Before we talk about more serious stuff lets me just get this part out of the way.
Sinful Indulgence
Today, I finally visited the newly opened Baskin Robbins in KL Sentral. @_@ was my exact expression. I found my favorite flavor!!! Chocolate Almond…*gushes* I just have to have it. Then I saw Very Berry Strawberry….*_* Stars, I saw stars. I just had to have them both. Well, it’s been a while you know, and I didn’t care that that kiosk will still be standing there tomorrow, and the next day and so forth. I just needed that one taste. Who know what happens tomorrow? Lets indulge today….
Walking back to the office, I saw people giving me strange looks. Hehe.., I was carrying a small cone with regular double scoop ice-cream. Ahh… the beauty of self-indulging. Beautiful, the ice cream was beautiful. Sinfully tasty. Then I recalled that I was suppose to be on a strict diet. Oh oh, I’m going to suffer for a while but the beauty of that indulgence was it made me happy. So there :P
Labels and names
Do you realize how often people label other people and easily dismiss them. For example, when I talk about ‘Do unto others as you would wish upon you.’ Someone will label me as an idealist and ignore my advice. When I talk about the things that you need to be aware about before committing into a relationship, they label me a hardcore cynic. I mention about the situation going around the world and the current world politics, they call me a left wing supporter. When I voice my opinion, that people should do things for the good of society, they say I’m a conservative.
Dismissal upon dismissal of my ideas. I guess it’s easier to reject the idea than to actually crack your brain thinking about it. Maybe they should read this story . I hope by reading this, they wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss new ideas and remain status quo following the main stream ideas. I hope you realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you alone. Take a look around.
Invasion of Iraq I finally found the page I wanted days and days ago. Take note, the invasion of Iraq is illegal. I suppose since the US of A has enough clout (economical & military power), they though that they could do anything. Does anyone remember the 3 G motto that the Western world use when they were colonizing 3rd world countries. Gold, God and Glory. Now it has a slightly different twist to it, democracy. They are invading other people’s country illegally for the right of democracy. Of course there are other countries who still have dictator and despots, but that’s ok. They are dancing to the US tune. *sigh* Lame, really lame. The worse part? They got away with it, mostly at least.
Now that we’ve ‘dispose’ of the old dictator could it possibly be that there’s a worse type of dictatorship. Read The Rise of a New Dictatorship in Iraq? Sounds scary to me. It’s one thing to be oppressed by your own people but to be oppressed by invaders?? Uninvited guest of the state would be a politically correct way of saying it I guess. It’s like divorcing an abusive husband only to have an abusive boyfriend move in (or something like that). The never ending cycle of abuse from one hand to another.
During Saddam reign, he kidnaps people, tell their family and quietly executes them. Now, in the invaded country of Iraq, they’d kidnap you off the streets. Send their prisoners to God knows where, lose the prisoner’s list and make people disappear. Poof magic show, seriously. People in Iraq are at lost on how to find family members who never came home. Plus, now people are executed on the streets too. Witness the various “accidental civilian death”.
You don’t say??? Surely there’s law to stop these terrible things? People, Iraq has been invaded by the US. By doing so they’re breaking the International law, literally showing the middle finger to the International community. Bush might be too polite so say it but that’s exactly what has happen. The created a reason and without any concrete proof they went ahead regardless what the UN said. I suggest that the UN revoke the US power of veto as punishment. If they are determine to rule the world, we should at least make it as difficult as possible for them.
Could the people who love statistics put up their hand? Hate anything other that simple math? Okay, here’s proof that some Americans managed to graduate high school despite failing simple arithmetic. For the people who loves X-Files, you should read this article, maybe you could shed some light over which alien has taken which bodies. The title, “Mystery shrouds whereabouts of bodies of 54 insurgents said killed by US” sounds like a brand new RPG game. Come to think about it, maybe these guerrilla fighters are aliens with super power. That explains the reason why they are so untraceable. I knew there’s something strange about those Iraqis;)
I should think this would conclude our discussion *ahem*lecture*ahem*. See ya! Hope I stop blogging regularly soon. Am wasting the company resources. Plus due dates of various projects is loomingJ Later!!!
Food For Thought
Someone recently told me, “Julie, I felt hurt by one of my recent entry.” Surprised, I asked her which one. It was about my expression of disappointment when some people wouldn’t turn up at my graduation. Mystified I asked her, “Didn’t you inform me about a family gathering at your uncle that day?” She did. So I asked, “So why did you feel hurt. You did inform me that you couldn’t attend. It’s no big deal. Plus, I said wouldn’t not couldn’t. I feel that since this is my blog I should be able to express myself. *sheesh* Don’t blame your guilt on me. I didn’t even mention names. There’s a Malay expression, “Siapa makan cili dia rasa pedas.” (Something in the gist of - If you eat pepper then you’ll feel hot.”)
I apologize to the people who think that I’m judging them. I am not. I’m merely voicing my opinion. You can agree or disagree. I know, we walk in different shoes. Our lives are so different that I couldn’t possibly imagine the things that you have to go through throughout you life. Just let me get things off my chest so that I don’t resent the way things are. Get a grip, this is personal opinion.
Love,
Julie.
I've read a disturbing article about the Battle of Samarra in Iraq. I think people should be aware about this. Moving on to my thoughts.
Vengeance is Mine Sayeth the Lord
I just finished the pc game The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin : Secret of Alamut. Maybe this is very trivial to the people who thinks tha pc games are merely entertainment without any educational value. But after finishing this game I realise an important lesson. To explain, lets just learn a bit about the 'Hero'.
Tancrede de Nerac, a former Knight of the Templars has become a lawless desert pirate and has taken the name As-Sayf derived from the sword he carries -the Arabian scimitar. After years of being a mercenary, he becomes disillusioned. He heard of a prophet, Simon de Lancrois who is supposed to have collected a following of people of different races and religions to build an ideal city away from the world. Impressed by this dream, he leaves his companion in arms, Caradoc and goes in search for the city where the followers of Simon the prophet is supposed to be.
What he found instead was an empty dream and Jebus a wrack of a city. Bitter, he vowed to kill Simon. Adventure after adventure, but he remain faithful to his vow. At the end of the whole game, I noticed that the virile worrior had became an embittered old warrior. He wasted his youth and vigor in persuit of vengeance. In the end, even vengeance was deprived from him. What a sad and tragic story. I suppose it teaches you not to seek to blame others for the things that lack in your life. Look deep into yourself and face your fears. Everyone has to fight their own inner demon sooner or later. Might as well get it over and done with.
Eid Explaination by Dad
His explaination was in one sentence, "Eid celebration is so that we can gain the weight we lost over the 1 month of fasting in 3 days." Mean! Mean old man.
Productivity
I confess, my project is mostly done. I have 3-4 project left. It's so relaxed around here. I get phone calls pertaining to one of the long term project. I have a few maintainance work to do on several ongoing project. Best news of all is that my boss will be on leave for 1+ week:) I'm gonna miss bickering with that old man. My point? I feel guilty for being so relaxed about the whole work thing. Working at high intensity doesn't prepare me for the down time. Now I find myself sufing the web half of the day. Serious macho work starts after lunch. Before lunch I do tiny jobs here and there. *sigh* I bet work is going to pile up after New Year.
Religious Freedom
To the males who feel so threatened by the females, I suggest you move to Mars. Because I am not going to let my Muslim friends remain ignorant about their rights. I refuse to be repressed by so called pious people. An e-mail forwarded to me said something along the line, "Women should stay at home and remain uneducated." Excuse me, if you didn't make it to the higher learning institution, its not our fault. The reason why the women population in campus win by 4:1 margin is because WE worked to get there.
The reason why some females get better pay then their husbands is because they are better qualified and work harder. Not only a wife must go to work to help support the family, when they get home, they have to take care of the children, clean up the mess, cook and clean the whole house. The men(who feel so threatened)? The sit on their a$$ and read the newspapers.
Do you really think that we are so desperate to find a husband that we'd just grab any? Don't be foolish. Women in a traditional Asian culture might be pressured into getting married but excuse me, I don't give a rat a$$ one way or another. I will not torture myself into following such teaching that advocates the depravation and repression of women.
The Prophet himself didn't advocate the women repression. What a shame these heretics, (I dare use the word, so sue me) would try to create new rules in Islam. I am very suprised. As I recalled, the Prophet called upon the end of women repression(eg. no more burying live baby girls for fear of shame). What on earth are these people trying to achive? What is wrong with these women who embrace these teachings? Sure its easier to stay at home and become a house wife but what about the children? Should we deprived them of what could be theirs for our comfort? Have you forgotten that our children are our responsibility?
I'm no longer coherent. I better go. Ppl are bugging me. Work calls. My thoughts are jumbled. I'm better off blogging in the mornings when my head is clearer. Later!!
Love,
Julie.
Today when I went for my usual round of net surfing, someone asked me about the meaning about Eid and what the celebration stands for. My first reaction was, What..??!! I turned to my partner and asked, "Is there some particular reason why we celebrate Eid?" Both of us laughed and shook our heads. It's nice to be reminded about the reason things existed instead to just following the rituals. I suppose since Dad is a wider reader then I am, I guess I could ask him.
For shame, Julie. All those years studying other people's religion, you forgot to remember yours. Gah! I guess when I was an insecure child (who once proclaimed myself God at the age of 6), I needed to find the true reason why I'm a Muslim. After hours and hours of grilling my religion teachers in school, my conclusion is that the bottomline of Islam is justice and moderation. It also promotes self assesment. There's nothing like looking oneself in the mirror before wagging one's finger at others. It keeps me grounded most of the time. (so I don't go into self worship ie. I'm perfect)
Back to the main topic, Eid celebration. Geez.., it's difficult to explain everything in English since it's my 2nd language. Plus I don't think I ever had any rethoric discussion about religion in English. Stumped over language barrier. *Sigh*
Okay, Eid is celebrated after one month of fasting (Ramadhan) in the month of Syawal. If I'm not mistaken, this is the best time for giving and sharing. This is the basic thing that happen on the first day of Eid. Pet, double check for me ya. Might forget a thing or two.
We wake up early (if we sleep at all) and we have the sunat(not an obligation, only if you want to) shower/bath/mandi specially for Eid. After that you quickly go to the mosque for the Eid prayer. After the prayer, you go home for the family breakfast. Usually, mom will prepare rendang (any kind of meat cooked with spices) and lemang (glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk in banana leaf covered bamboo).
After breakfast comes the tricky part. This is when you ask forgiveness from you parents. Not so difficult? Try doing it every year. Plus Dad will roll his eyes and say something irritating like, "Yes, ask for our forgiveness only to repeat the same thing again next year." *growls* I'm trying Dad, just can't fit the mold could I?
Then there's the cool part where you sort of get this money packet from your parents. I used to be able to behave well enough anytime near the Eid so I get huge sums from Dad. Too bad I started working, no more free money.
After the whole family moment in the morning, you have the option to either roam the neighbourhood, visit relatives or stay home and entertain people at home. As family tradition dictate, my parents will announce to family and friends that they will entertain everyone on the first two days of Eid. After that, they will start visiting the families and friends.
A typical visiting scenario would include the host welcoming the people into the house, drinks, a few types of cookies and traditional food. On the first two days, my mother would cook up a storm and feed the guest chicken rendang with lemang, ketupat (boiled rice compressed into squarish shape) with peanut sauce. But this year, mom cooked pulut kuning (yellow steam glutinous rice lightly laced with coconut milk) and chicken curry on the first day. Salmon fish head curry and rendang on the second day. The guest who knows better will pace themselves so they wouldn't get "overstuffed" by the end of the day. Some was so tempted by mom's cooking that they stuffed themselves anyway:)
Cindy>>Hence my evil, "Decend upon us like a plague of locust." comment. Ignore them, I was envious of everyone else who got ot visit everyone else. I had only 2 days off work since I am an unconfirmed worker:(
I guess the main reason for the Eid visiting would be to catch up on the news. Who's children got married/engaged or entered college/university/workforce. Which industry/company? It's also a good way too keep in touch with extended family. "The daughter of your grandfather's brother," is a typical answer in large family gathering. ^_^ So many people, so little time.
So there, a mix and confusion of tradition. Feel free to comment and correct me. I wouldn't promise not to get angry but at least I'd listen.
Love,
Julie.
I stopped writing about Iraq for quite sometime already. Mostly because I'm busy with piles of urgent projects. I mostly mind blog lately. I mentally blog and relegate the entries to the past. Scary I know. So here's some of the mental blogging that I recalled doing these few days.
Miss Manners
A few days ago..., okay last week, I was traveling via the train back home as I routinely do. The train was packed to bursting. Being mindful of the elderly and pregnant women, I usually gladly give up my seat for them. I'd feel like a complete moron if a weak pregnant woman / elder generation stands up as compared to Julie the strong. Very snobbish of me but unless I'm sick, I'd let the needy sit when I get on public transport.
The thing is, it bothers me when people don't follow the same courtesy. What if that person is your mother/father/uncle/aunt/grandmother/grandfather who is 70 years old and has to stand in a 1 hour journey on the train? What if its you/your wife that has to stand in the same situation pregnant? People always take their privilage of having good health for granted. But when it happens to them, the whine.
Then the next thing that happened was when we were leaving the train. Some poor old women was roughly pushed away, leaving her staggering as a strong young man left the train. Being the out-spoke person that I happily am, I said, "Orang macam nie patut kena sepak (People like this should be kicked)." Mother, fearing repraisal said that I shouldn't have said that. So I asked, "What should I say than?" Nothing. How funny. I should say nothing to pethatic bullies. Of course, unlike my mother, I'd just like a moment of karate sparring with that twit.
Then I remembered that my mother frowned upon strong languages. I used to threaten to kill stupid people, after mother's nagging, I changed it to grinding people under my heels. She nags again and I said I'd kick them and to my thinking that if this cycle of nagging and changing, soon I'd be kissing my enemies.
On the other hand, there's my dad. I used to call my friends honey. Father protested. He said too pretentious. There is Hani to consider too. So I started calling my friends, darlings. Again father nagged about the inappropriateness of using such terms of endearment. Fine, nowdays I call the my dear. Folllowing the came cycle of nagging and me changing... soon, I'd be calling my friends morons.
How apt, I'd kiss my enemies and call my friends morons??!! Hmmm.... twisted.
Eid Celebration
As we do it yearly, my family invited the family friends to come over and visit. The whole troop of friends and family shall decend upon us mercilessly as we gleefully feed them. Like my parents, I enjoy stuffing people with good food. There's nothing like having people over to eat home cooked food and watch their expression of pure delight.
As the only girl in the family, I get to be the sou chef and my beloved brother, Pet, the bottle washer:) Previously, when I was still young and stubborn, I'd protest my role completely. I wanted to go and visit my friends and I didn't relish the idea of being stuck in the kitchen. When I reached the age of 12, mother started to assign me kitchen duties, so I don't get to meet the visitors. Cousins or not. Being practically a 'man' myself I vehemently protested.
But lately, mom and I reached an understanding. I do kitchen duties if she'd leave me alone on the other times. Mother hates the idea of me entertaining friends seprately from the family friends. So this year, I barely invited anyone knowing that I have to force my friends to mix with the family friends. I have my own secrets, you ken? This year I didn't even bother visiting anyone. Dad refuse to give me the car keys, citing that its dangerous for a girl to drive. Ehh...??? Never mind.
So we had the people visiting and it was nice meeting people. Except when people mentions the M word. Marriage. Like the routine, "When are you getting married? (a neighbour daughter just did.), Do you have a boyfriend?, When are you finding one?" Shees, people, I just graduated. Leave me alone. I wanna enjoy, have fun, live without additional burden and responsibilities. What makes you think I'd want to add more load on my shoulders. As it is, I'm barely managing.
Love and heart break
This one is dedicated to someone who is suffering through a heartbreak. Do you remember how it was when, one of our mutual friend was neglected by her boyfriend? We told her to let him walk away. It was during her final exams of her final semester in university. She turned around and walked away.
Later, I gritted my teeth and walked away from an abusive relationship. I looked back many times as did she on our broken relationship. Wondering if it was our fault that the relationship ended. If it was something in us that was wrong. If we could fix the relationship somehow. Wondering if we tried hard enough.
Nobody said breaking up is easy. A lot of pain and tears. We felt weak and useless. There's nothing else to say. Our footsteps were heavy. Non of us wanted to be alone. But we deserve better. I don't deserve to be abused and she didn't deserve to be ignored by someone who professed to love us. You were there for us through the worse of the tears and pain. You asked us to be strong. Now its our turn.
I ask you to be strong. Remain true to your principles. Love is about sharing not giving. The beauty of love is that you are free to love anyone. The pain of love is that the person you love have the choice on whether to love you back or not. If you are honest about your love, let him go. Let him lead the life he wants. If you hold a butterfly tightly in your hands, it will die crushed. All that left are ashes of a memory of a beautiful butterfly.
Let him go. It's time for you to turn around and walk away. Nobody said it was going to be easy. We bleed a thousand death but that is love. Letting the ones we love choose. Be strong, there's a reason all for this happening right now. Hold tight to your faith and let him go.
Nothing else to say, later....
Love,
Julie.
