M.A.L.A.S spell

I'm under wicked MALAS spell right now.. no, it has been two weeks already. HELLPP!!!

The joy of giving

First and foremost, a question: if you give someone something, would you expect them to keep or to use? For instance, a water container or a towel or a mug? Do you really expect the gifts to last a lifetime?

The most thing that I like when comes to giving is the look on the recipient face. You'd find joy and honesty and sincerity. And of course if I give something, I do expect the recipient to put it to good use. And if it breaks or wears out or not in the form when it was first given, I'm grateful for they really put the gifts to good use. Nothing ever last in this world anyway.

If in case you are thinking of the appropriate gift for me at this moment, it would be a KitchenAid mixer.

Uhmmm just so you know why I raise this gifting issue, I actually recently accidentally broke a mug given by a dear friend who bought it when she was in Sydney, year 2000. This incident happened just about a month after I accidentally broke another mug bought by a dear friend too when she went to Hong Kong for holiday. Although I paid for it but the fact that it was one of my precious collection of mugs, it was indeed a great loss. Both of the mugs were indeed a great loss. Just so you know.

The Confession of an Addict

Hi everyone, my name is Naora Aida and I am an FVaddict.

Remember back in December last year I wrote about how my children got hooked up playing the online games over at facebook and how I vowed I wouldn't go near those games for fear that I would end up become an addict? Well... I am now, a complete addict, a hard-core e-farmer and I need rehab. If you haven't noticed, it's been nearly ten months since I last updated this page. And to tell you the truth, it has been ten months too that I haven't kept in touch with my college mates either. And while I'm busy with my farm online, busy decorating and re-decorating the farm, it's been that long too that I haven't tended to my actual, real garden.

At first, it was normal farming. Plant, wait, harvest and plant again. Then the levelling up. Then I found out about mastery whereby after completing 3 stars of planting each crop, you are awarded with a mastery sign. Objective? Just for showing off. So, I worked hard for mastery, there are more than 20 types of crops then. Later, when the creator came up with a themed farm, I fell for it too. Not long after, I got hooked with collecting foals and calves and breeding them too. Hah!!! Don't you find it interesting? You can breed. I guess breeding is really my forte... just look at the 5 mini-mes I have. This was when I started to use FVC (FVcash) appropriately. Before, as the FVC increases, I randomly buy stuff from the market. Then, I started saving up so that I could buy rare horses and cows for breeding and later sharing them with neighbours, especially for those who collect like I do. These animals were priced ranging from 14 to 22 FVC back then. Only recently they have marked up the prices of these animals. Screw Z!!! I have stopped breeding since.

Anyways, this is embarrassing and so cheap-O but who cares. So I find ways to get the cash without having to spend my real money. When they introduced a game bar that came with a free 35FVC, I, at the same time, created 3 aliases for my farm. Plain pathetic!!! I know... but what do I care, at that time every effort seemed all worth it. I enjoyed spending every penny of the cash. As the cash depleting, in fact I had only 1FVC left in my 'account'.. I became

lucky when they replaced the barn that they took away from my farm with a 100FVC. That was the highest cash I got the entire time I was playing this game. It surely didn't look like I were to give up the farm completely any sooner although the idea did cross my mind a number of times. I became lucky the third time when they compensated me with another 38FVC when the survey I participated which promise a 3FVC reward wasn't working. THIRTY EIGHT!! Wow!! Come to think of it, I may have earned nearly 600FVC throughout the year. Whoa... rich, eh? Hey, before you make any judgement.. do you know how much is the price for just 1FVC? Almost RM1, you know that. And you know what I can get with 1FVC? NOTHING!!! At one point, I was quite annoyed for the price they put on the market but then again, as long as I don't use my real money... I'm happy. Just aim for items you can buy using your free coins.

Oh... I can rant about this over and over and over again but seriously, I need to break away from this game.

I really need to stop. My deadline? New Year 2011.

P/S: The above was written in September 2009

Therapy Fruits

I personally think hobbies are for rich people or people with extra money. They really are darn expensive, don't they?

I was at Leisure Mall the other day.... well, that wasn't really where I was supposed to be actually. It was somewhere nearby the Mall and I ended up there - partly lost, mainly on purpose. Tell me, who can resist a shopping mall? And I stumbled upon this needlework shop aka cross-stitch haven. Just the kind of shop I was looking for.... errr that was sudden!! *OCD attack alert*. And in an instant, everything I saw was affordable. The charts, the threads, the needles, in fact every single thing they have there that I decided to buy 3 charts at the same time. The owner said charts may not be available all the time but threads do. Since the chart I picked has another two similar designs which, according to her, would look fantastic on the wall with all three designs put together, I actually succumb to the suggestion. Just look at these charts I know you would agree. I completely have lost my mind as I know the time that I have right now would be gone once school reopens. Not to mention my other work-in-progress. But what is done is done.

But what I'm saying here is hobbies are expensive. Take for instance my cross stitch pattern. A single pattern costs me 8 bucks each. Well, that's a good pattern. Simple ones 5 bucks.. then again, who wants a simple one for something that you love to do aka hobby when the difference with the good one is only 3 bucks? Then along comes the 'condiments' - for a yard long thread which you use merely 6inc (in some cases below 6inc), you pay 1.50 although you get to keep the remaining part for as long as you live la. MEMBAZIR!!! But then it comes back to the things you love to do... so you compel. The cloth is about 88 per metre but you only need half a metre which depending on charts, you only use some 30% of it, unless you have 3 charts which in my case. My point is when comes to hobbies, you just pay whatever price for it.

Of Farm and Ville

I received a lot of invitation to be neighbours with my FB buddies in the highly addictive game of FarmVille. And since it is dangerously addictive.... I kept my distance, reason being I will be as insanely addictive as the game. Until recently when no. 2 is seriously into this game and no. 3 and no. 4 are watching and beginning to realise that this game, in fact all games featured in FB for that matter, is far more interesting and fun than those games they have encountered on the internet. Left with no choice - ha ha ha, like I lack control or is it because I am also curious myself how the game is played and how almost 80% of my FB buddies have become serious farmers since - I let them play using my FB. And they are SOOO hooked right now.

Now, not only I have Farmville, I have Fishville, Petville, Cafeville... (err or is it Cafe world?) in my account. All these ville are maintained by no. 3 and 4 with the help and guidance as well as advice from no. 2. What great farmers they would be! The positive side of this I hope they will understand how money works. And be more giving than receiving - both virtually and presently. Uhmm I really do hope so you know.

Leaving on a train

Hari tu kitorang balik kampung naik keretapi. First experience la untuk budak2 ni... semua excited gila. Walaupun menempuh berbagai cabaran ketika nak beli tiket ketapi tu... iye la, first attempt tiket habis... second attempt, counter tiket dah tutup... third attempt nak balik train 8.30 pagi tkde sapa pulak yang bangun... and finally fourth attempt, tiket ada tapi kelas satu je pulak.... nak tak nak pegi gak le. Abih dah memasing 'berbondong2' bawak beg ke stesen sentral tu kan. Lagi pun sian la plak tengok budak2 ni excited gila... sampai no. 1 pun terlebih excited. Unsangkarable!!!!!

Perjalanan okay la... train delay kat sejam gak. Pukul 7 baru sampai kampung. Kononnya esok tu nak balik naik ketapi gak le... malangnya tiket plak habis. Cite apa, cuti sekolah kan... mesti abis nye! Nanti plan nak naik ketapi gak le bila balik kampung lepas ni.

Emotion Rollercoaster

I am glad to announce to the world that I have finished my third book this month only. Yeah, you read it correct...... within. a. month!! By this I don't mean I have written 3 books.... I have only read, okay. Despite my whining about the endless housework that I have to do, how limited my time is to spend on hobby.... I have managed so far 3 books in November only. heh heh heh super achiever!!!!! And don't be surprised, I keep on adding. Again... reading not writing.

This last book that I read was My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult. It's a definitely page turning book, hardly putdownable that I kept reading while nursing no. 5 (and I swear I could've kept reading it while doing the housework too if I could) and it took me 3 days to finish the whole book (although that still couldn't break my record for finishing Jane Green's To Have and To Hold within 24 hours). It is indeed a good read and highly recommended. And I can't agree more with all those fantastic reviews of this book. I really loved reading this book. Towards the end, I was crying uncontrollably - if you must know how good this book is.

I think that crying part probably was mainly hormonal. You see, it was an unexpected and twisted ending and was sad too but to have me crying uncontrollably was something that I believe have to do with the hormones. These days, I am easily swayed by emotions - anger, sad, happy, down, up - whatever. But seriously, this isn't like me at all. Alright, I do have moods swing some time but not like this. It's definitely the hormones doing.

Come to think of it again, the weight gain these past two months must be the hormones doing as well. Don't blame me... when the hormones take control, there's not much that I can do.

D'uh!!!!

Yayyyy!!! The washing machine is well already. Now can dump in as many loads as I wish. YAY !! I was downright stressful the past 2 weeks due to this you know.... and I am in an unimaginable stress right now as the machine which was supposed to be working is now kaput again. I only used it once.... and now another problem arose. Ugghhh!!!!!

Crippling mind

My mobile has gone kaputtt!!!!! My LIFE!!! My WINDOW to the outside worlddd!!!!

Of late, inspired by his father's enthusiasm in photography, no. 5 too wanted a camera of his own. The closest he get to his wish is my mobile phone cam which apparently has become his latest toy. I don't let him play but to make him quiet, I just have to give in.

Each time he's done using the mobile, he would pass it back to my hand. I was doing the dishes in a clogged sink that time and that was when the mobile ended up in the basin full of water. Not because it slipped off my hand but because he willfully slided it into the basin.

I have been very dependent on that gadget for years now. I used to memorise all phone numbers then, every number... well at least important numbers of friends and families, was at the tip of my finger. Now if asked of a friend's or family's number, without the mobile I have no knowledge of any. Even important date or appointments. Along with my things-to-do list. And most of my mental notes nonetheless. As well as some important text messages that worth keeping. Essentially, I have used my brain lesser by the day and become too dependent on that small equipment. Hence, when it didn't work... I felt like a cripple.

Technologies has done wonders so to speak to the extent they invade the important function of our system - the brain aka memory!

As for my mobile phone, I have already got a replacement - not brandnew but a hand-me-down one - which I am very grateful of. At this point, I'm still hoping that I could re-use my phone again. It does have sentimental value.

And lesson learnt - don't trust the mechanism for they will malfunction. If you can, memorise important data for memorising is the best food for the brain.

Which one is first?

Could someone please tell me which one comes first -

the breakfast or the exercise????

Yang Baru

Aku mahu jadi aku yang baru

sebelum bermulanya tahun baru.

Aku tahu aku perlu jadi yang baru

kerana semuanya akan ku tukarkan menjadi baru.

Cara kerja ku perlu baru.

Strateji ku perlu baru.

Pendekatan ku mesti baru.

Olahan ku harus baru.

Pengenalan ku nanti baru.

Cubaan tentulah baru.

Hasilnya pasti baru.

~~~~

Aku juga perlu baju baru.

Kasut baru.

Seluar baru.

Aku mahu jadi orang baru.

Walau bukan berwajah baru.

Semoga aku mampu menjadi orang baru.

YAYYY!!! School holidays is here!!!!!

When all headaches begin (migraine would be a strong word, I think) *wink* Double yayy for the fact that I don't have to ferry them to school. At least for the next 45 days. heh heh In exchange, I have to face with a great deal of:

• endless bickerings, squabbling, shouting, yelling, quarelling. I tell you, these will sure drive me up the wall.
• endless cartoon programmes. Till your eyes pop out but you get to know all the cartoon characters though.
• a very long queue to get on the internet. I've drawn up rules that each person get to use the internet 2 hours per day and whoever break the rule will end up with no internet the next day. ha ha ha and I tell you, this is where the major fight will start.
• round the clock hunger attacks. They get hungry all the time, if only I have some kind of a food feeder machine. Very likely that the kitchen would be where I spend my time most this holiday.

hmmm so much for being excited not having to spend time on the road!!!!! Hope it's going to be a great school holiday nonetheless.

FAT! FAT! FAT! FAT!!

Went to a fitness store the other day and got a shock of my life - over the past few weeks, I have gained 3kgs and my body fat percentage shot up to 36%. MY OH MY!!!! No matter how much I wanted to blame the wrong data given to the machine and convince myself that gaining weight does not really matter what's important is happiness but seeing that figure however, affected me to a certain degree. Must do something. Really must do something! Not so ambitious but at least back to normal.

note: yeah, rite! like i really can control my diet....... those who stay close to me know how much i eat, how i eat and the things i choose to eat. the fact that i am fat reflects so much on what i eat (yeah.. like no one knows that...). honestly anyway, i love eating just like other normal people. there are a lot of edible things that i really adore... and sadly i am picky about veggies. i can eat salad.. you know, lettuce and the kind.... and of course i love them... only that other things catch my eyes first.. hence my dumping on salads or veggie. seriously tho, i need to review my diet if being fat is my main concern now. and the fact that my passion towards baking is growing these days is slowing down the effort of reviewing what i eat. i know i need therapy.... but all i can think right now is kitchen and food therapy. but i don't want to be fat... or rather stay fat. ugh!

Mechanicals Showdown

The two important electrical equipments in the house are acting up - the TV and the washing machine.

TV has been out since about a month and a half but last week it went back to normal although there was slight glitch when turning it on. This week it was completely out.

Washing machine was also cranky. First, it couldn't control the water that came in. Then, it was ok.. back to normal. Last few days, it couldn't even cycle but could still take in water and spin.

I know I should send those two for repair... but I have no idea why I am still postponing it. Seriously, these electrical equipments these days don't last long... unlike those days.

The Hobbit

He has a new hobby now - photography. So our weekends are now spent outside. Some are planned, some are just spur of the moment decision. It is fun. You get to go places you never thought of going before and you get to go to some places more than a time. It is really fun and refreshing, what's more your weekends won't be the same anymore. Except when it has been raining for few days and that particular weekend happen to be a very sunny weekend and the 2 loads of laundry desperately need sunshine. Except when he gets to do what he wants to do and I only get to follow. Except when I have to control the 3 little ones like one mad woman out there while he's wrapped up with the surrounding and I am later weary from exhaustion.

Not just that. He likes to shoot animals and plants. And buildings and scenery too. After 3 months, I realised that there are weekends that I like spent elsewhere rather than spending time staring at caged animals or plants or some lifeless structure or architecture.... you know, once a while spending time staring at those lifeless things being displayed in windows in the shopping malls, for instance, would give me a different perspective and keep me update too with the current affair. But then, he insists that I tag along every time he goes outing which the 3 little ones enjoy so much apparently. So I'm left with no choice.

Maybe I too should take up a hobby. So when he gets to pursue what he likes, I get to do the same too. Although not at the same time. But all my hobbies (heh heh ALL eh? just how many do I have? it's a serious hobbyholics case! ha ha ha) are domestic material, like cross stitching or my needleworks requires me to be stationary, reading requires a quiet and comfy place again not moving, baking definitely need to be done in a kitchen and mug collecting relies on friends and relatives who go overseas. What is it that's something 'outdoory' and natural and fun to do?

Perhaps I can pick up a new or similar one to photography though - like developing passion at staring at caged animals maybe or be profoundly obsessed with flora and fauna. hmmm....

Please don't misunderstand my statement. Of course I like these outings and of course I'm all for the photography thingy. For what it's worth... it makes us look forward to every weekends and we do learn a lot from them. Only when I don't get to do things I want to do or do things I have to do. That's all.

Upset beyond belief

I'm not upset. I am beyond upset. For anything that happens, and as I've always loved saying and believing in it, there's always a reason, or reasonssss for that matter, behind it. It is how you look at it and react towards it. There's always two sides of things, more so two sides of seeing things. Not to mention the two consequences that follow suit. Either side or sight or consequence, I believe it is you who decide.

Life is short. Life is about making choices.There's no time to fuss over things that have already happened. When they happen, acknowledge them, learn whatever lessons from them and move on. What's so hard about that? Is it not that's what life is all about? What do you gain pinpointing fingers, saying words that hurt, making unnecessary remark, what's more humiliating people?

At the end of the day, it's what you prioritise in life - protecting or hurting your loved ones or your not so loved ones. Whatever. You choose.

Hah... now I am less upset. Still upset but lesser..... which should be better, right? Life is short anyway. Right.

Books and I v2009-2

Now that I am at it, I realised that I haven't been reading for some time this year. The other day while at Amazon, I was contemplating to get Ms Ahern's and Ms Green's latest books as opposed to many others that were on discounts. But when my attention was interrupted, the desire to own these books vanished. I am easily distracted these days I notice.

For the statistics, this year so far I managed to finish Kinsella's Undomestic Goddess (thru Amazon procurement) and Cathy Kelly's Past Secrets. ONLY!

Hope to do better next year. Maybe I should get some Cathy Kelly's or Sophie Kinsella's or Jane Green's or Cecelia Ahern's.... (heh, notice how I so adore these writers that I dare not try other equally good authors.... and the choice is so 'chick-litty'.... playing safe here just so I don't become too ambitious knowing how occupied my time would be or rather has always been). Or perhaps just browse through the Niece's bookshelf first as I can remember she has quite a number of good readings over there. That'd save me some extra money there.. errr but sometimes I have a disturbing urge of buying than borrowing. Satisfaction, eh?

Oh yeah... I forgot to mention that although I did less reading this year, I did buy 2 books though - Nigella Lawson's How to be a Domestic Goddess and The Whimsical Bakehouse... hmm attention diversion that's why less reading and more baking. I got Cathy Kelly's Past Secrets as my birthday gift too.

I love reading!!!!

Write, Wrote, Written

I'm beginning to think that I am not able to do this blog-writing thingy. Every time I try to type, the head goes blank. Like it stops working.... tripped and in a blackout for as long as I am in front of the monitor. Whereas the ideas are flowing 'unstoppablely' while I am doing other things like driving and cooking for instance. Yep! The moment I try to put it in writing or even typing... it just vanish.

I used to write it down before, you know all the ideas for writing.... that also didn't work. I guess it's due to the less time I use my brain. Or have I stopped using it altogether? Ahh.... the house chores are eating me up!!

Boleh tak....

Boleh tak aku tak payah masak hari ni?

Boleh tak sekali sekala dorg cari makan sendiri?

Boleh tak aku duduk je buat2 tak dengar?

Boleh tak aku tak buat apa-apa hari ni?

Am about to get sick...

Feel like calling in sick today.. but who do I call?? Who would grant me the sick leave? And the no. 1 question: who is taking over? The correct answers to all 3 qs is: NO ONE. But I am feeling sick.