Clues and Hints

Few guys will come right out and say that they've fallen hard for you, but these gestures are dead giveaways.

Four clues he's totally hooked on you:

1. He becomes really helpful. Men crave feeling needed, and when they're gaga, they'll invent ways to be of assistance - like mowing your lawn or changing the oil in your car. Yes, it's more practical than romantic, but his heart is in the right place.

2. He's happy just to hang. When a guy is fully invested in being around you, he's content to chill out doing absolutely nothing. So it's a good sign when you start seeing him more often, even if your time together is less planned out.

3. Things remind him of you. If he is e-mailing funny Websites he has found or says he saw something in a store you'd like, it proves you're on his brain full-time .. and becoming part of his inner world.

4. He gives you a sweet nickname. Dudes only use tender terminology like pet names once they're comfortable being vulnerable around you.

*From Cosmopolitan magazine July 2007 issue.

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Tagged!

I was tagged by Ruby Ahmad, who was tagged by Raden Galoh, who was tagged by Idham. Anyway, he is planning to compile as many tags/memes as possible by 26th August, for which every tag/meme, he will contribute RM127 to Darul Izzah Orphanage.

The meme is about completing at least seventeen out of the following twenty seven sentences.

I am on a partial break but for the sake of the children, here's my contribution:

1. A person is only as good as ... what he does not portray of himself.

2. Friendship is always ... something that keeps one going.

3. To love is to ... feel and act on it.

4. Money makes me ... wonder and wander.

5. I miss ... my parents who are gone from this world and my family and friends in Malaysia.

6. My way of saying I care is by ... reaching out.

7. I try to spread love and happiness by... sharing.

8. Pick the flowers when ... you really cannot resist it. If not, let it be. They flourish in their natural state.

9. To love someone is to ... feel it and prove it - not only by words but by action.

10. Beauty is ... in the eye of the beholder.

11. When I was thirteen, what I remember the most was ... asking daddy when can I start playing the piano.

12. When I was twenty one, I remember... asking myself why did I start playing the piano (practical exams are hard!)

13. I am most happy when ... loved ones are happy.

14. Nothing makes me happier than ... seeing a loved one happy.

15. If I can change one thing, I will change ... nothing. Every experience in life, good or bad, comes with a lesson. We learn, we grow.

16. If smiles were ... an indication of an unstable mind, then I .. would be considered deranged.

17. Wouldn't it be nice if we could ... have some people retire from public office? They were there when I started my secondary school education... they are still there 27 years later. How come some don't look aged and/or bald? Oh yeah.. money buys many things.

18. If you want to ... flatter someone.. then you have to ... be sincere about it.

"He that flatters you more than you desire either has deceived you or wishes to deceive.” - Italian proverb

19. Money is not everything but ... something that can affect a person's mind, body and/or spirit.

20. The most touching moment I have experienced is ... something that will stay in my heart.

21. I smile when ... ever I am happy.

22. When I am happy, I ... smile.

23. If only I don't have to ... sleep ... then... I can catch up with my reading and cross stitching.

24. The best thing I did yesterday was ... turning a negative thought into something positive.

25. If I ever write a book, I will give it this title ... "An Unforgettable Past"

26. One thing I must do before I die is ... make sure no sad songs are played at my funeral. Every song must be upbeat. If a sad song is played, I will haunt the person who suggested it.

27. Doing this meme, I feel like ... this deed goes beyond words.

I usually do not impose a tag on anyone. However, since Lady Patsy now owes me a tag from the past, I hope she picks up on this one. (woo hoo! she did..)

Busy Buzzing Bees

Though I said I was going on a short break from blogging, I felt a little recharged today. A good workout at the gym must have done the trick. So, I decided to share something I read. Note that this is a break from the brief break i.e. mind still not functioning as it should.

Anyway, while I was on the treadmill brisk-walking to nowhere, I kept myself occupied with the magazine, Discover. A magazine which covers science, technology and the future. There were too many heavy articles for me to comprehend while walking up an imaginary hill. Skipped those. Then I came across an article - "How people will die in the year 2030?". Skipped that. Not when I am on the treadmill!

Finally, an interesting article written by Liza Lentini - on the last page of the magazine.

20 Things you didn't know about Bees:

1. There are 16,000 species. Most are solitary insects; only about 5 percent are social bees, the most common being the honey bee. As many as 80,000 of them colonise a single hive. And we complain about needing our space!

2. Drones - the male honeybees- live only for mating with the queen. If there is a shortage of food in the hive, the workers kick their lazy, gigolo asses out. hmmm.. wonder if that happens with humans - when a woman gets tired of her toyboy.

3. To die for: When drones mate, they die afterwards from a ruptured abdomen. Sex detaches their endophallus, which gets stuck inside the queen. OUCH!

4. She continues to mate - the drones aren't terribly smart, apparently - until she collects more than 70 million sperm from multiple males. Better not say anything. I might get cyber-eggs thrown at me.

5. The queen was known as the king until the late 1660s, when Dutch scientist Jan Swammerdam dissected the hive's big bee and discovered ovaries. So typical... they assume they rule. :)

6. Someone call Homeland Security! Australian researchers discovered that honeybees can distinguish human faces. The insects were shown black-and-white pictures and given treats for right answers. Maybe we should have honeybees working at our immigration.

7. Oh, someone did call Homeland Security. In the Stealthy Insect Sensor Project, Los Alamos scientists have trained bees to recognise explosives. Could we use these bees for Altantuya's case?

8. The term "honeymoon" is derived from an old northern European custom in which newlyweds would consume a daily cup of mead, made with fermented honey, for a month.

9. The term "bees knees" was coined by American cartoonist Tad Dorgan, who was also responsible for "the cat's pajamas", "the flea's eyebrows," "the canary's tusks," and (apropos of nothing) "Yes, we have no bananas."

10. During World War 1, honey was used to treat the wounds of soldiers because it attracts and absorbs moisture, making it a valuable healing agent. The next time you have an injury in the kitchen, just reach for your bottle of honey. While you are doing that, go ahead and prepare a cup of hot tea with a dollop of honey.

11. Honey never spoils. Ever. So that dusty honey bottle sitting on a shelf at your local sundry shop could be 10 years old.

12. Bumblebees can estimate time intervals. Researchers have found that the insects extend their tongues in tandem with the rhythm of a sweet reward. This aids in the hunt for nectar, whose availability waxes and wanes. No comment ... ;)

13. Melittosphex burmensis, recently found preserved in amber in a mine in northern Myanmar, is the oldest bee known. It lived 100 million years ago. Now the question is.. male or female?

14. After he had pioneered the laws of genetics with pea plants, Austrian monk Grego Mendel bred a strain of hybrid bees. Unfortunately, they were so vicious he had to kill them. awww...

15. The buzz that you hear when a bee approaches is the sound of its four wings moving at 11,400 strokes per minute. Bees fly an average of 15 miles per hour. I wonder if "auntie kaypoh" has the same ability. She seems to be everywhere within seconds with news about so-and-so.

16. A newly hatched queen immediately kills all other hatched and unhatched queens in the hive. whoa! the ultimate bitchiness. I wonder if that happens in the corporate world. hmmm..

17. The Honeybee Boogie: In 1943 Austrian zoologist Karl von Frisch published his study on the dances bees perform to alert fellow workers. A round dance indicates that food is close by; a waggle dance means it is distant.

18. Worker bees have strictly regimented roles, including that of undertakers who drag their dead siblings from the hive. Sounds like a government I know.

19. On the April 1984 Challenger flight, 3,300 bees, housed in a special but confining box, adapted perfectly to zero gravity and built a nearly normal comb. But they didn't go to the toilet. Since bees excrete only outside the hive, they held it in for seven days. A NASA spokesperson said the space hive was "just as clean as a pin." I wonder if our two space-bound fellows will be able to emulate the bees. Tell them to stay away from anything spicy. Trying to undo that space suit after a good hot and spicy meal will be challenging.

20. According to an old wives' tale, a bee entering your house means a visitor is on his way, and if you kill the bee, the visitor won't be a pleasant one. Suffice to say, invite that unexpected honeybee guest to sit down to tea. If I get word that the visitor is George Clooney or Colin Farrell, then I will capture the bee and put it in a ventilated bottle. ;)

Weekend Ramblings

The light bulb in my head is flickering. I have been feeling drained lately. Soon, I may not be able to update my blog as often as I would like to until some things get settled. There may be some occasional breaks but I will definitely still be around. Most probably just blog-hopping.

In the meantime, here's something for the weekend:

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Mouse Balls

I don't know how they wrote this with a straight face. This was a real memo sent out by IBM to its employees in all seriousness. It went to all field engineers about a computer peripheral problem. The author of this memo was quite genuine. The engineers rolled on the floor! Especially note the last couple of sentences.

"If a mouse fails to operate or should it perform erratically, it may need a ball replacement. Mouse balls are now available as FRU (Field Replacement Units). Because of the delicate nature of this procedure, a replacement of mouse balls should only be attempted by properly trained personnel.

Before proceeding, determine the type of mouse balls by examining the underside of the mouse. Domestic balls will be larger and harder than foreign balls. Ball removal procedures differ depending upon the manufacturer of the mouse. Foreign balls can be replaced using the pop off method. Domestic balls are replaced by using the twist off method. Mouse balls are not usually static sensitive. However, excessive handling can result in sudden discharge.

Upon completion of ball replacement, the mouse may be used immediately. It is recommended that each person have a pair of spare balls for maintaining optimum customer satisfaction.

Any customer missing his balls should contact the local personnel in charge of removing and replacing these necessary items. Please keep in mind that a customer without properly working balls is an unhappy customer."

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How to solve a mid-life crisis?

When I was married 25 years, I took a look at my wife one day and said, "Honey, 25 years ago we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10-inch black and white TV but I got to sleep every night with a hot 25-year-old blond. Now we have a $500,000 home, a $45,000 car, a nice big bed and a plasma screen TV but I'm sleeping with a 50-year-old woman. It seems to me that you are not holding up your side of things."

My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find a hot 25-year-old blond and she would make sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa bed and watching a 10-inch black and white TV.

Aren't older women great? They really know how to solve your mid-life crisis.

Choices in Life

Recently, someone challenged me on one particular quality which I am very sure I possess. I was told that I am not ambitious. How did he come to that conclusion? I told him he obviously did not know me. For as long as I have known myself, I have always set goals and achieved it. I wished to know why he said it because if that statement was warranted, I could learn from it. No reason was given and he changed the subject.

I started thinking what did he see that made it look like I had no ambition in life? Is it because I am a housewife thus I have become complacent? Is it because I am not pursuing a degree or a job at this time so I come off as a person with no goals? I told myself, "Goals - I have plenty. I am working towards one as we speak. However, some other things are not possible right now. I will know when the time is right."

Then I thought, "I do not need to justify my situation. I can't change his perception of me as long as he wants to hold on to that view. "

After all, there is a nagging feeling at the back of my mind, that maybe, just maybe, he was just projecting his own feelings of inadequacy onto me. Like someone wise once said - "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." ~Wayne Dyer (Psychotherapist, Author and Speaker)

But then again, I could be wrong ;)

However, I know I am not wrong when I hold on to Eleanor Roosevelt's words as my motto - "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent".

This piece of story below is a gentle reminder about the choices I have when dealing with something unpleasant, like a bad day. As they say, you can choose to swim or choose to sink...

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Jerry is the manager of a restaurant. He is always in a good mood. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would always reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

Many of the waiters at his restaurant quit their jobs when he changed jobs, so they could follow him around from restaurant to restaurant. Why? Because Jerry was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was always there, telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him "I don't get it! No one can be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, I have two choices today. I can choose to be in a good mood or I can choose to be in a bad mood.

I always choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be victim or I can choose to learn from it. I always choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I always choose the positive side of life."

"But it's not always that easy," I protested.

"Yes it is," Jerry said.

"Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. It's your choice how you live your life."

Several years later, I heard that Jerry accidentally did something you are never supposed to do in the restaurant business. He left the back door of his restaurant open.

In the morning, he was robbed by three armed men. While Jerry trying to open the safe box, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him.

Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to the hospital. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Want to see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied.

"Then, after they shot me, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared?" I asked.

Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the Emergency Room and I saw the expression on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry.

"She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes', I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!'

Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Please operate on me as if I am alive, not dead".

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day you have the choice to either enjoy your life or to hate it. The only thing that is truly yours -- that no one can control or take from you - is your attitude, so if you can take care of that, everything else in life becomes much easier.

Murphy's Laws of Work

Monday - the beginning of the work week (in most places). The alarm clock rings in the morning. I reach for it to push the snooze button. I tell myself, "please, a few more minutes." It rings again. I go "arggghh...not again." I wake up and drag myself to the bathroom and get ready to face a new week. It is so hard to adjust to a Monday but once the day starts (typically, after lunch!), I am on the roll. Come what may. (I recover faster than Snoopy)



When I worked in Malaysia in the 90s, I used to commute between Klang and KL. I definitely don't miss it. Waking up at an unearthly hour just to catch the 6:20am bus (then the train from mid-90s) drained me after half a decade. However, I do miss the buzz that came with working in the Golden Triangle. I loved the city life. I used to look forward to lunch - varieties to be tried and tested. From the mamak stall to the food courts. From sandwich joints to western restaurants. Some days, my lunch consisted of just fruits and a sandwich in the office. Other days, when I felt like treating myself, I will end up in Chilli's (or an equivalent) with my trusted companion - a book. I enjoyed my work too, challenges and all.

Now, there are some things that happen in a work place, I think, that is quite universal. The axiom of anything that can possibly go wrong, will go wrong holds true. It is called the Murphy's Laws of Work. Below are some of them which may sound familiar to you. I got these from a website containing the largest collection of humour online.

1. After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before.

2. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

3. The more crap you put up with, the more crap you are going to get.

4. Never ask two questions in a business letter. The reply will discuss the one you are least interested in, and say nothing about the other.

5. When the bosses talk about improving productivity, they are never talking about themselves.

6. Nothing motivates a man more than to see his boss putting in a hard days work.

7. To err is human, to forgive is not company policy.

8. Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing.

9. Important letters that contain no errors will develop errors in the mail.

10. The last person that quit or was fired will be the one held responsible for everything that goes wrong - until the next person quits or is fired.

11. There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but there is always enough time to do it over.

12. The more pretentious a corporate name, the smaller the organization. (For instance, The Murphy Center for Codification of Human and Organizational Law, contrasted to IBM, GM, AT&T ...).

13. If you are good, you will be assigned all the work. If you are really good, you will get out of it.

14. You are always doing something marginal when the boss drops by your desk. (e.g. blogging? )

15. People are always available for work in the past tense.

16. If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done.

17. At work, the authority of a person is inversely proportional to the number of pens that person is carrying.

18. The longer the title, the less important the job.

19. Machines that have broken down will work perfectly when the repairman arrives.

20. All vacations and holidays create problems, except for one's own.

Oh yeah, another thing - ever notice that no one gets sick on Wednesdays.

For more, go here.

One last word. If you have to give an excuse to get away from work, make sure the excuse works. Don't get caught like this guy:


"Do you believe in life after death?" the boss asked one of his employees.

"Yes, Sir." the new recruit replied.

"Well, then, that makes everything just fine," the boss went on. "After you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother's funeral, she stopped in to see you.

Happy Father's Day

Top Ten Things You'll Never Hear a Dad Say

10. Well, how 'bout that?... I'm lost! Looks like we'll have to stop and ask for directions.

9. You know Pumpkin, now that you're thirteen, you'll be ready for unchaperoned car dates. Won't that be fun?

8. I noticed that all your friends have a certain "up yours" attitude ... I like that.

7. Here's a credit card and the keys to my new car -- GO CRAZY.

6. What do you mean you wanna play football? Figure skating not good enough for you, son?

5. Your Mother and I are going away for the weekend ... you might want to consider throwing a party.

4. Well, I don't know what's wrong with your car. Probably one of those doo-hickey thingies -- you know -- that makes it run or something. Just have it towed to a mechanic and pay whatever he asks.

3. No son of mine is going to live under this roof without an earring -- now quit your belly-aching, and let's go to the mall.

2. Whaddya wanna go and get a job for? I make plenty of money for you to spend.

1. Father's Day? aahh -- don't worry about that -- it's no big deal.

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Son: Is it true? Dad, I heard that in ancient China, a man doesn't know his wife until he marries.

Father: That happens everywhere, son, everywhere!

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HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL MEN ...

everywhere!

10 Things Every Woman Should Try

It has been a long time since I logged on to iVillage. It used to be my favourite website back in 1999. Life and events evolved and after a few years, I completely forgot about my daily read. I wonder if my email address at that website still works. I could check it ... if only I can remember my user ID and password!

Anyway, this is a great website for women. It covers various topics - health, beauty, food, pregnancy & parenting, beauty & style, home & garden, food, wedding, love & sex, and entertainment.

While browsing through this site, I came across this interesting article that basically said that too many women rely on men to make them happy. How true!

I feel that happiness comes from within. There is only so much our men can do to make us happy. We should take charge of our lives. I also feel that when we are positive and confident with ourselves, we naturally project an optimistic disposition.

So, here are 10 things that every woman should try (by Brenda Della Casa of iVillage.com).

1. Go on a Non-Diet (If Just for the Weekend)

I used to tell my friend, Anne, never say "diet", say "cut down". Diet is a dirty word - it is a four-letter word.

We do not need to diet. If we think, it is time to do something about that weight, then we need to cut down. Sounds sweeter because you can still eat what you want but in moderation.

If you insist on calling in a diet, ok. Then, try a weekend of non-diet. Is a weekend too much? Try a day. I feel we should enjoy life. If you are on some diet programme right now, please ignore this tip. I don't want your 'diet honchos' coming after me.

2. Book Your Dream Vacation—Go Alone if you Have to!

I do realise that most women have children and this is not possible. My sister always tells me that it is not so easy for her to just pick up and go. OK, forget the dream vacation. But have you ever thought of a girls' night out? I am sure your man will survive without you for a few hours that evening. Of course, they will now have the excuse "since you are going out with the girls, I am going out with the boys." Fine. Go ahead a get a baby-sitter and have your separate fun. If you have to admire some guy from afar that night while sitting with your girlfriends, go ahead. Nothing wrong with it. God gave you eyes... use them and enjoy the beauty that is around you. My bet is, your man is doing the same thing if he is out with the boys.

For women who can afford to get away without worrying too much, just do it. Go with a girlfriend if you don't like to go on a vacation alone. For those who have done it, don't you think that was a lot of fun? You don't have to worry about anyone's happiness except your own. Just make sure the girlfriend who goes with you knows how to have fun too. If not, there is no point in a holiday. You might as well stay home and blog.

3. Cut The Credit Card Noose!

When I told my parents that I was going to apply for a credit card, my mum jumped in and said "No, don't do that. A card will get you into a lot of trouble." My dad, however, calmly said "Let her get the card. That will be her responsibility. I am not going to bail her out if she gets careless with it." That shook me a little but it was a lifetime warning. The results of unnecessary spending does have a positive effect - in many ways. One example - less incessant noise coming from the husband!

4. Kick Your Celebrity Addiction

I am not a celebrity addict. Celebrities come up in conversations because it is just something to talk about. A little is good but too much can make one unhappy. Comparing oneself to people who seem to be have a perfect lives can make one feel inadequate. My observation is this - when one flaunts too much, chances are, he/she is unhappy about something in life. That is the goal of one who exhibits - to make others envious so that we do not see the insecurities lurking underneath. When we stop thinking about what 'so and so' has in life (and we don't), we can start building our lives and perfect it in our own way.

5. Date Yourself—Exclusively

When I was single, there came a time when dating got a little tiresome. Maybe the breakups just drained me.

The point is this - one day I decided, "enough is enough". I am going to start doing things for myself - create goals in life. I did things that made me happy. I went to movies alone. I ate at restaurants alone too. That was good because I caught up with a lot of reading. There was always a book in my bag. In summary, I enjoyed my own company. Dating myself revitalised my spirit.

6. Work at Your Dream Job

Unfortunately, I never tried this. It is still not too late, though.

In the mean time, I had a goal of writing down memoirs of yesteryears. It stemmed from a request by my sister - for her children.

I heard about blogging last year but I never got down to it. Then, I met Stand Up Philosopher. One conversation led to another and the subject of blogging came up. I told him about my interest in writing but I did not know where to start. He said, "write from your heart."

I have enjoyed every minute of it and appreciated every comment, compliment, encouragement and motivation from my fellow bloggers. Thanks to you, this blog still survives. Now, husband is also happy that I don't mope around looking bored or tired from cross-stitching all day.

7. Have Amazing, Meaningless Sex

This one - no comment. Why? I can't comment on something which I have never done before. Anyone care to share their experience?



8. Tackle Your Biggest Fear

I've tried it but still cringe when I face it. I guess I will never get over it no matter how much I have tackled it in the past. A good dose of Sheltox spray (more like half a can) will kill it. That still does not take away the fear of seeing one alive and flying. I am only brave enough to pick it up when it is dead. ewwww .... disgusting little creature.

9. Let Go Of The Past

Go with the flow. Move on. Why stay in a rut? Hanging on to the past can make one's life miserable - I've learned from my mistakes. It is not easy to forget but we can embrace it, accept it and set off on a new adventure.

10. Oh gosh! I am not even going there .... Check it out for yourselves at the website. (Warning: if you are reading this in public, you may not want other people to see what you are viewing) :)

Do read Brenda Della Casa's views here. She was the one that came up with the list.

Sizzling Satay and Steak

I was looking for something to blog about. Then, I remembered Nyonya Penang's posting about her favourite food . The tag was left opened.

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I always miss Malaysian food, particularly satay - my all-time favourite. Of course, I will not refuse other local delicacies but satay is always the first thing I buy on the first night home in Malaysia. I will continue eating satay, at least, once a week while I am there. Oh! the aroma while it is being grilled is just glorious.

For the benefit of international readers, satay is a dish consisting of chunks of dice-sized meat (commonly chicken, beef or mutton) on skewers, which are grilled over charcoal fire, then served with a spicy peanut sauce dip, slivers of onions, cucumber and ketupat.

Satay is a special treat to me now since I don't get it overseas. Rather, I don't live close enough to a good Malaysian restaurant in Germany.

My other favourite food is grilled ribeye steak. I take my steak medium-rare. So juicy. yumm...

Although I grill ribeyes at home, I will not turn down a good feast at a steak restaurant - anywhere in this world.

The rib eye, or ribeye, also known as the Delmonico steak or Scotch fillet (Australia) is a beef steak from the small end of the rib roast. When cut into steaks, the rib eye is one of the most popular, juiciest, and expensive steaks on the market. Meat from the rib section is tender and fattier (the meat is said to be "marbled") than other parts of the beef carcass. This extra fat makes rib eye steaks and roasts especially tender and flavorful. The rib eye is sometimes served bone-in, particularly at high-end steakhouses. The extra moisture and fat alongside the bone is said to enhance the flavor, which is rich and somewhat sweet.

* Information obtained from Wikipedia. Poor cow!

Oh yes.. one more thing. My favourite treat - liquor chocolates.

That's it. Those are my favourites.

I am not going to tag anyone but feel free to volunteer if you want to share your favourites. Thanks Nyonya Penang!


This is what you do:

**Start Copy**
Proposition: What is your favorite food in your state or country?
Requirements: Find some info about the food and show delicious pictures of it.
Quantity: FIVE PEOPLE.
Tag Mode: You leave their blog and post link and add to the list below.

Mybabybay loves Asam Laksa from Penang, Malaysia
JustMyThoughts loves Penang Char Koay Teow
My Lil Venture loves Laksa Sarawak
Monterssorimum loves Teluk Intan Chee Cheong Fun
Chinnee loves Melaka Wan Tan Mee
PeimunLeah loves Hakka Lei Cha
Hui Sia loves Crispy duck skin from China
Karen loves Pan Mee
Simple American loves Cheese Enchiladas
Nicole Tan loves Char Tau Kueh
velverse loves Otak-Otak
Giddy Tiger loves Dim Sum
Kenny Ng loves Jawa Mee
Erina Law loves Wan Tan Mee
may loves Roti Bakar
King’s wife loves Dai gau mee
Wuching loves Wood fired oven Pizzas!
nyonyapenang loves Apoms
Jacqui loves Satay and Ribeye Steak

**End Copy**

Weekend Dreams & Wishes

Some months back my brother was looking to upgrade his handphone (or handy as it is called in Germany). He did. That got me interested in finding out what models were there in the market today. The choices were so wide that I was left confused at the end of my search. Then, I realised this was all I needed in my handphone:

1. It has to function as a phone, obviously.

2. Text messaging functions - very important. My siblings in Malaysia rely on that function for quick messages. Cheaper than making phone calls. Also, they won't get stuck on the phone with me when I give them silly updates about my life over here. It is also very important for messaging Lady Patsy and Anne about some news - mainly about sizzling dudes who live around this area.

3. Camera. Do I really need it? I haven't used my phone to take any pictures since 2005. Then again, having a camera may be beneficial. After all, sometime last year, a lady used her mobile device to take a photo of a man 'yanking off' in the New York subway. Thoroughly offended with this lewd obscenity, she headed to the nearest police station, lodged a report and gave that short "movie clipping" of the man to the police, as evidence. He was later tracked down, apprehended and charged.

It is highly unlikely that I will come across some horny fellow but if I spot a nice looking dude, I could share that photo with my girlfriends. OK, so camera included.

That's it. That is all I need. Looking at my current phone which I have used since early 2004, I thought, "why waste money? My phone is still working fine. No need to change it now. I can wait till it kaputs on me."

Remember when most of us did not have to or need to carry a handphone? No one could track us down or leave irritating messages on our phone. Pagers were good devices. We could always tell the caller later, "no phone around to return call".

I tried, as long as I could, not to carry a handphone when I was working in Malaysia. I finally gave in when I was delayed one evening, for 3 hours, in a train from KL to Port Klang. "Masalah teknikal", the KTM conductor said. Sure, sure... the way it kept stopping every now and then, I wondered if they owed anything to Tenaga Nasional Berhad. Needless to say, mum was worried. There was no way I could get to a phone booth. Luckily, there was a nice Punjabi man who offered his handphone. That kind gentleman kept himself occupied throughout our stop and go journey by chatting up three Chinese girls standing near him. After 1.5 hours, the girls asked him if they could use his phone to call their parents. He agreed. I happened to be in the vicinity when he saw me looking longingly at his phone (not him!). That is how he extended the kind offer for me to call home.

I did not like carrying my first handphone. It was heavy and ugly. A device meant only to make and receive calls. No such thing as text messaging and taking photos. It took up a lot of my handbag's space. It was not long before I decided to get a bigger bag (good excuse to shop for a new one) so that I could throw in my travel companions too - a current novel and my most trusted folded umbrella - shelter when it rains; a weapon, if accosted (thankfully, I never needed to use it for this purpose). We have certainly come a long way with phones. My mobile device now fits in my palm.

On my previous trips back to Malaysia- in the past five years, I've noticed that Malaysians are just handphone-crazy. Practically everyone owns one... or two.. or three. Now, a ride in the train is not without the sounds of some handphone going off. There are hardly any classic ring tones being used today. We are now serenaded with tunes. As soon as the train heads closer to a main station, the phones come alive. Voices get louder with remarks such as "yah, it's me. I am in Subang oledy. Going to pick me up or not?" or "dei! I am in Klang. Where you standing? Near the machines ah?" Oh... and my favourite, "aiyoo, I miss my stop. You wait there, ok. I will take the next train back to where you are waiting. So tired lah today."

In Germany, I set my phone to play some classical music (lately, just a classic ring tone) . However, when I am in Malaysia, my phone is put to good use. So, when I am there, I change it to 'vibrate' mode, especially in public places like the trains, restaurants and cinemas. My phone goes on 'silent' when in church. Contrary to what some men think, the 'vibrate' mode is not a substitute for pleasure - it doesn't deliver enough punch! The only pleasure I get out of it is that no one knows when someone is trying to reach me on my phone.

Now let's talk about cars. I love cars. Sports cars give me pleasure. Smooth and sleek bodies with power-packed engines, fully loaded and raring to go. These are my dream cars:

Dream car No. 1:

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Dream car No. 2:

Maserati Grand Turismo

Most likely NOT to own any of them in this lifetime - that is why they are called 'dream cars' (it is obtainable in fantasy stories created by U. Lee, though). However, I can get back to reality and visit my friend, Anne, to take a spin in this beauty owned by her husband, Dennis:

Bolwell Mark 7

This is a limited edition with only 300 of its kind in this world. This baby does 0 to 100 km in less than 4 seconds. woo hoo! If this is too precious for Dennis to let go, maybe he will let me use this 400HP mean machine:

Mazda RX7

*sigh* ... I guess, I will just have to sleep in their garage with these 'babies':

On the far left, is Dennis' other car - a hand-built 1959 Mercedes 180D.

To Anne and Dennis, I will visit you both someday, for sure. Thanks for letting me have a peek at your cars and a promise that I can drive all of them. (sure or not?)

Dennis, wishing you a speedy recovery from your operation. This posting is dedicated to you.

Jacqui, The Ultimate Drama - Part 2

... And the drama continues:

Age 21 - 24:

These were the years when I spent most of my weekends with my teenhood friends. We were involved in many youth games and took home championship trophies year after year for volleyball, netball and football. We also went out to night spots whenever we celebrated someone's birthday in the group. Somehow I always ended up the designated driver. I had to remain sober the whole night eventhough I had the honour of drinking myself silly when my birthday was celebrated. I remember being stopped at a police road block at 2:00am on a Saturday night. The policeman shone his torchlight into my car and found four guys slumped in their seats - clearly knocked out from drinking, one of them was brother dearest. The policeman looked at me, gave a huge grin, shook his head and waved me on.

It was also during these years when my cousins, on my mum's side, were beginning to get hitched. We looked forward to a wedding every year. Three weddings in Singapore and the rest in Malacca. I enjoyed the family reunions tremendously. They were lots of fun with laughter, music, song, dance and drinking. Every year we gained new family members. These new in-laws were always teased as part of the family initiation programme. If they could take it, they would fit it with ease. Of course, we never let anyone feel left out but that was sort of a test to weed out the 'sinners'. One had to be quick in thinking with those tongue-in-cheek jokes. Of course, we were never short of dirty jokes. It also helped a lot if we were witty too. Most of all, we had to be thick-skinned - it was hard to be humble with my relatives in Malacca.

At these gatherings, a game of bingo and/or blackjack was usually the order of the day. Food was always in abundance and tasted excellent. Gerard Santa Maria, mum's cousin, was an expert in cooking Portuguese food. He was the go-to-guy for all weddings. He cooked up a storm at every gathering.

Age 25 - 28:

By 25 years old, I had gone through two break-ups and a rebound relationship. The first love and I drifted apart - no rhyme or reason. The second one was about to leave the country when we met. We told ourselves we will not get serious yet feelings were stronger than words. I was heartbroken when he left. We tried to keep it alive but the distance proved to be very difficult for both of us. Devastated, I got caught in a rebound relationship. That relationship was a bitter lesson learned. I was spent - emotionally and mentally. I declared "no more relationships with men".

I moved to my second job at 26 years old. When I told my previous boss that I was leaving, he had tears in his eyes. Alamak! Truth is, I was just as sad and tried not to show my emotions. I don't know which felt sadder - leaving an excellent boss or seeing how sad he became? In reality, I could not live on the 'peanuts' pay cheque I was getting - it was not the boss' fault. He was not a partner of the firm and did not have a say in my remuneration. I loved the job but if stayed in that place, I would not get anywhere in position or pay.

I joined an I.T. recruitment company and remained there till I left the country in 1999. This new job gave me a new perspective in life. It was also the best job I had in my life in terms of career development, benefits and bonuses.

In my 27th year, my dad passed away. Exactly a week before he died, I had a very uneasy feeling. I was restless and told my mum that something bad is going to happen. I know I should not have worried her but the feeling left me anxious and it was obvious to her. She asked what was wrong with me. I had sleepless nights after that. The sounds from an owl, one night, kept me awake. I wondered where did that owl come from. I never heard it before. Monday morning came around and dad took ill without warning. He felt numb and weak and I rushed him to hospital at 6:15am. He went into a coma by Monday evening. That night, each time I closed my eyes, I saw a white cloth being pulled over dad's face. I could sleep anymore. I was afraid of the same scene being played over and over again. Mum was in hospital by his bedside. My two siblings were asleep while one brother was in Australia. I cannot remember what I did to stay awake that night. When morning came, as planned, I picked up three relatives who were arriving from Singapore. I brought them to the hospital immediately. That was the last time I saw dad breathing. When we returned to the hospital later, after the relatives had their lunch, dad was gone. He died on 14th June 1994.

Life went on.

It was during my no-man years that I enjoyed many holiday trips with my girlfriends. One of it was a vacation at Club Med Cherating with my friend, Anne. We quickly learn that the guys working there have the potential of being more than day time entertainers and coordinators. In case you are wondering, we never tested their 'potentiality'. Anne and I were more concerned about the monkeys who kept following us whenever we walked to our chalet. We later learned that the monkeys wanted the fruits we had in our hands. So, whenever we found monkeys sneaking up behind us, we would throw our fruits at them and run as fast as we could to our room. I began to wonder if the monkeys actually remembered Anne and me. No other guests seemed to have that problem. That got me worried that soon we may find monkeys waiting for us at our door.

Another memorable trip was with Pat (Lady Patsy) to Pan Pacific Pangkor. When we checked into the hotel, we got comfortable in our bathrobes and just talked the afternoon and evening away. We were busy building up plots and story lines for our future joint-project novel. We thought up of such an elaborate story that we forgot all about dinner. By the time, we done, it was 9:00pm. I bet Pat still remembers that story - pool boys, stable boys, rich bored housewives, exotic cars, mistresses, toyboys - the whole works. We spent the next few days by the hotel pool with the books that we brought with us. Of course, we kept our sunglasses on and peeked out ever so often to check out dudes in trunks. That was a good holiday.

Age 29 - 32:

I met my husband at 29. It was not well-received at that time. It was an internet relationship. I had my doubts in the beginning but as time went on, I knew he was the one. Our courtship went on for two years and in the third year, we got married.

Remember TJ? He and I we were out of touch for months. One day, TJ telephoned me. It had been a while since we spoke. He asked what have I been up to. I told him that I have been busy preparing for my wedding which will take place the following month. He was silent for a second or two. Then he asked "what about us?"

I told him there has not been an 'us' for years. He then asked, "You mean, there is no more chance." I hoped he was joking but my instinct told me otherwise. I reminded him gently that he was the one who did not want to commit when we had a chance. He did not respond to that remark. I thought to myself "why now?". Yet I was definitely not changing my mind just because he finally said something.

TJ was being the guy whom I have known for years. He did not end the call abruptly even though I brushed him off that way. He changed the subject. That led to the topic of my search for a DeeJay for my wedding reception. He said he knew someone and will make enquiries for me. I appreciated his offer to help although I wondered why would he go through that trouble. I agreed to meet the DeeJay and him one evening. That was the last time I saw TJ. As expected, he did not turn up at church ceremony or the reception.

I moved to the States at 32. There were some things I had to change to adapt to the new environment. My style of cooking went from all things Malaysian to mat salleh. Within a year of being in Texas, I found a job as office manager for a financial company selling life insurance, mutual funds and home equity loans. I began to have friends outside the family. I finally felt settled.

Age 33- 36:

Two months after I turned 34, we moved to Germany. I secured a part-time job at an establishment that served the American community. It was a travel agency (apart from other businesses they had). I had to quickly learn my alphabets in German because it was just easier spelling out passengers names and airport codes in their language. A significant memory of that job was having about five passengers flying out in the week of September 11, 2001 to the States. As you can imagine, my boss and I were in a bind because on one end we had passengers who were worried about their tickets and reservations. On the other end, airline companies were in chaos - no one could give us immediate answers. All airports in the States shut down for a week. We finally managed to resolve all issues when the airports re-opened.

I also explored some European countries during these years.

Age 37- 40:

On one of my trips home to Malaysia during these years, I met TJ at a function where his band was playing. Yes, he still lives. We were surprised to see each other. We caught up on the lost years. I was glad to hear that he was finally getting married. I wished him well. That night was the last time I saw him... for real this time.

Back in Germany, I had a seasonal part-time job - manager of a tax office. Marion, a German married to an American, was hired to prepare taxes. Besides my management duties, my boss encouraged me to do client's taxes too. So, Marion showed me the ropes. We had many hilarious moments working together due to our 'blonde moments'. No offence to the natural blondes out there.

I will never forget one particular incident in the office. Marion had a client with her. I decided to sit in to learn the process, with prior permission from the client, of course. As Marion was typing his personal details in the computer, he was busy sorting out the documents he brought with him. She came to a column that asked if the client had a name suffix. Social name suffixes are almost exclusively applied to men. The most common name suffixes are senior and junior, limited chiefly to American usage. (from Wikipedia) Although we get all the personal information off a client sheet, we never assume in case the client missed that piece of information. We always ask to be sure.

Marion proceeded to ask, "Sir, do you have a cervix?"

"What??" answered the gentleman in a surprised tone.

"Oh my God" I thought to myself. "Marion, it's suffix. Suffix, not cervix." I quickly corrected her while hoping that the client did not hear her.

"Oops, sorry sir, I meant suffix." Marion said, clearly turning red

"Oh.. oh... No, ma'am. I do not have a suffix."

Marion carried on with her task as calmly as she could. 30 minutes later, the gentleman left our office. We burst out laughing till our stomachs hurt.

Marion found a full time job later that year. I missed her presence in the office during the next tax season but we were never out of touch.

In my 39th year, my mum passed away. She battled cancer for five years and finally gave up on 13th February 2006 - three days after my birthday. It was hard to accept that she was withering away. I telephoned her as much as I could until the day she could no longer recognise me anymore. It was one day after my 39th birthday.

"Hello?" a frail voice answered

"Mummy, it's me Jacqui"

"Who?"

"Jacqui, your daughter"

"I think you have the wrong number." *Click*

My instincts told me that her end was near. Two days later, I had a call to rush home. She was critically ill. While talking to my brother about the status of her condition, mum breathed her last. Two hours later, I booked my ticket home. I flew out on Valentine's Day. She was buried a day after I arrived.

Life went on.

I turned 40 this year. Four days later, on Valentine's Day, I flew home to Malaysia. Memories of events that took place a year ago seemed so distant, yet still fresh in my mind. During my stay in Klang, my siblings organised a get together with some old school friends. Our house was abuzz with excitement.

Just for a brief moment that evening, I stood quietly in one spot and scanned the room. 26 years had passed since we moved into that house in Klang. Our peers were now grown up and married with children. I saw their children sitting in the corner of the living room playing a card game. I thought to myself, "that used to be us". Then I looked at our friends. They were now the adults in the room.

There was no more talk of who had public caning that week at La Salle school. No more talk of who was the fiercest teacher in Klang. No more gossip of who's dating whom. Now, conversations centred around careers, children and retirement plans.

My parents' bedroom downstairs - empty of their presence. It has been converted into a TV room. We did that to keep it alive with noise. I imagined mum sitting in her chair watching TV while snacking on her favourite pulut cakes. I imagined dad standing around conversing with our friends. He always enjoyed talking to them when they visited us. Then, I looked at the dining table, which was the centre of many memories - food had to be replenished. I was back to reality. I turned around and walked into the kitchen to bring out more food.

Life goes on.

Jacqui, The Ultimate Drama - Part 1

I have been tagged by Daphne Ling to write about the many years of my life and what I remember of it. This should be fun. All I need to do is walk down memory lane again. I have shared about my childhood and teenhood firsts. Now, here's a chance to tell you about the other significant events of the past 40 years my life.

Sometimes I find myself pondering on how I got this far. The things I've seen and heard. The lessons I have learned in life. The bittersweet experiences that were stepping stones to the next phase of life. When I was a child, 40 years old seemed like an ancient age to me. Now that I am there, I don't really feel that old. I have enjoyed my journey in life thus far, be it good or bad.

Come walk with me ....

Age 1 - 4:
I was no longer the only girl and baby of the family at four years old. My younger sister had taken over that title "baby of the family" when she was born in December 1971. Before mum left for the hospital, I told dad that I did not want a new brother or sister. I wanted a puppy. Next day, I walked into mum's room at Hospital Besar Kota Bharu. My dad pointed to the cot where my baby sister was sleeping. I stood on my toes while holding the cot railings to look in. I remember seeing this plump little baby all wrapped up in white.

Age 5 - 8:
When I was six years old, my brother and I took part in a children's fashion show at the Royal Kelantan Club's during their Annual Christmas Party. We dressed up as Malacca Portuguese Dancers. All I can remember of that party is that I wanted that parading to be over. I was more interested in the games the club had organised for the children after the show. We took home the first prize, by the way.

That was day I also learned that my sister was terrified of Santa Claus. As our names were called out, we had to go up to Santa to receive our presents. When my sister's name was mentioned, we encouraged her to walk up to Santa. The minute he put out his arms out to carry her, she wailed out loudly. That poor girl feared the big old bearded man. We tried to tell her that it was someone we knew behind that mask but she was not convinced. *The photo above shows signs of her traumatic experience with Santa Claus. That was taken in December 1973 when mum was 39 years old, dad - 41, brother, Ian, in front of mum aged 8. Derek , 7, standing in between mum and dad.

Age 9 - 12:
I used to watch mum mend clothes. I always wanted to go through her sewing basket. She had lots of neat stuff in it. A significant memory at 9 years - the day one of my brothers bullied little sister by taking away her soft toy bunny. When she saw it in his hands and within reach, she tried to grab it. In doing so, the bunny's head detached from the body. Upon seeing that, she screamed and began to cry out loud. That little sister of mine was good at wailing. My mum was busy in the kitchen and asked me what happened. I showed her the evidence of a beheaded bunny. She said she was too busy at that moment and will sew it back later. I then asked her if she would let me try sewing it back. She told me I could but to be careful with the sharp needle. I managed to thread the needle after a few tries. While I sewed back the bunny together, my sister sat in front of me with tears in her eyes. Her wailing had subsided to quiet sobs. When I was done sewing, I gave it back to her. She happily ran to the kitchen to tell mum that her bunny was all fixed up. I felt so proud of myself that time.

I was a fairly active student in school and enjoyed being in all things musical. I was in the school choir, the angklung group and in the school band. I was never one to excel in sports. I used to enjoy library hours and brought home an Enid Blyton book every week.

I remember when Jawi lessons were aired on TV - RTM 1. My dad insisted that my brothers and I sit through those lessons every afternoon. It definitely helped me because my BM exam papers always had a small Jawi section that needed to be translated.

On the homefront, I usually played with my brothers and the neighbourhood children. I remember owning a bicycle with a broken seat. No, I was not fat. I cannot remember how it broke. Yet, that did not stop me from riding it around. I just stood up on the pedals and cycled away. I do believe that seat was replaced soon enough when one of my parents saw me cycle dangerously around the area.

Just as how my sister had developed a fear for Santa Claus, I feared the Lion dance performed during Chinese New Year. I remember running to hide behind mum because, to me, the lion always had a devlish look. I took a long time to get over that fear. I never enjoyed the lion dancing and prancing close to me. I simply detested the blinking eyes of the lion.

I was 12 when we left K.B. Coloured television had just made its debut in Malaysia. Our landlord owned an appliances shop in Jalan Kuala Krai. We lived close to his shop. My brothers, sister and I would always run to there to steal glances at the coloured screens. We always wondered when we would finally own a coloured TV.

Age 13 - 16:
Teenage years. A time of discovery - about myself and boys. It helped that my older brother had his friends hanging around the house. So, interacting with boys was never an awkward situation. At least, with these boys. I was still too shy with the ones I did not know personally.

At 14, I joined the school band and played the flute. The most memorable event was taking part in the National Day parade (1981). The organisers had brought together school bands from all over the country. I missed one week of school having to rehearse every day at the grounds of Universiti Malaya. It was exciting and interesting to meet students from other states. We quickly learn who were the snobs and who were friendly. I will refrain from naming any schools here. Don't want to risk being 'boo-ed'.

When I turned 16, my father's friend gave me a guitar as a birthday gift. That guitar was more than just an musical instrument. It was a tool that helped me develop some self-esteem that I seemed to be lacking. I learned to play the guitar on my own and from a whole load of tutoring by my brother's friends.

Age 17 - 20:
When I completed my secondary school education, I continued my studies at Stamford College, PJ. I was beginning to find myself. After my 'A' Levels, I decided to take up a Legal Secretary's Course at Vanto Academy. That qualification led me to a job in a law firm, which opened doors to other opportunities in the future years.

I also began to get more involved socially. The Catholic community in my Taman always needed a guitarist to accompany them during Christmas carolling and prayer gatherings. Although I wasn't an excellent guitarist, I was good enough for them. Beggars can't be choosers, I always thought. I eventually got involved with the youth group at the church level. I still lacked a little confidence when it came to guys. I had a whole bunch of pretty girlfriends which made me feel invisible all the time. I had a poster of Garfield in my room that said, "If you want to look thinner, hang around fat people." I was beginning to think that maybe I should be hanging around uglier people. Nah! I could not do that. I loved my girlfriends. We had lots of fun. It was not their fault that they were naturally gorgeous.

I was 19 when I met TJ. We wrote to each other a lot. This was before the dawn of the internet and handphones. No such thing as emailing and text messaging. It was just old fashioned hand-written letters. The Malaysian postal system was making some money then. I bought my postal stamps from the local sundry shop and then posted my letters whenever I was out in town. Those were the days of snail mail.

Anyway, this friendship with TJ lasted for many years. I never knew how he felt because he always played down any hopes I harboured. I never asked him outrightly because I did not want to sound desperate. He probably had an inkling of what I had hoped for but did not encourage me to think that far ahead. Since nothing was said as the years passed, I took it easy and did not build up anymore dreams of being with him. I accepted him as a friend. We met each other off and on. I enjoyed a platonic relationship with him. I did not buy into anything affectionate that he said; lest I got disappointed. For someone who avoided a commitment, he certainly did not have any qualms about bringing me home to meet his family. Talk about the confusion he put me through! mau, tak mau, mau, tak mau. *sigh*

He finally said something .... 13 years later - one month before my wedding.

Jacqui's drama - to be continued .....

(Song played - Yesterday, When I Was Young by Andy Williams)