Losing Control

So I had oral surgery last Monday. Had my two left upper and lower wisdom teeth taken out by the dentist. I only had local anesthesia and didn't go under. It's not because I'm a tough lady or whatever, it's because I would like to know what's happening with my body while the doctors are doing a procedure. 

 

It was a scary experience for me when I took out three teeth on my right side - two wisdom teeth and one molar and the doctor advised that it was better for me to go under so that when I woke up it will all be over. This was back in December 2013, that was about 5 months when I just arrived in NY and wasn't really sure of how the doctors, clinics, insurance works. So on the day of the surgery, I arrived at the clinic, had some injections in the teeth that were supposed to be taken out and then they gassed me to sleep. To be honest I was scared at the prospect of being voluntarily and momentarily 'put to sleep' while the doctors were working on me. In my heart I read all the doa and selawat I could. I don't know when I fell asleep but in the middle of surgery I woke up again and they had to put me back to sleep.

 

Waking up during surgery or the anesthetic wearing off during a procedure was perhaps not a new thing for me. I had  a few incidences when it happened, one of the major one was when I had a smallish tumor on my right breast back in 2005. After several consultation at the hospital, the doctor advised to remove it. This procedure required local anesthesia and I was covered from my neck down, shielding my view from what was happening or what the doctor was doing. But I could feel them prepping me and then injecting me because the doctor then said, can you feel this while he was poking at a few areas. I said I could but it didn't hurt. Although the view was obstructed but I could see the reflection from the above shiny beams of the surgical lamps that they were doing something on me. That somehow comforted me, in a weird nonsensical way. I kept looking at the beam because I would like to know what was happening to me. Not that I am morbid or anything, its just the way it was with me, at that time I thought it was natural curiosity. So back to this story. While the doctor was operating on me (felt more like he was pushing and tugging at my 'globe' with some instrument) and after some time I felt some pain and said oww. The doctor was quite surprised and they had to inject me some more before continuing. Alhamdullilah that surgery went fine and doctor declared that it was a benign tumour. 

 

The decision to not go under last Monday was a conscious one. Sure I was scared at the prospect of getting injected and feeling and seeing what the doctor was doing to me but I thought it was better than falling asleep under anesthesia. Because truth to be told, I didn't know if I would wake up from that surgery. Sure, you would say that it was a minor surgery, but what if your ajal comes at that time? I won't have time to say my last prayers.

 

So alhamdullilah, the oral surgery last Monday went well. Sure I felt the doctor tugging at my lower wisdom tooth, I felt the doctor's strength at twisting my tooth but somehow it was firm and gentle at the same time. With some maneuvering he managed to get both teeth out within 20 minutes including the anesthesia. I asked him to show me the teeth that he pulled out, it was bloody and nasty but somehow I felt relieved. He said I was a brave one for managing it quite well, and I told him it was much scarier when I had to go under, so it was better that I was awake to see everything. He said maybe I was afraid of losing control. Ha! I never thought it as that but what the doctor said made sense to me. Then he jokingly said maybe I was bad and did something and was afraid of not waking up - yes this was my initial thought.

 

I thought again if it was time for your ajal it could happen anywhere, anytime. But still for stuff like this I think I would prefer to be awake than asleep and be at the mercy of the doctor. Losing control is scary to me, not that I'm a control freak or whatever, but for something routine like getting my teeth pulled out or doing a root canal, I would prefer to be awake and aware of my surroundings. 

 

 

Twenty Fifteen

How did life go by so fast? It's already 2015 and I have been in the USA approximately 1.5 years. Another 1.5 years to go if my initial contract stands.

 

For me, 2014 had been a roller coaster of work, tragedies, weather. Being in the tourism industry the unfortunate incidents of the three airplanes took a toll on promoting Malaysia as a tourism destination. Of course being a Malaysian in general, I am saddened with the incidents that had happened, in addition to the flooding in East Coast Malaysia, with half a million Malaysians had to be evacuated from their homes. It felt almost surreal that so many things had happened & are happening and I am far away in a foreign land.  

 

What have I learned living in New York so far?

 

 

 

1. To each his own

New Yorkers was voted rudest and most arrogant state. I find that it's not that they're rude, they're just in a hurry to go places. and they get irritated with tourist stopping in the middle of sidewalk to take pictures or just finding their way. but I also find that they are also individualistic. Everywhere I go, it is a common sight to see anyone sitting on their own in the parks, restaurants or even movie theatres. You can be in a city with millions of people and tourists, but can still be alone. I somehow liked the freedom of not being observed by another person, because everyone just goes about their own business and don't care about you. It is liberating to some level. 

 

2. Weather is harsh

This is all God's work and I am not questioning it. But surviving harsh weather in NY is a feat especially during my first year here. Extreme cold in winter and extreme heat in summer. However, when I completed a full cycle of the four seasons, I feel that I fare so much better now. Our first year in NY, the heater at home broke down twice during dead of winter of probably about -2 Celcius and we were without heat for a few days while the repairmen worked on the boiler. We survived on two small portable heaters that were left behind by the previous owner. It was so cold inside the house that we had to wear winter coats in the house. That was an interesting winter. There were several winter storms especially in January and February 2014, we were grounded at home unable to go to work due to bad weather, schools were closed, some offices were closed for the day. Undeniably, it was the most beautiful thing to see after the winter how the snow blanketed everything, so serene and untouched.

 

3. The feeling of nationalism

Being in a foreign land makes me want to stay to my roots stronger. something I may have take for granted when living in Malaysia. Being in NY, it is exciting to meet other Malaysians here, either visiting, studying or living in the US because it is not a big community of Malaysians here. We'd be saying hello or smiling at the very least to acknowledge them, not like when I visited the UK last summer and Malaysians that I see don't even look my way.'

 

4. Lip service

New Yorkers say their mind, and sometimes they can be loud and brash when they speak. For instance in a subway, they would talk loudly as if everybody wants to hear their conversation. I think this somehow related to how they are trained to speak up. But on the other side, they can be courteous too. There's always "excuse me" or "I'm sorry" if somebody bumped into you in a crowded area. When I shop in a store, there will always be a "hi, how are you?" or "hi, can I help you?" that comes my way because they are trained that way. Sometimes when they are extra nice or genuinely like chatting with customers, you feel like the store is so homely, especially a local store near your area. This is something that Malaysia should cultivate, instead of the shop assistant hovering around when we browse in a store. Just ask if we need help, and if won't don't just be on your way. Hovering is very creepy.

 

My initial reaction when I first came to New York (and I can say my observations above are based on my living in New York for the past 1.5 years) was apprehensive at how New Yorkers  would act and didn't know what to expect. I think I was kind of timid when I first came here, but eventually learned that I need to speak up and be confident about navigating my way around New York. Now I consider New York my home for the time being.

 

On to more discoveries in Twenty Fifteen!

 

TGIF!

Assalamualaikum wbt

Just wanna wish everyone a Happy Deepavali & Salam Maal Hijrah.

With the two festivities, we have public holidays. Who doesn't love a public holiday especially in the middle of the week and two days at that on the same week!

But to be honest,this has been a confusing week for me. As you know, we celebrated Deepavali on Tuesday and Awal Muharam on Thursday of this week. Its nice to take a break in the middle of the week but for me the working days on Monday, Wednesday and Friday felt very odd because I start working everyday like its Monday but end everyday like its a Friday.

Allow me to explain. Usually after a weekend off, you feel dread that Monday is looming. So when 7pm comes on a Sunday, you start to feel that the rest day is so precious as it is about to end. But Monday still comes the next morning. With it some Monday blues, but you quickly adapt with the routine of the work. And so it goes for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. But Bam! Friday comes and you know its the last day of the week and after that it is your rest day again. So you go about the day knowing that Saturday is coming and you will have that rest time that you so crave. So the circle of life goes on and on.

But with this week, I have Monday AND Friday on the same day for three days. I started work with some Monday blues but after lunch I feel light hearted because the next day is a rest day. So this happened to me on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is surreal and I feel conflicted. Maybe I am too jaded and set in certain ways, especially what I am feeling on different days.

But I am glad that today is Friday, for real! This week is finally over and next week we can start with our usual days again :)

TGIF!

Lawak Hari Ini

What's wrong with this picture??

Kasut jenama sama, cutting yang sama, ketinggian yang sama, bila pakai takda rasa canggung pun.....tapi jeng jeng jeng.........designnya berlainan! Ya, saya dah buat satu lawak bodo hari ni.

Yang bestnya, dengan kasut ni saya dah pergi site inspection ke Chin Swee Temple di Genting dari pagi sampai tengahari, baru tersedar rupa-rupanya kasut dah salah pasangan. Bila tanya rakan-rakan saya yang sama-sama pergi site inspection tersebut, mereka pun tak perasan saya dah salah pakai kasut dan kalau ada orang lain yang terperasan pun mungkin ingat ini fashion statement!

So, moral of the story is:

1. Tengok betul-betul bila nak sarungkan kasut, mana tau pakai kasut lain warna ke, tersarung kasut orang ke....
2. Tapi kalau dah tersalah pakai kasut, buat bo je - ye lah, bold fashion statement kan!
3. Redha jer lah dengan kejadian ni.
4. Simpan stok kasut kat ofis - atau foldable shoes dalam handbag.

p/s: Nasib baik kat ofis ada banyak stok kasut....

Too nice to handle

I was informed that I am too "nice" - coming from a colleague who have been working together with me for the past 10 years, and thus probably thinks that he/she have an authority to inform me on this matter. This colleague mentioned that 10 years ago I was too naive and thinks everybody is "good". Obviously judging from my colleague's tone, that it was an error in my character because whenever the colleague and some other colleagues tried to bitch about somebody that I know, I would say that people is basically good. I was probably mentioning something positive or an unknown fact about the person that they seem to have beef with. So this makes it hard for them to bitch or gossip about other people to me as I was perceived as too nice to participate in this bitching ritual.

What is wrong with this picture? Is being nice/good considered a flaw in a person these days? Or is it because I don't participate in their vicious gossips and probably a deterrent in rumour mongering among themselves? I don't know.

They were glad that I have grown up and became more skeptical about people. Maybe I have grown up and have a different perspective about how the world works now but in my heart of heart, I still think people is good. Unless they have proven otherwise to me. Maybe thinking that everyone is good is a dangerous notion in this day and age because we don't know if that person might be a psycho or harbouring something dark in their heart. What this colleague perceived as me being more skeptical most probably came from my knowledge of things happening around the office, and thus made me privy to information most people don't know of.

They probably think if they bitch about a particular person that I know, maybe somehow I would pass on the message. I think that is their business and would not meddle with gossipers who probably have nothing better to do than pick a beef with somebody just because they are weird or do not confirm to their social standards. Hello, not everyone is born a gossiper. I don't need to know what's happening with so and so, if it doesn't concern or have an effect on me. Probably I am better off without the gossips so I don't have a share for it later in akhirat. Wallahu a'lam.

FYI, I am still nice. Deal with it.

3 steps to housechores

Not getting any closer to becoming a domestic Goddess, am I?

I hate folding clothes
I hate ironing (bloody hate this!)
I hate sweeping/mopping/vacuuming
I hate dusting

I'm ok with washing the dishes (kind of therapeutic)
I'm ok with washing clothes
I'm ok with hanging the dishes
I'm ok with organizing the cupboard/bookcase/wardrobe

I love cooking & makan
I love TV
I love music
I love books

Back from the Dead!

Been on blog hiatus for months - busy with work & KPI, having writer's block, losing my passion to write and share for a while. Been off everybody's blog too. So today when I read La Signora's update, its nice to know that disconnecting from social media is ok. Disconnecting for some real life, but not totally disconnected at the same time. In my hiatus, I was back on FB updates since before I only go online once every 3 months. But after a while, the FB updates by other people and sometimes by myself felt so narcissistic. So I decided to get off FB and back into blogdom.

So the year 2012 is the year of the Water Dragon. I don't even know that there were different type of dragon until this year when I was enlightened by my Chinese colleagues. They have predicted that although its the Year of the Dragon, but the Water Dragon will not be so "ong" for them. They are already moaning about mishaps that happened to them and felt that the whole year it will continue in the same fashion. Personally, I don't subscribed in that belief, but when I fell down twice spraining both my ankles (first incident sprained my right ankle near the LRT station and then a week later sprained my other ankle while doing a jumping activity at home) and another colleague also fell down and did a split, my other colleagues were saying that this is not a good year for our office as so many mishaps had happened early of the year. Hmm....maybe its all just a coincidence.....read here for more info on the water dragon 2012.

One of my favourite things about the CNY was all the "Loh Sang" toast we did with the yee sang dish. I did at least 3 loh sang toast this year and some colleagues did 7 or 8! You can practically buy the loh sang at sushi restaurants and do it at home with the family. The loh sang dish is just a mixture of crackers, pomelo, salmon slice (optional), plum sauce and honey. Its just a fun cultural experience and good food if you think about it. My Loh Sang entry here.

That's all the updates I have for now.

Wardrobe Malfunction!

When I think about wardrobe malfunction, the Janet Jackson incident at the Superbowl a few years ago comes to mind. Be it intentional or accidental, these incidents can be very embarrassing indeed, both to the "doer" as well as the onlooker!

Opppsss!!!

I think most of us will experience wardrobe malfunction at least once in their lifetime. Personally I've had a few of those mortifying moments but the one that stuck out the most from my memory was the one I had at the office a few years ago.

The story goes: a bunch of us were on Friday break and was just killing time before we commenced our duties. I was standing at the entrance of my cubicle while some of my office mates (which included one male immediate supervisor) were sitting on a sofa in front of my cubicle. We were yakking away when suddenly *poof* my black sarong skirt suddenly went down to the ground. I didn't even feel that the skirt was not on my hips anymore because I was wearing one of those corsets that covered my tummy down to my thighs and stops just above the knees. Fortunately, I had that on, else it would've been a more "exposed" free show for my colleagues. Anyway, my colleagues were screaming and pointing at me then I realized what had happened and bent down quickly to pick up my skirt. I was mortified because my MALE boss was there and wished that the floor would open up and swallow me so I could avoid the awkward moment. However, with my colleagues laughing I forgo the thought and joined in the laughter. 

We were perplexed as to how the skirt came off. For one, I was standing and not doing any rigorous movement that could warrant the skirt off. And secondly, my skirt was the zip and hook type. How did it became unzipped and unhooked, thus falling down?? My theory was that, because I was wearing the corset, my waist could've been smaller than the measurement of the skirt thus with some movement, somehow could've unhooked the skirt, and probably unzipped it too. And because of the corset material was made of some kind of spandex covered with satin, I couldn't feel the movement of the skirt when it came undone. I think the satin layer may have contributed to expedite the velocity of the skirt downwards.

Anyway, I was stuck with my male boss for the evening as we had to go to some emergency meeting outside. Embarrassing moments aside, I had to maintain my professionalism and just do my work. I guess the situation forced us (ha!) to overcome the incident. Of course, we never talked about it, ever. So that kind of helped, too :p

Childhood daydream

When I was little, I always daydreamed that I could fly, literally. Back when I was in Kelantan when I was 9 years old, we used to live in a bungalow house surrounded by a small orchard overgrown with bananas and red and yellow rambutan trees. We used to see foxes crossing the lalang field on the side of the house or get the occasional house calls from small snakes or a crossing biawak, whom I think were confused with this house in its path to the other side.

We didn’t have many friends outside the house. So we had to amuse ourselves with our toys and made up games. I used to climb the railing on the second-storey building which was near the balcony, and it was quite a climb as there were no safety net below but we were determined to go to the front part of the house  which was actually the roof for the porch below, and then we would play and probably had some sort of picnic there. Or I would stare out the windows to look at orchard the below. I’d always dreamed that if I jumped out the window, then I’d be able to fly. God’s angels would break my fall and bring me to safety. I was tempted many times to jump out the window from the second story bungalow, each time the temptation was bigger than the last. But each time I grew more cautious of the inner voice, I didn’t know if that was my conscience urging me to be more sensible or was that my fear, preventing me from jumping out the window. Maybe it’d be a different story if I’d jumped. 

I guess the imagination of a child is boundless, but as the years passed they grew up, and that's when they gradually lost the magical feeling of dreaming and thinking that they could doing anything. They had to make the decision whether to jump or not to jump...      

Biskut Mazola

Biskut kacang courtesy of Hanim

Whenever it’s Hari Raya and its our turn to go back to Yan, Kedah, I would look forward to eating biskut Mazola - a slightly salty peanut cookie that is so simple but decadent at the same time. My aunty who lives in Yan make the best biskut Mazola that I’d ever tasted. The peanut cookies are so good and none came close to hers. Sometimes I’d buy the readymade peanut cookies (as pictured above) but it never tasted as delicious like the ones she used to make.

Biskut Mazola also reminded me so much of my kampong in Yan. The big old family house in Yan, where everyone gathered for raya, was a fond memory in my mind. Our family, which always arrived last would have to sleep on the upper portion of the house. During the day, the place where we slept was like a veranda, always so airy and cool when all the French windows were opened. There were lime green carpeting on the wooden floor, which I always thought were cheery and refreshing to an otherwise ordinary kampong house. There was also a flight of stairs connecting outside to the veranda, and us kids always used that way for shortcut into the second floor when we played. 

For me, its not just the biskut but its the kampong life and being a youth at that time and playing around with my cousins (whom we only meet once a year since we lived so far awat) that I always associate with whenever I eat a piece of biskut Mazola.

New Year, New Direction

A colleague said something to me during dinner tonight. Said I can easily crossover from government sector to the corporate world/private sector. That was a boost of morale for me. Maybe I am overtly cautious of making the jump since I am comfortable and secured when I landed the government job 8 years ago. Its quite scary to think how I would fare in the "outside" world. Could I make it working for a corporate company? Would I be able to compete with others? Those are the burning questions at the back of my mind that I needed concrete answers before I make a life-changing decision that could break or make my life.

Turns out there is more than just worrying how I would survive in the private sector. There are the matter of personal motivations such as making more money, loving the job and doing a good job, overall satisfaction of handling projects and acquiring new sets of skills. Plus, it'd be good to try other type of working environment that the government one. Working in the current organization gave me a good feel of corporate environment, enfused with government regulations. The work is more systematic and clear cut. I think maybe I used up more brain cells in the new job as I am out of the comfort zone as I have to be more creative, assertive and innovative. Good learning experience too.

So what shall it be?? Dare I move my coffee mug, as a motivator once told me to be bold to make the push. We'll see with the new year, there might be a new direction. Stay tuned!

By the way, Happy New Year 2011.

Being a Teenager

High school was a trying time for many of us. I wasn't popular in my second secondary school, but I get along well with others. I wasn't conventionally thin like all the other girls in school. I think I was a bit pretty (oh! the vainess of it all). Sure I had a lot of crushes but nothing materialize coz I never did anything about them. I didn't think anybody was interested in me.

Imagine my surprise when one day, a boy handed me a letter, mail from another boy. My heart was pounding in my ears, I was nervous and curious from where it was from, so I read the letter. In it were a school boy's confession of desire to know me more, and could I please call him at the numbers stated in the letter to get the ball rolling. Lo and behold, he was from my class. I remembered thinking that he was painfully shy and a bit reclusive. But he had the nerve to write me this letter, it must have taken up all he could to muster his courage to compose me that letter.

I never thought of him that way. I was indignant that he couldn't talk to me like a normal person would. I remembered thinking that we are classmates, therefore we are friends, and friends can talk to each other. I thought that I could talk to him next day about this 'thing', and I didn't call him as requested. But he didn't show up in school, and it went on for days. Then out of the blue, he would show up in school but missed lessons, and that became his pattern throughout the remainder of the school year. I felt guilty that he had skipped school because he was embarrassed by my rejection, or lack of response thereof by not calling upon him as stated. I felt responsible for him not doing well in school. We did passed by each other in the school hallways but it became one of those awkwards moments that I quickly pushed behing the corners of my mind.

Did I really made him reacted the way he did? I don't know as I never had the nerve to pursue it. I guess in some way, he was braver than me when he wrote that letter. Or maybe I didn't have the chance to explain myself. But anyway, I thought that a person should determine how his/her life's going to be despite the circumstances surrounding it. I'm not accountable for what happened but it would be nice if I could have a chance to say my peace.

Room to Expand and Grow

Its easy to stick to your own niche
Sometimes must learn to grow out of your skin
and be uncomfortable just to feel comfortable
Change is difficult and strange
but to succeed one must gain

Responsibilities must be dealt with
Not stashed or swept away
Neither just to delegate nor escalate it
Maybe some help will set you on your way
Perhaps you'll grow to be good at it

Who knows what the human mind is capable of
For sure there's room to expand and grow
Till then I'll try and try more...

Updates

* Another person from the office just resigned 24 hours. Again! What the hell is wrong with everybody, quitting their jobs is like missing school kah? The thing that pisses me off was that person had prior knowledge that the day was coming because that person was interviewed a few months ago. At least gives us a heads up lah....haiyo, mah fan lo!

* Suffered terrible jam last Saturday - I had to attend a cousin's wedding in Melaka. We departed from home at 11.30am and reached Melaka at 4pm! The jam was terribel, it was just lots of cars and everybody rush to enter the Ayer Keroh exit, whcih took us one hour to complete the last 5km to the tol Ayer Keroh. Never again travel on public holiday.

* Job interviews going on for the new office set up - 14 job positions all in all. Hope to have a really good team so that we can start fresh.

* Office renovation finally underway after the Boss signed the approval. Estimation of completion: early June. Estimation to move in: Middle - Late June.

* Currently reading " A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hoesseini. Awesome book and love the writing style, so precise and concise. Makes an easy reading but very touching at the same time. But loved his earlier book - The Kite Runner better.

How to Network

Being in this line work, we really have to network a lot. Networking with people we already know is easy-peasy. You just reinforce the connection that you already have with that person or the company that they worked for, and add on to that with industry news or other people that we knew in the cricle. And bam! You get the conversation flowing.

But how to network with people you don't know? It is quite painful, especially when you have to make the first move. What do you say to that person standing next to you, looking as akward as you are? Or if you don't make the first move, just nursing the drink in your hand, hoping someone would speak to you cause you don't know anybody there. It can be quite uncomfortable.

They way I see it when I go to this kind of functions, is to bring your associates or friends. Then you'd feel less embarrased to talk to people. Or you friend can introduce you to her acquaintance, or you can introduce your acquaintance to your friend. There's pros and cons to it. You might end up huddling in your small cosy group and not do much networking.

But if you set a purpose coming to functions to establish contacts and network, that you have set a goal to reach a certain quota or meet a few pertinent people, then you'd use the hours wisely. I see people like this all the time;

1. Always look confident when approching people, there's brazen confidence and there's quiet confidence - it's all in the personality;
2. Never sit in a corner or stuck to a location - mingling around means you have to work the crowd, or the least go to all the corners of the room;
3. Always ask about the other person, don't only talk about yourself - get to know what they are about, and maybe you can connect that with your line of work;
4. Stick to topics relating to work, or the industry or if you have no common ground, talk about current issues, but never talk about politics. Networking time is when everbody is neutral and relaxed, don't mar that with politics;
5. Always bring your business card - important! to establish contact and follow up later on;
6. Never leave the function without thanking the host - must be polite.

The steps may or may not work for you. You just have to find yourself and be comfortable with it.

Tunai, Touch 'n' go & Smartag: Mana Satu Pilihan Anda?

Ketika umat Islam di Malaysia sibuk ziarah-menziarahi saudara-mara di kampung sempena menyambut Aidilfitri, kita semua tak boleh lari dengan kesesakan lalulintas dimana-mana saja. MRR2 ke, Jalan kampung ker, highway ker. Terutamanya di highway. Tp ada pilihan, kalau nak cepat gunakan laluan fast track Smartag atau Touch 'n' go. Kalau tiada kedua-duanya, maka terpaksalah gunakan lorong tunai yang queue nya panjang berjela-jela. Saya terdengar komen hamba Allah mengatakan bahawa lorong Smartag ini untuk orang kaya-kaya sahaja, dan kerajaan tidak telus dalam pembahagian sama rata untuk kemudahan pembayaran tol. Yang ironiknya, hamba Allah ini mempunyai Smartag! Ada pulak komen tambahan yang mengatakan tunggulah kerajaan yang baru...?! (wtf??)

Saya tak suka berpoliticking di dalam blog yang tak seberapa ini, tetapi saya terpanggil jugak untuk komen pernyataan di atas kerana saya merasakan ianya sungguh kontradik. Kemudahan Smartag itu kesan dari kapitalisme, siapa yang kaya atau ada duit lebih dan bencikan queue yang panjang, boleh gunakan lorong tersebut. Ada juga guna Smartag sebab mereka dah plan perjalanan mereka dengan baik. Ini pemandu yang bijak, takder kena mengena dengan kerajaan sekarang atau yang akan datang. Pendapat saya, sesiapa yang gunakan lorong tunai pada masa perayaan atau cuti sekolah, memang tidak bijak sebab mereka dah tau queue akan menjadi panjang dan mereka masih tidak merancang perjalanan. Kalau tak mampu beli smartag, pakailah touch 'n' go. Bukannya mahal sangat, RM 10 pun dh boleh dapatkan satu kad. Kalau nak berjalan jauh, segeralah top-up di kaunter tol atau di mesin ATM. Sekarang ni Smartag dan touch 'n' go bukannya satu kemewahan, malah satu keperluan.

Semua kemudahan dah ada, anda buatlah pilihan yang terbaik untuk diri dan keluarga anda. Kalau tak kisah beratur panjang sekali-sekala, apa salahnya gunakan lorong tunai Tp kalau anda tak suka kesesakan macam saya, gunakanlah smartag atau touch 'n' go. Senanag cakap, ini pilihan peribadi (its a matter of choice). Bukannya nak menyalahkan kerajaan sekarang atau yang akan datang, tak kisahlan kerajaan yang mana pun. Kalau nak komen pasal kerajaan tak adil, janganlah kemudahan smartag dipersalahkan. Kalau semua orang haknya sama rata, baik kita jadi negara komunis, macam China. Itupun saya perhatikan semasa di sana jurang kekayaan besar, tak jugak sama rata. Mana ada benda yang adil dalam dunia ini. Allah sahaja yang adil!!!

P/S: Aku pun golongan marhaen, tetapi pengguna jalan yang bijak sebab ada Touch 'n' go.

Disclaimer: Posting ini bukan tujuan untuk mengiklankan Smartag atau Touch 'n' go, tetapi menyedarkan betapa pentingnya untuk merancang perjalanan anda.

Today, Yesterday and the Day Before

Today is Adam's birthday, my brother's son. He turned 1.

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 31.

The day before was my Hisham's birthday, my younger brother. He turned 28.

I wanted to write about it yesterday, but so many crazy things happened yesterday. I finally got the transfer order to MYCEB, effective 1 September. Bonda wasn't exactly enthusiastic about it. I had gotten an earful from her since she found out last week. I had to play the innocent victim in all this.

This year is the most I've gotten birthday wishes from friends and family. Thank you Hubby, Kerabu Jantung, Kolat, Ms Fantaghiro, Azura, Cik Lili, Zaza, Fairdaos, Karen, Karene, Mei Phing, Kak Yaz, Kak Norizah, Edy, Shasha, Aza De Kaza, Kak Lin, Gojie, Awang, and others...

Last night, I went out to live my life. Ms Fantaghiro and Kolat treated me to Sushi King and Coffeebean.

Cuppies sold by abang gentle we found outside Coffeebean Ampang Point. The deco was made from Royal icing and the muffin was made from kind of Brazilian coffee/choc (can't remember the details). per box is RM10. Ms Fantaghiro bought one for me coz she was supposed to buy me some cupcakes in Pavillion.

Sushi! What more can I say!!

Kolat mengediks and Ms Fantaghiro doing her boring post

Oh, Liza Idayu smsed my from Pusrawi wishing me happy birthday while we were in Coffeeebean. Apparently she's having contraction and can't wait to get into labour. Will call her to find out her baby status.

Interesting birthday I would say.

These are a few of my favourite things

There are some things, be it organic or man made, which we love so much that at any time we will not refuse to enjoy it. These are just a few of my favourite things:

1. Cats
I found this cat under a makeshift jetty in Pulau Lang Tengah last year

Doesn't matter anytime of the day or wherever I am, I'd be the first person to spot the cat under the table, a sleeping cat or a cat mewing or washing itself. Doesn't matter if it's a cute cat, baby kitties, a mother cat, a cripple cat, a kurap cat, a carik-gaduh cat, my heart always skips a beat spotting a cat. I would always find ways to pat the cat or at least call its attention to me. Maybe I was born with a cat detecting-radar. Who knows. But I know that I will be attuned to cats forever. I miss living with a cat. *sigh*

2. Islands & beaches

Pulau Lang Tengah

There's nothing like the seductive beckoning of an island urging you for a visit....to swim in its clear water, to walk its sandy white beaches, to taste the salty wind in your face, to have the feeling of being totally free from all your concerns. My mother grew up by the sea. I grew up loving the sea, but at the same time afraid of the deep, dark waters. But still the sight of beach or island would excite me...I'm longing to go to a nice sandy beach and just relax there...

3. BooksThe Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

To hunt and find the perfect book to read is a bliss in itself. Always preferred books to magazines. Its weird how some people I know would shy away from a good novel. To totally immerse yourself in a good book, to feel it taking the space in your head till everything else becomes obsolete, and then to finish it. That's satisfaction!

4. MusicMust have music to function in daily life. Music for work, music for driving, music for cleaning, music for relaxing. Can't live without music. 'nuff said.

5. A good bargain

Aye, I am a sucker for bargains. Why buy only one when you can get two at a discounted price? Or get one free when you buy two items, the more the merrier! The cheaper the better :) Ladies (and maybe some men), you know what I'm getting at.

And there you have it: my favourite things:)

R.I.P, M.J?

Still caught up on MJ's reruns on documentary and hit videos on MTV, I'd surfed a few websites for more news and came across this website:
http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/stop-all-the-clocks-mourning-without-object/

I must say that I don't really agree to Sharon's posting because clearly she isn't a fan of MJ thus her post maybe biased to MJ's fans. But please read the posting and all 88 comments, and in it you will find MJ's hater and MJ's supporters, but most improtantly it helped me to see the bigger picture. MJ is human after all, and to err is human, even if he was accused and acquited for child molesting cases. But some of what was said was true, I do think that his memorial was an extravagant affair and those artist who performed or gave eulogoy are either those who barely knew him (i.e. Usher, Jennifer Hudson) or those who hadn't seen him in years (Brooke Shields). Why haven't these people step up and gave him open support when he was dealing with the child molest cases? Only when he's dead that they scramble to offer their grief and support..anyway, I realized that we must now move on because whatever it is he is still dead, and nothing can change it, except that we pray for his soul....

All those stories about his cosmetic surgery or skin bleaching or his claims on vitiligo, that's all is insubstantial to warrant him a freak. Maybe his actions (or alleged actions) do, but he was also an advocator of many charities for Africa, Aids, Heal the Kids foundation. So, it is a war between the good, the bad and the ugly. May God bless his soul.

R.I.P, M.J

Finally, almost two weeks since his death, MJ was finally brought to rest at the Lawn Forest cemetery...

When I heard about his death, it was 26th June in the morning when Shasha smsed me and told the news, and I'd thought it was a hoax. I logged on to MSN and sure enough there was the news. At that time, I was attending the PTK course and was preparing for final presentation later on that day....so naturally, I didn't dwell much on it as I had other things on my mind.

Much much later on, with the media frenzy and CNN and MTV paying tribute, some people said that he wasn't dead, like Elvis when he left the building. There'd be MJ sightings in the future. It was surreal, I couldn't believe it, couldn't believe he was dead. And seeing how everyone was saddened by his death, but me numbed couldn't feel it. I claimed myself as a MJ fan, but I was ashamed to admit to myself that I'd stopped listening to his records long time ago...yeah, I knew his songs but I haven't listened to his albums in a long time, like I did when I was younger.

I remembered that it was my parents who'd bought his records, what I remembered most was his album Bad as I was introduced to Michael Jackson, or rather I became conscious of him as an artist. I was in primary school. Later on, his movie Moonwalker was my favourite that I'd repeatedly watched, with that magnificent claymation and his stories and video clips - Smooth Criminal, Bad, Liberian Girl. I remembered Dangerous, HIStory but I did not remember Invincible. But there was only one song from Invincible that I kept playing on my pc over my working years - Butterflies....that was the last song that I ever heard and played from him...

So, yes, as any other people wanted to be reacquainted with him, I went out and bought The Essential Michael Jackson. Maybe it was guilt trip but I am a fan of Micheal Jackson and he will be missed...R.I.P, M.J.