Happy New Year 2014!

 

New Years' Resolution?

My 2013 resolution did not materialize. You can read here. No excuses for the failure. I never made the effort for a start. Kudos to those who made something out your determination. Anyway, it's not a must. If you don't have one pun tak pe....benda-benda macam ni kadang-kadang mengarut je! Just for fun, kan?

A few ups and down, naturally.....happy and sad moments I've shared in my blog. Of course there were others which did not get captured in here. Human mind - they think they can remember everything when in fact something happened a day before pun tak boleh nak recall at times. And a few....., which I am not able to share for personal reasons. It is kinda funny isn't it? Here I am, with no restrictions and freely releasing my thoughts but a part of me hesitate to share my hurt, my pain, my anguish and my anger. I do not want my words to be misinterpreted and offend the people dear to my heart.

So for 2014 I wanna go for something more grounded and realistic like below. 

Starting January 1st, write good things and happy moments that happen to me on little pieces of paper : it can be about surprise gifts I received (which is hardly), accomplished goals, the beauty of nature, "LOL" moments, memories worth savings, daily blessings and so forth.....then on 31st Dec., open the jar and read all the amazing things happened to you in 2013!

 SO WHAT'S YOUR 2014's RESOLUTION?

Finally, I would like to wish all of you readers,

THANK YOU

&

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2 orders for my Jello.

24 Dec 2013.

Thank you to Noreen who ordered 2 Jello for her anniversary and son's birthday. She said it was wonderful, delicious with the tropical ice cream and that her husband liked it too.  Yes a box of ice cream comes with each order of my Jello. Was a bit nervous since her husband is a chef. Alhamdulillah.

This was a back up plan. Initial plan was rainbow colored Jello but I was not happy with the result. This is diced mango with kiwi flavored Jello. Noreen, however, opted to add ice cream in the middle.

The love shape Jello for the couple celebrated their anniversary.

And, this was the original rainbow jello which did not make it to Noreen's party......Rainbow Layered Jello.

Blast from the past #3 - University years.

My favorite season is Winter.

When I arrived at Kalamazoo airport, it was heavily snowed. A group of us was transported to University Inn, a motel like accommodation. It was Christmas week holiday. Since we did not know our way around so mostly we walk to the nearest supermarket called Target or to a Chinese restaurant for a simple fried rice. It was Christmas break and on campus dormitories were closed for new registration until after new year. So we stayed almost a week in the motel.

Came January, my first semester as a sophomore began and I was assigned to Davis Hall. It is on campus and only student above 21 years of age can be accepted. I took the week days meal plan so at least my meals were taken care off.

Initially my first choice was Harisson-Stintson, the party dormitory! Davis Hall was my second and third was Bigalow. I had never experienced staying in a dormitory and gradually I learned to love Davis Hall during my 4 months stay there. Locality wise it  is short distance to the student center (tempat lepak), Administrative Department and to classes. I shared my dormitory room with Karen, an American girl who majored in Education whom later became a teacher. We still keep in touch to date. Our room was divided into 3 sections; study area, bedroom and bathroom. Yup we have our own shower bathroom....and not sharing the main common bath/shower! I was impressed!

Heavy snow at the time of the year. Temperature as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, very cold and freezing.

WMU campus in the background.

Knollwood.

Knollwood. Yup....centerfold? yikes!

Ahhhh....the best feeling you could ever have...hehehe.

Banyak lagi gambar-gambar but biarlah remained as my private collection.

My first week was busy with orientation activities, getting familiarized where your classes were conducted and opened an FD and checking account. Got a myself a check book. Using check book instead of cash is widely accepted in most business premises. At the time I have almost USD11K in bankers check, traveller's checks and cash to last me for at least a year. That first weekend in dormitory our student leader from the campus International Student Center took us out to Hudson's, JC  Penney and Meijer for a shopping trip. We need to get bedsheets, comforter, clothing's, and other necessities. On top of those items, I purchased a 25" Sony TV and a Pioneer CD HiFi.

It was difficult to manoeuvre around campus on foot. The snow, cold wind, and once I got lost on the way to class! Rasa nak menangis pun ada. Tangan gendong bag, map and thick winter jacket zipped up, pushing myself against the wind to move on, sniveling but I survived. And survived for the next 4 years......

Christmas Jello

Its Christmas time again at GHR....fa la la, la la la la.....

Our Christmas tree.  This artificial tree was purchased my yours truly in 2008, when we celebrated the first Christmas at GHR. Even some of the 'fake' gifts under the tree was wrapped by me.

Lucky draw. Gifts range from RM2 up to RM10. Everyone got a gift.

Our Christmas carolers. This year theme was blue and silver.

But everybody was patiently waiting for lunch. Dishes served was mushroom soup, garlic bread, spaghetti bologna, salads, potato salad, sweet and sour  fish nugget, and lamb in rosemary herbs.

Of course, thank you to Julia who ordered my jelly. My only regret that the pomegranate was not dark red as I would imagine.

Our dessert table. Another view of my Christmas jelly.

Rectangle shaped jelly with whipped cream.

It was a fun Christmas celebration this year compared to last year's due to some incidence which seemingly unfair and unaccepted in my sane mind. I refused to participate.

Nachos

I made Nachos for snack twice last week. It's nothing new because I regularly prepare this dish. But lately  dah lama memendam rasa to go me-x(h)i-co. Dulu-dulu lepas clubbing mesti pergi TACO BELL. Their tag line is 'Run for the border'. Hahaha....then a pack of taco cost less than 99 cents.

Anyway, talking about nachos, TGIF serves a tasty nachos but kalau buat sendiri much more satisfying. Of course a serving of nachos will cost you between RM20-30 kalau dine in a fancy restaurant. But, by preparing them at home I can make 2-3 servings of nachos....so makan la sampai muntah....and the craving will hybernate for another 6-7 months. Muaahahaha....Internet ada, You Tube pun ada so cari la recipe kat situ.

Dengan semangat yang berkobar-kobar and cooked with lots of love,....the results were,

Chicken nachos with fresh salsa and guacamole (minus the sour  cream-don't like it. So I decided not to include it on my nachos)

Guacamole and Fresh Salsa

Everybody enjoyed it except for Shakira, who ate nachos minus the salsa and guacamole....huhuhu....

Later in the week I prepared beef Speghetti Bolognese. I learned to cook my first speghetti in 1986 from my mom.  Mom was a good cook, in fact she taught me to bake pizza all from scratch! Yup, we roll the dough, blended tomatoes and cook the tomatoes to make the sauce for the pizza base.

Tangan sendiri yang buat mestila sedap kan. Those days tak ada Pregos ya! I luv, luv, luv a good speghetti. Sometimes its a turn-off kalau speghetti rasa terlebih masam or terlebih Italian Herbs. I recommend try as much as to use fresh herbs rather than dried products. Dried herbs are so strong and at times the taste is too over powering and your pasta dish will be a disaster!. Kalau itu saja yang available, reduce quantity in your cooking.

Maaf ye, I am not a cooking expert. Did not go to any cooking class or school well, except for home economics in secondary school. Semuanya trial and error. Nothing in this world is cooked to the perfection. Except hunky Gordon Ramsey. Saw him cooked delicious scramble eggs! Sorry but was a perfect looking scramble eggs. Belum try tapi tips he gave will be usefull. Kalau rajin check out his video on You Tube. So don't try too very hard....most of all semangat mesti ada and ingredient cukup....Adios muchachos!

Deepavali Lunch 21-Nov-2013

It is customary that every festive season, we at the HR Department would decorate our 4th floor. 

Located at the entrance to our floor the walls was decorate with sarees, 'Kolum' of a peacock  and oil lights.

 

Colleagues came in their sarees, kurta,and punjabi suits.  Mr Bala look dashing in a Sherwani. But the exciting part was the Deepavali lunch. We have looking forward to this day.

Food arrived.

The spread.

And this is my favorite, Idli and Putu Mayam. Did you know that a piece of Putu Mayam these days cost RM1.00 a piece? Gosh, mahalnya! Apa lagi bedal sepuas-puasnya. Didn't even gave the rice a second look.

Putu Mayam on the left and Idli.

Thank you to our Indian colleagues who worked hard making thin years celebration a success.

Brunch - Dim Sum at Xing Zhu Restaurant.

Finally after longing for a good Dim Sum spread, I stretched my budget this month for a lavish brunch. 

Xing Zhu is located in Cyberjaya. Most importantly it is close to home and where you can find a halal All You Can Eat Dim Sum. At RM50 ++ for adult and RM25 ++ for kids we definitely ate all we can!!!! Ha Ha Ha......sharks! its been a while since I came here for a dim sum....the last was perhaps 2 years ago....Back then they charged RM44++ for adults and RM22++ for kids. What a steep increased!

Eager and excited waiting for our food.

“Xing Zhu” is mandarin for “Lucky Bamboo”. It is the theme of this restaurant and it reflected by the usage of chinaware, menu design, as well as the bamboo steamer. Originally Xing Zhu was located across the street. This restaurant is surrounded by glass windows where you can relax and enjoy the views of a fish pond and the lush tropical gardens. It is a much more private dining. I like this new environment. 

All You Can Eat Dim Sum - Can't let good food go to waste. We cleared every single plate except for the noodles. We were really stuffed.

When the dim sum arrived and after a short prayer to thank God for the food we're about to have, we dug in. Love the steamed Kai Lan served with fried garlic. This time round the Chee Cheong Fan was not served with prawn filling instead it is wrapped in a bbq marinated chicken. The steamed chicken feet is an all time favorite with my other half and kids. Other dishes served was Sui Mai, Steamed BBQ chicken bun, Har Gow, Spring Rolls, Deep Fired Wonton, Taro Wrapped Chicken, Fried Sesame Balls and Stir Fried Noodles, just to name a few.....

I am satisfied with RM160.00 I'd spent this afternoon. Indeed we were happy with the food and service .I was so stuffed that I did not say much all the way back 20 minutes drive home. Surely my other half and the kids enjoyed their lunch as much as I did.

Syukur Alhamdulillah.

A Blast from the Past #2 - University Years

This was my first ever trip to Chicago.

I asked my other half how did I manage to hook-up with his group of friends. He said they would usually hangout at the student center, or Bronco Mall and that we would exchange our 'hellos' most of the time. I think so, too.

But somehow another Malaysian student, Nasir, came to mind. Such a friendly guy. I think I got to know him first and later was introduced to other Malaysian students who came of what we classify the Mara students and JPA students. Nasir was neither, so mysterious. We categorized him as a unique and artistic individual. We surprised ourselves until today that we hadn't the slightest clue what Nasir major-in during his tenure as a student at WMU.  He was good with art and painting. 2 pieces of his artwork hanged on my dining wall. Who knew he may become a great artist one day and the painting may have value...muahahahahaaaaa. But most of us look up to him like a big brother. He was someone we can shared our inner feelings. He was someone we can debate on political issues. He was also someone we can talk 'adult stuff' at an equal level. In general, whenever we need guidance, he'll be the first person we turned to. After less than a year, he left. Nobody knew where and why until we received a post card a few months later that he was residing in Savannah, Georgia. He sent us a fridge magnet which I still have it on my fridge today.

Nasir in green jumper who had his arm around me. My first trip to Chicago. By the Lake Shore Drive from left: Panjang, myself, Nasir, Talib, Mr. X (sorry, couldn't remember his name), Mabut, Ina. Squatting in front is Arobi.

We stayed at an aquiantance of Talib, Kak Hasnah, while in Chicago. Kak Hasnah lived with another female friend and worked at the Mara Office in Chicago. She was very friendly and accommodating. We felt very welcomed in her 2 bedroom apartment. We stayed up late and tell tales and would bunk in the living room. During the day we would drive around and I know we visited some places but these days my memory is so bad......what do you expect these all happened 22 years ago.

Arobi and me in the elevator in Kak Hasnah's apartment complex.

Again we were at Lake Shore Drive in the day. Locals love to swim in the lake.

I wish I could tell you more because seriously I cannot remember what we did during this trip. Just wanna share pictures of people who were dear and close to me during my university days. Out of all, my other half and I did bump into Panjang and Mabut these past 2 years. Others?....

Another order for my JELLO.

Fruit Cocktail Jello

Thank you to Chander, Nana and Kat for the order. I had fun making the Jello for you guys! It was a birthday celebration for Thana and Lai Kuan. Happy birthday to both of you.

Surprised! Surprised!

A simplified version was posted on my face book this morning. This is the original version.

For the past few years I have been forgetting our wedding anniversary. Perhaps I had too much on my mind with heavy responsibility both at work and at home. 

Unlike previous years, this year I made a point to count the days toward our anniversary. About a month and a half ago, I bought a stainless steel tumbler from Starbucks which was going to be a wedding anniversary gift for my other half. He can make his coffee and carry it to work. I was so sure this time I will not be scrutinized from all corners. Purposely left the gift in my drawer at work as a daily reminder that our anniversary is coming up. 

Finally yesterday after work I brought it home. Cool! Later in the night, my other half had to go out and I can play out my plans. I made a small card with flowers and wrote happy 14th anniversary. I tied the card together with the gift then placed them on his dresser so that when he comes home sometime past midnight he would find the surprise gift. Yayyyy!!!!

This morning just before my other half left for work, I was still half a sleep. He wished me happy anniversary and a peck on my forehead. Then he added, "By the way it's 15 years ok and not 14!". Oh mannnn.........not again! That's why he's the one carrying a degree in Maths and statistics! Simple arithmetic....

Chicago-Fall 1991

To my other other half, happy anniversary! xoxo

Happy 14th Anniversary!

 

Dear Kutuk,

Yes! This year I did not forget our anniversary. 14 tahun. Wow! Wow! Wow! Beat you to it....hahaha.

We met in Feb 1991 and first went out on 31-May-1991.  I do not want to write much here..... Lets pray that this relationship we've built mendapat berkat dunia dan akhirat. Semoga Allah membukakan pintu hati kita agar lebih mendekati diri kepada NYA. Ialah, we are not getting any younger....Lets be a better and supportive parents to our children.

Remember this....our Akad Nikah Day which was taken on 15-Nov-1998.

Our Akad Nikah Day.

Kutuk, can I count on you....?

Love Always,
Your Wife.

Morib Trip.

Morib was once a popular beach attraction in Selangor but in the recent years the beach has been down graded. Partially because it is muddy and dirty. While the other half would be competition from other beaches such as in Port Dickson, Tanjung Bidara, Pangkor as well as the east coast of Malaysia.

This year my mother wants to go for a short holiday. She asked my sister to make the travel arrangements and hotel bookings. After taking into consideration the weekends, public holidays, our work schedule and reservation availability we finally agreed to a one night stay at Gold Coast Morib. It should be fun since the resort has a water park for the kids to enjoy. Mom said said she will pay for the whole trip. Thank you mom!

We arrived safely at Gold Coast Morib after an hour drive. Upon arrival we walked into the lobby and shocked to see it was packed with guest cramping queuing up to check in for the day. It was so busy and noisy for a moment I though I was at the airport.

 Busy scenes in the lobby area. There were guest there to check in and there were purchasing the day water park tickets. Some were also dripping wet....

After waiting almost half an hour in the lobby, we finally get to our hotel room. We checked in a two units of two  bedroom apartment with very basic necessities. TV with only 5 channels. No phone lines which means no Internet access. WiFi only available at the lobby area. Urgh! Cyber Cafe on site charged RM5 per hour. Initially I thought such a drag....but hey, its a holiday. You need to get away from computers, ipads, cable tv and etc....It is time to bond with each other. Such a rare occasion that I shared a room with my mom.....

After settling down for a while, my other half and I went looking for something to eat outside the resort while I left the kids with my sister. They wanted to explore the water park. Later when I got back they were already on the beach riding ATV.

The beach front at 6:30 pm

 My mom on the ATV. That was a shocked but she was such a sport.

Later that night we went out for dinner. As I was quite full from the earlier rendezvous with my other half, I barely touch the food except when the 'ikan bakar' arrived. That was fresh, tasty and good.

By 10 pm everyone was tired and went to bed early. Shakiel and my other half stayed up watching the Malaysia Cup finals between Pahang and Kelantan. Pahang won 1-0. Shakiel was disappointed.

We had no hot shower. No phone and how to call housekeeping? I had to dial the resort 03 numbers from my mobile to make a report on the faulty heater. They said they will send someone to look into our report. At 10:30 pm? As expected, nobody came knocking on our door. Well, we just slept on it.

Next morning we headed down for breakfast. Wow, the dining area was quite packed with hotel guest. As we would normally encounter, I am so sorry to say, that when it comes to buffet, Malaysians just don't know how to behave. Cutting lines and food wastage is a common sight. Agaknya takut makanan habis kot....

The table behind us. Such a waste!

I had scramble eggs, toast and nasi lemak. Then we headed on the water park. We found a spot and the kids headed to the water slides.

 After one and a half hours in the water park, we call it a day and headed to the beach before checking out from the resort at 12 noon.

 

Thank you to my other half who willingly took days off to spend the short trip with us. Thank you to my sister who made all the arrangements and of course, my mom for her generosity.......may Allah bless you for the effort of  bringing our small family together.

A Blast from the Past #1 - University Years

I have been digging old pictures from my university years and spent time scanning them into my computer.  Something to look back on the good and happy times. The greatest 4 years of my life and syukur alhamdulillah thank you to you, Abah.

The first blast from the past is......hmmm, some may refer it as fall and some as authum. Whatever you wanna call it, it's coming to an end. Normally winter will seep in late November around Thanksgiving in Michigan when you will get the first snow fall. Isn't is beautiful when it is in Fall?  Just love the colors of the leaves. These pictures were taken at School of Business WMU.

But my favourite is winter season. Oh,...how much I missed Michigan's winter........