My new love interest

Nice eh?

Just got it last weekend. A gift from dear hubby. Thanks to him for being generous and kind enough to buy me this cool gadget. Baik ada makna tuh haha! 

My old smartphone has decided to become obsolete after 2 solid years of providing good service. She was such an excellent and conscientious Personal Assistant. 

No wonder they are called smartphones. They look and work smart. 

Tale of a bantal bucuk

any takers for this item? sold for 10 ringgit...hey there's a sentimental value attached to it so that explains the steep price tag :P

It (pic above) once belonged to this girl named Kak Ngah. It was her most sayangable favorite item since she was a toddler. It had served unconditionally as her sleeping aide, her best buddy, her pacifier, her punching bag (when she throws tantrum) and as play-doll in the absence of a doll. I don't really understand how she managed to picture it as a doll but she did anyway. Some imagination that kid has.

I somehow believe this strong attachment with bantal bucuk has some connection with the feeling of insecurity and a sense of emotional comfort for its owner. Its a great soothing device for a dispirited soul be it young or old. And its hereditary, (the attachment to a bantal bucuk) being passed down from a generation to a generation. In this case, Kak Ngah got it from me!

I started to develop neediness on bantal bucuk when I was into my teens. Back then, it was cool and trendy for girls to have one or multiples in their bedroom. Its a must-have accessory I tell ya. And my bantal bucuk was more fashionable (retro?) and colorful with flowery designs and smelled naturally good too. You don't really get to see all those "maps" all over the place unlike my daughter's bantal bucuk. Lo and behold if she caught me trying to put her precious bantal bucuk in the washing machine. Do that and she'll bawl for hours on end till I surrender. I tried to smell it once and I felt like puking bile coz it was that bad. Not to mention the color changes from spotless white to yucky yellowish that I swear it could turn crystal clear water to teh-tarik look in split seconds. Awesome.

Well, to make an obviously long and tedious boring story short, the bantal bucuk that has faithfully accompanied Kak Ngah for such a long long time has finally been neglected, abandoned, ditched or whatever you call  it when you don't need that person/thing anymore. Such a cruel fate at the hand of an 11 year old heartbreaker girl. Sob sob.

She seems to no longer need it though it still lurks around the house, sometimes under the sofa or between the sofa cushion, sometimes under her bed for God knows how long it has been down there collecting dust, sometimes stucked behind the door or crumpled in the dirty laundry basket and wherever it wants to be lah. It never stays in one place at a time. It travels a lot lately. Macam dendang perantau gitu. Today maybe in Kak Ngah's room and tomorrow maybe under the dining table or on the fridge top who knows. Come to think of it, I seriously think that bantal bucuk has a life of its own! 

Macam dalam cerita anak patung yang berhantu tuh. Penama dia, Chucky?! Yikes!


P/S: To this day I still have my bantal bucuk and I'm happy to report that it has been with me for more than 20 years. During those time only the pillow cover keeps changing but the content is still the same and my bantal bucuk had on several occasion shared some lovely threesome together with the husband and I. Oopss nothing kinky of that sort ok he he :P

Carpe Diem if you can

I just checked my foursquare check-ins on facebook recently and I realized to my horror that the world revolves around me is less than 50km radius wide! Its like living black and white  in Pleasantville (its the movie in case you don't know what it is..) back and forth going the same route and doing the same  mundane routine over and over again. Sigh.

What a boring dull life! 

A long time ago, I wrote about the 50 things I wanna do before I die. Some of the things I wish to do then I had accomplished them now and to tell the truth I had never ever thought of doing it before because of the "malas" attitude and also fear factor. Now that I had conquered the fear (not entirely yet hehe), I should be able to reach other things in life if I put my mind and soul to it. Its possible to succeed your dreams and aspirations if you are really serious about it and stick to it.

The 50 things I wanna do back then in 2007 (see list). 

1. perform the ultimate pilgrimage for muslims - the haj
2. visit the 7 continents and wonders of the world
3. learn skateboarding or surfboarding (either one)
4. be the 1st tourist astronaut to visit Mars
5. meet oprah winfrey
6. learn 1 or 2 foreign languages
7. learn scuba-diving 
8. learn to write feature-writing and become a good columnist
9. treat myself to an expensive spa treatment
10. attend andrea bocelli's performance of a lifetime
11. learn to bake cakes
12. do a duet with Josh Groban
13. sponsor education for underprivileged kids
14. do braces for my teeth
15. do lasik surgery for my eyes
16. do a major makeover
17. do a liposuction
18. buy a bigger house
19. get my writing published in a form of a book!
20. start my own business that I enjoy doing
21. donate money to charity
22. sponsor medical bills for people who can't afford them
23. take a self defense course
24. take pottery classes
25. learn to play 1 or 2 musical instrument
26. get a supporting role in a Steven Spielberg movie
27. do exercise seriously and not just talking about it!
28. grow a small but charming garden
29. read as many books that I can
30. buy an expensive dress
31. learn how to sew well
32. attend a live classical musical concert in Vienna
33. invest in a stock market and become a millionaire
34. be an inventor
35. learn how to draw and paint
36. learn how to skate on ice
37. buy my dream car
38. learn to swim and be a good swimmer
39. do skydiving feat from 30,000 feet above sea level
40. do bungeejumping
41. live in a farm somewhere in Tuscany, Itali
42. learn to fly a small plane
43. learn to ride a horse
44. go on a cruise ship
45. take up photography
46. learn bellydancing
47. be a little more kinder and compassionate
48. devote myself to a cause that I'm passionate about and volunteer for it
49. learn to appreciate my imperfections
50. do backpacking all over the world

Out of the 50 things listed above, I had done no 7, 13 (though the amount is so little huhu), 18 (Alhamdulillah for the rezeki given by Allah SWT), 27 (still doing it actively insyAllah), 29 (does reading catalogues count?) and 38 (still learning the strokes and techniques) and its still a long way to go from there. There are of course some things I will never be able to achieve even if I live to be a hundred but what the heck, you'll never know what you're getting at. Life is like a box of chocolate so says Forrest Gump.

(pic snagged from google)

The survival skill everyone should learn..

I wrote in my previous entry that I've started to learn swimming late last year and I'm still getting the hang of it. I can now swim but I still need to practise my strokes and techniques in order to become a better swimmer. Here's 12 reasons why you should take up swimming. 

Article courtesy of Health Assistant website.

We all know that it takes years of practice to be likeMichael Phelps who is collecting golds in the Olympics and breaking world records, but like Michael Phelps we too can enjoy swimming as our sport and benefit from it specially in our health. So we should start a sport like swimming. Here are 12 reasons why swimming is good for our health:

1. Swimming supports our health, boosts our immune system - The water temperature, which is in all cases of swimming training, lower than the average body temperature of humans which should be 36 to 37degrees Celsius. The difference in temperature loads the work rate of the cardio-vascular system. With the ability to adapt to those temperatures, We achieve a solid resistance to diseases, like flu and colds. It also influences our breathing (the colder the water the harder the breathing), which is a health benefit especially for patients (or swimmers) with asthma problems.

2. Improve Breathing -The water pressure, which is exerted onto the human body (skin) increases with greater depth of the water.This effect will influence the blood circulation through the human body and improve one's breathing as this pressure concerns the lungs.

3. Swimming is a sport for rehabilitation of injuries, and after operations, as the special gravity condition in water allows people to execute movements with lesser body weight

4. Stress Management - We are experiencing a more and more hectic daily life and swimming supports the relaxation and recovery, which leads to a more balanced lifestyle

5. It's part of the physical education and water safety - In schools swimming is a part of curriculum. Everyone who wants to Scuba Dive or do White Water Rafting has to be able to swim.

6. It's a social sport - we can swim with friends or family enjoy the water and bond with your friends and love ones.

7. Swimming is a full body exercise - It tones our entire muscle spectrum and it works as our fitness.

8. Job requirement - Some jobs require the know-how to swim.

9. Low risk of injuries - It is a sport where, if we are a beginner or an expert, there is very little risk of injuries.

10. It's an affordable sport. - specially if you are near the beach

11. It's a substitute to other sports - especially to running as it trains one's upper body.

12. It's a competitive sport - Master's, Open Water, Triathlon.

Once bitten twice shy

What is the most dreaded thing that could happen to a Standard One kid at school? Yes, that's right - tertukar kasut sekolah!

A couple of days ago after the school bell rang, signalling the end of the school's morning session, I saw little B walked towards me and the first thing he told me (nonchalantly) was that his shoes got mixed up with someone's else. I asked him what happened and he said there was a dental check-up going on and they had to take off their shoes in the Bilik Kesihatan during check up and that's where the shoes got mixed up. Apparently he knew they weren't his shoes and he had no choice but to wear it. He felt uncomfortable wearing them coz the shoes were slightly bigger than his feet and a little worn out. He had no idea who took his shoes. 

The next day after sending him off to his classroom, I took the arduous task of asking every one of his classmates if they had their shoes switched. As expected none of the kids confess. I wasn't sure if they understood what I was saying or they must have freaked out seeing me harassing everyone in the classroom with my repeated questions of "Ada tertukar kasut dengan B tak?" and whenever I see the same particular brand  of my son's shoes I would take a closer inspection and stare at those kids' eyes and they just shook their heads off weakly without a single word murmured. Those poor kids must have thought that little B's mom is one annoying terrifying lady! 

After some tedious interrogations, I finally realized that he is not getting his shoes back and he's stucked with them for the rest of the year. Even after politely requesting his class teacher to make announcement, none of his classmates ever going to own up. Maybe the kid who unwittingly or deliberately took his shoes must have liked them so much that he or she decided to keep them. Oh well so be it then.

Luckily, little B has another pair of shoes. So the first thing I did after this incident, I took a black marker pen and wrote his name with bold capital letters on the inner lining of his shoes and on the outer sides. I just hope that the markings won't fade so soon.

Euphoria

For the first time in my life today I am left alone in the house all morning. The husband has gone off to work and the kids are all in school except Kak Ngah. Kak Ngah is having a hockey tournament in Sekinchan and won't be back home till late evening. Kak Long has a Merentas Desa practise at school the whole morning and will be back before noon and Little Bee is in the morning session. Its disturbingly quiet and lonely.

I'm getting a dose of temporary empty nest syndrome and I'm enjoying every little bit of it. 

Yeah some ME-TIME at last! 

pic snagged from google

The swimming beauty

Hahaha tajuk posting yang tersangatlah poyo. 

The kids and I have been learning to swim since mid December last year and since then I have been practising relentlessly to perfecting my technique and what not. Macam lah nak masuk sukan olimpik ngeh ngeh! 

Seriously, swimming is so addictive plus its also a good full-body workout. If I had known that swimming is this fun, I'd have learnt it a long time ago. Blame it on my lifelong fear of deep water. Now that I can swim confidently though not so fast and smooth yet since my breathing techniques and flutter kicks still needs to be improved in order to achieve longer stamina in the water, I am now a leisure swimmer yayyy!

Take that y'all! *sangat eksyen punye mode hehe*

yours truly sedang khusyuk berenang huhu...

Kak Long and Kak Ngah racing with each other...

Back to school

muka blur or is it ngantuk masa dengar taklimat..

Little B's first day at school went smooth. There was no over the top drama from him (pheww!) and he was so cooperative. Good boy! It was also the first time that he drank Ovaltine for his breakfast. He has never liked creamy or sugary drinks except for water only. Caya lah anak ibu sorang nih hehe!

Spending half a day in school is so tiring okeh! This stake-out activity will cease tomorrow hopefully and by then Little B should be OK with his new surroundings.

Mind your language

Found this interesting signboard inside a petrol station in Selayang recently. 

Make sense eh? After you're done with it you will definitely feel refreshed! If only the same thing could be said about the condition of the toilet that we went to. Euwwww!

The Ghost Protocol

Ethan Hunt is back! 

Remember that famous suspension scene in the first Mission Impossible movie that eventually spawned so many spoofs in other movies as well. Awesome acrobatic performance.

Its good to see you back in action Tom. Real stylish action.

The wedding season

Renjis-renjis dipilis

Ditepungi lah tawar

Hai beras kunyit ditabur

Disiram si air mawar...lalala

Yeah who could forget that song especially at this time of the year huh? Wedding invitations either sent by snail mail or phone calls are pouring in like spilt milk. And since facebook is the fad these days, it is quite common to receive invitations through them as well. All you need to do is just tick at the right box given under the EVENT page and walla you had just confirmed your attendance.

When someone sent you a wedding invitation there's always that nag feeling of wanting to find the right gift much more if you knew the bride/or bridegroom really well. And you don't want to give the same thing what others might give. Takkan balik-balik nak bagi blender or toaster or tea set or worst picture frame kan? LOL. That is sooo effortless. Just so you know we have given same item twice to two different newlyweds and its a blender (ngeh ngeh) brand Pensonic and some more very cheap less than RM50 per item...good deal kan? Of course lah its a good deal especially when you have only hundred bucks in your purse and masa tu belum gaji lagi hehe!

Now that we're getting wiser and also lazier each year we think that by giving gift in the form of monetary is the most sensible and acceptable thing. Senang gitu masuk dalam sampul terus bagi kat mak atau ayah pengantin. Tak payah pening kepala masuk shopping mall keluar shopping mall carik hadiah yang sesuai kan?

However there is another ingenious way of finding perfect wedding presents without ever forking out money. Try re-gift! What's that? It means to recycle your unused wedding gift yang berzaman tok kaduk duk ataih lemari atau bawah katil tu and re-package or re-wrap macam brand new. Isn't that a little bit unethical you might ask? The thing is who really cares about ethics. Disposing your unwanted gift by re-gifting it to a deserving person is the most righteous thing to do at least to me. You probably haven't heard the phrase Want-Not-Waste-Not eh? Nowadays being prudent is a lifestyle not a cheapskate. I repeat not a cheapskate.

Err just don't forget to remove the greeting card (if its still inside) or else go figure! :P

Punchlines

Some funny car bumper sticker jokes (above pic included) I snagged from the internet. Great to copy-paste onto your facebook status ngeee!

Zero to dick in 60 seconds.

Very Funny Scotty, now beam up my clothes...

Madness takes its toll--please have exact change ready.

Stamp Out Crime - Abolish the IRS

Don't Honk - I'm Pedaling as Fast as I Can

If You Can Read This Bumper Sticker, You're In Range

This Vehicle Swerves and Hits Pedestrians at Random

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

I have PMS and a handgun. ANY QUESTIONS?

Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

Cover me. I'm changing lanes.

Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let her sleep.

The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

Your kid may be an honor student, but you're still an IDIOT!

Smile. It's the second best thing you can do with your lips.

I took an IQ test and the results were negative.

When there's a will, I want to be in it!

Tastes like chicken keep on licking. Tastes like trout get the fuck out!

It's lonely at the top, but you eat better.

Forget about World Peace....visualize using your turn signal.

Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.

Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

We are Microsoft. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

Be nice to your kids. They'll choose your nursing home.

Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

Born free... taxed to death.

Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

If you smoke after sex, you're doing it too fast.

A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.

WANTED: Meaningful overnight relationship.

BEER: It's not just for breakfast anymore.

HORN DOES NOT WORK- WATCH FOR FINGER!

Don't blame me! I didn't vote!

Mopeds are like fat women. Fun to ride but you don't want to be seen with em!

If you can read this... Your parents will be home in two minutes.

Don't drink and drive.... You might hit a bump and spill your drink.

My Kid Beat Up Your Honor Student!

Nice People Swallow!

Honk if you have had sex with Clinton.

Hang Up And Drive!

If you're not angry, you're not paying attention!

This car is not abandoned!

I STOP FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

Don't like my driving? Call 1-800-FUCK-YOU

"KEEP HONKING".... I'M RELOADING

Enjoy Life - Eat Out More Often

If your cute,single,and rich, HONK!

If you don't trust me with my decision, how can you trust me with a baby? Pro-Choice For Abortion

Don't laugh, your daughter could be in here.

WARNING: Driver only carries $20.00 worth of ammunition.

Sex is like air, it's only bad when your not getting any.

My wife's other car is a broom.

If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit.

Constipated people don't give a shit.

Practice safe sex, go fuck yourself.

If you drink don't park, accidents cause people.

Who lit the fuse on your tampon?

If you don't believe in oral sex, keep your mouth shut.

Please tell your pants its not polite to point.

If that phone was up your ass, maybe you could drive a little better.

My kid got your honor roll student pregnant.

Thank you for pot smoking.

To all you virgins thanks for nothing.

If at first you don't succeed...blame someone else and seek counseling.

Impotence: Nature's way of saying "No Hard Feelings".

If you can read this, I've lost my trailer.

Horn broken...watch for finger.

It's not how you pick your nose, but where you put the booger.

If your not a hemorrhoid, get off my ass.

I'm out of bed and dressed....What more do you want.

I love cats...dead ones.

I don't have an attitude problem...You have a perception problem.

One good thing about Alzheimer's is you get to meet new people every day.

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION! It comes bundled with the software.

I want to die while asleep like my Grandfather, not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car.

I can't dial 911. There's no 11 on my phone.

Kentucky: Five Million People, Fifteen Last Names.

What is a free gift? Aren't all gifts free?

Can you yell "MOVIE!" in a crowded fire station?

It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.

If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

Hard work pays off later, laziness pays off now!

I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.

Don't get married. Find a woman you hate and buy her a house.

I still miss my ex. But my aim is getting better!

A closed mouth gathers no foot.

The trouble with life is there's no background music.

If women can have PMS, then men can have ESPN.

When blondes have more fun do they know it?

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

Losing a wife can be hard. In my case it was almost impossible.

Zero to bitch in 10 seconds

I don't discriminate, I hate everyone!

Life is like a bowl of cherries, and I'm in the pits!

Can't sleep, clown will eat me; Can't sleep, clown will eat me......

Wine me, Dine me, 69 me!

Student Driver-Get the hell out of my way!

Pardon me

as usual pic snagged from pakcik google

Hey, have you guys ever done simultaneous blog-hopping and came across different song background at the same time?

It sounded like a broken record okeh! LOL.

Luckily, there's a mute button down there...pheww! :P