Kershoo!

Today after work hubby took me out to dinner at Tea Cafe in Northbridge for some private "just us" time. Soooo niiiiiice... was looking forward to having some bubble tea from Utopia afterwards as well!

We ordered our food and then just relaxed to chat about our day. My food arrived first *yeah!!!* I was just about to tuck into it when....

KERSHOOOOO!!!

(bless me)

I raised my head and sniffed.

Hubby: Excuse you... hey what's that?

Me: What's what?

Hubby: That... your nose is bleeding!

Me: *sigh* Not again!

Hubby: Next time can you not sneeze so hard?

Me: As if we can control THAT! *sniff*

Gosh... when will this be over? Good thing I'm happily married liao. Imagine if this had happened on my first date. What a turn off!

Just Google it

Ugh... this cold is ghastly!!! I'm dripping like a leaky tap all day. I think I need to disinfect my entire desk space once this is over.

I had a little scare the other day, I blew my nose one morning (quite hard) and when I removed the tissue, the whole tissue was stained with blood... eeeewwww, grooooss! I started to panic a little, because I was wondering if the blood was from my air passage or lungs or something major like that.

So what was the first thing I did? (after wiping my bloody nose of course) I opened a new Explorer window and went to Google.com, typed in "cold blow nose bleed" and pressed Enter.

I found a reassuring answer to calm my worst fears...

http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/safety/first_aid/nosebleeds.html
"The most common cause of anterior nosebleeds is dry air. A dry climate or heated indoor air irritates and dries out nasal membranes, causing crusts that may itch and then bleed when picked. Colds and other viruses may also irritate the lining of the nose. Bleeding may occur after repeated blowing. When you combine a cold with dry winter air, you have the perfect formula for nosebleeds"

The Internet is really a useful for getting an answer to ANY question. I can't understand why some people don't seem to realise this. I sometines get some MSN messages from friends asking me all sorts of questions. And the first thing I do is to jump on Google or Wikipedia and forward the answer to them. And they are so amazed and think I'm such a genuis. Haha... as if!

Here's another example...

One morning (a few weeks ago) I woke up, went to the toilet to do my usual business (a number two). And as I was cleaning myself up, I realised to my utter and complete shock that my poo was a slimy green colour!!! (sorry to gross you guys out lar, but these are true honest stories). I stood up and looked in the toilet bowl, and there was my poo - not looking like its usual self at all. It was GREEN!!! Something like THIS COLOUR. Eeeewwww!!! What's happening to me???

Unfortunately I didn't have time to ponder over this very long because I had to rush to get ready to work. So I hurried to get ready and catch my bus to work. But once I arrived at the office, I opened an Exlorer window on the computer and Googled "green stool".

http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/otherdiseases/a/greenstool.htm
"There can be many reasons why stool appears to be green. The first and most obvious reason is eating green foods. Green, leafy vegetables contain chlorophyll which could be coloring the stool green. Foods with dark purple coloring like Kool-Aid, popsicles, and gelatin (Jell-O) can also result in rainbow-colored stools. Iron supplements or even foods that are rich in iron can also give stool a green tinge"

Ahah! It must have been the bitter gourd stew I had last night for dinner. Apparently hubby encountered the same thing too.. but unlike me, he wasn't alarmed at all.

Phew! So I wasn't turning into an alien.

What would we do without the Internet?

Dinner at Emma's

Hubby took me out to dinner the other day... no special occasion, just take a break from rushing to cook dinner after work, and try something different.

We had dinner at Emma's Seafood.

Nothing fancy, just simple wholesome homecooked Chinese dishes


Yummy.


Just thought I'd share the pictures with you.

Missing: Serene's Voice

Guess what? I lost my voice! This is the first time in my life that I lost my voice... so I'm finding it an interesting experience despite the discomfort.

I've been battling a cough and cold for the past couple of weeks... just a persistent cough that wouldn't go away, and the usual sniffles.

My cough then started to become more chesty and phlegmy... and then just on Thursday, this is how it happened...

...My alarm rang as usual to wake me up, I "snoozed" it and snuggled up next to hubby as usual just to savour a few moments longer in my comfy warm bed (the best place to be on a chilly morning)

After a few minutes of snuggles, I opened my mouth to tell hubby to get moving, don't be late for work (I say this to hubby almost every morning, but mostly it's to tell MYSELF to get a move on, hehe) and then... no sound came out of my mouth!!! Really!!! I'm not kidding!!! I was like, eh? What happened? I tried to say something again and managed to whisper hoarsely... "honey, I lost my voice!"

Hubby's response: "Really? Oh nooo... you poor thing" *pause* "Haha! Now my ears can take a break!" *wife glares at him* "Okay okay, sorry... just kidding lar... come I sayang"

So yalor...that's how it happened. So poor thing right? *pat myself on the head*

Can't stop the rain

Question: Do I talk too much?

I was chattering non-stop as usual to hubby on Monday night. Basically the moment I arrived home I just went into full swing. While I prepared dinner, while we ate dinner, while we watched TV, in the car on the way to "Marriage Enrichment Class" at pastor's house. Then continued in the car on the way home and so on.

What did I talk about? Dunno lar... everything.... about work, about the projects I was working on, complain about boss, complain about work, something funny colleague said, something funny I thought of... yeah, stuff like that lar...

Hubby's a really good listener. But toward the later part of the evening, I think he was getting tired.

I finished off telling him another piece of information, and then turned to him to ask the usual, "so what do you think?"

He was obviously getting a bit zonked out because he was like "what? sorry... not really listening lar"

Me (fuming slightly): "Honey, if you don't feel like talking or are feeling a bit tired, just tell me... then I can save my story for another time, otherwise waste my breath only"

Hubby: "How can? It's like trying to stop the rain... can I just tell the rain - stop raining?"

Me (rolling eyes and laughing): I'm not THAT bad lar... (am I?)

But I got the hint and gave hubby's ears a break for the rest of the evening.

More signs of winter...

Toasting marshmallows...


And toasting the bed...

Finally…

Hubby finally arrived home last night around 9pm.

Safe and sound.

But looking disheveled - he hadn't shaved in three days!!! (he only packed enough for an overnight stay, not expecting that he would have to stay so much longer… poor thing)

Engaging youths

It's 8.00am on a Saturday morning and I'm awake!!!

Just can't seem to sleep in... my dear hubby is away again. He left on Thursday morning to go on site and was supposed to come back on Friday night. But by Friday afternoon, they still hadn't resolved some issues with the system so they are keeping him there till Sunday :(

I was laying in bed this morning thinking over a number of things. Hubby and I have have started thinking about having kids... I really think it takes a lot of courage and strength to bring a child into this world AND to bring the child up in this world! On mothers' day, Ps Joyce was preaching about the joys and pain of motherhood... once you become a mother (or a parent) sleeping in will become an unknown luxury......

WHAT??? No more sleeping in??? *sniff sniff* I really treasure my Saturday mornings when I can roll around and laze about in my warm bed. Now that takes REAL courage man!

Last night as you know, I was in charge of the lesson for the Youth. Phew... I think it is definitely a challenge to truly engage their minds. Overall it went smoothly. They liked the movie clip very much... in fact, I think they seemed to see it more as an entertainment rather than educational. And revenge is a very big topic... I think some of the younger ones find it hard to relate to, because revenge hasn't resulted in any dire consequences for them yet. Sure, they may get into some quarrels and fights every now and then... but nothing serious.

I started an impromptu discussion (which wasn't in my original lesson plan)... trying to draw them out and hopefully to help them understand that revenge doesn't have to refer to big dramatic situations... but it can be small actions on how you react to people who shurt you... it's the heart that matters.

A couple of the youths raised some questions... which hopefully meant that it struck a tiny chord with them at least...

But I agree with something hubby said... that they way to engage these youths is not just about the teaching and the lessons... that's probably the least part. The biggest impact they will get is the fellowship and the way they engage with each other. We thought of organising some activities or competitions to get them to work together as a team. When a group of people share a common goal to win or achieve something, that will really build cohesiveness

Just like when I was in the Youth back in my church in KK... at first when I started attending Youth, I felt out of place and indifferent. But then I was giving things to do which I had to work with other people, get to know them etc. The best times was when I became a member of the committee... during those times serving in the Youth, I really felt I was part of something. I think that's they key, Youths really need to feel that they are part of something. While having fun of course!

Turn the other cheek...

It's now past 11pm on Thursday... a working night! I should soon put myself to bed, snuggle under my warm quilt with a good book. That's the best place to be on these cold evenings. Lately, temperature has been dropping down to as low as 4 degrees celcius at night *shiver*

Meng How is away again. He flew off this morning to resolve some issues with the system on site. He should be back tomorrow, but so far they don't seem to be getting any nearer to a solution... each time they solve one issue, another one comes up...

I just finished preparing for tomorrow's bible lesson at our Youth O2 meeting . The lesson will be on 'Revenge' centred around Matthew 5:38-42... about turning the other cheek, instead of seeking an eye for an eye...

I hope the youths will find it interesting, and more importantly - relevant. One of the highlights will involve showing a movie clip from the 1998 movie 'The Parent Trap'.

Also, we'll be looking at a bible story - the story of Dinah and Shechem from Genesis 34. There will be a brief mention about 'circumcision' in the story, because the revenge act involves Simeon and Levi tricking Shechem and his dudes to be circumcised... then in their weakened state recovering from the 'painful medical procedure', they attacked them and killed them all...... Why did they kill them? Well, it was because Shechem raped their sister, Dinah.

What a story! Hmmmm, but I wonder if it's appropriate at all for some of the younger ones... *thoughtful pause*

I was thinking about about how to handle this circumcision thing. Should I just skim over it and assume all of them know what it is? Or should I pause the story and explain what it is for the benefit of the ones that have no clue about it? I decided on the latter. But no detailed explanation or graphic images of the procedure, just a bit of background info on this Jewish custom. Hahaha... sounds like I might be veering into a National Geographic moment on this... hope it doesn't result in us going off topic or anything! No fear, I shall endeavour to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and keep us on track.

Sounds like fun hey? Will let you guys know how it went.

Growing up or growing old?

My dear hubby is finally back after being away for ONE WHOLE MONTH on site. So nice to have him back... don't think he's expected to go away for another long trip for some time... but just a few days after he came back, he had to fly out again for a couple of days to handle some stuff with the system on site... and today he's back in the office again trying to resolve something -- client demands to have everything up by Monday. Sigh. I just pray that this whole thing can be resolved smoothly and quickly.

By the way, I think I have unofficially reached "Aunty" status. One of the youths addressed me as "Aunty Serene". Not that I mind lar. But it made me pause and think about it for a bit. I am growing up (or growing old) haha!

Now that hubby is back, there is once again someone to ask me that age old classic question...

"Honey, what's for dinner?"

Yes, indeed... what IS for dinner? at this very moment the answer to the question for today is still a mystery to me. I must ponder upon this for a while. Catch ya later!

'80s baby

I'm am proud to declare that I am an Malaysian '80s baby!!!

We grew up watching Transformers, Thundercats, Woody Woodpecker, Chipmunks, Mickey Mouse, Jem, Mask, Ninja Turtles, Voltron, Baja Hitam, Ultraman and not forgetting POWER RANGERS and BUGS BUNNY!!! (and McGyver?)

We had to brush our teeths during recess at primary school. We had to hold plastic cups, line up with your classmates side by side and start brushing our teeths at some open area... or maybe near some drain???

Do you still remember that we had 'dentist' rooms where we had to have our teeths checked?

Not to forget our 'program minum susu' in primary school... everybody is suppose to buy cartons of UHT milk that costed 30 cents.. and you would see everyone drinking it everyday...

The teachers who would want to punish us must use yellow rulers to hit us on our palms??? 1 metre length!!!

That a bowl of mihun soup or some soup only costed 50 cents at the school canteen...

We went to some sundry shop near the school or to the 'roti' man waiting outside our schools so that we can buy junk food like chickedees, mamee, ding dang with some toys in it, 'Ti Kam', ice-cream and we would play games like monopoly, uno, old maid, and all other card games like that...

Another fun time would be during Pendidikan Jasmani. the boys would play football while the girls would play netball... and it would be like we were playing in the world cup...

But of course. the best would be main guli, batu seremban, bottlecaps, ice- cream sticks, 'Pepsi Cola one-two-three', Police and Thieves, main kejar-kejar duduk, getah... and for the not so active, those kind of 'book games' where we would use buku latihan to draw and ask our friends to play...

Do you remember the ice-cream tubes which are actually ice and colouring that are sold for 10 to 20 cents.. the colourful ones.. where you usually bite off the top to glup it down... (pop-ice)

What about days when we felt like doing naughty things such as folding papers so small to make 'lastik' and shoot each other... how about throwing chalks??

Back then, micheal jackson was just turning white.. and still had albums coming out... compared to CD's, we were listening to tapes that sold for RM9.90...

Back then we were still using black and white computer monitors... we played 'Atari'... maybe SEGA or NINTENDO...

Well, are we all getting older or what?

Perhaps you understand what you have read and you are smiling to yourself...

You have friends from school that are already married (and some with kids!)

You shake our heads everytime you see high school students fussing about their handphones in school...

When we meet back with our friends from time to time, we feel excited and happy talking about old times, the funny 'adventures' or stories that we experienced as a kid...

When you read this, you would think of all the happy & sad memories that you have experienced when you were still a kid...

Strength for today

Lately I'm trying to develop a new habit.

On the bus ride every day to work, I've been using the time to read my bible and pray.

I'm beginning to look forward to it every day.

I find a nice corner seat by the window, settle in and feed my soul.

Been reading the Psalms. And then praying for different things. My struggles at work. My family. My hubby. And sometimes just enjoying the time alone with God.

I started taking the bus on a regular basis ever since I first came to Perth for my studies and then in Singapore for work... I find bus rides to be quite soothing. Just something about the motion and looking out the window watching the scenery and people.

So now I'll be sharing my special bus rides with Him.

No drastic change in life yet.

But getting some perspective and even a tiny bit of strength at those moments of seemingly minute but character building choices.

I shall not complain

As you can see from the timestamp, it is now 8.34pm... and guess where I am? Yup, at the office... trying to finish this stupid report... I'm all alone *sniff sniff*

"I shall not complain... I shall not complain..."

Anyway, just got off the phone with my beloved mum and dad - so I'm feeling perked up after that.

Time to go home.

See ya!