My mother is the greatest.
She is two years shy of 60. She scaled two 4’ walls in rain just to get my dinner to me. Just because she couldn’t get me on the mobile and she didn’t want to wake me by calling on the house phone or ringing on the doorbell.
I came down with a massive cold and despite trying to nap in the late afternoon, failed to do so because of the countless calls coming in on the mobile. So by 7pm, I gave up, left my mobile in the bedroom (the only place where you can get a decent signal) and headed down to watch some TV.
Tried Veer-Zaara but the disc refused to play, so I switched to Paheli instead. It was a good choice as it was light and entertaining. I must not have heard the phone ring because halfway into the second disc, I heard someone fiddling on the front door. Thinking it was Rizal home early, I opened the door. Only to find mom in her t-shirt and shorts with a basket of food. The gate was locked and there was a slight rain.
I was baffled. Mom said she climbed the two walls from two doors away. What?!! Aiyo!! I scolded her and told her she should have called or rung the doorbell. “I didn’t want to wake you in case you were asleep.” Aiyo!!
“Wah, your mother not bad, ah!” she congratulated herself. “Sixty already and still fit enough to climb the wall!”
My mother!
So I gave her the keys and remote control to my house and gate so she would not have to climb the neighbour’s brick wall fence again. And almost give me a heart attack.
My mother.
The greatest.
I must remember to be more thoughtful and nicer to her.
Sigh, my mother.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Tum Pass Ayye
Tum Passe Ayye...
Youn Muskuraye
Tum nein najane kya
Sapne Dikhaye...
Abb to Mera Dil..Jaage na Sota Hai
Kya Karoun Haye
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai...!!!
Youn Muskuraye
Tum nein najane kya
Sapne Dikhaye...
Abb to Mera Dil..Jaage na Sota Hai
Kya Karoun Haye
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai...!!!
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
I Will Survive
I survived!! I’m still alive!! On 3.5 hours sleep!! It’s the end of the day! Woohhoooo!!
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Fish Head
I thought the feasting was over. I was wrong.
I’ve just returned from an aunt’s birthday dinner. Boy, was it a feast!
I think there was another dish but I really can’t remember now. It was pleasantly filling but the fish head dishes were excellent!
Aunt and uncle brought the fish head themselves and got the restaurant to cook it especially for them. Yum!! Best fish head dishes I’ve ever had.
Wine and Chinese tea to boot. Mmm…am feeling a slight buzzzzz…I wonder how I’m going to finish off that presentation I’m supposed to be preparing for tomorrow.
Sigh…
And reality comes crashing back in.
I’ve just returned from an aunt’s birthday dinner. Boy, was it a feast!
- Fish head soup (best I’ve ever had!)
- Braised spicy fish head with tau chim (fermented beans)
- Fish maw and sea cucumber with broccoli
- Mixed vegetables: lotus, celery, nuts, wood ear, etc. mmm…
- Steamed chicken with ground ginger as dipping sauce
- Egg noodles (sang mein)
I think there was another dish but I really can’t remember now. It was pleasantly filling but the fish head dishes were excellent!
Aunt and uncle brought the fish head themselves and got the restaurant to cook it especially for them. Yum!! Best fish head dishes I’ve ever had.
Wine and Chinese tea to boot. Mmm…am feeling a slight buzzzzz…I wonder how I’m going to finish off that presentation I’m supposed to be preparing for tomorrow.
Sigh…
And reality comes crashing back in.
Bacchanalia
Raya was a bacchanalian affair. Save for the lack of intoxicating spirits, it was a frenetic three days worth of visiting, salaming, eating, eating and more eating. Fundamentally, it was a full three days of stuffing our faces.
Raya Eve
Hubby’s plan of leaving for Melaka early in the morning was shot. He’s not one for early mornings. By the time we were ready to leave, it was past noon.
The drive was uneventful, no traffic jams at Seremban. Woohoo!
We headed straight for his parent’s house at Batu Berendam and then detoured to Semabok. It was a hive of activity when we arrived. The kitchen had pot full of this curry or that rendang or some other foods that were red and full of gravy. There was mee goreng and turmeric coconut.
I stopped by in the cat shed out in the backyard to say hi to Patrick, Black’s brother although I could have sworn he was related to Mushu rather than Black. He has the same colouring as Mushu: creamy Siamese but his brown spots are more evenly spaced and coloured than Mushu’s random patches.
By the time 6pm rolled by, we were getting all the food ready and an aunt was in the early stages of preparing Nenek’s famous bandung drink. I call it the power bandung because it’s the best bandung I’ve ever had. The secret? Come over to Semabok for Raya one day and you’ll see.
Came time to buka, we stuffed our faces worth of lemang, ketupat, mee goreng, beef rendang, chicken curry, turmeric coconut (my favourite), and whatever that was placed in front of us on the table laid out in the back kitchen.
And then it was time to hang around and wait for the neighbourhood men to come around for takbik prayers before we headed back to Batu Berendam.
One down, two to go.
Raya: Day One
Selamat Hari Raya!! Bright and early to Semabok. The men had to go for morning prayers. We women just sat around or fiddled in the kitchen while waiting for them to return. Early morning visit to Patrick. He’s so adorable!
Even more excessive food today.
On the menu:
There may have been more or less, I’m not sure because after a while, the food we had on different days, just sort of blurred together. Breakfast became lunch became dinner became supper.
All I know is, I had lunch around 1 or 2pm. After most of the guests had been served. Three tables full, a couple of rounds for one of the tables. Wan, Sasha and I temped as wait staff. Now I know what the waiters at restaurants feel like and why they hover around your table and try to clear your dishes even before you’ve finished eating. It gives them something to do. And the faster you clear, the more food you can bring out. Your hands feel itchy and restless if it’s not bringing anything to the table or clearing the table.
We had a surprise visitor when we returned to Batu Berendam. Sam! He had called earlier while we were in Semabok but had not confirmed if he would be dropping by. I couldn’t give him directions on the phone (I’m not native to Melaka) and hubby was in the john. So he directed him to a Petronas and we got him from there. It was closer than we thought, only about 5 mins from Batu Berendam. We brought him in, plugged him with cookies and tidbits, talked, chatted, I made fun of him, he took a couple of swipes at me; same old, same old. Since there was no dinner at Bt. Berendam, we took him for chicken ball rice (or is it chicken rice ball) at Jonker Street while the rest of the family headed back to Semabok. We had to wait for a table as it was packed and then we had to warm our seats even longer before the food could to get to us. Verdict? Chicken ball rice is not all it’s cracked up to be. In a nutshell, it does not live up to its hype. When we got back to Batu Berendam, he got a strong dose of local kopi for his impending drive to Singapore. It was already close to 8pm or slightly after or maybe even later, I can’t remember.
A shower and a winding down session later, Rizal’s mum decides it’s time to head over to one of the aunt’s haus for supper. Ack! No choice, in-law say, me follow. So this time it was three huge wokfuls of mee goreng and fried kuey teow. Plus the tarik. Brrrr…We got done after 10pm. It was about this time on the way home that Rizal remarked, “I think it’s not the general culture to eat so much. In fact it may just be our family that eats this much.”
It was also during our drive either to or from said aunt’s place the Wan made a revelation: the immediate family’s not even Malay! Instead, they are half Indian, a quarter Chinese and a quarter Bugis. And I thought he’d realized it all along! I think he probably thought he was actually a quarter Malay not a quarter Bugis. Oh well, you’re never too old to learn. Being half-Indian is probably what drives hubby’s love of Indian food.
Anyway, two down, one to go.
Raya: Day Two
Open house at Batu Berendam.
The caterers came late. Appointed arrival time: 10am. Eve’s arrival: slightly before 11am. Caterers actual arrival time: close to 11:30am.
Menu:
We used paper cups and plates, so not so much washing up and recycling of plates needed. Sasha ended up washing the proper cups because we were running out of paper cups.
After a time, it looked as if Uncle Bakar’s entire dining room had ended up at our house. Uncle Bakar lives next door. He’d systematically brought over first his chairs, then coffee table, more chairs and additional tables from his house as the crowd over at our place swelled. It looked quite hilarious and haphazard. There were two tents out on our lawn and one table under one tent when we started (the other tables we had were on the verandah). By the time afternoon rolled by, the other tent had filled up with the coffee table and some comfy looking chairs. Soon our empty porch started filling up with tables and chairs as well.
Parents arrived at about 2pm, had food in the living room as it was crowded everywhere! In-laws were too busy to sit and chat, so they were entertained by a couple of teenage boys, one of whom was quite gregarious and chatty. At that point, I wasn’t even sure if they were related! All I knew was that there were so many people around and they had to share the living room with my parents. As the conversation went around and dad-in-law sat down to join us, I found out that one of his staff is actually my junior from Convent Kajang. Doi! Small, small world. Too small.
For dinner we adjourned to another uncle’s house (I really have a knack for selective memory: can’t remember which uncle this was) and stuffed ourselves with soto, some kuih from our open house earlier (recycle food where necessary, no point wasting!), more noodles and stuff and oh, I don’t know, by this time, I really can’t remember what or how much we ate. Everything just blurred into one big blob.
Thank gawd we didn’t have supper.
Tried watching Puteri Gunung Ledang but it was soooooo much of a drag that I fell asleep not even halfway through. The quality of filming was good. It’s just that I don’t see the point of showing what happened in their minds or telepathically first and then repeating the same blurdy scene all over again, this time in real life. What’s the point? There was too much unnecessary detail where detail was not needed and scenes not needed, angles not needed. Besides, in those times, events and things happened to people at an earlier age. I think Tiara Jaquelina looked too old to be Puteri Gunung Ledang. Dig those earpieces though. Wan thinks they look cool for Bluetooth devices of that era. Hahah!
Day of Reckoning: Back to KL
This was my favourite. Lunch consisted of:
My favourite meal. Home made. The best.
Again, the plan was to leave early. Before noon, said Rizal. Saying is a totally different thing from doing. I knew we wouldn’t be able to leave without eating first. Since we woke up late (around 9am), it would have to be a return trip after lunch.
This is when we made the mistake of watching Mujhse Dosti Karoge! after lunch. And since it was so hot anyway, I didn’t feel like hauling my butt into the car and nodding off while being baked in the hot sun. So watch the movie we did.
By the time we left, it was close to 4pm. Weather was cooler but everyone else probably figured they’d head back up to KL in the late afternoon like us. So we got caught in traffic. Oh well.
We had the audacity to have dinner too later on. But we kept it simple. Sushi & a shared bento at Sakae Sushi.
Mission completed. Thank gawd this happens only once a year. Not because the food isn’t delicious, it’s just too much!
Raya Eve
Hubby’s plan of leaving for Melaka early in the morning was shot. He’s not one for early mornings. By the time we were ready to leave, it was past noon.
The drive was uneventful, no traffic jams at Seremban. Woohoo!
We headed straight for his parent’s house at Batu Berendam and then detoured to Semabok. It was a hive of activity when we arrived. The kitchen had pot full of this curry or that rendang or some other foods that were red and full of gravy. There was mee goreng and turmeric coconut.
I stopped by in the cat shed out in the backyard to say hi to Patrick, Black’s brother although I could have sworn he was related to Mushu rather than Black. He has the same colouring as Mushu: creamy Siamese but his brown spots are more evenly spaced and coloured than Mushu’s random patches.
By the time 6pm rolled by, we were getting all the food ready and an aunt was in the early stages of preparing Nenek’s famous bandung drink. I call it the power bandung because it’s the best bandung I’ve ever had. The secret? Come over to Semabok for Raya one day and you’ll see.
Came time to buka, we stuffed our faces worth of lemang, ketupat, mee goreng, beef rendang, chicken curry, turmeric coconut (my favourite), and whatever that was placed in front of us on the table laid out in the back kitchen.
And then it was time to hang around and wait for the neighbourhood men to come around for takbik prayers before we headed back to Batu Berendam.
One down, two to go.
Raya: Day One
Selamat Hari Raya!! Bright and early to Semabok. The men had to go for morning prayers. We women just sat around or fiddled in the kitchen while waiting for them to return. Early morning visit to Patrick. He’s so adorable!
Even more excessive food today.
On the menu:
- Ayam masak merah (PEDAS!!!)
- Chicken curry
- Chicken rendang
- Acar (homemade)
- Cucumber salad
- Lemang
- Ketupat
- Serunding
There may have been more or less, I’m not sure because after a while, the food we had on different days, just sort of blurred together. Breakfast became lunch became dinner became supper.
All I know is, I had lunch around 1 or 2pm. After most of the guests had been served. Three tables full, a couple of rounds for one of the tables. Wan, Sasha and I temped as wait staff. Now I know what the waiters at restaurants feel like and why they hover around your table and try to clear your dishes even before you’ve finished eating. It gives them something to do. And the faster you clear, the more food you can bring out. Your hands feel itchy and restless if it’s not bringing anything to the table or clearing the table.
We had a surprise visitor when we returned to Batu Berendam. Sam! He had called earlier while we were in Semabok but had not confirmed if he would be dropping by. I couldn’t give him directions on the phone (I’m not native to Melaka) and hubby was in the john. So he directed him to a Petronas and we got him from there. It was closer than we thought, only about 5 mins from Batu Berendam. We brought him in, plugged him with cookies and tidbits, talked, chatted, I made fun of him, he took a couple of swipes at me; same old, same old. Since there was no dinner at Bt. Berendam, we took him for chicken ball rice (or is it chicken rice ball) at Jonker Street while the rest of the family headed back to Semabok. We had to wait for a table as it was packed and then we had to warm our seats even longer before the food could to get to us. Verdict? Chicken ball rice is not all it’s cracked up to be. In a nutshell, it does not live up to its hype. When we got back to Batu Berendam, he got a strong dose of local kopi for his impending drive to Singapore. It was already close to 8pm or slightly after or maybe even later, I can’t remember.
A shower and a winding down session later, Rizal’s mum decides it’s time to head over to one of the aunt’s haus for supper. Ack! No choice, in-law say, me follow. So this time it was three huge wokfuls of mee goreng and fried kuey teow. Plus the tarik. Brrrr…We got done after 10pm. It was about this time on the way home that Rizal remarked, “I think it’s not the general culture to eat so much. In fact it may just be our family that eats this much.”
It was also during our drive either to or from said aunt’s place the Wan made a revelation: the immediate family’s not even Malay! Instead, they are half Indian, a quarter Chinese and a quarter Bugis. And I thought he’d realized it all along! I think he probably thought he was actually a quarter Malay not a quarter Bugis. Oh well, you’re never too old to learn. Being half-Indian is probably what drives hubby’s love of Indian food.
Anyway, two down, one to go.
Raya: Day Two
Open house at Batu Berendam.
The caterers came late. Appointed arrival time: 10am. Eve’s arrival: slightly before 11am. Caterers actual arrival time: close to 11:30am.
Menu:
- Lontong
- Chicken curry
- Beef Rendang (which never got served because mom-in-law was afraid it may not be appropriate for Indian friends)
- Laksa
- Roti jala
- Mee goreng
- Nasi minyak
- Cendol
- Cordial
- Air mata kucing
- Meehoon
- Ketupat
We used paper cups and plates, so not so much washing up and recycling of plates needed. Sasha ended up washing the proper cups because we were running out of paper cups.
After a time, it looked as if Uncle Bakar’s entire dining room had ended up at our house. Uncle Bakar lives next door. He’d systematically brought over first his chairs, then coffee table, more chairs and additional tables from his house as the crowd over at our place swelled. It looked quite hilarious and haphazard. There were two tents out on our lawn and one table under one tent when we started (the other tables we had were on the verandah). By the time afternoon rolled by, the other tent had filled up with the coffee table and some comfy looking chairs. Soon our empty porch started filling up with tables and chairs as well.
Parents arrived at about 2pm, had food in the living room as it was crowded everywhere! In-laws were too busy to sit and chat, so they were entertained by a couple of teenage boys, one of whom was quite gregarious and chatty. At that point, I wasn’t even sure if they were related! All I knew was that there were so many people around and they had to share the living room with my parents. As the conversation went around and dad-in-law sat down to join us, I found out that one of his staff is actually my junior from Convent Kajang. Doi! Small, small world. Too small.
For dinner we adjourned to another uncle’s house (I really have a knack for selective memory: can’t remember which uncle this was) and stuffed ourselves with soto, some kuih from our open house earlier (recycle food where necessary, no point wasting!), more noodles and stuff and oh, I don’t know, by this time, I really can’t remember what or how much we ate. Everything just blurred into one big blob.
Thank gawd we didn’t have supper.
Tried watching Puteri Gunung Ledang but it was soooooo much of a drag that I fell asleep not even halfway through. The quality of filming was good. It’s just that I don’t see the point of showing what happened in their minds or telepathically first and then repeating the same blurdy scene all over again, this time in real life. What’s the point? There was too much unnecessary detail where detail was not needed and scenes not needed, angles not needed. Besides, in those times, events and things happened to people at an earlier age. I think Tiara Jaquelina looked too old to be Puteri Gunung Ledang. Dig those earpieces though. Wan thinks they look cool for Bluetooth devices of that era. Hahah!
Day of Reckoning: Back to KL
This was my favourite. Lunch consisted of:
- Four-angled bean cooked in turmeric
- Fermented fish assam (urgh, didn’t have any of it)
- Chicken curry or some kind of spicy chicken
- Assam prawn (spicy!)
- Pineapple in sweet & sour lemaky gravy
- Cencalok
- Another meat dish which I can’t remember
My favourite meal. Home made. The best.
Again, the plan was to leave early. Before noon, said Rizal. Saying is a totally different thing from doing. I knew we wouldn’t be able to leave without eating first. Since we woke up late (around 9am), it would have to be a return trip after lunch.
This is when we made the mistake of watching Mujhse Dosti Karoge! after lunch. And since it was so hot anyway, I didn’t feel like hauling my butt into the car and nodding off while being baked in the hot sun. So watch the movie we did.
By the time we left, it was close to 4pm. Weather was cooler but everyone else probably figured they’d head back up to KL in the late afternoon like us. So we got caught in traffic. Oh well.
We had the audacity to have dinner too later on. But we kept it simple. Sushi & a shared bento at Sakae Sushi.
Mission completed. Thank gawd this happens only once a year. Not because the food isn’t delicious, it’s just too much!
Udang
Today I feel like a prawn: all legs no arms, oversized head, bulging eyes and a body curved over. I’m tired and my shoulder aches, probably from being slumped over the laptop last night trying to get work done. The keyword here is “trying”.
Trixie is stir crazy and wants to go outdoors. Her weekend out in the backyard garden has got her all whiny and complaining a little last night and most of this morning. I managed to diffuse some of her stir-craziness by playing with all three of the furballs with their new toys.
My market report is long overdue (my own fault: procrastination can only get you so far) and I have a Power Point presentation to complete by today.
It’s only Tuesday.
Trixie is stir crazy and wants to go outdoors. Her weekend out in the backyard garden has got her all whiny and complaining a little last night and most of this morning. I managed to diffuse some of her stir-craziness by playing with all three of the furballs with their new toys.
My market report is long overdue (my own fault: procrastination can only get you so far) and I have a Power Point presentation to complete by today.
It’s only Tuesday.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Wearing The Pants
If there ever was a time anyone questioned who is wearing the pants in this relationship, I would, without a doubt tell them it was me. Why?
On a final note, on weekends I don’t make breakfast. He does.
- Hubby’s car batteries died because he never bothered to fill up on battery water (and they say only women are useless when it comes to car maintenance).
- Because of dead batteries he had to use my car to head out and meet a friend last night.
- This morning I had to call AAM (only because I forgot that AAM had a 24 hour toll free number) because hubby was still in bed while I got ready for work. Since AAM came earlier than the 45-minute lead time they gave me, hubby was still in bed when they arrived. So I had to see to them, let the guy in the porch and let him do his thing to the car. By the time hubby had woken up, got ready and got dressed, it was all ready and done. And I was late.
- Not only was I late, I had an almost empty fuel tank in my car. Considerate hubby had not bothered to fill up the gas tank after his trip out last night. Great. And when I brought it up, hubby was displeased. He, displeased? Yeah, right! Who called AAM and stood around while the guy changed the battery?
- When I came home today, the trash which was sitting by the front door was not taken out. You’d think he would notice two huge bags sitting at the side of the wall next to the front door sticking out like a sore thumb, screaming, “Throw me! Get rid of me!” Well, obviously to hubby, not.
- I signed up for Streamyx, not hubby because if he were to do it, we’d still not be connected, I can guarantee.
- He does clean the floor. I am not a floor person. I don’t sweep nor mop. I can clean up bathrooms. I do the sheets and some ironing. Laundry is my thing.
- Most of the time, he does the cooking. I can cook, but am too lazy.
On a final note, on weekends I don’t make breakfast. He does.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Late Bloomer
I am now a Hindie movie junkie. It’s official. I’ve bought four VCDs in two days and watched 2 epic movies in about as many. After watching Mujhse Dosti Karoge! at Nenek’s in Melaka on Raya Day #2, I’ve suddenly and inexplicably become hooked. I’m a Bollywood junkie.
Argh!
After we got back home, I insisted on heading to Speedy’s to check out their Bollywood selection. I walked away with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... not realizing it was a 4-disc movie and wondering why the hell I had to pay RM21.90 for a Hindi movie. I started on Disc 1 late afternoon today. Must have been Shahrukh Khan’s eyebrows that turned me into a junkie (I first caught glimpse of him in Devdas). Not satisfied with just Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... which I bought last night, I went out and splurged on Veer-Zaara, Paheli and Chokher Bali after watching just that first disc.
So here I am, four discs later, one movie down with a stuffed nose and puffy-eyed from that damn drama of a movie. I am such a sap! I find myself heading to www.imdb.com to check out the movies and noting down even more movies I want to buy and watch. I’ve got four on the list so far. I am even thinking of heading over to the shop tomorrow to see if they have these titles.
The clincher? I haven’t even watched Kuch Kuch Hota Hai! But that is all about to change.
I am in so much trouble. We are talking 3-4 hour epic sagas here, even though these epic sagas are mainly love stories of sorts. This is what happens when one has been deprived of a certain “something” in life for so long. When you find out what you’ve been missing, you just want to consume as much of it as possible to make up for lost time and make up for what you’ve been missing.
If you don’t find me writing for too long a stretch, blame it on Yash Chopra et al.
It’d be like killing two birds with one stone, watching these movies. Since the general English speaking public doesn’t seem to be fans of Hindi movies, I get to brush up my Bahasa with the Malay subtitles on these movies.
And I get to watch Shah Rukh and his eyebrows in all their glory.
Argh!
After we got back home, I insisted on heading to Speedy’s to check out their Bollywood selection. I walked away with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... not realizing it was a 4-disc movie and wondering why the hell I had to pay RM21.90 for a Hindi movie. I started on Disc 1 late afternoon today. Must have been Shahrukh Khan’s eyebrows that turned me into a junkie (I first caught glimpse of him in Devdas). Not satisfied with just Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... which I bought last night, I went out and splurged on Veer-Zaara, Paheli and Chokher Bali after watching just that first disc.
So here I am, four discs later, one movie down with a stuffed nose and puffy-eyed from that damn drama of a movie. I am such a sap! I find myself heading to www.imdb.com to check out the movies and noting down even more movies I want to buy and watch. I’ve got four on the list so far. I am even thinking of heading over to the shop tomorrow to see if they have these titles.
The clincher? I haven’t even watched Kuch Kuch Hota Hai! But that is all about to change.
I am in so much trouble. We are talking 3-4 hour epic sagas here, even though these epic sagas are mainly love stories of sorts. This is what happens when one has been deprived of a certain “something” in life for so long. When you find out what you’ve been missing, you just want to consume as much of it as possible to make up for lost time and make up for what you’ve been missing.
If you don’t find me writing for too long a stretch, blame it on Yash Chopra et al.
It’d be like killing two birds with one stone, watching these movies. Since the general English speaking public doesn’t seem to be fans of Hindi movies, I get to brush up my Bahasa with the Malay subtitles on these movies.
And I get to watch Shah Rukh and his eyebrows in all their glory.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Deepavali
I caught up with old school friends today. It was a Deepavali gathering.
Asunta, being the CNN of the group usually sends out invites or reminders for this gathering or that get-together. Since I don’t meet up or keep in touch with my school friends, I try to make an effort to meet up with the people who matter at least once a year. I’m proud to say that, similar to last year, I made it to Kajang. Of course, I was fashionably late as usual but better late than never.
I ended up talking shop with Uma who’s working at Bank Negara. I have not met her since we left school! At least with Sharmila, Li Huey, Asunta and Wai Meng, I’ve met at least once a year, but Uma just seems to have disappeared off my radar all this while. And found out that she’ll be heading to Argentina for 3.5 weeks for vacation!
And Sharmila’s getting married next year!
It was a good meet up. Other than homemade Indian food and cookies (I stuffed my face with that square sweet coconut candy), it was good especially to meet up with Asun. It seems decades ago that we were both prefects and that she was my assistant. Actually, the timeline is closer to 15 years ago. Wow! I am catching on in age…
And before everyone left and went their separate ways, I opened my big mouth and invited everyone for Raya over at my house, date yet to be determined. I did cover my ass though. I did say that if Raya open house happens to fall through, there’s always Chinese New Year.
Asunta, being the CNN of the group usually sends out invites or reminders for this gathering or that get-together. Since I don’t meet up or keep in touch with my school friends, I try to make an effort to meet up with the people who matter at least once a year. I’m proud to say that, similar to last year, I made it to Kajang. Of course, I was fashionably late as usual but better late than never.
I ended up talking shop with Uma who’s working at Bank Negara. I have not met her since we left school! At least with Sharmila, Li Huey, Asunta and Wai Meng, I’ve met at least once a year, but Uma just seems to have disappeared off my radar all this while. And found out that she’ll be heading to Argentina for 3.5 weeks for vacation!
And Sharmila’s getting married next year!
It was a good meet up. Other than homemade Indian food and cookies (I stuffed my face with that square sweet coconut candy), it was good especially to meet up with Asun. It seems decades ago that we were both prefects and that she was my assistant. Actually, the timeline is closer to 15 years ago. Wow! I am catching on in age…
And before everyone left and went their separate ways, I opened my big mouth and invited everyone for Raya over at my house, date yet to be determined. I did cover my ass though. I did say that if Raya open house happens to fall through, there’s always Chinese New Year.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Came across this exercise that’s been going around a few people’s blogs. Meant to do it then but had no time. So I took opportunity of the festivities to finally do this.
20 years ago – 1985
I was beginning to wonder why all the boys from the neighbouring boys’ school were only interested in the popular girls in my school (I was a geek). Had good grades but it was getting difficult to sustain them; my interest in my studies beginning to wane as other extra curricular activities (wipe your brains, you sick people!) such as Girl Guides and Netball were starting to take top billing in my school life. I was old enough to start taking the public transportation on my own after my various activities at school but my mom would still come pick me up or drop me off if she could. Oh and of course, mugging started for Penilaian exams. I think I got maximum As, however many that is.
10 years ago – 1995
Suffered a major break-up (for the second time!) and this time it was for real. Enough was enough, I’d had enough of being either on an ecstatic high or a heart-wrenching low. Being in a relationship has got to be more than two ends of an extreme. So I gave up, but suffered the usual depression. Getting out of a relationship takes a lot out of a person.
After ending the rollercoaster relationship, I jumped almost right into another one. This was the total opposite of its predecessor. If the previous one was a rollercoaster, this was a cruise: even sailing all the way. Needless to say, the then boyfriend is now the hubby.
I was also thankfully in the US, finishing up on a business degree at Western Michigan, enjoying my Falls and Winters, getting ready to head over to Japan towards the last quarter of the year. For the few months before I left for home and Japan in July, I drove 45 minutes daily from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to a job which you see many older folk or younger people doing nowadays at supermarkets: handing out samples and freebies at the various nooks and corners or crossroads within the grocery store. A month or two of that and I graduated to stacking the cheese, yogurt and milk cartons at a hypermarket closer to where I lived. The locals and students would know it as Meijers. I spent whole 8 to 10-hour days working those shifts, all in the name of ‘practical experience’. I was pursuing a Food Marketing Degree. Being Malaysian and desperate didn’t leave me with much choices. My fellow Malaysians pursuing the same course as I was at that time also suffered the same fate. At least I didn’t end up in the fish counter like one of my roomates; it’s difficult to get the smell of fish off you after you’ve been surrounded in and by it for as many as 10 hours.
I also had the difficult choice of deciding whether to stay on in the US or to head home to family. It was my last year and tough decisions had to be made. I wasn’t too worried about getting a job, but I knew if I decided to stay on, it was highly likely I would not come back. Ever. So I made the decision.
Wrote my first (and last) kiddy book ever. It was to be an illustrated book. It was about a suffed cat who wanted to exchange his sewn on mouth for a real one. I don’t know what happened to it. I have it somewhere.
5 years ago - 2000
Had it up to here with the publishing world. I wasn’t getting anywhere as a writer with Malaysian Business. Too much of what was written got dropped onto the editing floor. So I did the next best thing: started working for my dad.
Was actively involved in kung fu, into my fourth year. Alex, my master had me handling the women’s lion dance team. I spent at least 2-3 days a week at kung fu. Played with weapons: double blades, single blades, daggers.
I think this was also the year where I first started salsa and as fate would have it, met up with a long-lost college friend, Sam, who also happened to be my salsa instructor. That’s when I also first met Chin Lai. And the rest, as they say, is history. My salsa leaves much to be desired, thanks to a wonky knee (from excessive lion dancing) and a lack of discipline.
3 years ago - 2002
Was proposed to on the eve of 2003 in Chin Lai’s TV den. Sam, his then girlfriend, Bernice, Chin Lai and his then girlfriend were happy witnesses. Was caught totally by surprise, a feat, considering hubby is not very good at surprises. I remember pummeling and kicking him for springing the surprise before saying yes.
I think I stopped kung this year or the year before. Alex and I were getting on each others’ nerves. Also, my knee was starting to give me problems.
Last year – 2004
Went for our honeymoon at the beginning of the year – Bangkok. Had a gala time at Chatuchak and vowed to return again. We did, with sister in tow at the end of the year.
Moved into rented apartment. Took in three stray kitties who are now the light of my life.
Turned one third of a century old.
Started lomo-ing. Set up and started updating my site. Started blowing my bucks on developing film. Stumbled onto Blogger but was pretty much inactive because I had my lomo site. It’s the other way around now.
After a break from kung fu, had decided to do aikido. Well, I wasn’t into it for more than a year when injuries started cropping up again, so I stopped this year.
By this time had also stopped salsa for a bit. Started salsa again this year.
This year
Moved into our own house. It’s still messy and basic. It will be our work-in-progress for the few years to come.
Has been a trying year for me. It’s been challenging at work and I feel there’s so much more I have to learn and that I really have not been learning or doing the best that I could have in the years I’ve been with my dad.
Next year
I will be more dilligent in the workplace, hopefully be a better leader. Intend to develop the people I’m working with, mold them into leaders as well. Grow the business. It will be a work-orientated year.
Hopefully will step up salsa practice.
Try not to be so naggy and more supportive and understanding to hardworking hubby.
10 years from now - 2015
Grow old gracefully. I won’t be graceful, I’d be the same old loud-mouthed person that I am. Just not bitter or envious of others. Hopefully I’d be at that stage in life where I’m terribly comfortable with myself and my achievements and can step back and nod at the life that I’ve lived so far.
Oh, and of course, to continue learning, growing, living. And hope my kids or cats have not driven me up the wall by now. I hope my cats will still be alive.
So who else hasn’t done this? Good time to start.
20 years ago – 1985
I was beginning to wonder why all the boys from the neighbouring boys’ school were only interested in the popular girls in my school (I was a geek). Had good grades but it was getting difficult to sustain them; my interest in my studies beginning to wane as other extra curricular activities (wipe your brains, you sick people!) such as Girl Guides and Netball were starting to take top billing in my school life. I was old enough to start taking the public transportation on my own after my various activities at school but my mom would still come pick me up or drop me off if she could. Oh and of course, mugging started for Penilaian exams. I think I got maximum As, however many that is.
10 years ago – 1995
Suffered a major break-up (for the second time!) and this time it was for real. Enough was enough, I’d had enough of being either on an ecstatic high or a heart-wrenching low. Being in a relationship has got to be more than two ends of an extreme. So I gave up, but suffered the usual depression. Getting out of a relationship takes a lot out of a person.
After ending the rollercoaster relationship, I jumped almost right into another one. This was the total opposite of its predecessor. If the previous one was a rollercoaster, this was a cruise: even sailing all the way. Needless to say, the then boyfriend is now the hubby.
I was also thankfully in the US, finishing up on a business degree at Western Michigan, enjoying my Falls and Winters, getting ready to head over to Japan towards the last quarter of the year. For the few months before I left for home and Japan in July, I drove 45 minutes daily from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to a job which you see many older folk or younger people doing nowadays at supermarkets: handing out samples and freebies at the various nooks and corners or crossroads within the grocery store. A month or two of that and I graduated to stacking the cheese, yogurt and milk cartons at a hypermarket closer to where I lived. The locals and students would know it as Meijers. I spent whole 8 to 10-hour days working those shifts, all in the name of ‘practical experience’. I was pursuing a Food Marketing Degree. Being Malaysian and desperate didn’t leave me with much choices. My fellow Malaysians pursuing the same course as I was at that time also suffered the same fate. At least I didn’t end up in the fish counter like one of my roomates; it’s difficult to get the smell of fish off you after you’ve been surrounded in and by it for as many as 10 hours.
I also had the difficult choice of deciding whether to stay on in the US or to head home to family. It was my last year and tough decisions had to be made. I wasn’t too worried about getting a job, but I knew if I decided to stay on, it was highly likely I would not come back. Ever. So I made the decision.
Wrote my first (and last) kiddy book ever. It was to be an illustrated book. It was about a suffed cat who wanted to exchange his sewn on mouth for a real one. I don’t know what happened to it. I have it somewhere.
5 years ago - 2000
Had it up to here with the publishing world. I wasn’t getting anywhere as a writer with Malaysian Business. Too much of what was written got dropped onto the editing floor. So I did the next best thing: started working for my dad.
Was actively involved in kung fu, into my fourth year. Alex, my master had me handling the women’s lion dance team. I spent at least 2-3 days a week at kung fu. Played with weapons: double blades, single blades, daggers.
I think this was also the year where I first started salsa and as fate would have it, met up with a long-lost college friend, Sam, who also happened to be my salsa instructor. That’s when I also first met Chin Lai. And the rest, as they say, is history. My salsa leaves much to be desired, thanks to a wonky knee (from excessive lion dancing) and a lack of discipline.
3 years ago - 2002
Was proposed to on the eve of 2003 in Chin Lai’s TV den. Sam, his then girlfriend, Bernice, Chin Lai and his then girlfriend were happy witnesses. Was caught totally by surprise, a feat, considering hubby is not very good at surprises. I remember pummeling and kicking him for springing the surprise before saying yes.
I think I stopped kung this year or the year before. Alex and I were getting on each others’ nerves. Also, my knee was starting to give me problems.
Last year – 2004
Went for our honeymoon at the beginning of the year – Bangkok. Had a gala time at Chatuchak and vowed to return again. We did, with sister in tow at the end of the year.
Moved into rented apartment. Took in three stray kitties who are now the light of my life.
Turned one third of a century old.
Started lomo-ing. Set up and started updating my site. Started blowing my bucks on developing film. Stumbled onto Blogger but was pretty much inactive because I had my lomo site. It’s the other way around now.
After a break from kung fu, had decided to do aikido. Well, I wasn’t into it for more than a year when injuries started cropping up again, so I stopped this year.
By this time had also stopped salsa for a bit. Started salsa again this year.
This year
Moved into our own house. It’s still messy and basic. It will be our work-in-progress for the few years to come.
Has been a trying year for me. It’s been challenging at work and I feel there’s so much more I have to learn and that I really have not been learning or doing the best that I could have in the years I’ve been with my dad.
Next year
I will be more dilligent in the workplace, hopefully be a better leader. Intend to develop the people I’m working with, mold them into leaders as well. Grow the business. It will be a work-orientated year.
Hopefully will step up salsa practice.
Try not to be so naggy and more supportive and understanding to hardworking hubby.
10 years from now - 2015
Grow old gracefully. I won’t be graceful, I’d be the same old loud-mouthed person that I am. Just not bitter or envious of others. Hopefully I’d be at that stage in life where I’m terribly comfortable with myself and my achievements and can step back and nod at the life that I’ve lived so far.
Oh, and of course, to continue learning, growing, living. And hope my kids or cats have not driven me up the wall by now. I hope my cats will still be alive.
So who else hasn’t done this? Good time to start.
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