Watching Duke basketball

I know I'm lying if I said I don't miss my life back in US. I've been dreaming in my sleep about places in US these past few weeks. Like I dreamed I went shopping in Marshall's and picnic at Duke Garden. But today, the event that took place in Duke made me missed Durham even more. What else than Duke vs UNC basketball rivalry.

I missed watching Duke basketball live, whether in the stadium itself, with other Dukies around the campus TV or at my apartment. The energy was amazing. To watch live in Cameron Indoor Stadium itself, you have to queue up to 2 hours or more, no matter if it is in winter or spring. Then in the stadium, there's no seating area for the graduate students. So the whole 2 hours game, you are standing up. You are jumping, cheering and shouting all the time. It is so crazy. Crazy beautiful.

This afternoon Malaysia time, there's a match between Duke and UNC at UNC ground. I was following the live updates from tweeter. UNC was leading all the way but few minutes before the game over, Duke was catching up. But the last 10 seconds, something wonderful happened. Austin Rivers got hold the ball and threw it for 3-pointer. The ball went into the hop when the clock turned to zero. And guess what? Duke won by just 1 point. You should see the face of all UNC.. haha.

There's a tradition in Duke, when we won against UNC, we will burn the benches.. Yup, those benches was build for that. The first semester I went to Duke, no benches got burned but lately I realized Duke must been building a lot of benches nowadays. Haha. I witnessed one burning ceremony during my last semester. Again, crazy! Don't worry, we got permit to do that.

Below are the pictures took when I was there in 2010 win!

Waaaa.. I want to go back to Duke, Durham and US. Even just for visiting. Hmmm.. maybe I should ask my company to send me there someday ;)

Ps: there is a saying in Duke and it is GTHC which mean Go To Hell Carolina! 

The making of our dream home: The beginning

One of my new year wish for this year is to move to our own house at least in May. Yes, our own sweet little dream house. I want to record all the journey in building our love nest in this blog of mine. 

The house that we bought is a second hand intermediate double storey linked house that never been renovated since ermm.. 1980s? The good news is that since it is in original state, we can change whatever we want but the bad news is there's a lot of changes need to be done. In short, major renovation!

Me who has an ambition to be an architect (besides astronomer but never engineer) is so happy to take this project especially it's going to be my own house. I declared myself to be the chief of designer and Zainal is of course the project manager. We also have other responsibilities like CFO (me- was forced to) and CEO (Zainal - self-appointed).

However there is a challenge being a designer and also finance controller. How am I gonna let my creative juice flow if every time I saw a beautiful product that suitable for the house, I have to think if this will also fit our budget. OMG, see how evil my husband's plan is. Initially he's the CFO but after hearing all my ideas, he decided I should be both so I can be creative within budget. To tell the truth, it's not easy and very stressful.

Anyway, after scouting for best house loans we finally decided on HSBC as they gave the best rate. Then we just used the lawyer that the bank used for ourselves too. Well, not our best decision as they keep on delaying my request until now. Now, they are my daily call to chase them. What a hassle.

While waiting to get our money for renovating, I started my role. I used Google SketchUp to draw the house plan as I don't have the house plan. We went to the house and measured every area. Then my job was to draw back the sketches accurately using a proper software. I was debating whether to use AutoCad or SketchUp but decided to use SketchUp since it is specialized for drawing building plan and can draw 3D easier than AutoCad. Glad I made that decision as it is indeed easier than AutoCad but the function a bit limited compared to AutoCad. So I recommend to use SketchUp if you want to draw house plan and you are not an architect.

After few discussion with my CEO, we came out with the final design. The house will have a library/study room, bigger kitchen, laundry room (inspired by Meg house in Durham), a glass room (or I called it Zainal's room) and of course a walk-in wardrobe. Other than that, the house will maintain it's original structure. 

We put up a 'board' using majong paper at our rent house that served as out idea board for the project. All ideas, details and processes were pasted there for reference. It was situated at the our dining area and every day we will pass through it. It's a constant reminder about our future house =)

The board at first day (excuse me for the pink wall, my landlord must really love pink & purple coz he painted the whole living room and dining area in these colour):

House plan - the current and proposed plan

Not-so-current idea board (coz now is more crowded than this):

I used post-it note, something that I learned at Duke for brainstorming especially for processes. 

That's all for now. I will continue the next step that we took after we agreed on the design.

From stress to gastric pain to acid reflux to almost asthma

Kekadang bukan bermakna tak boleh memandu boleh buat kerja di rumah, tetapi maksud adalah lebih mendalam dari itu. Kekadang ia adalah indication orang itu tidak sihat dan tak boleh bekerja.

Just because you need something urgent from me, your comment is not relevant anymore. You are the one who delay it, so don't push it to me and made it my urgency.

Haiyooo.. Doktor dah cakap jangan stress tapi macam mana tak stress, baru dapat cuti sakit tak sampai separuh hari pun penuh dengan phone call yang menyakitkan hati. Ok, no more unknown phone call after this. I want to rest and sleep.

posted from Bloggeroid

4 years of bliss

Alhamdulillah today marked the 4th year of our marriage. A blissful union of two best friend and lover.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my beloved husband (my blog biggest fan) "happy 4th anniversary". I wouldn't change anything of what we have and I am so glad to have you as my husband in this life and insyaAllah in hereafter.

To my husband, thank you so much for always be there for me through everything. Thank you for supporting my interest, ideas and opportunities. Thank you for accepting my gaps and challenges. Thank you for being my best friend, my lover and my everything. Thank you for always believe in me, trust me and stay loyal with me. Thank you for everything.

4 years is just a beginning of great life together. We have another 40, 50 or more years ahead of us that will promise more challenges and changes but as long as we stay together and still madly in love, InsyaAllah everything can be faced with open arms.

I pray everyday that our marriage is forever blessed by Allah and will last till the end of our life and continue in heaven InsyaAllah.

posted from Bloggeroid

Cheers to 2011

Today is the 15th day of 2012 and the second day of my sick day. First sick of the year yo! Haha.. Don't worry, Allah wanted to test my iman in new year. I am feeling better now when I have the best husband by my side.

Haven't done the Something Purply new year tradition yet, which is 2011 re-cap. I don't think people really care to read about it but it is for my memory. I don't have a physical diary anymore, so my blog serves as my diary. When I'm down or bored or need to confirm some date, I will read back my blog and reminiscence the good and bad old days. 

What has happened in 2011? To tell the truth, nothing much. Continuing 2010 news, death of close family members was still unavoidable. In June, my uncle that lived in JB passed away on Thursday night. 14 hours later my father in law passed away on Friday morning. Both death were a great shock to us. This kind of death really remind me how death will come to you whether you prepared for it or not. 

Then, few weeks before Ramadhan, my fur kid, Choki passed away too. One of the saddest moment of my life as I watched him died in my care and felt helpless about it. That night I called every veterinary that open 24 hours, but none wants to take in a rabbit. I never felt so helpless and angry at that moment. Worse still, at the last night Choki alive, when half on his body couldn't moved, he tried to walk to an area that he always sat that can see directly to the kitchen because I was there. He wanted to be near us. Oh, I still not ready to have a full post on this. Still crying while typing this.

However, of course there are good news in 2011. Finally we bought a house! Yes, a house under our name and that's mean,  our biggest loan yet. Well, 30 years of loan that it. Where is it? No other than Subang Jaya. Budak Subang will always have their heart to Subang no matter where they go :p

We hardly travel in 2011. One diving trip to Pulau Dayang (again!) and Singapore. That's it. We spend most of our time working our butt off building back our financial stability and progression in career. Alhamdulillah, our hard work paid off with excellent year end performance review and remuneration. 

Oh I joined a new company in April. From small start up company to one of the biggest company in the world. Wasn't a shock to me as the new company is friendly and welcoming me with open arms. It has made the transaction to new environment easier and smoother.

Well, 2011 has been good to us if not great. InsyaAllah, 2012 will bring more good news and happiness all around us.

My wish for 2012

Can't believe today is the final working day and second final day for 2011. Time really flies when you are busy living. I don't usually make new year resolution as I know I won't follow it. I make resolution throughout year. However this year I want to make some wishes for next year. Not resolutions but wishes.

My wish for next year:
1. To move to our own house latest by June (earlier would be better)
2. Be a better muslimah and closer to Allah
3. To travel more
4. To be healthier
5. Get pregnant (this would be the 3rd year wishing the same thing. It's ok, insyaAllah ada la rezeki nanti)
6. Work smart and maintain the motivation

Six should be enough. If I can achieve all, Alhamdulillah...

Wishing all of you a wonderful new year 2012 and stay safe.

posted from Bloggeroid

Happy for you

I'm not sure which one hurt me most.

The fact that I wasn't being informed by the owner about it, again.

Or

The fact that after this my journey will back to the lonely road like a year ago.

Or

Another reminder on how unsuccessful I am on this area of life.

Or

I'm just being jealous.


Whatever it is, I AM happy for you, really. Maybe a little bit jealous and emotional but I am happy for you.

posted from Bloggeroid