Silent Scribbler

Summer is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:44:00 +0000

It's still a bit chilly here but who cares! Summer is here, and with that a bit of a break!

I am also excited because my family is coming to visit, that is my brother and his family. We will plan loads of things to do with them, plus a bit of road trip here and there to the neighboring states. Can't wait. :-)

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Prof Ghassan Taha

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:55:00 +0000

I rarely check my office e-mails during my study leave. So I was surprised to read the faculty e-mail regarding the death of Prof Ghassan Taha last week. He died following an illness. Many of my former IIUM undergraduates will probably remember him as he taught many sections of Introduction to History & Civilization. He was a good lecturer.

As a staff member, I did not know him personally but every time I saw him in campus, he would always give salam and smile. The other staff members who responded to the e-mail mentioned his good character and his devotion to his religion. May Allah bless him. Inalillah....

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So near and yet so far!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 21:03:00 +0000

It's been so long since I've written here. Most of the time it's because I'm lazy, at other times I've got nothing interesting to write about, and hence my blog is gathering virtual dust. :-P

We are nearly at the end of the journey: less than a year to go before my scholarship runs out... I've finished my exams, and am now officially a PhD candidate. Now, I've got to focus on my prospectus and get moving in order to graduate on time. I am finding it hard though to motivate my self lately; lack of regimented schedules and self-appointed deadlines tend to do that to you. Plus, I am rather lucky to get a supervisor who's kind of laissez faire; she's not really the type to brandish a whip! (ha ha). But yes, the thought of being stuck here without money scares me enough to know that I have to work harder! Lately, I am more homesick than ever; I can't wait to get it done and go home! I have this gnawing feeling that life is at a standstill and it's time to move on! People think it's exciting to be in the States doing your PhD, but believe me there is nothing to envy! I know I am learning a lot more here, much more than I would have had I been in Malaysia (not just in terms of academic life) but I am also losing a lot: sacrificing my physical health (stress will do that to you!), buying a house, having kids, spending time with my family etc. I am luckier than most that I have my other half here, and I should be grateful for that but it's doubly hard also for both of us in terms of coping with the challenges that come, financially, emotionally, physically etc. If I looked back, and knowing what I do now, I am not sure if I would have made the same decision. I would have in hindsight perhaps, chosen to study at a country where I can come home easier (on the pocket + less distance) so I can fall back on family support if I needed it... Well, you can't turn back time or regret your decisions but I am not 100% sure that this is the path that I would have chosen had I had an alternative...

Well, on to more errr... less gloomy things. :-P We've had bouts of really bad flu for the last week or so. I've been lucky that in the four years that I've been here this is the first time I've had it so bad. Probably because the weather has been the coldest it has been since 2009. And with winter comes a host of other problems: our car has been causing a lot of problem lately because of it! Tapi nak ganti sayang kan coz it cost money, and we have less than two years to go so we will probably bear with it till the end. Jgn sebut2 nak ganti, nanti kereta tu merajuk! ha ha ha

All in all, I can't really wait for this journey to be over and move on to other, more important things!

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Terrible weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:43:00 +0000

Source: Phd Comics (funny stuff!)

What a terrible weekend, health-wise!

I am still holed up in the apartment most of the time, trying to study for comps. Last weekend was no different. On Saturday I was working and trying to print a bunch of notes and the cat lunged towards the printer. Foolishly I tried to lift him from the printer to prevent him from grabbing the papers that was coming out from the printer and he was so jumpy he scratched me in a bunch of places! (including neck, both wrists, fingers). Now Toby is quite a good cat; I can count the number of times he scratched me and the times he has hissed from the three years he has been with us. He only scratches or hiss when he feels threatened, scared or surprised; which I suppose is a primal reaction common to animals. I didn't realize how bad it was until I looked at myself in the mirror. There was quite a bit of blood, my necklace was ripped from my neck (and chain broke sob sob) and I saw puncture wounds in my wrist. I didn't really think anything of it; dressed my wounds and bandaged it and continue working. By night however, one finger has swelled and I couldn't bend it.

So, the next day we went to a minute clinic in CVS (was a Sunday and it was conveniently open and no appointment needed!). The nurse told me I was indeed infected and she prescribed some antibiotics for me. I did swipe my wounds with alcohol and some ointment but apparently it just didn't work. Today, the swelling has gone down although my right index finger still looked a tad fat. :-( Hopefully it will be OK by tomorrow; its my typing hand OK! More cause for concern though it's my blood pressure. She did say it wasn't high but borderline worrying. I told her I had exams so maybe that's why it spiked up. I haven't had much sleep over the last two months and I've been waking up at night worrying about my comps. I know my sedentary and stressful life-style (especially for the last two months) is also to be blamed: e.g. convenient and infrequent meals, long hours in front of the PC reading and typing, limited sun (to be fair, it's almost winter!) and lack of fresh air... I swear I will have to do some life-style changes once I finish my comps!! I have to.

It made me think if all of this is worth it. Working towards a PhD for the last three years of my life is costing me a lot: having offsprings, buying a house in Malaysia, spending time with family and now my health. I could probably have better coping skills, but doing a PhD is stress inducing for anyone, and especially challenging for an international student not used to the US (or any other foreign country) education system. I just have to accept that this is my challenge, complain less and do better. It feels good though to let this out. Now, excuse me while I get back to work. :-P

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Malas

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:43:00 +0000

Lama sungguh dah tak update blog ni. Bersawang dah. I prolly don't have any readers anymore LOL

Actually a lot of things happened in the last few months: went back to Malaysia, came back, prelims etc. But somethings I am just too lazy to update and some are just to private to put down here. Plus, I've been a bit busy with my studies that blogging seems to be a luxury (common I think among my friends who are also doing a PhD: Madihah & Nina, I am looking at you guys! he he he he). I've thought about shutting down this blog for good, but then again... it feels like it would be a shame to do that since blogging (although very sporadically) is one of the ways I used to let off steam. And I've met some lovely people through it too. So I decide to just let it be for now. And I still read (or glance through) every blog in my blog list, and am finding out that there are like minded individuals who have also let their blogs go! :-P

On to other stuff: it's fall now in Ohio. I think my body is in a state of shock. The temperature dropped abruptly without warning, and I really hate putting on my jacket instead of a light cardigan. Pretty soon it will be winter. Hopefully this winter will be just as kind as last year!

Will write more... (when the mood strikes)...

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Post Eid update

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:58:00 +0000

It's probably a bit late, but Eid Mubarak to my Muslim readers! We had a pretty normal Eid. We cooked a simple Raya fare, had a few friends over and that was it. I used to feel a twinge of sadness in my first year, but it's now the beginning of my fourth year here so I am numb to it I think. Besides, I spent almost one month fasting in Malaysia and how glorious it was!

Post eid, it's back to the normal routine for us. For me, writing and reading. I have my prelim submission due date coming up in two weeks so I am ironing out the paper and polishing it up. I don't know how good it is, or if I am able to pass it or not but it has to be done. Wish me luck! The cat meanwhile has calmed down a bit. He got a bit hyper when we arrived and wouldn't stop meowing for two days. Now he's feeling more secure and is more quiet, but he's still following me from room to room. I think he's still not sure if we are going to walk out at any moment and leave him alone for three months!

The weather has been pretty good here. It's been a bit sunny but not humid. Just nice. As we move into fall, I am crossing my fingers and hoping that winter will come late again this year. It's time to get back to work again, will write more time & mood permitting.

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Time to pack up!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 10:26:00 +0000

I just feel like I got here. Now I have to go back again. :-( Apa nak buat, perjuangan masih belum selesai... Alhamdulillah that I got to spend Ramadhan home, and I got to see those I wanted to see, biar sekejap pun. I realize that there's no place better than home!

To friends and family, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri & Maaf zahir batin! Insya-Allah, as the closer I edge towards the end of my journey, there will be one less Raya to spend abroad.

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Home is where the heart is!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 08:38:00 +0000

This is my first post in Malaysia, after almost two years! We are back home for three months during the summer holiday. Being home, and comfortably ensconced in this familiar and comforting environment, how I wished I didn't have to go back to the US! These are the things I've noticed in my one month stay:

The weather is uncomfortably sticky, sweltering and humid! Or is it just me? It seems that KL is dry, and rain comes very sparingly. We are currently testing a portable air cooler; it helped some but it's still bloody hot, even at night!
Harga barang dah naik, as expected! I had to pay RM3 for a glass of teh ais the other day, and the taxi fare from KL Sentral to DU has increased from RM12 to RM18. Tak bestnya!
The food here still rocks! I've been having my fair share of nasi lemak, teh ais, and satay and I still want more! A restaurant behind my parent's place just opened and they have the best laksa & mee bandung. And it's nice to know that even late at night, if you have a hankering for mee goreng mamak, it's just a short drive away!
My little brother is little no more. :-( He's 12 and now taller than me. How fast time flies! When I finish my PhD he will probably be in high school. My nephew is already in primary school and I am enjoying bonding and chatting with my niece; last time I was home she was too shy and didn't speak much. I am glad that I got this chance to spend time with my family...
Of course, places I know have changed. OU is no longer simple; I really got lost there a couple of times I went there. Jusco is now AEON and some shops moved/disappeared. I mentioned ATRIA, the nearest shopping complex to my school and to my horror it's no longer there! I haven't gone into town yet but I am sure I will be just as confused. Sigh.

How I wished I had more time to spend at home and that I am done with everything. Unfortunately, there is still much to do in the US. I shall have to savor the precious time home and enjoy what I have. Hopefully, things will go smoothly and I will return home for good in two more years.

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Trip to the Big Apple

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:47:00 +0000

The Malaysian consulate in NYC

Recently we went to NYC to renew hubby's passport at the Malaysian consulate. It was a really short trip but my impression of NY is not too good! Ha ha ha. It's a busy city. Everybody's rushing. People are not too friendly. Taxi cabs are everywhere. Food is surprisingly cheap and plentiful, if you are not too fussy. I liked that they had little carts everywhere selling halal meat. There was also many charming cafes selling all sorts of pastry and sandwich. We found a halal biryani restaurant; I had chicken which was quite good but the portion was huge! It was also rather aggressively spiced so I couldn't really eat the whole thing. Hubby had lamb I think and it was swimming in ghee!

The good thing about the Malaysian consulate was the relatively short time it took to make the passport. We were in by 9am and out by around 12. The officers were rather err... business like and aloof. None of that Malaysian muhibbah attitude. Ha ha ha. You didn't even have to provide passport sized photos; they had an officer armed with a digital camera so that was handy.

After settling the passport, we just walked about but it was so exhausting. The Malaysian consulate was situated near the Empire State Building. We crossed Broadway and Madison Avenue looking for Time Square but the GPS was wonky and we got lost. We tried asking for directions but unfortunately some people did not speak English clearly (e.g. reminded me of London, that had a huge immigrant community), while others were too busy on their way to entertain us. On the way back, in the taxi cab then only we saw Trump towers, Time Square, a huge Macy and Zara store (among others) and Central park. It was too short of a trip to do much, and I did not sleep for two days so I was really feeling grumpy so we headed back to La Guardia since we didn't want to miss our flight. Definitely we needed to take another trip back to NYC for a longer and more leisurely trip. The highlight of the trip was meeting some friendly Malaysians (college students from Iowa), also waiting at the consulate. They made me feel at home (even just for a brief minute).

All in all, I don't think I miss much not living in a big city in the US. NYC is not unlike Chicago. The vastness, noise and frenzied pace scares me a bit. I prefer a more laid back kind of life I guess...

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Emee comes to Ohio!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Last week, Emee came down from Chicago to visit us. She just started her Masters program in UC and her school follows the quarter system so she doesn't have much time off. When she told me she would squeeze in some time to visit us during her spring break, I was really happy to accept.

She spend the first two days at shopping malls, and visiting my campus. We took her to Aurora premium outlet and the Summit mall to get some stuff that she needed for school. The third day, we took her to Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Entrance was so expensive (e.g. adult fee = USD 22); I dare say if you are not a music lover you might not really enjoy the museum. I mean I like to listen to music, but learning about the history of jazz and rock is not really my cup of tea. I did like though some of the displays (e.g. costumes people wear when they perform, giant guitar replicas, original music lyrics scribbled on tattered paper). Dah lah tak boleh amik gambar dalam museum tu. They did though have a decent souvenir shop at the lobby and I got something for someone ehem ehem.

Outside Cleveland R & R Hall of Fame. Source: Google Images

Also outside of Cleveland R&R Hall of fame. Beautiful day!

Sad near the lake

Cleveland town

More enjoyable was the scenery outside the museum. It was located next to some sort of lake (since we don't have beaches in this state, that is the closest thing!) and you could feel and smell the sea breeze close by. On hindsight, maybe it would have been better to go to the Great Lake Science Center next to the R & R hall of fame! The entrance fee was cheaper and they probably had equally interesting displays. Near the two museums, you could see the Amtrac train station across the road and also the Cleveland Browns Football stadium, which was huge! For lunch we took her to Pacific East Japanese/Malaysian cuisine restaurant in Cleveland. Sempatlah Emee merasa mee sup kat US ni. Walaupun tak sedap mcm kat Malaysia jadilah. He he he. Waitress kat restoren tu pun Ipoh mari and she happily chatted away with Emee about their hometown.

Cleveland Browns Stadium. Source: Google Images

On the fourth and final day, we took her to Pittsburgh, to visit the Grove city outlet. I think she was happy coz she found a duffel bag (to carry all her stuff back!) and a good spring/fall trench coat that she was looking for at such a reasonable price. She came by Metrobus, but decided to go back by train since the ticket was reasonable and the schedule for Metrobus was weird. Her train was at 3.45 am and luckily there were other passengers waiting at the station so it was not too creepy to be waiting there alone. So all in all, she stayed for four very short but packed days. I wished she had more time here though. Nanti kalau free turun lagi naa....

It's not often that I get friends visiting me. When they do, it's so nice to catch up and to reminisce. I hope you had a good time while you were here, and that you can come again!

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Overdue update!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 23:06:00 +0000

For me unfortunately, 'lazy not just today but almost daily! he he he Source: Google images

It would seem that I am blogging less and less lately. :-P Therefore, this is my half-hearted attempt at trying to update my blog. Short spurts of updates is about all I can manage right now. He he he.

It's winter... going into spring. I am so grateful that this winter has been really kind. Very few snow storms. Not too cold. Even some sunshine once in a while. Today, it was snowing briefly but I think it will stop soon. Yeay!
I've given my SV an outline of my prelim paper. She hasn't given me a feedback yet, but I am writing my paper in the meanwhile and hoping that the corrections aren't too bad. I am OK with my topic and I think I won't be bored of it by the time I defend my prospectus!
Emee is probably coming during her spring break. I am very looking forward to it, and I hope it materializes. We have visited her in Chicago so it's time for her to return the visit. I will also use her visit as an excuse to get a little break he he he
Sad has to renew his passport and we might have to do it in NY. I am not sure when we will go but hopefully sometime when the weather is more forgiving
My brother got married last week. It saddens me a bit not to be there but it can't be helped and I am glad we have a new family member. Welcome to the family, Nani!
The Oscars is tomorrow, can't wait to watch it. Haven't seen any of the movie in the list, except for The Help. Though, am rooting for Meryl Streep FTW! (can't stand smug Rooney Mara; don't care how good the movie was! And I did like the Swedish version)
Did you guys read about the father who shot his daughter's laptop because she was rude to him on FB? Moral of the story: A bit OTT, I know but be careful what you say on social networking websites, OK! Dr. Phil berated him but I am not sure how I would react if my kid badmouths me on social network so I am in no position to judge. :-P If you didn't, you can read about it here.
Enjoy the weekend, people. :-)

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Winter break movie marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:05:00 +0000

Happy New Year 2012, people!

Hope you guys had a good 2011 and new hopes for this year. My goal for this year is to inch closer to obtaining a PhD. I vow to give it my best and to have as little distractions as I can. What did you guys do for the new year? We just stayed at home. It's very cold now in Ohio, sub zero temperature! This morning, it finally snowed after a few close calls. This is already very good considering it's January. Last year it snowed from November to March! A friend asked us to join her to watch football (I still don't understand the fascination with American football in Obama Land) but we had already made plans to join another friend for new year, but that friend canceled instead. I was a bit bummed out but as it were the weather was horrid so it was nice and warm to just stay in. We did though do a winter break movie marathon via Netflix and here are some of the movies that we saw and those that I thought are worth watching.

Ombak Rindu

I really wanted to watch this since I had read the original story in the novel. Emee of course wanted to watch it for Aaron Aziz. :-P Anyway, she excitedly texted me to let me know it was already uploaded. I got on quickly before it was pulled out. Verdict: It was OK-ish. The acting was definitely good. I had in my mind what Hariz was and is, so I thought Aaron did a great job portraying Hariz as described in the book (and this is not a biased opinion since I am not a fan. I don't really like muscly guys he he he). I remember thinking of the scene in the toilet when he pushed Izzah hard to the floor. That looked so real! I didn't see however the point of putting in so many sexual scenes. In the book it was not necessary. You can depict love through conversations and other mannerisms right? For a love story that is quite typical, and for a movie based on a novel that had almost cult-ish following for Malaysians, I thought the director did a good job. I didn't like Lisa or Maya in their roles; not that they did a bad job but they were just not right for the characters in my humble opinion. Maya is too old; Izzah is supposed to be young, around 18 and of course in the book she does not have Pan Asian looks. Like many people, I thought Fazura/Tiz Zaqyah would have suited the role better. As for Lisa, sorry am not a fan! Sebelum korang bambu aku, dia memang cantik tak dapat dinafikan. But to me, her getting married and leaving the acting world is not such a big loss to our film industry. Ha ha ha.There were quite a lot of details missing from the film that was in the book but I supposed that was to be expected. And what's up with Datuk Sufiah and her pseudo Western (I couldn't identify what it was!) slang? Sungguh tak natural! :-P All in all, it was worth two hours of my time. OK lah. And no, tak nangis. Langsung tak. Ha ha ha ha.

The Stoning of Soraya M

Cite ni dah lama... tak ingat tahun berapa and cannot be bothered to Google. But it's a true story of an Iranian lady who was stoned because she was suspected of adultery. Soraya is an unfortunate woman indeed. She is a devoted mother to four young children but she is married to one of the most evil man on earth. He wants to marry a young 14 year old girl (who is from a rich family) but does not want to divorce her because then he has to pay alimony and split his meager possessions. He is lazy, rude, inconsiderate, pompous, arrogant and condescending. One particular scene stood out to me early on; she and the kids were having dinner and he saunters in late and demands to be fed. He is angry because she only has rice without any meat and he says spitefully: that girl can give me meat that you cannot give me! And she replies bravely: well, you don't provide enough for me to have meat on the table. The nerve of that stupid man!!! Anyway, he plots with the village mullah to persuade Soraya to divorce him. The mullah has his own plans; he offers to set up Soraya as his mistress if she divorces her husband but she refuses. Angry and spurned, both of them plot to bring her down by creating gossip in the village about her committing adultery with a man who recently lost his wife. Without revealing too much, the weak and naive man agrees to lie to the governor and based on that, the village committee decides that Soraya is guilty and must be stoned to death.

What angers me greatly of course is the casual disregard for women in the movie; women are chattels and like the horrible husband says emphatically to his sons, 'this is a man's world'. And more grievously worrying is that this is NOT what Islam teaches but this has become the perception of Westerners who have little knowledge about Islam. Another thing that I noted was the themes concerning the danger of 'gossip/fitnah' and the misuse of power by the religious officers. Not only did they not properly verify the accusation, they also did not punish the man who was the supposed adultery partner with Soraya. In Islam, aren't both individuals punishable for adultery, why is the woman the only one who is stoned? For those of you planning to watch the movie, please do not bring kids into it. The stoning scene at the end is horrible, compelling, graphic and emotionally draining. I must say the Iranian actresses playing the two lead roles (e.g. Soraya and her aunt) did a fantastic job with every gesture, movement and facial expression. I definitely recommend this, and yes, I did feel teary at the end as they showed the only known picture of Soraya. Truly a movie worth watching and owning a DVD copy. I felt so disturbed with the movie that I couldn't sleep the next day (even though I had my eyes closed during the stoning scene).

The Kite Runner

Many of you are probably familiar with the book and the movie. I liked the movie very much even though I have not read the story. It was set during the Taliban reign in war torn Afghanistan and tells the story of two little kids, Amir and Hassan. Amir is rich and Hassan is a Hazra boy who works for Amir's family. As the Taliban take over Afghanistan, Amir is forced to leave Afghanistan for the US with his father. He earns a college degree, marries a beautiful lady and becomes an accomplished author. After his father dies, he learns that he might be forced to return to his home country to rescue Hassan's son. Hassan and his wife was killed while guarding Amir's house. Movie ni pun banyak sangat tender moments; I definitely felt like shedding a tear or two. It's a story about friendship, love, cultural conflicts and of loyalty. There's also another stoning scene but it wasn't as graphic or gripping as The Stoning of Soraya M. Again, the unknown actors were superb in their roles. The little kids were wonderful; they were actual Afghanis but the adults actors playing the main characters were not and they had to learn the Dari language, which must have been quite difficult. The scenes were set in the US, Afghanistan and parts of China. I felt that it was such a quietly understated but beautifully crafted movie about about human courage and compassion and it was easily the best flick that I saw during my winter break. Also highly recommended.

Well, the winter break is over and now it's time so start working again! Sigh.

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Happy birthday to me!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:53:00 +0000

Wow... this is one of the longest time since I stayed away from my blog. Dah bersawang dah pun. He he he. Sometimes I think I should shut it down, but the urge to blog is still there only time does not permit it. Have no fear though, if I don't blog it means I am relatively busy, but happy. :-P

My recent birthday just passed. This year, although have been up and down, things are good. I am grateful for all His blessings. I am healthy, my family is well and I have a good husband. Financially, we are also doing OK. Studies are good. So all in all, I have a lot. And I am grateful for it. We didn't do much on the day; a friend was moving to Michigan so we headed to her house to help her clear away her stuff (and there was a lot, she have been staying there for twenty years!). I am also a bit saddened as this friend is one of the most helpful and kind people here and not having her here is sort of like losing a family member. But it's OK, I can always phone and now that Emee is here in the US I am not lonely at all. :-)

This year, the snow is late. There was a flurry on my birthday, but it has cleared. I am guessing it will come back next week but the weather is not too cold compared to last year so that's great! I am on winter break for a couple of weeks so I just plan to relax and take care of hubby n cat. My prelim paper is waiting but I plan to submit it in March or April. All in all, things are going according to plan although I am a bit behind schedule. My brother is getting married in February and I feel sad that I am going to miss this joyous occasion. But that can't be helped so I can't dwell on it. Being away makes me appreciate my family and I wish that I had more time to spend with them. I cannot wait to finish my studies so I can go back home.

To all of you celebrating Christmas, happy holidays! I will write more when the mood strikes.

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All-American Muslims @ TLC

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:26:00 +0000

This is a new show on American Muslims that debuted in TLC a couple of weeks ago. I hadn't had a chance to watch it until this week. I was very excited to see a show about Muslims in American in the midst of all the anti-Muslim sentiment in the US. This show follows the lives of Arab Muslims in Dearborn. You can watch the trailer I posted above.

I have mixed feelings about it. It's exciting what they are trying to do... I hope that in the end, it educates and let people know that Islam is a peaceful religion. And just like they are many different kinds of Christian or Buddhists, they are also many different kinds of Muslims. Some Muslims are devout, some are less so. Some are even kind of liberal. I am just wondering though about the choice of location. Why Dearborn? And why Arab Muslims? What about African Americans who are Muslims? Indian/Pakistani Muslims? Surely, the Muslim community is more diverse than that. But perhaps, as somebody mentioned, they chose Arab Muslims for a specific reason.

I get asked this question a whole lot in class, too. How do you feel about being Muslim in a non-Muslim country? Honestly, it is a question that has not occurred to me much, meaning I do not lose a lot of sleep about it because I come from a Muslim country where the question of my religion is not made salient. Here, sure I stick out like a sore thumb because of my hijab. But to say that it's difficult to practice my faith would be a stretch. It's not hard at all. I do things like I would do back home. I pray. I cook halal meat. We go to the mosque for Eid prayers (kalau rajin he he he!) and Sad goes to the mosque every Friday for prayers. I am perhaps also rather lucky as I am located in a university campus where my identity, although not well understood is tolerated. Just last week a classmate of mine asked me very politely why I wear the hijab and other Muslims (that he has seen) do not, and I was happy to oblige. I dare say if I was in another part of the US, such tolerance may be limited, or might not even exist. So I am happy to be where I am.

And I find it easier to deal with non-Muslims who accept our faith tolerantly, and with an open mind compared to other pseudo Muslims who drink and dress scantily, and look down on other Muslims who do not! (and there are quite a few here, mind you! :-P). Practice your faith if you want, but do not look down, condescend, insult or argue with others who choose not to. That's my take on it. After all... la ikraha fiddin...

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Setting the record straight

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:14:00 +0000

Finally, fall is here. Sigh. The weather is colder now with no sunshine left. There's about two more months left though before winter comes so I am going to enjoy this weather for as long as I can. This week, things have finally settled a bit. I am still though chasing a deadline, while still taking one class. I am not sure if I can reach the deadline, but I am going try my hardest to do it. If things work out, I can sit for my CE next semester.

Academics aside, there's something that I've been meaning to write for the longest time. I deactivated my FB almost a year ago, and I don't miss it at all! I've written before, why I deactivated the account. First and foremost, I was spending too much time on it that I wasn't doing much else. That was not good. Secondly, I felt that people, and I mean people I hardly know were taking an inordinate interest in my life. When this 'nosiness' started to affect and infringe my professional life, that was when I drew the line (e.g. rumors about me were reaching my bosses back home. If it were true, it's OK but it wasn't and it was affecting my job!). If you are a narcissist/exhibitionist, I guess you won't feel that would be much of a problem. But I am rather private (some of you might ask, why have a blog? Well, that can be elaborated in a different post ha ha ha), so I feel that is an invasion of my privacy. There is of course the privacy setting which one can adjust, but after a while, that got tiresome for me. I got tired of filtering my life for a bunch of people I did not care about. It was exhausting, tedious and took time. So the easiest was to just to deactivate the account. I figured I could just log on as usual if I missed it. And so far, I don't. Not even a bit.

Of course the downside is I miss my friends. The close ones that really matter, that is. Turns out, I can still keep in touch with them via e-mail, or even call them via Skype if I feel like it! And yes, the ones that truly appreciated the friendship has put in effort to keep in touch, despite me being without it. I learned to make friends and maintain friendships before it existed, and I found out that I can still do those things without it! Another downside is of course some foolish people creating rumors that I deleted them from my FB account. First of all, that is very childish (yes, somebody did that TO ME, but did I go around spreading rumors about it?). Secondly, why do you assume that you are so important to me that I would spend any amount of negative energy deleting you from my FB? I have better things to do (and come to think of it so should YOU). So get the facts straight, I did not delete you from FB, I deactivated my account. It's funny that you wanted us to not bother you, but you would waste your time in trivial pursuits like spreading lies. Tak penat kah? :-P Oh for those of you contemplating of deactivating your account, this is an interesting read on why one would do so; click here. I don't know if I necessarily agree with all the points, but it was an amusing read. :-)

So overall, while it was fun while it lasted I just don't need it right now. Yes, I do realize that it's rather ironic for an Internet researcher not to have a FB account, but there is always the log on option if I want it back in my life. And there's nothing wrong with you if you are a FB addict, just don't let it rule every aspect of your life. And if you get tired of it and want to try something else, there's always Twitter or Google Plus. He he he.

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Chicago the windy city!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:22:00 +0000

Last year, I found out that one of my closest uni friend, Emee would be in the US to continue her Masters. I was very happy to hear that! It's nice to have a friend from back home to talk to. So we decided to help her out when she came to settle down. We knew how hard it would be to settle down in a foreign country without a familiar face, as we had gone through the same process. I was luckier because I had a husband with me, and I was located in a very small, university town so getting around was not so hard (except in winter). She came last month, and as soon as both of us had some free time we packed our stuff and headed to Chicago last week!

University of Chicago: Image courtesy of Google Images

It takes about six hours to get from Ohio to Chicago. She got a place in the University of Chicago, which is actually located in the middle of town, very much like University of Akron, I think. Her apartment is minutes away from her school building, so that was good. Build in the 1890s, its really one of the more established private universities in the US. Transportation was very complicated; it is after all one of the biggest cities in the US also. She had access to subways and LRT but you have to get your bearings right and learn how to navigate the area before even attempting to get on the train. Even getting to the next neighborhood was very confusing for me. And coming from a small town, I was really, really scared in Chicago. Her apartment was of course in university campus, but it's open campus so next door was not a very safe neighborhood. As with Kent, you have police escorts walking with students after dark, but I've never seen so many police car patrolling the neighborhood at such a frequent rate! And of course, I was struck with the living expenses. Where I am, USD600++ for a one bedroom apartment is considered expensive, but she is staying in a studio apartment at the same rate, and that is considered cheap!!! And if you are used to small town driving, it was quite a shock to be back in a big city. I think hubby was given the horn more than once; people are so impatient! You rarely see drivers in small town being impatient. I guess life is much more laid back where I am currently living in. The diversity of the city was evident; you can see people of different races walking around in different parts of the city, and some university cafes even sold food catered to Muslim students.

Another thing that surprised me was the prevalence of halal @ zabihah food in her neighborhood. She had at least one good halal store (Valley of Jordan, I think it's called) and the food pricing was relatively inexpensive too compared to our halal store (perhaps due to competition, they probably had a larger market to cater to there)! Plus, the owner was super friendly. We also found a halal restaurant right near her neighborhood called Numeca. I had the Chicken BLT there which was really, really good. The owner is African Muslim, and there was even a Masjid there near the restaurant.

Chinatown, Chicago. Image courtesy of Google Images

We only spent two days there so I can't tell you much about the great tourist attraction there; I was told they have great museums (Museum of Science and Industry), the aquarium (Shedd aquarium) and the Millennium Park (which I think we drove by on our way to the premium outlet). We did however, see the sears tower from afar, and dropped by Chinatown (to go to the Asian store). (sorry, no personal pictures. I took some, but quality wasn't that good... plus, all three of us were not cam-whoring type of people he he he).

Sears Tower. Image courtesy of Google Images

To Emee, hope you have settled down properly, and we will see you again soon when we have the time. Don't worry, as long as we are still here we will help you the best way we can. It was nice to see a familiar face in Obama land. He he he he. As for me, I am glad to be living in a small town! Sure, it's less exciting, but much less expensive and a lot more 'tame'. Plus, my studies would not be any easier even if in a different place!

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Demam!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:08:00 +0000

Source: Google images

Wah, for the first time sejak datang US dapat selsema teruk! We just got back from a three day trip to Chicago to visit my friend Emee who is in Chicago doing her Masters (will blog about that trip later!). But I think the chilly Chicago weather, plus not getting enough sleep (darn you Toby!) for the past few days made my immune system weak, and thus here I am with blocked and runny nose, and a slightly sore throat. Thank goodness this week I am not presenting anything, and only have some reading to do plus just one short assignment to submit.

It's approaching fall season here in the US, so no more sunny weather. It's been raining steadily too, and the weather is now cool and chilly. I hate it how the weather abruptly change from summer to fall here. Time to bring out a slightly thicker coat and no more walking around in sandals! Probably also we need to get our flu shots at the local pharmacy. Will write more when I'm feeling better!

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Bookworm tag?

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:53:00 +0000

Source: Google Images

Syigim tagged me a couple of days ago. I'm kinda late in replying, but late is better than never kan? he he he. p.s: things have been really haywire last two weeks, now things have improved but there's still some lingering issues... hope it all gets sorted out. Sigh. Like I said, ignore my last post. :-P Enjoy this one, instead!

1. What books are you currently reading? How far in are you? What's it about?

Communication and Cognition! Seriously, it's my text book this semester. Not very far along because it's so hard to read!!! Oh you mean non-academic books? Then it's a chick lit by Gemma Halliday called 'Spying in High Heels'. Some people say she copies Janet Evanovich but since I've not read any of Janet E's book I don't know if that's true. What I do love about it is that she's managed to make a chick-lit super funny and her characters are endearing. Never mind that it's not realistic. Ha ha. This book is about a rather hair brained shoe designer who turns super sleuth when her boyfriend disappears after being suspected of embezzling money. Despite repeated warnings from the detective leading the case (who also happens to be good looking! what are the odds of that!) she manages to get herself in serious danger because of her meddling. As chick lit goes, it was light and I finished it in two days!

2. If you could live out any storybook, as a character in it, which story would it be?

Hmm... I would say Miss Marple... in any of Agatha's Christie's novels featuring MM. It would be nice to be right all the time! Ha ha. She always knows. Don't try to pull one over her.

3. Lets say that you could donate your old books. Is there ONE book that you would not donate?

I'm an avid true crime novel but there's no other psychopath that fascinates me except for Ted Bundy. I've reviewed Ann Rule's book about him "The Stranger Beside Me" which was pretty good until recently I also read "The Only Living Witness" by Stephen Michaud & Hugh Aynsworth. Ann Rule knew him slightly and worked with him before his killing spree started but Michaud & Aynsworth actually interviewed him before he died. Upon reading the book, I feel that it is the most comprehensive book on Bundy so far. There are things in the book detailing Bundy's mannerisms and his views on his own crimes that are chilling, and not found in other books. So yes, this is one book I would never, ever donate.

4. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?

I don't like recommending books to people, because I think it's very personal. What you read tells you a lot about your interests so it's hard to tell someone what is good because I think it's subjective. Let me put it this way, one book that I think was interesting right off the bat, could interest a lot of people even if you are not a fan of the genre is definitely is the classic "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo. His description of the Italian mob is fascinating to say the least. I have a rather dog-eared version of the book, which has been read many times!

5. What's the first book that you read more than once? What book have you read the most time? And how many times?

I think the first book that I read more than once would be books by Enid Blyton. I read them as a kidand I've read and reread them. The books now belong to my youngest brother! The book that I read the most would be Ken Follet's "The Dangerous Fortunes". I love Ken Follet. His historical novels are the best. The Dangerous Fortunes is about a upper class banking family whose rise to fortune was met with financial doom due to greed and weak leadership. The hero is the black sheep of the family. Without giving too much away, he triumphs in the end, manages to win the love of his life & recovers from the financial bankruptcy with a lot of bravery, wit, honesty & some luck along the way.

6. A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving.

Hmm... this is not a good question for me. Ha ha ha. I am a avid book-worm but I know what I like. So I seldom venture outside of my genres. Some of my favorite authors include Ann Rule, Ken Follet (see number 5), Agatha Christie, Nicci French, Emily Griffin & John Grisham. And I am rarely disappointed with these authors.

7. Name one book that you hope would never, ever get made into a movie (no matter how good the movie is).

Again, not a very good question for me. Unlike books, I don't have a specific preference because I am not fussy about movies. I watch (most) things. But I do know many people who were disappointed with the Harry Potter & Lord of The Rings stuff. Meh. Just don't compare it!

8. What's the last book you were really excited to read? And, you were excited to read about it in advance? Or did the excitement bloom while you were really reading it? Are there any books that you're excited about right now?

Source: Google Images

This is an easier question. That has to be Christopher Smith's 'Bullied'. I don't normally read science fiction or supernatural stuff but this one intrigued me because of the subject. The hero is a weak, nerdy high school student who is always bullied by the super cool people at school. Things aren't too good at home either with his parents. Things changed when he discovered an amulet that allows him to wish things at will: wish it and it is yours kind of thing. He uses his power to go after his abusers. The book has four series in it; I've eagerly read three of them and am VERY excited to read the last one on Kindle. Which reminds me to check my Amazon account: OMG book four is already available! Got to download it. He is a new writer so I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed his books. You won't be able to put them down.

9. What's the largest your personal library has ever been? What's the greatest number of books you have at one time? Err... don't ask. From my favorite writers alone (Follet, Rule, French, Christie) I have nearly all of their books. It's extensive. But now that I have my Kindle, I don't really worry about space. I can own as many books that I like!! I can't wait until Amazon comes up with their own tablet. I will definitely buy it just because of the color Kindle.

10. What is your favorite fictional relationship between characters? Probably the epic love-hate relationship between Aliena & Jack in "The Pillars of the Earth" from Ken Follet. I loved it so much that as soon as the sequel of the book "World without End" was out I immediately read it. What I loved about it was because it was such an improbable and doomed relationship. Jack was poor born and a lot younger than Aliena. There were lots of relationships ups and downs in the book and when it finally happened, you sighed with relief.

11. If you could see one book turned into the perfect movie-one that would capture everything you love, the characters, the look, the feel and the story - what book would you choose?

Refer to question 7. Same answer. :-P

12. Do you prefer to read a book really fast or savor it really slowly?
Depends if I have time. If I am busy with schoolwork (like right now :-() I would probably pick up a book and take ages to read it. Sigh.

13. What's the latest you've ever stayed up reading a book? Is staying up late reading a usual thing for you? All the time. Yes!! The latest incident was during the last book I read by Emily Griffin, "Something Blue". I ended up going to sleep after Subuh just to finish it. Ha ha ha.

14. Do you read book reviews? Whose do you trust? Do they affect your reading habits? Your buying habits?

Like Syigim, with my favorite authors I usually read without bothering to read other reviewer's take on it. Certain authors have a style that you will like no matter what the story line. But with authors I am not familiar with, reviews matter a lot because lots of time I ended up not buying a book when an Amazon reviewer tells me not to waste my time, or reading it because of the high reviews. It was based on reviews that I ended up reading and enjoying work by Christoper Smith, Gemma Halliday and also Reed Farrel Coleman.

15. Choose one book as a gift to:

My hubby: Probably something IT or photography related? I know he likes those.
Father: I know he likes Ken Follet too so this is easy!
Mama: It's hard to choose coz she's a reader like me too... Probably something classic like Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl or "Thorn Birds" by Colleen McCullough or a self-help books. I know she reads those on a regular basis. Oh duh! Just remembered her favorite author is James Michener so something from him is a good gift too.
My sister in law: She reads chick lit too so she will enjoy the latest by Sophie Kinsella or Emily Griffin. :-)
Myself: Hmm... any book on mystery/crime fiction/suspense/thriller would be good for me!

16. What is your favorite quote from your favorite book?

It's kind of hard to think of it off the bat like this. Kalau teringat nanti update ye. Ha ha.

17. How did you encourage your children start reading books?
I don't have any right now but I know when the time comes I will do the same thing as how I got started. Reading aloud as a habit and rewarding them with books if they behave. :-P

18. Do you like short stories? What do you like about short stories?

Not particularly. If I like the story, if it finishes too quickly I feel dissatisfied. One of the best short stories I've read was actually a local one (surprise, surprise!). It was actually a collection of short stories that appeared in a magazine. What I loved about it was that it was realistic, it featured stories on the lives of all types of women in Malaysia. I can't remember the title though. Subject nature was varied so it kept me interested.

19. Ever received an unexpected gifts of books from your loved one?

No, and I don't expect to. Books are very personal; I'd rather buy one myself and enjoy reading it, rather than receiving a book I know I wont' like from somebody. I think you have to get to know the person real well before giving books as a gift.

I would like to tag these adorable book worms:

a. Kak Lisa

b. Ziah

c. Anyone who reads books and would like to do this tag!

Phew. Finally, done. :-)

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It's funny...

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 05:19:00 +0000

Source: Google Images

How people view themselves... Mean people never think they are mean, they're just being 'direct'... Pushy people never think they are pushy, they're just 'standing up for their rights' and trampling on everything that gets in the way... and of course if you disagree you're ignorant and backward! Bullies never think they are bullying, they are just merely 'expressing how authoritative, confident and knowledgeable they are'... And those who are bullies, mean + pushy are very proud for being a despicable excuse for a human being.... And it's funny how they are always quick to puff up like a proud peacock at their supposed 'strengths' and never see it as the ugly truth that it is... And time after time as they boast, I see right through that charade...

On other fronts, I am really, really tired. There has been lots of ups and downs lately but I've been tested again and again with alarming frequency lately. This time, I am not sure if I can get through this particular hurdle. I really feel like going home. Is it time to throw in the towel?

p.s: Please ignore the bulk of this post. I will write more when I feel better.

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S'thing borrowed to s'thing blue!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:35:00 +0000

For more, go to this website

Lagi seminggu nak sekolah haruslah buat bende2 tak berfaedah kan? He he he. Starting with...

Something borrowed

Dah lama nak tengok movie dia. I've read the book and was curious to see what the movie would be like (watch the trailer above if you haven't seen it!). I know a lot of people don't favor movie based on books but I don't really mind. Besides, Emily Griffin is a fantastic writer who writes about romantic relationships, and that isn't too hard to replicate in my opinion. I loved most of the casting. I thought Kate Hudson was perfect as Darcy, and the male actor as Dex (I can't remember his name, but he has been described in the book as the guy who had 'perfect hair) but Ginnifer Goodwin is too pretty as Rachel. She's supposed to be really plain Jane but no way is she that! Sweet/pretty is more like it, I think. Anyway, this movie is light-hearted and fun. I loved the script, especially the banter between Ethan & Darcy. And lets face it, it's pretty realistic. How many of us has had a Darcy in our lives? You know, the friend who tries to show up everyone, the one who is ultra-competitive, yet is so sensitive (or rather oblivious) to any criticism. In my opinion, this movie depicts the complicated dynamics of female friendship much better than other chick flicks, such as Bride Wars (also coincidentally starring Kate Hudson!). I was just rather peeved with Rachel's reaction to Darcy's behavior, in the book as well as in the movie. She's at fault because: a) she has given in to Darcy all of her life and NEVER said a word about it even though she's obviously hurt and b) if she really loved Dex, she should have said something before it was too late, and she had many opportunities! And yes, snatching a BFF's fiance/bf is taboo in female friendships, and you can sort of understand Darcy's over the top reaction to it. All in all, even though there were one or two minor things (that I can observe) that strayed slightly from the book, I thought the movie was a good representation of the book.

Moving on to...

Something blue

It was on reduced discount on Amazon so I downloaded it in my Kindle. This book is a continuation of Something Borrowed. This time, it's based on Darcy's point of view. Now, if you've read/seen Something Borrowed, you would absolutely hate this character. Emily Griffin is such a good writer that you ended up rooting for her! It starts with the scene where Darcy finds out that her friend Rachel is having an affair with her fiance. Darcy being Darcy, she is absolutely gob-smacked that goodie goodie Rachel 'betrayed her' and that Dex would prefer a PLAIN JANE instead of HER. She also decides to absolutely milk the situation and exploit it to her advantage by announcing Rachel's betrayal to everyone in sight and neglects to mention that she had cheated on Dex on several occasions (although she justified it as 'not sex' but just heavy 'making out') and actually got pregnant by having sex with Dex's best friend, Marcus! However, things don't go her way as she has a major falling out with her parents, and people rapidly lose sympathy with her predicament, and when Marcus abandons her, it is the last straw as she is left without any support system. The only one she usually relies on in times of crisis, is Rachel, and she already told Rachel to drop dead! She decides that the only course of action she can take is to flee to England to live with Ethan (who took a job as a writer in London). I liked the description in the book about English culture and way of life, and I find the blow up between her and Ethan believable. Hence, my favorite thing in the book is her transformation from a selfish hoe to a mature adult. And yes, there is a happy ending so no worries. For a chick flick, this is one of the BEST of its genre. :-) But don't take my word for it: read it on a lazy Sunday when you want to waste a couple of hours, and want to finish a good book in one sitting.

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"What a classless airhead!"

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 04:34:00 +0000

How fast Ramadhan is going: I can't believe there's less than two weeks left before Raya! Sebab cuti, I've been spending some time catching up on leisurely reading and going on You-tube. Found the P Ramlee documentary directed by Shuhaimi Baba on the History channel. Maybe most of you caught it already. I found it extremely fascinating, and of course sad. It's a classic case of not appreciating something/someone until they are already gone. What's intriguing to me is also the conspiracy theories and allusions to the reasons for his downfall upon returning to Malaysia. I've seen it a couple of times and am still not bored with it. For some interesting titbit on reactions to this documentary, go to this blog. You can read between the lines in the blog post and comment box, and get some clues as to who the author think is a major player in P Ramlee's downfall.

Class is also starting in two weeks. I am only taking one class but I am not really looking forward to it;I have yet to think of a suitable topic for my preliminary paper. Plus, it's my last semester of coursework so I will really be on my own after this. It's hard to keep motivated but I have to keep telling myself that I want to get everything done on time, Insya-Allah...

We also managed to have iftar with an interesting lady here, who really epitomize the meaning of 'sojourner'. Being away from home and family requires every bit of strength you have, and this lady did that with very little support! You are worth ten of them, OK! There are things that I wish I could just ignore, and I am glad somebody agrees with me, and is able to see past the shenanigan, plastic behavior and saccharine smiles. When the idea of 'collectivistic group' is abused so liberally and wantonly, why would you want to be part of it? Her similar tales of woes convinced me that we are doing the right thing.

While I spend the final vestiges of my holiday, I need to clear my head of all rubbish and regroup. Enjoy the rest of Ramadhan, people!

PS: Tajuk post takde kene mengena dgn kandungan blog. Ha ha ha.

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It's Ramadhan, again!

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:35:00 +0000

Source: Google images

Salam to all my Muslim blog readers,

Ramadhan Mubarak to all of you! Hope this Ramadhan will be a fruitful and blessed month for all of you.

This year, we are still stuck in Obama land. I really miss the puasa month in Malaysia and spending this time with my family, but I am really, really, grateful that both of us are healthy, happy and doing OK in our studies. I am also thankful that Sad is here with me in this journey. This is just a temporary phase, and I will hopefully be back home to enjoy Ramadhan in Malaysia Insya-Allah in another two years. I am also glad that the fasting month this year falls during summer break and I have no class; so that allows me to really enjoy this month. We break fast at around 8.45pm so it's pretty long. Thank goodness the weather here is warm but windy. I can do without the heat wave. :-)

Take care all, and have a good iftar! (we are 12 hours behind Malaysia so it's still not Ramadhan for us he he he).

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Our summer activities

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:58:00 +0000

Source: Google Images

There's only a few weeks left for my summer holiday. Sigh. After enjoying myself for quite a bit without thinking about my PhD, I am feeling very sluggish. It will take a lot of effort to get back into study mode. Last year, we went back to Malaysia but this year we decided to stay. Summer is quite nice here; even though certain places in the US have been hit with terrible heat wave (e.g. Texas, Florida etc) we've been quite fortunate to have a rather breezy and windy summer here. That's been spots where we've had scorching hot weather, but it's been rather bearable. This short break has also been good to me; it feels good not to think about schoolwork for a while, and I've been feeling really happy and relaxed.

Here's a few things that we did to while away our summer holiday; for one, we took a short trip to Pittsburgh Zoo. It's about two hours from our place, and I've been itching to go there. It's pretty huge and tiring! Since we got there during the week day, it was not so crowded but the train service was not working! So we had to walk the whole way from the entrance to the exit. I think the best parts were the African Savannah exhibit and the aquarium. There were a lot of varieties of different animals, and I thought the way they organized each exhibit was very orderly, and they attempted to preserve as much as they could of the natural habitat of the animals. It was just rather disappointing that the polar bear did not make an appearance; it was too hot and they were probably sleeping instead of baking in the hot sun. Here are some selected photos:

The angry snow leopard

Yikes, sharks!

Can you spot the fish?

Sad's favorite place; the aquarium!

We also managed to visit some nearby parks. Monroe Park was nice. Sad wanted to take a dip in the lake but he changed his mind upon seeing the muddy waters! He he he. But it didn't deter others. There were plenty of kids and adults enjoying a cool dip in the lake, fishing or boating/canoeing. Since we don't have any beaches near us, this is the nearest body of water so it will have to do.

Lake Monroe

We also had some visitors from Athens and Indiana who came by for a short visit. After being entertained by the visitors in their respective homes, it felt really good to return the favor! Next in our plans is probably a visit to Lake Erie. Niagara Falls (the US bit) and Cedar Parks (an entertainment park) is also pretty close to us and we haven't been there. We only have two more years here so we plan to cram in as many things and visits to as many different places as possible. It would be a waste not to!

All in all, this long, relaxing and hot summer is definitely a much welcome break for both of us. How I wish the summer break would not end.

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Surviving wisdom teeth surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:28:00 +0000

I had both upper and lower! Source: Dr. Howard Israel

Finally, I had the surgery, and I'm so glad I did. And I don't ever want to do it again!

I was really nervous prior to the surgery. I met with one general dentist who advised me to do it, one oral surgeon who barked at me saying it was 'risky, with permanent nerve damage!' and finally, one fantastic oral surgeon who told me 'the risks are there, but I am not worried about it'... Add to that, I read so many horror stories about the disadvantages of having wisdom teeth surgery. Don't even read horror stories on the Internet cause it will freak you out, and half the time it's people who've had extremely bad experiences who are venting. Each case is different so yours might not turn out exactly like the ones you are reading on the Net.

The morning of the surgery I was still nervous. I literally panicked when the two dental assistants called me into the operating room. They put me on IV and gave laughing gas to me and I was instantly out. I woke up about 45 minutes later, after the operation was done, and three wisdom teeth were pulled. I remembered nothing! (and I don't want to!). I was still a bit loopy though and now I know why they insist that a person accompany you to the surgery.

The first day was the worst. I felt like somebody literally sucker punched me in both cheeks and I could barely open my mouth and my jaws felt tired. That's not the worst; I hated having blood ooze out of my mouth and I could eat nothing except for ice cream sundae, mash potatoes and Ensure drinks. The oral surgeon called in the evening to check up on me, but I was still slurring my words and had Sad talk to him. It was nice though of him to follow up. The next day was better though, I had more appetite, there was not much blood but the swelling increased. My cheeks ballooned, a.k.a. chipmunk cheeks! I am also VERY, VERY fed up with soft food. Today, the third day, I am still being careful so I am still eating ice cream, but had a hearty soup and some chicken porridge that made me feel more human! I should be able to eat real food next week, since I don't want to risk getting infected or having dry sockets (which is reportedly very painful). Overall, it was not a bad experience, although one I would not care to repeat.

I am glad that I made the decision to go see the second oral surgeon. Although costly, he was competent, confident and reassuring. So important to go to the right person for these kinds of things. Like my dad says 'its a risk not worth taking'. You can't avoid oral issues, it's just my luck that it happened in the US where dental care is super expensive (although my mum did tell me that it's also expensive in Malaysia!). And I am glad I got it done during the summer break, so I can concentrate on getting better. Now I can study in peace!

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Warning: Wisdom tooth... (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Silent Scribbler) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:54:00 +0000

Dah lama sangat tak update. Satu sebab sibuk habiskan online class. I got two more days to go, yeay! Dua sebab tengah usaha cari information pasal wisdom tooth. After the last post, I met one oral surgeon, and got promptly shouted at! (boleh?). Plus, he told me that there are many risks involved with extractions at my age and he was reluctant to do it. Terus tak sedap hati, coz I know my general dentist told me that it has to be out, and I am wondering about the clash in information.

Duduk dinegara orang ni, with so many things unsure, you got no one else to rely on except yourself. Thank goodness for pakcik Google! So, I went on the Internet, looked for more information, and found another oral surgeon near my area who came highly recommended. Saw him today, and immediately felt at peace. He was so different from the last oral surgeon I met! He was calm, gentle, kind and reassured me many times. He said he's used to doing these kinds of procedures everyday and I should be fine. Turns out there is not only one tooth that needs to be extracted, but three! And he said that of course there are risks in leaving it in, just as there are risks in extracting it. But he said that since it's still OK, no swelling and no complication YET, it's better to take it out to avoid further risks in the long run. Good news is that I have no gum diseases, sinus looks OK and general oral health is also good. Plus, even though it's really costly, our insurance would cover most of it (I think).

My appointment has been set next Tuesday. Wish me luck, and please pray for me that it goes OK. I hate surgeries, and I hate dentists in general! Will write more later after the surgery...

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