The Bag Story

Let me just tell you right this moment that it's not a completely long and complicated story. I am not exactly a storyteller. I tell it as it is. And, the story is : I have a bag that is too big!

I have this this overnight-er bag that I love. I bought it when I went holidaying to Australia last year. It's a fantastic overnight-er bag. It does it's job well. Big and you can stuff in lots. But, I may have made the purchase on an impulse. When I saw it, I totally fell in love with it. Plus, the salesperson did a really good job at convincing me how great the bag was. I totally fell for it. SHe probably got a big commission out of it too. No, ok, the bag ain't that expensive but it's goodlooking?

Anyway, I am an impulsive shopper. But I am not a compulsive shopper. I do not need to shop ALL THE TIME. Just that when I do shop, I tend to get carried away. Even when the item cost alot and frivolous, I'd just get it. OK, costing alot for my standard la. I mean, I won't go out on a whim and buy a Ferrari which does cost ALOT (alot x100) and IS frivolous. Just..you know...random reasonable purchasable but a little cost more stuff. The case with said bag.

Besides, I thought the bag will be handy with me bringing all the baby (Mini was a baby then) things to playgroup and where ever. The bag was just the perfect mom-with-baby sized. Anything to just keep pushing the 'green' button.

WHen I came back, I found that it was a little too huge for a diaper bag. After getting all the baby stuff in, I still had room to shove the microwave in there if I wanted to. Sure, it will be good especially when I am out but honestly, will I have the strength to cart everything from China to Thailand? No.

So, the bag has been in the closet since. I also bought another more reasonable sized mommy bag after.

Now that Mini is no longer a baby and I usually have close to nothing in my bag except for a spare diaper, small packet of wet wipes and 1 set of spare change of clothes. That's all. Oh, and possibly a sanitizer. If she remembers, a random book. Plus, I don't go out that often. See my dilemma?

A mom with a bag issue. Surely there must be bigger issues like http://www.arvixe.com for reseller hosting to talk about. But, no, the only issue here is one that deals with my bag. I still love it, don't get me wrong. Just, need to find other ways to continue loving it that's all. 

Synchronized Swimming

My latest Olympics crave : Synchronized Swimming. I think that this sport is one (if not, the hardest) of the hardest sport to perform. I mean, the rules itself can kill you. You have to "dance" in the water, often times upside down. Your legs cannot touch the pool floor. You have to have to make the routine look flawless and effortless. In other words, even if you're tired, you cannot hold your legs. You have to open your eyes while under water without goggles. You need to have perfect coordination with your partner. I mean, the list goes on. It's no wonder there are NO men in this competition. YOu have men gymnasts but you don't have men doing synchronized swimming. 

I marvel at these girls. How do you even catch your breath with the mere seconds that you are actually allowed to stay above water? Besides, it's not as though you can catch your breath, take a break and all. YOu have to catch your breath while performing some ridiculous stunt like you see above. And what about those who remain under to propel those to the top? They will obviously have miss this chance to get some much needed oxygen into their lungs because the next step cues fairly quickly. 

So excited I am watching the event that I will pretend that I am a synchronized swimmer doing my routine. I lie flat on my couch, facing upwards. Then, I will hoist my butt up and try to mimic some synchronize moves with my legs. I try. Each time I do it, hubby looks at me like I'm some mental patient from the asylum. He probably thinks of sending me back there someday soon..

Anyway, tonight is the team event. My top 3 teams are the Russians, Spaniards and the Chinese. Technically the Chinese are pretty good; they just need to work on the artistic side cos they look very kaku and no inspiring moves (hahah..like I know!). But, wait...the artistic one is tonight. SO we shall see. But, if I may make a prediction : the Russians will win the gold hands down....yet again. They are simply too good!

My wish now is for the men to have a go at this event. Come on men! Show us some legs! heheh :-D.

The yearly check-up

I dread the time of the year. The pap smear is not my favourite term...ever. It's geli la. Hey, what am I talking about when I gave birth to 2 kids....naturally some more. hahha...gloat or just plain stewpig? 

When I think about people giving birth, the hospital, the medical carts..when I think about MY giving birth...my doc in space suit and construction helmet, the midwives, the nurses, the very cold room. And, oh the pain..the excruciating unbelievable wanting to poo-like/menstrual cramps (x100 times) pain. I don't know how I did it but I did. When you have to push, you just push the buggar out! 

My ObGy is an in-house hospital  doc so he doesn't have a clinic or shop elsewhere. To see him, I have to go to the hospital. Get my number, wait with other pregnant ladies. If he has to go up to the maternity ward mid-way, the wait will just stretch for another hour or so. If he's at the operation room, the wait could mean forever. Oh the waiting. It's the wait that gets to me. 

Oh well..one must do what one should do. 

How safe is Malaysia?

Lately, we've been plagued by all kinds of safety and security issues. AT most, we only hear of people getting randomly robbed, murdered, raped..in far away places when we read the news. These days however, it's happening everywhere : prominent shopping malls, the neighbourhood where we grew up, neighbourhood where we now live. The list is endless. What is happening Malaysia?

Then I started thinking of the time my aunt encountered a snatch thief while walking to the train station early one morning. SHe takes the train to work and you know, my aunt, she's been doing this for years. I think she was barely a yard away from her home when she struggled with the guy. Thank God she wasn't held at gunpoint or in our case, parang-point. The guy just jumped at her, grabbed her purse and off he went. She ran home to my grandmother who was obviously in shock to see her face that has turned green with fright. That was many years ago and I never forgot that incident. 

Also, my parents were victims of these blade-happy people. Once my dad got a surprise at the ATM. It was real early in the morning when he went in to make a deposit. Obviously, there was no other person in there except him because it was like, 0630. I think he wasn't really paying attention when this guy, with a full-face motorcycle helmet opened the door and just casually walked in. I mean, I wouldn't too because I would be busy concentrating to make payment to the right account. Anyway, as soon as he completed his transaction, took the receipt, turned around....and there he was -- faced with the hooded man with his parang raised and ready to strike.

Now, my dad - if you don't know him, he used to be a teacher. So teachers have a way of throwing their voice and have this ability to speak really loud in front of a classroom packed with noisy kids. They must definitely get voice lessons in addition to their teaching education. So, when my dad saw his  potential attacker, he took a few steps back in shock (naturally) and he just screamed. Imagine a banshee screaming but with a really deep manly voice and in an enclosed area. Sounds cannot escape and neither can you. He was screaming and screaming and the guy, I think he popped his ear-drums because he stumbled backwards instead..possibly in shock as well. Seeing the opportunity, my dad made a dash for the door, flew open and continued screaming as he ran. The workers at the dim sum shop next door all came out to see what the commotion was and saw my dad running towards the shop..screaming. The parang fella got out of there and onto the kapchai that was waiting for him outside and sped off. My dad got a hot drink courtesy of the dim sum shop and was told to stay in there until the coast was clear.. 

All of these happened many years ago and don't think my family's incidences were the only ones during those times. I remember also about my MIL telling me her neighbours' houses were broken into in the middle of the night. They happened many years ago as well. I just think that the news we get these days are alot more instantaneous and faster than what gets reported in the mainstream media. Thanks to social media sites such as twitter and facebook and blogging sites. They are everywhere. Just possibly a lot more rampant and alot more daring lately. I mean, even kidnapping an expat kid. That sure brought us to a global level. 

Anyway, crimes are highly prevalent lately. A simple outing to the mall can be quite harrowing. So much so that when I went out on a ladies night last week (it was only to a shopping mall), I wasn't at ease walking about. I even went to get a huge bag of diapers in case I needed it to swing at some punk. Of course, I also needed to get a bag of diapers. Even when entering the ladies, I made sure my bag was with me as I peed. And making sure I only needed to use the ladies once or at least go ber-ramai-ramai. As soon as we had finished our dinner, I even declined yum cha and sent everyone home instead. Sped home and while it was a lovely night out, I was on my toes the whole time. I wished it didn't have to be like that at a time when it was my chance to have a great time. The last thing I wanted to do was to constantly look over my shoulders. 

Say all we want but being vigilant is an understatement these days. I think, it's not enough to be vigilant and careful but we civilians need to be carrying a weapon too. Like a gun or something. Kind of sad isn't it about what's been happening and possibly, is happening.