Psychologically manhandled.


People who know me really well will really know how my family dynamics work.

Huda knows this well, cos she seems to be the only one who is petrified by my mom.


My grandparents are psychologically trying to press me into staying in Malaysia.

They do this by offering to pay for my Master's degree.

Yes.

Plus, my grandmother says that once i complete it then she will treat me to an all expenses paid trip.

Very tempting.

But i think NOT.

She is trying to psycho me into staying and working in Malaysia.

This is not the first time that i have been 'used' like this.

I am not going to be controlled like this again.

Both my grandparents have even been telling other members of my extended family that im furthering my studies.

What the hell are they trying to do?

This is not fair at all.

And she likes to play the trump card:


"Kalau Maryam anak yang solehah, tentu Maryam tak kecewakan nenek dengan atok."


Why is everyone trying to pressure me like this.

I. HATE. BEING. SHOVED. AROUND. LIKE. THIS.

I dislike being the first grandchild on both sides too.

Too much pressure.

Have they forgotten that i have been born and bred in Singapore?

Nothing can change that.

My friends are there.

And most of my family members are there.

Save for my maternal grandparents.

I know why they're doing this.

They don't want me to be with him that's what.

I don't get it...

Don't they want me to be happy?


Fin.

Pooped.


What was supposed to be a 5 hour journey turned out to be 7 hours instead.

The bus that was scheduled at 1.30pm left early JUST as i arrived at the platform at 1pm.

I had to run from Pudu right up to the front of the Ancasa hotel to catch that bus.

As if the scare that i got in my EAP class wasn't enough.

By the time i reached singapore, my grandmother was much better.

In fact we proceeded with the bbq.

They started already.

I on the other hand was late. And famished.

I had bbq'd fish, otak-otak, salad.

However, the chicken completely escaped me.

And the whole family played charades.

I was in stitches as were the other members of my extended family.

My brother became the unsuspecting star of the whole show.

From acting out a peribahasa, he went on to 'puji-diri-dier-sendiri'.

Humpphhhfff

"Aku handsome!" kata dier lah. I have no comment.

He actually acted it out a couple of times till we all said it in unison and said thank you perfunctorily.

My mom choked on her drink.

We all laughed till we almost peed in our pants.

After leaving the bbq pit, we headed back to my aunt's house for the final proceedings of the evening.

Our annual gift-exhange!

I love this family gathering the most. Heheheh.

I got a Liz Claiborne 'Fly Me To The Moon' cosmetic set.

Courtesy of my Maklang. Thank You!

My Maklong gave me a bag.A baby blue tote. I love the colour.

And all of us got 'hong bao's' a week in advance from my grandparents.

It wasn't just for the grandkids but also for my aunts and uncles.

Everyone was happy.

I love happy days like these.

Oh and my grandma dropped a bombshell on me.

I just don't know what to say.

I mean i love her to bits BUT she can be a bit pushy sometimes.

She even dangled a lovely carrot.

But unfortunately it isn't enticing enough.

I'm sorry.

But i just don't feel at home there.

I want to come back where i belong.

Truly.

-sobs-

Allah please give me the strength i need. Amin


Fin.

Dare I say it?


I feel like its been the longest week ever.

Classes skipped.

-nothing new-

Classes cancelled.

-a rarity these days-

Quizzes and tonnes of errands to run.

But the longest day HAD to be yesterday.

I went to Menara Maybank at the Pudu area to draw money to pay my tuition fees, then go to Pudu to buy CNY tix and also to accompany my very MAD friend to go and buy her Liverpool 'oldskool' zip-up sweater.

Which cost RM329.

From Pudu, me, Zaimah and Farhana walked all the way to BukitBintang in scorching HOT weather.

Go up and down BB plaza searching for the sweater.

Buying the size 'S' sweater for herself and then making an ass out of ourselves at KL sentral and getting pissed at the guy who served us cos it was the wrong size sweater.

Yes she didnt just buy the sweater for herself.

She also bought another one sized 'XL' for someone special as she calls it.

Secret lor.

How can I tell you?

Hohoho.

So it was the wrong sweater so we made our way to KLCC to go to the Adidas store to get it.

At last, 'XL' was on the rack.

Mind you i left campus at 11am and this was at 4.30pm when we finally got the sweater.

And i had a big cock-up with my money withdrawal.

My father neglected to tell me that my mom cashed in a cheque the day before.

So i was at Menara Maybank having a fit.

THANKFULLY i was not arrested.

And i managed to get it all sorted when daddy called the maybank branch in singapore to have them clear the cheque.

So i did manage to withdraw the money after 2pm at the Bukit Bintang branch.

I had to withdraw RM4300.

A successive 3 times at the atm machine.

So we went from KL Sentral to KLCC with RM4300 in my bag.

I felt like a bank robber.

Oh don't think i left KLCC without anything.

I bought a pair of Gold Ipanema sandals.

From the Gisele Bundchen collection.

Pretty pretty sandals.

I must keep them stashed in KL for the time being.

My mom will KILL me if she sees a new pair of sandals from me.

Gonna retire to bed soon.

Have a 9am class tomorrow.

And i have to prep for LE 4000. Arrrgggghhh. Nothing done yet!


Fin.


p.s. : remember mr. os. the bucktoothed malaysian comedian of yesteryear? i saw him on wednesday too. since hes a retired actor, he's now a taxi driver in the gombak area. hitch a ride with him if u see him there. :D

Buzzzzzzzzz.


I hear a buzz.

But its okay.

I dun really want to know.

And.

I heard that someone really pulled off a great birthday surprise!

Congratulations Hayati.

Your taliban-like skills were really put to good use.

Hahaha...gua takleh tahan beb.

And to the belated birthday boy...


Happy Birthday Rock!!!


Sorry i couldn't be there to help pull off the surprise.

Babe, you salah sms my number lahhhh.

I wish i was there to see the look of pure surprise on his face.

I wish i was there to see the look of surprise on YOUR face when you bumped into the towel-wrapped face of hayati. heheheh.

Aaarrrggghhhh and i think THAT paper blew up in my face.

Wah piang.

It was damn hard for me ley.

By the way, thank YOU girls for livening up my wednesday night.

And a Happy 21st Birthday to Zhahirah! Dun do anything illegal tau!

Ole, ole, ole, ole!

Can't wait for the second leg of the match.

Oh, and we actually watched tv till the tv exploded.

That was a complete RIOT.

I am disappointed.

Disappointed that my family didn't inform me about the annual gift exhange earlier on.

Damn.

Dunno what im gonna do yet.

But you'll find out next week.

Fin.

And that's the way the cookie crumbles.


The rains couldn't keep us away.

Neither could the massive traffic jams.

We beat all the odds and made it to the Grand Old Dame, the Kallang National Stadium close to half-time.

The red army was in full force and it was pleasing to the eye.

Unfortunately i couldn't deck myself in the national colours 'cos my red attire are all back in campus.

But i still made it.

It was great i tell you.

Singapore vs Malaysia matches are always fun to watch.

They always have drama in them.

Yesterday was no exception.

Though they silenced the crowds in the second half, we managed to come back.

I think the team owed it to the National Stadium more than ever.

It wasn't about the fans.

I think it was about letting the Old Dame bow out gracefully.

And what a way to let the fat lady sing man!

I could barely breathe everytime a player took his place at the penalty spot.

And i screamed and jumped up and down whenever the players made the goal.

Me and the boyfriend got ecstatic when Lionel saved that last penalty kick.

And when the whole game was over,

the heavens opened its skies and the rain enveloped us all in glory.

I'm a romantic. What can i say?


SINGAPORE BEATS MALAYSIA ON PENALTIES (6-5)


And then we all went for some ayam penyet.

What a great way to spend a saturday night.


Fin.

Pfftt


After laboriously crafting my entry,

Blogger comes out saying that there was an error in processing my request!

Fark!

All that lengthy typing for naught!

Tired oredi you know!


Fin

Away...away.


Like the dolz i am. I totally screwed up the dates of my swimming classes and therefore yours truly here had to stay the weekend in Malaysia.

But.

It wasn't such a bad thing cos the Love came by!

Oh yes.

Everything is a-okay with the both of us.

I must admit that i still am a newbie at handling fights between us both.

But i am weathering it well alhamdullillah.

Every fight brings us closer, makes me know him better.

InsyaAllah.

Okay, so where do i start?

Lets see.

The photos that we took during the photo taking session for ASSIIUM was marvellous.

I truly love looking at the photos again and again.

Somehow i tak jelak.

Last friday i had to pick up the informal photo and since ALL my classes were cancelled i really had to drag myself outta bed despite being really sick.

On my way there, i took a nasty tumble.

While Huda fell backwards, I on the otherhand, fell forwards and scraped a good portion of skin on my left knuckle.

Thankfully i was in jeans and my knees escaped the wrath.

So how was the weekend?

Blissful.

Not so blissfull when you hear this mom to a 2 year old keep calling me "aunty".

Yes, it wasn't JUST the bf but his friend and wife and kid in tow.

Do i really have to be called "aunty"?

This is what you get when you have a bf much, much older than you and 75% of his friends are married with kids.

And this little tot, whose name is a mouthful: Hur Kirana something

And all this little princess keeps being called is Ira.

Kesian.

My maternal instincts have heightened considerably let me confess.

She is such a doll!

Fair skin and wavy brown hair.

She is such a princess.

The four of us (plus little Ira) went to KLCC's A&W for lunch on Sunday and then to Berjaya Times Square for a little stroll afterwards.

Apparently the Love really enjoyed pushing the pram.

I was tickled. Really.

8pm, we made our way to Petaling Street (of course!) And two hours later, me and him emerged empty handed while they only came back with t-shirts.

10pm and after 10 solid hours of jalan-jalan with hardly any break in between, we sat down for dinner.

We were ALL famished, not to mention Ira as well.

She was going through her McNuggets at warp speed and proceeded to scarf down her mee goreng afterward.

Ahakz.

We made it back to JB by car courtesy of Yan and family. Thank you!

The ride was truly enjoyable.

With driving breaks and switching drivers, the music was not bad either.

-Thank God for Fly.fm-

No we didn't stop there.

A maghrib pit-stop at the bf's JB crib and then off we went again for Yan's much needed car wash and dinner.

Somehow i still love the ayam penyet at Changi.

The one i had in JB was good. Especially the chicken.

But the rice was not in equal proportion with the chicken.

The sambal had too much belachan unfortunately and not enough chilli.

I'll have to try the one at Geylang again to make a verdict.

Anyway, i made my way safely home yesterday and i will be here till this sunday.

Plans for dinner this thursday will be confirmed soon and i can't wait to meet the babes!

Its been awhile since we got together.

So did i walk away with anything from KL?

A pair of jeans from Chow Kit and a new wallet from Petaling St.

Thank you Sayang!

Fin.

All is Well


Im baaacccckkk.

Yezzzzz.

I am sitting pretty in my room and typing this entry.

Its good to have the wireless back.

At least there's some other form of entertainment besides the countless number of dvd/vcds that i've watched.

At this point in time, i've already lost count of how many times i've already watched Night At The Museum.

Its so Hilarious.

And yes. That was with Hilarious with a capital H.

"O-oh! You better run-run. Cos there's the Hun-huns"

Ben Stiller never fails to deliver.

His comic timing is just splendid.

By the way, all is well in loveland.

Thank God for the reservist training scheduled the rest of this week.

Although, i am kind worried how he'll do in the IPPT.

He has got pretty round in the mid-section.

But i still love my bear-bear whatever shape he is.

*gushes*

Anyway. I still have a mid-term scheduled for tomorrow.

And i do have an introduction to an argumentative essay that needs major reconstruction.

It felt like crap after reading it for the 4562123rd time.

See. I may be an English major but sometimes i do have problems.

Especially since this tutor of mine is a perfectionist.

Which isn't so bad sometimes. We all need that extra push once in awhile.

I am exhausted today.

Tuesdays always wring the life out of me.

Its no joke being in classes from 8.30am till 4pm.

And i still have no idea how Dr. Noorharun keeps the minutes going by so achingly slowly.

Its like everytime i glance at the watch, the time has barely passed.

But thank God he's such a witty and interesting lecturer.

Thank you for the grades!

I am so motivated to do better for the next assignment!

Okay, enough of this verbal vomit.

I am pooped.


Fin.

The worst weekend EVER.


I have been stretched apart.

Torn apart.

And knifed.

Aaaarrggghhhh. These stupid little squabbles drain the life out of me.

I am tired and restless and i need to rest my mind and not let it get to me.

Oh and that stupid pothole.

Because of that stupid pothole i was made to feel guilty.

You have no idea how bad i felt.

But i know that the stupid customs and immigrations people are the ones to be blamed.

The hole is so big.

I have no idea why they don't have the sense of covering it with sand at least.

Stupid 'gundus'

Because of that stupid hole i was made to look responsible.

Its just my own feelings.

He's okay with me today

Back to normal.

When he gets here this weekend then i'll know for sure.


Fin.

Skived & Skiving


I skived today.

Class that is.

To study for a mid-term tonight.

So you might wonder, why i'm here right?

I am positively skiving.

Even from studying.

Aaaaarrrggghhhh.

I have zero amounts of attention span right now.

Can't study or sleep.

I have a class at 5pm.

The test at 8.15pm

I am so dead.

I.

Must.

Study.


Fin.

Outplayed & Outwitted.


The bus drivers that have been entrusted to send us back to our hostels have been getting craftier and craftier and are becoming the bane of my existence.

In short:

THEY ARE PISSING ME OFF.

I never seem to run out of memorable Monday mornings and bus rides.

Sad to say that all that will end in 5 months.

Haha.

This morning, we were surprised that the bus driver even knew how to get to our campus without being directed.

In that instance i knew something fishy was going to happen.

Since the bus' full capacity included outsiders, meaning people who aren't students of our university, we were trapped.

The bus driver cunningly made a turn at the roundabout and deposited us at near the main entrance to the uni.

I have to remind you that the campus is circular in nature. So surrounding it are the hostels.

Normally we get the bus drivers to send us to the entrance of each hostel.

Today i had to get off near the entrance and my hostel is located on the top of a hill and is located an estimated 2km from where we were deposited.

And best of all, in my haste to leave the bus, i left the cake that i had lovingly baked earlier that Sunday morning to bring back for my friends on campus.

I felt really shitty.

Thankfully Nurul Khasanah bt Agost kindly let me stay at her room that morning for a couple of hours.

I didn't know what happened to the rest. But im sure they all made their way back one way or another.

I am determined to stay positive throughout the rest of this post.

I shall prevail.

I even woke up to go to my 9am class.

However, i wasn't able to take a shower cos i didnt have any change of clothes.

So i brushed my teeth.

Put on some deodorant and spritzed away.

I could actually pay attention in class.

Its all about the 90-10 reaction.

I think that was the best forwarded email i had ever gotten.

Meanwhile the weekend was a blast.

Spent a few hours with the love on saturday after the seminar and the rest of the evening with huda and her hubby.

She really meant it when she said that she'd let me see it all.

I actually accompanied her to get her electrical appliances for her new house at harvey norman.

I asked her why i was even there when she had her husband to accompany her.

Her reply: You're going to get to see it all.

Heh.

This is very amusing.

However, there won't be babies this month.

How about next month!?

Actually i can't wait to play Godmother.


Fin.

I Need...Zzzzzzzzz



I'm back in KL doing my favourite disappearing act.

Thank you.

but no applause please.

I am truly sleepy.

woke up for my 9am class at 8am after getting back at 5.45am.

and you won't believe it.

the lecturer didn't turn up!

and then, when i came for my academic writing class, there was something wrong with the LCD projector so guess what...

the class got cancelled due to technical difficulties.

i was pissed but at the same time really sleepy.

so i opted for sleep and so i headed back to my room for some shut eye.

honestly speaking though, that wasn't enough.

i still have readings to plough through tonight for tomorrow's quiz.


-BLEARGH-


By the way darlings i will be back this weekend.

I am not missing the "teaching as a career:seminar" this time.

and i've already registered too.

so nothing's gonna stop me this time.

i have like a gajillion questions on my mind already.

Lets hope i have an uneventful friday.


Fin.

Here Comes 2007...


I am glad.

I am relieved.

Relieved that 2006 came and went with a lot of sweet memories.

I started off 2006 with a BANG!

Literally.

I ushered in the new year with shasha and darwis and a whole slew of other guys from school.

That was fab.

I still cant get the fireworks out of my mind.


And then there were plenty of highlights of 2006


1) My BACKSTREET BOYS concert! Of course! 24th January 2006. I will carry it in my heart forever!


2) My school year just got better and better. Better lecturers = better grades! :D


3) By April, i celebrated my 22nd b'day and on the 16th of April 2006 i met my beau. That was a lovely day.


4) Studied really hard to prove to my parents and myself that i could juggle a r'ship and studies. ChECK!


5)My first ramadhan and eid'ul fitr with the love. Met his parents and he met my parents. It went better than expected.

6)Not so much a highlight but i lost my great-grandfather this ramadhan too.


7) I became a senior! Oh my god. this i think was the least anticipated highlight. People are calling me Kak Mary for god's sake!


8) One of my best friends got MARRIED! I was glad to share that special day with her. Thanks again Huda. :D I am sooooo happy for you.




So. I really enjoyed 2006. I am going to make 2007 a better one.

Especially since i'm going to graduate this year.

I began it with my bf in the wee hours of 2007.

Thanks Sayang. Love you lots.

Insya-Allah end of this year k?



Fin.

Another (Busy?) Weekend

I came home haggard on a saturday morning.

Yes. I reached home on a saturday morning.

That is so NOT my style.

But thankfully its a holiday tomorrow.

I'm just envious of people who don't have classes on fridays.

(They know who they are...blueeekkkzzzz)

So despite being tired, i made my way to my grandparents house in Siglap late yesterday evening.

Took a long bus ride from yishun. Roughly a 45min bus ride.

Surprised my grandparents and they were really pleased to see me back in singapore...like when am i ever NOT in singapore on a weekend?

My grandfather told me that he's going to hold a big feast on the 13th january next year. He's celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary. He personally requested me to be there...that means another valid reason to come back home.

After the cookies and nuts i devoured, the loving and most adoring bf of mine picked me up after his shift and we headed to yishun for supper.

While one of my best friends is happily cavorting in marital bliss, in Bali, i am here writhing away in pain, especially in my back.

Thanks to the first swimming session. I am so bent out of shape.

Wait till i get that kickboxing vcd i've been eyeing for months.

Till then.

Fin.

My Best Friend's Wedding

The bride & the bridesmaid.

Have i told you how much i missed blogging?

I've been so knackered that i can't even bring myself to the pc.

That's how tired i am.


Not to mention that i've already started my swimming classes.

Oh and the whole of this week i've had mishaps with the bus service to and from KL.

My bus that was supposed to send us to KL mysteriously went bust.

The moment it reached Pudu, the bus driver (who really needs to work on his acting skills) told us that the door was spoilt.

So we had to make our way back to UIA ourselves.

Luckily i managed to share a cab with some other people.

Then yesterday, i had a problem with the journey back to singapore.

My bus which was scheduled for 10.30pm was delayed by 3 friggin' hours.

So i finally boarded the bus (which was a tourist bus: i.e. the 2x2 seats or bus persiaran) at 1.15am.

By the time i reached singapore it was already 7am.

And i had to make my way back home by MYSELF after 8 months of being pampered. Haha. Serves me right.

I reached home close to 8am. And i fell straight to bed and rose from the dead at 1.15pm.

I was knackered.

Meanwhile.

Just enjoy the pics from the wedding.

Why not?

While im still on blogging mode.

And in singapore...hehehhe...

I know i didn't really mention it to many people especially the girls.

But it is a holiday back in KL, more like Selangor, today.

Yes it is the Sultan of Selangor's birthday and i decided to celebrate it by coming home.

In the words of my mother:

"Sultan punyer birthday, dier yang sebok nak celebrate."

To each his own ma.

Anyway, someone is about to turn 22 (FINALLY!)

So i decided to make haste and be the one to wish her a day in advance and to proclaim it to the world

On my blog, no less.

HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY my best bud!

While you have just turned 22, i shall have to contemplate on my 23rd birthday.

Which is coming waaaayyy tooooo fast if you ask me.

By the way, the first week of classes were a bummer.

Not to mention the amount of grief i had to go through in registering for my classes.

Research methodology and World Literature was somehow high in demand this semester.

None of the lecturers or the administrators could foresee this problem so all the sections were practically OVERFLOWING with students.

Coming from a department where lecturer to student ratio is 1:10, you can imagine the amount of problems i had to go through. The begging, pleading and coming-down-on-one-knee act to get into the required course.

Almost did not make it to World Lit. He told me that he was sorry and that i had to wait for the next LONG semester.

FYI i graduate in the short semester which is NEXT semester.

And its my last LONG semester in IIU so why couldn't he make the exception? There were other people whom he could easily bump off but no...he told me to get someone to switch with me.

Eventually, when i did get someone to switch with me, he told me that i could actually join the class since the other section that he opened was roughly the same size as the earlier section.

Bah!

So this semester, i'll be coming face to face with Prof. Quayum again. Although he isn't officially lecturing the classes and grading us, he will come around some time or other to give us lectures.

So no more case of the fainting student like last semester.

So what does it feel like to be a senior?

Especially since all the other seniors are gone.

Well, its not half bad. Its just that you have to watch what you say and do because you don't want people to accuse you of doing things where the younger students might follow.

Especially when people misconstrue a lot where i belong.

So this semester, i think i'll see a quieter me

Okay now you all know im lying...hohoho

Quieter maybe but i'll probably carry the same amount of zeal as i've always done before.

I am missing some people...like Kak An and Kak Y. And all the other seniors that graduated a looong time ago.

Like Kak CT and Kak D.

It seems really quiet without the whole lot of them now.

Well then, its up to us to make a whole lot of hullabulloo this time round.

I hope i'll be missed this much when i'm not in IIU anymore.

-tear-

Fin.

I know, i know...

Me & the AI girlies

I owe like a gajillion photos.

There haven't been much photos here, well, cos blogger can be very un-cooperative.

As you all know.

But nevertheless.

I still lurp you many-many k Blogger?

Now i'll just let the photos do the talking...

The childhood friend getting married next week!

Our other halves.

The Baduts as Huda calls them.

My latest find: This chic looking bag frm Bugis St.

2007 i'm looking forward to...

With this brand spanking new planner which i bought at Berjaya Times' Square's Borders.

For a waaaayy tooo high price of RM49.90.

But it does look pretty.

The friend that got hitched last week: Congrats again Imran n Mysha

Me and the girlies again.

Oh well. There are OTHER photos from the digicam that i have yet to upload into the pc.

The Laptop is resting well inside me pink cupboard in the hostel.

The laptop needs its rest before i get to work and have my baby switched on at all hours.

Have your rest okay baby.

6 DAYS to HER big day.

And i'm the one all excited!

Fin.

Back to School.


Yes. I've gone back.

Back to eating in polystrene boxes.

Loving every moment that i have become a senior.

-NOT-

Spare me.

I feel ancient.

Although i am looking forward to attending classes like world lit and discourse analysis.

Not so much of research methodology and the english for academic purposes.

More writing.

Well at least i am comforted by the fact that i can write well by the end of my studies InsyaAllah.


In the mean time.

Its onward to the library for my lit. texts.

I miss you baby.

Lots.

Counting the days to next thursday.

Meanwhile. Let the mayhem begin.


Fin.

I passed!


I got one A.

Alhamdullillah. I think that was the most critical paper i had to sit for and i proved that i have a critical eye.

Thank you Dr. Faridah! Lup u many-many!

Comp. App. okay lah. I guess i deserved the grade. But i feel i should have gotten the A.

Plus i had that non-sleeping episode for that paper.

And it was the only time that i didn't sleep properly.

See how anxious i was for the paper?

Sociolinguistics was great.

I want to thank Ruwaida for the brilliant work she did with the e-portfolio. I think that's what gave me the grade.

Although i was kinda upset with the grade i got for American Lit.

Okay i guess i was deserving of that B+ I slacked off a little on that paper.


Now what shall i ask of daddy and mummy?

I have worked hard haven't i?

So some monetary reward should do nicely...

Plus i desperately need a pair of new black pants and a few new tops.

A pair of cute shoes wouldn't hurt either.

Hohoho...


Did i mention that i passed my Usul Fiqh also?

Dr. Sandra is one kind soul. She saved my ass. Literally.


So i have to continually work hard to improve that CGPA.

I saw an improvement.

An improvement of 0.063

That's how menial and meagre the increment has been.

Another semester to slave and slog my ass through.

Its been fun. And im going to miss it.

Especially the pasar malam Wednesdays and the Haji Tapah tom yam.


This entry is dedicated to my seniors Kak An and Kak Y.


Fin.

Results...

Drumroll please...

The results are going to be released on 28th of November

Oh grrreeeaaattt....

More waiting to do.

Fin.