Hello My Lovelies!


Time check: 1250am.

I have NO idea why im still up.

Today i went a little nuts.

My sister thinks im nesting.

Cos i baked a whole batch of cookies at 9pm just now.

Haha.

I really must be crazy...

Ok, my eyes are starting to get REAALLLLY droopy.

Gd nyte.


Fin.

Crud.


Upon hearing the news that civil servants pay were to be cut,

I couldn't help but feel sad.

I mean who wouldn't?

As a first time fully employed person, who wouldn't look forward to a nice bonus at the end of the year right?

Not to mention the fact that the pay is linked to the govt's GDP.

But i guess, it is a taste of things to come.

For ALL of us.

Next year is going to be a tough one.

I. MUST. CURB. MY. SPENDING!

When in doubt, always go back to Suze Orman's rules.

If you don't have the money, DON'T spend it.

But there really is something that I should always give thanks for.

Syukur alhamdullillah that i am EMPLOYED.


Neways, i just finished cooking a whole pot of spaghetti sauce.

Yummyyy!

I smell like sauce right now.

And i do have the urge to bake.

Don't ask me why.

When i start to cook, i BINGE.

Pardon me while i wash off this saucy smell.


Fin.

Food Journal.


I thought it would be a great idea to chronicle the next few days with my cooking expedition.

And i wish i had pictures of the past two days that i've "slaved" over the hot stove.

Yesterday was mee siam goreng.

Not bad for a first attempt.

Today was nasi Lemak.

Complete with the sambal and the fish and telur and ikan bilis.

Yes i made a whole pot of rice (ok 2 1/4cups of rice)

And its all GONE!

Yes.

The rice has magically vanished!

My dad had one serving.

So did my sister. -which is RARE by the way-

I think my 3rd sibling had a serving and one for myself at lunch.

And Adam had a GRAND total of THREE helpings!!!

I'm only left with the pandan leaves and the ginger in the rice pot.

So tonight i am going to get a headstart for tomorrow's meal.

Which is spaghetti!

It is very much the family favourite.

My mom's been trying to copy the recipe but she hasn't managed to master it haha.

So i shall begin the browning of the minced meat and the sauce.

Which really isnt that hard to do.

And wat is the secret ingredient?


Of course im not telling! Hahaha


I can't wait for my day out with Umi tomorrow!


Fin.

Cooking Expedition


I am currently mother-less.

Only for a week because she has to escort a small grp of kids from her school for an IT Camp in Subang Jaya

So it is MY responsibility to cook the meals for my family (plus do the heaps and mounds of laundry and other housework) on top of having to go to school.

Bleargh.

The cooking i don't mind.

But laundry for 5 people is really not my thing.

And my dad told me that i should try and expand my cooking repertoire as my mom has reminded that WE should not be eating out so often since she's away for the moment.

So today i tried cooking something OUTSIDE my comfort zone.

No sphagetti bolognaise, no lasagne, no nasi goreng *i hear u sniggering Kha!*

So i tried making fried mee siam.

You must be clenching your stomach, laughing so hard to see that i can't cook such a simple dish.

I just don't do well with food that has a myriad of spices and tastes.

Asian cooking -minus chinese food that is- is REALLY challenging.

I took a while to master sambal tumis.

I CAN cook mee hongkong and laksa goreng.

But really, mee siam goreng is quite a feat.

So i succeeded to make the dish with minimal effort and a very good recipe i knicked off the net.

Not too shabby i must say.

No complaints from both my brothers so that's well done.

Haha.

So what's next?

I guess its nasi lemak tomorrow.

Now i seriously need a nap!

I've been up since 6am (on a Sunday!) to send my mom off at the airport!!

My eyes are soo heavy.

Toodles.

Fin.

Life's Little Surprises.


Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.


Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump.


Some of us are still reeling with shock and utter surprise.

I know i am.

Hahaha!

The jaws that went agape after we were all told.

It is God's will and i congratulate her on her happy news!

May you be granted good health and wealth and get to experience married life soon insyaAllah amiin!

Have i also mentioned that i will no longer teach on a contract basis but as a permanent staffer?

Yes i just got the news last friday :)

I am now waiting to enter N*IE, hopefully in January.

This is after 3 failed attempts to enter the service.

And i am a year behind the projected date that i planned.

Again.

I can plan as much as i want and execute it but it still is up to the Almighty to decide.

So i need to be patient.

And just try my best.


Oh Allah, please grant me the patience to accept the things that i CANNOT change.


Amiin.


Fin.

Feeling Possessed...


Yeah by Facebook.

Completely possessed.

I can understand why N*eil H*umphreys wrote that column about his addictiveness to Facebook.


That aside...


I've been browsing around.

And i am ashamed!

Ashamed that i've left this blog neglected.

Neglected because sometimes i wish i were more insightful in my entries rather than just spew verbal vomit.

*although it can be therapeutic at times*

I always wanted to become a journalist.

Joining the ranks of lets say, C*hristian A*manpour.

So i MUST make an effort to at least add in some commentary about life.

Insightful commentary.

I must not let my emotions get in the way of a piece that i might be writing.

I'm struggling to be a writer.

And not JUST a reader.


Fin.

Wedding Weekend

To Abg Saiful Jedi:

Tahniah on getting hitched!

I am soooo happy for you!

Both of you looked sooo berseri-seri :D

*unfortunately i have not much pics cos my digicam DIED on me*

But before it DID eventually die on me, i did get some photos.

Namely Kak Mariah a.k.a Kak Yaya and her lovely baby boy Muhd Ilhan!

-Kak Yaya still looking gorgeous-

I'm so glad i stayed on.

-Abg Saiful's sister *ex-Ma'arifian also sanding on the same day*-

-which helps explain why Kak CT was there with me-

Oh and i did get a little surprise.

I bumped into the EX.

He was also there on Abg Saiful's invitation.

It might seem weird but i felt serene.

No sadness, no unhappiness.

Zip.

There was just serenity.

I'm glad we both parted on good terms and still remain friends.

Alhamdullillah.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Fin.

In Transit.


I guess it had to happen sooner or later.

But it was okay.

I'm okay.

That's the most impt thing.


We were just two trains that happened to stop at the same station.

And now its time for him to continue his journey.

I'm still in transit.

Yup. I guess thats it.

I'm still in transit.

Cos i don't know where i'm gg.


YET.


Fin.

Suze Ormon says...


that you should NOT spend what you do NOT have.

Which means....


Maryam, you are NOT going to Rihanna's concert!


Mental check; you are gg to Bali next month!

If only i earned oodles and oodles of money like THAT $2mil. man.


Fin.

Have a BLOODY good time!




Ok all good citizens.



Do your part and show YOUR support at the FIRST-EVER blogger blood donation drive in Singapore!



I am a regular blood donor and there's really nothing to it!



You just lie there and let the good nurses take care of you! :)



*pssssst*


- you get free food after you donate your blood!-


And there are so many other freebies


(that i DON'T normally get on a normal blood donation drive)


Like: a LIMITED EDITION t-shirt!


And!


a CERTIFICATE of participation.


Now how COOL is that?




Take it from me, its the easiest way to do a good deed.


*blood you donate could easily help THREE people!*





I'm going.



Are you?



See you there!!!




For more info: go to this microsite and to find out if you're my TYPE, go here!



Fin.

Selfish?



I just typed out a whole entry -and subsequently erased it-


Re-read it and it answers my own question.


Yes i think im being too demanding and selfish.


I hate me for being this way.


I don't like who i've become.


I'm just trying to come to terms with that piece of news that you handed me.



Fin.





p/s: I don't know how to tell my parents. I feel like such a disappointment. I failed. Again.

An Ode to YOU.


You; who thinks you are so righteous.

You; who thinks that everything you say or do is right.

You; who thinks that it is alright to just say anything.

You; who does not THINK before she speaks.



For all the things you've said, have you ever considered that you hurt so many people?

"I think I have every right to comment since its f*acebook" you say.

So why do you take offence at what other pple say to you?

You speak your mind about others, well i'll say what other pple *myself included* say about you.

It is my personal, VIRTUAL, space after all.

And hey, you said its ok.


10 Things pple HATE -yes hate- about you:



1)you are CALLOUS.

2)you are NOT tactful. *at all!*

3) you are abrasive.

4) therefore you rub a lot of pple the wrong way.

5) you pretend like you're a matyr

6) your words are the COMPLETE opposite of how you portray yourself.

7) YOU have NO compassion towards others.

8)you apologise but then repeat the mistake almost IMMEDIATELY.

9) you moan and groan about yourself and expect pple to PITY you.

10) and we suspect that you begrudge other pple for no obvious reason.



Try mirroring your words to yourself.

Sound out the words before you even type them.

Think how that person would feel even if YOU think your comment is harmless.



And about that "you look like Chucky's bride...the muslim version"

hey, thats ok.

I was dressing up for Halloween.

Maybe next year i'll be Jason.

*so i'll get to SAW your head off*



Hey you should have seen this coming for miles.

Bring it on.




p/s: to think that you even work in the social services line. i'm surprised that you don't have people skills at all. is it any wonder why so many people did not agree with you when you held leadership posts? think about it.


Fin.


p/p/s: I think i've watched an episode too many of G*ossip G*irl

I'm Not So Strong Anymore.



Then:


Wrong people; wrong time.


Now:


Right person, wrong time.



I am really exhausted.


I'm truly not that strong anymore.


I have been weakened by all the previous blows.


But i shall perservere.


And i shall trudge on.


Solo or not.



I leave it in the hands of Allah.



Please hear my prayer.



Fin.