Random things that made me smile ..

- a guy wearing a t-shirt that said "I GOT SOME LAST NIGHT" winking at me while we passed each other on the escalator.

- Bumping into an old friend that kept on complimenting on how fantastic I look, and I was not wearing any makeup!

- Tried on a pair of skimpy shorts, and bought it, realizing how great my butt looked in them and then finding out that it was "small" size. (alright.. this one will make make me giddy with happiness for the next couple of weeks.. at least..)

- a phone call from an old acquaintance, whom I thought would never call again.

- how great my lasagna turned out, considering it was my first time baking them in the convection microwave.

-still-smiling-L

Nawaitu...

It's that time of the year again... No water, food, sex, among other things... during daytime. Food and sex.. no problems.. I can think of it as one of the many ways I can lose weight, and it's not like I sneak to Homer's office and "do" it at the emergency staircase on a daily basis...

But the water bit.. Did you know that I drink 3 bottles of 1.5 litres water everyday?? It's gonna be tough, especially when I didn't fast last year.. (due to pregnancy)..

Ramadan Mubarak!

-might-start-tomorrow-L

Why we can never..

form a "sisterhood of the traveling pants"..

By "we", I mean my dearest group of friends..

- at one point or another, one of us would pregnant.
- our size fluctuation rivals the stock market.
- we may have lost all the "baby weight" but the body structure is a different story.

And so, I am proposing the formation of the "sisterhood of the traveling sarong"

One size fits all!

-tra-la-la-L

I hate the haze.

Last night, I could see clearly KL's skyline.. It's been a while since I saw my beautiful city in all its splendour and its beautiful lights. This morning, it is still clear.. and I gave a silent pray that the haze has finally made its way out of the system.

I mean, the view from my place is not fantastic or anything, I can see the ongoing construction of a new highway, the low cost flats nearby and the monstrous development sprouting a few kilometres away. But at least, I can see them and take them all in as part of my surroundings.. Seeing things clearly means I won't step on shit and drag them everywhere unknowingly, spreading the stench.. Not that the haze was that bad that I can't see the pile of shit.. but you guys know what I mean..

Even when things are not as picturesque as we'd want it to be .. I'm sure everyone is glad that the haze is gone right? It even makes me want to thank last Friday's flashfloods cos it means washing away the haze..

This entry is mundane, just like my morning.. but I just needed to get it out..

-clearer-is-better-L

W.O.T.Y

And so with one proclamation, the little girl is someone's wife.. with that single action, she's now a "Datin". She looks so happy. I pray that she will not be forsaken by her man, and wish her all the happiness that she has long dreamed of.

As she slips the ring on to the groom's finger, I can't help but see the tell-tale mark of the previous band. And I thought to myself, he used to build his life with another, he promised to be true to her, but it was over. I wondered how she's taking all this, and wished her all my best as she begins her new life.

Love is truly blind, to quote a song, "..it's like chocolate cake, like cigarette.. I know they're bad.. but I just can't get enough...".

I can't really say that I know the little girl well, but by association, I know her ups and downs and in a certain way, I feel close to her. She certainly always makes me feel good about myself and even with her stature, she'd still come up and say hello to me in the open air car park while I was walking back to my car.

She's so optimistic about everything, and in the rush of having our pictures taken, she said, "welcome to the club..!" .. I corrected her and said, "..No, you, welcome to the club.. It's not easy you know..." To which she replied in her giggling girlish manner, " tau..."

Many happy returns, and semoga bahagia hingga ke anak cucu..

-ushered-L

Bad day? Have a drink..

A couple of days ago, Subby Hubby was having a bad day, and he really needed a break so I invited him to come over to our place. At around 6.30 he called to say that his car wouldn't start, apparently he left his headlights on. Homer went to save him while waiting for the service guy to come with the new car battery.

An hour later the guy called to say that he's already on Jln Ampang so we all towed little Ni-Mu into the car (since she's still wide awake) and made our way back to where his car was. We thought his woes would come to an end, but lo and behold, the service guy called to say that he had a flat tyre and so he had to wait longer.. Bad karma or what??

When the guy finally came (there were other issues.. believe it or not..), we left so we could have our dinner. Subby Hubs then came back to our place for some finger licking good chicken.. (What? You all thought I'd cook?? ..), and after gobbling down the chicken he looked at us with a huge grin and said,"Guess what was the service guy's name.."

Tom Yum! (This is real, I've seen his business card)

Nope. It's similar to your favorite drink..

Huh? Diet Coke?

Close. You guys ready? His name is Pepsi... Pepsi Chin. Here's his card..

*imagine all three of us laughing while we peeked at the card.

Okay, It was very mean of us to laugh at someone's name, but we just couldn't help it..

From now on, when subby hubby has a bad day, I'll tell him to have a Pepsi...

-cosmo-poh-li-tan-L-ha-ha-

What's new pussycat?

I've just been reminded by Subby Hubby on the lack of updates on the blog, and I have to admit that time haven't been on my side. Although, I can still find time to buy lingeries from La Senza (meeoooww), 2 pairs of shoes and more clothes since my Bandung trip. My credit card has never been more exhausted!

So, PGL the musical is back, and this time around I was determined to go (missed the last one), I was dropping hints big time and Homer came through.. hurrah! He listens after all.. We saw it last Sunday night and I'm proud to say that the artsy-fartsy-pants in us is still alive and kicking.

My favorite scene has to be when Sultan Ahmad came out singing how great it is to be King. Note to self, must ask Pat whether Sultan Ahmad has a penchant for Michael Jackson.. From where we were, it looked like the King of Pop himself was dancing on the stage.. Anyway, judge me all you want, while everyone was going ga-ga over Stephen Rahman Hughes.. I thought the King was great.. Adlin Ramlie, that is.. Hang Tuah has never been really top of my list..as like many other female population out there.. the bad boy thing is just so hard to resist..

I can't really say much on the male population.. I suppose they're also intrigued by dangerous women.. so the Puteri would be a great combo "lemah-lembut", looks to match, mystical powers and to top it all off, she wears a bustier all the time! (ala pussy cat dolls but with sarong instead of hot pants..)

Dang.. I should go back to La Senza and get those bustiers with matching garters... hmm

-dangerously-L

Bandung ..

Not to be confused with "Air Bandung" or "Mee Bandung".. which you'll never find in this quaint city. Although I can't really say much about bandung except the fact that it is dotted with factory outlet stores.. and I mean .. seriously dotted! After all, we really did spend much of our waking hours scouring the "F.O's" pronounced 'Eff-Oh' by the locals.

Didn't do much of sightseeing.. but that was never part of the agenda anyways. All I can say is that.. it was a great trip for the gals and would've been hell for the hubsters...

Ni-Mu's Stuff - 600,000.00 rupiah
L's obsession - 500,000.00 rupiah
Homer's stuff - 200,000.00 rupiah
Beautification of L - 350,000.00 rupiah
Souvenirs (which consist of more clothes or kain) - 400,000.00 rupiah

The look on the bell boy's face as he loaded our shopping bags onto the hotels cart as it stumbled out of our rented car at the end of each day - Priceless!

The bone picker story..

So here's how the story goes, I rsvp'd for a function and managed to get my mom to baby sit little ni-mu for tonight. The obvious choice for a partner would be Homer.. and here I thought, "hmm.. perhaps a little walkabout and cosy dinner afterwards..". It would be nice to just attend a launch for something that we can't afford to buy (yet.. hopefully) .. get dolled up, watching people.. etc.

But instead, Subby Hubby will be accompanying little ol' me. Apparently, Homer said he'd feel uncomfortable. As I recall, the last time when we went into a posh boutique, he was the one who tried on all the watches.... I think its obvious that he doesn't want to be seen with ME.. his short, non-flat stomach wife.

But hey.. I can't complain.. Subby Hubby is VERY good looking.. and we can snicker and laugh the whole night long..

-underappreciated-L

Lately...

Things haven't been so good lately, first I got sick, then there was that nasty diarrhea after eating undercooked cockles at Penang Village, and again last night my temperature shot up. With everything else going on in my life, work or otherwise, I just feel so helpless .. you know.. like why bother keeping up when you end up drowning in a heap of mess.

For once in my life, I really don't care what happens, I've been trying and working and talking and giving in. I felt as if I'm running in a circle, even when I tried to do something differently, I'm the one who gets the brunt of it. Don't you just hate it when that happens?

But then, that's life.. I've just been faced with setbacks. A little bit bruised, as they say. The time will come when they will appreciate me and know what I had to go through in trying to make things work.

Sometimes I wonder if whatever I did was wrong.. or whether it affects other people, but then I reminded myself that no one else will protect me like I can.

On a more cheerful front; me and the girls are going on an all girls trip to Bandung for a little S&R (shopping and relaxxxx .. mmmm) .. So Bandung people .. the question is.. are you ready for us???

-wheels-on-the-bus-goes-round-and-round-L

Her name rhymes with Tiara..

Little Ni-Mu is crazy funny.

This morning while I was checking my work mails, I put her down on the orange mat near me, with her noisy toy piano. I finally got used to replying mails while listening to the various unfinished nursery rhymes (obviously, she smacks on the toy that it keeps changing its tune..), when suddenly all is quiet.

As I turned my head, I saw my little precious taking the edge of the mat, munching away happily. She looked as if she's eating a giant orange..and gurgled,"mum-mum?"

I felt like showering her with oranges.. (but then realized that I could be jailed for endangering a child's life...)

As the world steadily goes on in its chaotic manner.. I am blessed to have someone who can make me smile with just a bat of her eyes.

-lucky-L

Again on life..

Life is playing tricks on me.. sometimes it feels like time had stood still, sometimes it leaves me behind, empty handed.. eating dust, but the one thing I hate most, is when it moves ever so slowly as you eagerly wait what's next for you..

I've been waiting.. and waiting.. sometimes patiently, most of the time not quite .. for something I can't quite describe but I know it'll make my life complete.. You know what I mean? And so, its true that life is a journey and as you pass by each junction, you pick up pieces that hopefully fits in this jigsaw puzzle we call life.

Wishing that the piece I picked up today will guide me through.

i-am-somebody-so-hear-me-roar-L

Hey, look.. it's me

Tonight, I smiled, laughed and cried. And in truth, it felt wonderful .. for that 150 minutes or so, my old self resurfaced. That person who had no care in the world.. enjoying herself, alone in her little apartment.

As I tucked the DVD back to its sleeve, I realized how much my life has changed. But I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that little part of me is still within and could somehow show herself as she listens to her little precious peacefully dreaming the night away through the baby monitor.

It's true that life can never be perfect, but at least, there are perfect moments. Let's not ever forget that.

-constantly-reminding-self-L

What goes on in this head of mine..

While people are humming and singing to themselves the latest hits like; Hips Don't Lie .. I have permanently in my head a humdinger from one the shows on Playhouse Disney channel.

My name is Shanna.. It rhymes with banana..
And this my friend, is Shaaannnnaaaa's Shoo--ooow!


Although, I'd have the lyrics changed to entertain little Ni-Mu, and it goes something like this

My name is Naiara.. It rhymes with tiara..
And this my friend, is Iaraaaaaa's Shoo--ooow!

And now, I'm obsessed in finding things that rhymes with people's names.

Sad, I know.. but Subby Hubby and I had lots of fun thinking up of things that'll rhyme with his name, sadly we could only come up with "Loofah". Poor guy.. well, at least that's much better than what rhymes with yours truly.. "Cheese"..

-yummy-cheesy-L

What marriage?

I'm not a cynical person, but I have to say, everytime I hear someone say, "Well.. I/She/He married you, didn't I/She/He ??"; I get a little pang of fury. So, just because at one point of time, one decides to take the plunge with another, we're meant to feel relieved and having a sense of euphoria?

Key word: "at one point of time"

Yes, we should feel like we're on cloud nine when we know that this is the ONE, the ONE to have and to hold, through bad and good times, till death do us part. But it's definitely NOT just about that instant .. It's about being in a team, unfailingly with each second that goes by. Marriage is not a trophy that you can lift up and say, "We did it!" , in fact, it should just be, "Been there, done that.. Now for OUR next move..." From here on, is where the real award kicks in.

Everytime you do something that makes the other happy, you deserve a medal and for each sincere sacrifice you'll go further ahead in the pursuit of happiness. For each time one holds back from hurting the other, then both can claim themselves as a clear winner; you for putting another before yourself and her for having someone who truly cares for her heart. This, ladies and gentlemen; as you can see has NOTHING to do with, "I married you, didn't I?"

Today, Homer and I celebrate our 4th Wedding Anniversary. I often (okay.. more than often) ask him why he loves me (notice it's "love" and NOT "married") and he'll always have some wacky answer, like, "reason no#3652 : because you say, I'm on camp Anniston!" (And I said this with conviction and much fervor!).

Here's to many more wacky reasons ...

-reason#1-L

All in a day's work

I believe I wrote in one of my posts that ironing helps me to calm down, provided that the mood kicks in. So just now, I decided to iron Homer's shirts to calm my nerves while watching Japan vs. Croatia match. Surprised? like I said.. I don't hate football.. in fact during my uni days, I actually followed the EPL religously. I mean, you gotta admit.. a woman can always have some fun watching 22 fit and athletic men running around in shorts, right?? If men can objectify women, so can we.

Homer would've been proud of how worked up I got with the game.. to the point of cursing in Japanese. Righto, back to calming my nerves. I was ironing one of Homer's work uniform that he had to wear in a recent conference and at the back of the shirt it said, "Reduce Uncertainty To Maximize Recovery". Huh? Was my first reaction.

Then it dawned upon me, let's for one minute take it out of the context of his work. This can be applied in our everyday situation. Think about it. When we have everything out in the open, as in laid out so that all is transparent - then you have nothing to fear and in fact, nothing to lose and everything to gain. In other words, if one is open and truthful; you project to other people your principles and in turn, you will get the most of what you want from people around you.

Applied on football, it will be something like, get as many goals so the team is certain to maximise their chance of winning.

Applied on everyday life, getting people to see the real you so that they in turn will be true to you.

Well, it kinda made sense when I was ironing.. more psycho babble next time I iron... don't hold your breath though..

-iron-lady-L

All I can say is..

Dolce .. Dolce .. Dolce!

Who is the hunky player on the furthest right in the bottom picture? Homer a.k.a my world cup trivia guy is away on an all boys diving trip.. Can anyone help me with this.. And now to check when's their next match. Finally my reason to watch the cup of life .. Subby Hubby, drooling time.. how abourrit??

-mama-mia!-L

Situation vacant

I believe I'm doing all my girlfriends out there a favour by putting this one out.

Urgent
Situation Vacant: Attentive partner

Job description: Maintaining healthy emotional connection between partners, creating loving and caring environment within the alliance.

Must be mature, intelligent, caring and dependable. Work available on contract basis, ending 9th July. Extension of contract can be negotiated. Football junkie need not apply, interested individuals may submit their resume via email.

***

I don't hate football, it's just that sometimes it makes me feel a little less important.. ya know what I mean?

-dispossessed-L

The Devil Herself...

The little girl ran into her mother's room, crying... " Mummy, am I a demon???". Puzzled, the mother came to her little girl and asked why she said that. "There's this boy, who shares my birthday and he's eevilll.. and he has the mark 666 on his head", the girl sobbed. She smiled and said, "..no, rizu-chan.. you're my little angel..". As the sobs dies down, the girl asks her mother if she could just confirm that she's really not the demon by checking that she has no such mark on her head. No such symbols seems apparent, confirms the mother. The little girl walks away, relieved, but ...

She just can't help but wonder if..

Today, eerily.. she wore all black .. frilly skirt and v-neck top combination.. walking knowingly how good her bum looks as the frills sashays itself.. The devil herself is out celebrating.. but nothing over the top.. As she might just blow her cover. After all today is special.. O Six O Six O Six .. She's turning 32, not too young, not too old but most importantly.. not too shabby.

Will the mark presents itself?
Will the demon surface?

We'll just have to wait and see..

Now, where can she find an all red leather pants and bustier with matching red whip...

Happy Birthday you devil.. you..

And by 'you' .. I mean 'me'...

OMENista-L

Have you ever felt really alone?

Last night, it struck me. I felt that I was all alone in this big bad world. I'ts like I swallowed an astronomical self pity pill or something like that. Everything is just not right, the bolognaise sauce I made was too salty, the baby gagged on my boobs, and Homer just couldn't keep awake.

Cue that pathetic Backstreet Boys' song, Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely...

Last night .. I was the epitome of Loneliness. Lonely L..

The thing is, if everything(one) else is zippidy-doo-dah-top-of-the-world shape, then what the f*#k is wrong with me. Can't be the baby blues.. , PMS .. nope ..

Just one of them days I suppose..

-trying-to-snap-out-of-it-L