yay.. I can blog using my cell

currently on the way to klang for seafood with The Man's family

Updates of Who is Who in the House

Name: AzamZikry
Name in this blog: Azeuchry / The Kiddo
Latest achievement(s): Successfully complete four days of orientation to pre school. With tears for the whole four days. Sleeping in my own room, in my new Spiderman bed, with Mommy by my side or Daddy on the floor or both of them around.
Current craze: Ben-10 and the whole of Play House Disney Channel back-to-back.
I couldn’t stand: Mommy and Daddy hugging each other.
Hobby: Pick up the remote and press 6,1,3.
Current fashion update: Anything that I pick.
Biggest thing happening in my life in the past seven days: Pre school and getting my mommy tag me like a dog the whole two hours of the orientation.
Biggest thing happening in my life for the past 12 hours: Seeing my mommy screamed to me in the bathroom like a mad woman after I threw up a big tantrum during gardening session.
Motto of Life: My mommy is mine! She should stay with me! Back off! Yes, Anna, darling, we can share her for two minutes yaa. Then she is mine for another two hours.



Name: Anna Zahirah
Name in this blog: Anna
Latest achievement: I can crawl! I love mushy mashed apple in the morning. I love blended rice and chicken.
Current craze: Play House Disney Channel. Songs only.
Current fashion update: All the good girl tops Mommy bought for me. (without bottoms)
Biggest thing happening in my life in the past seven days: Getting confused. Is mommy working or what? One minute she’s in then one minute she’s outta door then she’s back then she’s outta door again.
Biggest thing happening in my life for the past 12 hours: I started to like rice.
Hobby: Smile like an angel when my mommy passed me by and screamed when she walked pass without holding me. Then smile again when the Maid picks me up. You see. Smile is my hobby.
Motto of Life: I am a patient girl. I smile patiently. Patience is my middle name.


Name: az_Mady
Name in this blog: The Man
Latest achievement: I can finish up the garden I designed a year ago.
Current craze: Making videos of my own sister’s wedding picture.
Current fashion update: A tiger-eye ring my wife got me for my anniversary.
Biggest thing happening in my life in the past seven days: My kids got sick then my wife got sick then she slept for two whole days and nights and expected me to do things that can make her feel better but I really didn’t know what. Then when she is finally well, she dragged me along to shop. Thank god the Flu hit her for the two days straight or else the two weeks will be spent in every malls available around.
Biggest thing happening in my life for the past 12 hours: Waiting outside habibSewel for almost one hour.
Hobby: Photography. Mostly picture of my own Sister’s wedding. Which was heavily funded by my parents. Then picture of my own daughters. Then my own son. My wife can hold the baby and the son when she is free from the breast pump, or at least distract the baby and the son for me to get nice shots. Picture of my wife? Nahh… she can have her picture taken when I took her for anniversary dinner at 282-m level KL Tower where I had a blissful evening taking KL’s scenery.
Motto of Life: I am a simple man. I sketched a simple garden design. I made things work.

Name: ai_sha
Name in this blog: me
Latest achievement: I never knew I could be cured from a heavy flu without an antibiotic.
Current craze: facebook.
Current fashion update: an MNG purple top.
Biggest thing happening in my life in the past seven days: My kids got sick then i got sick then I slept for two whole days and nights and expected the Man to do things that can make me feel better but he really didn’t know what. Then when I am finally well, I dragged him along to shop. Biggest thing happening in my life for the past 12 hours: Roaming the habibSewel for almost one hour. Being beaten over a salary negotiation with my maid.
Hobby: Getting bored of photography.
Motto of Life: I live to shop. And breastfeed. And cling wrap to my son. I live for my kids.

Name: yuniar
Name in this blog: theMaid
Latest achievement: I beated my stupid employer in a salary negotiation. Gi mana ni kak!
Current craze: Top up credit.
Current fashion update: Caterburry shirt owned by my male boss that his wife thought he didn’t want anymore and handed over to me.
Biggest thing happening in my life in the past seven days: Got my RM100 salary increment. Biggest thing happening in my life for the past 12 hours: Got my bonus promised..
Hobby: Getting food cook before my employer comes down. Getting her bras washed in the washing machine and watched her funny face turned red when seeing the crooked wired bra.
Motto of Life: Gi mana ni kak!

Negotiation So-Called

I am ashamed.

My boss shall be ashamed, too.

I am in the Price Nego Committee, who determines the price of about 50% of the *utility* cost in Peninsular of Malaysia. I shall say that the Committee is indeed very prestigious, contains only the Senior Manager and above, and very highly confidential. Only me and my colleagues are kucing kurap.

I worked damn hard for the Committee and scored very good points when presenting ideas to them.

But I did bad in the recent negotiation with my own maid. Read. My Own Maid.

Damn.

Well, let's see.

She has been bugging me and the Man about pay increase from RM450 to Rm550. We wanted to settle at RM510, she maintained at RM550.

So I say this morning, okay with RM550 but no bonus.

She hagged me on and on about bonus. And I left the meeting with her feeling very satisfied because she is getting it!!
Geramnya.

Did I do market study before meeting her?
No.
She pushed me away when I said no other maid is getting a bonus. She said well this one got, this other got, I got, so why couldn't she get it.

Did I use the back door that 'we shall see what the Board says'?
No.
I always said, i'll check on with the Encik but this time, she knew what the Encik can give.

Did I use the average cost technique that will let her see the bigger picture?
No.
Damn me.

And a lot other things that I use in the negotiation meeting went unutilized with the simple-thinking Indonesian maid.

She walked away happily with RM550 (that is a RM100 increase from last year salary) and a promise of a yearly bonus.

Well, I did say no salary increase for another two years.
Points for me.
She said well she could stay another three years.

Well, I did say no to free flight ticket home.
Points for me.
She said well she is not going back for another three years.

I am a bad, bad, negotiator.

The company shall not hire me, no more.

Update of Mi Vida

Some update of my life :

1. Been busy with Shaniza and Nic's wedding.
I worked extremely hard to make sure that Nic's family feel welcomed during both the event of Nikah at Home and the Reception at the Banquet Hall.
Both Mama (mom in law) and me had just noticed how controlling Shaniza was. Everything, she must lay her hands on. Everything that we do, she'll screamed on why the flowers must be arranged that way, the pins that way. Mama however played cool and bo-layan saja her fuss. After all, things need to get done.

2. Been busy re arranging my Johannesburg's trip.
Was supposed to take place last month but Baie spent one whole week with his dying father. I'm glad he did. Told him many times that very rare , we got the opportunity to send our parents to the grave.
Allah, give me enough time and opportunities to be with mom and dad when their time are near. Give me enough chance to make them happy.
So, go back to my Joburg trip, will be flying off this Saturday and come back on Friday. Urghh... six days without the kids. I 'll be dead!

3. Been busy monitoring the Unit Trust prices.
The prices are getting low, low, low and it is the best time to invest. I purchased three new funds and been greedily pumping money into the funds.

4. Work like always , macam tu. But the commodity prices are getting the impact of the U.S financial crisis. I am having fun grinning at the prices getting lower and lower.

5. Been laughing at Ida the drama queen. Malas nak buka cerita ngumpat ngumpat orang ni but I couldnt' care less about whatever she'll feel if i said this or that. Yang penting , kerja jalan. Importante, work gets done.

6. Been getting slap-on-my-face during the weekly department meeting on all the undone contracts. Urgh!

7. Anna is now getting prettier! And taller! All the pyjamas are getting shorter and I have more excuses to go out and shop.

8. Gained 2 more kgs. Urgh!

9. Hubby is now away for a stupid Biro Tata Negara.

10. Thinking hard of cutting my hair shorter. Like Rihanna. What say you guys?

Anna Zahirah My Beautiful Princess

Anna Zahirah

Shaniza and Nic at Banquet Hall

Bunch of Papa's classmates when he was in India for his second degree. They have not met for how many donkey years and so there they were during the wedding, wiping tears and hugging each other.

Conversation took place.
Me: (HandingPapa a glass of ice lemon tea after him standing there for almost two hours greeting the guests)
Papa: (Gulped down). Thank you
Me: Nasib baik la ada menantu baik macam ni kasi papa minum. If not, you would have not drank for all day long sampai balik rumah.
Papa: Tu lah. Semoga lepas ni papa dapat la lagi menantu yang baik macam ni. (looking at lynn, charlie's girlfriend with a smile).

After broking up with the fiance last four years, Charlie finally found himself a replacement. Yang ni ok lah, whenever she was around, she didn't look like she didn't wanna be there like Afifa (the tunang tak jadi). Look like she has brain (an indication of what we felt otherwise of Afifa kakah). But one thing that my Mom In law was fuming about it's the fact that both Charlie and Lynn were melekat together like glue all day long. Mama was furious, sampai lupa nak marah kitorang on the pregnant maid.

I know. This should be bigger but my Windows Photo Manager didn't turn out to be very friendly (or me wasn't being very clever eh). This is the altar where both my dear sis in law Shaniza and her dear husband Nic were seated.

These are the flower girls. My job to put the make up on them. These left two didn't have much problem. Their skins were flawless. The middle one had uneven skin which is not really a problem because I managed to patch them up. But the eye lashes were long and winding (now I know where Azeuchry got his) and putting mascara to it was a huge mistake. The right two were fair, quite pale. So I dusted along MAC NC42 to tan them up.

Me on the wedding day. The selendang did look pretty eh. (Sebab rambut dah 5 hari tak berbasuh kakakah). The pink kurung was a gift from my mom in law. Get it tailored at Arena Boutique where she saw (what is the past tense of sew ek? saw? sewn? ntah) pearls (read: PEARLS) and clustered beads. Costed me RM100 for the beading but puas hati gila.


The reception was done at Banquet Hall, UPM.

Nikah Shaniza and Nic

This is my dad, Apak and my father in law, Papa. My dad's glasses look funky eh. Aku pun tak perasan spek mata dia ada kaler kaler macam ni.
Charlie and Lynn. Mama said right away after the event, Charlie told Ma that he wanted to get married next year. Cess.. penat berdiri wedding si Shaniza tak abis, ada satu lagi....?!?! But I'm happy for them. Elok lah tu.. berkepit jeeee.... naik panas mata tengok. (Tapi kang korang kata aku jeles tengok orang belum kawin berkepit pulakk)
This is the bride and the groom. Shaniza and Nic.

Nic's parents. Both of them shed tears after the nikah. Me, tak perasan sebab tengah makan nasi lemak at kitchen. Lapar siot.

Spree!

Like a bird flying away from the cage, I roamed Megamall. Like a free vampire, I swiped the Visa like nobody business and returned home, refusing to look at all the receipts I accumulated.

However, as a responsible financial advisor to my Man and also the future Prospects, I am hereby listing down the expenses with all the grudges and hesitation and embarassment. (Ambik kau)

1. Azam's Sweater (always start with the kid's. It'll make me like a super duper excellent mom)RM50.
2. Anna's Bonnet (well, can't blame me. She does look like a boy without hair, so putting up a new bonnet makes her look pretty and like-a-girl)RM15
3. Carlo Rino new handbag (which can fit my breast pump and my note book, which justifying me as again a super duper excellent breastfeeding mom ) RM300
4. Shoes (well strike this off because I held back my wallet and quickly walked out from the Clarks) RM280
5. Zara. Black tight skirt RM139.00
6. Zara. A pair of nicely fitted black pants RM199.00
7. Panty hose RM25.00
8. BodyShop foundation brush RM60)

Total (urghh!) RM790.00


I'm going to bed! I'm going to bed!!

(oh sungguh perit kenyataan ini)

Azuechry had fever for two days on Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday evening, he started throwing up and purging water out of his skinny body. He slept and suddenly woke up, projectiling large thick mucus out from his drying two lips.

On Thursday, we checked him out at a paed clinic at Az-Zahrah. Dr. Nazim admitted him. He wobbled while the Paed poked a little tiny syringe into his body but acted brave and all-strong.

We went into the ward where they put him drip. When the Man finished up his HOU meeting, we swapped placees while I went to finish up my BTC paper. I spent the whole night at the ward. He threwed up in his sleep. Once. One whole night was spent iin the bed without any single drop of milk nor food. Poor darling.

Friday morning. The Man had to take the Maid to the Indonesian embassy. I went home to nurse Anna and my sister Yanto went over to the ward to accompany him.

Both mommy and daddy went to the hospital around 3 in the afternoon. He saw uswalking out from the car and waited for us patiently. But Mommy didn't go upstairs. Mommy went in the OutpatientCenter to get some drip into her body.

Turned out to be that I caught his bacteria, too. I was purging water out from the body. The doctor wanted to get me admitted but I refused. So they put me on drip for two hours after injecting Maxolon and Buscopan to my butt.

I went home right after two hours. Azeuchry was already home laughing away at me. Both of us limped in front of the flat screen.

Macam Tu Lah Period!

Been having droplets of blood. Little stain on the panty. Since Last Saturday. One tiny droplet every ehmm about 36 hours. Figured out less fluid in my body must have induced that.

Been fasting. Been performing Solat.

When on the sixth day, I decided to call up Gart and she simply screamed, "Macam tu lah period orang breastfeeding!".

Feel bodoh.

Next day, gulped down a big glass of water early at 7:00 a.m., and a glass of nescaffee at Work.

For Thou , Ramadan

Figured out that Ramadan is the best month to start new habit, to become a new person, a better person.
Figured out that Ramadan is not the only month to curb our hunger, our thirst, but 'our hunger for world's possession'.

So, here is THE list.

I vow that in the whole month of the noble Ramadhan...

1. I shall not buy new lipsticks or new eye colors.
2. I shall not buy any more bottles of parfum.
3. I shall not eat at expensive hotel buffets.
4. I shall try to drink unsweetened water.
5. I shall dress below my knee.
6. I shall not use my MasterCard or Visa.
7. I shall read the Quran (at least the Fatihah) to Azeuchry once a day.

Forgive Me For Waiting

Looks like I suddenly have extra hours at office, doing my usual blog hopping after a session of 5-oz expression.

Thing is, I got piles to complete.

But the tender evaluation committee is sitting and as soon as they are finish, I will buzzing through for the memo to NumeroUno. NUmeroUno has set up tomorrow's 17:30 for the bids to be presented. Absurd but doable.

I am agitatedly but patiently waiting.

But what took them so long?!?!

Beat The System

two hundred billions over worth of contract gets done in less than 8 days.

We got the approval from NumeroUno on Friday 17:30. Preparing the tender documents and invitation letter.
Fax them on Saturday.
Closing today Wednesday.
Evaluating them straight away.
Concluding them tonight.
Presenting to NumeroUno and the bunch of Commttee tomorrow at 17:30.

Awarding latest by Friday.

See? If you know how to important is your tender, you'll work your ass hard and beat the snail system.

"That's why I am paid the million bucks", Cameron Diaz in the Holiday.

...Sponging away all the pressure for him

Well it is not true anyway.

He has a lot more pressure than anyone else now.

He is not being appreciated from my Number 1.

Numero Uno has just started trusting him and it was such a difficult situation to work under a person who simply doesn't trust you.

It is not fair for me to say that I am sponging away all the pressure for him.
Because I am not.

I am really having a hate-respect-hate-love relationship with this guy eh.

What Will I Be If I Am Not A **** Manager.

1. Lactation consultant.
I can be a good listener, a good consultant and plus, who can understand a lot more about the heartache of breastfeeding if not the person itself?

2. Full time blogger.
My grammar is here and there and nobody checks my spelling but I am real GOOD when it comes to EXPRESSING EMOTION.

3. Datuk Azalina's Othman Fashion Consultant.
Needless say more. She needs one.

4. Unit Trust Consultant.
I just pass the Exam, people! I believe in the Shariah-based fund truly and I had a very good intention to start, that is to find a blessed source of investment.

5. Coal and Shipping Contract Advisor for M**lak**of Berhad.
Well, heard that they are looking for one and who is experienced enough to draft templates for these two? Me, the uncertified lawyer.

And yet, my loyalty is still with my Number 2.

Unless he asks me to sponge other people's shits.

That's Why He Calls Me His SpongeBob!

I'm going to bitch. (I know under 18 reads my blog, but I am bitching anyway!)

My Number 2 is a human who never stop believing in developing man.

He can put anyone he likes in the team because he knows I'll absorb the pressure. I will always stay here to make sure that the business is uninterrupted. I am always here to provide him facts whenever he goes to see Numero Uno.

And he can put person as undecisive as nooras in the team. Why? Because I'll be sponging away all the tasks of making decision.

And he can put person as degil as Rose's husband in the team. Why? Because I'll be the one who does the work for Number 2 when Rose's husband walk away stubbornly from a meeting room, refusing to write the bloody damn paper.

And he can put person as childish as INI in the team. Why? Because when she walks away to let the steam off from the office, I'll be the one who compiles all the data required and runs like headless chicken around to find them.

That 's why he calls me his Spongebob.

Cause that is what I do. Sponging away all the pressure for him

The Husband

There is another part of the story but am writing the first half of it.

Conversation revolves around Numero Uno and My Number 2.

Numero Uno: We should send someone as our representative to do the lobbying.
Number 2: Then we should send our Chief Lobbyist for this.
Numero Uno: That's too high. Anyone from your office?
Number 2: Hmm
Numero Uno: HOw about that guy? Rose's husband?
Number 2: Who? Rose?
Numero Uno: Yeah.. that looks like mat salleh a bit. Rose's husband (two times).
Number 2: Okay.

Well, The Man and I work in the same Group but I definitely don't want anyone to know him as Clipper's Husband!

Malu siot.

Who and Who

At Home.

The Man: The Man whom I married 6 years ago. Who has one eye with double lid and the other not. Whose waist size is getting larger. Whose head is the sexiest (when it is bald, I think). Who is a great listener. Who keeps me grounded and pulls me from la-la land. Whose caress on my not-so-love hair made me feel like crying and smiling both at the same time.

Azeuchry: The first baby. The angel of my life. The first time I feel that there is a reason why God created me. And the reason is him.

Anna: My first princess. Smiles the loveliest. Laughs and simply makes me out-of-this-world. Humbly and patiently waiting for my hugs, and kisses, every single time she catches glances of me.


At Work.

Numero Uno : CEO of the Group.
Very sharp. He knows figures at his fingertips. When it was announced that he's getting 100% increment, I silently think he deserves it and loudly protest on why is he not sharing it with the rest.
When he fires you, you'll feel that his eyes get smaller and his shoulders balloon up, just like a katak kembong.

Number 1 : MD of my Company who is wholly owned by the Group.
He has the shortest span of attention.
He has the need for more love in the world.

Number 2 : My lovely GM whose brain is the smartert and shoes the ugliest.
I love this guy to bits.
He is the reason I have the highest tolerance among the rest, wiser and brighter.
Sometimes butterfly dances in my tummy when he strikes a fight with anyone, but I know he is just doing what he is supposed to be doing.
He is the reason I am staying.
..at least for now..

The PM Rode The Train !

One of the things that I am proud of the ol-man!