Laughter the Best Medicine

A young businessman had just started his own firm. He rented a beautiful office and had it furnished with antiques.

Sitting there, he saw a man come into the outer office. Wishing to appear the hot shot,
the businessman picked up the phone and started to pretend he had a big deal working. He threw huge figures around and made giant commitments.

Finally he hung up and asked the visitor, "Can I help you?"

The man said, "Yeah, I've come to activate your phone lines."

LOL kah kah kah...I just love this joke. Compliment from GSC Newsletter.

Football vs Soccer

I am not much of a soccer, or widely referred to as football fan. Ahhh! British slang, American slang...whatever. Soccer is more synonym to Americans since they have their own version of football, which is the American Football. American Football is a milder version of rugby. Safety is top priority compared to rugby. I have seen how tough rugby players on the field. Safety is not a concern, in my point of view. Once this guy from team COBRA injured and bled. He ran to the sideline and medic cleaned up the blood dripping down his forehead. Instant decision made,...sew the cut right there and then!...EEEEWWWWW. Wamp Bamp...he's back in the game!

Well, Malaysians adopted the English Premier League or EPL long ago. And as far as I can remember, while I was growing up in the 70s-80s, I watch players like George Best, Ian Rush, Kevin Keegan, Bobby Robson and Kenny Daglish, mostly in SHOOT magazines. Those days we do not get live coverage like what we enjoy today. But it was enough to get my vote on George Best as the most sexiest player then. Hehehehee.

SO in my house, WE support LIVERPOOL. My hubby has been a die hard fan since his school days. And what better way for us to bond than support his favorite team.

Anyway, recently my friend Rafizan spent his holidays in the UK. He was in Manchester visiting his relative. Fortunate for me, he was willing to travel to Liverpool, to purchase the following items I requested.

Polo T-Shirt for Shakira.
Polo T-Shirt for hubby.
Liverpool 'Home' Uniform for Shakiel.
Training jacket for Shakiel.
A bag for Shakira.
Training kit for Shakiel. It consist of bag, ball, water container and markers.

Do not ask me how much I spent but it was worth every penny of it. To see those smiling faces as they received their gifts is a gift for me itself.

Tarantella

Tarantella is a number of group of different Italian couple folk dances characterized by a fast upbeat tempo, usually in 6/8 time (sometimes 18/8 or 4/4). It is among the most recognized of traditional Italian music. In the region of Taranto in Italy, the bite of a locally common type of wolf spider, named "tarantula" after the region, was popularly believed to be highly poisonous and to lead to a hysterical condition known as tarantism. The stated belief in the 16th and 17th centuries was that victims needed to engage in frenzied dancing to prevent death from tarantism using a very rhythmic and fast music. The particular type of dance and the music played became known as Tarantella.Credit to Wikipedia.

Shakira has been practicing Tarantella for her Grade 1 piano exam. Many mistakes and definitely requires lots of practice.



And this is a better version played by a 3 year old.


Come on Shakira..you can do much better. Don't give up.

Blooming Orchid.

Taken on 19-Mar-2011.

What's your favorite flower?

It has always been yellow roses. But yellow rose is interpreted as a sign of jealousy but heck, they are just flowers. Red roses are too common, pink roses are too girly, whereas white...mmmm...pure. Too white, easily gets dirty. Nope its yellow roses. Hah.....

The name Orchid comes from the Greek "órkhis," literally meaning "testicle," because its root has a similar shape.(Credit to Wikipedia). That statement made me smiled.

Late last year I went back to my hometown and stumble across a night market. As I browsed around, I saw a booth selling various types of orchids. Orchids are cool, I think...and they lasted longer compared to other types of flowers. They are very independent and does not call for flamboyant attention.

Looking through the Chinese uncle's booth (that's what we normally call an elderly Chinese guy)and his selection of orchids, I brave myself (actually pretended as though I was an orchid expert)to put him to a test. After a few exchange words, he said, "this one very hard working. Always grow flowers." and pointed out to an orchid plant with 2 mature stalks. I can see what he meant. Each level of the orchid stem once sprouted stalk of orchid. The growth continues with new leaves and roots, sprouting from or next to those of the previous ones.

I agreed and I right away purchased that particular orchid plant. The orchid flowers were yellow in color. Hmmmm...yellow? Hah!

Hence, a couple of weeks later 2 stalks of the orchids bloomed maturely. I was so happy...my first ever orchid plant! Soon it was time, as natural cycle..one by one the flowers dropped....and gone.

However, in recent weeks, the orchid plant showed her fangs...take a look...6 stalks of orchid flowers! Woo hoo....I would like to thank my hubby for taking care of my orchid. Hehehe....



Well it looks like I need to add more orchids to my current collection.

A Doctor in the House

So what is the hype about this book? People were queuing up to purchase a copy. There are so many other books on Tun available at any bookstores but, this one is special because it was Tun's. He spent 8 years to write, re-write and finally published it. Well, not that I was exactly looking for it, but sure, why not. Lets join the party! So I went to get hold of a copy. A Doctor In The House was written by Malaysian 4th Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. It was the last copy available at Popular Book Store at Jusco Sri Kembangan. And by the way it cost me 100 buckarooooossssssssssss....

I have yet to start reading it but I came across positive reviews in our daily papers by various columnist. It is said that Tun exposed 'bunch of skeletons in the closet'. When the book came out, there were also several individuals, felt insecure and defended their past actions, ya know like...oh no it did not happened..., I was not involved.., bla bla bla. Tun was a visionary.

Below is quoted from the back cover of the book,

"The West has called him recalcitrant, racist, anti-Semitic and arrogant. The developing world, however, sees former Malaysian Prime Minister as a visionary champion, the rare leader who gave every Third World individual reason to stand tall. Even his harshest critics cannot deny that, above all else, he gave some of the most neglected countries courage, showing the way to a more hopeful future.

Here, with surgical precision, Dr Mahathir explores a nuanced history and scrutinizes his own role in the shaping of modern Malaysia."

For those who had read it,...do share some of your favorite section in the book. I will share my favorite chapter with you.

I also would like to share that in 1977 my dad accompanied Tun, family and entourage to an overseas trip. Based on photos in our safe keep they visited Washington DC, Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Japan. My dad was responsible for the protection and security around Tun's wife and children.

I grew up during Tun's tenure as Malaysian Prime Minister and the 2 things which impressed me the most when he vision Petronas Twin Tower and of course,...Putrajaya, into reality. Twin Tower is the Malaysian pride and the gigantic/huge buildings or structures (whatever you want to call it) in Putrajaya makes me as though I am in Gulliver's Travel. It always gives me shivers whenever I drive passed through. Sense of sereneness. Does that makes sense? Go figure,hah!

I am Proud to be a Malaysian and happy reading!

Freddie

I got myself a notebook or rather a lap top. Wonder why this mini version of desktop PC is referred as notebook. It's not a book and it is not a note. Hmmmm....laptop does makes a little sense,...a mini computer sitting on the top of your lap!

It has been a back and forth decision to either purchase a tablet PC or the latest sensation,...iPAD. I would probably sleep with it. I just could not decide.

My hubby gave several pointers on what do you want your computer do for you. He suggested I read more on what 'type' I want, read forums on the net,and then be able to come up with a decision. It's good to know what you are buying. I respect his opinion. But, I am not the type of person who would go to the full length in doing a research. When I want something and when I am not able to hold on to my patience, I am just going to buy it.

After all that twist and turn and more round-a-bouts, I made a shocking decision....jeng..jeng..jeng...Instead, I bought a laptop. I forgo the agony and desire to purchase an ipad. After much thought, I find that a laptop is much more suitable to my needs. Oooo how I want an ipad,...badly!

What are my needs?

1) Want to update my blog on regular basis. Recently I saw Julie vs Julia on HBO. Such an interesting movie. By the way, Merryl Srteep, you were just superb. That gave me an idea to find ways ...or rather an excuse....to get myself a laptop.

2) I want to be able to type at my own pace and wherever I am: in bed mostly. Sitting in bed with covers up to my waist. In a reclining position. Cool air seeping out through the air condition. Kids in bed. Hubby downstairs deep into his computer games. Quiet............Yup...but its not going to happen, yet.

3)I want to listen to the music while I'm in my deep thoughts, emotions and wild imagination.

4) I wanna upload pictures which left behind so many memories I can't ever imagine.

5) More privacy especially from the kids...I need to compete turn using the desktop PC we have downstairs. Shakira wants to watch you tube. Shakiel wants to play computer games.

I could go on and on and on...but I think, 5 reasons are good enough.

Then out of the blue, the name FREDDIE just popped out of my head! Well, what the heck, I am gonna call my new laptop,....FREDDIE.

FREDDIE and I are still at the initial stage of getting to know each other.

ASUS Eee PC