We Are So Busy, It's A Laugh (03)

Sorry. I have neglected this part of my life. But really, let’s blame it on work, shall we?

Since mid-May, I have been busy organizing a so-called international workshop on Education for Sustainable Development. This has taken over virtually every aspect of my life! And to think that I can breath easy come July but nooo…. I have the organizational newsletter to work so. So there I go again, trying to beat deadline and ‘beating’ the hell out of my colleagues to contribute articles.

So to keep things updated…

My Inner Circle: (a.k.a Families)

Hubby did not get to go back to hometown in June. But instead, he managed to maneuver his way around Immigration. Hee hee….!

Aidan is ten months old. She has cut two teeth – one each on the upper and lower gum. She is already standing while holding on to the furniture. Her favourite things? Her elder sisters, whom she loves to play ‘shouting’ with. They would shout for as long as they can to see who lasts the longest. On good days, I find the game cute. On bad days, it is absolutely annoying!



Emma is attending her social group every week now. Thanks to Melanie who recently got her driver’s license. Emma is getting used to being with other people aside from family members and I am happy to hear Melanie’s update on Emma’s activities at school.




Ashleigh…hmmmm…. Let’s just say she is part angel, part devil. Enough said.











My 2nd Circle (a.k.a Close Friends)

I will be making my way to KL next week for a 3 day conference. After that, I will be meeting up with old buds at MAC. Yahooo…!!! Am really looking forward to that.


My 3rd Circle (a.k.a Associates)

I wish someone would donate me a mid-range digital camera.


My Prof Circle (a.k.a The Work Scene)

Nothing to say except that an Exec Assistant left the organization and I managed to persuade the Chairman of my office’s social club to make a Video Message for him. Though we end up using much of the office’s equipment but I always believe that to make a good, lasting impression, you have to put in your personal touch. And Abd Rahman’s Coffee Shop (that’s the title of the video cd we made), I consider, the best farewell gift anyone can have.

And speak of work… the money I get for the kind of work I do just don’t match. And it is not because I am overpaid…quite the opposite really.

But who am I to complain right? Better cents than none at all….
Till the next boredom comes….

We're So Busy, it's a Laugh (02)...

I have not been able to add blogs since the last time because of work (well yeah, its easy to blame work for everything).
But I promise this shall not happy again.

So to keep thing updated, I will write about my Inner Circle - that's what I call my family now.

Hubby is fine. He is thinking of making the trip back to his father in June. But still unsure because of limited financial resources.

Ash is happy in the new kinddy. And she always looks forward to going to her grandparents because they have built a swing for her.

Emma is happy as a bee, and she loves chasing Ash around the house. She is so good at running/walking, it amazes me that just last year, her granny was worried she would never walk. But she is a little backward on her therapy, because Mom the Driver is too busy to drive her to the centre.

Aidan has started to belly-crawl since March and now, would get on all fours. But she is yet to learn how to move herself forward while on her hands and knees. Aidan is also rather agressive, smacking people on the face whenever she is near enough.

I look forward to further enlightening readers on my Inner Circle's antics.

Welcome to My Year!

Come January 29, Chinese all over the world will usher in the year of the Dog. That's my year!!!

A lot of people asked me 'how can that be? Aren't you suppoed to be a Boar?"

Here's how...

I was born on a saturday in January 1971. I am considered a Metal Dog because the Metal Dog YEar was from Feb 6, 1970 to Jan 26, 1971.

So see? I am no Boar.

Happy Chinese New Year!

New Year Resolutions 2006

1/ Be nice to people.

2/ Be nice to other people.

3/ Be nice to every other people.

But really....

I really have to be nice to my hubby, my children, my siblings, my relatives, my colleagues, my acquaintances, my pets, my bosses.

So Happy New Year everyone!

Little Girls Are So Much Fun, We Thought We'd Have Another One!

EVANGELYNN AIDAN

Born on
SUNDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2005
@ 8.37pm,
Kuching Specialist Hospital, Kuching.
Birth Weight: 2.94kgs
Length: 48cm

The Best Is Still not THE Best...

Hubby and I had a quick lunch at a (relatively) new Indian coffee shop near my office. This was our second time there.

Our initial trip...we had to wait a while for our food to arrive due to the number of people also waiting for theirs. But it really shouldn't be because our food was pre-cooked and displayed at the baine maries... it was all up tot eh customers to pick and choose and have the waiters send the dishes to our table. On top of it all, the food arrived minus the papadom... a must-have condiment to all Indian food.

This time around, our food arrived the moment we sat at our table. Including the papadoms.

Analysing this fact, this is my conclusion: today we arrived late @ 1.30pm, where the lunch crowd is gone/going. Also, there are a lot more waiters than the previous time we were there.

So we had our fill and left the place by 2.05pm. That was fast!!!

About the food....

hmmm... it was ok, I guess. Living in a community where Indians are like a needle in a haystack, the food at Sri Shan (that's the name of the coffee shop) is good compared to other so-called 'Indian' eateries we have tried since we moved back to Kuching three years ago.

We used to patronise The Curry House along Rubber Road in Satok area because hubby thought that was the best place to get roti canai, thosai and the nasi bryani is reasonably good. Personally, I do not like CUrry House's nasi bryani cos the chicken is cooked in the rice itself, making it soggy and some times undercooked. I prefer my chicken deep fried with lots of crunchy bits (read: skin) on it.

Then, there is Tok Janggut at Chong Lin Park. This place is the rave of the town/city since I don't know when... the offerings are supposed to be good but thus far, I have never been there. I did attempt to have some food from it once but by the time my sister got to the place, the nasi bryani is no more. So I believe that I am destined to NOT have a taste of Tok Janggut's offerings.

Speak of offerings, I miss the food at Rajoo's Corner along Jalan Cempedak near the Sentul Commuter Train Station. My first introduction to Indian styl eof cooking was at Rajoo's and thanks to my hubby.

Then, there's the Indian Warehouse restaurant situated along Jalan Ipoh, behind the petrol station, just a hop, skip and jump away from the IPD Sentul. Hubby loves this place because the offerings is enormous and the cooking to-die-for (literally). Wonder if it still exists?

I really should make a visit to these places the next time I am in KL because the best in Kuching is still not THE best.



Speak of food, I really shouln't eat all these fried foods due to my gestational diabetes but then again.... hmmmmm

Just don't tell my gynae...ok?

We are so Busy It's a Laugh!!!

Today we are all so busy. So busy doing things that is of no relation to work.

I am busy writing this blog.

I am busy looking up pictures for this blog.

I am busy... blogging.


Anyway, I am nearly the end of my time - I am in my 35/36th week. If my body is as predictable as can be, I can expect my child to make her appearance in late September. Keeping my fingers crossed. More definitely, to appear on September 29 or otherwise, just appear on Oct 3 as estimated.

<---- me doing the cha-cha-cha

This is how I imagine myself as I wait in anticipation for the BIG day - that is if I can forget all those aches and do a little dance in baggy shirts and pant - all of which is none-doing. :-(

Oh yeah!....

I am busy doing something....
... my birth announcements...

:-) !!!

Since the big day approaches, I have been busy researching for the perfect birth announcement. In the end, I have decided to do one myself - based on all that I have come across in the internet. But amongst some of the ones I have seen and like are...







My apologies to the owner of these creations for I have forgotten where I got them...

So you see, you can be busy when you are not doing anything.

A Pictorial of My Trip To Uma Lahanan, Belaga, Sarawak (September 2004)

This was taken the evening we arrived at the village. The view is from the window of my room on the upper floors of the longhouse. Heavenly!

The village, Uma Lahanan, is located somewhere in the mountainous regions of Belaga in rural Sarawak. We flew into Bintulu town at 10am, had lunch in town then took a 5-hours (oowwww! my butt!) 4-wheel drive ride through timber-logging road to reach the village. But this scenery was worth the journey and the cool mountain air was a respite from city pollution.


This is one of the six longhouses of Uma Lahanan. The village is actually a resettlement village where the villagers were uprooted from their original village way up in the mountains of Belaga for the Bakun Dam project. So it is no wonder that the longhouse looks clean and properly maintained.

However, many of the villagers, especially the elders, complaint that the location of the new settlement is not suitable for them. It is far from any rivers so they find it difficult to source for water as well as fishes. The location is also far from many of their farming lands which forces some of the elders to actually move back to their old homes up in the mountains.


This is a gentle old lady we met at the longhouse. She has on her head the traditional rattan-woven hat used by the womenfolks (the men's are more elaborate and colorful) and her ears are elongated which is part of the Orang Ulu tradition for women to elongate their ears with bronze (and certainly heavy) earrings.



The hostess of the longhouse, who is also the wife of the Mareng Uma (Ketua Kampung) presenting me with a traditional hat as worn by the old lady pictured above. Note the white hat with the kenyalang motif on the tray held by the lady in yellow. That is the hat for the menfolks which was presented to my male colleagues. The Mareng Uma is seated on the far right of the picture. He too is wearing the rattan-woven hat.

Caught In The Middle...

I am caught in the middle.

Actually, I am caught in the middle of producing/designing our newsletter in-house or outsourcing it to a so-called professional.

A sample of the artwork was handed to me today in which I showed our CEO. From the moment I laid my eyes on it, I know that the work done is not at all satisfactory. But show him, I must.

He rejected the whole project totally!

Now, I am stressed for no fault of mine.

From the beginning I informed my supervisor that I can, able and experienced enough to do the layout and design of our newsletter. Which, from then, we need only to send it to our printer for publication. But NO!!!!, he still wants to out-source the work.

And the result?

An earful from the CEO, to me, the Innocent Party.

Why? why me? Am I not stressed and tired-out enough? Do I really need this at 35weeks of pregnancy? Arghhh....!!!

I am so tired!!!

The heat wave caused especially by the rampant open-forest burning by farmers in the state and Kalimantan, Indonesia is K-I-L-L-I-N-G me! I can not sleep properly at night due to the heat (no!.... I do not have air-conditioning) and my bulging tummy does not help either.

Only recently, both my daughters got the flu/fever. Probably due to the heat and/or seasonal contagion (I am not certain) but thanks to the spirulina tablets my sister have been giving them (tablets which should be consumed by the whole family but I opted out since I have three other tablets for the pregnancy to swallow every night), the kids recovered within a day.

Today, my clerk is OOO with the flu/fever. And for the next two days too!!!

Oh yeah… I am in my 33rd week, 2days into the 34th, of pregnancy. Baby has been pretty active of late – I cannot wait for him/her to get bigger and not have anymore room to do somersaults AND him/her to be born.

My back is killing me!!!

Been asking Hubby to massage my back for me. For all others who have not (and cannot) underwent the pregnancy process (especially the men folks), pregnancy related backache is like having your back sliced open with a blunt knife and left exposed to the environment…ouch!!!! On top of that, you also have your pregnancy hormones to thank for where in order to have an (supposedly) easier labour and delivery of another human being, all your joints especially in the pelvic area, are loosen. At times, it feels at though your femur bone will come out of the thigh socket!

My Little Angels

Emma-Noelle was so named because she was born at 10.15am on a Christmas morning nearly two years ago. At this age, she is very mischevious and aggressive towards her older sister. She is also very attentive to details and can imitate very well, like holding a pencil and writing (scribbling) on a piece of paper. Emma hates drinking plain water so we always have to dilute some juice just so she will drink the liquid.




Ashleigh my oldest, has been a tremendous joy and encouragement for us to be better parents. She is nearly 5 and her character has the tendency to be more like mine - stubborn, determined and frank.

My Fiery Bringer of Good News

It has long been known to my family and I that I am carrying a little girl. I am in my 31st week already and as my dotor said "after the 34th week, baby can come out already." Hmmmm.....

Anyway, having found out the gender of the baby (this info is off limits to my colleagues or anyone who asks the baby's gender...) and in the tradition of naming our kids with the letter 'E", we have agreed to name her EVANGELAINE (alter. of Evangeline) which means "one who brings good news" and with the (predicted) character of being Happy, confiding, tenacious. Romantic, but always self-possessed and her second name shall be AIDAN which mean "fiery".

Also, this also serves the tradition of having six syllables to all their names i.e. E-LI-ZA-BETH-ASH-LEIGH or EM-MA-NO-ELLE-CAIT-LIN or E-VAN-GE-LAINE-AI-DAN.

WOMEN: A SPECIAL SPECIES

Mum and Dad were watching TV when Mum said, "I'm tired, and it's getting
late. I think I'll go to bed."

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button.

She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the excursion and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her bag.

Mum then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night Solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.

Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and radios, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list.

She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals. About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did...without another thought.

Wonder why women live longer...? 'CAUSE they ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL......

"Responsibilities to Our Elders"

These are the mantra of the American Indians according to *Dr Jonathan Hook...

(1) Honor Their Vision through protecting Mother Earth

(2) Transmit Their Wisdom to the Next Generation

(3) Learn the Culture

(4) Care for Their Physical Needs

(5) Provide Companionship

(6) Keep Dancing the 'Unbroken Circle'

(7) Ga-Du-Gi (cherokee dialect); everyone need to work together.

*Jonathan Hook is the Director of the Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs (OEJTA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Texas USA since September 2003.

Words To Live By

" ... But take your time, think a lot,
Why, think of everything you’ve got.
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not..."
- Father and Son by Ronan Keating -

"... And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way I feel
About her in my heart.
If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she's my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face this world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes..."
- If Tomorrow Never Comes by Ronan Keating -

"... I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens..."
- I Hope You Dance by Ronan Keating -

"...I give my hand to you with all my heart
Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you..."
- From This Moment On by Shania Twain -

Hidden Dialogue

Sometimes, without fail, I would encounter people, with good intention, who makes the funniest/weirdest remarks. It makes me smile – when I am in an ok mood. Or frown –when my lower back is killing me (!) and the heat is getting to me.

Take for example, these…

A Neighbour:
Wahhhh! You pregnant ah? Why didn’t tell me?
My reply:
(Smiling) Yes, I am.
(in my head) Would you like me to put up an ad in The New Straits Times daily??!!!?


A Colleague:
You are getting big!
My reply:
(smiling) I am already ---- months.
(in my head) I am pregnant! Not trying to reduce weight!


My Colleague:
You kids look like Chinese-lah.
My reply:
(smiling) Their father is half Chinese-Baba.
(in my head) If they look anything like Colin Farell, I would be in BIG TROUBLE!


Hairdresser:
Your hair so thin, huh…. You should use some tonic for it. I have some…
My reply:
(smiling) No, thank you.
(in my head) Just trim my hair and get it over with, woman!


Person 01:
Why are you so small (in size)?
My reply:
(smiling) It’s genetic…
(in my head) Haven’t you read that petite people aged more slowly due to decreased gravitational influence??!!??


Person 02:
Your husband half Chinese, half Indian ah??? I didn’t know! I thought he was Malay since he is from Peninsular.
My reply:
(smiling) Yes, he’s Chindian.
(in my head) Did you fail your History lessons while in school? There are other races in West Malaysia aside from Malays, you know!!!!!!


A Colleague:
How did you bring your car over from KL ah?
My reply:
(frowning) By ship.
(in my head) Actually it has wings…


Person 03:
You Bidayuh right? Which kampong are you from?
My reply:
(smiling) Kuching.
(in my head) Kuching, you idiot! I was born and raised in the CITY!!!


Person 03:
You Bidayuh right? Do you understand the word ‘ ---‘?
My reply:
(frowning) No.
(in my head) I speak Bukar-Sadong. If you call yourself a Sarawakian, you would know that Bidayuhs speak several dialect and we may not necessarily understand the other dialects. It’s like saying Cantonese or Mandarin, or Foochow, or Hakka. IDIOT!


But all in all, I would just blame it on – what I shall call – the Malaysian way (read: IGNORANCE).

DILBERT'S LAWS OF WORK

I solemnly swear that with my recent re-designation, I shall practise as much as possible, all the Laws mentioned which I have italised below.

1. If you can't get your work done in the first 24 hours, work nights.
2. A pat on the back is only a few centimeters from a kick in the butt.
3. Don't be irreplaceable, if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
4. It doesn't matter what you do, it only matters what you say you've done and what you're going to do.
5. After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before.
6. The more crap you put up with, the more crap you are going to get.
7. You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard/note pad.
8. Eat one live toad the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.
9. When the bosses talk about improving productivity, they are never talking about themselves.
10. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it.
11. There will always be beer cans rolling on the floor of your car when the boss asks for a ride home from the office.
12. Keep your boss's boss off your boss's back.
13. Everything can be filed under "miscellaneous."
14. Never delay the ending of a meeting or the beginning of a cocktail hour.
15. To err is human, to forgive is not our policy.
16. Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn't the work he/she is supposed to be doing.
17. Important letters that contain no errors will develop errors in the mail.
18. If you are good, you will be assigned all the work. If you are really good, you will get out of it.
19. You are always doing something marginal when the boss drops by your desk.
20. People who go to conferences are the ones who shouldn't.
21. If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done.
22. At work, the authority of a person is inversely proportional to the number of pens that person is carrying.
23. When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried.
24. Following the rules will not get the job done.
25. Getting the job done is no excuse for not following the rules.
26. When confronted by a difficult problem you can solve it more easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger handle this?"
27. No matter how much you do, you never do enough.
28. The last person that quit or was fired will be held responsible for everything that goes wrong.

Re-Designated, Not Promoted...

I received a letter from my CEO yesterday.

It is a re-designation letter of my position from Sr Admin Asst to Manager, Information and Knowledge Management. Such a BIG step, you say.

Not really.

My GM, since she took over the helm of the organization, have tried her best to re-structure the whole organization. The first thing she did is the re-structuring of the overall organization, thus my letter. Of course, I am not the only one being re-designated. A few of us was. In a way, I am glad she did what she did because since stepping in this organization, I have played (the sole) role of writing and documenting the organization's programmes and activities. It was more of a one-person show when it comes to these tasks, on top of it all, I have also the tasks of playing the role of Admin Asst to my (then) Asst Manager as well as being the supervisor to two administrative assistants.

BTW, my (then) Asst Manager has also been re-designated - to Manager. :-)! That means, I no longer report to her and that we are of the same authoritative level. As of 1st June 2005.

Structurally, below us at three Executive Assistants (formerly Admin Asst), who will serve as EAs for the three Managers:- Communication & Marketing, Information and Knowledge Management (Me!) and the ASK Resource Center (another guy who is my batch and employed as Sr Admin Asst as I was). We report to a Sr Manager; a fellow who was the Asst Manager for Information and Knowledge Management but got the position on the basis of seniority with the organization. And lemme tell you, there are PROs and CONs to this....

So there. I am finally a manager but for the next 6-12months, will be in name only.

As mentioned in the Officers Meeting by the CEO, the financial part will come later, and that is considering whether the organization will have the funds to give us what we are 'entitled' for.

I am keeping my fingers cross that even if we cannot be given the monies based on what we are entitled for, at least, let it be on the basis that it is for the added role and responsibility we are shouldering.

Happy Managing!

Maybe I'll Just Not Do Anything....

I am alone in the office now. ALl others have gone to RTM to attend/organise a press conference for our joint radio programme with RTM.

This is the first time I am 'left behind' in any of our projects. Normally, I would be one of the coordinators for all our projects. But this time around, my GM has deliberately delegated specific assignments to specific people in the whole team. And I am the first to be assigned to write invitation letters to whoever-whatever for our upcoming Knoweldge 2005 Conferece (www.pustaka-sarawak.com/k2005)in early July. This is a two day international conference which we are co-organising with PUSTAKA Negeri Sarawak.

However, as of tomorrow morning, I shall have the assistance of my clerk to do foolow-ups for all the invite letters we have faxed out (75 letters in all). HAA HAA HAAA

BTW, there is a bee stuck at the light vent above me. I am trying my best to ignore it but bees being bees, they have a unique way of getting on your nerves and this one's succeeding...

I will be on a week leave during the first week of June. A much needed vacation...phew!!! Maybe, I will just not do anything till after that time...what say you?

;~0!

M.E.N.

Aidan Quinn

My little fellow's namesake.


Colin Farell

I especially like him in Phone Booth. Also in Hart's War. But really odd looking in Alexander. Hmmm......


George Clooney

I never liked George until Ocean's 11 / Ocean's 12. Dunno why but probably because he was a 'bad character' when in ER.


Pierece Brosnan

Used to like this Irish actor but he's getting old.

To lighten a boring work day....

NOTE: The short story of ghosts and its emergence below is not suitable for translation to any other language as the names of the spirits are best described in Malay.

Hantu Raya
Berasal dari Tanah Melayu. Dipercayai terkorban di dalam satu kemalangan jalan raya, sebaik saja keluar dari Pudu Raya untuk pulang berhari raya... ... .kegemarannya mencuri kuih kuih raya. Tempat menginapnya disyaki di balai - balai raya.

Hantu Langsuir
Dikenal pasti berasal dari Tanah Seberang. Ceritanya bermula di suatu pagi raya bila seorang suri rumah sedang memasang langsir lalu terjatuh dari tingkap, terus mati. Selepas itu, dia selalu datang menjeguk langsirnya. Hobinya bermain aumm cak di tepi langsir.

Hantu Jerangkung
Di percayai berasal dari Tanah Besar China. Ia bekerja sebagai penjerang kangkung di sebuah restoran. Hari hari kerjanya jerang kangkung dalam sebuah periuk besar. Satu hari seorang kawan menyergahnya dari belakang, kerana terlalu terkejut ia jatuh dalam periuk itu. Perkataan akhirnya ialah 'jerang... ..kung', jadilah Hantu Jerangkung. Hobinya mencangkung dan tempat tinggalnya dalam almari, sebab tu le ada lagu 'Jerangkung Dalam Almari'.

Hantu Pontianak Disyaki berasal dari India. Seorang lelaki, Mr. Ponti mendapat seorang anak perempuan yang sangat hodoh. Orang kampung selalu menyindir anak ponti ini. Ponti punya anak - Ponti punya anak - Ponti punya anak. Ponti sangat malu dan mengurung anaknya. Selepas 5 tahun, anaknya keluar dari rumah dan terkejutlah seorang nenek, Oi!
Pontianak... Lekatlah nama pontianak.

Hantu Penanggal
Seorang ibu tiri yang kejam, hobinya menanggalkan kain anak tirinya selain kain lakinya. Dah terbiasa dia rasa seronok pulak. Dia melebarkan hobinya dengan menanggalkan kain orang orang kampung. Hebohlah satu kampung 'Lari..lari... ..Penanggal'. Bila dia melihat sesuatu yang menarik seperti kurap, panau, kayap dan anu... ..dia pun mengilai semahunya.

Hantu Pocong Berasal dari Puchong. Nama sebenarnya Amat Garpu Bin Mat Sudu. Dia ni suka sangat menipu, senang cerita... kaki cong le. Bila dia mati terlompat lompatlah dia, nak pergi cong orang. Pucong! Pucong!

A Reason to Cry, Many More Reasons to Laugh

A Reason to Cry, Many More Reasons to Laugh

Many would wonder about the title of my blog. I may tell some day but till then, lemme just say that it is something very close to my heart, full of meaning, tears, frustrations and also, joy, laughter and smiles.

Updates

Aidan Quinn

My little fellow is about 5 unches now. I am in my 18th week and starting to show. I have been starting to show since the 10th week probably due to the lax muscles in and around my tummy. Dr is not able to determine the sex of my little fellow but I feel that it is a little 'fellow' from the very begining.

Anyway, Aidan Quinn (pictured above) will have my little fellow as his namesake. Not the full Aidan Quinn but rather, Christopher Aidan. Hopefully, my little fellow will look like him too... hee heeee heee.

However, should my little fellow turn out to be my little miss, then I have no name for her. Yet.

BTW, I hope I will be able to 'last' till the 39th week or even the 40th week so that it will stretch into October and I can spend the full October and November at home and only have a week or two at work before I go off for Christmas hols again... HAHA HAAA HAAAA...

So, here's to my little Aidan!

National Integration: Tell Me About It!!!

Yesterday, we organised a forum for our members where one of the panelist talked on National Integration. As I sat there listening to him, I thought that his views are, to people like myself, of least importance. In fact, I thought of it as a view of a Malay man who is, behind all his words, still afraid of losing his special Bumiputra priviledges.

You want National Integration? Here's my 2-cents worth of it...

On Race
I am a true bred 100% Bidayuh. My husband is half Baba-Chinese from Malacca and half Tamilan Indian where his grandfather came from Tamil Naidu in mainland India in the 1900s. What does that makes my kids? Indian? Bidayuh? Chin-Dian? None of the above. They are, to me, Bidayuh (50%)-Indian (25%)-Chinese (25%). And if I have my way, I would wipe out that 'Race: Indian' indication on their birth certificates and put it Bidayuh-Indian-Chinese. And what gives the government the right to call my husband an Indian in his birth certificate. He is neither Indian nor Chinese but BOTH! Then he should be considered Chinese-Indian. For a man who resents some of the cultural attributes of both races, maybe he should be given the choice to put whatever he wants - MALAYSIAN, perhaps.

On Language
I speak Bidayuh Bukar-sadong, my mom's dialect and because having brought us up, that was our main means of communication. I also speak Malay - both Bahasa MAlaysia, from my formal education, and local Malay from my interaction with friends. On top of it all, I also understand some of the local Malay dialects spoken in Kedah/Perak, which is my husband's version of BM. I understand some Hokkien, as that is the main Chinese sub-race in Kuching and which are what my Chinese friends mostly are. I also know basic French from my days in college.

However, I do not understand my dad's dialect of Bidayuh Singgai. This is because my dad himself speaks my mom's dialect and no one spoke the dialect to us when we were young so we do not learn. Of course, I understand a handful of the necessary words but that is about it. Don't blame me for not learning, as some of the elders would do when they find out I do not know the dialect. It is of no fault of mine that I am clueless about the dialect. As one of the participants of last night's forum said: The responsibility falls on the parents to teach the children.

Of course I learn English from school and becuase it is the second language we spoke at him, thanks to dad.

Now with my own kids, I speak English and Bidayuh Bukar-Sadong and my eldest daughter is learning BM and Mandarin in kindergarten. Being a quarter chinese, we also use some Hokkien at home to get her familiarised with her (late) grandmother's dialect. Indian? Sorry but the responsibility of teaching her the language befalls on hubby and if he himself do not speak it, so what can I do.

So you see, national integration is more than special rights, or polarisation, or cultural policy.

To be successful, national integration starts from self. Whether one is a Malay or Chinese or Indian or Bidayuh is irrelevant in this age and time. What we need is the one-ness in feelings and thoughts of being Malaysia, or wanting to be identified as a Malaysian, of dying as a MAlaysian.

But how can we when we have this thoughts and attitude that, when it suits us, 'I am a Malay so I can/ cannot...' or the occasional 'So China-man one ...'.

An Introduction to My Office, Part 2

The Entrance to My Office
The entrance to my office
This is the entrance to my office. The whole building is apart from the main Administration building so each working day, we get to avoid seeing the CEO and/or GM for as long as we want. Of course, until we are summoned to see them or we need to do something at Admin and Finance and come across them there.

The View from Inside

The View
Occassionally, we get so fed up with staring at the monitor screen that it would be a real break to just stand at the entrance and look out to the world. The palm tree is directly in front of the door while further ahead is the 100-year old tree that has been there since...I don't know... James Brooke's time? On a hot day, the tree gives us cool refuge while on a raining day, it helps break the thunderous fall of the rain water.

The Tree

The Tree
Looking up, the tree's branches looks like this. And it alwasy sets my imagination off. There are days when I half hope to see blazing red eyes staring back at me from amongst the branches and tree trunks. Why not? It is all but a 100years and these trees definitely have a Penunggu. Or two!

My Angels from Above

My Angels
When the Christmas season ended last year, I did not want to throw this lovingly made paper cut-out angels away so I stuck them to the glass partition between my cubicle and my Asst Manager's. Each monring when I pass them, I greet them with blessings and each evening, I wish them some blessings for the night. There are on occassion, when my Asst Manager would turn and look at me as I stare at these angels; she must be thinking I am going bonkers or something....

My Camouflage Tree

My Camouflage Tree
I requested from the gardener to have a plant palced near my desk. This is because (i) I need the oxygen which the plant produce, (ii) I need some greens around my dreary, grey/blue cubicle, (iii) I need to camouflage myself from people's view as they enter the office. HAA HAA HAA

My One and Only Window

My Window
Did I mention that my office complex is a hundred year old government quarters so who knows what had happened there before way back in the Brooke era, Japanese Occupation, rocking Sixties, hippi seventies etc.

So this the window which I have. Sitting typing this, the window is directly behind me. They have put up blinds at it but I prefer having it opened as such. MAnagement also had it grilled up and locked so I cannot open the window for much needed fresh air, unless I kick it open.

In the mornings, I like the feel of the sun shining through into the room and falling on my pc/monitor and my desk. It is such a nice view.

Outside, we have neighbours - two or three bungalows with maids (we can hear them talk occassionally) and dogs (we hear the barking), and a fancy condominium complex, which I believe is half empty.

So now you know my office complex is situated in a fancy part of Kuching's residential area.

A Poem For Holy Week

The Passion Fruit: The spiraled tendons of the plant, he notes, were taken as symbols of the lashes Christ endured, and the central flower column as the pillar of the scourging. The 72 radial filaments of the flower were seen as the crown of thorns; the three stigmas as symbols of the nails used in the crucifixion, as well as the holy Trinity; the five anthers, as the five wounds of Christ; and the style as the sponge doused in vinegar used to moisten Christ's lips. Taken together, the five petals and five sepals were used to refer to the ten apostles who did not either betray or deny Christ. The fragrance of the flower, continued Pons-Worley, helped recall the spices used to embalm the body of Christ. Finally, its globular egg-size fruit was taken as a symbol of the world that Christ saved through his suffering.

Palm Sunday
Jesus came to Jerusalem,
the week he was to die,
riding on a donkey,
riding strong and high.
Children ran to meet him,
palms in hand they sing:
"Hosanna, Son of David,
"Hosanna to our king."

Monday
The week he came another man died,
Lazarus was his name.
"Come out of your grave,"
Jesus cried,
and out of his grave he came.
Thank you, God of Life;
you want me to live, not die.

Tuesday
That week there was another man,
a man who could not see.
Jesus rubbed his eyes and said,
"Believe and you will see."
And believing,
the man could see.
Thank you, God of Light,
for giving light to me.

Jesus taught in the temple that week,
the week he was to die.
You'd think he'd be liked
for all that he did.
But some said, "No!"
"He's trouble!" they cried.
So they wanted him to die.

Wednesday
On Wednesday, one of his friends
(Judas was his name)
went to the leaders and said:
"I know where he goes,
"I know where he stays.
"He's yours, if you want him."
"We want him,"
they said.

Holy Thursday
On Thursday night,
("Holy Thursday ")
Jesus ate with his friends.

Now, you should know
that same night,
long ago,
God freed his people
from the chains of Pharaoh.

Bread and wine
Jesus gave to them:
"Here is my body,
"And here is my blood.
"It will make you free.
"When you do this," he said,
"remember me."

They went to a garden,
after the meal,
and Jesus knelt and prayed:
"Father, my Father,
"help me.
"Help me, I'm afraid."

Then Judas came,
and soldiers too,
who put him in chains,
and took him alone
to Pontius Pilate
who sat on a throne.

"He dangerous!"
"He must die!" they cried.
And Pilate, for no reason, replied:
"He must be crucified!"

Then they whipped him,
and pushed him
to a place called Calvary.
He fell sometimes,
carrying the cross,
cut from a heavy tree.

Good Friday
On Friday,
(We call it "Good")
Jesus was nailed
to hard, hard wood.

Beneath his cross,
his mother stood
and cried for what they had done.

"Oh, if I could hold him," she said,
"Hold my only Son!"
"Father, take me," Jesus said,
"Take me in your hands."

And God reached down
and took him,
and held his only Son.
"I am God who raises up,
"your life has just begun.
"I am God of the living,
"no grave can hold my Son."

Easter
Jesus came to Jerusalem,
the week he was to die,
riding on a donkey,
riding strong and high.

On Sunday,
when the week was done,
Jesus rose from the dead.
"Praise God! Alleluia!"
Risen is God's only Son.

Thank you, God of Light,
for giving us light to see.
Thank you, God of Life,
for giving Jesus to me.

You Say, I Say...

Come end of March 2005, it would have been exactly three years since my return to Kuching, my hometown. I remember (and forgotten) some things very clearly about the decision to make the drastic move from KL, where I have lived and worked the past 11 years, to a place I hardly knew but on occasion such as my one week yearly holiday over Gawai Festival and/or Christmas holidays.

One of the things which I have forgotten, for lack of practice, is the local Malay dialect used by the locals. Having lived among the KL-ites, I have earned myself the KL-ites tongue, I speak and express stuff in the typical KL-ites manner. I fact, I was so good at it, over the telephone, the person at the other end can be forgiven for thinking that I am Malay, or was born/raised in the city.

But having return to Kuching, I have to re-learn the language, especially when I started working and colleagues tend to speak local malay with me. Initially, I had the tendency to reply in Bahasa Malaysia, or speak in the language when I am forced to use malay. But now, I believe the dialect has returned to my tongue and I can speak it without having to think too much. But of course, there are words which I do not know, and never will know because really, Malay is not my mother tongue. English is.

So for those who are interested, here is a short lesson on Kuching-Malay dialect, with its meaning/translation in Bahasa Malaysia:

Kuching-Malay dialect Bahasa Malaysia
Apa tek? Apa dia?
Marek Kelmarin
Sidak Mereka
Kamek Saya
Kitak Kamu/Awak
Sik ‘boh (or Sik iboh) Tak apa
Apa polah kitak? Awak buat apa?
Sinei kitak pergi? Awak pergi mana tadi?
Kamek sik tau’ Saya tak tahu.
Sik tau’ Entah-lah.
Ga’go Penyibuk
Tu’nuk Tumbuk (makanan)
Lawa Sombong
Kacak Lawa
Kitak mau’k apa? Awak nak apa?

Sample conversation between an Office Worker (OW) and the Pak Guard (PK) at his office:
OW: Apa khabar ‘cik? Lamak sik nampak? Sinei kitak pergi?
PG: Khabar baik. Kamek pegi KL hari ya. Anak kamek baru beranak jadik mak cik pegi jaga –nya kejap. Kamek pun ikut-lah.
OW: Oh…makan angin-lah kitak.
PG: Sik jua’. Kamek nei tau jalan-jalan sia. Sabtu ahad baru dapat. Tok pun mun sidak ngembak. Mun sik, diam rumah ajak kamek.
OW: Oh. Anak cucu macam nei? OK? Cucu laki kah prempuan?
PG: Cucu laki. Anak kamek dah habis pantang, jadi kamek balit-lah. Bosan jua’ tinggal sia. Sik ada kerja nak dipolah.
OW: Auk-lah…kamek masuk kerja ‘lok.
PG: Auk.

You Get Monkeys When You Offer Peanuts...

I work with an organisation who 'claims' to be involved in issues on development and communication in the state. If you ask me, I still have not idea what 'development communication' is all about so don't bother...

Anyway, this organisation is commonly known as a GONGO among the locals - government-owned NGO - because of our links with the state government. Briefly, this is how it all began.

The idea for creating the organisation was started by the chief Minister (who, BTW, is still in power to this day) so the seed grant was from the government. After 22 years, we still get our salaries paid by the government and most of our issues are government-related and we work a lot with government agencies. Even a majority of our board members are government officials (and high ranking too!) So, who can blame the public...?

Anyway, this is an introduction to the 'monkeys' in my division - Communication and Knowledge Management. This division is further sub-div. into 02 units - Communication and Marketing, in which I am in, and Information and Knowledge Management (another fancy name for Resource Centre).

The Head Honcho
The Chief Executive Officer is a Melanau and was formerly with the Sarawak Tourism Board. He is rather fatherly though at time, and is rather government-ish in his thinking of stuffs.

The Second Head Honcho
my GM is a lady. She was promoted to her present position when the division was created in early 2004. She is a Malay, who wears tudung and is a full-fledge micro-vegan. Also, she is the reason why the organisation have the 'meet and eat' culture -- she simply must have some food served during meetings be it involving external parties or otherwise. I have mentioned lots of times that to reduce cost on these kind of things, freshment should only be served when meetings involved external parties. But who am I to say anything... when the leader leads, who cares...

"I have Experienced/Done This Before"
Personally I do not like my colleague. He is the kind of person who talks/brags a lot but does nothing. And his favourite sentence is "I have Experienced/Done This Before". I got so fed-up of hearing this that one day, I replied "Having done it before doesn't mean it is the correct thing!'

Sendiri Tebang, Sendiri Pikul - NOT!!!

This is the Asst Manager in my unit and as the sub-titled I gave, she is the kind of person who talks a lot about doing stuffs but when it comes to the actual work, it all comes down to me. She is also very young and her overall working experience is just 4 years... She is also not good in public relations (most of them thinks she is snotty), do not know how to write creatively (her work are edited by me) and so lacks the office-experience that she is the very example of the graduate who thinks just because they have the qualification, they know better.

My Partner in Crime

Is and I are the ones who have to bear the brunt of our two Asst Managers. Personally, Is is a good friend to have and spar thoughts with because he is also very funny and witty. He is also not ashame of admitting his mistakes and to ask for opinions and assistance, especially from me, since he knows that I know... stuffs...

The Older Brother

Dawit is Is' assistant when it comes to the daily running of the Resource Centre. He is also the elder brother of us all for he is in his 40s. He is quiet and don't say much.

Gangster Cina

Frankie is my assistant in my unit. He is responsble for the creative works for the whole organisation and reports directly to our Asst Manager when it comes to event management. Personaly, he is an ok guy but needs constant check-up and leading otherwise he will stray from his work. Also, I believe my Asst Manager does not like him because he is such a 'cina kebun' and not like the upper-class Chinese that she tries to portray herself.

Our Back-up Plan

Ita is my clerk. I said 'my' becuase she reports directly to me although she is to assist in both the units. As the title of this entry goes, she gets peanuts for the things she does in the office although she has been around 5-6years. SO I really don't blame her for leaving the office on time or not putting 100% to her work. What do you expect? even a gardener earns more than she, I believe.

...you don't think I would write about myself and put a picture as well, did you?!!!?

me

If you are feeling bored and needs inspiration...

If you are feeling bored and needs inspiration...

you may try to find the extra-terestrial life that that accidentally captured in the photograph above.

One Found, One More To Go ...

I was at my parents over the weekend and I came across this letter from a friend of mine. Of all the hundreds of letter he sent me, only this is what I have left...

" Dear Paulina
Hello, how are you? I just received your letter today (July 2, 1984). I guess you think I'm overdoing it a bit by sending you all this stuff but so what, it's time I did something for youfor a change. The stuff in the plexiglass container are typical American goods. They are sunglasses, pen, pencil, outliner, candle, bracelet, ruler, tennisball keychain, paper bee, stickers, a clip on The bear in trousers: squeeze its shoulders then its arms open), and a favorite Americanpastime, Legos - they're the colorful thing all stuck together: you can dissemble them then put them backtogether anyway you want. The newspaper is just for packing. My brother's name is (name omitted for privacy), he's going into 10th Grade.

To tell yout he truth, I don't know what the difference between a catholic and roman catholic is. But I think I'm roman catholic.

On 4 July 1984 (tomorrow), mu mom, her boyfirend, (Brother) and I are going to Cape Cod for a week. By the time you get this, we'll already be back. Also, on July 25 - August 1, my dad, his wife, (Brother) andI are going to Bermuda (a Britsih territory). I'll send youa post card.

Is your house on stilts? Could you send me a picture of your hosue too?

Well tell all your friends I said hi.

Yours truly
Scott

w/b soon "


The writer of the letter wrote me an e-mail recently. I was a huge surprise, a sense of relieve and gladness, especially this new year. (Read my blog 'In Search of "Old Friend' "

As with all his previous letters,they content the following information: his recent activities and where/what he will be doing the next few weeks. But this time, he signed off as "fondly".

Frankly, I do not know how to response to his sign-off so I made mine as 'me!!!' :-)

So yeah, I finally managed to get Scott to e-mail me. Never asked him why he MIA-ed for so long - maybe it's just a guy thing, maybe its his job (he flies with American Air) or maybe, he just wrote too many letters during his teenage year, he just don't want to write anymore. **shrug**

But all the saem, I wrote him back and I look forward to his reply, soon if not later.

Women of Patience, Giving and Empathy

Picasso's Mother & Child

Have you ever wondered why social workers or volunteers or caregivers are always women (people) from a poor or lower-income background?

I have been sending my daughter Emma to her Early Intervention Program at PIBAKAT (Persatuan Ibu Bapa Kanak-Kanak Kurang Upaya; to be politically correct though PIBAKAT is the acronym of Persatuan Ibu Bapa Kanak-kanak Terencat Akal). Today was her second session.

Her therapists and case worker are very proud of her because she is considered to be very advance compared to other DS children they have worked with. They have concluded that Emma is at the physical age of 9 months, which is not too far behind.

Anyway, the head therapist, Eileen, is a wonderful woman in her forties. She has worked with children with all sorts of disability and herself a foster mother of one. The other therapist – Elizabeth, Annie, Suji, Ina and Fatimah – all have a common background with Eileen; women from lower-income background who have someone in their family who are physically and mentally challenged.

So where are those well-to-do women? Are they so well-educated that they end up as professionals i.e. engineers, doctors etc? Hey, Eileen and the gang are professionals; in fact more so because they know things which ‘ordinary’ professionals like you and I do not – like how to strengthen your child’s lower trunk, or how to loosen the mucus from a baby who is having the cold.

Though with my many years working with marginalized people ie HIV+, and my own personal ‘involvement’ with a child with DS, I still find these women courageous, dedicated, well-admired and very giving.

And today, having chatted and spend personal time with them, I find that after personally going through this personal life challenge, one tend to be more patient, giving, supportive of others and understandable of others’ predicament.

Maybe, I hope, I am on my way to being one of these women. And I hope that some day, I will be able to defeat “my own evils” to be able to start giving to others.

God bless these women!

The Art of Writing

My portfolio at work has been re-adjusted slightly.

My manager discovered that I am very good at writing - articles, news, memo etc - she has redefined my job to be the 'official' writer for the organisation.

Is that what you call "earning money from a hobby"?

I like writing but not about development communication or whatever is that this place existed to do... hmmmm

In the meantime, I will contibue to do what I like doing...earning the money for stuffs that are so easy to do.

HA HA HA!!!

Happy New Year, buds...!

These are my new year resolutions:-

1. Use public transport more often ((if I still know how...);

2. Skydive (and loose my ‘chute on the way down…);

3. Take quiet walks on the beach (after checking the met. dept on tsunamies, tidal waves and hurricanes);

4. Body build (and get crushed by a 2-kgs dumb-bell);

5. Become some sort of activist (and carry a placard that syas “I don’t like soemthing,,,”);

6. Get voted off a reality show (but first, find one worth getting into);

7. Get a physical check-up (and pay the bills through my nose!);

8. Just be a happy nut (and get a free ride to the assylum…);

9. Volunteers more (especially for stuffs involving my kids);

10. Bungee jump (using a rope that is far too long…)!

So here's to you, buds...

YEAR GONE
WHERE TO?
NEW YEAR
NEW YOU

FRESH DREAMS
CLEAN SLATE
HOPES HIGH
LIFE GREAT!

A Carpentar named Joseph.

A long time ago, there lived a man named Joseph. Joseph was a carpentar. He was engaged to be married to a young lady named Mary, a women whom he was very much in love with. In fact, they were both very much in love and were set on marrying one another.

But before they could get married, Josepg found out that Mary was pregnant. And because he was an honorable man, he was determined to end his engagement with Mary.

Before he could do so, an unearthly being named Gabriel came and told him to not do what he was thinking of doing, but rather, to continue with his plans of marrying Mary. Because Joseph was also God-fearing, he did what he was told and took Mary as his wife.

When Mary was nearing her time to give birth, Josepg took her to his original homwtown of Bethleham because it was required that all man go and register themselves with the ruling government at his own hometown.

Because of this, and the lateness of the hour, Joseph could not find a proper place to put up for the night and had to accept the offer of a shepherd to take refuge in a barn.

Mar, out of exhaustion from the journey, went into labour that night. Amazingly too, three total strangers, all of whome were well-to-do business entrepreanurs from nations far away, stopped by at the barn and congratulated Mary and Joseph on the birth of their beautiful baby boy.

Josepg decided to name the baby, Jesus, who turned into a fine carpentar like his father Joseph. And who, at about 33 years of age, died on a cross for the sake of mankind.

Christmas blessings and a new year filled with joy, happiness and good health for all!

Introduction to My Office

The Entryway to My Office

My desk faces the door from a 45degree angle. Best of all, I am 'shield' by my cpu and my monitor so whoever enters the office will not know if I am at my desk unless I make it known. Hee hee heee....



My Unusually Cluttered Desk...

My desk is unusually cluttered when I took the picture because I just got back from organising a function thus the paper bag (which I used to carry our door-gifts), the digital camera cable etc etc. But really, on any given day, not a file is out of place.



My Blinds..with its seasonal decor...

I draw my window's blinds because the grills on it are horrendous!!!! So I am slowly decorating my bland pale blue blinds with nice pictures... but no, you will not find personal pictures on it.



My Teeney Notice Board....

I have a ridiculously tiny notice board. On it are contact nos. of my Board of Directors, staff e-mail addresses as well as an article from Musings (The Star) written by Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir (my former Boss, AIDS Council President).



My Paper Christmas Tree

This tree sits atop my cpu so it further help shiled me from outside view. Sitting at my desk, working on the computer, this the the exact angle I get of my tree albeit from a lower perspective.



My Paper Angel....

I made paper-cone angels for myself, my clerk and my designer in conjunction with the Christmas season. My manager does not have one cos.... I dunno. I only give to those I like...KAH KAH KAH



The Tree in my Office

This tree was 'sponsored' by my manager. Though she is a Buddhist, she was more excited than I was due to the season and brought a tree to decorated the office....hmmmm....



My Plant

For good feng shui, I have a water plant on my desk...see how much it grows...BTW, please don't tell the gardener that I snipped these off his plants...hee hee

Working at the Beach

I was at the beach the last three days, not for a well-earned vacation but rather to rapporteur for a workshop.

Man!!! It sure is lonely being at the seaside resort when you are working and all alone. I missed my kids and hubby.

I was confined in an air-conditioned room 8am to 10pm. I was stuck with a bunch of people who was talking non-stop about the workshop or what they will discuss further. I had to wear office-wear! at the resort.

Mann!!! I need a vacation.

So I will be submitting my leave application form today. It is about time anyway.

Happy holidays to those who are already in it! And go have one, to those who are thinking of it.

Cheers!

In search of ‘old’ friends…

There are friends and then, there are, friends.

I have some friends with whom I have lost touch and really, really would like to re-connect with.

First and foremost, there is Scott Lamura. Scott was my first pen-pal – someone whom I got to know and love dearly (as a friend) when I was just 10 years old. He is an American. Although we have never met but we talked on the telephone once – when he called me from the US to give his birthday wishes for my twelve birthday. We kind of lost touch when we turned 18 – each of us leaving our homes for college and being caught up with our own lives. Then amazingly enough, he wrote me when we turned 21 – he was then a steward with American Airlines and was living in Chicago. Somehow or rather, he remembered me and wrote. Then there were silence. When I got engaged and my wedding approaches, I made an attempt to get in touch of him and managed to track his mom; I wrote her, telling her about myself and my (then) pending wedding. Surprisingly, Scott wrote back! And of all things (and something which somehow breaks my heart), he informed that only a year before, he and his mom had came to Malaysia for a holiday. He had remembered me but had no idea how to get hold of me. Our paths, somehow, is not destined to cross… He is silence once again and being a steward, he moves around a lot so I am just not sure how to get hold of him now.

Another friend is Nurul Hanum Abdul Rafar. She was my best bud in college. We were like sisters…always hanging out together. But somehow, in the third semester, we drifted apart – I met my (then) boyfriend (now hubby) and she had met her partner. The last time I heard from her was in 1999 when she was still working with PJ Hilton, expecting her first child and living at Puchong Kiara. How can I track her now?

These two people really meant a lot to me – Scott for being the first boy who was such a fun friend and at a time when we do not see the other person as a person of different sex but more as a friend and bud. And Nurul because she was like a sister and a friend and so much fun but also very competitive and encouraging at the same time.

If given the chance now, I would like to tell these two that I really love them and that I really appreciate their friendship.

A Conversation with a Four Year-Old a.k.a. Why? Because... I dunno!

On the way to the shopping mall.

Child: Where are we going mom?

Mom: To the shopping mall.

Child: To shop?

Mom: Yes.

Child: What are we buying?

Mom: Nothing in particular. Just window-shopping, I guess.

Child: Okay....

After a moments pause....

Child: Why do we window-shop?

Mom: Becos it is nice... we can compare prices. Then when we need the stuff, we know where to go get it and how much it will cost. Don't you like window-shopping?

Child: It's okay.

Child shrugs.

Mom: What do you mean... it's ok?

Child: Because...

Mom looks at child questioningly.

Child: I dunno!

Christmas Will Soon Be Upon Us...

Malaysia just concluded its Hari Raya Aidil Fitri holidays. We were on a 3 days break and only just came back to work today, Wednesday, 17 November. However, many of us, especially the Moslems, are still on holiday. It is evident through the lack of vehicles on the road.

Soon, in 5 weeks time to be exact, the entire world will be celebrating Christmas. And I mean the entire world because Christmas is seen as the culmination of all holidays. Everyone is more laid-back and things tend to tone down; work, activities, projects etc.

Have I done my christmas shopping? I should although I have not done any. I have seen the things I could make and give as christmas gifts but... (sigh!) do I really want to do it now?

I dunno.

What do my family want? I have bought something for hubby. I can wrap that up and make it his gift but knowing myself, I probably will get him something else when I see that something else.

Ash? Emma? Maybe a toy. Ash seems to like BArbie dolls now. So maybe it is time that she gets her first Barbie. Emma?... She will be one on Christmas Dayitself so what do you give a child who shares the same 'birthday' with The Lord???? And do we double the gift....???

Siblings?....My sister from Miri is coming back for Christmas so that means 2 additional gift this year - one for herself and another for her son.

And who will give me gifts> Hubby? I bet you my bottom dollar that he won't. That is part of his tradition... he just don't give gifts.

So once again, I ponder.

Christmas will soon be upon us. And in the true sense of how I work...I need to get the approval of my GM for my advance leave first.

Then, only then, will i think about buying gifts.

Have a fruitful year-end.

Writing is a Skill

Write

Part of my work, or most of my work, requires me to write.

I write releases, notes, meeting minutes, draft for the newsletter and magazines, write short notes to my supervisors etc. But I have also known for a long time that I like to write creatively.

When Ash was born, I would like a short journal telling her of my daily routines, its incidences, the latest news. I continued doing this till after Emma was born. Then I stopped. For no other reason other than that I cannot find the time to sit in front of the pc and write.

However, i have this blog and I find that not only can I write my thoughts and feelings, I can share it with others.

So forgive me if I sound crude sometimes.

At least I write. Do you?

Ash's First Concert

She can sing really loudly...

Ashleigh had her first concert on SUnday, 7 November 2004. She performed a few pieces for the opening and closing of the concert where she sang a malay, chinese and english song.

She looked really charming and adorable in her maroon dress, sitting at the front row and singing her heart out.


She smiles when she saw her daddy...

How to Look Like the Hardest Working Employee in The Office

1. Never walk down the hall without a document in your hands. People with documents in their hands look like hardworking employees heading for important meetings. People with nothing in their hands look like they're heading for the cafeteria. People with a newspaper in their hand look like they're heading for the toilet. Above all, make sure you carry loads of stuff home with you at night, thus generating the false impression that you work longer hours than you do.

2. Use computers to look busy. Any time you use a computer, it looks like "work" to the casual observer. You can send and receive personal e-mail, calculate your finances and generally have a blast without doing anything remotely related to work. These aren't exactly the societal benefits that the proponents of the computer revolution would like to talk about, but they're not bad either. When you get caught by your boss -and you will get caught - your best defense is to claim you're teaching yourself to use new software, thus saving valuable training dollars.

3. Messy desk. Top management can get away with a clean desk. For the rest of us, it looks like you're not working hard enough. Build huge piles of documents around your workspace. If you know somebody is coming to your cubicle, bury the document you'll need halfway down in an existing stack and rummage for it when he/she arrives.

4. Voice Mail. Never answer your phone if you have voice mail. People don't call you just because they want to give you something for nothing - they call because they want YOU to do work for THEM.

5. Looking Impatient and Annoyed. According to George Costanza, one should also always try to look impatient and annoyed to give your bosses the impression that you are always busy.

6. Appear to Work Late. Always leave the office late, especially when the boss is still around. You could read magazines and storybooks that you always wanted to read but have no time until late before leaving. Make sure you walk past the boss' room on your way out. Send important emails at unearthly hours (e.g. 9:35pm, 7:05am, etc...) and during public holidays.

7. Creative Sighing for Effect. Sigh loudly when there are many people around, giving the impression that you are very hard pressed.

8. Stacking Strategy. It is not enough to pile lots of documents on the table. Put lots of books on the floor etc. . . . You can always borrow from the library. Thick computer manuals are the best.

9. Build Vocabulary. Read up on some computer magazines and pick out all the jargon and new products. Use it freely when in conversation with bosses. Remember: They don't have to understand what you say, but you sure sound impressive.

10. MOST IMPORTANTLY: DON'T forward this to your boss by mistake!!!

Train of Thoughts - wednesday, 27 October 2004

We had a meeting with the Admin Dept today - to brainstorm, sort of, on that Dept publicity and marketing needs. However, I came out of the meeting with the feeling that it was a poor meeting - most of the talking was done by my GM and Asst Manager. The Admin reps just sat there and nodded their agreement to whatever was being said.

When I got back to my desk, I saw the tonnes of work that awaits me. So I am starting off with Internal-Link, the in-house magazine for the oragnisation.

In 10-minutes flat, I came up with the draft for the article on "Punch Card" and I am waorking on a draft for our recently concluded media workshop. Then, I got writer's block... thus this train of thoughts. Maybe it can help unblock the block....what an oxymoron!!!

My clerk's pc is annoying me. She has the speaker on and everytime she does a mistake, it goes 'bloope', 'bloope'. I dpn't know whatchacallit but it gives off that sound to let you know that a mistake has been made. I gave her the dirty look a few times but she is ignorant.

Speakof ignorant, a lot of my colleagues are. Cultural, racially, religiously.

Ha!!! Ha!!! ha!!! I am being so Up and Mighty but really... I found that, in the last 2years I have been back in this city, many of the city's citizen are ignorant in many ways. I concluded that it is probably because (i) they have not experienced a more racially, culturally and religiously mized society, (ii) they are not learned enough (iii) they think they know all already.

Sp there...

Now my Asst Manager is briefing a colleague on something in her mind. More work for us.

Here's what in my mind now...what shall I have for lunch?

Simplified Sign Language

The Sign for 'Sad'

I am teaching Emma to use sign language.

I am not trained at using sign language but I can try, and I am doing my research on it. Did you know that sign languages is divided into British and American? Odd, don't you think. It is like spelling 'organisation' in 2 ways - with an 's' or, with a 'z'.

But anyway, Emma knows the sign for 'milk' already. She looked at my hand when I sign it to her so it is embedded in her memory bank somehow. Basically, sign language for babies is simplified and for basic words such as 'milk', 'sleepy', 'bath' etc. I am also teaching Ash sign and the first few words are 'mommy', 'daddy' and 'sister'.

So yeah. She can talk (she mumbles now), can hear (I know cos she response to our voices) so why not let her sign too!

My Baby's A Big Girl Now...

I made these banner myself...

Ashleigh turned 4 yesterday, October 17 2004.

We had a small birthday do at home and invited her aunt, uncle, a cousin and her grandparents (my parents). She was so excited since morning because I was putting together her birthday banner. Then had her father blow the balloons to decorate the house.

When evening came, my family came and she was more excited, running around and being busy setting the table. She almost fainted when she saw the birthday cake her aunt made her.

Everyone had a good feast on the food which included curry crabs, buttered prawns, mixed vegetables and BBQ chicken wings.

Even Emma was excited and couldn't go to sleep because of all the people there, although she was sleepy and was rubbing her eyes red.


Ash's cake made by her aunt