Succumbed

Impressed by my daughters' indomitable spirit to have their ears pierced this Hari Raya, I finally succumbed to their persistent request. No thanks to the in laws for their endless prodding. They claimed that Hari Raya is incomplete without the sparkles.

I first got my ears pierced when I was about their age. Unlike today's modern and hygienic technique of ear-piercing, those in my time were done traditionally. The ritual itself was quite horrendous. They would rub gently kapur sirih on my earlobes and took out a needle sanitized only by the candle flame. They would give me a betel leaf carefully wrapped with an assortment of betelnut, kapur sirih and other flavourings to chew. They said it would alleviate the pain. I didn't like the taste very much.

Before the piercing begins, a middle aged lady, I think she was the kampung's midwife, would recite some quranic verses before poking my earlobes with the needle. It was damn painful but I kept on chewing the betel leaf. After it was over, she rubbed this liquid on my ears and it was soothing. That's when I heard thunderous applause by family members. They praised me for being so brave. Yeah right!

Actually, I didn't want my daughters to wear any kinds of jewellery because they were too young to appreciate them. I should know better as I am their mother.

The thing is, I really don't fancy jewelleries. I hate wearing them. The only time I was made to wear them was on my wedding day. I looked like Mr T with a veil over my head. Me and jewelleries don't go together very well.

As much as I hate to wear them, I had to succumb to my mother's request of wearing bracelet, necklace, earrings and what have you on my wedding day. She said I'd look like a featherless chicken without them. Togel gitu. OK, I exaggerated that but it was something to that effect. Whatever.

On my wedding day, I received a gold bracelet and a necklace from my mother in law as a wedding present besides the usual barang kemas from the husband. I managed to wear my wedding ring for the first 2 years only and I took it off after having my firstborn. I have not worn it since then. It has nothing to do with trying to announce the whole world that I'm still MBA (married but available), it is just that my ring couldn't fit my short tubby finger. Tragic.

Remember, with each pregnancy, I get expanded. And the extra fat still remains in certain strategic places on my body. Even my shoes are a size 8. I used to be a size 6. Double tragic.

Since I don't like jewelleries, my husband has saved a lot of money. I mean a lot. He doesn't have to splurge them on every birthdays or anniversaries. I'm also low on maintenance. Which is why he kept telling me that he is so lucky to have me as his wife. I wonder if he meant that as a compliment or he was just so glad that I didn't kikis him sampai botak.

I'd like to think the former.

Parrotus Dumbalinus

Did you notice that our incumbent politicians are afflicted with a very rare disease called, parrotuette syndrome, caused by a strain of deadly virus, parrotus dumbalinus (not to be mistaken with thumbalina). *Please don't bother to look up in the dictionary because it doesn't exist, thank you*.

Parrotuette is akin to Tourette syndrome except that, Tourette is an inherited disorder of the nervous system passed down genetically whereas Parrotuette is an airborne contagious disease passed down by politicians of yore. Its embedded in them all along. You just need to push the right button.

In laymen terms, it means an impulsive act of repeating or imitating what others said. Basically, it only takes one person to trigger it and before you know it, a massive chain reaction erupts. Everybody can be an expert in just about anything (except for the last commenter in the last paragraph). Don't believe me? Just read below.

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Tuesday October 7, 2008

Council-approved giant cutout of Anwar draws flak

KUALA LUMPUR: The 12.2m high cutout of PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Batu Caves has drawn mixed reactions from the residents and politicians.

Selayang Municipal Council president Zainal Abidin Azim said Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari had submitted for approval the cutout which stands in front of Wisma Keringat in Batu Caves last month and the council approved it.

“I feel there is no reason this cutout should be an issue,’’ he said about the giant structure which is akin to those used to promote Bollywood stars.

However, Barisan Nasional assemblymen who are against the cutout costing RM5,000 that was put up on Sept 28 argued on religious grounds that it would be tantamount to idolising Anwar and that was prohibited in Islam.

Larger than life: The giant cutout of Anwar in Batu Caves.

Kuang assemblyman Abdul Shukur Idrus said, as a Muslim, Amirudin should know better than to put up the cutout.

“He should have consulted a religious group like the PAS for advice.

“This cutout just shows that the PKR is promoting itself with banners and posters,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, Sungai Burong assemblyman Datuk Mohd Shamsudin Lias said that it was a waste of public funds.

“Although there is a claim that the cutout is to wish the people Selamat Hari Raya, there are many other ways to do it.

“Besides everyone knows who Anwar Ibrahim is,” he said.

Amirudin said the cutout was initiated by activists and residents in the Batu Caves constituency to wish the people Selamat Hari Raya and it would be taken down once the duration date was up.

In Malacca, Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the cutout showed thatAnwar was idolised by PKR.

“I want to ask PAS whether the party gave the approval for the erection of the cutout,” he told reporters after a visit to the Kota Gemilang project in Ayer Keroh yesterday.

Perlis Mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin advised Anwar’s supporters not to be too extreme in their actions such as idolising the PKR leader.

“The action should be stopped immediately for fear that it would become a practise within the society.

“It can deviate the Muslim’s faith.

“I don’t blame Anwar because it was not him who put up the cutout but his supporters should not idolise too much.

“The structure must be brought down immediately,’’ said the mufti.

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See what I mean? I think what his supporters did for him was just plain romantic. *sniggers*

By the way, how was your Raya? OK atau tak OK? *macam iklan raya Petronas*.