:: Alas and alack ::

Its probably hard for some people to be helpful I suppose.

I called the office of the Ministry of Health on Monday the  8th. I tried since 9 a.m. but to no avail. I have tried about 5 extension numbers of the person who are in charge in Housemanship but none of them answered.   When I called the general line, the machine answered and asked me to dial my desired extension numbers. 

I asked few colleagues if Selangor was on holiday on Monday as I couldn’t understand how ‘busy’ the office of that particular unit.  So I tried another number.  Still, its the same department but a different unit.  The unit that takes care of the International or Contract HO.  I was so relieved that a lady answered the call.  Finally a human voice.  I told her that I been trying to contact the houseman unit but no one answered, she said I gotta try later since they were having a department meeting.  Fine. 

At around 2.30 p.m. I suffered the same journey.  No one answered my call, that got me to the machine and when I left message on the machine it said its full… yada yada yada...

I called again the extension number of the lady that asked me to wait till later.  I got her again.  But unlucky me, she gave me other extensions for me to call.  This is what happened:-

“Cik saya dah call unit houseman tapi sorang pun tak jawab.” I explained.

“ok saya bagi extension lain pulak” She was about to read me more numbers.

“Jangan jangan, don’t give me more extensions as I will be experiencing the same thing.  Saya nak tanya Cik one simple question saja”  I tried to ask her to help me.

 “Sorry saya tak boleh tolong.  Hanya department houseman saja boleh tolong cik”  She continued reading me more digits like 10 other extensions.

“Cik saya nak tanya pasal website KKM” I nicked her off from reading me the whole directory.

“Sorry saya tak boleh tolong”  And she cut the line off.

She really really really can't help can she?  And she didn’t even know what I wanted to ask!!!

I just wanted to know why in the Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia’s website has no Borang Maklumat Diri (BMD) for new Houseman since it has loads of other downloadable forms.

She has the ALL time to read me ALL the extension numbers but she didn’t have the time to know what my problem was.  Even if she couldn’t or wouldn’t wanna help, at least, have the courtesy to listen to my inquiry.

:: Past Imperfect, Present Tensed ::

I am at a stage where my brain wants to do something but my body says later.

Tired.  Very very tired.  I hardly being in this condition. 

I couldn’t even think straight these cuppla days.

This morning, I stopped my car in front of Alyssa’s school get out of the car without pulling the handbrake.  And the car moved and Alyssa was still in the car.  I could only hear the teachers’ voices screaming saying the car was moving.  I couldn’t even notice a thing.   I was lucky that I have a pair of long legs and managed to run back into the car, stepped on the brake pedal and pulled the handbrake .  Careless I was and this has never happened before. 

Last Thursday I was so busy that I finished my work at around maghrib.  A friend called at around 5.30, I had to make him call me again at around 6.00.  He did.  I asked him if he has performed his Asar and he said he hasn’t.  I asked him to perform his Asar first before calling me again.  And I waited and I waited, but he never called.  Before I reached home I called him from the car but he didn’t answered, I supposed he has left for the surau so I let him be.  I texted him that night but he did not reply.  I knew he was upset then. 

Without failure, still in my busy mode, I managed to call him on Friday only to find that he did not reply to my text nor return my call just because he did not want to disturb me as I have been busy.  And since then he stopped calling or texting.  And until today, I couldn’t help but to think was it that terrible that he had to decide to stop talking to me. 

Friday night I was so tired that I had a terrible gas, excessive vomiting and went flat.  I was rushed to the nearest GP and later referred to the specialist of dehydration.   Was put on 3 bottles of IV salines and peed every 5 minutes.  Man I loathe drips.

It was a difficult week for me.  Utterly.

I am like this, if I did something that upset others, it would effect my whole life.  I was thinking about this matter so hard that I neglected major things around me. 

I was so glad that nothing happened to the car especially to Alyssa.  I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if it does and the best part; her daddy would definitely file a lawsuit and charge that I’m not fit to raise her. Mati la I.   I can’t afford losing her. 

:: I don't have a title for this post ::

Mark: I wasn't asking you to come see the condo. I was asking you to move in with me. If that's what you want.

Lexie: I do.

Mark: You do?

Lexie: Yeah. Not right away.

Mark: No, of course not. Like... a year.

Lexie: 10 years.

Mark: Alright, what now?

Lexie: Oh, ah, because I'll still be a resident for like 6 more years. And then I'd wanna get my practice up and running. So, how bout 7?

Mark: How bout 5 years?

Lexie: I'll still be a resident.

Mark: So... Stevens and Karev are residents. Meredith's a resident. Bailey's a resident. All married or soon to be. And happily. Or whatever.

Lexie: I'm sorry, are you asking me to... marry you?

Mark: No... Why? Would you?

Lexie: Ah, should we be having this conversation?

Mark: No. Probably not.

Lexie: Ok...

I'm all hooked up!!!! This is the best episode of Grey's Anatomy ever!!

:: My Wish ::

I can't believe another year is over. 2009 has passed so fast. I know, that's what everybody says at the end of a year. But I feel like the older I get, the faster the years go by. And that scares me. A lot.  And even more after watching 2012.    

I wish that the year would be slowly fleeting instead, so that I could have time clear my desk.  I wanted so much to blog but I just couldn’t find time to.  I have sooo much things up here embedded in my brain but as soon as I try to type it down I did not know which story should come first that in the end I switched all off.

In the year of Jonas Brothers and vampires who don't go all the way, 2009 has in fact been a very ‘prosperous’ year for me.   It was not all rainbows and butterflies, but I am glad that things have been the way they were and even though I have made bad decisions occasionally, as a blessing in disguise, there were reasons behind all those.  Cliché.  Yeah! I know.

Well what more can a single mom like me wish for a new year except for less work and more moolahs. 

Anyhoooooo... May 2010 brings you health, wealth, hope and wealth and love and peace and wealth and happiness and ummm...have i mentioned wealth?

And to quote Rascal Flatts' "My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to, your dreams stay big, your worries stay small, you never need to carry more than you can haul."

Toodles!

:: Tak Cantik Tapi Sedap ::

More than any other given time of the year, monsoon season pulls me toward the kitchen. Maybe it's because so many of the things I love – the aroma of the spices, the cold chilly chunky meat out of the refrigerator, the sound of sizzling deep fried food -- feel synonymous with rain.

Since we have Daging Qurban flocking in the fridge I was thinking of doing something with it.  Beef Stroganoff is a perfect comfort food for the season.

I learn to cook western, from Mrs Kiffer our Alaskan next door neighbour, well actually Mommy did and I learnt most it from Mommy.  Beef Stroganoff is the family’s favourite.  It doesn’t look nice, the colour is quite dull but the taste is heavenly.  The beef, cut into hefty chunks, is flavorful, the mushrooms are tantalizing, the noodles are simple and delicious. 

I don't remember what cut of beef I used as I picked up what was available.  I think any cut that doesn't require long braising would work.

I googled out a little info about the background of the dish.  It was originally from Russia.  It has been around for several centuries, but it wasn't until the fifties that it became all the rage in the US.

Retro food strikes again!

This is how I prepared it. 

Half a kilo of beef (any cut would do but sirloin is preferable so they say)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
Corn Oil would be recommended, around 3 tbsp
1 onion, thinly sliced (you can add more if you’re into it but too much of onions would spoil the taste)
White mushrooms, sliced 1/2 inch thick or canned button mushrooms would do.  (But shitake is a no no.)
1 tbsp. mustard
1/2 cup sour cream
3 cups of beef broth (stock of sup tulang with some parsley, onions, carrots and celery)
Chopped fresh dill, for garnish (optional)
Egg noodles, cooked and kept warm (you can opt it with rice or any pasta of your likings.  It doesn’t really matter)
McCormick Dill for garnishing if you couldnt find the fresh one.

Slice beef into 2-inch-long strips. Season it with salt and pepper generously.  I normally put meet into a ziplock bag and shake it well to marinate before I cook it for about 2-3 hours.  Then you heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. Brown meat, about 1 minute per side; remove from skillet, and set aside.

In same skillet, heat remaining tablespoon oil over medium heat. You add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned about 5 mins. Add mushrooms, cover. Cook until just tender, less than 8 minutes. Add broth; simmer for less than 10 minutes.

Stir mustard into mushroom mixture in skillet. Put the beef back to skillet; cook over medium-low heat until heated through about a minute or so. Remove from heat, and stir in sour cream. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Serve immediately over egg noodles. Garnish with dill.

Voila!!! Bon Appetit!