Fight For Preemies!

Every year, 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick ― half a million of them in the United States. November 17 is when we fight.

Do you know a baby that was born too soon, too small, unable to suck, unable to breathe on his own? Premature birth is a health crisis that jeopardizes the lives and health of nearly half-million babies each year. It is the #1 killer of newborns and can lead to lifelong disabilities. Worse: the number has increased 31 percent since 1981. It can happen without warning and for no known reason. Until we have more answers, anyone’s baby, could be born too soon.

Read more here!

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A preemie myself, I have a fair share in surviving life as a pre-mature baby. I was only 7months in mom's womb when suddenly it strike to me that 1982 is such a cool number to be born in. I can't wait to get out.

So I did. On a Thursday of November the 25th around 2pm I made it obvious that living in a womb for 9months like any other kids is so not me. I wanna get out.

I was born in KL, being held captive in an incubator for two months alone on my own as mom was transferred back to Muar right after I was born, with 16 wires on my body, weighing merely 1lb (that's 453.59237 gram for you) with my head just as big as a cup I look ridiculous. News even spread amongst the doctors that I might either be unhealthy or....dead.

But here I am, reaching 27 in a week's time, perfectly healthy and fit. I fight for my life and proved them wrong. I didn't even get jaundice when other babies around me in the incubation area suffered and died of 'em. Alhamdullilah. I am grateful everyday for the chance to live that He had given me and for having an amazing mother and affectionate dad.

You see, I took the risk to live. Right from the moment I see the world for the first time, I have taken the plunge. And after 26years, 11 months and 8 days; I've taken a plenty of 'em during my short journey in this world:

Risk #1 - I took the risk of seeing the world before the time comes even though I know I might be as well dead being a small preemie that I was.

Risk #2 - I took the risk of majoring in Multimedia right after school even though I have an offer waiting from TESL with good salary and penchant guaranteed. Multimedia back then IS considered something very new.

Risk #3 - I took the risk again, of not accepting an offer from a college in Wanganui and took a course with a local one instead, spending a lengthy 3 years of nothingness.

Risk #4 - Skipped my 3rd year in college and went straight to work.

Risk #5 - Did my first wedding assignment using 10 rolls of film to help a cousin. Without any idea what I was doing, I shot everything pretty perfectly, relying on my eyes and intuition. Took up photography seriously after that even though I lacked equipment and support.

Risk #6 - Quit my stable position as a designer and took up my current job as a copywriter even though I have no professional experience in writing.

I skate on thin ice. I take a leap before even looking. Stupid? I let you have your benefit of a doubt.

What I had when I was born was a miracle. Took a chance and with God's willing I live to see sunset and sunrise for twenty-seven years. That's how I got my name derived from a word in a Sura meaning 'close to Him'. Having a pre-mature baby can be an emotional journey for parents. I believe the same happened to my mom and dad. I am what my husband would like to call me 'calm before the storm'. My mom might spent a morning in the kitchen preparing breakfast, when suddenly she noticed that everything went quiet and the air seems to be still and calm. Suddenly a line of clouds portentously appears on the horizon right in front of her through the window; clouds with a look that tells her they aren't fooling around.

The cloud is me. Ever since I was born, I am their little pint of hurricane - the tropical cyclone that brings strong wind and heavy rain. I pushed myself through despite anything. I fight for myself every time.

My point is - if you are going through your pregnancy days, have a preemie baby, a preemie baby yourself or simply a curious blogger; you might wanna check out the article above. November is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis of premature birth. The March of Dimes invites bloggers like you to get involved.

As they say it, we need to fight ― because babies shouldn’t have to.

Source from marchofdimes.com

This post is dedicated to my sister's son; baby Adam who was a preemie borne on November 17, 2009. Al-fatihah.

Radio Rocks!

Have you watch 'The Boat That Rocked' yet? If you haven't, I recommend you to watch it for 3 definite reasons:

1- Awesome soundtracks - Brits music rocks!
2- Midnight Mark is major cute
3- Lovely lovely 60's setting



This movie is based on a popular pirate radio ship in the 60s called Radio Caroline that broadcast from a ship to UK. The only thing I hate about the movie is that they didn't include The Beatles's tracks though 1960s is the famous band's unmistakable prime year. How could they not when other famous rock&roll songs are innit? Royalty issues? Grr. My favorite of all time is of course 'All Day And All of The Night' by The Kinks and 'Crimson And Clover' by Tommy James & The Shondells. The rest of the featured ones include songs by The Turtles, Procol Harum, Cat Stevens, Jimi Hendrix, Dusty Springfield, The Who and even David Bowie. Unfortunately, Aaron Neville's 'Tell It Like It Is' wasn't in the official OST though it was played in one of the scenes with Midnight Mark. How cruel.

All in all, an enjoyable cruise but don't expect much of it.

I've always consider myself as a radio person. If you hand me a survey stating 'List down 3 famous TV shows of all time', I know jackshit of what to write. I grew up listening to keronchong from my late dad's old radio. Its one of the most magical music I've ever heard my whole life. A Johorian's trait? Perhaps so. My late uncle used to have a huge crush on Orked, mom told me. Yes, the Orked in Yasmin Ahmad's movie, her sister Datin Orked Ahmad (I'm a Muarian, just in case you dont remember) is a family friend. Approaching my teenage years, I began to listen to my Sony walkman practically every second and every friggin' minute of the day. Piles and piles of music tapes was kept well-hidden under my bed away from prying eyes. Every other day I would drop by at my babysitter's house and watched her husband whom I called Abah, played the accordion.

I survived my childhood without the idiot box.

I don't know whats gonna happen back then if I have to live without the ghetto blaster. It was even my best friend and I auto routine, to turn the dial on every time we went into her room or while in the car. Always the first thing we would do before anything else. ALWAYS. We would bicker on which radio station to listen to; apparently the driver always get to choose. Remembered how a few of my friends and I would giddily lined up - I kid you not; at our school's public phone to call Hitz FM just to say 'No 2 belongs to Brandy 'The Boy Is Mine' live on air with John Boy! Imagine! Such are radio to some of us back then: huge and nothing short of humongous.

So when my strategist, the Tuan Berhormat Yang Dikasihi told me that I'm gonna write a radio script; you can imagine how excited I was! And today I went to a studio in Taman Tun to do the recording. Quite interesting to watch how the professional voice talents do their job - some did it coolly while another talent was so animated with the hand waving in the air and whole expression on his face. In 4 hours time, they wrapped it up and handed us a CD containing two commercial ads in English and Chinese.

I must say, the script was far from what I had in mind but for a safe choice, the ad might work well.

Budget Trip

It has been the slowest weekend for 2009.

Tuesday creeping up sluggishly to yet another slow Wednesday before finally moving on to Friday. They say, 'penantian suatu penyeksaan' - oh boy, i agree! I love rainy days where it rains all day long and everything is just super relaxing, I really do; but not while at work. The energy I have in me doesn't quite gel with the weather.

They declared a 6 days official hols for the company starting end of December till next year. An opportunity fell into my lap! Rubbing my hands in glee, I did a mini checklist on where to go. With a very limited budget, roadtrip for two is a no-no considering there's gonna be only MN and I since Nadiah broke her foot. Its always cheaper to travel in groups.

We were really considering a trip to Kuching and a few other possible places to go during this time of year. But a friend pointed out that it is best to save Kuching for another occasion - a visit to the longhouse or Rainforest, say. Finally decided to do a short backpacking trip to Singapore that really suits the budget. There's a few of you who would cringe your nose and say 'singapore is boring' but that is for me to find out. Hehe. Considering that I've never been there (eventhough I'm partially a Johorian), I will look at it as an opportunity to do street-shooting, visiting friends and celebrating the arrival of 2010 in another country. Might as well catch fireworks at the Asian Civilisation Museum as the admission is gonna be free from 8pm - 1am. There are actually quite a few other free admissions to other galleries and museums during the new year.

I've booked a bunk at a really nice backpacker's hostel in Joo Chiat road at $20 per night. I shall spill the beans after the trip. Other than that, I'm just slowly, like November, taking my time to tick my so-called backpacker's list: looking around for a cheap 50L Deuter, shoes and whatever necessary. I will most likely to travel by train coz I is the train person, you see.

One thing I've learnt so far - never be afraid to ask other backpackers for tips. I met a wonderful new friend through Lonely Planet who gave me wonderful tips for backpacking to Laos. Splendid! I shall look into that once I have more time and moolah next year!

A round, solid week

If I am a font, I would marry Century Gothic for its darling a and g's look. They are elliptically sexy . I had a miserable time trying to construct a good opening sentence. Normally, words come to me naturally but not tonight. Reason being the font I used. It looked boring and tiresome and and. Urgh, so much more.

Or maybe not.

Ah, petty reasons to avoid admitting that it had been a slow, rough week without anything interesting happening for most of the days; enthralling event or gripping story that I could share in today's entry. Yeap, it was a slow, rough week, I admit. There were just deadlines to catch up as well as the usual luncheons and dinners. Apart from the uneventful, I survived the platitudinous.

An old friend came by for dinner on Saturday. Had been a year since I saw her and we had a smashin' good time gossiping and reminiscing. It has been great so far ; we received quite a number of visits from family and close friends whom like us, fell in love with the open space of the house. My best friend dropped by a few days back too, with a pack of biscuits in a hand. 'I know you love chocolate biscuits so I bring some. Good things are meant to be shared' she announced at the door. Best friends!

We were suppose to go on a little hike up a hill in Semenyih to catch sunset this evening but twas cancelled thanks to rain, superb home-cooked lunch at mum's and balmy weather that makes me sleepy. And a good book. Which I dont mind - good moments are meant to be shared...with your family. Not somewhere up a strange hill by one's self.

I love my garden - our petunias and white periwinkles are blooming beautifully from the hanging pot and my baby's breath looks like she can't wait to grow! I'm expecting our little christmas tree to be back on her good self again - she looks like a sad little snag the past coupla week. So sad but MN convinced me that its only a natural cycle.

I'm gonna write my first radio commercial so I'm hoping for the best. Have a great remaining weekend!

The Bygone Era of A Road Tripper

I’ve been wanting to hit the open road again. I’m longing for a roadtrip. Apart from this Oreo-blog, my roadtrip plan too has been sekejap ada sekejap takde. What’s with the shifting and Raya, the plan have to be put off much to my dismay.

There’s a new plan in the air. My good friends cum neighbors cum travel buddies suggested another roadtrip for December (just about the best time of year to be out there) and we have a few days to play with. Probably hit the north – a few nice stops before heading back to KL. Need to find some good loops with lots of charm and easy access. Ah, if there’s a subject on roadology in high-school, I would definitely score myself an A+.

But the best roadtrips are often impromptu, of course. Pack your shits up and just frikkin’ go. Be lost and explore. From my past roadtrippin’, each and one of the places I went to have their own bittersweet. With lots of sweet part, I may say. The only bitter piece was when my mini campervan – scientific word for my trusty Alice btw – was when she went into a huge drain, leaving my good friends cum neighbors cum travel buddies shocked to death.

The secret, I’ve learnt this from travelling with a few different people; is always to take the pleasure in the many places you will see, without worrying too much about trying to "see it all’. Some people tend to do that. Malaysia itself is a total landmass of 329,845 square kilometers. US is 3000 miles across, 1500 miles top to bottom. I just can’t see the rush. Unless the loop you’re in is boring. But then again, that’s when roadology comes into play. One may or may not need it but its often useful.

Another ‘it all’ that could trigger my ‘parannoying’ system on is ‘upload it all’. Seven pages for each four albums of your vacation pictures on facebook? Lmao.

I can talk about roadtrip all day long but its nearing five in the evening and I need to pack my stuff up and be gone. Ooh, did I tell you that I got the job?

Happy Tuesday!

A super long hiatus.

I can't believe that my last update was in July. It has been a terribly long hiatus and so I owe you a deep apology and many thanks for changing the links for me.

Oh wow. Many things had happened the past months of August and October. I dont think I need to blog it in, mundane business really, but all I can tell you is that life has been totally challenging and definitely interesting. Yea, I do notice that I've been repeating the same phrase in the manner of a mantra but life is...well, like that.

The months that I went missing was spent entirely at home with my family, entertaining the business of life. It came as a shocking to me when I decided to quit the job that I love so much. Now I don't know if I can explain the leap I made. It's like jumping off to another planet.

I actually could never picture myself not doing anything other than being a blardy workaholic. I eat, breathe and poop work.

But at some point, certain things took an abrupt turn and suddenly I'm a housewife. The beat changes, the air smells fresher. It's a big change that I forced myself to swallow but its all worth it. I thank God everyday that He has given me the chance to concentrate on my family and I spent the whole Ramadhan at home cooking, borak with my mom and browsing through bazaar ramadhan with MN. I can never regret this decision.

I took a long, deep rest. I hibernate.

I would love to say that I'm easing my way back into the swing of things now that we've moved in to the new place. Eka and Nadiah came over and hang out earlier on. Its great to have them around as neighbors. Especially now that we are officially family, the bond seems to be stronger.They helped us out a lot when we first moved in and we're really growing into this new place. Its really serene and just totally beautiful. The security is pretty tight and it gets really quiet by the day. Neighbors wave hello from their porch with a cuppa in hand, some young teens play basketball every other night and kids cycle around without worry. A great place to start a family actually. We have cat-neighbors too and our two tabbies seem to enjoy their company every evening.

I was offered the position of a copywriter with a Japanese agency and for a self-taught like me, the offer came in as a huge news. I passed the second interview, Alhamdullilah, and is now waiting for their final answer. I was competing with five other professional copywriters during the first round and honestly, real ad agency scares the shit out of me. But I suppose, after all these years working my butt off, I do deserve someting worth straining my eyeballs for.

The damp, drizzly november of the soul.

I am at a point where every single thing needs to be calculated carefully. Figures for a fiscal year. There is nothing surprising in this, I suppose. 

Am scheduled to move in to a new place comes September. Not that big, cosy enough for two with a small patio, only that its at the front. There’s an area on the second floor with timber flooring where I imagine MN at his table, me lying on the couch reading or rocking my baby to sleep. 

I can’t wait to decorate. We’re going DIY again and this time, we hunt back alleys for obscured treasures that camouflage itself within the lane. Used and secondhand stuff is also on the list, we're hunting garage sales and wanna do our creative restore-the-items project. Reuse, restore, reduce. Its (half) eco-friendly I may say. One simple step, a giant leap? Trying to simplify life as much as possible and become less materialistic. 

There’s also a teak store nearby my office that we love which sells good, reasonably-priced teak paraphernalia. We’re eyeing for oodles of old, classic bookshelves - those with dark paint and amazing sturdiness. We’re so lucky to receive a thoughtful gift from a few friends who had given us Ikea vouchers as a wedding gift which is going to be put on a good buy. I shall write more about this once we get the house done, with pictures, yes.

Christian wrote to me, ‘right now you are suffering through what american author Herman Melville called "the damp, drizzly november of the soul". I would like to acknowledge that coz the tough really gets going for me right now. But nothing can dampen my spirit as long as I know I have Him and him by my side. And it's a sunny July for me still.

We’re off for honeymoon next week and I’m hoping for clouds to stay puffy and sky remains blue. For Ishmael, as Melville had aptly put in his book; getting to sea cured his blues. Me? I just want to let the days take me by the hand.

Happy Wednesday! Don't forget to close your eyes and dream :)

p/s I've spotted a few new frequent readers. Thank you!