Pisang Kukus

I’ve been a Malaysian for all my life and today I still found out about food I’ve never heard of. ‘Pisang Kukus’ which is steamed banana. It was superb. It needs to be eaten with ‘sambal’ and coconut.

I was out with friend S & E whom I’ve both not seen for ages! We had superb conversation and E introduced me to ‘Pisang Kukus’ at a place I normally frequent yet never tried that particular dish on the menu. Amazing the things people can show you that you never knew yet it was right in front of you.

On a different note, MJ has passed away. When my friend M told me, I was close to tears but held it back. His music definitely has an impact on so many of us and the day has been a bit dreary. I can’t help remembering going to his concert year of 1996 or was it 1997, the best I’ve ever been even though I had the cheapest ticket. His life was definitely not a waste and the short time he lived on earth, he has contributed a lot that some of us may never even do in as many lifetimes as we get.

R.I.P MJ!

Busy week

How did the week get so busy? Work is bustling as usual. But I’ve also got a lot of social activities!

Monday was a farewell party for a friend. Sob Sob.

Tuesday is grocery shopping which is long overdue.

Wednesday is a day of rest. :D

Thursday is dinner with Sister In Law. Something that also can’t be postponed.

Friday is dinner with cousin. Also someone I don’t spend much time with and can’t be postponed any longer.

Saturday is a housewarming party of an ex colleague which I should attend as I’ve not seen her for ages, going for that one. Also a farewell party for an ex boss which I really should attend and am still contemplating due to the already busy schedule!

This is not my average week, but I’m actually looking forward to all my appointments after all its people that I should spend time with and haven’t done so for quite some time.

Fresh Insights

It’s a Sunday. I had what I could call a perfect day. I went to church and heard a sermon that completely explained a chapter in the Bible I previously couldn’t fully comprehend. It was The Parable of the Worker in the Vineyard, Matthew 20:1 – 16. Let me see if I can remember what the 4 attitudes were, that we ought to practice:

1. Be happy/satisfied with what you’ve agreed with.
2. Be happy for those who have a reason to celebrate. Do not compare and count your own blessings instead.
3. Do not give up, position yourself for possibilities.
4. I can’t remember the fourth one, perhaps it wasn’t as good as the other 3 or I’ve merged 2 of them.

My son went to Sunday School after a period of 3 weeks (each week with its own reason for not attending) while I was in church. Then my mom suggested we go to a restaurant that she frequents for free food. Apparently, the restaurant is yet again undergoing new management and this time it happened to be people who were friends with my relatives! So we went, and was pleased to also see a bunch of kids from an orphanage being entertained by a clown. It was lots of fun and the food was good.

Next was home again and off to a friend’s housewarming. Despite the rainy weather, the rain stopped later and we had a pretty good time. My son though being the only kid around seemed to have loads of fun and I think liked my friend’s home quite a bit.

I had what I would call a decent day. Perfect conversation, good vibes all around and very satisfied feeling. Was it a shift of attitude that I was experiencing or was the day really that good?

I watched Miss Potter few days back and loved the movie as well. Her gift was amazing and her ability never to give up and to proof something, was wonderful despite her mom’s constant nagging and the era that she lived in.

Then I watched Mr. Bean (the animated version), TV programmes you start to watch and get very interested in when you have a kid. This episode it was mind blowing how he never gave up on his parking place, and the different ways he tried to make sure he got his place. He never gave up.

There it is fresh insights, that you can get if you look carefully from whatever you see on TV, read in a book, or hear from someone, and perhaps many more other ways.

The Secret Life of Bees

It was a bright sunny Sunday afternoon, I was moody. My son and hubby went off to sleep after our marathon shopping spree at the mid valley megamall. I was tired yet could not sleep. I decided to watch ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ , a movie borrowed to me from my sister and later I found out based on a book by Sue Monk Kidd.

It was a pretty interesting movie which I first watched due to the star studded cast of Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson. No doubt the movie already sounds like an all women type of movie, but I think guys who would like to watch it might help bring to them a new perspective from the other side of the world.

It was a simple story but it grasped me. It was one of those movies which made me feel like going up to a small town and staying in a cottage, soaking up in the beauty of nature and living my life like time was of no importance.

There are many different chapters in our lives. This movie made me think of mine. I hope that someday if I’m cut out for it, I can spend one chapter of my life in that serene quiet cottage out in the meadows by the sea with loved ones.

Blog Review

I pondered the other day the reason why I blog. I think it’s simply to share stories and perceptions, obtain views and maintain an electronic log of my life to look back on. I started blogging due to a very good friend, who has great influencing skills. When I blog sometimes it can be tough; how much do I want to share with the world, how far should I go and when is it considered too much sharing and over exposing of my private life. I guess its best not to think too much of this but as I grow older I feel more conscious of my privacy, but yet a need to share a part of my life online.

Anyway, in honor of my blog, I’ve decided to look back at blogs I’ve had since I started back in 2006, and there is one or two I wish to comment on.

‘Meeting my Maid for the 1st Time’ back in July 25th 2006, when I read it now, I realized what a long way I’ve come in this relationship. I’ve more confidence and know how to deal with my helper to build a strong relationship with proper understanding of expectancies. I’ve grown so much since 2006 to now 2009.

Next, ‘Outdoor Adventures’ on July 11th 2008 and ‘Daily Devotions’ on March 12th 2009 where I did the bungee, etc, it looks like I still am pursuing these activities and have maintained a steady interest and a conscious effort to look out and participate in these events since 2008. I did Sphereing back in Feb 2009.
Participated in my department eco day and walked in muddy mangrove swamps.

Also went out to paddy fields and came on a face to face encounter with a snake.


And the latest my first attempt at paintball.

Then there is ‘Being Introduced to Motherhood’ on October 1st 2006, playing my mom role. I have a whole lot more confidence in playing my mom role and completely belief that there is no manual to being a parent. (Though I’d still say get all the help you can) Experience built slowly but surely helped me decide the kind of mom I want to be. I still have a long way to go and it’s a journey just like all my other roles in life. There is always room for improvement.

So there you are my mini review of my blog and some updates on how I’ve moved on. I must say various inputs from friends, and those who read this blog, who let me know how my sharing has helped them has been encouraging to continue to maintain the blogsite.
Thanks to my small group of readers.

Book Warehouse Sale

I went for the recent MPH warehouse sale near where I stayed. And despite the already higher than normal credit bill I’m expecting at the end of this month, I still bought books! How could I not? This is my list and the why I got them:

1. Shopaholic & Sister – this book now completes the list of Shopaholic series that I already have.
2. The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho’s famous book, I’ve read Zahir borrowed from a friend and I thought I should own one of his books, and also read his famous book.
3. Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom, I’ve read Five People you Meet in Heaven and For One More Day, both books I borrowed from friends, so I need to have one of his books too, so why not his most famous book, and I get to read it too!
4. East Australia – this was picked by hubby as we’re going there later this year, not sure why we had to get the book though, hope it goes to good use.
5. 3 Kiddie books – one on time, farm animals and word book that just teaches random words, all for my son!

So that’s that, I’m happy I went for it, wish it could have been free though it was very cheap and I spent more than I should have. But I don’t mind, I feel a sense of completeness in my book collection area now. Next is to have a lovely library in my dream house…now that is going to take a while!

Random Thoughts

I need to write. I need to pen down my thoughts. I wish I could write like Paulo Coelho or Jane Austen, but that doesn’t happen to some of us, does it? Still it does not stop me to continue to aspire to be in the likes of these famous authors.

I feel a sense of calm and peace yet slightly disturbed. I read quite recently of a father and brother raping their own daughter and sister. Another instance, of a father raping his own daughter with a friend. I heard more sexual abuse cases during a talk at work. Horrible incidences unimaginable in our minds but happen. The ones who hurt us are our dearest and nearest.

To be honest, it’s human to only allow those we truly care about to hurt us. Friends, parents, siblings and the list goes on. Living with constant backbiting however small it is, incessant chatter of mindless gossip, constant negativity and pessimistic views from family or whoever you may stay with can be ingrained in our minds and in my books, is also called abuse. Living with such people could either drive one mad or we could just join them. Living away from them is my current solution.

When we are advised to occupy ourselves, as there is so much to do out there, why is there still pointless chatter? An idol mind is a devil’s workshop but some still rather choose this path. The prospects of activities that are beneficial to society or self seem unimportant in these minds. I find it hard to comprehend.

A friendship so valued but yet the other party may not value it as much. Is it too much expectancy or just blissful ignorance? Questions with no answers.

Sometimes I try too hard. I could be the one who hurts others or the one that hurts. I need to stop trying. To stop hurting and stop being the one, who hurts others, is to stop trying too hard.

Who can we trust? To have even one friend whom we could call a friend at the end of our life would be good. To stop trusting is not the solution. To be careful to the point of paranoia is not the solution. To trust with caution that we are only human is the answer. Of course, once smitten, don’t go and get bitten.

How do we know if it is we who are wrong or not? It’s all word games during arguments that turn into twisted debates, and then may the best speaker win! So how do we know? We may feel wronged but it’s the other party that is right. Or we may feel in the wrong, but we’re right. And then comes the question, is this even relevant? Does this really matter? There are clear-cut cases like the earlier examples of family incest but there are always the grey areas. Everyone could be diplomatically correct; it could almost be called a political affair.

So there it is my random thoughts, thoughts I just had to pen off.