before.

SO, this blog from now on will be used solely for me to motivate myself (with the amount of kachinggg$) that I've paid yesterday (JUST TOP-UP some kachinggg$ for more effects). And also since friends will be reading, I HAVE TO make sure the slimming program works for me OTHERWISE maluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!

These are the vital stat for me now

weight: 54
height: 151
fat: 32 f******g %

I have to be this: weight: 49 and fat: 21% to be healthy. Achievable? with the money spent, i would say HELL YEAH!!!

Why I'm feeling blue

2009-01-20T12:59:00.000+08:00

It was October 1997, when IRC was 'the' mode of online communication, I came across a chatroom named 'MSM trolak'. There was this guy that I chatted once in a while. Topics of discussions were interesting that I looked forward at every opportunity to chat with him. Needless to say, we never even asked what our real names were. 2-3 weeks went by when I asked him the trivial question..

pink (my chat name then): I have a friend (ex boyfriend actually) who used to study in MSM Trolak. We kind of lost contact when I study here (US). he's supposed to go to Australia for his degree.
Kruger (his chat name): What's his name?
pink: Shahrulnizam
Kruger: Errr.. where is he from?
pink: Jitra
Kruger: Errr Errr.. is your name juliana from kedah?
pink: helll yeah!!!
Kruger: Fuck!! Shite!! Damn!! ******** and banyak lagi sumpahan (yes he swore a lot those days)
pink: why? you know him? (still didn't get a clue.. bangang betul at that time)
Kruger: It's him!! I mean it's me Shah!!!
pink: waaaaaaa... (pengsannn!!)

(how I wish my wedding cake was as nice!!)

The rest shall I say is history.. well 10 years 3 months later here we are celebrating our 8th year wedding anniversary, blessed with 2 boys.. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to us sayang!!

Why I'm happy today!

2009-01-02T08:50:00.000+08:00

Well this ain't my new year's resolution.. it just so happened that i feel like writing after being in hiatus from blogging world for almost 4 years!

Just want to share my new year's resolution..

1) eat less, exercise more

2) sleep less, work more

3) spend less, save more

4) drive less, walk more

5) dine-out less, cook more

6) talk less, think more

As of 1/1/2009.. items 1 to 6 all checked!! woohooo.. first day... not bad huh! Hope it won't be hangat2 tahi tikus.. all 6 items will be checked almost everyday this year!

Anyway a bit of recap of what happened to yours truly last year:

1) eat more, exercise less

2) sleep more

3) spend more

4) drive more

5) dine-out more

6) talk more and think more

hahah not so productive eh! I think I'll pardon meself for all of that.. I was pregnant.. Ballooning to a size 14 than my normal 8.. Still a 10 though (after giving birth in October last year).. , am getting there... slowly but surely!