mott’s mutterings

I have had this fear, for as long as I remember. Started when I was a kid, travelling from KL to Penang for holidays, to visit my granma and granpa. As we travelled the trunk roads..no mean feat, I must say, I would normally lie down on my dad’s fairly smelly volvo velvety (fake, me thinks) seat. As my ears touch the seat, I could hear the wheels turning and generally, the whole car moving. My fear was that I was so heavy, that my weight could actually break the car’s axle, hence, breaking the car into half, and hurtling me and my family unto the road.

Every single time, we make that trip to Penang… I just dreaded that. Perhaps it’s a very silly fear, but it has made me very anxious. Now, as a grown up, I still have that fear. If it’s just us five of us, travelling in our car..that would be fine. I would have no problems with it. The weight is all balanced out somehow. But, if there are guests… I would have to make sure they sat in their right places, or the car would be inbalanced, causing the axle to break, hence, breaking the car into half and hurtling me and my family unto the road. 

Yes yes…bizarre, much. I really don’t know why I have this crazy anxious feeling in me..but I do. It doesn’t stop until all of us have safely reached our destination. To me..any additional person in the car, will just trigger it. I’m really doomed. I don’t think I can handle it much longer..as my inlaws are around, and we do take them everywhere. Yes..we have all reached our destinations safely..but what if, one day????!!!!!!!

I had a friend who was so into playing all kinds of card games, growing up. He played Gin Rummy, US Poker, Blackjack all the time. This was when we were in high school. He was such a player! He must’ve been really good in his Math, but not so much in his other subjects, because he kept getting really bad marks.

Well, he actually continued playing online, for example Online Poker Deals and Mac Poker UK..and he was pretty good at it. Then he found a calling. He went into baking. Yup… this guy was actually really good in cooking. I remember him cooking for us and this was during our high school days, he’d cook up a storm for us! It was amazing, because 1) I did not cook, and 2) he was a boy!

He not only cooked, and played poker, he also drove fast cars! I never liked sitting in his cars, because I was always scared shitless. Well..thankfully, nothing happened to me OR him..and we’re still seeing each other’s statuses on FB.

HAH! 

Gosh.. really wish there was a killler spam plugin, that would just kill all spambots. Seriously, who knew meat in a tin, would drive ppl insane! Ok, getting emotional here.

it’s the winter break, hurrah! Not sure why I’m so happy about it, since it’s just more mess and noise in the house. Plus, I have to actually entertain these kids, or they will seriously drive me mad. Speaking about driving, I’ve been abit worried about my ol Toyota. Yea.. it’s 2nd hand, and I’ve been trashing it like it’s no tomorrow. I rarely take care of it..it should be Mr.T’s area..since I do so much with the house and garden, I feel he needs to take responsibility of ’something’. Before he left, he asked me if we should get it serviced. I nodded my head. And I just left it as is. 

Y’see… I am normally the one who arranges the servicing appointment. It’s quite annoying, really. He just hates calling my service guy up, for no apparent reason. Ok, the man is shy. I mean, after 10 years of knowing him, who knew he was shy. I just thought he was being ‘proud’…but heck no! He’s actually shy! Geez Louise. 

So, I have to call for appointments all the time. Not just for car service, it’s doctors, dentists, and WHATEVER. 

So.. he never calls. The car service never takes place. I swear, if my car breaks down in the middle of nowhere..I will swear. Yes I will. I won’t write what I’ll swear about, but you get the general idea. But, I’ve been checking my water, engine oil, battery and petrol. So..for now, it’s ok.

In any case, we should service it…. and I suppose, I’ll call for an appointment. *shakes head*

Well..what is it? If you had one favourite magazine..what would it be? An architectural magazine? Or would it on design, home, business or finance?

Or..the rage right now - Technology. 

But seriously, what gets your juices flowin’? Of course, if you’re in the finance business, you would be knee deep into BRW, or Forbes and their boring discussions about some Texas energy companies and *yawn* the american politics. 

Ok I’ll take that back. Some people actually do find it very interesting..but, I personally don’t. Yes, if Osama is killed, and if Obama gets a new term because of this. Hurray Yippee Kayyay. But seriously, so what? I’m pretty sure there is some mini Osama running around, rounding up his troops..and yes, prepping for the next armageddon. Ok, I will not be superficial about this..because terrorism hurts.

But..coming back to the main superficial topic. What would your favourite magazine be? 

For me..it is without a doubt, Frankie. I like Frankie because it has stories from old people, told in a nice vintage way. Heh. I have been drawn to the stories of old people because they are so rich with their stories. I met Heinz 3 weeks ago..and till this day, I remember his story so well. He sailed on a boat here over 60 years ago, from Germany.  Took him a month to sail here. His lovely wife, Magda, flew in via plane a year later. Lucky her. He started working in Geelong as an electrician for Ford. And he has never looked back since.

What a story, hur?  I’m going to dig up more stories from Heinz…I just wish I had more time.

Actually… this could be the beginning of something that I’ve been thinking of doing, for a long time now. 

Ok, last last Saturday, we went to the much anticipated King Tutankhamen Exhibition. I was excited because I knew there’d be a lot of historical artifacts and relics for viewing.  As we waited, very patiently for the big doors to open, behind the velvet ropes, my littlest guy decides he would have NONE of this King Tut guy. He decides to scream and yell and squirm out of his stroller.

Sigh.

Why oh why does he do that so much? As they opened up the big doors, we came into a little dark room that introduced the story of King Tut and his rise to being a king. BUT! My littlest guy was a-wa-wa-ing away. 

It was so hard to concentrate and finally, we had to give up one of our audio walkie talkies to him. He actually thought it was a phone and starting conversing with Omar Sharif (the narrator). 

Hmm… 

What can I say? Going to museums or places of interest with No.3 is really no fun. The elder two did enjoy the trip very much. No.1 remarked how their storage room was much like our garage. Tee hee…

I honestly believe in treating your car with respect and kindness. I think if you send your car for servicing every year, it definitely keeps it from breaking down, and incurring huge massive auto repair costs. 

I had a really old Toyota Corolla when I was in college. I took it with me everywhere.. it did not have power steering, a cassette player and was definitely no a Toyota Camry. But, it served its purpose really well, and even though I could feel every bump and hole on the road. In fact, my cousin in Chicago had the same make and car, when he was staying there. It was pretty cool, we would write letters..yes, snail mail, about our cars and what was going on with it.

Once he had to bring it into a Chicago auto repair shop, and check out why his engine wasn’t running smoothly. The repair guys did the check engine light thing, among other things, and found that there was a massive leak of engine oil. That costed him quite a bit, but he never gave up that car. In fact, it still sits in his garage, almost vintage like. He still likes to go around with it, as it was a pretty good car.

As for my car? My dad, sold it off to a used car yard, and bought a Mazda. I often wondered, why my dad would really liked Toyotas, would consider a Mazda. Well, the Mazda was so smooth, I kept getting into bumps with it. My father wasn’t a happy man after that. Soon, after.. I had to take buses. Hah..I don’t blame him ONE BIT. When you are so used to manual and zero power steering, one does tend to over-drive in a new car. 

I’m really really addicted to TV. Ever since, there has been a 2-3 week break over Xmas/New Year, I haven’t been able to watch TV. In fact, one of the series I’ve been watching just ended their season, and I’ve to wait for June 2011 to find out what happen.

It’s not that far..but still… you know the climax you get as you watch the last scene, and how you wish you’d know what was going to happen next. I’m talking about "Breaking Bad". This is an awesome series, it’s won a few awards on the Emmys and People’s Choice…and it’s that father from "Malcolm in the Middle". The show starts off, with him as a lowly paid but absolutely brilliant Chemistry teacher. He finds out he has stage 4 lung cancer and starts to worry about the financial future of his family. He dives straight into making meth, with his drug-pusher assistant. He steals stuff from the school’s lab, stuff like a gas mask and aprons. Anyway, Season 3 pretty much progresses to a higher and much more professional level,  with a full fledged lab, and proper lab coat uniforms.

Obviously, I can’t tell you the whole story..but the storyline is superb, although you know he’s doing the wrong thing, but it’s all for reasons we all understand.  If you can, watch it. From the start. It won’t disappoint.

Next up is, Grey’s. Finally it is back! Can’t wait to see Dr. Yang back in her doctor uniform…oh wait, that’s if she decides to be one, in the first place. I really wonder if she’ll be killed off, because I’m getting quite cranky with her.  At least, there is eye-candy with Dr. McSteamy and McDreamy around in their medical uniforms.

Ah…I am also looking forward to "Big Love"… I know it’s about polygamy and Mormon’s..but it is fascinating! I may not agree with their principles, but they are basically human…. and well… it is TV!

What are you looking forward to?

Hurrah!!! My Xmas Wishes have come true!!! My combo care package arrived last week!!!

The best present a Mother could ever ask for! A Cook and Babysitter!!!!!! I can’t help but dump my kids over at my inlaws place. I really can’t help it. I can’t help it, that someone else is cooking for me, and all I have to do is eat. I try my best to keep to my diet plans ..but, what else can I say? I just have to do more running!!!

They’ll be staying for about 2+ months…so, it’s realllllly a huge break for me. Plus, the kids are on holidays, and I don’t have to be a bus driver any more!!

YA HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Last night my 2 eldest kids spent a night at their granparents’ place… it felt odd, but peaceful…. so blissful, to know they’re just across the street, in safe hands..and I get to do whatever I want to do! Which was basically MORE WORK!!!!

The night before, Mr.T and I went for Japanese..and it was the bestest Japanese food I had ever had! The sashimis were so fresh, I just love Japanese Sesame Oil..it just tastes really good. The best part of it..was their Japanese Black Sesame Creme Brulee. It was a small amount, but it was just the right portion after a really fantastic meal. If you’re around the area…go to Shinra Nui, located on Springvale Road. The owner/chef is always there, and makes EVERY sashimi/sushi meal. 

Sigh… Did I mention Bliss? Ahhh…

I really should be doing my outstanding work, but I had to get it out of my mind. It’s been sitting in my in-tray for the longest time, and if I don’t regurgitate it out, this blog will never get updated.

After 15 years of knowing Mr.T, I seem to find out bits and pieces of unknown things. I’m sure every partner doesn’t know 100% of their other partner..and rightly so, because if we did, we’d be so bored of each other.

Ok..maybe we would be bored anyway.

Here’s the thing…Mr.T, never in his mind, think that the wives get monthly wages. Yup..this traditional practice that has been going on since the days of my maternal grandfather ( I obviously can’t tell for my ancestors, as I’m not that old). You see..we have to get monthly wages because we have to put up with alot of nonsense. What else would keep us womenfolk quiet, if not for money?

He gasped in surprise when I told him, even his own mother receives wages. Was he being naive or just plain ignorant?

Wives do need to stash the money away. To keep for those rainy days. Or..whenever retail therapy is urgently required.

After 15 years of knowing him…it is safe to assume..that I have not received a single day of pay. Not from him. Yes. It is the truth. 

I think it’s payback time. Because…. there is awareness now.

Let’s see… 15 years… *tit tit tit tit*…. hmmm…. that’s quite a bundle. Ka ching!

Tra la la la la…. muahahahahahaahahahahaahahahaahahahah

I did it! I did it!

I finally got my butt together…with the rest of my body and got me a DIY will! I found so many online, but I wasn’t sure what to get since there was a huge price variance. From AUD20 to AUD88. Some with 2 in 1, meaning two wills for a couple, for a single price. Problem was, I wasn’t sure if I had paid for the cheap one..that would be enough, OR if I got the more expensive one, I would’ve been ripped off.

I mulled over it for a few days..and as I was in the post office, I saw this!!

It was only selling for AUD25, and it’s a 2 for 1 deal! I was sooo happy to see it..and had a look inside quickly. It provided all the details necessary to write your own will. The will itself is made from..get this, fade-proof paper. It seems very very simple and easy to do. Now that I’ve done it.. I’m waiting for Mr.T to get down to it. 

So… after years of talking about it..mott has finally FINALLY done it! P-H-E-W!