Malas

Lama sungguh dah tak update blog ni. Bersawang dah. I prolly don't have any readers anymore LOL

Actually a lot of things happened in the last few months: went back to Malaysia, came back, prelims etc. But somethings I am just too lazy to update and some are just to private to put down here. Plus, I've been a bit busy with my studies that blogging seems to be a luxury (common I think among my friends who are also doing a PhD: Madihah & Nina, I am looking at you guys! he he he he). I've thought about shutting down this blog for good, but then again... it feels like it would be a shame to do that since blogging (although very sporadically) is one of the ways I used to let off steam. And I've met some lovely people through it too. So I decide to just let it be for now. And I still read (or glance through) every blog in my blog list, and am finding out that there are like minded individuals who have also let their blogs go! :-P

On to other stuff: it's fall now in Ohio. I think my body is in a state of shock. The temperature dropped abruptly without warning, and I really hate putting on my jacket instead of a light cardigan. Pretty soon it will be winter. Hopefully this winter will be just as kind as last year!

Will write more... (when the mood strikes)...

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Post Eid update

It's probably a bit late, but Eid Mubarak to my Muslim readers! We had a pretty normal Eid. We cooked a simple Raya fare, had a few friends over and that was it. I used to feel a twinge of sadness in my first year, but it's now the beginning of my fourth year here so I am numb to it I think. Besides, I spent almost one month fasting in Malaysia and how glorious it was!

Post eid, it's back to the normal routine for us. For me, writing and reading. I have my prelim submission due date coming up in two weeks so I am ironing out the paper and polishing it up. I don't know how good it is, or if I am able to pass it or not but it has to be done. Wish me luck! The cat meanwhile has calmed down a bit. He got a bit hyper when we arrived and wouldn't stop meowing for two days. Now he's feeling more secure and is more quiet, but he's still following me from room to room. I think he's still not sure if we are going to walk out at any moment and leave him alone for three months! 

The weather has been pretty good here. It's been a bit sunny but not humid. Just nice. As we move into fall, I am crossing my fingers and hoping that winter will come late again this year. It's time to get back to work again, will write more time & mood permitting. 

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Bookworm tag?

Source: Google Images

Syigim tagged me a couple of days ago. I'm kinda late in replying, but late is better than never kan? he he he. p.s: things have been really haywire last two weeks, now things have improved but there's still some lingering issues... hope it all gets sorted out. Sigh. Like I said, ignore my last post. :-P Enjoy this one, instead!

1. What books are you currently reading? How far in are you? What's it about?

Communication and Cognition! Seriously, it's my text book this semester. Not very far along because it's so hard to read!!! Oh you mean non-academic books? Then it's a chick lit by Gemma Halliday called 'Spying in High Heels'. Some people say she copies Janet Evanovich but since I've not read any of Janet E's book I don't know if that's true. What I do love about it is that she's managed to make a chick-lit super funny and her characters are endearing. Never mind that it's not realistic. Ha ha. This book is about a rather hair brained shoe designer who turns super sleuth when her boyfriend disappears after being suspected of embezzling money. Despite repeated warnings from the detective leading the case (who also happens to be good looking! what are the odds of that!) she manages to get herself in serious danger because of her meddling. As chick lit goes, it was light and I finished it in two days!

2. If you could live out any storybook, as a character in it, which story would it be?

Hmm... I would say Miss Marple... in any of Agatha's Christie's novels featuring MM. It would be nice to be right all the time! Ha ha. She always knows. Don't try to pull one over her.

3. Lets say that you could donate your old books. Is there ONE book that you would not donate? 

I'm an avid true crime novel but there's no other psychopath that fascinates me except for Ted Bundy. I've reviewed Ann Rule's book about him "The Stranger Beside Me" which was pretty good until recently I also read "The Only Living Witness" by Stephen Michaud & Hugh Aynsworth. Ann Rule knew him slightly and worked with him before his killing spree started but Michaud & Aynsworth actually interviewed him before he died. Upon reading the book, I feel that it is the most comprehensive book on Bundy so far. There are things in the book detailing Bundy's mannerisms and his views on his own crimes that are chilling, and not found in other books. So yes, this is one book I would never, ever donate.

4. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be? 

I don't like recommending books to people, because I think it's very personal. What you read tells you a lot about your interests so it's hard to tell someone what is good because I think it's subjective. Let me put it this way, one book that I think was interesting right off the bat, could interest a lot of people even if you are not a fan of the genre is definitely is the classic "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo. His description of the Italian mob is fascinating to say the least. I have a rather dog-eared version of the book, which has been read many times!

5. What's the first book that you read more than once? What book have you read the most time? And how many times? 

I think the first book that I read more than once would be books by Enid Blyton. I read them as a kidand I've read and reread them. The books now belong to my youngest brother! The book that I read the most would be Ken Follet's "The Dangerous Fortunes". I love Ken Follet. His historical novels are the best. The Dangerous Fortunes is about a upper class banking family whose rise to fortune was met with financial doom due to greed and weak leadership. The hero is the black sheep of the family. Without giving too much away, he triumphs in the end, manages to win the love of his life & recovers from the financial bankruptcy with a lot of bravery, wit, honesty & some luck along the way.

6. A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving.

Hmm... this is not a good question for me. Ha ha ha. I am a avid book-worm but I know what I like. So I seldom venture outside of my genres. Some of my favorite authors include Ann Rule, Ken Follet (see number 5), Agatha Christie, Nicci French, Emily Griffin & John Grisham. And I am rarely disappointed with these authors.

7. Name one book that you hope would never, ever get made into a movie (no matter how good the movie is). 

Again, not a very good question for me. Unlike books, I don't have a specific preference because I am not fussy about movies. I watch (most) things. But I do know many people who were disappointed with the Harry Potter & Lord of The Rings stuff. Meh. Just don't compare it!

8. What's the last book you were really excited to read? And, you were excited to read about it in advance? Or did the excitement bloom while you were really reading it? Are there any books that you're excited about right now? 

Source: Google Images

This is an easier question. That has to be Christopher Smith's 'Bullied'. I don't normally read science fiction or supernatural stuff but this one intrigued me because of the subject. The hero is a weak, nerdy high school student who is always bullied by the super cool people at school. Things aren't too good at home either with his parents. Things changed when he discovered an amulet that allows him to wish things at will: wish it and it is yours kind of thing. He uses his power to go after his abusers. The book has four series in it; I've eagerly read three of them and am VERY excited to read the last one on Kindle. Which reminds me to check my Amazon account: OMG book four is already available! Got to download it. He is a new writer so I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed his books. You won't be able to put them down.

9. What's the largest your personal library has ever been? What's the greatest number of books you have at one time? Err... don't ask. From my favorite writers alone (Follet, Rule, French, Christie) I have nearly all of their books. It's extensive. But now that I have my Kindle, I don't really worry about space. I can own as many books that I like!! I can't wait until Amazon comes up with their own tablet. I will definitely buy it just because of the color Kindle.

10. What is your favorite fictional relationship between characters? Probably the epic love-hate relationship between Aliena & Jack in "The Pillars of the Earth" from Ken Follet. I loved it so much that as soon as the sequel of the book "World without End" was out I immediately read it. What I loved about it was because it was such an improbable and doomed relationship. Jack was poor born and a lot younger than Aliena. There were lots of relationships ups and downs in the book and when it finally happened, you sighed with relief.

11. If you could see one book turned into the perfect movie-one that would capture everything you love, the characters, the look, the feel and the story - what book would you choose?

Refer to question 7. Same answer. :-P

12. Do you prefer to read a book really fast or savor it really slowly? 
Depends if I have time. If I am busy with schoolwork (like right now :-() I would probably pick up a book and take ages to read it. Sigh.

13. What's the latest you've ever stayed up reading a book? Is staying up late reading a usual thing for you? All the time. Yes!! The latest incident was during the last book I read by Emily Griffin, "Something Blue". I ended up going to sleep after Subuh just to finish it. Ha ha ha.

14. Do you read book reviews? Whose do you trust? Do they affect your reading habits? Your buying habits? 

Like Syigim, with my favorite authors I usually read without bothering to read other reviewer's take on it. Certain authors have a style that you will like no matter what the story line. But with authors I am not familiar with, reviews matter a lot because lots of time I ended up not buying a book when an Amazon reviewer tells me not to waste my time, or reading it because of the high reviews. It was based on reviews that I ended up reading and enjoying work by Christoper Smith, Gemma Halliday and also Reed Farrel Coleman.

15. Choose one book as a gift to: 

• My hubby: Probably something IT or photography related? I know he likes those. 
• Father: I know he likes Ken Follet too so this is easy! 
• Mama: It's hard to choose coz she's a reader like me too... Probably something classic like Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl or "Thorn Birds" by Colleen McCullough or a self-help books. I know she reads those on a regular basis. Oh duh! Just remembered her favorite author is James Michener so something from him is a good gift too. 
• My sister in law: She reads chick lit too so she will enjoy the latest by Sophie Kinsella or Emily Griffin. :-) 
• Myself: Hmm... any book on mystery/crime fiction/suspense/thriller would be good for me!

 16. What is your favorite quote from your favorite book?

It's kind of hard to think of it off the bat like this. Kalau teringat nanti update ye. Ha ha.

17. How did you encourage your children start reading books?
I don't have any right now but I know when the time comes I will do the same thing as how I got started. Reading aloud as a habit and rewarding them with books if they behave. :-P

18. Do you like short stories? What do you like about short stories?

Not particularly. If I like the story, if it finishes too quickly I feel dissatisfied. One of the best short stories I've read was actually a local one (surprise, surprise!). It was actually a collection of short stories that appeared in a magazine. What I loved about it was that it was realistic, it featured stories on the lives of all types of women in Malaysia. I can't remember the title though. Subject nature was varied so it kept me interested.

19. Ever received an unexpected gifts of books from your loved one?

No, and I don't expect to. Books are very personal; I'd rather buy one myself and enjoy reading it, rather than receiving a book I know I wont' like from somebody. I think you have to get to know the person real well before giving books as a gift.

I would like to tag these adorable book worms:

a. Kak Lisa

b. Ziah 

c. Anyone who reads books and would like to do this tag!

Phew. Finally, done. :-)

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Tinggalkan aku

Note: Bad winter storm until classed was canceled this whole week. I am feeling very sluggish and very lazy as a result!

I don't really feel like doing anything much right now. Ha ha ha ha. Except You-tubing and reading gossip blogs... and of course listening to music. Right now I am listening to the same song repeatedly. For example, I've been listening to this song over and over again. Sebenarnya lagu ni lagu sedih... dan untuk orang yang break up... neither applies to me but for some reason I am not bored.

 

Sekian post yang paling pendek bulan ini.

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Got tagged again: Jom Berkenalan

You got that right!

This is a tag from Syigim, as usual. He he he he. Enjoy!

Apakah status anda?

1. Second out of five kids in the family, with the youngest still in primary school, and the oldest is 33!

2. A relatively young wife, who is still learning the ropes... he he he he

3. A dedicated lecturer who struggles hard to balance my personal and working life; after almost a year deactivating my Facebook account, it's still a topic of discussion among my students! Sigh.

4. An easily demotivated PhD student who sometimes wonder if furthering my studies was the right decision or not!

Ceritakan tentang diri anda (ini macam buat ‘my personality’ dalam buku biodata kawan-kawan masa zaman sekolah! hihi)

1. Asal :Always a PJ kid!
2. Pekerjaan: Refer to the previous section
3. Cita-cita: Journalist; got to the interview part and decided not to take the job. I think it was a good decision, considering things.

4. Hobi: Blogging (duh!), reading crime novels (when I'm free), watching movies & TV (to those who say that you are too busy and NEVER have time to do this because you are doing PhD, either (a) you are delusional, (b) you're trying to act superior in front of others ha ha ha (c) you are honestly, really, really hardworking and have exceptional self discipline skills. Any tips?

Ceritakan tentang blog anda:
I would say my blogging forays have several phases. First phase: As a newbie, I used to write whatever I wanted and cared little about how my blog looked like and who read it. Second phase: My students found out and suddenly I had to censor myself! Third phase: While doing my PhD I realized that it's my blog, I can write anything I want but still it's good to be cautious because when it comes to certain things, only your nearest and dearest ones should be privy to it. Right now, my blog is a really good place to vent when I want to relax, and certainly I spend a lot of time changing how it looks and learning hacks because it really relaxes me and I like the challenge of figuring things I don't know.

Apa pandangan anda tentang dunia blog?: 

Blogging is fun, when you get to say what you want and comment on any topic under the sun. Blogging is social because you get to meet people you don't know and reconnect with old friends through it. Blogging is creative for those who enjoy changing the templates or testing their writing skills. Blogging is cathartic because it allows you to vent about any emotional roller coaster currently invading your life. Blogging is reflective because you can sift through current events happening around the world and contribute your two cents on it. (although I rarely do this ha ha ha ha). Blogging is also exhaustive because you have to constantly update it  (or else people will stop visiting) and think of what to say and write. Finally, blogging can be dangerous if the wrong people read what you say, and start to speculate on what it means although it may not have anything at all to do with them (Oh, the burden of being a popular blogger!). Nevertheless, in the blogging world, there is always something in it for everyone, no matter who you are.

Nasihat anda kepada rakan-rakan yang baru nak buat blog: 

Use a pseudonym if the topics you blog about are too private, or make a post private if it's content are too sensitive. And don't blog negative things about your boss or your company, eh so unprofessional lah...Contact HR if you are not satisfied! And if you think they won't find out, I won't bet on it because nothing is private on the Internet! Finally, to girls who are constantly cam-whoring or gay Muslims who enjoy posting sexy pictures of themselves in their personal blogs, carilah cara2 lain untuk popular. Cheap publicity is still publicity is not a good adage!

Nyatakan keunikan yang terdapat pada blog anda:

Hmm... I don't think it's unique in any way, personal blogs are by far the most ubiquitous type of blogs.. but what I do like about my blog is that I get to practice my writing skills. Tak dapat jadi journalist pun takpelah jadi penulis blog tak terkenal pun dah OK ha ha ha

Sampai bilakah anda akan menulis blog dan impian anda dalam dunia blog:

Whenever I have the chance, and the opportunity. I'd especially like to keep it  intact and I would often reread my entries about my PhD journey, just to remind myself that there is light at the end of the tunnel! and yes, it's nice to read and reflect on the progression in my life: dari student, pekerja, orang bujang, isteri orang... and hopefully in the future, Insya-Allah someday, mak orang! 

Akhir sekali, kena tag org yang anda nak kenal sangat:
1. Orang2 yang pemalas update: Junida, Kak Amy, Ziah, Kak Hana & Kak Lisa. Rajin2 lah update OK!
2. Whoever else is reading this, and feels like doing this, feel free!

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Layan...

Don't usually keep with the latest Malay pop music, but I found this cute! It must be the catchy lyrics at work. I've always liked the female singer's voice (she has a powerful voice, and wasn't she one of the singers who provided her voice for one of the late Yasmin Ahmad's movie = Talentime?) but I am not sure who the guy is.  Maybe someone can tell me? Apa-apa pun, layan je lah ye...

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Are you a blogaholic?

I found this online quiz on addiction to blogging. The results for me... are rather errr... not surprising.... How addicted are you guys to blogging? I bet some of you will score even  higher than me!  Click here if you want to find out your addiction to blogging!

73%

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Happy Tag from Syigim

Wah disebabkan tag ni comel, kenelah buat. Thank you Syigim!

Adakah anda HAPPY sekarang?

Yup, I think so. I am generally happy when on holiday. :-P

Kenapa anda HAPPY?

Because of a few reasons:

a. I am generally quite even tempered (or I used to be before I started my PhD!)

b. The house is clean, I had my dinner, and it's not time to pay the bills yet! Ha ha ha ha

c. Most importantly, I am on a break right now. I really needed it.

d. I realized that I'm married to a very GOOD man. :-)

Bende yang membuatkan anda HAPPY?

Lots of things. But my most happy moment would be waking up in the morning and realizing that I have a lot to be thankful for. I am also most happy when relaxed; it is probably the time I spend with my husband or hanging out with my close friends (Jabs, I miss you!)

Pernah menerima tag.

Selalu. He he he. A bulk of my blog posts comes from doing tags.

Nyatakan warna yang anda sukai.

Basic colors, i.e. black, blue, beige and red. But I think I look best in greenish blue and gold.

Beritahu 9 orang yang akan anda tag.

Whoever feels like doing it. (Hint again, Shinichi Kudou!). Especially also Kak Amy. What happened to you?!

Adakah anda happy dengan apa yang anda ada skrg?

Yes, because I feel very fortunate with what I have, and I can say that I am very blessed!

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My books are here!

Yeay! So I'm going to spend the next few days curled on the sofa, reading some of Ann Rule's best work.  I managed to find three of her books packaged into one deal. And what's better than spending a hot summer day than reading your favorite book? I don't often get these precious days off so I'm really going to enjoy myself for a bit!

I love ordering books from Amazon.com, because a) it's dirt cheap here even with the delivery costs, I know I'm not going to get the same price back home and b) I can get tax exemption from them. :-)

Nanti kalau rajin tulis review... He he he he...

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Tag lagi

 

Wah, kene tag lagi dgn Syigim. Sementara takde kerja ni, here's the tag. Thanks, dear! :-)

Siapakah anda di rumah?
Seorang isteri yang tengah buat PhD. :-)

Siapakah diri anda di samping rakan?

Tergantung dgn rakannya. Kalau teman rapat, kawan yang setia dan sudi mendengar. Kalau teman tak rapat yang telepon semata mata nak mintak tolong dan dah lima tahun tak contact, boleh blah! :-P

5 bende yang diidamkan tapi masih belum tercapai?

• Jadi seorang ibu (Insya-Allah lepas habis coursework)
• Belajar masak bende yang nak makan (setakat ni tak cukup adventurous lagi!)
• Dapat PhD (long way to go)
• Adopt kucing (ada orang janji nak kasi Maine Coone ni... bila nak dapat?!!)
• Ambik lesen kat Ohio, supaya tak menyusahkan Sad kalau ada emergency

Siapakah nama pasangan anda?

Nama samaran: Daunsup :-P

Ceritakan 5 perkara yang anda paling suka tentang pasangan anda?

• Penyabar
• Pandai masak
• Tenang
• Lawak (bila kene masa!)
• Pengemas (jarang jumpa lelaki yang cerewet pasal kerja rumah.. it's a good thing OK!)

Bila tarikh couple?

Mei 2004 rasanye. alamak, tak ingatlah!

Kenangan pahit bersama rakan anda?

Kalau dgn kawan2 tu biasalah ada pahit ada manis. Cuba ingat yang manis je, tak nak ingat yang pahit.

Lagu tema cinta anda?

Ungu "Kau tercipta untukku", featuring Rossa. Memang kene lagu ni. :-)

Apa perubahan yang anda ingin lihat dalam pasangan anda?

Macam Syigim, harap dia berhenti merokok.

Tag rakan lain:

Siapa yang nak buat, silakan! :-) (hint, Shinichi Kudou!)

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Get to know your blog tag

I have a few more days before I start summer class next week. But have no fear, it's only two weeks; after that I am off the rest of the summer till September. Ain't that grand? Anyway, I was going to blog about our road trip (which turned out to be a washout because of the rain) but since we might be going out again this weekend, lets kumpul that post OK? :-)

I've been feeling stressed out for the last few days because of two reasons. One reason is something I'd rather not write in depth, and one that I feel I should put on the back burner, but lets just say you meet all sorts of people, and when jealousy rears its ugly green head, it's not pretty!! The second reason is that I got my results. Two were OK but the other one was not. You know why if you've been following my blog. Another classmate who was also unjustly treated was talking about complaining about the said person, but I am not bold enough to try. Maybe it is something I have to do. Hubby said that I will be saving future students from being similarly treated. Put like that, there is some truth in that eh? When semester commence next week probably I will see how things play out. The reason why I am not keen to do anything is because I still have another subject with this person. We'll see...

What do you guys do if you're stressed? For me, I blog. And I spend hours tweaking my blog. Oh, this site is fantastic for resizing and uploading images. There's just something soothing about tweaking the HTML code and seeing things work out based on trial and error. Not that I'm an expert. Any who, here's another tag that I was compelled to do. Because it's fun. Because I am stressed. And because I want to. He he he he.

First is to upload the image. Here it goes.

1. Where are you?

In the bedroom, where my laptop is.

2. What do you do? 

I am a PhD student, suffering from head damage, which is hopefully not permanent. :-)

3. What is your blog name and why?

Silent Scribbler. I used to have another blog, but I had to change the name because a few anonymous individuals started leaving snarky comments. I don't mind comments, but if you must criticize, let me know who you are. Isn't it funny that people leave only snarky comments when they are anonymous? Anyway, it's scribbler because most things I write are entertaining at best, trivial at the most. Silent because I wish that my blog readers are only people I know in real life (which is certainly impossible!).

4. When did you start blogging?

Cannot remember. Probably early 2000. It was hubby actually who encouraged me to write. He thinks it's cathartic. But the truth is, he doesn't want me whining constantly in his ears. Ha ha ha ha ha. Gurau je. :-P

5. Give the link when you were the happiest to blog?

Definitely this one and this one.

6. Give the link when you were the saddest to blog?

This one wins, hands off.

7. Give the link when you were the angriest to blog?

Banyak actually (including posts that were typed but not published!) but this one seems to come pretty close. Ada jugak orang macam ni... be careful of the wolf in sheep's clothing!

8. Give the link when you were most in love?

All post under the tag 'us'. He he he he.

9. Give the link of a post that turns out to be very meaningful to you?

Probably this one, because when I reflect on how much I have grown, I know this journey, although hard will ultimately be rewarding.

10. Tag some friends to know about their answer?

Whoever wants to do this (hint hint Syigim) feel free!

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Tag: My Dream Wedding

I was tagged by Syigim, again. Thanks, I love doing tags. This is supposed to be for those who are not married, but I am answering the tags as a person who have had (mostly) a dream wedding. :-)

1. How old are you?

This year I will be 31.

2. Are you single?

Happily, no... :-)

3. At what age do you think you'll get married?

I was pretty happy to take my time. I think maturity varies according to the person, the age I got married was a time when I was finally ready to settle down, and with the right person. And although I enjoyed my life as a single person, I finally had enough! 

4. Do you think you'll marry the person you are with right now?

We dated for three years before we got married. It had its ups and downs but it was my most stable relationship. I think we both knew that we were heading in the right direction, and when it finally happened everything just fell into place.

 Agak2 dia nervous tak masa akad nikah lepas jumpa tok kadi yang macam ni? :-P

5. If not, who did you want to marry?

I used to have a terrible crush on each one of the Innuendo guys, but meeting them in person, well err... lets just say I loved their voices a lot. ;-)

6. Who will be your bridesmaid and brides groom?

I didn't really have an official ceremony, but during the akad nikah, and bersanding session, my beautiful sister and reluctant brother filled in... and the rest of the time I had my my best friend there, I was so glad she was there! Love you, Jabs!

Mak Andam merangkap pengapit, my BFF

7. Did you want a garden/traditional type of wedding?

I didn't have a particular preference, I just didn't want a super formal do. Lucky me, my parents didn't want it to be like that too and we had a nice garden wedding. :-) It was a dream wedding for me because I had the support of my wonderful parents, and especially my siblings. Without them it wouldn't have happened.

The wedding venue

8. Where do you plan to go on honeymoon?

We wanted to go to Redang, but during the Kedah do, we had a study leave interview, and was so busy sorting that out that we ran out of time! Guess we honeymooned here, in the US. 

During the merenjis. I was so happy the nervous part was over!

9. How many guest do you think you'll invite?

Mostly my parent's friends and our family. But my favorite HS1 people turned up, too! As well as my favorite students. ;-)

My favorite picture of us!

Favorite mentor and students who came...

Geng budak2 nakal... I can't believe it's been more than 10 years!

10. How many layers of cake do you want?

We didn't have a wedding cake.

11.  When do you want to get married, morning or evening?

Akad nikah was in the morning, straight after was the reception at the same venue. It was the first time they did it all at once. Senang kan? :-)

12. Name of song/tune you’d like to play at your wedding?

Traditional Malay music, nothing fancy. ;-)

13. Your wedding colour theme?

Nikah, pinkish, cream and gold in KL reception, maroon in Kedah reception.

Kitorang pemalu OK... he he he he

The Kedah do... warna dia agak garang dalam gambar tapi in person it doesn't look so bright :-)

14. Do you prefer fine dining or just normal spoon & fork? knife?

We had fork and knife. I was so nervous at the VIP table that I barely ate! Too bad, I heard from the rest that the food was good. He he he. I think Sad was nervous, too. 

One of the close ups...

 

15. Champagne or red wine?

Rasa sirap. Tapi teh tarik kat situ sedap, of which I didn't taste. :-P

Ni kene paksa ni... lawak sungguh bergambar tepi jalan...

16. Honeymoon right after the wedding or days after the wedding?

Refer to question 8.

17. Money or household item?

We had a lot of both, skrg tgh bersarang kat office. He he he he. But some of the presents were surprisingly practical, I had some lovely scarfs (which I brought to the US!) and batik silks.

18. How many kids would you like to have?

At least one boy and one girl; but if more is given I am OK with that, as long as they are healthy.

19. Your dream present from your future husband?

There is nothing that he can give to me that is as valuable as now; which is his support and understanding during my PhD period. I love you!

20. Whose wedding plan would you like to know next?

Sape yang kene tag ni sila buat ye (ps: Shinichi, aku tak tag ko dah buat dah he he he he)

a. Kak Amy (who else, update ok!!)

b. Kak Hana (I would love to reminisce about your wedding ;-))

c.Ziah (update, update!)

d. Junida (bersawang dah ni...)

e. Mrs. Dino (ha ni lagi satu!)

f. La Signora (alah boleh lah buat satu self-indulgent post!!!!)
g. Kak Nuwal  (alah, bolehlah!)

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Letting off steam...

I'm so tired. Never been this tired before. :-( It might be like that because this semester I have higher expectation, and I find myself meticulously going over every word in my assignments. It's not good. You're never going to get anything done like that. 

And no, if you think studying overseas is all fun and games, sigh it is not. You're constantly second guessing yourself about why you are here, and yes, the scholarship money is always late  (funnily enough, just for Malaysian students in the US, not the ones in UK or Australia. Inefficient, much?) and you're always on your last dollar. :-P (p.s: kerana itu aku buat tak tau je bila ada sorang hamba Allah memesan bag jenama apa ntah dan menyuruh aku post ke rumah dia. And yes, she's not my friend, too!) And yes, I am grateful for everything I learned here. It's tough, but I've done a lot of growing up here (academically and emotionally)...Would I do this again? Ask me AFTER I get my PhD scroll. :-P

But anyway, this post is not really meant to be about my PhD studies. :-P Since I feel tired going over my proposals, I've been blog hopping (especially gossip blogs which is a guilty pleasure of mine) and going over entertainment sites.  Thank you dear Syigim, I love your blog, too! It's a must read for me. :-) I will spread the award to others soon. :-) On a side note, hilang tension bila tengok gambar2 macam dibawah ni. OMG, what was she thinking???!! Ha ha ha ha. Seriously, I bet everyone there was looking at her only! I feel better now... it's off to bed for a good rest. Tomorrow will be a better day! :-)

Credit to Oh Tidak

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Another award!

Wow.. Syigim gave me another award. Thank you dear! I am actually surprised to have readers for my blog. I blog for personal reasons, I find it cathartic and I really like to write. It wouldn't matter if I only have one reader or hundred readers. :-) Now I want to pay homage to these wonderful writers, and whose blog I never fail to read. Keep writing, people!

1. Bro Harris; I like his poems and his musings about his PhD journey. I am inspired, bro!
2. Ziah; you've not written very often lately, but I do hope that you'd write more, especially about Idol. He he he he he
3. Kak Amy; favorite drama queen! More postings, please! Enough said.
4. Ina; another ex-student who has become a reporter with a Malay daily. Even though we've not met in a year, I feel like I am updated with your life (even though I don't know the whole story) through your blog. How about more gossip about artis masuk mahkamah? He he he he
5. Shan; I just gave you an award, but this is another one! Keep on posting more hillarious posts. The entry about gramatically incorrenct and illogical signage in campus still have me chuckling when I think about it!

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This and that

Note: this post is messy not really well organized. :-P

Semester is nearly over. I now breathe a sigh of relief. We just have another three weeks to go before this semester officially ends. And I'm just taking 4 credits only for summer. :-) Today, I also had an official program review  with the department committee members for graduate program, to look at things you have done and courses you are due to take, and I was pleased that one of the reviewer said "You're doing well in Quantitative class, you should already be able to do small projects and collecting data". Coming from my current Stats guru, that was really nice to hear. The committee also told me that I am well on progress, and should be able to finish in four years. I am glad that I am on the right track and that I should be able to finish on time. Yeay for me!

* * *

It's now spring in Kent. I just love the weather now. We had a couple of hot days last week, and just short bouts of rain so it reminded me of the Malaysian weather. The cherry blossoms are also blooming (refer to pic) so when taking a slow walk to school, I felt really breath-taken with the view.  Hopefully, summer won't be too hot. Looks like spring is my favorite season!

***

Did I mention that we had a new set of wheels? Tapi procedure nak legalize status tu payah betul! Don't be disillusioned. Bureaucracy is everywhere! Nak tukar nama secara sah, kene buat bende berikut:

a. Get Ohio driving license (written and practical test). Tapi yang best kat sini boleh pakai kereta auto (tak yah pakai kancil manual :-P) and lagi bagus pakai kereta sendiri.

b. E-check. Tu macam puspakom lah. tapi tak susah sangat, Alhamdulillah lepas

c. Dapat hard plate (license plate) permanent. Ini perlukan dokumen title; to say that the dealer has officially changed the owner of the car to your name. This is the hard part. It seems to take ages, and the dealer keep on giving excuses. Hope to get it by next week.

Since I am ostensibly busy with school work (dan jugak malas nak drive! ha ha ha ha ha) I let Sad handle everything. :-P Thank goodness he is a very good driver, and is handy with car repairs. Save duit sikit!

***

The cat is missing. Has been for one week. My guess is that one of our neighbors dropped her off to the pound, or somebody adopted her. :-( I am sad but its better for her because she will get better care with either of the two options.

***

There was a very strange note left outside our door. Somebody was looking for a guy named "Justin" and "Justin" was asked to call the person, and receive some documents before it becomes a "warrant situation". I was worried for a bit, but there were no more notes this week slipped under our door. Wrong house, maybe? Harap2 takde encik polis tiba2 muncul depan rumah ye! In the meantime, I've been calling Sad "Justin", much to his annoyance. Ha ha ha ha ha.

Guess this would be it for now. The weekend's coming so I'm going to enjoy myself! :-)

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Award from Syigim

I've been really under the weather for the last couple of days. BTW, to Wani, Zai, Emee and Jabs, thanks for listening. Plus this week have been rushing for my program review. I have to decide what subjects to take for the next two years. Glad that a lot of subjects I wanted are in the schedule since I am specializing in Interpersonal but a lot of people doing Media are really unhappy. Anyway, next week is Spring break so I get to rest a bit, and of course spend time with the best husband ever. :-) BTW any of you caught Idol this week? Isn't it strange that Miley is a 'mentor'? :-P

And I'm a bit late with this! Syigim gave me this award, thank you dear! Here's the rules:

• Accept the award (check)
• Write seven stuff about me that you should know (check):

1. I love coffee, can't live without it. And in the morning, completely grumpy without it. Ask Sad. :-P
2. Here in the US doing my PhD. Just entering my second year and still have a lot of coursework to complete. It's challenging at times but hopefully it will be worth it.
3. I totally loathe people who are dishonest and fake. If you don't want to do something, don't do it. And don't bother complaining the whole time if this is not something you want. And if you get caught doing something you should not be doing (and you know it) just admit it already! There's no point in lying about it you know. Just keeping it real, OK!
4. I can watch Gilmore Girl reruns without ever feeling bored! They just finished season 7 and restarting with season 1 on ABC and I am seriously thinking of buying the DVD for the final season. I just love Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel!
5. I met Sad at work. It wasn't planned but he is the perfect person for me. And he has sacrificed so much to be here with me that I am always grateful that he is the one for me. :-)
6. I am not very comfortable with large groups. I like having a small gathering with a few close friends that I hold dear, and so enjoy spending long hours just chatting with them. Yeah, I am not much of a party animal but once I consider you as a good friend it will always be that way and there's nothing I will not do for you!
7. I think I'm addicted to blogging. I spend hours thinking about tweaking it here and there, and of course thinking about what to write. There's something really therapeutic about it. And it may sound silly but I feel safe here, rather than in FB. Betul kan Kak Amy? :-)

• Tag seven blogger for this award (check). PS: you guys have to do the same thing too!

1. Kak Amy, my husband's friend who I have never met in real life but a person that I find I will like a whole lot if we were ever to meet! Maybe that's why I love reading her blog, coz she's so real!
2. Pok Deng, another blogger friend who I have not met in real life. He weaves creative stories about life and reminisces about the strangest thing! He he he he. Read his blog, he has a very readable blog.
3. Wani, even though you don't officially blog, you should have this award. And you know why. ;-)
4. Dini, my student who is about to go for her internship. Don't forget to blog to update us about your progress!
5. Grace, also my student. Fantastic writer. Enough said. :-)
6. Shan, my colleague. I like her rants and reviews on anything pop culture. Plus, she gets to meet celebrities once in awhile. Very entertaining! He he he he.
7. Mrs. Dino, not a frequent blogger but a very good friend who's just starting to blog. This is an encouragement for you to blog more often. ;-)

I'm watching 'The Blind Side' sometime tomorrow to celebrate my Spring Break. Will write a review later if rajin. Take care everyone, have a good weekend!

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Crazy week ahead

I have a really crazy week ahead (mid-term, concept worksheet and seminar paper all back to back), so I need to take a break from blogging awhile. Take care OK guys and stay tuned. :-P BTW, I watched 'Julie & Julia' this weekend and it was so good. Can't wait to write a review. :-)

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Tagged by Mrs. Dino

 Our current pet, Betty. Anak dara tidur terbongkang!!

I've done these before, but I'll just do it again for fun. :-)

Three names I go by:

1. Aisha

2. Ash

3. Sha

Nota kaki: Esah only by HS1 he he he he

Three previous jobs:

1. Research assistant (first job)

2. Research officer (slightly higher post and salary :-P)

3. Academician (currently)

Three places I've lived in:

1. Kent, Ohio (currently)

2. Petaling Jaya (hometown :-p)

3. Gombak (during my uni days and shortly after I got married)

Three TV shows I can't miss:

1. Project Runway

2. America's Next Top Model (favorite seasons: Naima, Whitney & Caridee)

3. Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit

Three places I've been:

1. Sydney, Australia

2. London, England

3. Kent, United States

Three places I want to go to:

1. Italy

2. France

3. Indonesia (it's close to home but I really want to go!!!)

Three of my favorite food:

1. Pulut kuning

2. Mama's nasi kerabu

3. Cik Na's chicken pot pie he he he he 

Things I am looking forward to:

1. Having my first baby with Sad

2. Buying a car here! (gigih jugak lah jalan ke kelas merentas snow :-P)

3. Our first visit back to Malaysia (tak tau bila lagi)

Three pets that I have owned:

1. Edward the cat, my cat back home in Malaysia. Only that she's not really owned by anyone. She's fiercely independent!

2. Betty the lazy bum cat we have here. :-P The most picky cat I know! Memilih gila...

3. My pet cat during my childhood. She died when I was eight, and because I was so upset with that I did not have a cat for a long, long time

Three favorite bands/ singer:

1. Innuendo

2. Padi from Indonesia

3. VE

Three favorite teams to watch:

I don't like team sports so I'm going to list my three favorite athletes instead:

1. Roger Federer (do you have to ask? :-P)

2. Justine Henin

3. Nicol David, our squash queen

Three favorite drinks:

1. Black Coffee (without sugar)

2. Teh tarik (the authentic kind!!)

3. Mountain Dew

Don't want to tag anyone, since this might be a tad repetitive for the lot of you, but whoever wants to do it, feel free!

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About him

OK, since Syigim tagged me a couple of days ago, here I am. By the way, I had to reformat the whole blog; I was playing around with it, and suddenly clicked paste in the editing tab. And I forgot to save the old template! Nasib baik takde kerja... He he he he he. Here's the tag, Syigim. Enjoy!

Rule number 1: Sila upload gambar kawen. Here it is!

1. First time you met him - when and where?

First time I met him  in 2004 (but cannot lawan Syigim lah, sorry I cannot remember the date!) while reporting for duty as a lecturer at the management building. We only met for five minutes when we were filling in the employment form together and he asked me where his department was (he was not a former student!). Hence, our staff number is 4621 and 4622 respectively. :-P

2. Love at first sight?

For me, it wasn't love at first sight, but I did find him very attractive (a fact which I did not of course admit to him until much later!). As for him, I am not sure, but he did remember my face (after only meeting me for five minutes) and when we met at the Edu canteen a couple of months later he asked for my telephone number!

3. Who is he when the first time you met him?

A stranger, of course! And someone who happened to work at the same place. :-P

4. How long does it take for him to ask you out for a date?

A long, long time. What you have to know about Sad is that he takes his time. He's not a guy that you can hurry. However, I should say he had great instincts. I was with someone else at the time, so maybe that's why he sensed that it was not the right time to ask me to go out on a date. We remained friends for two years before we dated, although we did meet up once or twice when he kindly offered to send me home. (I didn't have a car and he said he stayed 'on the way' to my house which I later found out was actually really OUT of the way!).

5. First place you went for a date?

Our first official date was to watch a Yasmin Ahmad movie at Mid Valley Mega Mall. I count that as the first date even though we did go out as friends before that. We both just love watching movies!

6. How did he proposed?

Hmm... nothing romantic here I think. We were dating for a long time so both of us knew that we were going to get married eventually. So no romantic stories with regards to wedding proposals. :-)

7. Special date with him?

Lots and lots and lots. We rarely had time to go out as both of us were very busy with work in the last couple of years so each time we go out, it's special to me. But the best time I had with him had to be during his convocation. It was also the first time I met his family, and I was so happy and proud to support him!

8. Changes that he asked you to do?

To think positive. I tend to be err....rather paranoid. The glass is always half empty to me! Sorry yang, I'm trying to improve on that.

9. What is it about him that you love so much?

This is an interesting question because the answers have changed pre and post marriage.

Pre-marriage: I loved that he was technically gifted; he always seemed to know how to explain technical things in a simple way and not everybody can do that. I often ask for his input when I need to lecture about anything Internet-related. I also loved that he was very laid back, and he was a phenomenal listener. He is also very rational and can calm down my irrational fears.

Post-marriage: I have found that my husband is the most caring person I know. He is also so self-less, he is always putting me ahead of his own needs. I also think he is wonderful because he takes his responsibilities as a husband so seriously, and he takes great care with religious matters. Add to that, he is a great cook and he cleans the toilet too! What more do you need? :-)

10. What is about him that you wish he would change?

Similarly with Syigim and Mr. K, I wish he would stop smoking. But I won't force him to do it; he has to do it when he is ready to quit and I know he will stop soon. Betul kan, yang?

11. You lose your mind and crack your head when he?

He really rarely drives me crazy. :-) But the time that he does is when he refuses to sleep early and forgoes eating or drinking when he gets wrapped up in front of the lap-top. You need to rest and eat, OK! Add to that, we have both developed very seriously bad sleeping habits since arriving in the States. I blame the gloomy weather. He he he.

12. You will smile through your eyes for the whole day when he?

Pujuk me when I am feeling down. Nothing else can beat that!

13. Complete below sentence : "My love towards my husband is as big as...?

China! Isn't that a big-assed country?! He he he he.

* * *

In turn, I am also tagging these lovebirds:

• Junida, supaya anda ada alasan untuk berblog
  
• La Signora, supaya anda berblog sebelum pulang kampong!
• Ziah, supaya anda berblog walaupun sibuk bukak restoran
• Kak Nuwal, supaya anda berblog sebab blog anda sudah bersawang!
• Kak Amy, supaya boleh pressure anda lagi supaya berblog!
• Puan Dino, kerana saya nak dengar kesah chenta anda :-P
• Kak Hana, pun sebab blog dah bersawang! :-P
  

Have fun writing, y'all!

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