“sehr sub”

I AM LOSING MY STRIPES

One of my obsessions is reading. One of my favorite authors is Jodi Picoult. One of many books I want is this:

You can read the excerpt / synopsis from here: http://www.jodipicoult.com/

It’s the latest book from Picoult. Anyway, while I am at it, I want this as well:

It’s the only one I haven’t got so far (for my collection). Can’t seem to find it anywhere.

I am also collecting (other than ladybird stuffs, ya yang..) Judith McNaught. Sometimes, I like to read Cathy Kelly (but this book is REALLY heavy I tell you. If you cannot cope with more than 3 stories in a title (and more than 10 characters), I’d advise you not to read her book. But, if you love life dramas, please have a go at Kelly. Have a look: http://www.cathykelly.com/ I love Kelly because the book last longer (when I read it). Thinking of getting the latest one from her:

and…

I love going to bookstores clearance sale (if I know any la). I used to collect R.L.Stine’s , Enid Blyton’s , Alfred Hitchcock’s, Christopher Pike’s. Well, that was in the past (way over a decade ago). I read Malay novels as well, but I find it hard to be loyal to one author for too long, because the books eventually have the same plots or storyline. It’s so predictable.

Cecelia Ahern writes some interesting books as well. But, some of them are not my cup of tea. In fact, the ONLY book that I love from her is this:

But I can’t remember who has my copy! I borrowed it to a friend, but I don’t think she has return it yet. I saw the movie as well, it was good, but the book version is better. . Want to browse other books by her? http://www.ceceliaahern.ie/

Sheereen lent me a book by Dorothy Koomson once. I kinda like it. It’s funny and very british. Hahaha.. I read this:

But then, when I was shopping for books (wow! it was like a zillion years ago), I read the synopsis of one of her other books and I found out that it kinda has the same type of characters and storyline. A woman, a child (or children) and there must be a handsome man somewhere in the picture. The woman wouldn’t want anything to do with children, but then eventually falls for the children and later, falls for the man. But, if there’s no other interesting book, I think I’d choose it, anyway. Because of the funny, quirky lines of Koomson. Anyhow, I think her other titles have different storyline as well.

Anyone with suggestions on other books?

Oh, p/s: I’m not going to buy Sophie Kinsella, because I can always borrow it from Nadia. Kan, Nad?

Semenjak dua menjak ni, language di dalam blog ku dah bercampur aduk. Dulu, kengkonon sangat strict, if you want to write in English, make it English all the way (and vice versa). But, not now. Nape gaknye? BM pun dah guna bahasa pasar jek. Hahahaha..

Hari ini RASA BODOH yang amat.. just because I can’t remember how to use the t-test thingy in *SPSS. In fact, I can’t even remember how to use the SPSS!!

Oh yesterday, I was a bit pissed off by an incident in front of the Pasaraya (damn, tak ingat plak nama kedai tu). It was 6 something in the evening and I don’t know why, the usually vacant parking spaces near the store were full. That’s when I saw a vacant space right in front of the store. But, wait! There was a grey Kancil in front of me. “Oh please don’t take it,” I prayed. Abracadabra. The driver didn’t take it. Although he selfishly blocked the vacant space by parking in front of it. How selfish can someone be, ya?

Me, heated, parked my car (which was quite far from the store) and was so ready to give the driver my two cents. I charged towards the car (by being very discreet for the fear of embarrassing myself) and the store. But then, I saw a white paper with red & black words written across it, put up on the windshield : OKU. Hahahahaha.. Immediately ALL my blood which was firing up my head flowed elsewhere. And I quietly entered the store.

When I came to my senses, I started to logically think, “Alah, OKU pun, doesn’t mean he has all the rights to block the vacant space if he doesn’t want to park there! So INCONSIDERATE! OKU atau tak.” You see, the driver was waiting in the car, while the passenger (which I didn’t get the chance to see who, because I was so busy fuming and finding other parking) went into the store. Can’t the driver wait for his friend somewhere else - by that I mean, by not blocking the only vacant space available! Bodoh betul rasanya. Dahla I don’t know which one was the OKU (the driver or the passenger who got out). Geram je. The store pun satu, takde la nak buat parking space for OKU ke.. Nama jek Pasaraya (bla-bla).

Anyway, it was ok, I guess. Maybe I need the exercise. It’s just that I’m sick of selfish Malaysians!

Off to read more on how to use SPSS (and experimenting). Daaa..

*SPSS = Statistical Package for Social Sciences

* Tadi dengar lagu Circus Britney Spears, hence the entry’s title (takde kene mengena langsung dengan cerita di bawah)

Finally, dapat juga makan jambu batu yang rangup tapi tak keras macam nak patah gigi. Stopped on my way to Hosp. Kajang today and bought RM2 worth of guava (hahaha..kalau Muq nampak mesti dia kata “TAMAK”). Dah baca bismillah pun masih rasa tak cukup lagi sebenarnya. I pledge myself to become a regular customer kat stall jambu batu tepi komuter station tu.

I wish that everyday will be like today - cool and cloudy with gentle breeze. Barulah datang mood nak buat keje.. I’ve done my data entry yesterday, a little bit of report this morning and right after blogging, I’d be doing my assessment report. Then, as usual, on Tuesday, off to tuition after Maghrib prayer. Hehehe..Yesterday, I received an sms from Linda a.k.a Boss; makluman kepada semua teachers, sila datang awal ke kelas dan prepare untuk ape yang perlu diajarkan kepada students (bunyinye lebih kurang gitu lah). I used to be very early to come to class, but then, I have to wait longer time for the students to come. So, this year, I’ve been arriving at 8 ot the dot or sometimes even later than that - depends on the length of queue at the SK ramp. Bad, huh.

Remorse is a feeling I am having now for not stopping at 7E to buy a good bar of chocolate. Damn!

Yesterday, I made an entry on why I love Muq. I guess he read it. Good thing was, I don’t have to cook. Yeay! Sedap Char Kuey Teow semalam, kan yang? Today, I meant to write about our preparation for the upcoming bundle of joy that I hope would provide us with more activities to do rather than sprawling on the couch watching movies that Muq has downloaded (cinema without money) from the net.

So, I’ve listed the things that we will be needing as the little one arrives. Thanks to various bloggers that have shared their motherly experiences, and also my relatives and friends. The list (long one) surprised my oh-ever-so-lovely Muq and he started to complaint about the invicible notes in his wallet. He told me only to pick things that are NEEDED, not wanted. But, I argued that THOSE were the ones needed. Luckily, as the time past, we managed to get help from family and relatives and friends.

OMG! I am really craving for CHOCOLATE right now. I guess I have to settle with Nad’s ladybird chocolates for now.

Wanna see what we got so far?

- Baby cot, mattress, baby pillow, mosquito net, walker and a set of bowl+cups (walaupun jauh lagi perjalanannya), and moses basket :THANKS to Abang E & Kak Ida for loaning them to us (terms and conditions applied).

- Pillow case, mattress cover, bath tub, kain bedung yang sangat comel (and many more to come, I guess) : fully sponsored by my parents.

- Stroller (walaupun belom dapat lagi) : Dengan muka tak malunya, THANKS to my babes (namely, Ain & Nad).

- A nice (plus cute) set of romper/jumper : Ni nak mintak my bro beli - Hahahaha.. I’m your always helpless sister, kan?

Things that I crossed off the list (atas arahan Seri Paduka Baginda Suamiku)

- Nasal Aspirator (selagi baby tak selsema, tak payah beli)

- Diaper bag (bag banyak-banyak buat gantung jek kat rack tu nak buat ape?)

- Bakul baju baby (I’ll find a place)

- Comb/brush, toothbrush (jap gi nak botakkan jek, gigi pun belom tumbuh)

- Car seat (yang ni En Muq yang nak cross off the list - disebabkan kekangan kewangan. Ok, Bie, I’ll drive all the way to Batu Pahat or Gurun and you can happily hold the baby all the way~~)

Things that I’m so excited to buy:

- Clothings, inc. shirts, pants, mittens, booties, socks, small towels, hat.

- Bedding, inc. Blanket (saw one last week- I am sooo going to get it, eventhough it cost a fortune - because it reminds me of my blanket when I was a baby).

- Bathing, inc. towel, toiletries, manicure set

- Diapering, inc. changing mat, baby wipes, diaper, diaper cream

- Feeding, inc. feeding bottles, bottle brush, breast pump, milk storage bottle, nursing cover

Things that I WANT, no matter what:

oooohh… I saw this nice knitted pair of socks that goes for RM29.90 per pair. It has nice animal (e.g. bunny etc.) head in front. I’m buying it as soon as I get my pay this month. It’s handmade and it looks comfy.

Some of my cousins & friends told me not to buy so many clothes as friends & family would buy them as gifts. But, me being me, it’s better to be prepared. I’d love to receive presents (who doesn’t), but you’ll never know, kan? We can’t always depend on others to provide for our needs..

I am soooo excited to shop! It has been a while.. As depressing as it is (me, not having a stable financial source), life goes on. Might as well enjoy it while it last.

Orang kata, anak tu rezeki..

A good Monday so far. I hate Mondays, just like everyone else, but today has been good. As I am feeling lovey-dovey today, I’m taking some time off to write an entry on “why I love my husband”. Hahahaha.. Mushy-mushy ya..

Anyway, I think it’s good to have this kind of list, so that whenever I feel like blowing my head off because he does something irritating, I can always read through the list and remember that there are good things about him, which made me marry him in the first place.

He is fantastic because:

1. He cooks sometimes, and let me sprawl on the couch while he is cooking.
2. He makes excellent cocktail drinks & wouldn’t mind if I get the bigger share.
3. He tolerates me well whenever I ask for his share of food or drinks (when in the first place, I said NO when he asked me whether I want the same food/drink he’s having).
4. OK, it looks like all I care is FOOD. Hahahaha..
5. He never complain when I woke him up in the middle of the night complaining about my backache or cramping, and started to rub my back (even for a good 5 seconds only, before he dozes off again).
6. He’d help around the house if I ask him to (although some of them will only get to be done after a million years - ehem..still loving you).
7. Once in a blue moon, he’d surprised me with cleaning up the store room, washing the dishes, pulling out the weeds in the backyard - when I least expect him to do.
8. He thinks a lot about our future, especially in the area I’m worst at - financial.
9. He gets on well with my family and relatives.
10. The first thing he did when we learned that we are going to be a parent was finding us a new home, so that I don’t have to climb the long, tiring flights of stairs.
11. He doesn’t mind when I suddenly fall asleep when I just said, “Jom jalan-jalan”.
12. He doesn’t mind (but sometimes complain, but I usually ignore him) when I sleep the whole way during our journey home (Kedah or Johor).
13. He lets me have the bigger share of the couch, bed, wardrobe, book rack, store room - hahahhaahhahhaa… mainly, EVERYTHING.
14. He gets on well with my friends, my friends’ partners and anyone related to them.
15. The list can go on for eternity, but I think 15 are enough to remind me of how special he is in my life, and the last one is, all the hugs and kisses I woke up to every single blessed morning.

So, for you, honey, EVERYDAY I LOVE YOU - even when I am cranky as hell - tu luaran jek.. Hahahaha..

Menyambut seruan Syiefa & Hajar - but, I must say, I haven’t been updating my player, jadik lagu-lagunya semua will bring you back to memory lane..

RULES:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag 10 friends.
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
6. Have Fun!

IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY?
If I Ain’t Got You - Alicia Keys : Nampak seperti dependent plak, tp appreciative

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Oon Myung - OST Full House : aaahh… citer ni comel kan, maka saya comel la gaknye.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Tiada Lagi - Amy : hahahahaha…sia sia sudah..kita jalin cinta..bila hati selalu berbeda..sampai kapan lagi..ku harus menahan..rasa kecewa di dalam dada.. what does that say? sedih plak lagu ni.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Only Time - Enya : yeah..I wish I have ALL the time in the world.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Say You Love Me - OST It started with A Kiss : Aik! Hahahhaha.. Macam kesian jek life purpose camni - meminta belas kasih sayang orang.

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?
L-O-V-E - This is My Suitcase : Well, what can I say, I’m one with a lot of love to give.

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Bubbly - Colby Caillat : Really? Really? Hahahhaha..

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Invicible - Five : Ha? Sedihnya~~~~ But they say they love me… sob sob. Karut betul.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Everything I do, I do it for You - Bryan Adams : Perfect song for those I love!

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
That Girl - Frankie J Feat. Chamillionaire, Mannie Fresh & Slim Thug : Lama stuck kat sini sebab xtau nak cakap ape. 2+2 = 2X2 juge.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Like You’ll Never See Me Again - Alicia Keys : Love me like you’ll never see me again, babes! Apsal bile soklan melibatkan orang jek, mesti menunjukkan seperti saya ini begitu helpless???? hahahahaha…

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Have You Ever Really Love A Woman - Bryan Adams : hahaha… Love comes in many shapes and sizes, I love my mom, my sister & friends, but I love men, too…

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt : Noooooooo!!!! Ni salah ni. Boleh tekan lagu lain tak? But, I guess, it’s better to leave first, rather than being the one left behind. Saya tak suke bile kena tinggal!!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol : hahahaa..kejar kete dia..bukan kejar orangnya.. Materialistik, bak kata Syiefa.

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing - Aerosmith : Perfect song for a wedding, kan? It could be our first song on the dance floor.

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Everything - Lifehouse : Perghh…Meleleh air mata jenazah sbb terharu dengar. Terima kasih la ye.. bacakan yassin pun boleh juge..

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST??
Cahaya Cinta - Siti Nurhaliza : hahahahahahah.. seronok juga hobi bercinta ni.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Sani - Bunga Cinta Lestari : Nad? Apakah? Apakah? hahahahahhaha…

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Jujur - Radja : Aih? kalau dah jujur, xyah la ber-secret lagi ye tak?

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Lucky - Jason Mraz feat Colby Caillat : Yes! I need that.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Honey Pie - The Beatles : yelah2…diaorg lah my honey pie..

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

We Belong Together - Mariah Carey : ok. done.

* Tagged it to:

1. Nad (bila tenet dia da ok)

2. Ned (kalo dia x busy dgn assignment)

3. Muq (kalo dia nak ler)

4. Reen (kalo dia tak takut mak dia bising)

5. Lydia (kalo dia boring cuti sekolah dok umah jek)

6. Dada (kalo dia rajin ler)

7. Eton (ntah-ntah dia da buat pun ni)

8. Any silent reader out there

9. & 10. Sesape jek la yang minat nak buat.

If I had this kind of question during school, I’d be happy to write a 3-page essay on it. So, since I never get the chance of doing so, I’d like to write about it here. If the topic is not in your best interest, please be happy to hop on to other blogs =)

I would begin my essay with:

Ladybird or Coccinellidea comes from the beetle family. Although I don’t really like beetles, I am very much fascinated by this cute cousin of theirs. Some calls them ladybugs and lady beetles. Although we usually see ladybirds in red with black spots, some of them are yellow with black spots and others come in duller colors such as brown, grey and black. I like the red with black spots better because they look more cheerful and prettier.

My fascination started during my early childhood. I don’t know much about kid’s clothing brands back then. But, I did realize that most of mine and my brother’s clothes came either from Kiki Lala or Ladybird. It was usually during Raya that my parents splurged on us with lots and lots of new clothes, and we would go to The Store (the old one in Jalan Rugayah) to serve the purpose. Sometimes, we got free gifts along with the heaps of clothing. I remember, one of the best gifts we received were a nice khaki knapsack (it was so small!!) with a single ladybird logo at the back. I thought the bag was so smart looking. We also got a plastic piggy bank in the form of ladybird (for each of us!). We loved the gifts of course and we started collecting our own coins, then. I think, I had it for quite a long time, until I was a teenager, I guess. But somehow, I don’t know where it went.

When I was in primary school, my mom got me a bicycle - the bigger one, with baskets in front. It was purple in color. I played with a schoolmate that lived nearby. However, I’d rather play by myself - trying to catch ladybirds that were resting and feeding on the aphids in the ‘kacang boto’ plants my grandmother planted at the fence of our house. There were loads of them - both ladybirds and aphids. I caught the ladybird with my hands and let it crawl on my hands for some times and then, put it back on the plant. And then, there was the book. The ones that go by the name Ladybird Books. They usually comes in green hardcover, but I think, nowadays, they have other colors as well. I used to read my cousins’ and back then, I only afforded to but 1 copy of the book.

As I grew up, pop teens became the main attractions, so the ladybird took a backseat. However, when sometimes I stumbled upon a ladybird pictures or items, I’d get the flashback of my childhood memory, of playing with the ladybirds. Once or twice, a ladybird landed on me or near me and I smiled hoping that it came to bear good news for me. I pretended that that day, I’d be lucky. But, I do remember getting birthday presents wrapped up in ladybirds wrappers, or receiving doodles from my buddies with ladybirds on them.

When I surpassed the teen stars/boy band fever, I started to drool over ladybird, again (and BIG time!). This time around, I have my own money to spend, so I got to buy whatever ladybird items I could get my hands on. There were hair clips, candle holders, candles, shirts with ladybirds print - you name it. If it was not me who bought it, I got it from friends who saw ladybirds and said that they have to get it for me as the red bug reminded them of me. As a result, I was swarmed with ladybirds. I prefer items that I can use, and my friends knew it. They rarely gave me ladybird soft toys, but things like hair clips, pegs, candles and earrings were always handed to me.

Even now, when visitors come to my house (especially the first timers), they would notice the fact that there are several ladybird items peeking from under the sofa, at the kitchen sink, in the bathroom, anywhere! Sometimes, when a close friend gave birth to a newborn, I bought her baby items that are printed with ladybirds on them. Just because.

People say that they can tell a lot about you from things that you like. I’d say, I love ladybirds because they remind me of happy memories - whether it was from my childhood days or teens. In fact, as I journeyed through my nearly 3 decades of life, the ladybirds have always been connected with good memories that I cherish. I may be only one of the avid fans of ladybirds, but I have my own reasons and I am happy with it. For me, the ladybird signifies my life. I also would like to think that maybe the luck would rub off me…. and therefore, I’d be able to land on my favorite people’s shoulders and sprinkle ripples of happiness and lucks on them.

For all my friends who have just got married or about to get married soon or have been married some time ago, here is my favorite quote from Kahlil Gibran:

Hari ni amat takde mood. Nak tulis blog in English pun takde mood. Tapi sbb tak tau ape lagi nak buat untuk cari mood yang hilang tu, nak jugak tulis blog.

Bila takde mood, mesti terfikir tesis yang tak tercollect2 lagi data tu. Dahla takde mood, sedih pulak. Rasa macam ada banyak masa untuk siapkan tesis tu, tapi kalau data tak sempat collect, macamana nak tulis chapter 4-6? Mula la rasa menyesal buat tajuk tesis susah cenggini, pastu tambah lagi sesalannya sebab sape soh tak cari dari AWAL????? Dahla asyik tukar tajuk jek - sebab supervisorku yang suruh tukar juge~~

Dahla takde mood, bila lepas makan jek, perut mesti rasa tegang jek. Takde mood + sedih + malas. Negatif sungguh perasaanku hari ini, yek. Pastu tetiba teringat semalam kena marah + pukul (no worries, pukul sket jek, salunya if I’m the one yang pukul dia, lagi kuat rasanya - hehehe.. oh, this is not a confession of any form of abuse) dengan En Muq (atas sebab2 yang tidak dapat dielakkan). Sudahnya, tido dalam kesedihan.. Agaknya sebab tu la kot mood tu hilang~~ Dah lama tak kena marah, jadi macam dah manja.. Bila orang tinggi suara siiiiiiiiikiiiiiiit jek (agak2 naik 1decibel from usual), terus meleleh air mataku. Pemurah orang kata..

Pastu hari ni, dengan mood yang hilang tu, pegi juga Porta Kabin, jumpe patientku yang pelupa itu, kekonon nak buat neuro assessment. In the end, I waited for AN HOUR for her to come. Dahla lupe nak bawak bahan bacaan, jadinya, banyak tersandar kat kerusi sambil termenung. Sudahnya, buat test for half and hour jek. Sebab hari ni, clin psych-nye tiada mood. Hehehe.. Dahla patient tu asyik bersin2 jek, pantang betul nak dekat2 dengan orang bersin/batuk ni. Sebab last time menjangkit dari students at tuition center, 2-3 kali pulak tu, LAMA pulak tu nak recover. Mintak2 kali ni bebas lah dari jangkitan..

Esok kekonon nak bangun pagi and buat semua benda yang dah tulis dalam my little black book masa tunggu patient datang tadi. Kalau dapat cross semua esok, uish..mesti rasa bangga dengan diri sendiri, secara tak langsung mungkin menaikkan semangat yang dah terapung-apung tak tentu arah ni.

Pastu la ni tengah mendung2 nak hujan plak… Hai…fits my mood lah.. but then again, cloudy, rainy, windy days like this ALWAYS fits ANY of my mood. Hahaha.. The magical world of Nur Arfah Zaini.

Petang ni, nak gi tuition awal sket dari biasa. Salu jek tibe lambat kat tempat tuition sebab salu kena queue dekat ramp nak masuk SK tu. Queue jek dah sampai 10minit!! Buang masa betul. Malas pulak nak salu gi awal ke tuition, sebab nanti rasa macam lama sangat plak nak tunggu students masuk kelas.

Sekarang ni, nak main game bodoh yang bernama Drugpill kejap, sebelum bersiap untuk ke tuition. Nak cuba breakkan record sendiri.

I hope tonight, En Muq baik-baik saje with me.. Salunya memang kalau lepas kena marah, dia memang baik pun. Dulu, kalau lepas gaduh, ada la jugak dapat hadiah.. Sungguh negative reinforcement itu. Tapi la ni, jarang pulak dapat hadiah. Tapi mungkin ia hadir dalam bentuk lain, contohnya layanan yang baik-baik ke, seplastik buah mangga kegemaranku ke, his willingness to do whatever I ask him to ke.. Hehehe… masih ada lagi harapan..