Wilder Sisters by Jo-Ann Mapson

'Destrozado' she said, using the Spanish word for 'broken' heart.

This is where I cried. Dont know why but somehow I felt the character's anguish in this story where she can barely speak of her sorrow. And somehow she's searching for some traditional remedy to make her forget her 'unreturn' love.

Ahh ... a love story. Yes but not entirely. It's about two sisters whom are poles apart in character but fiercely protective of each other. It took me almost a month to finish this. I was not in a hurry. After Kite Runner, I need something light, an unmemorable title to dilute my thoughts. This book served it purpose.

Towards the end of the book there is this prayer mentioned which I kinda like and wanna share it here: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen, to that.

Post Eid Mubarak

Image by Richard Pluck via Flickr

but the celebration continues ...

I have no excuse for not updating my blog more frequently.

I would like to say that one of the reason is my lack of internet access back at my hometown (which is partly true) but even when I did get a connection (like at my sis-in law house in Sri Iskandar) all I did was typed in a few lines so my fellow blogger friends come followers ( I only have two) will know why I'm m.i.a

I truly can relate to the phrase that busy people get more work done compare to if you have all the time in the world ... like I do during my one week leave whereby I tend to slouch around ... off from everything even thinking hmm ... another word to that is l.a.z.y

And so the Eid ul Fitr celebration/holiday was at full gear last week and even as I'm writing this (lucky me or ... not depends on how one look at it) bcos it is being celebrated over a month long. I like to think that most people are like me, whereby I will gain all 30 days of fasting in Ramadhan (if there was ever any reduce in my weight at all) within the first day of Syawal itself. Blame it on all those delicious ketupat palas, lemang, rendang and off the shelves cookies but never on my weakness to glutton temptation *sigh*

Another good thing that comes with Eid Mubarak apart from the long holiday and good food was of cos the gathering of relatives and siblings under one roof. I know my mom was ecstatic to have us (siblings including son in law minus my younger brother whom celebrated 1st day of raya at his wife's hometown) reciting yasin (quran verses) at my father's grave in the early morning of 1st Syawal right after the Eid ul Fitr prayers at the village surau (a smaller version of a mosque). This is our first raya without my father. That explains my mom lack of interest to bake her own cookies this year. Except for the raya cookies, my mom did cook all her other delicious specialities which all of us can't live without.

The gathering of sistership (4 sis in-law and me ) this year had a new twist. I like to think of it as the born of The Not-So book club of Sisters (and Kite Runner) Society or something like that. Stay tune to that in my next post ^_^

And of cos, what is days off without books? I finished reading two books which satisfied me to the max.

Tomorrow is back to work. I received a text last Friday evening from the GM's office. The secretary texted me to say that I have a 0900hr session with the new GM on Monday morning.
Until then, I have the whole Sunday (today) to enjoy!!

Salam Mubarak

I'm on one week raya leave which started last Saturday Sept 19. Been very busy chasing deadlines and clearing office's tasks so I can go on leave in peace.

I suppose to leave the office at 4:00pm. I agreed to an impromptu meeting at 3:30pm. 'It will take only 20 minutes the most' said the Accounts Manager. After I said yes to her, my new GM phoned to ask for a summary of all our studios booking in October so she could add in another new channel bookings. 'I thought I catch you before you leave for your raya celebration' she said.

I managed to convinced the Media Sales lady boss that there's nothing wrong with my department's invoices to them and she should start paying us, so the meeting ended in 10 minutes. And I pulled out my thumbdrive to retrive my monthly report and after minor tweeking on the format, posted it to my GM.

Said my goodbye in haste before something else comes up.

Salam Aidil Fitri everybody. Happy Holiday.

One sheep, two sheep, zillionth sheep

Image by Tattooed JJ via Flickr

It's 2 minutes to 0300am in the morning and I'm still wide awake. This is what one and half plastic cups of San Francisco extreme caffein do to you. I had that this evening after our family had our 'breaking of fast' at a western food restaurant.

Even after 2 hours of tossing and turning, one and half our of reading (and cried too) and a glass of tropical fruit punch, here I am still very much awake. So I've decided to log into my notebook and write this in.

Another one and a half hour, I will have to wake up for 'sahur' (pre-dawn eating). Not sure how I'm gonna survive tomorrow (technically it is already tomorrow). Sure glad its a Sunday!!

I can hear that it's already started to rain outside. Maybe that will help lull me to sleep.

Favourite past time or plain greed?

2 weeks before Ramadhan started, I managed to persuade hubby to check out a book sale. He reluctantly agreed with spesific warning that I adhere to to the time limit of 1.5 hours. Okaayyy ... I agreed too eagerly which didnt convinced him which lead to another round of lecture in the car as we were making our way there. He knew me too well.
When it comes to books ... his wife can turn into a monster that lose all sense of time, care, even responsibility to her own family !!! tsk!tsk!
On another thought, being a reading and entertaining monster sure could count for something? Isnt it? Hi! hi!
But I'm happy to report that yes I adhered to my time limit and now I'm a proud owner of 8 more new/old books and that gives me a total of 18 books in my to read list. Hmm ... no wonder greed is listed as one of the deadly sins.
ps/ Kak lin, I have Frank McCourt 3rd book (I can lend it to you) and Kerry, I bought Anne Rice ...

Danish turn 11

My eldest son Danish turned 11 today. We celebrated at TGIF where we break our fast.



The food




Danish with his mp3 present



TGIF staffs singing Happy Birthday to Danish (he was quite nervous and shy about it)