Too much of a Good thing (adapted from a book)

Some friends of ours have eight children, and they all love ice cream. On a hot summer day, one of the younger ones declared that she wished they could eat nothing but ice cream. The others chimed agreement, and to their surprise the father said, "All right. Tomorrow you can have all the ice cream you want nothing but ice cream!" The children squealed with delight and could hardly contain themselves until the next day. They came trooping down to breakfast shouting their orders for chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla ice cream-soup bowls full! Mid-morning snack - ice cream again. Lunch - ice cream, this time slightly smaller portions. When they came in for mid-afternoon snack, their mother was just taking some fresh muffins out of the oven, and the aroma wafted through the whole house.

"Oh goody!" said little Teddy. "Fresh muffins - my favourite!" He made a move for the jam cupboard but his mother stopped him.

"Don't you remember? It's ice cream day - nothing but ice cream."

"Oh yeah..."

"Want to sit up for a bowl?"

"No thanks. Just give me a one-dip cone."

By suppertime the enthusiasm for an all-ice cream diet had waned considerably. As they sat staring at fresh bowls of ice cream, Mary - whose suggestion had started this whole adventure - looked up at her daddy and said, "Couldn't we just trade in this ice cream for a crust of bread?"

I know why I loved vegetables so much

You know why? I just found this out when I was in BP on Tuesday. The story begins like this. When I was younger, like 4 or 5 years old, I only ate vegetables and nothing else. No meat. I didn't really like chicken or other meat. I'm weird. No, I WAS weird. I know. I love vegetables more than any other food in this world. And I have no idea why. But, now ha. I can't live without chicken and I seem to enjoy it more than vegetables.

Anyway, back to the story. So, I was saying I know why I love vegetables so much... Well, the reason is because... this may sound quite lame but... it's quite logical too if you think properly. It's because the older generation in my family were vegetable sellers and some of my uncles still are. So, that explains my love for the green living thing. They have somehow put that love for vegetables in me, unknowingly...

Ah, another interesting find I had at that same time. I realised I loved noodles too, and still do. Everytime I order Laksa, I would ask for mee instead of both mee and mihun. Wanna know the reason? Well, it's quite simple actually... I think you can guess what it is already. See, I told you some of my family members were and still are vegetable sellers right? Weeeellll.... there are other family members of mine who are mee makers, as in they make the mee. No, not me... MEE... Oh, you'll get it.

All this may sound like poo-sheet (Cheryl's brilliant idea to use part of her name) to you. But, I'm serious about my uncles' and aunties' occupation. NO kidding. About the connection between my love for vegetables and mee part, I'm not quite sure. It's just something I thought about to amuse you.. and myself. You can blame Cheryl for pointing a gun at my forehead to update my blog. She forced me, I'm telling you.

The Joker

Yes, of all people I'm talking about The Joker. No, not the one played by Heath Ledger as the villain in the Batman movie. Don't worry. He's just... someone extraordinary, or weird rather. Not as weird as the psychopath Joker in Dark Knight but still weird in many other ways. Like the Joker in the Dark Knight, his presence is seemingly not very welcome in our household but in the name of God's love, he is still welcome to stay overnight.

Scrawny looking and not very hygienic, he is a person who never fails to amuse me whenever he's in town. Let me tell you something interesting. He came about 9 and paused at the front door of my house. As dad opens the door, he asks "Does the dog bite?" pointing to the obviously-artificial dog standing outside the door with a wooden sign 'welcome' hung around its neck. My dad, being the joker himself answered, "It doesn't bite everyone else, except you." It is always amusing to know how much his vision has deteriorated since his last visit.

Just this morning, while he was eating at the kitchen, he asked me, "How did you come?" Puzzled by his question, I looked at mum, she looked back at me and I looked to the maid. Three of us just shook our heads, amused. Either he has a really bad memory, forgetting who I am or he thinks I live somewhere else. Then, he talks to me about Law as if he's the lawyer. And how he tells me Law's not easy. Uh-huh.

I know I sound like I don't like him very much, which is an honest fact. You will understand once you see him or maybe I rather you not see him. Don't bother about getting to know him. You will just know what I mean. He's amusing in a not-so good way. You can feel it when he speaks. Don't stand too close to him, he might give u an unpleasant shower.

Interestingly, his demeanor is so different from any of us and it's odd to know that somehow he's related to me. I'm not telling who.

BP Trip

Just got back from a one day trip to Batu Pahat, my parents' hometown in Johor. Visited some relatives and a friend of my mother's there. Ate 3 meals of noodles. Good food k. Tapau-ed indian rojak, raddish cake or chai tau kueh, and my favourite fishball noodles!! Ooh... so gooood! Somehow you will just get hungry fast when you're in BP. The first meal I ate was Laksa, Johor style.

This is the best Wantan Mee in the world! It's not the ordinary noodle with black sauce. It's with chilli sauce! So good I tell you! I'm feeling a little bit hungry now...


And this... Looks simple huh, but don't underestimate its power. It's the best food in the world! (yes, I'm exaggerating) It's Batu Pahat's fishball/fishcake noodles.

These two authentic dishes cannot be found anywhere in KL or the Klang Valley. You can only find them in BP. I grew up in KL eating these. KL style... no fight. Yes, I'm exaggerating again.

If I have the chance, I'll introduce you to more BP food. Hang on to your seats!

Where I went today

I went to Kuala Selangor with my parents together with a few other uncles and aunties this afternoon. Not surprisingly, I was the only 'child' or 'kid' or teen or whichever word you can use to describe a not-yet adult person. It was fine with me. I went because I wanted to eat seafood and I didn't want to spend my time alone at home.

The journey to the fishing village would last for an hour and so, packed with a big icebox and a big bottle of water to wash our feet later, we then headed to Kuala Selangor. The plan was to buy fish/seafood in the market and head straight to a nearby seafood restaurant recommended by Uncle Michael.

There at the market my mum spoke Hokkien to all the fishmongers, be it young or old. As I toured with my mother around the market from stall to stall while she bargains in Hokkien, I could not imagine myself being her in 15 to 20 years time. No, not me. But as much as I wanted to be a housewife later on, I could not imagine myself doing the bargaining thing with these fishmongers. What more in Hokkien.

At the dinner table after that, there was one conversation between the aunties that got me thinking. They were talking about gardening, much to my amusement of how much my mother, a housewife, a real housewife enjoys doing. I, for one, do not go much to the garden to admire the plants. Don't even mention gardening. Going marketing and gardening are two both important aspects in the life of a housewife. And I'm not even the slightest bit interested. Is it about time I get interested in them, or it just isn't my 'calling'?

Yes, indeed I now know a little bit on how to choose a fresh fish in the market and some bargaining tips. I do hope these will help me later on... if I... do become... a... housewife.

p/s: FYI, no it wasn't my first time going to the fish market or any market of that sort.

What caught my attention

I'm typing this while reading a book by Elizabeth George. She talks about reading the Word and something caught my attention as I was reading one of the passages. It says, 'While you're searching for God's plan for you as His child, read from the book of Proverbs. Expose yourself to God's wisdom every day by reading the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds with the date of the month. (And don't worry it only takes about two minutes.) As I'm writing this sentence, it's November 24, which means I've revisited Proverbs 24 and its firm instruction about laziness (verses 30-34). (For some reason I always need that reminder).'

So true, isn't it? We always need reminders in our lives for the things that we do and didn't do. I think reading a chapter of Proverbs which corresponds with the date of the month is a really good start in reading the Bible. It really helps if you don't know where to start or what to read for today and besides it doesn't take up much time. In fact you might just benefit and be blessed from a simple chapter like Psalm 23.

So, why not read a chapter from Proverbs today? Proverbs 5:19 really caught my attention.