I Feel Good....

Despite the late notice and the fact a lot of the staff are still on leave, we manage to collect 7 huge boxes of clothing for the Tsunami victims (plus lots of small boxes too). Thank you so much to all those that donated their stuff.

All clothing will be going to the Tsunami victims via MERCY Malaysia. Mamat Nationwide Express yang mai nak ambik barang pun terkejut.

Errr...banyaknya. Van kecik jer. Camno nak muek?

We managed to put in 4 huge boxes along with all the small boxes in the van. As we were loading the boxes, people from the other divisions came up and asked when we would be collected stuff again. Apparently not everybody got the email yesterday.

After some discussion, we decided to have a second round of collection next Wednesday. Here is a list of things that are urgently needed by the Tsunami victims.

1. Clean and usable blankets and clothing items – please make sure they are in good condition, clean and without holes.
2. School uniforms, shoes, bags and any other school related materials
3. Food items that is canned or tinned. Packaged food like Milo 3-1 is also acceptable.

For more info, please check MERCY’s website at www.mercy.org.my

Malaysia Boleh!!!

My Promise for a Better Tomorrow

Appreciate hubby more. Tell him I love him everyday. Hug at least once a day.

Love the kids even more. Spoil them once in a while. Read stories and sing songs with them everyday.

Call my mom everyday. Ask her how her day was and actually LISTEN.

Send SMS jokes to dad. Plan a family trip together and PAY for it this time.

Say thank you more often to my MIL. Help her around the house more when go back to Melaka. Frame pictures of the kids and surprise her with them.

Make more contact with brothers and sis-in-laws. Learn to share more. Learn to receive.

Make new friends and appreciate the ones I have.

Appreciate the fact I have a job.

Learn to be punctual.

Join a Charity and contribute.

Take better care of self, physically, mentally and spiritually.


Have a great new year everyone. May 2005 be better for all of us. Insya’allah.

A Wave of Destruction

Man loses five of his children during picnic outing.

52 people confirmed dead and numbers expected to rise.

More than 200 families in Penang are left homeless.

These were just some of the heart wrenching headlines in today’s newspaper. The Tsunami incident has left a trail of disaster after hitting the west coast shores of peninsular Malaysia last Sunday. People have lost family members, friends and loved ones. Many have lost their homes and livelihood. Let’s not forget those who perished in other countries around the world too; thousands in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Indonesia.

As I sit here in front of the computer, I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing at that very moment. The family had gone up to Bukit Merah Laketown Resort for our year-end family outing. I was on the bed, breastfeeding Dina when I felt the bed shake.

Eh, apo benda lak ni yang goncang katil?

Watching the news later that day gave me my grim answer. I watched as the news reporters gathered information from the victims on what really happened that day. All basically said the same thing that it happened so quickly, there was absolutely no time to do anything.

Malaysia is a blessed country. One thing is, we’re safe from volcanoes, earthquakes, sand storms and blizzards. However, apparently we’re not safe from Tsunamis.

My prayers go out to all those who were affected by this disaster. Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu yang memikul.

T.G.I.F.

“Ghost Town” doesn’t even begin to describe the office today. More than half of the staffs are already gone for the weekend. Can’t believe that after yesterday’s shopping spree, I had enough energy to drag my butt out of bed and come to work.

Hubby has a morning meeting in Seremban today, then an afternoon meeting in Kelana Jaya. Sometimes I think he works too hard. This weekend should be a great chance for both of us to let off some steam.

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Today’s my brother’s birthday. Happy birthday Angah. May you get wiser as you grow older.

Shop Till You Drop

Yesterday was a day of many firsts. Had two meetings in KL, so took the opportunity to go on the ERL. Man, was that train fast. Only took me 20 minutes to get to KL Sentral. Driving would have taken me at least an hour. As I marveled at the comfort and spaciousness of the train, I noticed two Indonesian men also on the train. Unlike me, they looked pretty bored.

Tengok! Orang Indon pun tak heran naik ERL ni dah. I’m like the only person in the world that hasn’t been on it!!

But I was on a high. Dah lama tak naik train ni. When I was single, almost every weekend you could find me on the LRT heading to KLCC. I remember when I was young, my grandparents took me and my brother to JB on the KTM train. It was a blast. We would explore the train from one end to the other. The mee goring and sirap bandung sold at the bar tasted heavenly. The 6 hour trip went by so quickly; makes me wonder why I’ve never taken another one since.

Anyhow, after reaching KL Sentral, Kak Ida picked me up and we headed for our first meeting. After an hour of deliberating, we found ourselves with 3 hours to spare before the second meeting. So what’re two ladies armed with credit cards in the middle of town to do with all that time? GO SHOPPINGLAH!!

First choice was Mid Valley, but seeing how our second meeting was near City Square, we decided to head off to Berjaya Times Square. Believe it or not, I’d never been there before so again I was in for a surprise treat. Sale..sale..sale!! Carrie Bradshaw would have been very proud. True to form, I bough two pairs of shoes; one for 70% off, another for 50%. Can you imagine how much I saved by buying those shoes?

In the back of my head, could hear hubby say “but you would have saved even more if you hadn’t bought those shoes in the first place!!”

After much walking around, we both finally broke down due to tired feet (high heels are not meant for serious shopping) and headed off for our second meeting. It had just started to rain when our meeting ended so Kak Ida drove me to the nearest LRT station where I caught the next train to KL Sentral and then back to Cyberjaya. Hubby was glaring at the shopping bags I carried when he came to pick me up.

Tu beli apa lagi tu?

Kasut. Gila gila punya sale. They’re for formal dinners and weddings. Takkan nak pakai kasut kerje pi kenduri orang.

At which point hubby decided it was pointless to comment further and to just leave me alone with my happy smile and tired feet.

With a Baby Sleeping in the House..

you learn to talk in hushed tones.

you tend to walk on tipped toes.

you tend to take handphone calls outside...even when its raining.

you pour water down the toilet bowl instead of flushing.

you learn to read lips, watching the TV on mute mode.

One Should Be Grateful..

Kak Dina's blog had an entry with the same title. Hope she won't sue me for copyright infringement.

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The sudden death of officemate Syiqin has affected me more than I expected. I began reading her blog and found myself at a lost for not knowing this special person. Her blog starts sometime during her pregnancy, which she celebrates with such enthusiasm. Unlike me, who complained of back aches, constipation, cramps and nausea 70% of the time.

She talks about how coming from a big family, she too wishes to have many children. Unlike me, who complains of spending so much on diapers and formula every month.

She includes every blog with a doa, praises for Allah and words of gratitude for having a loving husband and beautiful son.
Unlike me, yg suka mengarut je dalam setiap blog.

I have learned so much from this person.

I have learned that one should be grateful for not only the great things that happen in our lives, but also the not so great things. Being pregnant has its not-so-great moments, every mother would agree.

But when I think of friends who are still waiting and trying to have their first child, I feel ashamed. For my pregnancies came easily, without having to resort to any fertility treatments.
When I hear of mothers caring for children with heart defects, Down syndrome, and other sicknesses, I feel ashamed. For my children are healthy with only the common flu to battle with once in a while.
When I read about mothers who lose their children to accidents and illnesses, I feel ashamed. For my children are safe and well, being cared for parents who love them and a maid who adores them.

I have also learned that we should be grateful for the people in our lives. Sure, your husband may snore and he leaves the toilet bowl seat up despite frequent reminders. Sure, your moms and/or MIL may nag you still and treat you as if you were still a little girl. Sure your children may drive you up the wall with their excessive whining and demands.

But can you imagine your life without them?

I for one, cannot imagine coming home to an empty bed and not to be able to feel my hubby’s warm body beside me.

I cannot imagine not having my mom call me up with her daily updates on her life.

I cannot imagine not having MIL around to cook and make cute clothes for the kids.

I cannot imagine life without the girls and their funny antics, cute smiles and cheeky faces.

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Officemates were in shock and in tears upon hearing of Syiqin’s demise. Makes me wonder if my life on earth so far has been a fruitful one. If I have made any positive impacts in the lives of the people I know. If anyone would cry over my passing.

Takdir Allah..

The whole office is in mourning today. A colleague of ours passed away today.

Her name was Syikin.

People say she was in the office in the morning, but was supposedly to be on leave. She was on her way back home when she met with an accident.

She was 25 years old.

She had a husband and a baby, not even a year old.

I’m still in shock. I don’t know her but hubby does.

Innalillahhiwatainnahiraji’un

He's the ONE for me

A friend of mine recently asked me, how do you know when the person you’re with is THE ONE?

I was stumped. I could have given her the usual lecture of how you feel butterflies in your stomach every time you see him or how you wake up each morning and he’s the first thing on your mind. I could have, but I didn’t.

Because it wasn’t like that in my case.

If ever I had butterflies in my stomach, it was probably due to eating too much. Or if I woke up thinking about my husband (then boyfriend), it would be coz he owed me money or I owed him.

I know of some people who met, fell in love and got married all in the span of 3 months. I know of people who dated for 8 years yet ended up marrying different people. I know of one person who had never met her husband until the day of their Nikah. And now they’re expecting their fourth child together.

I’ve known my husband for 10 years now. He’s been my friend for 2 years, my lover for 4, my fiancée for 7 months and now my husband for 3 years. We’ve been through happy times and sad times. We’ve fought and made up. In three years of marriage, we now have 2 daughters, a fully paid car, a house and an apartment to rent. Some people would think we have it made. I would very much like to think so too.

My husband wasn’t my first boyfriend, but he was the first person I dated that I knew I could marry. Reason being...I would have to out it down to timing. I was 20 when we started dating. I had already been in countless relationships and had had my heart broken many times. I was ready for a serious relationship, no more puppy/donkey/monkey love for me.

I remember drawing up a list with my friends on the criteria of our dream guys. Mine would have to be tall, handsome, lean, a good cook, loves massaging, wealthy, funny and a romantic. My hubby’s handsome and somewhat funny, but he rates 4/10 in the other categories. Ok, so he can scramble an egg but only in desperate measures. And he grumbles when I ask for a massage. As for romantic, well, he did surprise me with a diamond ring our last anniversary, but surprises like those are far and between.

So why did I marry him?

Because he’s kind.

Because I saw how he treated his younger cousins with love and knew that I wanted this man to treat my children the same way.

Because he let me win at pool, even though he’s better and I was having a fever at the time.

Because whenever we fought, I felt like throwing him out a window. But I also knew that if I did, I would also run down to catch him and break his fall.

Because he listened to all my whims and accepted me for all my faults.

Because he was brave enough to meet my parents and to take me to see his.

Because it was Allah’s will.

So, basically Farr, I have no answer to your question. But you do have my prayers that you find your ONE just as I found mine.

Money, money, money, money...MONEY!!

Dina’s cold has let up. Her breathing still sounds stuffy once in a while but other than that, she fine. Hopefully she’ll be 100% today or tomorrow.

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Last night I dreamt I was on The Apprentice. I was classy, chic and ambitious. I was totally ready to work for the Donald. Thing is my teammates didn’t like me much coz I always took time off for prayers. In the middle of a task I would head off back to the Suite for 20 minutes. It never took me longer than that but it was enough to peeve my teammates. None of them had the guts to say it to my face though. Best thing was, Donald seemed to like me best. Even better was the fact that whichever team I was on, we would always wins. So I never found myself in the boardroom, having to address the issue of my frequent praying. And I never got to hear those dreaded words...”YOU’RE FIRED”. AHAKS!!

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Toll charges are expected to go up another 10% starting next year. Damn ^&*%%^&$#@@&!!!! I’ll never be able to buy my MPV at this rate.