THE Birthday Bash

Sadia's officially One today! Yippee!!!

Oh happy, happy day! Not a day goes by without our sincerest gratitude to Him.

Our Flowerpot has crossed the One-Year mark. Sadia means flower (or 'Bunga' in Malay). Another meaning of Sadia that I've looked up is Lucky ('Bertuah'). Firjani, according to Ustaz Ismail Kamus' book on Beautiful Names for our offsprings, is 'Penawar Duka' (Cure for Sadness).

This cure for my sadness has indeed wondrous properties. Her smiles and laughs melt my heart. And her nonsensical babytalk conveys a affectionate longing to communicate with us.

Personality-wise, she has developed her own set of quirks - her individualistic, unique side - that at times we forget she is our child! She's like a mini-individual! (If that makes sense at all)

Her Special Day has its share of small hitches but overall the great company and food made the day a success! Sadia was especially contented being surrounded by kids and babies.

Thanks again for coming and for the pressies! (Ahem, hopefully there are plenty more gifts coming our way once we're back in Malaysia ;) )
The Homemade Cupcakes Cum Birthday Cake
Enjoying the Homemade Yummy Icing (Mommy Ijan, Irfan & Akila)
Fighting over the Balloon With Hamzah (Ju, Alia & Ling in the background)
Najo, hubby's Malaysian (Masters) colleague, enjoying the Laksa Sarawak
Sadia's quite chummy with Ling
Finally warming up to balloons
Sadia takes an instant liking to Irfan - likes to sit with him
10-month old Alia
18-month old Ann
The hefty 13kg 9-month old Hamzah (background Max'd (out)?)

Weird, Weirder, Weirdest

Oddball, Strange, Crackpot, Bizarre, Eccentric, Whimsical, Unconventional, Weird.

Those are some adjectives that conjure up when I meet characters - in this portal or the real world - who are, so to speak, larger-than-life.

After such meetings, the usual refrain that would likely come up is, interchangeably, "He's weird", "How weird", and "Weirdo!" Depending on the person in question, our relation to him and the nuances of intonation, these comments are meant to be endearing, or ridiculing.

More often than not, I reserve these terms of endearment to my dearest of friends due to this simple fact: Birds of same feather flock together! Hah!

Yes, I'm as weird as they come. At least, that's what been ingrained in my head since the formative years of my childhood. When your childhood is filled with antics involving, amongst others, foodstuff concocted from washing detergent and cheese, and hair-cutting service courtesy of a neighbour's kid, it's VERY telling how weird you're going to end up later in life.

So when an esteemed blogger, Kak Teh tagged me to list out my weird traits, I'm spoilt for choice. Aside from the innate problem of telling my right from my left (like Kak Teh) and the adroitness to squeeze my nose in for a record 10 seconds, I've narrowed down these 6:

But before I do just that, let me state the rules again:
RULES: People who are tagged should write a blog post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says 'you are tagged' in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1) I have this acute problem identifying which animals are mammals when they are water-based or look 'potentially' marsupial-like. Yes, inspite of a college degree, I've yet able to confidently distinguish which verterbrates are mammals in origin. This problem is also perpetuated by having a husband whose avid interest in documentaries creates a vicious cycle of ignorance. And why not? When you possess a walking animal-expert, it's far too easy to just ask him "Is it a mammal?" "Mammal ke?" Unfortunately, every man has his limits (in patience) and he has since given me the lowdown on the characteristics of a mammal. But I guess, old habits die hard...

One of my biggest confusions concerns the opossum following this explanation: Not all opossums are marsupials but all of them are mammals. Huh? So, what about racoons then? They look 'somewhat' marsupial. Or how about this one: All whales are mammals except for the whale shark, which is actually a misnomer. Yeah, tell me about it...

2) Unlike my twin's fixation on shoes, I love clothes to bits! I'd buy them racks after racks, up to the point where they have singlehandedly filled up the apartment! This is largely due to my highly sentimental nature which compels me not to throw (almost) anything away. In turn, I owe this deep preoccupation with clothes partly to my being a 'late bloomer' in terms of physique and self-confidence.

On the flip side, as much as I am vain and obsessed about clothes, I rarely spend enough time sprucing up my hair. Those who know me - relatives and close friends - are quick to comment (or berate) on the dishevelled quality of my wavy locks. Hey, I can only concentrate on ONE thing at a time!

3) This might come as a surprise to some but I confess I have a love-hate relationship when it comes to reading books or any genre of literature, for that matter. I seldom read them. Once in a blue moon, if I'm lucky. Coming from a person who is fond of writing must be in itself an oddity, or if I may, an irony. Yet, I solely blame it on SAS (short attention span), causing me to flit and fly from one project to another. For instance, while typing this blog, I'm also YMing and have opened two other noteworthy 'windows' on the Internet. I do envy those who are well-versed on the literary front and as a consequence, I aspire to work harder (or sit tighter) to read great masterpieces. But for now, I profess a strong inclination towards essays, short stories and articles. On that note, perhaps I should buy the much touted collection of short stories called Fragile Things by übercool writer, Neil Gaiman. That is, if I don't get sidetracked by other projects or tasks like clothes-shopping!

4) I have the propensity of making LISTS for everything and for any occasions!!! Apart from the commonplace grocery/shopping lists, I do up lists to assess the pros and cons of certain scenarios. Like when I was offered a new job, what are the upside and downside to either stay put or start afresh in greener pastures. Or, the time when I had to decide if I was ready to take the plunge ;) . Nowadays, I have limited my affinity to lists for shopping and providing a checklist for travelling.

5) Blame it on the stars! My tendency to shoot blunders from my mouth is only matched by the inability to take cognizance of the listener's change in facial expression or body language. Don't get me wrong. It's never a malicious intent to spew out those blunt remarks. It's borne out of curiousity. Plainly speaking, it's just inherent, this foot-in-the-mouth disease (FITM). My mother can in fact vouch for that. My earliest childhood memory of this mouth boo-boo revolves on this bride, sitting on her ornately-decorated dais (or 'pelamin'), to which I said out loud "Kenapa pengantin tu tak cakap, dia bisu ke?" ("How come the bride is so quiet, is she a mute?") Luckily, the bride didn't flinch at all but my mom hastily ferried me out of the crowded living room.

On the other hand, I am also a shy by nature when it comes to meeting strangers. Some people might sadly construe it as aloofness. Yet, when I do warm up to new people, I might commit the mortal sin of FITM-ing. It's Catch-22 (hey, I managed to read this one!), I know.

6) And last but not least, I have this distinct ability to cry and then laugh in an average span of 30 seconds. Or in some bizarre cases, 10 seconds! You might say I'm whacked out or you could say I don't dwell on my sadness for a long time. Actually, neither is right. When the sniffles come about, I am usually with someone close - physically or telephonically - who is quite resourceful in cheering me up. That, or my SAS mind would already flutter to other more sanguine topics like travel plans, fashion tips or interesting articles. Or, when all else fails, I will be high on coffee-caffeine! Weeee!

There you have it - 6 weird things you should bear in mind when you see me in person. But like any other books that you readers are resolute to read this year, don't ever judge a book's content by its cover! ;)

For my next 6 victims, err I mean, participants, I'm tagging the other Tita, Ina, Rizby, newbie Agah, Kak Adib, and my significant other. (As a relative newcomer to the blog realm, I have a rather exhaustible list of contacts)

Now I have to go back preparing for Sadia's first birthday party tomorrow. This is a new territory for us first-time parents, so wish us luck!!!

note: Cathy's comic was taken from here.

You And I Both

Kak Teh's entry and suggestion inspired me to proffer the following coming-of-age tale.

Once there was a girl who, despite her academic accomplishments, was unsure of herself, carrying a heavy baggage containing low self-esteem, identity crisis, family strife and a dollop of adolescent pangs.

After SPM results came out and going for numerous company interviews for a tertiary scholarship, she at last settled for a scholarship with a government affliate which entailed flying to California for a one-year college preparatory programme.

Notwithstanding the numbness she felt, she still boarded the plane to Los Angeles to start a new chapter in her lives - to study and come back to Malaysia with an impressive degree from a top-notch university.

Independence and solitude are two concepts alien to her eighteen-year-old stature, being close to her maternal family and surrounded by siblings of, more or less, the same age. In fact, the numbness gave way to a broken dam of what seems like unending tears, engulfed by loneliness, grappling with living in close quarters with total strangers (other Malaysian peers in the same group) and mostly, adapting to being on her own for the first time.

The difficulty of settling in was compounded by the fact that the other girls often misunderstood her klutzy and rough-around-the-edges ways. She didn't quite fit in, preferring instead to always stay at the fringes. An frigid onlooker, a taciturn observer.

Two weeks after her arrival, another group of all male Malaysian students from another sponsoring company appeared on campus. The 10 of them introduced themselves to us and due to the disparity in scholarship entitlements, factions naturally formed thereafter.

She still remembers him coming into the classroom with a warm smile on his lips. Back then, he's rather small-framed compared to her tallish, big-boned physique. Being the only one hailing from East Malaysia, he initially had trouble adapting to the other Malaysians particularly the loutish males. Like her, he had never ventured outside his home turf, save for those short, very rare trips to KL for shopping.

She couldn't really identify the exact catalyst that stirred their close bond but she vaguely recalls it was somewhat attributed to the friendships they had both cultivated with the other two 'non-conformists' in the 30-odd group. Eventually, one found a boyfriend (or was it the boyfriend found her?) and the other openly gay guy was preoccupied with his own soul-searching (and not to mention, man-hunting:) ).

With more free time just with each other, they instantly hit it off, chatting about everything under the sun both figuratively and literally sitting lazily under a verdant carpet of grass. They would hike along the abandoned railroad tracks in that small college town in California that led them to the town center with its one and only mall and a 'strip mall' comprising affordable eateries and retail stores.

They were like the best of friends - even like a brother and a sister then - reading books under a big canopy of a tree on the campus quad, teasing one another with friendly banters and cheering up the other when he/she was feeling down.

The delicate balance of their friendship was put under scrutiny by others, especially the other girls, who began inquiring the presence of any romantic inkling. Stunned by the suggestions, she pondered the likelihood of a serious attachment. Can it be? She was fond of him and enjoyed his company immensely but would a declaration of love destroy their friendship?

After replaying over and over again in her head the great moments they spent together, she warmed up to the idea of a romantic pursuit. But it came with risks, most importantly the potential loss of a friend. As such, the inexperienced, naive her decided to tread the matter with caution.

However, her newfound feelings betrayed her through the expectations normally reserved to a boyfriend, thus causing her pain and heartache. At times, she tried to conceal her emotions behind a facade of sarcasms and callous remarks, a trademark of a Sagittarian's foot-in-the-mouth disease (hey, an easy cop-out!).

There were times when she thought she had caught a meaningful glint in his eyes, but she resumed to play it safe by beating around the bush on the off-chance, he might get the drift. Unfortunately, it came to no avail for he was either dense or afraid of losing their friendship. (She later found out it was the latter)

Their one-year stint in California ended abruptly without a closure on their questionable status. They went their separate ways, choosing different states in the good old US of A to pursue a Bachelors Degree in their selected majors. However, fate intervened as their college towns turned out to be relatively close to one another. They remained in close contact.

In spite of that however, circumstances which prevailed during the course of four years, did not work to their advantage. Needless to say, apart from the demanding academic loads, they value their friendship above and beyond exploring the possibilities of a romantic attachment.

To make an already long story short, it was only after joining the corporate world that a serious relationship developed. They had found their bearings now and were able to juggle romance alongwith other yuppie-orientated matters. Or so they thought.

Like a self-fulfilling prophecy turned really bitter, their transitioning from friends to lovers proved to be a difficulty, beyond both their imagination. Mired by a set of expectations, flaring egos and meddlesome third parties, they decided to call the whole thing off, but not without the consequent hurtful emotions.

As the oft-cited Malay adage "Takkan lari gunung dikejar" goes (or for the diehard romantics, "The course of true love is never smooth"), they were reunited three years later, thanks in part to the help of mindful sibling and friends :). Despite the span of time and distance between them, both confessed that the other was always in his/her mind.

After two years of marriage, they remain thankful to Allah for bringing them together, despite of and because of the countless obstacles they had to jump.

On the eve of much-hyped Valentine's Day, out of the blue, he asked her "When did you know that you've met THE person?" To which, she empathically replied "Back in California," And he said "Me too," flashing her that winsome smile again.

And that was the best present ever I could ask for 'Hari Kekasih'.

note: comics taken from Kim and Stefano Casali's 'Love Is' series

Quicktake: Nina's New Arrival

To borrow the phrase coined by my dad in the email he sent attached with two photos of the newborn.

No definitive news on the name yet though. I can relate - we didn't come up with the name either until the eleventh hour.

These were taken on a Sunday afternoon in Malaysia when my parents and siblings came over to Na's house (save for Dikya and her family who are outstation).

The baby's eyes are, as quoted by my dad, 'wide-eyed.' Knowing how bobbly an infant's head is, he looked down both times the photos were snapped! Probably he's just camera-shy. Hehe.

Wish I was there to see the latest addition to the clan. And to visit my twin at the hospital.

Nevertheless, I'm glad everything turned out well for those involved.

Close Encounters of the Wrong Kind

At times, I do wish that the scribblings, anecdotes, ramblings, babblings, rantings and what-have-you that I read on the Net come with a sort of disclaimer that reads something like this - Caution: The Following Blog Write-up will leave a bad taste in your mouth.

When I come upon a piece that teeters on the side of pessissm, or the all-encompassing negativism, I am immediately cheesed off. A gamut of emotions take hold, from anger, to shock, to perturbation.

For instance, a fellow blogger who warned his or her readers not to leave any comment if it's merely a one-liner, in the manner of "I like your blog" "Such an interesting piece" (or something to this effect). He or she asserted that no validation is needed from the likes of us, people of a few words. What?! How unfriendly and downright snooty.

And there's the case of a long piece from a fellow Malay Muslim blogger who defiled the Holy City of Mecca in his narration. I was sick to the stomach after poring over his perverted and arrogant (hey, I'm all that) reasoning. After much rumination, I felt sorry for him but decided that was the straw that broke the camel's back and erased him permanently from my Bookmark. It's one thing to take pride in your drunkard revelry but to descerate the sanctity of Islam is, in my book, universally and irrefutably unforgivable.

Also, when a writer chose to publicly condescend and demean those people that are, at first glimpse, dear to him or her, I question the sincerity and depth of their relationships. If a person makes one wrong move in the eye of another, will the latter look upon the misstep as a yardstick to which the other is worth? Or, if you may, an acid test to the durability of their so-called friendship(s)?

In the cases mentioned above, it's quite unfortunate to brush off these bloggers since they are, in my humble estimation, prolific writers. However, I must qualify myself here since all writings, in essence, are quite subjective to the ones who read them. In other words, I might not be as desensitized as the next person with respect to the topic at hand.

This seemingly arbitrary choice brings me to this next question: Why people have the propensity to write at length about certain specific subjects but not others?

I believe the answers involve a number of intertwined variables - life experiences (from the sweet to the bitter), self-esteem/self-image (from the very healthy to the extremely low), knowledge (academic and general), upbringing (nurture versus nature), spiritual inclination (from philosophies to religions), interests (from the daily mundane to the thrilling) and of course, the all important Motivation.

The motivation behind your writings colors your approach, nuances and style in executing your many 'stories.' Some bloggers just want to share slices of their lives, no matter how big or small, to a captive audience who in turn either live vicariously through the blogger or actively stand by the 'protagonist' of the unfolding narratives. Conversely, other segments rely on their expertise in much-sought-after fields (finance, technology, consultancy, fashion) to garner the popularity of their personal sites.

A wide range of the blogging community however opt for a mixed bowl - marrying their interests in different areas of life with their personal exposures and resultant opinions. I think I dawdle somewhere in this spectrum.

Yet, whatever the agendas, any writing in the world won't amount to anything if it lacks the passion and commitment to follow through your 'saga' on the electronic frontier. If that happens, your piece of work will read as bunch of gobbledygook, or worse, hokum. And of course, no matter what your motives are for blogging, I firmly believe therein lies a narcisstic streak behind all of the rantings and ramblings you impart on this medium. You may assume a pseudonym, or you may never pose any photos or pictures, but deep down in your gut, a semblance of vanity does exist.

As for me, writing acts a form of release from the myriad of emotions, feelings and encounters - no matter how implicit or overt they can be - in this lifetime. By opening the cyber doors into my world, I've partaken in disseminating my 'self-love' to the electronic masses, a decision which is by no means, risky and exciting all at the same time.

Inadvertently, the negative vibes that ensue from my reciprocative bloghopping habit are thus far the only casualty (of the mind). Alas, after much mulling over my distasteful experience, I finally pinpoint the underlying culprit to this whole episode which is this: some people just rub you the wrong way. That way, I need not get all worked up when I come across a highly-charged writing.

After all, life is too short to sweat over the small stuff.

Bouncing News!

First son, Numi
Na with Siti and Sadia

As in bouncing baby!

At 8:47pm Malaysian time today, my twin sister, Nina delivered her second baby. Another son who weighs in at a remarkable 3.2kg!

The newborn's name is not officially out yet but most importantly, Alhamdulillah, both mother and baby are doing fine and healthy.

I will update his photo when I get some MMSes. ;)

For now, sleep tight Na and baby boy, and will mail a gift package soon!

Addendum to It's a Wonderful World of Sadia!

What sheer coincidence! Last night on BBC 2's Ready, Steady, Cook- a cooking show hosted by chef, Ainsley Harriot - Teletubbies' Po was one of the guests! I mean the chinese brit-bred lady, Pui Fan Lee, who played Po on the hit children show. And she won! Let's hear it for 'Green Pepper'!

Back to my topic, Honorable Mentions that subsequently came to mind:
------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Sadia fancies to eat the pizza crust out of the one we phone-ordered for delivery. At this phase, she also loves to eat the following fruits - pear, banana and grapes!
(b) On foot, she likes to circle around her playpen and will promptly hop into its entrance when we ask her to go in. Later, when she wants to get out, we will say 'Kaki dulu' (Feet first) and she will obediently put her feet out first onto the floor (The height from the playpen's entrance to the floor makes it painful if she exits head first).
(c) She is fixated with anything sticker. Especially to be put on herself or our persons (face and arm's areas come to mind).

That's about it.....for now! ;-)

It's a Wonderful World of Sadia!

Taking care of a baby alone is no easy task. And this coming two weeks, starting yesterday, will attest to that.

Yes, after the last session in Paris, the time has come again for his classes to commence and for me to hold the fort on my own. Possible visit to (and counter-visit from) a Malaysian acquaintance with similar situation is in the works though.

At the risk of boring my readers to tears with my baby-centric postings, I will continue the trend and dedicate this one to yet another on Sadia.

Since I should get some shut-eye soon, I prefer to keep this one as short and sweet as I could possible conjure (can hear my husband snickering in the background now).

Milestones on Sadia:
-----------------
(1) When we refuse, forbid or disallow her from wanting, taking or basically doing something by uttering one of these three words interchangeably - 'Jangan', 'Tak Boleh' or 'No' - she will shake her head many a time too in response. It's been so conditioned now that she'd shake her head if she doesn't want to eat or to play with certain toys.
(2) She will say 'Ntak' repeatedly while pointing to the things that she wants to hold or get a grip on. (Ntak must be short for Mintak). This rudimentary communication works quite well with (1) by way of the process of elimination to ascertain which is the thing she really wants out of the ones strewn on the floor or piled up on the dining table.
(3) She's into classical music. We chanced upon this discovery on her newfound interest after seeing her engrossed by the classical music used during a figure skating championship on tv. She was full of glee! We have subsequently collated a number of classical tunes from the Net for her enjoyment during mealtimes. Played on the Mac's ITunes to a dazzling kaleidoscope of random 'Visualizer', it surely helps to calm her down and whet her fussy appetite! Talk about Fine Dining!

Apart from those, Sadia is quite clingy (sounds familiar ;) ) to us and especially to me. At times, when she's in the living room alone, I can't even go to the nearby kitchen for a brief moment without her screaming and scampering after me. And she's a screamer alright - a petite baby with a loud set of pipes! When either of us is standing, she'd walk to us and wrap our kneecaps with her arms as an indication that she demands to be picked up and walk around in Ayah's or Mama's taxi. Who could resist when she does that!

Or if she has a tummyache and wants to go poo-poo, she'll become antsy (codeword for crybaby) and search for her source of milk (me!). Somehow, the act of nursing allays her stomach discomfort and eventually aids in passing motion.

Oh, another thing, like karmic justice, Sadia simply adores The Teletubbies! Yes, I'm afraid I've come to terms with it and even hums the showtune at my own volition, while Sadia jiggles from side to side in her sleepsuit, not unlike one of them Teletubbies. The only slack is that it's dubbed in Dutch. But I'm not complaining since the Teletubbies talk gibberish anyway and their actions are quite self-explanatory. By the way, I'm partial to Po. Haha!

My twin sister's son, Numair, also goes zany over The Teletubbies. Hmmm, is it in the shared gene sequence?

Speaking of showtunes, Sadia also loves the jingles to any tv shows, most memorably re-runs 'The Nanny' and 'Dharma & Greg.' I guess, she has an ear for music.

And yesterday, while eating to the accompaniment of classical music, she slid out - as she usually does - the plastic measuring stick attached to a punchholder, and excitably waving the stick in the air as if she were conducting! A conductor prodigy with a million bucks? Oh wow!!!

On that note, I must say, watching your own kid grow and develop in front of your eyes has a profound effect on your well-being. A series of cathartic experiences never to be missed!

These Feet are Made for Walking!

At the end of last week, I'm proud to announce that Sadia has begun walking steadily and consequently more rapidly all over the place! She now wants to check out the kitchen area and explore the expansive bedroom loft floor, all the while on her two puny feet.

Yes, I know my excitement will be in check once she gains momentum on those feet and in turn I will have to run all over the place to catch her in various actions.

Till then, I'm savouring her cute waddly gait.

A Day of Snow and Shots

Thursday was a first on two fronts.

One, it was seriously snowing, in droves and with a magnitude unseen before, since December 2005. The flurries fell from the sky during mid-morning and continued up to 3 in the afternoon. In fact, late 2005 was the last time the snow reached a record level, in more than 20 years.

I was reeling by the snow shower, skittishly coming and going from our living room's windowsill. To say the least, I was overcome with feelings of nostalgia - the gentle howling sound from the snowfall and the crisp wintry air ensuing from the dropping temperature - which transported me back to the first time I saw a snow-covered horizon as far as the eyes could see. The thrill is simply indescribable.

Two, we would have our first appointment with the healthcare center for Sadia's checkup at 2:30pm. When the snow refused to let up by 1pm, my excitement flipped to a feeling of concern. The center is only accessible by bus in this cold climate. Although the bus depot is nearby our place, trekking down in the middle of a snowfall must not be practical for Sadia. In the end, we decided to bundle Sadia (who had already fallen asleep) in a warm bodysuit (thanks Tita!).

The designated bus arrived conveniently a few minutes after we took shelter at our route's 'bus halte'. In less than 5 minutes, we made it to our stop and treaded carefully on the snow-covered side pavements. The snowy precipitation had tapered off by this time. The walk to the center might be short but it reverberated with footsteps (with proper traction of course!) from our past. Back to a place where we ambled pensively in the vast winter wonderland that epitomises the Mid-West.

At the center, we met with a middle-aged lady called Lisabeth, the receptionist cum clerk who asked us to undress Sadia for weighing. Sadia woke up promptly upon hearing the cries of two babies who were being dressed up respectively by their harried-looking caregivers. Still groggy, she was at first confused by the new environment but gradually warmed up by the sight of other babies. Other caregivers (and babies in tow) came in succession shortly after us.

We had thought that Sadia was to be dressed down from her winter clothes but Lisabeth clarified that Sadia must be in her birthday suit! Okay, we were not prepared for that at all. Luckily, we brought a large shawl - which also doubled up as a cozy muffler - to cover Sadia before she is called to the weighing scale. (Other people brought fancy baby fleece robes - how cute!)

Since she was big enough, Lisabeth directed us to put her into a sitting position on the scale. She declared the reading: 7 kilos and 100 grams. What?!!

"7.1 kg? Are you sure?," I exclaimed, which was meant for my hearing and not for Lisabeth who, according to my husband, looked at me askance. I had looked forward to hearing 9kg being proclaimed but it didn't happen. My baby is certifiably a small petite tot. ;-) (Though her temperament doesn't match her size in the very least!)

After measuring her length and head circumference, she asked us to only put the diaper on Sadia. Again, we gingerly wrapped her in the deceptively (blue) paisley shawl. On hindsight, the complete undressing aids the staff by checking for bruises or other visible physical abnormalities.

We were then ushered to a smaller room by the nurse-on-duty, Wendy, who is by the way, very friendly, informative and helpful with our slew of questions (okay, maybe MY slew of questions). She queried, checked and noted down Sadia's record of previous vaccinations before leaving the room to confer with the doctor-on-duty for the next course of vaccination.

Wildly curious with the interesting toys in the nurse's room, Sadia verbalised loudly and gestured to the eye-catching trinkets. She even brought some out from the big nursery cum waiting room that we were from! By the time Wendy came back, Sadia's hands were full with her new gadgets. The newfound fixation was apropos since Wendy was going to administer the shot, which Sadia was supposed to have six months after the last one. In other words, we were late.

It is interesting that in the Netherlands, the nurse will give the jab while the baby is sitting down on the caregiver's lap. That was what exactly happened to Sadia who, absorbed with her new toy, automatically let out a small, almost inaudible, cry as soon as the needle pricked her left thigh. Funnily, she resumed playing intently with those thingamajigs as if the pain she felt was fleeting. Brave girl she is!

We then set a doctor's appointment for her next vaccination scheduled during her 14-month checkup. Sadia was stoked with the presence of another infant in the waiting room and demanded to be released on the floor with her. The girl's blue eyes were transfixed on Sadia but all Sadia wanted to do was to touch her! I was afraid she might yank the girl's clothes or pull her hair. Sadia's strong grip and pinches are legendary. She had pinched hard one side of her cousin's - Zahra - cheek, thus causing the affected area to be swollen red for days! Poor Zahra!


As we stepped outside the center, the snow already turned into sleet! Most of the snow on the pavements was now slushy. We finally reached home at 4pm and rushed to take photos before the beautiful white blanket evaporated. By nighttime, all the snow had (again) disappeared from rooftops, trees, streets and on top of parked automobiles by the canals.

Our experience with the Dutch's healthcare services ended on two notes:
1) Sadia's growth development came at the lowest (possible) percentile on the Dutch's infant growth chart (as expected!)!
2) We have to find and thereon register with a family doctor who will in turn, be in charge of tending to a host of physical ailments. Else, for emergency or chronic cases, we can always go to the Dutch hospital.

The Burqini Hitting A Shore Near You!

Here's an excerpt of the news I picked up from Bernama while surfing a few nights ago:
----------------------------------
February 04, 2007 11:27 AM
MELBOURNE, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- A new two-piece, head-to-toe polyester swimsuit, is set to revolutionise beach going for devout Muslim women in Australia, Australian National News Agency AAP said in a report today.

The "burqini", which has already been sold to more than 9,000 women in Sydney, is suitable for surf life saving patrols and has been endorsed by the Australian Islamic Council and the mufti of Australia....

...."The whole point is to get women active in the water, to encourage women to participate in sporting activities, in swimming activities, and wearing the burqini allows them to do that,".....

....there had already been a rush for the two-piece swimsuits which were priced between A$150 and A$200....

.....SLSA spokesman Lee Howell told the news agency the Australian Islamic Council was very comfortable with the apparel.

"The mufti (Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali) has personally endorsed the burqini as being appropriate and permissible for cultural and religious reasons," he said......
------------------------
Personally, it's both exhilarating and liberating to learn about the laudable invention of alternative swimwears designed specially for Muslim women donning the headscarfs.

This news also serves as a food for thought for me, the non-tudung ('tudung' is Malay equivalent of scarf) wearer, by ruminating on the prejudices attached to those hijab-wearers when they do go to the beach. People would snigger or be appalled at the sight of them swimming in their daily top and bottom. I think everyone, regardless of their color and creed, is entitled to enjoy the benefits that a seaside has to offer.

Another thing that peeves me is the skewed perceptions and criticisms thrown at this Burqini on the basis that it 'looks' uncomfortable, thus somehow translating it to being prone to water-logging. Purely relying on its physical attributes, the naysayers were hasty to decry the positive aspects of the Burqini.

One myopic commenter ridiculed the swimsuit by likening it to an attire more suited to alienbeings ala Queen Amidala of Star Wars. Actually, come to think of it, I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult...

Another went off tangent by highlighting the plight of some Burqa-clad Muslim women who are constantly struggling within the small confines of their patriachal-driven lives. And I had thought the Burqini is to facilitate this restriction by giving women more freedom to hit the beaches, in an attire more appropriate and comfortable to them.

Granted, in some corners of the globe, women are still being relegated to submissive roles in society and subjected to other cultural-constraints, but to dismiss this invention as farcical at best and hokey at worst, goes against the progressive spirit of the Burqini project.

This was what Lebanese-descent but Australian-based, Aheda Zanetti had in mind when she embarked on this ambitious and risky endeavor. In her website's testimony, she divulged "By providing the appropriate clothing for the Muslim woman, who complies with religious, cultural and sports obligation, we are helping to bring out the best in Muslim woman, to prove that a Muslim woman is a role model to other women in the world, not an oppressed, no name, and no face being."

Fundamentalists, agnostics, atheists, feminists, so-called reformists and anything in between may have their reasons and agendas to disdain the Burqini. Yet, in the beach bum culture of Australia, Aheda has hit upon a goldmine that suitably caters to Australian Muslim women wearing the headscarfs. And looking at the burgeoning number of orders from all over the world, this innovation proves to be a lucrative niche.

In my opinion, the Burqini symbolises, on some levels, a welcome advancement in Muslim women's activities outside of their domestic domain. Without a doubt, the freedom of swimming comfortably goes beyond the existing outlets available for recreational purposes.

For me, in the future when I do decide to don the scarf, the Burqini will come in handy for beach-related activities - although I can readily admit I do not know how to swim. :-) (I can however swim backwards for one side of the pool to another, provided I can touch the bottom of the pool with my feet!)

Besides, with the Australian mufti's stamp of approval, I have only this to say: We Muslim women have definitely come a long way.

Now, if only they would bring down the price from the hefty AUD150-200!

For other news on Burqini, please click here and here.

Wintry Shower

"It's snowing!" Imagined my surprise at breakfast as I was about to butter my toasties with cream cheese. Alas, the flurries ceased midway through breakfast. A fleeting fancy.
We ventured out into the elements, freezing our bums off, after nature's failed attempt at snowing.
The snow came acalling in the afternoon again. This time, with much intensity and volume. Flakes were thick and rushed down from heaven unabated. It was a breathtaking, tranquil sight to behold!
In an hour's time, the white-powdered shower dissolved from our plain view and left everything pristine white in its wake.
To say the least, we experienced a euphoric high - almost childlike - just by looking at the falling snow, considering our 10-year separation from the tundra-like climate of Illinois and Indiana. (Wow, has it been THAT long ago?)
Slowly does it
In droves
Aftermath
Admiring the falling snowflakes
Vantage point from our window

Summer Scintillating Screenings

I duly informed my husband about JK Rowling's final installation of the Harry Potter series last Friday, much to his elation. He has been a fan of the kid wizard ever since he read 'The Sorcerer Stone' circa 1999 and, looks forward to Harry Porter's continuing saga to hit the bookstore shelves every single year.

After one year of absence, JK Rowling at last unveiled 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' which will circulate the literary circle on July 21st this year. The timing of the book release coincides with the screening of the Harry Potter's latest flick - the fourth book, 'The Order of Phoenix' - which is also the book least liked by my husband (not counting the final offering by JK Rowling). I'm never much a reader of this sort of genre - wizardry, sorcery and anything in between.

However, I'm quite excited to watch the unravelling of Harry Potter's and others' characters on the big screen this summer. It will be released on July 13th, which by then, suits perfectly with my husband's academic schedule.

I vaguely recall the last time I hit the cinema with my husband. It must be either December 2005 or January 2006. Now with a baby in tow, it's hardly practical to simply hop into the nearby mall-enclosed cinema in the Klang Valley, nor is it emotionally (and physically) possible to leave Sadia with a sitter cum friend nowadays in Delft.

Watching movies figures largely in our halcyon dating years so much so that it spilled over as our weekend/public holiday ritual. Like shopping, it serves as therapy to our wearied souls and depending on the genres, it rewards us with some food-for-thought or impresses us with stunning special effects and 'escapism' thrills.

Our romancing with innumerable flicks tapered off as I reached the final stages of my third trimester, though I didn't understand what's the fuss about going into labor in the cinema theatre. But I was more than amenable to suggestions and advices with this being my first baby.

This year, we vow to return to the big screen and munch on caramel-doused popcorns we've been hankering for what seems like an aeon. Sadia will most likely accompany us on this rare excursion, preferably with the aid of earplugs to mitigate the fluctuations in noise level and subdue Sadia into a state of complacency.

The three major flicks that I am dying to watch this summer are, in descending order:

1) Spiderman 3
The third and final instalment to the Spiderman trilogy centers on Peter Parker's struggle against the enemy within and without. After possessing the knowledge of his uncle's real killer, Parker has been obsessed with avenging his death to the point that he literally losses himself to the 'poisonous' feelings of hatred and resentment. On the romantic front, the appearance of Parker's old flame might tip the balance in his blossoming relationship with MJ. The Spiderman trilogy is top-notch in my cinematic book owing largely to its auteur, Sam Raimi's personal touches, dedication and passion to his pet project. Aside from the dry humor and excellent script, the onscreen chemistry between Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst makes the viewing more enjoyable and believable. Oh yeah, the amazing state-of-the-art CGI effects also guarantees Spiderman 3 a helluva ride! It will hit cinemas worldwide on May 4th.

2) Transformers
Like the illustrious director Michael Bay (of 'The Rock' and 'Pearl Harbor' fame), I grew up watching Transformers with my siblings during the weekend cartoon shows. The trailer screams volume of the film's storyline and promises, in true Hollywood fashion, over-the- top action and suspense. Also, I expect the script to be saccharine sweet and at times campy, like many other movies produced by Michael Bay - what more with the movie release aptly scheduled, with much pomp and revelry, for the 4th of July weekend!

3) The Simpsons Movie
A true blue Simpson fan, I am waiting with bated breath for the big-screen larger-than-life version of The Simpsons on July 27th. I haven't read anything about the plot but I guess it'll be classy, original and hillarious as wont. Probably, a more 'contemporary' incarnation of The Simpsons' characters is in the pipeline? Like Montgomery Burns repeatedly clasping his hands in anticipated delight, I'm reeling with excitement for the unfolding of this long-running animation.

I'm fairly optimistic that these movie-buff outings will pan out come Summer. For the time being, we just have to make do with movie re-runs on the telly or buy some cheap DVDs off the rack. And of course, go hunting for those life-savers, errr I mean, earplugs...

For the Hundredth Time.....

Woohoo! We've entered the month of February. Yesterday, for a start, was pleasantly mild with none of the usual malevolent, bone-freezing winds that is the norm at this time of the year. Indeed, a great way to welcome February which will also celebrate my daughter's first birthday at the tail-end of it. God bless her!

On a very personal level, this blog entry is a cause for mini-celebration, of some sort. Following a timorous start in November 2005, I've now reached number 100 in my blog posting! Yay! *Here's the cue to break into a Snoopy-like dance*

When I first dipped my toes into the uncharted waters of blogging, I didn't know what to expect or whom to emulate. I just wanted to record my thoughts, rants and raves for posterity. A place to retreat to, to unload those baggages (emotional or otherwise) I've been lugging around, to rail against injustice and cruelty (from the trivials to the substantials), or to splice the disparate parts of my lives into a cohesive yet memorable whole. In short, a pseudo-diary that will be re-read in latter times to see and reflect on how far I've grown as a person.

It was only when I arrived in Delft that I uncovered a whole new world of blogging - blogging with links to other people's sites which arise from making friends with people from the blogging community, through comments left, interests shared or causes championed. With a lot of free time, I also began dabbling with the cosmetic changes to my site by way of tinkering with 'customised tools' and fun applications seen on other bloggers' pages. I can assure you this was done through a series of online experiments by my non-tech-savvy hands.

And so for the hundredth post, many ideas came to my frenetic mind, all at once. Should I write a philosophical piece, indulge in a wise-cracking anecdote, delineate my socio-political stance, paste some more photos of our cheeky Sadia, or recount some poignant turn-of-event? I flitted through the options available and decided on this:

Starbucks.*grin*

Yes, those who know me well can relate to my hankering for coffee. My unfailing allegiance with coffee. At times, on a disturbing level.

I only got into the habits of drinking coffee religiously during my college stint. Like many students before me, it aids by kickstarting yet another day of classes and keeping those crusty eyes fully awake at boring lectures.

Towards my junior year, I fell in love with Starbucks after stumbling upon it in Chicago - downing it either in the Windy City itself with Malaysian friends or in an Illinois suburb where I usually met with my would-be husband.

Upon graduation and leaving the States for good, I flew to the UK to attend my twin sister's commencement ceremony in Cardiff. No Starbucks was in sight at the time. However, I was fully sated with the commendable coffee fares served at quaint and quirky cafes.

So circa 1999-2000, when Berjaya Group Berhad eventually brought the franchise onto Malaysian shores, I thanked Allah profusely and leapt for joy! At long last, a delectable coffee beverage to unwind to at the end of a yuppie-full day. Yippee!

When Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) ordered Caramel Machiatto at her favourite Starbucks store in You've Got Mail, I rejoiced at the similarity in our exquisite taste! Aside from CM, my other loves include Hazelnut Latte, Plain Latte and Mocha. Surprisingly, I'd prefer the hot beverages over the cold or 'frapp' ones, even in the sweltering climate of Malaysia.

I momentarily parted company with my coffee addiction - Starbucks included - during my pregnancy. Hormonally-laden with progesterone, I couldn't stand the smell or taste of coffee, to the point of almost hurling! I had wondered out loud if this would mark a permanent change to my cafe-bound, lolling lifestyle in KL. Fortunately and remarkably, it was passing phase. Further, my concerns over coffee consumption vis-a-vis full-time nursing were allayed by Sadia's pediatrician who 'basically' informed me that adhering to 2-4 cups (or was it mug?!) a day should fairly be safe. He even added that the chances of caffeine entering the milk production via the bloodstream are reasonably minute.

The one-year sojourn in Delft, the Netherlands, beginning in the third quarter of last year, didn't however prepare me for the cold-turkey withdrawal from Starbucks. I failed to do my homework and took for granted that Starbucks, the Seattle-based giganticus coffee-chain-us would infiltrate most places on earth by now. Luckily, I snapped up the opportunity to slake my Starbucks thirst when we went back briefly to Malaysia during Raya last year. We even had packed two beverages up to the eleventh hour - at the Starbucks in the KLIA's Satellite building!

And then, the most rueful moment in the history of a self-proclaimed Starbucks addict, took place two weeks ago. I was browsing the Net, armed with the sudden interest in finding out the nearest country to the Netherlands that carries the Starbucks franchise. Actually, I was having a strong craving for Starbucks that particular night....go figure.

Imagine my sheer horror when I discovered that France has Starbucks amongst its constituents! Considering how protectionist France is, no small amount of retail stores was available in the country. In fact, there are 27 branches in total, with 25 in Paris proper itself!!!

Oh woe is me! I bemoaned my enormous loss of being so close to my elixir of youth yet unable to relish the goods on offering! I mentally kicked myself after I pored over the list of stores, one of which was in near proximity to the place that we stayed in Rueil-Malmaison! Devastatingly ill-timed!

Fear not my (caffeinated) beating heart for I (we) intend to tread upon your soil in the not-to-distance future and believe me, a daily (if not hourly) frequent might be on the agenda. But of course, the usual proviso does apply - Sadia. Like an onion, her personality traits have slowly peeled off, revealing some adorable and some antsy sides of her character. That evolution will go on for a year or so, I'm afraid, which in turn has a full bearing on any plans we might have laid out for the day. When push comes to shove, Starbucks to-go is always the definitive solution to man's (woman's) greatest distress! :-)

comic credits go to Cartoonbank.com