Books, Books And More Books

I am currently reading a book on motivation and setting goals and achieving whatever your have set your mind on written by Canfield. He's the guy who co-wrote the series of chicken soup for the soul books.. and that's why the new quotes on the blog..

I also crashed read during the weekend a number of M&B books ie Live-The-Emotion tag line kind of books. Which are actually very effective in helping your forget the real world that you live in - if only for a few hours.

I finished Dr Phil's (a syndicated "shrink" in the States) book like a couple of weeks ago after what - 3 months of reading? Whew - that was a long read. And I doubt I could practice his philosophies - too much effort required on changing habits that define me..

Also finished the book from CAP on halal & haram aka halalan thoyyibah kind of read. I'd recommend that book to anyone who wants to discover a bit more about the food that we eat and other stuff. If anyone gotten a mail recently about bone china - yeap, it is mentioned in this book. I urge everyone to read it. Book title is Halal & Haram - Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang.

Of course I cant help but pick up Jamie's cookbook. Even if I dont cook.. I visited MPH on Fri and man.., he already has a new book out which cost almost twice the one that I recently purchased. I thought I had to buy the new book then but Iman is most logical at times..

Anyway, back to this goal-thing, I am supposed to think about 30 things I'd like to do, to have and to be before I die.. that's how you can tell what you really, really want. Would it work you think..?

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Tweaking The Blog A Bit..

I changed the blog colors - not that I truly love it but it'll do for now.

I wanted to go to pasar tani this morning - but look at the time - to engrossed with the blog I was. Maybe much later - only need to get some fruits.

Eirfan is supposed to go to school to day - a replacement session - but I decided to let him stay home instead. Yesterday he already asked if he could just stay home today and my answer was an adamant NO then.

But right now I am wondering if I am advocating liberation in him or a defiance to disciplines.. Well, too late to worry about that now anyway.

And do read the new quotes I've put at the top left of the blog. They really make sense - at least to me..

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Spark, Sparkles and Gumption

While blogging this evening I thought that I am tired of the lilac color in the blog background. It's too sweet and nice a color. It doesnt have enough spunk or courage in it. It is not brave.

Am I being dramatic? I would guess so. But changing the theme color will take time - need to adjust the other element colors on the page too. I'll make the change some other time I think - when I have more energy - too tired now (and time of course).

I think I need more spark (not sparkles, mind you) - more like a spark plug to a car you know.. (err.. am I making sense to you?) It's time to hit the pillows I guess.

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Singin' 'Bout 'Em Woes

Do forgive me if I kept (or seem to keep on) singing my blues about work on-line all the time.. Do I actually? But personally I feel it is therapeutic (like cleansing my mind AND spirit from all the stress relating to the office) when I tell about it all.

Anyway, it has been long strenuous weeks in preparation for cutover and getting over the post cutover period (he-he isnt that confusing?) This week also started badly with presentations to really, really bad uncooperative and boorish users to discussions on unresolved issues with other equally difficult users up to the meeting with THE ma'am herself.

But fortune shines on us Thur when we sailed through the difficult meeting and Fri was spent at the users' office with no rude users around. Whew.. subhanallah.

Alhamdulillah, this weekend looks really promising - we are catching Harry (Potter) and Hermoine at the movies tomorrow. I dragged my feet last week to see Transformers - I forced myself to go just so I can get my mind off office stuff. Insya'allah for once in a long while, this would be a great and restful weekend.

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A Mum's Tale

Anecdote 1
We were on our way back home from dinner when I received a call from my son asking for additional pocket money as he had paid for books and other stuff when he registered at college. His sister sitting in the back seat quickly said - dont buy the books just get them photostated - cheaper that way. I asked my son - did you hear that? get them all photostated. In Malaysia we dont believe in IPR and all that copyright stuff..

.. you dont agree? How else could we afford to view all those hot-from-the-oven blockbuster movies or parade around with those designer bags and wallets and belts etc etc?

Anecdote 2
Received an SMS from my son today that reads Happy Mother's Day Ma, love you. I thought he must have done something that he feels guilty about (although I dont know yet what that is..). I replied and said if you need to pull wools over my eyes, please be realistic about it. He replied back with a ha-ha message.

A mother's day wish in July..? Come on, what - was I born yesterday he thinks?.. But I still cant figure out what exactly he'd done..

Anecdote 3
After having to work late for many, many evenings I came home early for once and cooked dinner. When Eirfan found out that I am preparing dinner and we wont be dining out that night he clapped his hands and said, yey.. we dont have to go out to dinner tonite!!

I was speechless but thought - my poor son..

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If Wishes Came True Part 2

If wishes came true
I'd be serving cordon bleu
And would be whipping up souffles too
And invite to brunch, tea, dinner all of you

If wishes came true
I'd be smocking dresses for you
Or'd be beading my bags, shoes or even - God forbid - your tutu..
And just let my left brain fly ~ personal interests passionately I'd pursue

If wishes came true
Alexandria, Istanbul, Casablanca or Marrakech I'd take off to
Soak in the sun and all the great view
And return when - and only when - I want to

If wishes really, really came true
What I'd really, really do - let me tell you,
Bid the office and all the headaches adieu
& be a million miles away from here ~ like maybe in Timbuktu!

.. if only wishes do come true..

Empty(ier) Nest Part 2

Yesterday - well, the day before yesterday really - since it is officially Mon anyway - we sent off the other bachelor for registration of his first semester at the u.

He's happy enough to go although he will be studying up north for the next 4 years - the brat.. (affectionately said, of course). I asked him why he has to go so far to get a degree but turned out that his major is offerred at that particular u only (and parents are strongly advised never to to stand between the children and their ambitions.. and so I consented)

I'd rather that he study anywhere in the Klang Valley - there are many good universities here anyway. But since this is the way that he wants it I let him have his way. It is his future afterall.

Which reminds me what my mum always say about bringing up children (she got it from my arwah ayah she said..) - nak besarkan anak-anak ni macam main layang-layang. Lepas tali layang-layang tu - tapi kalau nampak macam layang-layang tu dah nak pergi jauh tu, tarik balik pelan-pelan ke bawah.

Which make sense to me - it is like letting the children go and yet keeping a leash on them (short or long depending on the parents) and their so-called freedom.

The semesters are here again - the break is over and the nest will be empty yet again for the next 4 months or so..

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Penantian (Memang) Satu Siksa..

Actually I am in the office - blogging whilst waiting for the production server to recover from an electricity failure this afternoon. The whole data center is down..

And to make matter even worse, tomorrow is the d-day for cutover. Ha-ha.. (a cynical laugh, really - at this stage nothing seem funny anymore) could anything be even worse than this? (Come to think of it yes, really - ie when you made a design error and you are just waiting for the axe to fall onto your neck - and that has happenned many, many times.. )

We are sitting in the office twiddling out thumbs now. . earlier it was promised the system will be up at 9pm then they changed it to 11 then 12 and now 1am. Let's face it, it could be at anytime..

Apa tu Desiree nyanyi - life, oh life, oh life..

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Building A Character

"It's not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties."

I first found this on the net somewhere and co-incidentily a friend was facing much difficulty at work at that time. I sent this to her - to give some encouragement somewhat.

Now, these days, I am facing much challenges at work and when I read the same words again I thought yeah well, very nice.. but when you are faced with problems, you just want them to go away quickly and you just dont care that the same issues might make you a better character.

You just simply want the whole thing absolved. Immediately. Even better if the boss doesnt know about it and then come avenging down on you..

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