Calm after the storm…

During regular schooldays, she wake up at 5:45 am just in time when Justin comes out of the shower. She washes herself for 10 mins (including her hair), then tip toes to her room leaving droplets of water from her hair. After getting dressed, she comes out to eat her breakfast while I work on her hair (part of my morning chores is to blowdry and set her hair).

Today, she go back to school after her spring break (of 10 days). Throughout the holiday, my salon was close, meaning she will have to deal with her hair on her own. I never fail to  remind her to brush her hair(couple of times that I caught her after taking a shower). Of course, the words enter her left ear and afterwards get snorted out of her nose. It never  came out of her right ear because if it did, that means it would’ve traveled in her brain and she would have done it.

This morning when she came out of the shower, her hair was so messed up as if there were cats with rolls of woolen threads fighting on head.
I tried to be optimistic, thinking it couldn’t be that bad if she put conditioner. But I was wrong, every attempt to brush her hair it gets more tangled. So badly tangled, she resembles Bozo the clown hahaha!

Try to imagine the scene this morning … Me -smoke coming out of my ears and nostrils- tagging her -distraught teary face- to my toilet. There in my toilet I rummage through my collection of hair treatments and found an ultra conditioner/detangler from UK. I made her kneel down and ask her to bend down her head to the bath tub so we can untangled her hair, at the same time save her clothes from getting wet. After 10 minutes and a handful of hair in ball shape, it’s ready for a blow dry.

The result, her hair looks like the ones you see in a shampoo commercial. Long, black, soft, tangle free, flowing like silk threads (that was actually her observation), She was so happy that the teary eyes all of a sudden turned into  twinkling eyes. She hugged me tightly and said "Thank you Mommy for making my hair so beautiful".

Hhhmmmm, I wanted to say "Next time this happens, we’ll go straight to the salon and have your hair shaved!". But I did not, I kept it to myself and just gave her a grin  

My day starts at 4:45 a.m. - that’s when they call for prayers at the mosque with their loud speakers attached on top . Sacha hits the bathroom and get ready for work, me on the other hand prepares food for breakfast and a sandwich that he will bring to work. The kids get up at 5:30 and by 6:30 they’re gone. Sometimes I go back to bed and catch a quick nap before the babies get up. Most of the times I carry on with my chores and I usually start in the garden.

This morning I went back to bed because my back has been hurting for a couple of days now. I was awoken by a call from hubby asking me to get ready and bring him something he left at home. It’s too important that it cannot be entrusted to the driver. Half asleep, I slip into my jeans and shirt, gathered my hair into a clip and grab my corduroy jacket.
My helper upon seeing me in a zombie like state, hurried to prepare a coffee for me to bring and drink in the car. She  told me that I am wearing  flip flops when I’m about to get into the car. She ran inside the house, to the walk in closet and got me sandals, my wedding ring and sunglasses.

Few minutes later I’m on my way. Amidst the heavy traffic and the heat(even if it was barely 9 o’clock in the morning) I was awake but somehow in a coma - my brain is dead. I didn’t notice how did an hour and half of travel time went by. I just know my consciousness came back when I was entering the office gate. Usually I kill travel time by reading a book or 2 newsweek magazine or an hour on the phone yapping with a friend. But today is a milestone, I can only remember 5 minutes of it
As soon as I handed him the stuff, he noticed a certain expression that is usually on display on certain days of the month  - Long Face :(      
(when I have period).
He asked me to wait for an hour and promised that he’s going to treat me for lunch.
That’s when this photos were taken :

Grilled King Prawn with Cheese
                                                    Peppered Beef   

Scrumptious !!!

The resto is called Penang Bistro, an authentic Malaysian cuisine.
I enjoyed it so much that I ended up feeling sleepy again on the way back
I told him I don’t mind bringing him stuffs to the office everyday
Me flashing my usually happy, smiley face ….

This one is suppose to be posted before the Lenten season. The time when people take a pause on their daily lives and review/recollect the past year. Some of us focused on renewing ourselves through observing/participating in the Lenten practices, mosts just focused on long awaited summer break in the beach, while others just continue with their regular life.
I’m one of those who take a retreat and do a reality check on where/what/how am I now. I’d say I have emerged as a winner in this path that I have chosen not so long ago. Experiencing the hardship of life is part of what makes you if it doesn’t break you.
The transition from one place to another, from old status to a new relationship, the merging of different backgrounds, additional members of family, new surroundings,  new obstacles and new adventure. I have conquered them all!

Of course it doesn’t end there, it’s just the beginning and there’s more to come.

Pixel is about to shoot the ball inside the blue basket. Behind the basket is Justin standing on a low plastic chair pretending to be the post for the basket.

I’m telling you this kind of moment is rare!

Usually the setting is like this ….
The one on the right is the underdog.

But this time they’re taking turns and we’re very civil to each other.
You see miracles do happen

I was talking to a friend earlier on the phone. She told me about her kid who’s fever went up to 40 degrees and almost having convulsion. I remember those days when I was on the same position as her. My daughter have inherited convulsion attacks from his Dad. Not until she was 3 years old that it finally died down. I used to stay up all night to anticipate  and attend to it soon as possible. The convulsion attack is a bit  unpredictable. First the temperature goes up to almost 40 degrees and in a matter of minutes it will die down. If you look at her like she’s back to normal, all smiling and playing. But if you touch her she’s a bit cold and that’s when the convulsion attacks. Usually, it lasts for a few minutes and then she will calm down and will be fine for a couple of hours until the next attack. The fever is sometimes triggered by infection on the throat, which is very common in toddlers who eats everything that they touches.
When I narrated the story to my mother, she scolded me for being too dependent on doctors and medicine. She said that I can prevent the illness by giving them ginger juice extracts. And also by making this a regular juice intake. At first I was appalled by the idea of it. Imagining how spicy and how can they manage to swallow it. Then I first tried it to myself, damn! it almost killed me! (just my thought), But eventually, it gives my throat comfort after it runs through it. A bit warm in my tummy though’ but that also helped in my digestion. And then I gave it to them

Can you imagine the amount of tears in my daughters face? And my son just keeps on screaming afterwards. It was the same expression over and over again with the first few times they took it during times when they are to develop colds/flu and sore throat. That was almost 5 years ago. None of them suffered from high fever nor bad flu since. Now they take it like a regular medicine. During cold season and rainy season they take shots and ginger tea is always available in the fridge.

Few weeks ago I was a victim of fresh meat bacteria and so is my husband. We went to have dinner in an Italian restaurant in one of the 5 star hotel in the city. Judging from the price in the menu, we thought it is safe there. I saw beef carpaccio and I began to drool thinking I haven’t have that for a long time. It was delicious as usual and I shared it with my husband. The next day I woke up with a heavy throat and it became worst at night. It felt so dry and swollen but I don’t feel any chills,no fever, not even sneezing which is a sign of a cold. The next morning I started with the ginger juice and drank it the whole day. That afternoon my husband was complaining about feeling bloated and discomfort in his stomach. He went to the doctor the next day and got 3 kinds of pill. Everytime he take the pills he felt weak, sluggish and it gives him headache in the morning. Then I asked him to drink ginger tea, before and after his meal  continouely for the next few days. After 3 days, we are both well.

I don’t know if it is scientifically proven, but it seem to work for us. Even my toddlers get a sip of ginger tea once in a while. It works well and I intend to keep it in their diet

Potato Fritata

Teenagers,

It’s  hard to please them these days. Stuffs that used to
be cool are now boring to them. Mood swing attacks so often, even if I try to
ignore it, I still get affected. I feel like the target all the time –
“he cannot find his shirt” (blames it on me), “she cannot go to poetry night” (
I lied about the schedule of the car)…etc… It’s like they we’re set in this
world to annoy mommy. Most of the time I’m the smart, tough – you cannot
stressed me out today- mommy. But then, I also have my share of
vulnerable/sensitive/short tempered/impatient moments. And when I do it makes
them wish they shouldn’t have pushed it.

Four weeks ago, I set up new rules about food. I declare one
day over the weekend that I will not cook. Both of them will cook a meal for the whole family. They can choose between lunch or dinner
and should take turn every other weekend. Of course they complained about the
task. I just said “ it’s not a request, it’s an order”, meaning there’s no way
out.

Three weeks ago Justin started his cooking turn. He prepared Pad
Thai and the recipe was found in the internet. He made few trips to and from the
computer room while preparing and cooking it. The end result was a bit salty and
overcooked. But since there’s nothing else prepared we have to bear with it.
Even if Sacha doesn’t like fish sauce and Pixel is not very fond of spicy food. That
was a lesson learned, I have to polish the rules a bit. Addendum “ before
cooking, gather comments/suggestions from family members to make sure that
everybody will benefit from the cooking”. The revised rules was then accepted.

The following weekend was Pixels turn. Few days before that,
she gave me the list of ingredients so that I can include it in my shopping list.
Hhhmmm, this one is easy…” spaghetti bolognese”. Two members requested for additional
garlic bread. She said okay. Then Saturday came. Pixel started cooking the
sauce at 2:00 pm. Same routine as Justin, she visits the computer room frequently
and then back to the kitchen for a few minutes of stirring. When she asked “how
long should I cook the sauce?” I said “about half a day traditionally, but since
you are using tomato sauce in cans and not the fresh tomatoes, you can simmer
and stir it for four to six hours”. Her eyes grew big and rolled up “what??”. I was laughing inside because I knew and kind of expecting it … she’s learning the hard way. It’s easy to complain about the food that is
being serve to you when you are not the one behind the preparation. The result was
okay, actually it was excellent. She have captured the taste that is supposed to be traditional bolognese.
And for hours the aroma of the sauce inside the house is heavenly. It’s a two thumbs up.
But of course Justin didn’t agree, rather doesn’t accept that Pixel did better
than him.

Today it is Justins turn again. He cooked 3 types of food.
Mie goreng, well that was almost instant, Potato Fritata and a Chicken Soup.
The Potato Fritata was great. Loads of egg though, but how can I complain, I
have now the pleasure of being served, a worry free Saturday and to get to taste
food that I don’t usually prepare

Your friend Blah!Blah! invited you to join friendster! It’s been a regular sight in my mailbox. I can’t get rid of it, or at least I don’t know how. So I finally decided to join and now I’m kinna enjoying it. I was surprised to find out that most of my nieces and nephews are here too..althoough with an altered age. And some friends whom I lost touch long time ago, some of them got married and a few became single (?). I’m not sure yet, I haven’t really ask, i just went through their profile. You can always alter your profile depending on whatever reasons you have, but me, I prefer to be real. Although I have to keep it private so to avoid strangers crashing in.
I’ve been an internet bug for a long time, since 1995 I think. During that time there’s just a few website that offers free blogs ( formerly known as homepage). Before, you have to have knowledge of html and frontpage otherwise posting in the website is really a pain in the a*s. Designs are limited, even music cannot be easily uploaded. Nowadays, youngsters are enjoying the accessibility of these features. It’s as easy as a click of the mouse. Internet has been the primary tool for communication especially for desperate people who needs instant relationship.
I have other 7 websites aside from this. Most are online albums which I use for updating close friends and families. This sites can take as many photoalbums and it’s free. Some of them are blogs, where I publish some articles about my everyday life - nothing big and fancy. It’s kind of therapeutic for me especially because of my status. Gossipping, bragging, exchanging views, asking /giving advices etc., in short "yapping with girlfriends or sister is part of a woman’s hobby. Being far from these people is quite hard. Isolation is my number one enemy, even if I meet new friends. It’s not the same level of relationship that you have with long time friends/siblings. Burning phone lines also cost too much. Thank God for geeks who discovered the internet. Saves me money and keeps me sane

I just finished updating my profile,
when I stumble upon the blog opportunity in friendster. Here I am
trying to finish my first blog when all of a sudden Mozilla FireFox
just reset the page OH NO!!! I couldn’t go back no matter how much I
click the back button. More than 40 sentences, 3 paragraphs, lots of
punctuations, emotions etc. etc …is gone! kaput! Anyway, I just
wanted to say that I went blank and lost some of the ideas
that I wrote earlier. Have you experience those time when your brain
is overflowing with thoughts and your fingers could not keep up with the typing ? It was like that. In 10 minutes, I have created 3 paragraphs
with more than 40 sentences. Long enough to serve as a grand entrance
for my blog. Sadly, it did not register in my brain. Great!
Just Great. I am now trying to recompose and remember exactly how I
wrote it. Maybe later…maybe tommorrow or next week. Who knows when
can I have the time again. Maybe I need a break… let me go to sleep and
we’ll see if it works

Promise I will write again.