Tuesday, May 26, 2009

3 Times!

We are making a trip down to KL this weekend which means I get to see 'bee another time this month. That's 3 times in a month!

After a drought of two whole 'bee-less months I think God is really rewarding me for exercising self-control in not running down to see her every opportunity I get.

Thank you Lord!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Dhall Tarik

Last weekend I was enjoying tosai for breakfast when, as usual, I ran out of dhall curry. I requested from the waiter, "More dhall curry, please."

Waiter brought the curry and said, "You like dhall ar? Next time can order dhall tarik. A lot of dhall. Very nice." Then he laughed.

He was making fun of me! But ok la, as long as everyone had a good laugh.

So, anyone game for a dhall tarik?

Sequel to Short-term Memory Loss

As if the shock of experiencing short-term memory loss is not bad enough, last night it finally dawned on hubby that we did not take out the DVD because there wasn't an actual physical DVD! All we saw was the cover of DVD on the LCD TV screen.

We cannot remember things that are there and we remember things that are actually not there...habis la if we carry on like that.

This had better be the last episode of the Short-term Memory Loss saga.

Does this happen to you too?

Related posts leading to this final post:

Short-term Memory Loss
Prequel to Short-term Memory Loss

Friday, May 22, 2009

Prequel to Short-term Memory Loss

We actually decided to watch "Conan the Barbarian" a few nights ago. Hubby took the DVD out but somehow we changed our mind and did not watch it that night.

On Wednesday night when we decided to catch up with "Conan the Barbarian" we realized that we had forgotten where we have put the DVD, which prompted the search for another movie to watch, which in turn precipitated the short-term memory loss episode.

Darling hubby had ransacked the whole DVD drawer and "Conan the Barbarian" is still missing.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Badminton At Six

The girls in the office are going for badminton today. Four of us, just nice to practice some strokes.

I doubt there is going to be much playing since most of us are novices or 'stengah masak' players. We'll be picking up the shuttlecocks most of the time but that's ok since our aim is to sweat and have some fun work-out together.

Unlike men, ladies don't go into court with the intention of demolishing our opponent. At least I hope not.

Short-term Memory Loss

Last night we could not decide on which movie to watch. After much deliberation we finally decided on "Dream Girls" so we went into the room to get the DVD.

At the DVD drawer hubby turned to me and asked, "What movie are we watching?" I also couldn't remember so we settled on "The Beach" instead.

On our way to lunch today hubby suddenly remembered that we actually wanted to watch "Dream Girls".

Help! Short-term memory loss is getting more frequent...and attacking both of us at the same.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Broom and Magic Beans

When I said I wanted to sweep her room, she asked me to use the broom and a dust-pan in the attached bathroom. I went in to look for the items but I could see neither broom nor dust-pan.

She did not reply when I sms-ed her for the exact location of the broom. Undaunted, I conducted another search and found this hanging on the wall....

So cute and in such a pretty shade of pink too, but totally useless

Can you imagine anyone sweeping with this teeny weeny thing? Like main masak-masak only and makes sweeping a very back-breaking task.

But the next day, like Jack's magic beans, they have grown to become....

A full grown broom and dust-pan! Note: Some colour change
is to be expected in the growing up process


Magic happens when Mommy comes to town.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Dragon Fruit and Poop

I offered her dragon fruit and told her it's good for poop.

A better tactic would have been to just say, "Hmmm, yummy, want some?" And it would yield better results too!

You know what's the problem when we operate in "parent" mode? We tend to take all the fun and joy out of doing good things and right things in life.

Not everything has to be a lesson!

Weekend in KL (15-17 May)

I drove down to KL with Lillian and Jewel last Friday.

It was a really long journey with stops to make calls to a client and a media owner in order to defuse a potentially catastrophic situation. One party was asking for cooperation and the other party was yelling blue murder for breach of promise. Anyway we ended up with a win-lose situation. As expected, the client won.

The car was super heavy because we brought down my mother-in-law's sewing machine for Pam. It's an appropriate inheritance to pass on to her 'cos her obsession with a perfect fit has cost her a bomb in terms of alteration expenses and sometimes she is still not satisfied with the result.

Ah Ma's hand sewing machine looking good as new.
Pretty box contains all the sewing parphernalia I packed for her.

By the time we arrived we were all so tired that we just crashed until it was time to get ready for Men in Tutus. We were very hungry but we were already late so we had to resort to cornetto to lapik perut or "lace our stomachs."

Colourful seats at KLPAC so the audience
don't lose their seats after intermission

The promotional snippet for the show was really hilarious so our expectations were very high. As in most cases where expectations are too high it led to some disappointment.

But there were some high points as well. We almost died laughing over the dying swan - dropping feathers all over the stage - act by Victor Trevino. He is the artistic Director and our compere for the night. We loved the expressive faces of some of the dancers and Joel Morris as Odette in Swan Lake was simply amazing.

Victor Trevino in his dying swan costume. Check out his eyelashes.
They are the longest pair of falsies I've ever seen!

That's Joel Morris in his Odette costume between Pam and me.

Some of the dancers were so pretty and petite that they could well pass off as ballerinas but when we saw them in their own clothes after the show they didn't look all that effeminate at all.

Pam then took us to a Beef Noodle stall at Jalan Alor for dinner. The soup was black! I still prefer our Penang Beef Noodles.

The next two days were spent on our feet shopping all day. Lillian the shopaholic would wake up every morning and start counting how many shopping hours she's losing simply because we could not get our driver and tour guide out of bed.

Totally beat

Pam gave Lillian (her Khai Ma/god-mother) and me a belated Mother's Day treat at Pavilion's Dragon-i on Saturday night. Thank you 'bee.

The food was scrumptious and the company was even better. Lillian and I regaled our daughters with some grandmother stories, most of which they have not heard before.

We had such a good time that we lingered over dinner. Eventually we were the only diners left. The restaurant switched off the aircon and we still sat there. Then they switched off some of the lights. We finally took the hint and left.

The thing that wore us out this trip, more than the walking and shopping, was the heat. I have always thought that the weather in KL is cooler than Penang but this trip proved me wrong. The heat was energy-sapping, like a blast from the oven and we just wilted, melted and evaporated. Evaporated was Jewel's description.

Then I came back and heard that it was just as bad in Penang.

We had a lovely ladies' weekend. Should do that more often. Lillian and I had so much catching up to do that we talked all the way down to KL and all the way back. 10 hours of talk. Talk what also I don't know.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Torn

I am going down to see 'bee tomorrow. That makes me very, very happy.

But darling hubby is a bit under the weather. That makes me very reluctant to leave him.

I'm torn.

Mother's Day Gift from the Church

This year we received such lovely gifts for Mother's Day.

The gifts in a pretty bag. No need to wrap!
Makes life easier for our church staff.

We actually received 3 gifts for Mother's Day.
A draw-string bag, a coin purse and a vanity mirror.


Not only are the gifts pretty and feminine, they are also functional as well. In terms of gifts, anything that combines form with function deserves a thumbs up from me.

Thanks Gemma for volunteering to do the Mother's Day shopping on the church's behalf. You're a real gem! [That's so cliche but I couldn't resist it]

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

You Are Mine

You Are Mine

While praying one day a little girl asked,
'Who are you, Lord?'
He answered, 'I Am'
But, Who is I Am?' she said.

And He replied...'I Am Love, I Am Peace,
I Am Grace, I Am Joy,
I Am the Way, Truth, and the Light
I Am the Comforter,
I Am Strength, I Am Safety
I Am Shelter, I Am Power
I Am the Creator;
I Am the Beginning and the End
I Am the Most High.'

The girl with tears in her eyes looked
Toward heaven and said,
Now I understand, but Lord, Who Am I ?'
Then God tenderly wiped the tears
From her eyes and whispered,

'YOU ARE MINE'
- Author Unknown

Grace-filled Days

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.
- Jerry Bridges

Have a grace-filled day everybody!

Monday, May 11, 2009

The Most Important Five Percent

Wayne Cordeiro, in his book Leading on Empty (Bethany House: 2009, pp. 77-79) discusses what he calls “The Most Important Five Percent.” He points out that eighty-five percent of what we do as ministry leaders, anyone can do: “checking email, answering messages, attending meetings, reading the newspaper or trade journals, and making simple decisions.” He writes: “Many of those tasks can be delegated to others so we can concentrate on what’s most important to the job we have been given to do.” Someone else could be trained to do ten percent of what we do.

But then he writes: “But 5 percent of what I do, only I can do! This is the most important 5 percent for me. I can’t delegate these initiatives to anyone else. I can’t hire someone else to take my place in any of these activities because they require that I be there! This 5 percent will determine the validity of the other 95 percent….My 5 percent may differ from yours, but the principle is transferable to everyone—married, single, widowed, old, or young. It is true for those with children, empty nesters, or young couples just starting out in life.”

Cordeiro determined what his last 5 percent would include. “What were the things that only I could do and, if neglected, would affect the rest of my life?” He came up with this list:

1. A vibrant, growing relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
2. A healthy and genuine relationship with my spouse
3. An authentic family that is close to God and close to one another
4. A God-pleasing ministry
5. A physically healthy body and a creative soul
6. Taking time to enjoy life with family and friends

“It will not necessarily be the 85 percent that will shape your future, or the 10 percent that will build your legacy. It may impress the world, it may burnish your resume, but it won’t impress God as much as that all-important 5 percent. Your choice of what is most important will shape your soul.”

(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, May 11, 2009)

God In All Circumstances

God is over all things; under all things; outside all;
within but not enclosed; without but not excluded;
above but not raised up; below but not depressed;
wholly above, presiding; wholly beneath, sustaining;
wholly within, filling.

– Hildebert of Laradin

Thank God, isn't that a comforting thought?

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Is it A love Pat or Not?


Haha. Does this happen to you too? Maybe not a spouse but a friend or most probably, a sibling.

Anyway be thankful for small mercies 'cos it could have been worse. He could be wiping his sweat or grimy hands on you!

'Bee Has Gone Back

Mother's Day would not be Mother's Day without my babee by my side so she made my day by just being here. Thanks, 'bee.

Spending time with her is the best Mother's Day gift of all even though it is for only a few hours and must end too soon. As I told my badminton buddies there is a time limit to my Mother's Day gift!

As a mom I treasure every minute with her, so bear with me as I grouch.

Other people who return home on weekends get to leave KL latest by the 9pm on Friday night but not her. Due to her absurd and topsy-turvy working hours, she has to take the terrifying midnight bus and arrive at 4.00am or catch the Saturday morning Firefly flight out of Subang. Both options effectively deprive us of precious hours with her.

I think the time has come for us to pray for open doors to other career possibilities that are professionally fulfilling, less stressful and able to give my 'bee more normal working hours as well as better work-life balance.

Mother's Day 2009

Today's Mother's Day message was from Deuteronomy 6:1-9. It's basically a reminder to parents of their important role in passing on the heritage of faith to the next generation by walking their talk.

The speaker did not imply it in the message but I have always felt that it is a bit unfair to lay all the blame and shame on parents whenever children wander from the faith. As much as we want to do our best as parents, children too have their responsibility to take up the baton and run the race.

We know of a pair of godly missionary parents whose son is now the pastor of one of the biggest churches in Singapore. Their youngest daughter is a missionary to Nepal. There is, however, one prodigal son who left the faith and has caused much heartache to the parents. Same parents, different results. Is it solely the parents fault?

God Himself identifies with and consoles parents whose children have gone astray despite their best efforts in parenting because He knows their pain. He also has rebellious children who spurned His goodness and decided to go their own self-destructive way.

Much is demanded of parents but when we have done our best, and we have solicited God's help through prayer, we just have to trust that our best is good enough.

The world is great at passing the buck. When a person has a problem it's his parent's fault or his ancestors' fault but the Bible is clear, each person is accountable for his own mistakes.

Maybe I am over-reacting but one thing I know is that we can walk the talk to the best of our ability but whether our children choose to walk the same path is their choice and their responsibility.

"Reflections of a Mother... "

I gave you life, but cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to worship, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside.
I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.
I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation.
I can tell you about drink, but I can't say "no" for you.
I can warn you about drugs but I can't prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral
I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about God, but I cannot make God your Lord.
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life
I can love you with unconditional love all of my life.....
and I will!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Do You Know... (3)

...that it is impossible for a person to commit suicide by holding his or her breath?

According to Wikipedia, "if a healthy person were to voluntarily stop breathing (i.e. hold his or her breath) for a long enough amount of time, he or she would lose consciousness, and the body would resume breathing on its own. Because of this, one cannot commit suicide with this method, unless one's breathing was also restricted by something else" (e.g. water, which leads to drowning).


Me And My Hair

Decided to get my hair done 'cos we're doing this this weekend.

That's me looking pretty pleased with myself

The curls look even better from the back

But knowing me, I am sure to ruin my hair-stylist's handiwork and my hair is going to end up looking it's usual mess by tomorrow. : (

I envy those people always manage to have every hair in place. I know some ladies visit the salon regularly but that is an expensive solution and I am too kiam siap to do that. Moreover I prefer to wash my hair everyday so that could end up being too time consuming as well.

How I wish I have black, healthy, manageable hair that just needs a good cut to look good. No need to waste time and money on dyeing, treatment and trips to the salon.

Babee Is Coming Back Tomorrow

My babee is coming back tomorrow! I am sooo happeeeeee!

I last saw her TWO months ago. Two whole months! That's way too long.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

What If Starbucks Marketed Like A Church?

I've just attended the Eagles Team Leadership Summit Series 2. As part of our last session's discussion on how outsiders perceive Christians and the church we were shown a short video clip entitled "What If Starbucks Marketed Like A Church?"

It's a 21st century parable and so the message really hits you between the eyes. Does it make you uncomfortable?

Weird, pushy, unfriendly, talk funny, act strange, an exclusive club. Yup, that's how outsiders perceive the church and Christians.

I think TOP is not too bad but Christianity on the whole has an image problem. We really have to do something to fix that if we don't want to turn out to be a turn-off to outsiders.

Maybe we could start with something simple this Sunday, like giving a visitor a smile, a handshake and a short welcome-cum-introduction.

God Is Awesome!

Don't believe me? Take a look at this.

Tip: Turn off the volume to shut out the call to prayer in the background.



Isn't it simply amazing? I couldn't believe my eyes.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Perfumed to Death

There was a certain pesky cockroach in our bathroom cabinet. Somehow it managed to escape our numerous attempts to kill it and to trap it.

Then hubby remembered reading somewhere, or hearing from someone, that pandan leaves could be used to keep away cockroaches. So he decided to leave some pandan leaves in the cabinet and today we saw this...

Perfumed to death!

It worked! It's evironmentally friendly and the bathroom smells great as well.