Back Again

Wow, has it really been a month since my last entry??? It's not that there were nothing exciting/worthwhile to write...in fact it was the opposite - lots of things happened this last month!

Well, let's don't waste on (trivial) excuses. First there was Ramadhan, which meant that I hardly had time to write. This was also the first Ramadhan that both me and hubby did not bow down to temptations - and managed to steer clear of Pasar Ramadhan! This also meant that I scrambled to reach home on time to cook dishes for iftar. Since the children were fasting - including my 4+ yrs old - I had to prepare dishes based on their preference as well. Alhamdullilah everything went well and my youngest managed to complete 12 days of full day fasting! A feat by itself.....

Then came Raya. The night before Raya was a blast! We prepared home made sate and barbecued them that night, with the kids (and my sisters) messing with the firecrackers!

Then it was UPSR for my first born. I do not want to comment on that....In fact I pity him. Having parents who are professionals and a father who was Pahang's SPM Best Student meant that people will assume that he will sail through!

Urrggghhh...there were so many going-ons recently. Lots of sad stories. My long time dearest friend lost her father to the big C. Then I heard about news of broken marriages of friends which was a major shock.....well, life goes on..... 

Short (Temptation) Entry - 1

It is Ramadhan, but I guess I am not strong enough to resist temptation! Yeah, I was getting more and more frustrated with the old Krazr. But since the 2 months old Nokia was pricey (being a latest model), its replacement is a current model (read: cheaper) - but still with a 5MP camera so that I can indulge in my favorite pastime - taking pictures....The pics quality is perfect - being a Cybershot. No complaints there. There's only one reminder from dear hubby 'me, electronic gadgets and the washroom - does not go hand in hand'....ha..ha..ha...

Short (Memorable) Entry 1

Instead of writing long winded ramblings - which, based on my typical speed will take like forever - I am going to start writing - once in a while - short entries, normally of memorable moments.

My youngest daughter is being toilet trained - night time. She's doing great except for the occasional 'Abah, seluar saya basah' cries at 3am.


So there she was, bedtime, lying on her back, reflecting. 'Mama,  tak buka seluar macam mana kencing?' Huh ? She was actually puzzled, why did she wet the bed, when she did not remove her pants! Ha..ha..ha...

Hubby teased her ' Yeah, you did not remove your pants, that is why it was wet'. I guess she did not get it - since she still said ' macamana kencing tak buka seluar'....ha..ha..ha....

Good and Bad News

Our daily life is a struggle and filled with good news and bad news - yours truly included.

First the bad news. My baby is now gone. My first Nokia. Hubby bought it for me - knowing how much I love taking pictures - he chose the latest model with 5MP camera.  I love the phone! The pictures are crystal clear and the video is also awesome - note: I am comparing this with my previous 3.2 Cybershot Sony-Erickson phone! I seldom use my phone other than  for calling home and hubby and texting families. So it was a great fit for me - as I got to snap and snap away - good quality pictures. 

But  unfortunately my affair with the phone did not last. After about 2 month, an accident happened. Since it is obvious that the phone is not  designed for IP67X (for those designing radios, this should be familiar, right?) - it could not be resuscitated. It has been almost 2 weeks - and still the repair shop could not power it up....hhhmmm......

Let's move on to the good news. About 2 weeks ago - after months of delay - I was finally at the Wellness Center for my bi-anneal exec medical check-up. There was a form in which we had to answer questions related to our lifestyle. Questions like whether you smoke, consume alcohol, exercise, take leafy greens, take oats, take grains, etc. I handed them the form and waited for my turn. First was the blood test, followed by the flexibility test - where you have to flex yourself on a bench! If only I am a contortionist....

Then it was measurement of fat and what not - using a machine - which calculates (magically?) your weight, body fat, lean fat, etc.

I was getting nervous for the most dreaded part - the treadmill. The treadmill came after ultrasound of the gall bladder, heart, kidney and liver. By that time it was already after 10am, and I was getting hungry (needed to fast for some of the tests). I was ushered into the treadmill room - and the nurse asked (probably she was trying to make a conversation) whether I was nervous. Off course I am nervous! This is the most physical part of the test !!!

She tried to cheer me up - by saying that it's no big deal. When told that my aim was 10mins, she then casually said ' orang yang umur 60 thn pun boleh sampai 10mins'.  I (quickly) retorted 'owh, itu org tua yg selalu exercise, kakak tak pernah exercise'....hi..hi..hi....

Anyway, the moment of truth finally arrived- as I climb onto the treadmill and serenaded by the calming visuals. Stage 1....stage 2...stage 3....the treadmill  was getting faster, and the slope was getting bigger.....I was trying to take my mind off my cramping feet. Mind over matter...mind over matter....look at that scenery....amazing.....

Finally stage 5....I could not hold any longer...exhausted...stop...stop...The result? 10mins! 

Yeay !!!! Mission accomplished!


A week after that - a day before Ramdhan - I was again at the Wellness Center - but this time around is to pick up my result. I went to see the Dr, who went through my results. Your weight is perfect, your fat is perfect, your cholesterol is perfect, your heart is perfect, your kidney is perfect, your gallbladder is perfect......probably the Dr's favorite word is perfect!


Anyway, I was surprised to see that although I have gained at least 4kg compared to 2 years ago - my total cholesterol has actually reduced from 4.2 to 3.2. My LDL - the bad cholesterol - is also small. And to top it up - my health age is 6 years younger than my actual age !!!!! Yeay !!!!!

The Dr has noted that I need to slow down, as stress has taken its toll on my body. My body is showing signs of stress (read: thyroid). So I am taking Surbex Zinc for the stress and fish oil which hopefully can do something to increase my immune system.

 

State of Affair

I was intrigued when I heard about the short-lived second marriage of one of Malaysia's sport personality. Intrigued because his first marriage - sometime last year - lasted for about 12 days, and the cases were splashed all over the news - as it was dragged to court.

Anyway, like a month ago, the fella got married again - so we thought that's the end of it. Lo and behold, he's on the news again - this time for uttering the 'I cerai u lah' word to his wife, 2 days before their first MONTH anniversary! Made us think, doesn't it?

Reminded me of a story of a friend of a friend. That friend was having problem with the roommate. Then she changed room and another roommate, but the problem persist. And the next year the same thing again - in which my friend casually remarked to me "if our friend is having problem with her roommate - and it is happening every year with different roommates - could it be that our friend is the one that is actually the difficult one (to live with) " Make sense doesn't it?

Coming back to the Malaysian sport personality, even before I finished writing this entry (I really need to speed up!) - there is already a new twist to the story. Well, you can read it on your own. It is everywhere - the internet and also on MSM. The story is chronicled there - both the short and long version, so I'm not gonna repeat it here. The odd thing that I noticed is that both the ex-wives were introduced to the fella by the person who is now charged by the (now ex) wife - as having an affair with the fella. And that person is a married woman with is so much older than the fella (what age gotta do with this?)

Someone cheekily said 'probably there is some kinky arrangement there '...he..he...

We don't want to delve into that, do we?

What Are We Turning Into?

The recent spat of child-abuse cases are really disheartening. I can't imagine a soul who would want to harm a helpless little child.  Cases like the 3 years old Shafiyah Humairah who was stomped to death. 


Then those daily news on abandoned new-born. Some were fortunate to be found alive...but some were not destined to share the world we live in. How could any human being be so cruel to abandon their own flesh and blood - to leave them to their fate - some were bitten by ants and bugs - some were left in the cold morning.....and worst some we simply dumped in dumpsters, in rivers, in drains....what are we turning into? Have our heart turned to this dark cold stone?

There are more depressing news in this holy month. The mentally unstable husband who killed his wife and injured his daughter.  The children losing their mom and dad in a span of a couple of hours. 

Then the case of a drug addict father who splashed his wife and kids with acids - severely damaging the 8 years old  face and body. Imagine the life that the small girl is going to go through. Scarred - physically and emotionally - for life.

What about the rampant cases of molestation, rape and incest. We had a few weeks ago cases of van driver - ferrying primary school children to school - raping these girls. Some are molested. And these people are already married, with kids of their own. Aren't there any more fear in their heart? As parents with school-going children, off course I am deeply disturbed.  

Something needs to be done - urgently - as it looks to me that our family institution, our society are disintegrating. Moral values are of no importance anymore. We have to go back to our core values. Go back to religion. I am sure all religions do not condone rape and incest.... 


May Allah bless us all.....

Of Structures and Arches

Since Italy is famous for it's Leaning Tower of Pisa, Penang - until a few days ago - was in contender for - Leaning Arches of Penang.

It never ceased to amaze me, what all these people are thinking (errr, hopefully not just to make a quick buck). First somebody thought that 'hmmm.....I got RM X mil to beautify the Botanical Garden....why don't I put an arch there'. 'Lots of people will be really really happy'.....So in lightning speed it was approved and executed.

The result? The RM150,000 pair of arches - which looks to me -  like an eye sore! This is coming from someone with no expertise in architecture! People (more like visitors to the park) started to complaint (I guess they have eyes as mine). And not long after it's completion - it was found that the whole structure was tilting!

After much brouhaha, finally it was decided that the arch must go - demolished! It was said that this was based on the request of the people. The decision was based on a survey which noted that 71% of  the people wanted the arches be demolished. Funny thing is, while the thing was being planned  - the people was never in the picture! 

And the best part is, the demolition was costing taxpayer RM90,000 (it was later rectified that the actual cost was RM70,000 - was that supposed to make us happy - that it is cheaper???) 

Wow... that's ****** kind of money...hhmm...demolishing cost is half the cost  of erecting the structure. Probably I am in the wrong profession..... 

And by the way, for you guys out there - Muslims guys only - if you feel like fulfilling your quota, then fear not. If you don't get your missus signature for the approval of your subsequent marriage(s) - don't bother - just prepare yerself RM1000. That'll be enough....as proven recently!