the pics i promised

these are to complement the videos i took the other day :

check this out.
warning : it can be very addictive and frustrating. have fun

the waiter and the spoon

pics are being edited. for now, enjoy this :

Last night, I went with some friends out to a new restaurant, and noticed that the waiter who took our order carried a spoon in his shirt pocket. It seemed a little strange. When the busboy brought our water and utensils, I noticed he also had a spoon in his shirt pocket. Then I looked around I saw that all the staff had spoons in their pockets.
When the waiter came back to serve our soup I asked, "Why the spoon?"
"Well," he explained, "the restaurant's owners hired a consulting firm to revamp all our processes. After several months of analysis, they concluded that the spoon was the most frequently dropped utensil. It represents a drop frequency of approximately 3 spoons per table per hour. If our personnel are better prepared, we can reduce the number of trips back to the kitchen and save 15 man-hours per shift."
As luck would have it, I dropped my spoon and he was able to replace it with his spare. "I'll get another spoon next time I go to the kitchen instead of making an extra trip to get it right now."
I was impressed!
I also noticed that there was a string hanging out of the waiter's fly.
Looking around, I noticed that all the waiters had the same string hanging from their flies. So before he walked off, I asked the waiter, "Excuse me, but can you tell me why you have that string right there?"
"Oh, certainly!" Then he lowered his voice. "Not everyone is so observant... That consulting firm I mentioned also found out that we can save time in the restroom. By tying this string to the end of our "you know what", we can pull it out without touching it and eliminate the need to wash our hands, shortening the time spent in the restroom by 76.39 percent."
"Hhmmm...After you get it out, how do you put it back?" I asked
"Well," he whispered, "I don't know about the others... but I use the spoon."
HAHAH!!!

watch at your own discretion

what you are about to watch will be a little disturbing, to say the least.
i was greatly disturbed when i saw what was happening, this being my first time watching a live performance of the kuda kepang. if your are pregnant, i would suggest you not play the video.








these are all the videos i got to take before the phone memory got full.
pictures will have to wait. i lost the usb cables and the forgot to bring back the one and only cable that i use in the office.

i'm ok, thank you

thank you to those who asked. i'm fine, Alhamdulillah.
like i mentioned, it's just the unbalanced hormones in me. i really don't know why i felt like that.
anyway, yesterday was one of those days you call 'hari bodoh'.
i didn't plan on what to bring for lunch so had to go out. the day started off with a nice cool rainy day. so, lunchtime i decided it was still cool enough to keep the jacket on. bad mistake there. i was almost melting with the heat before the bus came. it was too late to go back to change so next plan was to walk without stopping or looking anywhere except when needed.
therefore, yesterday was the record time i stayed out during lunchtime. took the 12.15pm bus out and came back in the 1pm bus.
next time, remind me to look out the window before leaving the cold office. haha...
today, one part of the additional load is over. the other part will be at the end of this month. hopefully i do well enough to pass. could be a new career line for me, maybe ;-)

announcement

anybody willing to donate 2 NDP or preview tickets please let me know.
thank you.

what is wrong with me?

i don't know why, but PMS is hitting really hard this month.
the news i'm hearing is so not helping at all either. nevermind, don't ask what the news is/are. i don't want to share it/them.
i'm grateful that my life is on track. i'm not down in the dumps (yet), but i really can't help feeling down, especially after what i got to know of last night. (no, the fact that france lost the world cup is NOT making me feel this way. i'm not that fanatic a football fan. just watch the world cup for the spirit of the game, that's all.)
sometimes some news just hits you right smack in you face that it literally stops you right there. makes you think if the decision you've made is really the right one or not. the many what ifs questions starts forming in your head.
ok, now i'm getting even more confused. have to go n chill the only way i know that will help............

too bad

ok, france lost. it was so disappointing.
i'll be waiting for the next one then.

ole! ole!

yes!! my (second) prediction came true.
let's see if my prediction for the finals come true. not going to say it here just yet.
will have to see if i'll have to eat up my words or not.
the initial prediction of a Germany vs Brazil in the final match apparently didn't materialise after the kings of samba were sent home.
didn't regret the less than 2 hrs sleep i got last night. was worth the wait.

hanging in there

one more paper and i'm done...NOT!!
there's still the additional load i decided to take up a few months ago. it's as important too.
this has got to be the most loaded year for me. on the bright side, i'm doing something i want to do. if i don't make it, at least i've tried.
live life with no regrets. whatever you choose, the important thing is, IT'S YOUR DECISION. don't do it just because everyone else is doing it.
ok, now i'm just rambling. ignore me. i'm just too overwhelmed. heh!

it's today?

panic mode : ON.
i'm not prepared. help!!

can't get this out of my head

i don't know why but i just can't seem to get this song out of my system.

The Search is Over by Survivor

How can I convince you what you see is real
Who am I to blame you for doubting what you feel
I was always reachin', you were just a girl I knew
I took for granted the friend I have in you

*I was living for a dream,
Loving for a moment
Taking on the world,
That was just my style
Now I look into your eyes
I can see forever,
The search is over
You were with me all the while*

Can we last forever, will we fall apart
At times it's so confusing, these questions of the heart
You followed me through changes, and patiently you'd wait
Till I came to my senses, through some miracle of fate

( * Repeat)

Now the miles stretch out behind me loves that I have lost
Broken hearts lie victims of the game
Then good luck it finally stuck like lightning from the blue
Every highway leading me back to you
Now at last I hold you, now all is said and done
The search has come full circle, our destinies are one
So if you ever loved me show me that you give a damn
You'll know for certain the man I really am

( * Repeat)

i feel all queasy and get goosebumps when i hear the song. having it on my mp3 playlist doesn't help at all. actually 2 words would describe this feeling very well : POST PMS.
i take no responsibility of how i feel. it's all the fault of the hormones in me. bleagh!!

tale of a rabbit

enjoy the story :
A rabbit was hopping through the forest when he came upon a giraffe rolling a joint. The rabbit said, "Giraffe, don't do drugs. Come, run with me through the forest." The giraffe looked at the rabbit, then at the joint. He dropped the joint and ran off with the rabbit.
They came upon an elephant snorting cocaine. The Rabbit said, "Elephant, don't do drugs. Come, run with us through the forest." The elephant looked at his razor blade and mirror, tossed them away and began running with the rabbit and giraffe.
The three animals then came across a lion about to shoot up.The Rabbit said "Lion, don't do drugs. Come, run with us through the forest." The lion looked at the rabbit and then at the needle. He put down the needle and started to beat up the rabbit.

Horrified, the giraffe and elephant asked, "Lion, why are you doing this? He was trying to help you." The lion answered, "This little f*cker? He makes me run around the forest like a f**king idiot every time he's on ecstasy."

personality test

i don't normally upload tests i take here, but i find this test interesting enough:

ISTJ - "Trustee". Decisiveness in practical affairs. Guardian of time- honored institutions. Dependable. 11.6% of total population.

Take Free Jung Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Main type	Variant

Take Free Enneagram Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Enneagram Test Results Type 1 Perfectionism 63% Type 2 Helpfulness 60% Type 3 Image Awareness 16% Type 4 Sensitivity 23% Type 5 Detachment 80% Type 6 Anxiety 63% Type 7 Adventurousness 60% Type 8 Aggressiveness 60% Type 9 Calmness 70% Your main type is 5 Your variant is social

Take Free Enneagram Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

note : Keep in mind, your results are dependent on the accurate truth of your responses. The more you take this test and get the same result, the more likely that is your type. Finally, your scores and type, over the long term, will change as you do.

where's my discipline??

i should be studying now. exams are coming and i've not done any serious cramming yet.
what's got my attention now is the world cup matches. i don't normally watch soccer but every 4 years since 1998, i've been sort of keeping up with the games.
ok, 2nd game for the day (night for us here) is coming up right about now. enjoy the game :)

lunch

from tomorrow, i'll (try to) pack my own lunch.
just bought lunch from the cafeteria and i don't feel like eating it in the first place. the only reason i bought lunch was i had to eat. now that i'm back in the office with the packed lunch, i don't feel like opening it.
it's not good to say this about food, but i'm a very, very, very fussy eater. i'm minimising refined food from my diet. the thing about this is no food establishments in a normal eatery places offers unrefined food, especially malay food stalls. everything is either fried or too oily.
i've lost my appetite already now............

countdown starts now

assignments for this semester are done.
now it's cramming for exams time.
to the sister, good luck for tomorrow.

3 things

finally i have the time to do this tag :

3 SCHOOLS I WENT TO
-bedok view pri
-bedok view sec
-sp

3 THINGS IN MY PURSE/BACKPACK
-wallet / coin & key pouch
-mobile phones (note the plural)
-umbrella
(many more but these are the 3 most important things)

3 THINGS I DO WHEN I AM STRESS
-send sms
-blog (if i have the means to)
-get away from the source of stress

3 PLACES I GO ON A DAILY BASIS
-toilet
-office
-home
in that order

3 FAVOURITE FRUITS
-banana
-apple
-plum

3 NAMES I GO BY
-junaidah
-jun
-ju (very rarely used by those who can't pronunce the above 2)

3 OF MY FAVOURITE FOOD
-asam pedas
-pizza
-bread

3 THINGS I'M WEARING RIGHT NOW
-t-shirt
-knee length pants
-specs

THE WHOS

WHO IS IN THE HOUSE WITH ME?
the mother & brother

WHO AM I THINKING OF RIGHT NOW?
nobody

WHO DID I LAST TALK ON THE PHONE WITH?
shanti. she's a coursemate who's staying in the US after getting married last year. she's freaking out cause of the coming exams and i'm the only one who can entertain her.

WHO DID I SIT WITH DURING MY 5TH PERIOD IN CLASS?
can't remember. been sitting freely since '94

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON I TOLD THAT I LOVED?
i don't think i've ever said this to anybody recently. heh...

WHO DO I WISH I AM WITH RIGHT NOW?
a masseuse. i really need a good rub down right now.

WHO GETS ON MY NERVES MOST IN SCHOOL?
couldn't be bothered to think of this. i've got better things to think of, like passing the exams

THE WHERES

WHERE IS MY PHONE?
the phones (note plural) are on the bed waiting for me to join them

WHERE DO I SLEEP?
note previous question

WHERE IS THE PLACE I TOOK A RIDE TO?
last ride was the bus home

THE WHATS

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING I ATE?
nasi beriyani followed by antibiotics

WHAT COLOUR SHIRT AM I WEARING?
blue

WHAT IS THE CLOSEST ITEM TO ME THAT IS BLUE?
note above question

WHAT DO I LIKE MOST BOUT SCHOOL?
that i'm learning something new everyday and the friends

WHAT IS MY FAVOURITE COLOUR?
it's a tie between blue and black

WHAT DO I WEAR MOST OFTEN JEANS/SHORTS?
jeans

WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE I WATCHED?
can't remember. i don't have much time to watch movies right now

THE WHENS

WHEN DID I START SCHOOL?
1983

WHEN DID I LAST GO THE MALL?
somewhere last week. just browsing thru to pass the time waiting for somebody.

WHEN DID I LAST BURN SOMETHING?
i always burn the toast. everytime i set the time it's not crispy enough so i turn the dial a little more. by the time the time's up the toast overdone :D

3 (x3) people to do this
-you
-you
-you
and whoever wants to.

got tagged

i was about to start doing the tag from the sis when her latest entry pic caught my eye.
now i can't help lauging my head off. will do the tag later. off to lunch first now.
i'm still laughing............

i hereby declare

today, i can officially break this & this news:
Alhamdulilah, after 5 years, 9 months and 3 days, i have been promoted.
finally all the years of slogging (not to mention blogging) has been recognised.
ok, that's all for today. must be a good worker from now. will have to work extra hard ;)

what a bummer

after about 2 months of moving to the new office, i only recently discovered of a proper place where i can perform my prayers without any distractions and questioning eyes.
almost immediately, the room got locked up. such a selfish behaviour. i wasn't even using the facilities in the room (not that there are much). i just needed a much more conducive place that doesn't bother anyone.
oh well, it's back to the bottom of the stairs again i guess. the only thing that bothers me about that place is when it's raining heavily. depending on the wind direction, it can get wet.

you really never know

yesterday i heard a very sad news of the death of a very young man, still serving national service. he was knocked down near the workplace. only recently, another young man that i know of was involved in a fatal accident. both are only in their early twenties.
you really will never know when death will come knocking on you door. after facing death in the face, i feel sooooo greatful of the second chance i have been given.
so, let's recite Al Fateha to the young men and all those whose lifes on this earth is up.
may their souls be bleesed, Insya Allah.

look who i met just now

look what happened to this friend of mine.

when something is meant to happen, it just happens. even on the most unexpected conditons.
anyway, get well soon my dear. will drop by to your new place soon, Insya Allah :)

pfftt...

spent almost the whole day trying to upload the pics i took yesterday.
went to the Big Walk with a neighbour. met a few people along the way.
i'll just upload the link once i get the pics uploaded.
anybody watched Singapore Idol last night? my reaction : that's all??
ok, have a nice week ahead people.

i'm in love with this now

i'm supposed to be doing my assignment now but something else has diverted my attention.
upon launching the internet browser window, i was greeted with this:

now i'm starting to get obsessed with it. the warranty to this baby has expired almost 2 months ago.
somebody has been pestering me to sell off my baby to him for over a year already. everytime the offer price keeps on dropping. i'm contemplating to sell this baby and get the one above.
anybody interested in a G3 iBook with OS10.3?
the processor's a little slow, i know, but i just had it repaired and upgraded to the OS10.3 just before the warranty expired. it would suit a newbie Mac user. and if the asking price is higher than what the guy at work is offering, i'll happily sell it off so i can get my hands on the black one.

the breaking news

i'm not ready to say what the news is just yet.
will break the news when i think it's the right time.
for now, i can only offer a note of congratulations to those who deserve it.

some news

received a phone call just now. something's up. what it is, will by revealed on monday.
till then have a nice weekend.
don't forget to go and vote to those who are suppose to.

so frustrating

i'm so frustrated right now. just when i thought i'm finally ok, something happens to make it not ok anymore.
i had to waste 20 minutes of my time and all my plans went haywire.
i really dislike, detest, loathe, despise, hate (you get the drift here) the office location. just because the bus was full, we had to wait almost 20 minutes just to get out to the mainland. and because of this, i couldn't make it in time to attend something i was looking forward to attending.
therefore, i decided to just head home and vent my frustration here. i'm not feeling much better yet. thank god for the long weekend this week.
the thought of having to go to work is really making me drag my feet. oh well, will think of it only when the time comes next week. for now, i'll have to see what i can do this weekend. have a nice weekend.

General Election 2006

finally, for the first time since i'm elegible to vote almost 8 years ago, i can exercise my right to cast a vote on this 6th May 2006.
i'm sure everyone will know who's going to win, but it's still self satisfying to me that i can finally exercise my right in this so called democratic society.
ok, that's all the news i've got.
good night everyone.

hop...hop

from here & here, the rabbits has hopped their way here:



only 5 small, 1 medium, 1 pack of the green rabbits and the pack of mini eggs are left as i'm typing this.
the rest has 'hopped' their way to their new homes - the stomachs of the extended family. hahah!!
ok, that's all for now. have a 'hoppy' day today.

down with a cold

so i've finally succumbed to the extreme weather changes. very hot in the morning and very cold by the evening.
the earlier waking up and later going to bed time also played a part. along with the assignment i was rushing to complete by this week so that i can study for another subject.
so the result of all the above is now i'm down with a cold. luckily i'm not running a fever. that would mean i'm getting the flu. a cold is just as bad.
you know the feeling when the bridge of the nose, right between the eyes, the cheeks just beside the nose and the temple feels like there's something stuffed in there that you can't clear it. terrible i tell you.
now i feel like a cough's coming. the chest feels a little tight already.
ok, got to go clear up the nose now. take care all.

bz...bz...

i have been super busy the past couple of weeks. i hardly have time to take a breather.
my eyes have been a little blurry lately. hopefully it's just the tiredness and not the myopia getting any worse. it's bad enough as it is now. sheesh...
i don't have time to edit some photos i took since last month. the batteries are flat now. i didn't even bother to charge them.
things at work are not any better either. all because of wanting to save cost by outsourcing, now the office stationery supply are running very low. everytime i put up a looooong (i really mean looooong) list of request, less than 20% of what i request for are available. now the network printer toner has run so low that it can't print out anymore. the boss is after my big backside but there's nothing i can do there. it's not my fault. you should see the look on his face just now. he was hitting the ceiling already. if i had stayed any longer in the office i think he'll definitely create a hole on the roof or floor. hahah...
ok, i've ranted what i needed to get out. time to get back to studying. nitez all.

what i believe

i know i'm not a perfect friend. i have my irritating moments.
but one thing's for sure, i'll never abandon anyone i call a friend.
i may ignore you sometimes, but please take is as a compliment - i only do this to family.

Selamat Pengantin Baru

to a very dear friend, congratulations to you.
semoga mahligai yang dibina berkekalan sehingga ke pintu syurga.
i forgot to bring my camera...sheesh.
for those who knows the password, u can view some of the pics here.

must it be there?

everything's almost settled in the new office. i really miss the old location.
one thing i have to admit the new place is much nicer than the old office. although the furniture doesn't match at all. it looks so out of place.
but that's all the positive things i can say. everything else are not positive at all. the location (that's the worst of the lot), the location (did i mention that before) and the location (in case i have not mentioned it before).
ok, that's all folks.
am on 2 days course so it's such a relief not to go in the office.

moving

going to be shutting down this afternoon. will be shifting office today.
after just over 5.5 years, i'm going to really miss this place. it's private yet quite accessible.
right in the center of the east and town area.
what i'll miss the most will be the stopping over after the yearly TNP Big Walk. the luxury of having a clean loo and not having to use the smelly portable ones provided. not to mention the loooooong queue. heheh...

good morning

this morning, several people i've never met before greeted me a good morning. i was taken slightly aback but well it was a good morning. then when i reached work, someone commented that i look really radiant, almost glowing.
huh? me? radiant?
guess must be the extra thick foundation and powder on my face that's making me look this way.
anyway, it was a good start to the day. got a long day ahead. will be very occupied today and tomorrow.
ok, going out of office now. have a good day people.

i need more breaks please

the weekend was too short. how i wished it could last just a little bit longer.
almost couldn't wake up this morning.
anyway, click here for the pics.

'thumbing'??

learnt a new word. i've just watched the show 'Beauty and the Geek'. in the elimination round, one of the question asked was : what is the type of massage that uses the thumb and forefinger to massage the reflex points of the feet. and the answer the geek gave was : as above. hahahah!!!!
so cute.
ok, i've got to get going now. going for a short break over the weekend.
be back by sunday. have a nice weekend everyone.

should i or shouldn't i?

i'm thinking very, very hard whether i should do it or not.
can i do it all now?
would i have the discipline to stick to it?
today's the last day. final decision will be posted by the end of the day.
stay tuned...

UPDATE (2200hrs)
yes, i did it. i actually went and registered.
will need to really manage my time. lots of sacrifice to be made.
Insya Allah will be worth it.

it's not meeee

i hate my hair now!!

what an idiot

my application for leave was approved with a little note from the boss:
[quote]
also I am getting complain abt you leaving office at 5.30pm, it true pse refrain from doing so... If complain becomes official, I would have to take action - no choice as you have to understand.
[unquote]
what the ...??!!
shows the complainant has nothing better to do. why didn't he (i absolutely know it's a HE here) mention that i come in EARLY? most likely he comes in late himself. this person has nothing better to do.
anyway, i've replied to the boss that i don't leave at that hour unless on Fridays. we finish work at 5.30pm for Fridays. earliest time i actually leave the gate is 5.50pm. ok, i'm guilty here, but it's not that early compared to 5.30pm. so for now got to stay put till its the official leaving time.
i hope you get what u deserve. don't underestimate the power of retribution. hmph...

another significant date for me

actually the significant date is supposed to be yesterday, 8th Feb, but i didn't have the time to write. the unpredictable wireless connection at home played a part too.
8th Feb 1999 marks the day i officially joined the 'real world'. that was the day i started working full-time, drawing a regular pay (and the regular pay cuts too - CPF, etc).
how i got that job is a story by itself. i have to quote my favourite phrase again here : "What Is Meant To Be Will Be". i didn't even applied for it. just accompanied a friend who's been called for the interview. when we got there the HR officer shoved a form to us. she realised that i wasn't supposed to be there in the first place and i almost got a scolding from her. after checking with the interviewers, she told me they will interview me after all the other applicants have been interviewed.
i was hesitant at first cos i was wearing just t-shirt & jeans. not appropriate for a job interview at all. i managed to convince that HR lady to let me come another day where i dressed more appropriately. the interview was forgetable. all i can remember after that was the phonecall about a week later. i have been accepted and had been called to report to work the next day. the thought of losing my freedom forever was in my mind when i requested to start work the following monday.
so what happened to the friend? i called her after i got the acceptance. nobody called her :(
she hopped from one temporary job to another. the diploma she got just collected dust. now she's working full-time without any tangible benefits (medical, dental, etc),but it's still a very noble job for sure. she's a full-time housewife with no.3 coming soon.
anyway, i left that job after 1 yr & 4 mths. the work didn't suit me anymore. whatever it was, that was my first job as an adult. like how i remember all my first experiences, same goes for this. i guess you'll never forget any first experiences, whatever it is ;-)

shopping spree

i think i've gone a little overboard on the shopping these past few weeks. but they were justifiable.
the bag i use when i've got no classes has literally fallen apart. the sister was almost embarassed if she's seen with me carrying that bag.
the coin pouch i keep my coins (DUH!!) and keys (4 sets) are falling apart too. don't ask why i carry 4 set of keys. i got tired of looking for a proper key pouch. my keys can't fit in them.
so i got myself a nicer bag from Charles&Keith that looks small but i can fit in almost everything from the previous bag. no wonder it fell apart. got a 10% discount on that bag as i've got a discount card. then saw this pouch from Braun Buffel (Collection : MILLE 284). this is just what i needed. a coin/key pouch. first saw it last week. price : S$36. wasn't really attracted by the colour - lilac & white. wasn't my kind of colour.
so after a few days of thinking of it, i went to another store just to look around. saw the white one. last piece too. it was really meant to be mine. hehehe...
also spent just over S$50 on some VCDs & DVD at HMV. so now i'm just waiting for the credit card bill to come. will try not to buy any luxury items for now. promise...

it's been 2 years already

today marks the date that i can never forget. it's 2 years already since this happened.
i truly feel that i've been given another shot in this world. it's God's way of telling me that i still have time to ammend whatever things i've done wrong and to do more deeds.
this makes me think of my late aunt. she passed away without any warning (actually the signs were there but we just didn't realise it till it's all over). i know i still have lots of ammendments to do. there's still lots of things i would like to achieve in life as well as the afterlife. still lots of unfinished business here.
coincidentally, today is also another significant date in the Masihi calender. it's my birthday. i'm already 29 by the Masihi calender...heheh

sun's out

finally after almost a week of rain, the sun's up. now i understand why some people gets depressed during the winter. it's only been raining a few days and i've started to feel a little depressed. actually, i'm depressed enough going to work now. heheh...
it's the mother's birthday today. she turns 54.
she doesn't even know how to turn on the computer, but i dedicate this to her.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MOTHER!!

Eid Mubarak

Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha to all muslim brothers & sisters.

goodbye 2005

it's the last few minutes of 2005. what a year it has been.
it feels like the year 2005 passed by like a dream.
i wish to forget the year 2005. it's been a very unproductive year for me.
i greeted and bade farewell to the year 2005 with the departing of 2 loved ones.
i hope the coming year will be much, much better, Insya Allah.

she's not suffering anymore now

at 1355hrs today, 27th December 2005, my aunt finally succumbed. a fighter all the way, she hung on till the very last breath. the only consolation i have now is she's no longer suffering.
exactly 9 days after she fell into a deep coma, she went without waking up.

to my aunt, Mahamudah Bee Binte Ibrahim, may your soul be blessed. we will keep the do'a going, Insya Allah.

is there any hope?

sitting in my office all alone, suddenly i'm overwhelmed with the feeling of ultimate sadness. my tears suddenly started pouring out like the weather right now. i can't make them stop.
the image of my aunt will forever be etched in my mind...............

Brain Aneurysm

the following was taken from this website.
What is a brain aneurysm?
A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. In most cases, a brain aneurysm causes no symptoms and goes unnoticed. In rare cases, the brain aneurysm ruptures, releasing blood into the skull and causing a stroke.
When a brain aneurysm ruptures, the result is called a subrachnoid hemorrhage. Depending on the severity of the hemorrhage, brain damage or death may result.
The most common location for brain aneurysms is in the network of blood vessels at the base of the brain called the circle of Willis.

What causes a brain aneurysm?
A person may inherit the tendency to form aneurysms, or aneurysms may develop because of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and aging. Some risk factors that can lead to brain aneurysms can be controlled; others can't. The following risk factors may increase your risk of developing an aneurysm or, if you already have an aneurysm, of it rupturing:
Family history. People with a family history of brain aneurysms are twice as likely to have an aneurysm as those who don't.
Previous aneurysm. About 20% of patients with brain aneurysms have more than one.
Gender. Women are twice as likely to develop a brain aneurysm or suffer a subrachnoid hemorrhage as men.
Race. African-Americans have twice as many subarachnoid hemorrhages as whites.
Hypertension. The risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage is greater in people with a history of high blood pressure (hypertension).
Smoking. In addition to being a cause of hypertension, the use of cigarettes may greatly increase the chances of a brain aneurysm rupturing.

What are the symptoms?
Most brain aneurysms cause no symptoms and may only be discovered during tests for another, usually unrelated, condition. In other cases, an unruptured aneurysm will cause problems by pressing on areas within the brain. When this happens, the person may suffer from severe headaches, blurred vision, changes in speech, and neck pain, depending on the areas of the brain that are affected and the severity of the aneurysm. If you have any of the following symptoms or notice them in someone you know, see a health professional immediately.
Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm often come on suddenly. They may include:
Sudden, severe headache (sometimes described as a "thunderclap" headache that is very different from any normal headache).
Neck pain.
Nausea and vomiting.
Sensitivity to light.
Fainting or loss of consciousness.
Seizures.
How is a brain aneurysm diagnosed?
Because unruptured brain aneurysms often do not cause any symptoms, many are discovered in people who are being treated for a different condition.
If your health professional believes you have a brain aneurysm, you may have the following tests:
Computed tomography angiogram (CTA) scan. CTA is a more precise method of evaluating blood vessels than a standard CT scan. CTA uses a combination of CT scanning, special computer techniques, and contrast material (dye) injected into the blood to produce images of blood vessels.
Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA). Similar to a CTA, MRA uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide pictures of blood vessels inside the body. As with CTA and cerebral angiogram, a dye is often used during MRA to make blood vessels show up more clearly.
Cerebral angiogram. During this X-ray test, a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in the groin or arm and moved up through the vessel into the brain. A dye is then injected into the cerebral artery. As with the above tests, the dye allows any problems in the artery, including aneurysms, to be seen on the X-ray. Although this test is more invasive and carries more risk than the above tests, it is the best way to locate small (less than 5 mm) brain aneurysms.
A CT scan, which can help identify bleeding in the brain, combined with a lumbar puncture, may be used if your health professional suspects that you have a ruptured cerebral aneurysm with a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

How is it treated?
Your doctor will consider several factors before deciding the best treatment for you. Factors that will determine the type of treatment you receive include your age, size of the aneurysm, any additional risk factors, and your overall health.
Because the risk of a small (less than 10 mm) aneurysm rupturing is low and surgery for a brain aneurysm is often risky, your health professional may want to continue to observe your condition rather than perform surgery. However, if your aneurysm is large or causing pain or other symptoms, or if you have had a previous ruptured aneurysm, your health professional may recommend surgery.
The following surgeries are used to treat both ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysms:
Coil embolization. During this surgery, a small tube is inserted into the affected artery and positioned near the aneurysm. Tiny metal coils are then moved through the tube into the aneurysm, relieving pressure on the aneurysm and making it less likely to rupture. This procedure is less invasive and is believed to be safer than surgical clipping, although it may not be as effective at reducing the risk of a later rupture. It should be done in a large hospital where many such procedures are performed.
Surgical clipping. This surgery involves placing a small metal clip around the base of the aneurysm to isolate it from normal blood circulation. This decreases the pressure on the aneurysm and prevents it from rupturing. Whether this surgery can be done depends on the location of the aneurysm, its size, and your general health.
Some aneurysms bulge in such a way that the aneurysm has to be cut out and the ends of the blood vessel stitched together, but this is very rare. Occasionally the artery is not long enough to stitch together, and a piece of another artery has to be used.
Aneurysms that have bled are very serious and in many cases lead to death or disability. Management includes hospitalization and intensive care to relieve pressure in the brain and maintain breathing and vital functions, such as blood pressure, and treatment to prevent rebleeding.

one of the factors that may cause the rupture is high blood pressure. my aunt was discovered to be having higher than normal blood pressure when she was taken to the hospital.
the sister and me were considering having a thorough check-up for any abnormal blood vessels since this has happened to 2 women in our family.
despite my love for the ultra-high sodium preserved plums, my blood pressure is found to be on the low side of the normal range. any lower i'll be having low blood pressure.
anyway, my aunt is now in a deep coma. the swelling of her brain has not subsided yet. she's also having high fever yesterday. we are all praying for her to get stable enough to be transferred to TTSH. CGH doesn't have the proper neuro facilities.

history repeating itself

right now, my youngest maternal aunt is in a critical condition in the hospital. she collapsed at home without any warning in the early evening.
a blood vessel in her brain burst. this is history repeating itself. my maternal grandmother passed away with the exact conditon.
even with the advanced technology now, doctors are not able to do much right how. her brain has swelled too much to do anything at the moment.
the brother suffered from a similar condition, but his was brought by a massive head trauma.
all of us are hoping for a miracle to happen. i promise i won't make fun of these anymore:

(it's a family joke).
i won't mind many more of those cookies in the future.

some long overdue pics and recent ones

the brother (immediately after the return here, was hospitalised overnight)








what the head looked like:



how he is now


what happened to my mobile phone:





belated birthday present to myself:


came with these:



present from her:




lunch date with the gang today. one of the rare times all of us are available at the same time:
Nora, Mar & Sharm

Mai, Me & Suzie

mine & Suzie's starter

Mai's & Sharm's dish

Nora's & Mar's dish

my dish

Suzie's dish


note : pictures resized.

can't access e-mail

what the ..??!! both yahoo & hotmail can't be accessed. sheesh.
today, or yesterday rather, got myself 2 belated birthday gifts. first is from her. thank you so much dear.
the another one is from yours truly (",). got my own gift since i know myself best on what i want/need.
anyway, got an sms from someone. the last person in mind to send me these kind of messages. the message goes like this : "Here's d lamest pick-up line from me to you : when god took my rib to turn it into a woman, it turns to U! So, can i hv my rib back."
can somebody please tell me what to make of this? i'm too stumped to even give a reply. hahah...
i'll put up the pics of the gifts when i can access my e-mail. digital camera's batteries are flat so i had to snap the pics with the mobile's camera and MMS to my e-mail.
ok, i'm giving up waiting to access my e-mail. next few days will be busy, busy, busy.

i'm done...

i'm done being nice. what's the point of being nice when it all goes unappreciated.
i won't be those who do the bad stuff on purpose. i'll just stop being nice to everyone. it's everyone for themselves anyway in this world.
seems like all the nice things i do goes unnoticed, but whenever i do something not so nice, everbody's eyes are focused on that only.
this is truly a test of my faith and patience and it's running thin now.
i give up!!

weekend's over :(

took leave on friday only to spend the afternoon in pain till i fell asleep on the sofa in the afternoon. the monthly good friend made it's appearance just when i was enjoying the day off.
at night, for the first time (this year is the year of many first time for me), went to watch a hindi movie at Bedok Cinema. for a major hindi movie buff, that movie was a WASTE OF MONEY. it was paid for by sis dearest and what a waste man. the movie was less than 2 hrs!! normal hindi movie is at least 4 hours long. Mohabbatein is almost 4 hrs long (just watched it btw. some scenes got snipped. go watch the full one).
anyway, got home almost 3am after going for supper and watched another hindi movie to satisfy the disappointment of being duped watching a 'hollywoodised' bollywood movie. watched veer zaara with sis dearest. finally slept at 6.30am on saturday morning. heheh...
so now weekend's over. back to work tomorrow. no, later today in fact. this reminds me that i have to start writing the appraisal form. same thing every year. have to think of something to make it look 'nice' (",)

still somewhere out here

haven't got the time to update properly lately. busy with i don't know what.
got some not very good news last week. not a good birthday present for me this year. but it's still better than previous years though. have to be thankful for that at least.
i've got loads of pictures to upload. you'll see them when you see them (",)

i feel good

i'm feeling much, much better than when i typed in the previous entry.
i've got sooo much pics to be uploaded. just got myself some new 'toys' last saturday.
got a multi-card reader and an external hard disk drive. those finished the money i got from the profit sharing of the insurance i have.
anyway, will be taking the afternoon off today. got to clear up some stuff by this morning.

i need a change

was bloghopping when i saw this link on somebody's blog.
this is what i read. what i'm feeling is in bold.

Everyone has felt sad at one time or another. Usually it is due to a disappointment, frustration or losing someone. Such sadness is normal. Time heals, the mood lifts and people continue to get on with their lives.
But in some people, depression can be so severe that it dominates their lives, preventing them from coping as they are used to. Depression of this degree is an illness and needs treatment.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION?
The following are the most common symptoms of depression. If you experience 5 or more of these symptoms for 2 weeks or longer, you are probably depressed.
Persistent sadness or feeling down or gloomy
A loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, such as socializing with friends and family, most of the day, nearly every day.
Loss of appetite and loss of weight.
Insomnia. For some people, on the contrary, they find that they are sleeping more than normal.
Feeling restless and agitated more easily.
Feeling tired and having little energy.
Unable to concentrate and think clearly and thereby becoming indecisive.
Feeling of worthlessness and guilt.
Recurrent thoughts of death (Na'uzubillah. will never think of this even if i've totally lost it.)

i think this is the most depressing year i've ever gone through. i just need one good news. if not i don't know what else to do.........

Jamal family is back in business

what a whirlwind it has been the past few days. thursday morning finished my exams for the semester. no more exams to think of for the next 3 months.
wanted to take home my 'baby' but the real fault was not rectified. so it had to stay longer in the hospital. finally got to take it home today.
the summary of what happened the past few days:
thursday:
morning - exam
afternoon - ran some errands, checked on the iBook
evening - reached home to find an unexpected member of the family already home (the 'DivaH' pulled her stunt again)
morning - slept in
afternoon - accompanied the brother to clinic to get the surgery wound checked
evening - waiting at TTSH A&E cos the clinic sent the brother to hospital
night - still at TTSH. the brother had to be admitted
saturday:
morning - irrititating sister made me wake up
afternoon - went to get the iBook from the 'hospital'. finally it's good as new. then off to TTSH to see the brother
evening - the brother got discharged. his head is literally fine now.
night - HOME SWEET HOME
on a bad note, the common pc at home crashed the day the whole family was 'reunited'. i've got sooo much files in there. all my reports, downloaded files and pictures are there. need some help here. even the brother doesn't know what to do, let alone me.
really hope my files could be salvaged :(
due to sheer boredom of waiting for the doctor at the A&E, i took some pictures with the camera phone. now that the pc's crashed and i haven't configured the iBook's internet connection, i can't update the pics for now. will put up the pics another time.

what a huge relief

what a relief!! i managed to finish doing an online paper yesterday. thank god that is the only non-exam module with a timed last assignment.finally sent my 'baby' to the 'hospital'. after over a year of it being sick. now have to wait for a few days to get the diagnosis. hopefully it's only a hardware fault. for software fault i have to fork out $150! i was just thinking of getting an external hard disk. the home pc is running out of space.so the brother is finally allowed to come back. i'll finish my exams by then. have to clear up the clutter before him & mother comes back...hehehone more paper to go on Thursday and i'll be free for the next 3 months. finally after 2 years of no proper rest i'll have some time free enough to do something else. lots of things in mind. hope i can do all.
(this is the 5th time i'm publishing this. S****D BLOGSPOT.COM :p)

Eid Mubarak

i know i'm a day late in the wish, but i still would like to wish all muslim brothers and sisters Eid Mubarak.
this year, the month of Syawal comes without the usual urgency. i put up the curtains only last night. there's no thorough spring cleaning. the most i did was gave the whole house a run over with a damp mop. didn't even use floor cleaner. the windows didn't get cleaned. the cookies/tarts the neighbour gave is still not in the container for Hari Raya. i don't have anything new to wear for the first day.
this year, for the first time in my life, i actually greeted the 1st of Syawal alone (father was sleeping when i woke up). woke up to shower then met the neighbours to perform Solat 'Aidilfitri.
i don't know how to describe how i feel. it's worse than the time i had to spend the eve and morning of Hari Raya in the hospital. at least mother came on the eve and father picked me up in the morning. to get away from reality, i went to Geylang bazaar at 1 am in the morning of 1st Syawal. got home abt 3 plus.
ok, did i manage to sound pathetic? before i get more pathetic, i'll be off now. it's about 4.30 now. have an online paper to take in half an hours time.

got tagged again

ok, i got tagged. since i've got a lil' bit of time now that i'm on leave i'll do it.
here goes:

Rules are as follows: Remove the blog at #1 from the following list and bump every one up one place;add your blog's name in the #5 spot;
1. I'm a Rainbow Too
2. Much Ado About Sumthin
3. Not Working to Potential
4. Suraya Blogs Off...
5. what's the point?

Next: select four new friends to add to the pollen count. (No one is obligated to participate and anyone can play if they want to).

1. 'DIVAH'
2. Mdm Rieta
3. SaraHakim
4. Suzie

What were you doing ten years ago?
i was cramming for the exams for 2nd year of poly. after that i remember having a blast doing the industrial attachment all 2nd year poly students had to do from november to december. had so much fun with my partner in crime. it didn't matter we were paid the lowest among other students, but what we learnt there were very useful. anyway, we did what any normal 18 year old girls did - flirt. haha!! what do u expect. we were the only 2 girls working in the male environment. we made use of our gender to our benefit. those guys didn't mind either c",)

What were you doing one year ago?
what i'm doing now. working and preparing for exams.

What were you doing yesterday?
finishing up the missing parts of an assignment and passing it to a classmate who's sending it in for me.

Five snacks you enjoy
1. potato chips/crisps
2. crackers/keropok
3. nuts
4. fruits (fresh/dried)
5. ice cream

Five songs you know all the words
there are more than five here. but i'm not going to mention any (some are too embarassing to mention). for most songs i know the chorus part only.

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire
1. set aside for tax
2. distribute to my family
3. give to charity
4. perform the pilgrimage
5. save the rest

Five bad habits
1. pick on pimples
2. procrastinating
3. leaving my room in a mess
4. (i'm sure there's more but i can't think of anymore)
5. (i'm sure there's more but i can't think of anymore)

Five things you like doing
1. reading
2. fiddling with my iBook
3. studing (hard to believe but that's why i'm doing it again now)
4. surfing the Net
5. sit in a corner and observe human behaviour

Five things you would never wear again
1. baby-doll tops (someone gave up a seat for me in the bus once, how embarassing)
2. killer heels (not likely to wear again)
3. (can't think of anything anymore)
4. (can't think of anything anymore)
5. (can't think of anything anymore)

Five favourite toys
1. iBook
2. Palm
3. handphone
4. MP3 player
5. DVD player (notice as u grow older the more expensive the 'toys' get)

1 more to go

finishing up the final touches of a report. one more assignment to do then it's revision time.
no celebration for me this year. will be on 3 weeks leave starting from tomorrow, or today in fact, since it's already monday now. but i won't be having any fun though.
with the fasting and buried in work, i've lost 3kg. the clash with the father does play a part in the loss too. don't be envious of the weight loss though. a walking skeleton looks horrible.
ok, i'm going to get some sleep now. will finish up the gaps later. i'm not going to work anyway.

just noticed something

i think it's becoming a tradition. for the past few years same thing will happen.
this year it happened a bit earlier, but it's still the same thing.
next year, i'll have to do something to avoid it.
don't want to make it a tradition. this is not good.
the month where you are suppose to perform more good deeds and i end up doing the opposite. *na'uzubillah*

totally spoilt, rotten weekend

a true test of patience over the weekend.
have had it.
cannot take it anymore.
not going to say anything. not a word.
will not be keeping anything there from now on.
what's left will be cleared out soon.

short update

i'm seriously sleep deprived as of right now. just to inform that the father's safely reached home after a month.
flight was delayed for 2 hours. i arrived at the airport at 10pm only to discover that info. so stupid of me not to check flight details before leaving home *smacks forehead*
i've only had a short 1 hr nap at 4am this morning. can't wait for this module to be done and over with. after this semester 3 months of break, finally.
ok, got to get back to the report. wonder how the kit's doing......

on a hiatus

Ramadhan is one day away. less than 24 hrs to go.
to all Muslim Brothers & Sisters,
SELAMAT MENYAMBUT RAMADHAN MUBARAK.
won't be updating in a while (another 2 wks at least).