Pigging Out?

Oh the joys of weddings. The decorations, the beautiful bride, the superb ambience…all romantic and super fine; or NOT.

I don’t hate weddings. I just hate the complications of the weddings and anything that is related to the process. Of course, not all weddings are alike in sharing both its bad or good sides but sometimes, I wonder why people act so heartlessly during wedding banquets, especially. Yes, that’s what I’m talking about. Weddings’ banquets. Buffet. Food spread. Wedding Feasts. Jamuan makan. Kenduri kawin. Call it by any other names but the same thing always, over and over again.

I’ve not been to many weddings because of this alone. I just hate how some people can be so selfish and rude during the feast time. Its worst when it’s buffet. Queuing is already a problem; I don’t need people cutting in line no matter if they’re kids or old. If we all should line up to get our food then please be more sensitive and line up too. Seeing adults who cut in line made the smaller kids act the same too. As simple as it is, they followed what they see. So if it’s alright for the adults to do so then perhaps it’s ok for them kids too. And so the generations of ill manners continue and the legacy lives on.

Just the other day, I attended two weddings. One is an acquaintance whose daughter got married. Hers was done at home. A feat that many think is quite impossible to do but I have to applaud her and her family for making the affair a smooth one although space is always a problem when you’re having a feast at home. I had no complaints for hers, I thought hers was done superbly smooth. Perhaps because she’s a teacher and is used of organizing things. Although hers was also a buffet, it was wonderful. They were food booth in a few places therefore the crowd doesn’t rush or push their way. It was well done, enough said.

The one that I’m simply disappointed is the one that I attended today; the wedding of a daughter of a friend of my parents. First of all, it was done in a rented hall, with air-cond, ample parking space and lots of rooms. So I’m guessing that it must be good since when we had our sister’s wedding feast at the same hall, it was really well done and we received many compliments for it after.

When I got there with my mother, I was shocked to see that the parking spot is full so we had to wait for cars to come out before we got our spot. As we went inside, we did the usual greetings with the family of the bride. And then we went inside for the feast. That was the beginning of the series of the worst thing to happen afterwards.

First of all, there were too many people; at the table and also at the buffet. What a long line of queue. Seeing that, I lined up with my mother too. When it was our turn at the table, the plain rice is finished. Pity my mother who’s a diabetic and can’t eat the ghee rice. So she scooped whatever that is left at the rice barrel. Is that how a guest should be treated? The leftovers’ rice?

I took the ghee rice a bit but that was before a boy in red and white stripes t-shirt suddenly cut a line in front of me and rudely scooping his rice into his plate. Thank god it’s a wedding otherwise I would have given a word or two at this boy. But wait, that’s not the real shocker.

As we move on to the dish, we found ourselves standing in front of empty dish racks. Where are all the dishes gone too? And where is the food assistant? Aren’t they supposed to constantly filling in the food racks before they actually ran out? This is not good at all and so unwelcomed for. And so my mom and me stood there and hopefully they will replenish.

Then came a man with a bucket (?) and started filling in one of the rack with a prawn + potato curry. And before I can take any - A short, STOCKY auntie behind me quickly took them by the dozens especially the prawns. And she had three plates. Wow. Is she eating alone or is she taking for her other family members? Then I saw her taking the fried chicken too….too many even for a single plate. And she took the meat dish as well…all full three plates - doing this without looking guilty at all. I bet she thinks it’s perfectly alright for her to do it and I wonder whether she will give some ang-pow or gifts to the family of the bride afterwards.

After we had taken our food, we began scouting for table. My God, they’re all full. Are we supposed to eat standing up? Thank God one of my mother’s relatives saw us and offered two seats next to her. So we sat in the middle of another family and that of my mother’s relative. The empty plates were not cleared as we sat down. No glasses for us to pour our drinks and no tissue at all. No Sirree.

We are thankful that we got to sit down and eat but as I was eating, I couldn’t help but looking at the others especially the senior citizens who had to scout for seats also. It’s a battle out there at the wedding feast with everyone trying to secure their own seats. So that explains a lot if everyone acted so ruthlessly. The running children don’t help at all.

While we were eating, that relative of my mother is busy talking while eating cendol at the same time. A feat that not even trained acrobats can easily do but she did that and what do you know? The spoon and some of the cendol’s content came flying at me and smeared my tudung, my handbag and my outfit. Hell and damnation, what is this? I know you’re much older and you’re connected to my mom in some way but please watch your table manners! How can you eat and move your hands at the same time? And just laugh about it? Thank God I can still hold my patience because you’re related to my mother and you’re older. Thank God too I brought my tissues with me, in case of emergency.

Then a man who sat at the same table who belongs to a different family took some cake and left the empty plastic bowl lying in front. Little did he realize that that thing can easily fly here and there since it’s so light. And seriously enough, it flew to my plate! I know that he saw that happened but he simply looked away as if nothing happened. Not even a sorry face, let alone a word of apology. Damn you man, I hope you get diarrhea on your way home. How can you be so disrespectful towards others just because we are strangers? And they say the Malay folks are famous for courtesy. O’ bullshit.

On and on he came back from the desserts’ table with heaps of bubur, ice cream and so on. And every time he is feeding his equally rude wife too. I hope both of them get diarrhea; and their children too.

There was another family who’s trying to get a seat as my mother and I were still eating. They stood behind us like some flies trapped to a spider’s web. Can’t they see we haven’t finished? Must you make us feel so guilty? And why didn’t you wait behind that dastardly couple? Heck we haven’t even got to drink yet.

But my mom and me, we are not the twisted souls unlike others. Though it’s annoying, we do understand the lack of seats in the hall. So we poured our drinks and only drink it half way. That’s how sensitive we are but that couple were still eating and sitting at their seats, refusing to budge in, not even an inch. They must think they’re some royal couple or what. The face were ugly, the manners even more so.

We wanted to get the ice cream for desserts and to my astonishment; an old lady is scooping the ice cream for everyone. When I asked her, she said the ice cream man who is supposed to be doing the job went missing. And I was like, huh? Can it be more tragic than this?

O gosh, it was one tiring wedding. I’m tired with the crowd, the buffet, the table manners, everything. I hate to say bad things about people’s weddings but sometimes I can’t help it. Been to many weddings, seen the bad, ugly and worst. All I can say is there’s only a few that I can give some credits for. Even my sister’s wedding too had its own flaws here and there. But she wanted things to be done her way so be it. At least we were complimented on the food service. Something that people will remember for a long time to come.

Will I go to another wedding? I seriously don’t have the answer for this. Now I remember vividly why I hate going to weddings’ feast. Perhaps I should avoid it at all cost too.

i know i'm crossing the line here but this pic sometimes is on my mind whenever i see the scenario as what i have written about

Change

           Been a while. This would be my first entry of the new year. What a new year and now it's February? Hey where did January go to? Seriously, I think there's a time thief going on at the moment. 

         Anyway, in the midst of it all came a shocking news...towards the end of January. That I got my transfer back to my hometown. That was a serious shocker. Man, I really didn't see it coming my way.

           In two days? Just what can I possibly do in two days? Can't even packed well. Thank god the new school that I'm going to gave me a week's extension. And the place is damn near to my mom's house and also my future house. Double joy. ELEVEN years of waiting for hometown touchdown. Finally. Victory is mine. Thank you so much God for answering my prayer, then again you know that I'm about to do something good to you in return, didn't you?

          And so I wore the tudung. An act that I was contemplating for so long..should or shouldn't I? Since God answered my prayer, I decided to return the good deeds. Why shouldn't I? Isn't one good thing deserved another? Futhermore, the 'tudung express' creation was made for lazy bummer like me...(LOL)! 

         Despite a lot of non-tudung ladies who told me that it's gonna be hot and humid under that covering; strangely I felt none of that. I felt just fine. I have nothing against the non-wearers as I was previously one of them and I wouldn't encourage them if they're not ready both mind and soul. It wasn't a calling for me. It was more of an overdue thought that I finally decided to act upon. Why wait another minute, hour, day or year? I think it's worth the wait. An anyway, who's who to judge? I know I won't. Been there for 35 years. Tudung or not; its the matter of hearts that is important. 

        Personally, what is important for me is to collect as many 'tudung express' that I can find but none of those beaded-forehead type. That one should be given to those who are not physically gifted, ha ha ha (man I'm arrogant here...) 

        These are some of the pictures that I took on the 1st of February, 2011. The first day of wearing the tudung for me. 

 

now this is my current profile pix for my many social network picca...

me and the boys of 5PD...sometimes fun, sometimes not (esp when i scolded them)

gleeeeee....!

this student seem so quiet but she was the first to text me when news of me leaving the school was out

two lovely gals that i had the opportunities to teach...hope they will have a bright future

these gals are always a sweetheart to have in the classrooms

they made me proud with their achievement in PMR

if i'm not leaving, these bunch will be fun to teach everyday

great people to hang out with

these are the grateful ones definitely. 

        Change. And so I did. 

Of Wedding, Death, Sickness, Everything New and In Betweens

         Didn't write sooner because i was down with a horrible viral flu, and then i got busy with my over-the-top sister's wedding preparation. The flu was really bad and it lasted 3 weeks. It started from my dad and then me. Then it's my mother, sister and the whole house. The only good thing that came out was the fact that i wasn't able to smell anything and therefore i had no sinus reactions. Sinus free for almost 3 weeks. 

         So many things happened during these absence. One of my cat died and i was grieving for almost 3 days. It was such a painful loss. The vet told us that he was poisoned. Dunno whether accidentally eating it or forced fed by some naughty kids around here as there is one evil kid in our area who's well known for torturing cats. I pity those parents for breeding such a future 'un-sub' (loosely quoting from Criminal Minds). Then again, i seriously think that for a future 'un-sub' like this, he deserves a capital punishment. Murdering and torturing cats - they are living things too. I hope my beloved cat is in heaven right now, with God. We buried him just outside our fence's so that we will know and can visit his final resting place. Pain in my heart, no one will understand. Cried for two days and was grieving for a week. How can i forget this kitten that i took care of since the first day that he was born last dec? And then he's gone this dec as he turned one year old. Goodbye, you're always in my heart.

        Then in the midst of all raging flu, i had to attend a 3 days meeting in relating to work. I'm a first timer and when you're with a flu, that's it. All the logical senses are gone not to mention your hearing and everything else too. And so i did bloopers while marking and had to re-do all the marked papers. At the end of everything i thought that my right arm was kinda cramped or something like it. And i'm taking a break here to relax my brain and body before the next work load starts again. 

        PMR came out. As expected, we went down again this year. Am i unhappy? Yes. Am I devastated? Probably. Am i disappointed? Not really. Kinda seen it happening already. So now on to the post-mortem and all and another year of grilling by the education people. 

        The old made in China's laptop screen was damaged by my sister. Cost of repairing? RM650. and so i got a new one. A net book. and my sister is forbidden from touching it. And she still has to repair the old laptop. Perhaps she can share the cost with another one of my sister. And i've upgraded the internet connection at home since my other sister's requested it for the longest time. She wanted to download all her fave Korean serials and other movies. And i told her to download stuffs that i wanted too as well. Plus, she has to share the monthly bill as well. 

         We also bought a new tv. A 32 inch Toshiba Regza slim, flat screen. Those old tvs that lasted 5 - 10 years were finally losing their lives and so although we appreciated their service, we had to let go. My dad was impressed with the slim tv features. And he was impressed again when i bought that Acer Aspire One which is only 10.1 inch. As i have always wanted a small one that i can carry anywhere and can fit in my big bag.

         I didn't go to gym this month due to my flu and busy work schedule. I think i won't be marking papers again, next year. Too much hassle. Probably i'll try for pmr, at least it's not done during the school hols in dec. I missed my friends. Thank God two of them came to my sister's wedding and i was able to spend time with them. I have neglected them so much in the past. 

            Okees dolls, gotta stop now. If i write more i can go on forever and then my work will not be done. 

Exercises for Lifting & Firming the Breast - Worth trying, it helps a lot.

Down-size ME!

          Hey all. Greetings from ME land. Yep i know i've been quiet. The truth is i've been busy working my bum out in the gym everyday for 2 hours max and 1 and a half hour min. And so i did treadmill by brisk walking and now i can jog for 40 minutes non-stop! Imagine that. It used to be all huff and puff even for 5 minutes min. I am feeling more energetic and more revived everyday. This new slim me has given me even the confidence to wear the likes of baby-T and all that comes in the territory. 10 years ago I wouldn't have believe that this could happen to me.

          It was a tiring and difficult journey throughout by watching what i eat, being careful about food selections and being responsible that is to exercise. There is no short cut at all. Exercising has given me the best benefit among all coz it's not just being slim that is the set target but the contour and the tone of the body as well. As i didn't start fat in the first place, why didn't i realized this sooner? I guess what they say about things happen for a reason is true. There is always an underlying agenda underneath all these. If it wasn't the high blood attack; perhaps i would have been 100kg or more withing these months. And yet, i was saved by the Almighty Allah swt. Thank you. You made me realize on how important and how precious  my life is. Thank you for giving me a second chance on life. Thank you for opening my eyes. Thank you for making me a better person. Thank you for shaping me into a healthier being. Thank you. There is no amount of words or compliments that i can say or write to express my gratitude.

          Which brings me to another issue. I used to be compared to the likes of Adibah Noor, Sharifah Aini and other plus-size personalities before. I don't hate them as i said in my first posting; but i know what they say is not true. Physically I was overweight before but there was a desire to lose it too. It's just that at that time I was lost and couldn't find my way.

front view close-ups

front view - full

side view

side view II

side view III

            Now, I'm happy. My journey is still ahead as i have set a target weight of 55-56 kg. Perhaps it will take me another year but i will summon everything that i got and go with it til i get it. So if i'm writing less it's all because i'm at the gym. Less sitting on the chair now, ok? Get moving. 

And as for the benefits??? Lots, y'all. So let me count them for thee:-

• easier to find clothes over the rack since my size is now available
• cheap tops, a.k.a rm5, rm6, 1rm0 and not more than rm20 (no more anything beyond rm30 & above)
• smaller bra size = no more popping boobies on your face. 
• a lot more discounts for my size's range
• did i mention the LOOKS that i'm getting from men? not bad for a 35 year-old, eh?
• no more back pain, knee pain, chest pain
• confident level is better (then again i have always been a confident person)
• BP level is under control
• my health overall is becoming a lot more better
• can run for more than 1/2 hour now! yay!
• smaller tummy...woo hoo! looks nicer when wearing one of those body fitting tee
• compliments abundance

....the possibilities are endless! so goodbye fat and hello a more and trim me. we got a long way to go still, baby but let's make it worthwhile and while at it, keep at it. 

"Oh When The Relatives Comes Marching In..."

        Ever wonder why sometimes we dread when relatives come to visit? It's not that we're reluctant or unfriendly; it's just that sometimes certain family tend to always make us feel uncomfortable and unease at their never-ending questionnaires. 

                For instance, in my own family; having a mixed-rojak family, I tend to not really looking forward for their visits. Not because I am too proud for my own good but it's just that I can't stand a very low-level mentality. I feel sorry that I have such relatives but they are the only connecting dots of my mom's side and I was forced to just keep smiling and tolerate them. Well, enough is enough. Patience is a virtue, no doubt but I think it's about time these family members taste a bit of their own medicine!

                Relatives all around the world seem to be in a some sort of a secret-mission or brotherhood. They seem to be asking the same kind of questions and the same kind of comments. I know that there is a saying that 'Great Minds Think Alike' by Edward de Bono; but somehow I don't think those questions posed actually come from a set of great thinkers. No way. 

                So in no particular order, here are some of the 'all-time favourites questions' that relatives tend to ask when they come visiting:-

1. "So when will you get married?" (me thinks this is a very often spoken phrase that someone needs to pattern this so that it won't be uttered so often anymore without them paying some sort of royalty money)

2. "So you are not getting married soon?" (please refer to the above. different sound and different tone but the same underlying meaning nevertheless. or perhaps they just like to ask twice)

3. "So you're still working as the same job before?" (like hell, yeah. I told you so many times what I did before for a living. maybe next time I should answer that I am now a high-class escort for the Datuk's and Tan Sri's. that'll make 'em stop asking.)

4. "You are still fat as before." (so? y'all still as stupid as before too!)

5. "Why are you buying a house? You're not getting married." (hum. since when did the rule of buying a house only applies to the so-called married folks? which planet are you living? Apes????? as far as I'm concerned, I'm living in M'sia and I can buy a house without having to get a spouse first!)

6. "What are you gonna do with all that property? You're not married. You don't have children. Who will you give it to when you die? Charity??? (duh! that does it. you are seriously testing my patience meter people. well, I made a will to whom I will give all my property to. and your children are not included. so please don't get your hopes high. don't even dream on it 'coz I'm not giving them to you. Who gives a shit about Islamic law on property when they are always being twisted by some greedy Muslims' relatives????)

7. "How come you don't want to visit us?" (for the very obvious reason dear relatives. you suck and yet you don't know it. I will never come to your house.)

8. "Do you remember us?" (yes, no, maybe. is it important for me to remember you? let my mom do all the remembering thingy. I really don't want to give that space on my brain for you suckers.)

9. "We want to use the toilet." (notice that this is not a question? more of a demand. yes we know of the amount of visiting that you made and the food and drinks that came along with it but why is it only our toilets that you want to use? you don't seem to go to the other family members' toilet when you're at their houses? it is only when you arrived at ours that you have stomach issue. next time i'll charge you rm2.00 for every use so you can deduct that from your children's duit raya."

10. "So, when you get married; don't forget to invite us." (are you kidding me? i plan to elope to Bali and have a beach wedding there so therefore you aren't invited at all. anyway, you're not invited to my new house either.)

RUDE ? Yes, I am. Then again, anyone who can spend two hours with them without having the slight feeling of annoyance or murderous intent deserved a standing ovation. 

 

Long Time No See!

    Second day of Syawal 2010 and Alhamdulillah, finally I got to meet Amie Y, all hailed from the land of the hornbill; a good friend since UM days. Gosh, seriously it has been ages since I last saw her back in 1999 when we both graduated from UM where my family and hers met and sat together in one table for a meal. After that, everyone went separate ways. Life goes on as usual and then we lost contact since I too was posted to Sabah and the rest is a history of winding roads and out of sight, out of mind for a while.

            Thank God she found my house phone number in her old phone book (the days of no hand phone, sms or FB-ing)...and she made that one call to me. The rest is history. We got in touch once again and apparently she is married to someone from Kampar! Isn't that a miracle or a mere coincidence??? I think NOT! God is great as He made us cross each other's paths again no matter how long the time frame took us but in the end we meet again on the second day of Raya! 

            We had a long chat over her mom-in-laws 'rendang ayam pencen'. Oh how time flies but we're still the same. Amie's still the old chatterbox, 'kelam-kabut' person whom we all adore.

            And now she has one daughter whom at close proximity is her exact replica in terms of personality. Very much an independent lil' gal. Her husband is also a nice fella. Looking a bit like that Raihan lead singer a bit…ha ha from my myopic point of view, me thinks.

            We went to her sis-in-law's place as well since her husband invited us where again we feasted on a hot and spicy 'dragon's breath' bee hoon soup….'sambal kicap' included; seeing that red 'kuah' already made me realized this is no-kidding soup, man. It looks so red and mean. It surely will taste as fiery as it looks. And I was right.

          Therefore I minimize the 'sambal kicap'. My sisters were a bit unlucky since they took two heap spoonfuls of the 'sambal kicap' not aware of the red-zone soup…and they were all watery eyes and runny nose after a few spoons of the bee hoon….and me being a thick-faced person actually asked to 'tapau' the 'rendang tok' that her sis-in-law made. Hey, she didn't mind and gave us a full 'tupperware' of it. The cheeks. Me like.

            We chatted for some time and lingered on like nobody's business. Hey, after 10 years, and after all that online conversation nothing can beat like a face-to-face dialogue session. She was in a hurry since they had to go to Ipoh and Semenyih later on but we made a promise to see each other's again now that we already know her husband's kampong.

            The first day of Raya was all gloomy and rain but the second day, although a piercing hot weather was a better one. I'm actually quite happy today coz to me Raya is all about enforcing good relations between people that we know. Not the one who come like once every two or three years. As I see it, distance is not a problem. Eventually, the path will lead us back to where it started from.