Busy Bee

Sometimes I wish I had more days in a week to do all things on my To Do list. But then I start thinking, if Obama can achieve so much while running a damn country, I can certainly survive and run a small unit!

I have a training session to give in Johor tomorrow. Uwaaa, my flight is at 710am and since it's via AA, I'll have to get out of the house and drive to LCCT at least by 6am. Since it's only a day trip, my flight coming back is at 10pm something, meaning I'll probably reach home at around midnight.

Then Friday - Sunday, it's off to Lumut for our management retreat. Urgh, what a way to spend the weekend. Though the agenda doesn't look that hectic, it is time I would rather be spending on my bed sleeping. Or doing my massive pile of assignments.

Argghh...that reminded me. My assignments. Plus the following week is mid terms. When, when, when am I gonna find the time to study?

Breathe in, breathe out. Kang semput balik den dok pikirkan semua ni. Baik tido dulu. And get ready for an early drive to the airport tomorrow.

Rezeki

So, I got promoted. Heeee! It took effect 1st Feb but the funny thing is, I got sick for two weeks and only came into the office half way through the month.

What a way to start at my new position!

Anyway, it's been HECTIC since I returned. So much to do, so little time. I knew this when I accepted the position but sometimes the amount of work seems overwhelming. The team has been working well together, though I still haven't really found the time to properly sit down with them and initiate myself.

I have so many people to thank for my promotion, most of all my previous boss who was such a great mentor and friend. People have been asking when I'm gonna do an open table...hahahaha..it's not that I don't want to, it's just that I really need to find the time to do so. Insya'allah, hopefully early next month.

Till then, it's tons of work awaiting. Nothing comes for free anyway.

Masa Sakit Aritu...

...memperkuatkan lagi decision aku untuk tidak pregnant lagi!

Serious. Pening, Badan lemau. Sakit badan. Pitam. Seksanya. Itu blum masuk book lagi, rasa nak muntah 24 jam, sembelit, cramp kaki, sakit belakang, bleeding, hidung ultra sensitif, kluar masuk spital ambik drip...huhuhuhu...cukup la tu..

Aku dapat bayangan rasa tu selama 2 minggu pun dah tersangat seksa...tak sanggup nak pikir kalau 9 bulan aku rasa camtu lagi. Nak2 la ngan umur aku yang dah makin lanjut (uhuk...marah Sal kalau aku cakap aku dah tua...kita seumur ya!!)..lagi la aku rasa mesti out giller2 aku kalau preggers lagi. Silap2 terus cuti keje setahun. No play2.

Aku dah banyak kali hint kat En Rashid yang aku dah tutup kilang, tapi aku rasa mamat tu antara percaya tak percaya la. Sekarang ni dia tak la mendesak, sebab dia tau aku tengah belajar lagi. Nanti bila aku dah grad bulan 9 nanti (insya'allah), mungkinkah dia akan ungkit subjek ni. Oh tidak.

Bukan aku tak teringin anak lagi. Kekadang bila tengok baby, rasa geram je, rasa nak cubit2 pipi baby tu. Tapi ingat2 balik part ngandung, aku surrender. Kalau aku jenis yang preggers senang, tiap2 tahun aku bunting. Percayala. Sapa yang pernah rasa demam denggi ke, demam sejuk yang sakit sendi2 tu...bleh agak2 la camne aku rasa time preggers. Sapa yang pernah kena muntah2 cirit birit, bayangkan la 24 jam sehari selama 9 bulan ko rasa camtu. Sanggup?

Kekadang bila aku cite kat orang pasal aku takmo pregnant lagi, kebanyakannya menggeleng kepala. Cakap, aku muda lagi la, tanya aku takmo anak lelaki ke, warning nanti En Rashid ada alasan carik bini muda.

Takpela...aku dah ada 3 puteri comel2 ni pun dah sangat bersyukur dah. Kalau En Rashid nak jadikan condition aku sebagai sebab nak menambah bini, silalah. Huhuhuhu....beranikah dia? Wataaaaa...karate kick nanti flying nanti. Hehehe..

A Cute Bronchitis

Only it wasn't cute. It was torture. 2 weeks of feeling sick. It all started with a cold fever, then a very bad cough and faint spells. After numerous blood tests and a couple of days in the hospital, the doctor diagnosed me with acute bronchitis plus viral fever.

I started feeling sick the day we all came back from Kuantan. I took two actifast pills and normally that would do the trick. But it didn't and I started having the chills. Like it felt like ice water was running through my veins. I went to the clinic and the doctor gave me some antibiotics and pills for my flu. The next day, I started getting diarrhea and headaches. My fever was still there so En Rashid took me to the hospital near our home. The doctor did a few blood tests and gave me two days of MC. Whatever I had, it was different from what the kids had had, so I waned to know the cause of it. I missed classes because I really couldn't even sit up due to my pounding headache and really bad cough.

On Monday I wen back for another blood test. My fever had gone but I was still feeling sickly and lightheaded. The doctor cleared me for denggi, which was a relief.

On Tuesday, I went to work. I had a 930am meeting which I went straight to. It was at that meeting that I started to feel lightheaded and out of breath. It scared me a bit coz it was kind of sudden. Fortunately the meeting ended quickly and I called up En Rashid to take me home. He took me to the hospital instead which was a good call coz the doctor confirmed that my blood pressure was too low and apparently the viral fever was still there. They gave me a drip and after reviewing my blood tests, the doctor decided to admit me for observation.

So I stayed in the hospital for 2 nights. The food was good though, apparently there was no problem with my appetite. I did still feel kind if weak; simple tasks like going to the toilet made me out of breath. I took this up with the doctor and that's when he diagnosed me with acute bronchitis. I dunno if it can lead up to light headiness coz that's what concerns me the most.

Anyway, that kind of explains the reason I've been quiet for the past 2 weeks. I'm feeling better now and I have an inhaler in case I have difficulty breathing or anything. The doctor said it may take up to 8 weeks for the viral fever to really go away and for my bronchitis to clear up so I'm to avoid strenuous activities. Hmmm, I hardly think that's possible once I get back to the office. But I'll have to try. I only have one body to take care off anyway.

Plus being sick just blows.

All Down For The Count

All three of my babies are sick. Boohoo! It started actually with Daria, we suspect she got food poisoning from the drink we bought at the night market. Actually it was more of the ice cubes that she chewed on, must have been made from unfiltered water.

So anyway, this was actually last week and for almost a week, she was vomiting and had diarrhea. Then as Daria was getting better, Dania got sick and started getting the same symptoms. She came back from school on Tuesday, complaining about a stomach ache. That night, she started vomiting and having the runs. So far, she's missed 4 days of school.

Last Wednesday night, Dina started vomiting. I was getting really worried, especially since Daria was just getting better. So on Thursday morning, both En Rashid and myself took the girls to the hospital.

Both Dania and Dina had to be put on a drip because they were vomiting excessively. They cried a bit when the nurse placed in the needle but only because their veins were so shrunk from the dehydration. But after a bottle of saline, they both felt better. Fortunately the doctor said that they could be released and stay at home, instead of being admitted into the wards.

As of today, Dania about 90% better. She still has the runs but she hasn't vomited since yesterday. Dina vomited twice today but I think it's due to the powder medication she has to take. So I've stopped that for now and tried to get her to drink chocolate milk instead.

Here's hoping my babies get well soon.

Dania's School Clay Project

The other day, Dania mentioned about her Kajian Tempatan project she had to do during CNY. Apparently, she had to create a cave out of plasticine, following the instructions in her text book.

I tried googling some videos on how to make a cave; most of the videos I found used paper mache and were too complicated for my limited creativeness. So I called my brother to help.

This is what they finally came up with.

It cost me approximately RM60 to buy all the stuff for her cave but looking at the final result, was so worth it. My brother helped a lot, in terms of the design and layout.

The frame of the cave was made out of polystyrene and then covered with balls of plasticine. Dania helped roll bits of plasticine into balls while I helped my brother cover up the polystyrene. The bushes were actually leaves from the trees in my mom's garden, taken with permission of course. The grass was fake grass, bought at the art shop for RM7 per piece. Initially we wanted to create the grass using plasticine, but figured that would just take up too much time.

Dania also created the "boulders" using grey plasticine and the stalactites and stalagmites using orange plasticine. My brother helped arrange them around the stream and pond.

En Rashid complained that the cave looked too "boxy" but actually we ran out of plasticine. My brother wanted to use something to create a roundish shape for the top of the cave but we were worried that the polystyrene might not be able to hold the weight. So a "boxy" cave it is.

Which was just fine, because Dania got A+ for her project!!

Go Dania!!

Lost in Translation

My staff gave me this recipe booklet the other day, apparently from a restaurant of a famous Malaysian chef. I laughed until I cried when I read the recipe instructions, translated in Malay (in italics).

For example, step #2.
Place paper cases in muffin tins.
Kertas tempat kes-kes dalam muffin mengetinkan.

And step #6.
Spoon the mixture into the paper cases and bake for 25 min or so until well risen and just firm.
Mengaut campuran kepada kes-kes kertas dan membakar untuk 25 min atau supaya sehingga telaga naik dan sungguh tegas.
(well risen = telaga naik? Just firm = sungguh tegas? OMG!!)

Step #2.
Add the prawns, stir fry for 2 minutes and then add in the vegetables. Stir fry till cooked.
Menambah udang itu, goreng selama 2 minit dan kemudian campur semua sayur-sayuran itu. Mesin daftar tunai goreng dimasak.
(I had to rack my brain a bit but I finally figured out "till" = mesin daftar tunai. Sigh.)

And step #4.
Serve immediately garnished with the chives and chili strips.
Berkhidmat lantas dihias dengan kucai dan jalur-jalur cili.

Step #4.
Thread a few chicken pieces into the wooden skewers.
Benang kepingan-kepingan takut beberapa kepada pencucuk kayu itu.
(OMG...chicken = takut? Are you chicken??)

Step #6.
Alternatively, deep fry the satay and drain on absorbent paper.
Secara altenatif, anak ikan dalam sate dan parit pada kertas serap.
(Drain = parit...oh, the humanity!!)

Step #2.
Pound the first 9 ingredients and smear on the fish slices.
Menghentam dahulu 9 bahan-bahan dan mencemarkan pada ikan memotong.
(OK, by the time I was reading this part, I was laughing too hard and just trying to breathe.)

Step #2.
Add in the drained basmati rice and stir fry for 1 minute.
Ditambah masuk beras basmati sangat lemah dan goreng untuk 1 minit.
(Drained basmati rice = beras basmati sangat lemah. Mengapakahhhhhh!!!!)

Step #3.
Transfer to rice cooker, add water, milk, salt and colouring. Stir to combine well. Switch on rice cooker.
Pindah ke periuk nasi, menambah air, susu, garam dan pewarna. Kacau untuk bergabung baik. Memasang periuk nasi.

Ok..ok..I can't type anymore. I feel kind of bad for the chef who's name is associated with this recipe booklet, especially since his face is plastered on each page. This should serve as a lesson to all celebrities; please vet through everything that goes on in your business.

Taking Responsibility

Aritu aku ada baca blog sorang blogger terkenal ni. Dia cite pasal alkisahnya dia termengandung and terpaksa buat D&C sebab dia takmo lalui process mengandung tu lagi. Sebenarnya, dari entri2 dia yang lepas, memang aku dapat bayangkan agak seksa time dia ngandung...lama kena tahan kat hospital semua, sebab complication and everything. So aku tak salahkan dia kalau dia taknak lagi go through the experience anymore.

Yang aku tak berapa paham ialah kenapa lepas dah termengandung, dia takmo ambik apa2 precaution untuk tak mengandung lagi. Contohnya, diri aku sendiri la. Aku dah memang declare dah...lepas Daria aritu, aku dah stop production. I know my own mind and body, aku tau aku takkan dapat lalui process mengandung lagi without severe consequences. Lepas one month check up, aku soh doctor pasangkan IUD. Memang itu kaedah yang serasi ngan aku. Nak makan pil, En Rashid tak bagi. Nak pakai yang cucuk dalam tangan tu pun, En Rashid tak bagi. Semua benda2 chemical ni En Rashid gerun sket, walaupun bukan badan dia yang kena. OKla, aku anggap itu tanda dia prihatin ngan aku. Hehehe. Since condom pun is not an option (3 out 6 pregnancies aku berlaku even with condom in play!!), the only option left was to put in an IUD.

Memula aku cuak jugak, nak letak besi dalam anu. Ye ah...baca lak kat internet, memacam cerita pengalaman orang pakai IUD ni. Tapi lepas berbicang ngan doctor aku, dia pun suggest pakai IUD. Safe, easy to manage and I only need to come by one a year for check ups...just to make sure it stays in place. Alhamdullillah, so far, this methond has worked best for me. Aku tak pernah alami cramps ke, bleeding ke...time "bersama" tu pun, orait je..hehe.

So back to my question again. Kalau dah sure sangat2 taknak mengandung lagi, kenapa taknak cuba segala kaedah supaya perkara tu tak berlaku? Ini tak..bila dah termengandung, salahkan laki...padahal it takes two to make a baby. Plus, it's your body...should be your own responsibility. Kalau ko dah takmo ambik apa2 cara untuk mengelakkan dari ko mengandung, jangan la salahkan laki or takdir..and then go for D&C. Pada aku, itu sangat tak betul. Anak dalam perut tu rezeki...payah perit kita membawa, kalau mati, mati syahid. Bukan la aku nak menggalakkan si blogger tu ngandung just for the sake nak mati syahid...tapi perlu tengok dari kontex agama dengan lebih mendalam. Jangan ikut perasaan hati hanya berdasarkan pengalaman lepas. Kalau betul dah takmo mengandung lagi, then take proactive precautions to make sure it doesn't happen.

Aku bukan nak bang sesapa, tapi ini sebagai peringatan kepada semua orang, termasuk la diri aku sendiri. Banyak kali perkara yang tak diingini berlaku pada diri kita tapi kita cepat sangat nak salahkan orang lain, salahkan keadaan, salahkan takdir. Padahal, diri kita berkemampuan untuk mengelakkan perkara tak diingini itu berlaku.

Renung2kan...dan selamat beramal!

Life Reminders

A few things happened this week that made me stop and give a long hard look at my life.

1. One of En Rashid's office mates passed away due to lung cancer on Wednesday. She was 38 years old; still young and had her whole life ahead of her. The sad part is that no one really knew she had cancer. The office found out only when she was hospitalized on Monday. They had planned for a doa selamat on that Wednesday but later found out she had passed on that morning.

I feel bad because I've been to En Rashid's office many times and I just can't place this person anywhere. En Rashid said I may not have noticed her since she was always on MC or had a doctor's checkup. Still I feel bad because apparently her seat is just opposite En Rashid's cubicle.

One thing I noticed though, in the workplace, the grieving period only lasts a day. If there are urgent matters at hand, then half a day. Then people go on with their lives and you become part of their distant memories. I'm pretty sure that's what would happen when it comes for me to go. So why do we spend so much time in a place that would forget us so easily than being with the ones that really care?

2. A friend of mine told me about her aunt who had passed away recently due to illness. The sad part was, throughout her hard life, she raised 9 children and her sick mom, only to be neglected in her own time of need. 9 children and not one took her in when she got sick! Even when she was hospitalized, the children did not come to visit her or help take her home when it was time to check out. When she passed away, she was alone. When she was found, it was not immediate.

The "best" part is that most, if not all, of her children are very religious. Some of them live abroad, learning and teaching about Islam. Youw ould think people who are so pious would know about the basic stuff, like taking care of your parents. According to my friend, apparently some people get to pick and choose which part of religion they want to follow. Selective memory.

I was so sad when I heard the news about my friend's aunts' passing. In a way, relieved because she no longer suffering but extremely angry at the way she had been treated by her children. I shudder at the thought that I may turn out like that if it comes to my own parents or PIL. I cry at the thought that my own children may toss me aside when I'm old.

Reminders of how short our life is. And how we should always strive to make the best of it.

1st Day of Class

Had my 1st day of class tonight. Since today was the day I had clash schedules, I first went to my electives class to see if the lecturer would agree to change days. Not only did he refuse but he did so in such a kerek way. His statement "I can't please everyone so I might as well just please myself."

Bloody hell!! Who's paying who right now?? Aren't we the customer? Why are we suppose to follow your schedule? Plus what genius puts an elective class on the same day as a core class?

Pissed off, I left the classroom in a huff. Pi mampos la. And went to my core class. Which looks to be fun coz it's a lot of self study. Very the lepark. And most importantly...NO EXAMS!! Hahahhaha...I like. Oya, plus we ended class tonight at 8pm...muahahahha....nice, nice!

I have another elective class tomorrow. Hope this one goes better.