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.

What's wrong, Kembara?

The other day, he sent Kembara for service. Of course not at Perodua authorised centre... at the present economic condition, we really can't afford. But I'd say other 'private' service centres do quite a good job too IF you can get a real good one and IF they are trusted mechanics. Anyway, the one that he sent to has been doing a good job ever since. In fact, this wasn't the first time Kembara was treated there.

But then this time Kembara came back cranky. I filled up RM50 fuel and it dried up merely two days later. Again I tried filling it up with RM30. It was dried the very next day. Before, RM50 will take me to numerous school trips back and forth. Now just 5 trips and that was it. And it emitted foul smell too. And black smoke at the same time. My, I have been contributing to the existing pollution with that smell and smoke all over Cheras.

He took it back to the mechanics and they too were clueless as to what was wrong. Days later, he tried to change the spark plugs. Kembara improved slightly but very early to tell. At least, it didn't just consumed the RM50 petrol in one big gulp.

What's really wrong Kembara? Tell me. Is it the service? Or is it the petrol? Or did u overhear someone plans to replace you because if you do, that is untrue. I have no intention of doing so, trust me. So please tell me what is wrong?

I'm mourning...

Not because MJ is gone but because of the loss of my 2 most valuable tools in just 3 week period.

First, it was my junior mixing bowl. I lost the senior one in 2007. This I bought in 2005 during the warehouse sale and it was damn good bargain. And I fell in love with it ever since. First, it being a glass mixing bowl. Second, it being Anchor Hocking. Now I have lost both. Should've bought more last time, eh?

Then, my Pyrex measuring cup. I got this thru Metrojaya redemption coupon. The actual price was RM38. phewwww!!!! But of course I got it for free - for actually spending hundreds at Metrojaya. Anyway...

I know there are loads of mixing bowls and measuring cups out there but I, on the other hand, make it a point to have certain types of tools for my baking projects. Not that they make tastier cakes or give extraordinary results... I just prefer it that way. It kind of gives you the vibes... get you into the mood of baking. It simply makes me feel good while baking or just by keeping them - because there are times when I bake, I pretend that I do my own baking show. ;> Besides, they are good investments.

For what it's worth, with these two losses my passion for baking is adversely affected. Not for long I hope....

Kasut merah itu

When you get a hand-me-down shoes, or any other things for that matter, do you normally return them when you no longer need them? Or when you give away your shoes which of course is still in good condition to a person, do you expect that person to return them to you when they no longer need them? At least I don't. In both situations obviously.

So when I got back the red shoes that was given away some time ago to a relative, I was rather taken aback. What's more when the sole of one pair is almost coming out. Not to mention the inscription of the image on the front had already come off. I know it's still usable, in fact it fits no. 5 feet perfectly but why return it to me? Didn't ask for it, never ask for it. If you don't want it, throw it. Don't return it.

For whatever the reason is, I feel insulted.

The biggest loser

Back in April, I had this diet plan that I follow. All because of the figure although I am not obsessed. Also I wanted to feel good whenever I try on my old baju kurungs - saja nak torture mind, not that I have any functions whatsoever. Sha and Maz were also in this. All because we want to live a healthy life in a healthy body. And of course the diet plans varies, you know.. on certain days or times when we feel like eating what we want, we eat anyways regardless how high the calories let alone the fat, sugar and carbo contents. Or we would be on a no-rice plan for a few days and later on have a scrumptious meal that consist none other than RICE and its accompaniments. Nonetheless... we control our food intake. I think that's good enough. Hahaha like the plan gonna work that way huh?

It has been going on for almost 2 months now, the diet I mean. But of course being as easy a plan as it is, at times I don't bother about avoiding certain types of food especially dessert... where the most fat and calories come from I must say. That's when I became the biggest loser. While Sha and Maz eat what they want, they always have their workouts - swimming, running, aerobics, jogging etc. Whereas I do nothing except housework and at odd times (which is seldom), I do sit-ups. That makes me biggest loser number 1 among us 3.

Still I expect high results despite the low effort. That's why I am easily frustrated every time I step on the scale. The number doesn't change. Or if the number goes down a little, then there's the fat reading or the water reading that will go up.

But I personally think... if you are happy (being able to eat what you want), you will be healthy (being picky on types of food you consume). And having said that proves that I am definitely the biggest loser.

How I try to be organised

I really need to be more organised. These days the list of chores I have seemed so unaccomplishable. All the backlogs... ugghhh, 24 hours is never enough. If I skipped sleeping time, I'm pretty sure I will be up all night trying to finish whatever work is outstanding. It is never finished, it never even ends. In fact, the loads get more and more each day.

Honestly, I have always been a very disorganised person. A perfect example for tardiness. And I am plain lazy. I guess that explains all the backlogs. So much for trying to work smart *wink*, trying to do everything from having fun to having the work done at the same time. If you haven't noticed, housework can never end. Take the laundry, for instance. No matter how you try to load the dirty laundry in the machine, the basket however will never be empty. You clear it at 10.00 am, by 10.30 the same day, it is half full. By next morning, it's overloaded. Or perhaps the dirty dishes. You think you have cleaned all, and after an hour you come back into the kitchen, the sink is filled up again. Let's not talk about the dust, the mess, the rubbish because like the housework, they are no ends. Also because the person doing it is rather lazy.

So you see... if I were to concentrate on trying to make the house neat and tidy, spotless clean, how else do I find time to do the things that I like? Things that I want to do? Or at least have some entertainment? Or maybe just rest when there are clearly 6 persons contributing to the workloads and only one person doing it? The answer is never.

I have to do all these chores. But I have to be happy. At the same time I have to get the housework done in order to be happy happy. And in order to be happy happy, I have to be organised. How? I have no idea.

I need a plan. But I won't have high expectation on accomplishment wise. As long as all areas show progress, I would think that's an accomplishment already. Right? Let's not try to be ambitious in this impossibe world. Well, at least by now I already have my KPI drawn out.

Bad mommy

If there's a worst-mom-evah award, the honorable recipient would be myself I can assure you. I am indeed the baddest mom in the world.

Here's the top ten reasons why, although they probably have more in their list:

1. I finished up a whole bar of Cadbury Almond Roasted chocolate all by myself. Not a tiny bit of it I shared with any five.
2. I left no. 5 wailing in the house while I went out seeing friends and had a heckuva time.
3. I forced, to the extent blackmailed, no. 3 to school despite his protests and excuses he gave on why he didn't want to go.
4. I hold grudge against them whenever they disobey me, don't listen to me.
5. When I am on the net or do my hobby and even on my TV night, I ignore the surrounding. And that includes no. 5.
6. I get angry everytime no. 5 gets clingy. What breaks your heart is that he understands I am angry at him and he makes faces just so I don't get angrier.
7. I feed them maggi mee, cepat dimasak sedap dimakan and a lot of other junkies.
8. I nag, I judge, I criticise. ha ha ha and needless to say, good at it.
9. I am a lazy mom. Not like other moms who do things for their children, I make them do things themselves ha ha ha like buat air teh, goreng telur, basuh kasut.
10. I am not their best friend.

However, in my defense:

Point no. 1

I always share with them foodwise. I buy junkies they like when I buy groceries. And they don't even share them with me. So once a while when I need to pamper myself with chocolate, I get even.

Point no. 2

If I don't do this, God knows when I can go out winding down or taking a break. My life revolves around them, once a while I need a getaway since I can't be cast away. I have to. Plus a happy mom makes a happy family, right?

Point no. 3

Oh come on! It's school. It's education. Whatever the reasons are, I don't care. He must go to school even though he spends 2 or 3 periods doing nothing (you know.. teacher got meeting lah, teacher went for course la, teacher off duty la... bla bla bla), he must be in school.

Point no. 4

Of course!! I'm the mom. They are the children. They deliberately disobey me all the time. As cliche as it may be, children listen to the parents, particularly the mom. So I'm the mom. Period.

Point no. 5

Mom needs a break too. Only on Tuesday nights. Too much to ask? After all, it's not going to be Tuesday nights throughout the year, only until the season finale of the show. After that, Tuesday nights would be like any other nights. Like I said, I need break so that I don't break, get me? Further, when are the times that I can do what I want or what I like if I don't fight for it, ya?

Point no. 6

This is the thing with breastfeeding I tell you, the baby, who is now in his 19th month, gets soooo clingy, sooo attached that sometimes you are not able to do anything else but be by his side, feed him. Had he been bottlefed, life will sail much smoother I suppose. I don't have regrets anyway except only when I need to bake and when I need to use both hands.

Point no. 7

I am just sharing nice food with my children, anything wrong with that? Plus they all love it. Also make it easier for me a bit lah especially on my lazy days to cook. But I don't feed them everyday... once in a while.

Point no. 8

Doesn't that what all moms do? Nag is the top activity. Judge is a process of learning about the challenges the outside world offers. And criticise, ahhh.... a skill so sharp it's being polished everyday on four different people that you kinda feel something missing when you don't do it one day.

Point no. 9

The reason I do that is to enhance their survival skills. That's all. No bad intention. And because I am a lazy person. *wink*

Point no. 10

As much as I want to be their best friends, apparently I am not. Probably I am so bogged down with the housework that only occasionally I ask and talk to them about their day, the school, their homework. Although I am home all the time but when I make time for them, I do it hastily. I am too focus on the cooking, housekeeping, laundry and all the other endless chores. Bad mommy huh?

Well, I am not that bad, I must admit.... wait till you see what all 5 do to me. For what it's worth, I really want to be #1's, #2's, #3's, #4's and #5's best mom in the world!

Since it is still May, Happy Mommy's Day to all you great mommies and aunties alike.