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........

Dr William Henry Cosby Jr.

I am already on chapter 12 of Bill Cosby's Fatherhood. Reading his book never seems to amaze me how he said that nothing he ever done has given him more joys and rewards than being a father to his kids. Hehehe....I wonder how many fathers out there dare to say that!! Most parents do have similar tensions and conflicts in raising children. But how he turned his experiences into laughter sure is something.

So I have started to watch the Cosby Show on You Tube from season 1. And right in the middle of it, I thought about once I had the opportunity to watch him performed in person at my university.

I went with my other half who was then, my boyfriend.....hihihi...Indeed it was a once in a life time experience to meet him from the ninth row. Iwas really overwelmed!

Bill Cosby was really funny and I never get tired from listening to his stand up comics. Being a child educationist, he said most people in general believed the role of a mother due to natural instinct, were best suited to raise children and supervise responsibilities at home. Whereas the father was primarily the authoritative figure, a disciplinarian and the breadwinner. As our world are changing men have been struggling with unfamilliar demands and challanges of this so call a model fatherhood. Many have adapt comfortably to the changes in social and family patterns. Many fathers have been taking up positive roles in raising their own children, tasks that were previously assigned exclusively to women. Fair enough. I have to admit, I see the pattern and progress of a father from how I was raised back then when compare to today's father.

One huge lesson I learn from this book is you must not be afraid to let your children know that you're not perfect. Let them know that you are always there, you're the one they can trust the most and we're the best person on this earth to whom they can come and say, "I have a problem." I like that so much.

I'm glad I bought this book. Hope my other half willing to benefit from Bill's experiences......

Credit to Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint, MD