Thursday, August 30, 2007

Selamat Menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan ke-50, Malaysia!

Cerita #1: Zaman Jepun

Waktu kecik2 dulu, aku suka korek sejarah zaman pra-merdeka daripada datuk & nenek aku. Aku tanya datuk, 'Jepun jahat ke?' dan aku tanya arwah nenek, 'Jepun ada usik nenek ke?' Datuk cerita, waktu zaman Jepun, dia masih kanak-kanak. Pergi sekolah diajar bahasa Jepun. Nyanyi pun lagu Jepun. Lagu yang paling dia ingat dan selalu nyanyikan beramai2 dengan cucu2 ialah, 'So..so..sosoji..sosoji naniwawa...' Datuk kata, orang kampung tak berani lawan Jepun dan Jepun pun takde buat apa-apa kat orang kampung.

Nenek cerita, kalau Jepun datang ke rumah mintak makanan, dia dan adik beradik perempuan akan cepat2 menyorok. Takut Jepun amik, bawak balik. Kata nenek lagi, zaman Jepun dulu, hidup orang kampung sangat susah. Nak beli kain untuk jahit baju pun tak boleh. Jadi orang kampung jahit guni untuk buat baju. Huhu. Makanan ruji cuma ubi kayu rebus.

Ada satu masa, askar orang putih datang untuk lawan Jepun. Orang kampung semua naik perahu pergi ke seberang sungai Igan yang sangat lebar tu untuk selamatkan diri. Mereka tinggal di situ selama seminggu sebelum balik semula ke rumah bila keadaan dah reda.

Cerita #2: Zaman komunis

Masa kami kecik2 dulu, mak selalu cerita tentang komunis dan pengganas. Kata mak, zaman dia masih kanak-kanak, komunis berleluasa. Pernah mak sekeluarga lari ke dalam hutan di belakang rumah sebab takutkan komunis. Pakcik mak kendong mak sambil susup-sasap lari. Nyaris-nyaris terkena tembakan. Zaman komunis pun sangat susah. Nak beli susu pun tak mampu.

Kesimpulannya, generasi aku sangat bertuah sebab lahir pasca zaman Jepun dan komunis. Aku sangat bertuah sebab dapat korek cerita lama tentang zaman sebelum merdeka. Dan aku jugak sangat bertuah sebab dapat balik ke Sarawak sempena cuti merdeka ni! :p

Selamat Menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan, rakyat Malaysia! :)

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Monday, August 27, 2007

Crazy Over Persona

There is something about Proton’s latest addition, Persona, that is charming the socks off me. Perhaps its sporty tail lights. Or its sleek interior. Or its spacious boot compartment (I am already contemplating the size of a baby stroller that can fit in that roomy boot, regardless the fact that Little Carneyz / Junaidix is not even in WIP process yet). Or the way it successfully looks posh even though it is not a posh car. In fact, to someone from middle income group like me, Persona is like BMW to someone in a higher group of income. Or maybe, it looks very much like Gen2, only better. And Suami Terchenta knows only too well how smitten I was with Gen2 (before Persona).

I am not really a demanding wife (haha, the look of outrageous on Suami Terchenta’s face just cancels that statement!). Ok, let me rephrase that statement. On most occasions, I do not demand too much. But since Persona reveals itself recently, everything changes. I can’t look at Suami Terchenta’s face without automatically asking for Persona. It just spews out of my mouth. ‘Hubby, can we get Persona? Can I get our Persona? When can I get my Persona?’ (Notice that from ‘ours’ to ‘me’) I am obsessed with that car already, it has become my car totally. Mine! MINE! MUAHAHA!

This morning, as we were driving to work, I was once again, trying to place an Imperius-like charm on Suami Terchenta to place deposit on Persona.

‘Persona.’

‘No.’

‘Persona.’

‘No.’

‘Personaaa…’ with manja2 effect.

Suami Terchenta was about to open his mouth to say no again when the radio sang:

‘Persona, Persona… Persona permata hatiku…’ Adibah Noor crooned sweetly about Persona.

We were stunned. After Kak Dibah finished crooning, I turned to Suami Terchenta and said, solemnly,

‘And that, Suami Terchenta, is a sign to buy Persona.’ :p

Suami Terchenta: Our first anniversary gift, perhaps? ;)

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Procrastinate Me

Procrastinate is my biggest habit. Procrastinate, not procreate. I mean delayed actions, not get laid actions ok. Somehow I always mixed up the word ‘procrastinate’ and ‘procreate’, as often as the word ‘eject’ and ‘ejaculate’. (Imagine telling people, ‘Please ejaculate the CD from the player.’ Huff huff. )

It has a lot to do with the fact that whatever work that I like to pro-cre-ate, I mean pro-cras-ti-nate, does not stimulate me. Intellectually, I mean.

Due to my procrastination, I now have to struggle hard to write the Project Closure Report (also known as ‘Postmortem’ report) of the event I had, like, 3 weeks ago? Wow. *Scratch nose. Usually, my memory retention can extend up to only previous 3 days, let alone try to remember every details that happened 21 days ago. *Bang head on the keyboard over and over again.

P/S: 6.30pm: I’m still half-way ploughing through that stupid report. Dammit. I hate writing reports.

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Monday, August 20, 2007

Berkelah di Tasik Titiwangsa

Demi merealisasikan impian Suami Terchenta kami untuk duduk di bawah pokok sambil mendengar radio mp3, maka hujung minggu lepas kami telah pergi berkelah di bawah pokok Krismas. Pokok Krismas, tau! Huhu...

Petang tu, kami bertungkus-lumus di dapur menyiapkan nasi lemak. Lauk biasa-biasa je. Ayam goreng, ikan kering goreng, nasi lemak, sambal dan timun. Dalam sejam je, dah siap. Lepas Asar, kami pun bertolak ke Tasik Titiwangsa.

Dengan semangat berkobar-kobar dan nasi lemak panas2 di seat belakang, kami mengharungi traffic jam yang sangat dahsyat dan hujan rintik2. Setengah jam kemudian, kami park kereta dan terus bawak bakul dan tikar mencari tempat yang sesuai untuk landing. Nasib baik hujan dah berenti, cuma cuaca nampak agak mendung dengan angin sepoi2 bahasa. Suami Terchenta mencadangkan kami duduk di bawah pokok yang rendang.

Lihat MP3 player dengan speaker yang comel tu, sedang mendendangkan lagu sambil kami menjamu selera!

Suami terchenta duduk di bawah pokok sambil melantak nasi lemak dan dengar radio dengan suka-ria

Aku tak pedulikan suami terchenta tengah amik gambar, meneruskan usaha menikmati nasi lemak

Santai lepas melantak sampai licin...

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Sunday, August 12, 2007

Hadiah Dari Suami Terchenta!

Semalam, masa kami berjalan-jalan cuci mata di Jalan TAR, aku telah berhasil menyambar beberapa barang yang dah lama dalam shopping list aku, iaitu:

1. Sehelai tudung warna coklat, jenis kain cotton (sebab aku tak suka kain yang lembut sangat dan susah nak dipakai)- RM8 (walaupun aku pujuk2 akak tu untuk kurangkan harga, dia langsung tak berminat! Lepas ni tak nak beli kat kedai dia lagi. Huhu...!)

2. Kain untuk buat lining baju di Kamdar - RM8.50 / meter, 10% discount. Total, RM30+.

3. Brooch tudung lagi (RM10 untuk 4 biji). Apsal aku punya brooch selalu tercabut / patah? Musykil aa...

dan,

4. Cadar katil (RM50) di Kamdar - sangat murah dan cantik!

Tapi, dengan tak tersangkanya, Suami Terchenta bermurah hati membelikan aku sebuah handbag memandangkan satu2nya handbag aku sekarang dan uzur dan koyak-rabak.

Inilah rupa handbag yang dihadiahkan oleh Suami Terchenta:

Aku sangat heart beg ini! :D

Beg ini sangat best sebab:

1. Poket depan untuk simpan handphone supaya bila Suami Terchenta call, tak perlu tercari2 dalam handbag 😜 Suami Terchenta selalu bising sebab aku tak sempat angkat call memandangkan kena cari2 dalam beg lama tu.

2. Cukup besar utk simpan buku, diari, dan kain telekung. Tapi tak terlalu besar untuk dibawa ke mana2.

3. Ada banyak compartment untuk organise barang2 di dalam handbag supaya senang dicari.

lastly,

4. Harganya cuma RM40! Bukan RM400 atau RM4000 tau!

Apapun, terima kasih kepada Suami Terchenta sebab belikan handbag baru untuk isteri terchenta ni :) Muacks!

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Sunday, August 12, 2007

Resipi Beef Steak

Finally! Minggu ni kami boleh lepak2 di rumah macam pasangan suami isteri yang lain. Tak ada lagi sesi drama swasta minggu ni. Stop! Bila teringatkan minggu lepas, aku terus rasa sakit jantung. Baik aku lupakan sahaja. Weekend ni untuk lepak2 sambil masak2 dan shopping2.

Bercerita pasal masak2, hari ini lunch kami ialah 'Beef Steak'. Resipinya sangat mudah:

Beef Steak (resipi mak)

• Kepingan daging lembu steak (Australian beef kat Giant - 4 keping daging harga RM6+)
• Sebiji telur (sederhana besar)
• Sos tomato
• Kicap manis
• Lada hitam
• Bawang besar dicincang halus
• Tomato segar, dihiris
• Mentega (utk menggoreng)

Langkah2:

1. Campurkan telur, sos tomato, kicap manis sampai sebati, pastu gaulkan daging. Gaulkan sekali dengan lada hitam (black pepper). Perap selama 1 jam.
2. Panaskan kuali, masukkan satu sudu mentega untuk menggoreng daging, goreng daging sampai masak. Angkat dan ketepikan. Masukkan 1 sudu mentega lagi, goreng bawang cincang sampai wangi, masukkan lebihan sos untuk perap daging tadi, kacau2 sekejap dan biarkan mereneh dalam satu minit sampai jadi sedikit pekat. Masukkan semula daging, gaul dalam sos steak dan angkat.
3. Sedia untuk dimakan dengan kentang goreng dan hirisan tomato segar! Kalau nak makan ngan jagung bakar atau kentang dibakar dalam kulit pun boleh gak tapi kiteorang just guna bahan2 yang ada kat rumah je. Yummy!

p/s: Gambar takde sebab dah lapar sangat so ngap je, tak sempat pun beef steak tu nak posing2! :p

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Friday, August 10, 2007

Resignation, postponed

I wanna go back to France! I miss France so much! I miss Paris! I miss Caines! I miss Monaco! I miss taking the dingy Metro! I miss quatre fromage pizza!

Unfortunately though, makcik is still stuck here at work.

The day after I vented my frustration at my company, I tendered my resignation letter. My boss wasn’t too surprised because we had talked, schemed and even discussed deeply about how we will quit from this ‘neraka’ as what my friend Jen described her previous company :p He asked when is it most likely for me to pluck up my courage & inform the most-feared Trump about my decision to leave the company. I asked to give me some time to prepare myself for the ‘storm’ that Trump will create.

When it comes to Trump’s reaction, I am wise enough to know that I have to be fully prepared mentally, emotionally & physically for that. I tell you, Trump is scary not just because he can shout, but the mere presence of him will bring fear to your heart even before you know who he is. He is definitely scarier than me when I’m in my foullest mood.

However, before I can put my plan into action, a friend earnestly talked me out of this. She pointed out that why, after three quarter of the year slogging myself over work like gila, I want to pass up the chance of getting annual bonus? Shouldn’t I wait for a couple of months to receive the bonus which will come Raya time, to at least compensate for the work-like-want-to-die situations I’ve put myself through? Then only, after safely securing the bonus in my account, I can hand in my resignation letter?

‘Friend, I know you cannot tahan already but you deserve that annual bonus ok. So hang on for a couple more months ye, makcik. Mana tau ko boleh dapat performance bonus gak. Lagi berbaloi… anyway, I advise you friend, if you want to leave, might as well leave richer.’

Am I not lucky to have this kind of friend?

So, I heeded her advice and retracted my letter. In the meantime, I can only take a deeeeeeepppppp breath and hang on. Hang on for dear life. 2 bulan lagi. 2 bulan lagi… 2 bulan lagi…

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Monday, August 06, 2007

What You Call This, The Breaking Point

There's something wrong with the place I work with.

We worked ourselves to a point of oblivion, of unlimited exhaustion, through sleepless nights and hunger - for the sake of this company.

What did the company repay us with?

A pat in the back? A note of approval? 'Well done, guys!' remarks? A toast to our efforts? A 'thank you' speech? Anything to acknowledge what we have done to suffer our mental, emotional and physical health?

I tell you all this. All of it. No. Let me stress that out. NOOOOOOO.

What we got instead were:

1. 'I was never informed. That was a stupid plan. That was a stupid way to make decision. I was not involved.' --> by the A***** manager. Oh great. And what was the reason I updated him and all other managers in their stupid morning meetings? To pass the time? Because I like attending their hot air meetings?

2. 'Nothing for the committee. It's part of their jobs to carry out this event.' I may not end up in HR after spending 4 years studying motivation, team work, all those HR ideologies - but I still keep this firmly in mind.

Why does UTM, a university that focused on engineering studies, have HR as part of its faculties? Because HR, is an engineering of a different kind. HRD (a.k.a training & human development) is about human engineering. Human resource is the most valuable resource a company has, but most often, the most neglected. When a machine breaks down, most companies spare no expenses to fix it. But when staff breaks down, nothing is done to improve the situation.

I'm not asking for a plaque each for everyone. Neither am I pushing for monetary rewards. I'm asking for meals for the committee. A t-shirt as a way to acknowledge that they are in-charge. Nothing of this sort was approved. Because the company does not want to waste. Is this considered wastage?

3. 'I want this to be done annually.' (Ask the committee to do this again. without any rewards) This is the biggest problem I have with this company. Good job, is rewarded with, well, more work.

You know what? Do it yourself. I'm done and through with the company's attitude. I think the management doesn't understand their staff, nor do they care much about us. I'm so over with slaving myself for nothing.

I'm quitting.

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Thursday, August 02, 2007

If I Have The Money...

... I want to buy a notebook for my brother and a super notebook for my hubby.

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Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Snowed Under Work Avalanche!

Trump has a new nickname. Daddy-o.

Me to my assistant:

'Eh, ask your Daddy-o to approve t-shirt for all committee members since you're his favourite daughter.'

Again, me to my assistant:

'Daddy-o almost made me stay back and go to JB only on the eve of the event. Now he asks me to do some working paper.'

WWWWWHHHHYYYYY DADDDYY-OOOOO?? Can't you see I'm busy organising an event????

Talking about the event made me stressed out again. First, it was a depressing problem of short of participations. All of a sudden yesterday, we were bombarded with so many last-minute registrations that we run out of space. Apparently, the news release came out in local dailies ONLY YESTERDAY. Didn't we submit the news release like, last week?

In between updating participants' list, and answering calls from frantic interested parties, and other stuffs, Daddy-o asked me to do extra works pulak.

'Prepare a letter to Dato' R, cc to Datuk Sri E. Before you go to JB, I want it.'

Because Daddy-o wants the letter today before lunch and the draft for the working paper within the same day, I am still up sprawled amidst documents of past minutes of meetings, reports that don't make sense and eyes that crave for sleep.

Note to self: I.must.hand.in.letter.soonest. Period.

The End:

(Daddy-o introducing me to his guest, 'This is my most hardworking staff.' Hardworking je??! Oh yeah, I forgot. The intelligent label already goes to the Chairman earlier. I hate you, Chairman because you are labeled intelligent and yet, do not have to do Trump's chores).

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