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The teenage driver of a pickup involved in a chase with Rockwall police was entrapped and burned alive after she crashed and the truck caught fire. Geoff Petrulis reports.
Rockwall Police Chase Ends With Pickup Crashing, Catching Fire Burning Teenager Alive Inside
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Beautiful Saturday!Enjoy some sun and a high of 60 degrees.
Only 6 ICU Beds Available In Denton County: 'We Are At A Critical Point With COVID-19'"We must honor the lives of those around us by wearing masks when around anyone we do not live with," said Denton County Judge Andy Eads.
Man Killed In Freak Accident Inside North Texas Car WashThe 39-year-old victim worked at the Wash Masters Car Wash off I-635 and MacArthur Boulevard in Irving.
Code Enforcement Officers Talk To Business Owners About New COVID-19 Capacity RestrictionsChris Palone, owner of The Rail Club Live in Fort Worth, said five TABC officers came to inspect his Fort Worth bar within hours of opening up Friday night.
20 North Texas Hospitals Set To Receive First Shipment Of COVID-19 Vaccine In Little More Than 1 WeekParkland, UT Southwestern, Methodist Dallas and Texas Health Harris are set to get the largest deliveries with 5,850 doses each.
Christmas-Themed Campo Verde Adjusting To COVID-19 RestrictionsKen Molestina reports on a restaurant that lives for the holidays.
Restaurant Owner Talks Challenges With Capacity RollbackRobbie Owens reports.
Texas COVID-19 Patient With '10% Chance Of Survival' Recovers After Oxygenation Treatment In Dallas HospitalDoctors said Mary Mariner, 64, had little chance of surviving after contracting COVID-19 in August and the virus attacked her heart.
Friday Evening News BriefHere's what made news Friday, Dec. 4.
Need For Help This Holiday Season Greater Than Years PastNorth Texans are stepping up to help, as Jody Dean reports.
Trump Admin. COVID-19 Task Force Recommending More Testing In TexasThe Coronavirus Task Force says increased and focused testing can interrupt the surge of coronavirus cases.
Customers May Not Notice New Coronavirus-Related Capacity Restrictions In Texas BusinessesIn the Fort Worth Stockyards Friday, Dec. 4, managers told code officers their own distancing protocols already had them well under the new limit.
Business Is Booming For Psychics Amid Global PandemicBut did they see it coming?
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Sunny And Warmer FridayThings get even warmer next week.
Former Wylie HS Soccer Star Sarah Fuller Talks About Her 1st Experience On GridironFuller was the first woman to play in a Power 5 conference college football game last weekend.


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Neighborhood Block Party
1. A Block Party Application must be filled in writing four weeks in advance. The Block Party Application must include a map of the impacted area. The Block Party Application must include a petition signed by all residents located on the street(s) affected by the closing. If applicable, an applicant must submit a Permit Request for Outdoor Amplification of Music with his or her Block Party Application. A Permit Request for Outdoor Amplification of Music outside 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. will require City Council approval. Even with an approved permit for outdoor amplification of music, noises of all types, including radios, stereos, etc. should be kept to a minimum. The Block Party Application and Permit Request for Outdoor Amplification of Music are to submitted to the Business License Division at 1500 Warburton Avenue.
2. Upon Block Party Application review, an applicant may be required to apply for an Encroachment Permit.
3. An applicant whose request has been approved is responsible for picking up, placing and removing the necessary street barricades from the Street Division Corporation Yard at 1700 Walsh Avenue, Santa Clara. The required barricades, based on availability, will be provided at no cost. The block party approval letter must be presented when the barricades are picked up. Barricades must be picked up no later than noon on the Friday prior to the block party, and must be returned by the first working day after the block party. The applicant will be required to pay for replacement costs for any barricades not returned to the City. Emergency vehicles must be able to enter and vacate the block party area. There will be no blocking of the street other than with the removable barricades furnished by the City.
4. An applicant whose request has been approved may not continue the block party after the approved time.
5. If a request for a block party has been denied, the applicant may appeal to the City Council (Council's decision shall be final). The applicant may request to be placed on the Council Agenda at the City Clerk's Office.
Questions? Please contact us at:
Municipal Services, Business Tax & License
Phone: (408) 615-2310

subset: commoncrawl


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My Renault Megane I 1.4 RT's airconditioning pump recently totally seized. When the seize happened, it also broke off the crank pulley. I have now replaced both the airconditioning pump and crank pulley, but the airconditioning pump is still not turning. I have also tested all relays on the relay board, checked all fuses on the fuse board and even reconnected the old aircon pump, which at this point is still able to be turned by the electrical system. Coincidentally, the old one will not turn when connected to the car. Anyone have an idea why the aircon pump is not getting power? Is there another relay/fuse I can check not located necessarily near the fuse/relay boards that I already checked? Any fuses/relays that are located in obscure places that anyone know of?
Thanks for the help in advance.


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Cornering kits for C&A Pro snowmobile skis are an excellent way to get your sled through the sugary snow on the race track. The cornering kits are designed to give your snowmobile skis extra surface area to push snow away in the corners instead of having it pile over the top of your ski saddles. These are primarily used for racing applications, but can be used for other situations where cornering on a dime is a must. Black and White color options are available and each kit comes with 2 plastics (1 for the outside of each ski), spacers and hardware.
- Sort by Default Order


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This page can be viewed at http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a021708SecondDateRape
This is a scalable context timeline. It contains events related to the event February 17, 2008: CIA Station Chief Allegedly Date Rapes Second Algerian Woman. You can narrow or broaden the context of this timeline by adjusting the zoom level. The lower the scale, the more relevant the items on average will be, while the higher the scale, the less relevant the items, on average, will be.
Andrew Warren, who will later be accused of date rape while serving as CIA station chief in Algeria (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), works for the NSA, according to a website he launches after publishing a book in 2002. (peopleoftheveil(.com) 3/2002) However, it is unclear if this claim is correct. Upon the publication of the book, Warren will also claim to have worked for the State Department in the late 1990s. (peopleoftheveil(.com) 3/2002; New York Beacon 4/10/2002; Feber 9/20/2002) That claim appears to be untrue. After the date rape allegations surface, media outlets will report he worked for the CIA before 9/11, but not mention any service at the State Department. (Ross, McCarthy, and Hill 1/28/2009; Miller 1/29/2009) Therefore, it appears that the story of his employment by the State Department may simply have been cover for his work for the CIA.
Andrew Warren, who will later be accused of date rape when he is chief of the CIA's station in Algeria (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), joins the CIA for the first time. He will leave the agency mid-way through this posting (see Before September 11, 2001), but return after the 9/11 attacks (see After September 11, 2001). (MacAskill 1/29/2009) It appears that Warren serves in Iraq and Kuwait at this time; a later Washington Post account will list his postings, and these include those two countries, as well as others Warren is known to have served in after he returns to the agency following 9/11. (Warrick and Smith 3/20/2009) In addition, two 2002 pieces in local papers will say he served at the US embassy in Kuwait between 1999 and 2001. (New York Beacon 4/10/2002; Feber 9/20/2002) Richard Blee, a CIA manager who will later serve as station chief in Afghanistan and may be linked to Warren (see Shortly After December 19, 2001 and January 2002 and After), works on Iraqi issues for the agency in the mid-1990s. (Silverstein 1/28/2007) However, it is unclear whether Blee and Warren know each other at this time. After the date rape allegations become public (see January 28, 2009) some of Warren's former colleagues will criticise him anonymously in the media. For example, one will say that Warren "married a girl in his [training] class, a really nice girl. He was abusive and controlling… and… he divorced her." He will add: "He was despised by his peers, in training and in the division, after graduation. His conduct in Algeria was not a surprise or aberration. These personality and performance issues were on display in his three previous tours." (Stein 4/28/2010)
Andrew Warren, a CIA officer who will later be accused of date rape (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), leaves the agency to work in the financial sector in New York. Warren was midway through his first assignment with the CIA, apparently in Iraq or Kuwait (see (1997)). (Miller 1/29/2009; MacAskill 1/29/2009) Warren will be working in New York on the day of 9/11. According to his website, after the first plane hits the World Trade Center he walks out of the Travelers Building, possibly indicating he works for the Travelers Companies. Warren then attempts to call his brother and sister, who work in the area and travel inside the WTC. Unable to contact them because of cell phone problems, he walks to the midtown area, where he finds a landline and gets through to them, reassuring himself of their safety. Warren will also recall "thousands of people walking up the West Side Highway," "reports of car bombs… in the Battery Park area," and "National Guardsmen on 5th Avenue carrying M-16 rifles with bayonets fixed and unsheathed." (Peopleoftheveil(.com) 3/2002) Warren will later re-join the CIA (see After September 11, 2001).
Andrew Warren, a former CIA officer (see (1997)) who will later face date rape allegations (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), returns to the agency. He had worked for the CIA in the late 1990s, but left before 9/11 to work in finance in New York (see Before September 11, 2001). After witnessing the 9/11 attacks, Warren returns to the agency. A fluent Arabic speaker, he is deployed to Afghanistan at some time after his return. (MacAskill 1/29/2009) The deployment to Afghanistan appears to be at some point before he serves at the CIA's New York office, which is around September 2003 (see (September 2003)). An interview with a local paper in September 2002 will say that Warren has just returned from a two-and-a-half-month posting at the US embassy in Afghanistan. (Feber 9/20/2002)
Andrew Warren, a CIA officer later accused of date rape (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), publishes a novel about Islamist terrorism, entitled The People of the Veil. The novel is set in Algeria during a radical uprising; the hero, Nick Philips, is an official at the US embassy who does battle with the local militant leader. (New York Beacon 4/10/2002; Feber 9/20/2002) There is also a love interest in the form of an Algerian woman named Miriam, who falls in love with Philips because he "respected her and treated her as an equal," and "never pressured her and understood her culture." (Hosenball and Isikoff 1/31/2009) Warren discusses the reason for writing the book in media interviews: "I want to give a better portrayal of the Mideast's culture, people, and Islam. For example, so many people think terrorists are crazy. They are not. They are fanatical, but they are very calculating and intelligent. And the rest of the people there, the 99.99 percent, are very warm and caring." (Feber 9/20/2002) He adds: "I wanted to teach people about the true meaning of Islam as well as explain how an Islamic terrorist views America and its influence on the Middle East. People shouldn't assign guilt to every Muslim because of the recent attacks. Having worked and lived among Muslims in the Middle East for many years, I received an outpouring of condolences from my friends and former colleagues there after 9/11." (New York Beacon 4/10/2002) When publicizing the book, Warren portrays himself as an official of the State Department, not the CIA. (New York Beacon 4/10/2002; Feber 9/20/2002) Ironically, it is while serving as the CIA's chief of station in Algeria that Warren will be accused of date-raping two Algerians. (Hosenball and Isikoff 1/31/2009) It appears that Warren does not serve in Algeria with the CIA before the publication of the book, only in Iraq and Kuwait (see (1997)).
Andrew Warren, a CIA officer later accused of date rape (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), serves at the agency's domestic station in New York. There, according to ABC News, supervisors spot him as a "potential star, ready to be deployed around the world as a spy." ABC News places this less than four years before he becomes chief of station in Algeria, which happens in September 2007 (see September 2007), so presumably he works in New York some time around September 2003. (Eslocker, Gewargis, and Cole 7/29/2009)
Andrew Warren, a CIA agent who will later be accused of date rape (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), is appointed to a senior position at the agency's station in Cairo, Egypt. The exact position and timing of the appointment are unclear. However, it presumably occurs after Warren works at the CIA's New York office (see (September 2003)) and before he is appointed chief of station in Algeria (see September 2007). (Miller 1/29/2009) According to the Congressional Quarterly, Warren accompanies Egyptian officials on a trip to Washington in late 2004 or early 2005 (see Late 2004 or Early 2005), and is working for the CIA in Egypt at that time. (Stein 3/16/2009) It will later be reported that Warren "quickly learn[s] the value of sex in recruiting spies," and it appears that he makes use of such techniques in Egypt. According to the Washington Post, colleagues will later say he makes "an early habit of taking informants to strip clubs, and that he later beg[ins] arranging out-of-town visits to brothels for his best recruits." According to two colleagues who work with him for years, Warren often accompanies them. (Warrick and Smith 3/20/2009)
Andrew Warren, a CIA agent who will later be accused of date rape (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), gets into a row in a hotel garage in Washington, DC. According to journalist Jeff Stein, "multiple sources" will say that Warren "flashed official credentials and claimed to be an FBI agent during the dispute." At this time Warren is a senior official at the CIA's station in Cairo, and he is back in Washington escorting Egyptian intelligence officials on a visit to the CIA. According to two sources, the row becomes so heated that the hotel manager later sends a security video of the incident to the FBI. However, FBI officials will say they cannot recall the incident. One CIA official will say that the agency occasionally uses the bureau for cover, although other intelligence professionals will say they have never heard of such practice. One former senior CIA official is incensed that Warren is allowed to return to duty in Cairo despite "such a shocking lack of judgment," and will attribute Warren's lenient treatment to his being an African American. (Stein 3/16/2009)
Andrew Warren, a CIA officer who has previously served in Afghanistan (see After September 11, 2001) and Egypt (see After September 2003), is assigned to the US embassy in Algeria. (US District Court for the District of Columbia 10/2008 ) There, he serves as chief of the local CIA station. (Ross, McCarthy, and Hill 1/28/2009) Warren will later face date rape allegations (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008). (US District Court for the District of Columbia 10/2008 )
Andrew Warren, chief of the CIA's station in Algeria, allegedly date-rapes a woman who is an Algerian national, but is resident in Spain. When Warren is later confronted with the allegations, he will admit having sex with the woman, but deny raping her. The woman will say that by the date of the alleged date rape she has known Warren for several months, having met him with her husband at a function related to the US Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, where Warren used to work. Warren invites her to his residence and gives her a tour. They sit down on the couch and Warren takes a photograph of her on his digital phone, with her permission. Warren then offers to make her a drink, she asks for an apple martini, and he prepares it in the kitchen. After they finish their drinks, Warren offers her another and goes to the kitchen to make it. However, when she follows him, he hands her a plate of crackers and sends her away, so the drink is prepared out of her sight. The woman suddenly feels sick while drinking the second martini, and begins to pass in and out of consciousness. The next thing she recalls is being in Warren's bathroom upstairs and feeling sick, although Warren is trying to remove her pants. She asks Warren to stop, but he says she will feel better after a bath and continues to undress her. The woman then remembers being in the bath in her shirt, and slipping under water. Then she recalls being out of the bath and trying to put her jeans back on. The next thing she remembers is being on Warren's bed and him trying to undress her again. Warren comments, "Nobody stays in my expensive sheets with clothes on." As Warren takes her clothes off, she repeatedly asks, "What's happening to me?" Finally, the woman recalls seeing Warren naked with an erection and about to penetrate her. She asks him to use a condom and remembers only images of him having sex with her. The woman later wakes up in Warren's bed, but will not recall how she gets dressed and goes home. About two days later, she texts Warren, accusing him of abusing her. According to her, he replies, "I am sorry." She tells her husband and psychologist of the incident, but will not inform anybody at the US Embassy until she returns to Algeria in September (see September 15, 2008). (US District Court for the District of Columbia 10/2008 ) Date rape drugs will be found in a search of Warren's house (see October 13, 2008).
A second Algerian woman who was allegedly date-raped by local CIA station chief Andrew Warren (see February 17, 2008) complains about this to the US embassy in Algeria. She makes a statement to the Deputy Chief of Mission, Thomas Daughton, saying that she was date-raped earlier in the year. Daughton then reports the allegations to Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent Kevin Whitson. Another DSS agent, Gregory Schossler, will later travel to Spain, where the woman resides. He will interview her there on September 25, 2008, learning details of the alleged rape. (US District Court for the District of Columbia 10/2008 )
Andrew Warren, the CIA's station chief in Algeria, is summoned to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, to explain date-rape charges that have been made against him (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008). Warren initially tells his CIA boss that he is "surprised" to learn of the complaints. According to the official, Warren is "at ease," and he advises Warren to take care of the issue and talk to a security officer. Warren is then interviewed by Diplomatic Security Service agent Scott Banker at CIA headquarters. (US District Court for the District of Columbia 10/2008, pp. 11 ; Stein 3/23/2010) Warren tells Banker that he did have sex with his two accusers, but it was consensual. He says he has pictures of them on his cell phone and digital camera, which he voluntarily surrenders for forensic analysis. The analysis uncovers multiple photographs of the two women, along with various others. However, he refuses to surrender his personal laptop computer, which he says is in his hotel room, even though he says it probably contains photos of the two alleged victims. Banker sends two agents to monitor the room, fearing Warren will attempt to destroy information on the computer. (US District Court for the District of Columbia 10/2008, pp. 11 ) When Warren arrives at the hotel room, the agents confront him over the laptop and he pulls it out of his shoulder bag before entering the room. Banker will later tell a court that Warren had lied about the laptop and that it was with him "the entire time," even during the interview at CIA headquarters. According to a government motion filed for Warren's trial, "child pornographic images" are later found on the computer. (Stein 3/23/2010)
The Diplomatic Security Service searches the Algiers home of Andrew Warren, the chief of the local CIA station, who is facing date rape allegations (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008). The search uncovers apple martini mix (Warren gave one of his alleged victims two apple martinis), multiple data storage devices, including multiple computer hard drives, memory cards, the drugs Valium and Xanax, which can be used for date rape purposes, and a handbook on the investigation of sexual assaults. (US District Court for the District of Columbia 10/2008, pp. 11-12 )
ABC News breaks the story that Andrew Warren, until recently chief of the CIA station in Algeria, is accused of a pair of date rapes (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008). The story recounts details of the rapes, as found in an affidavit filed in support of a search warrant for Warren's computer. ABC also mentions that Warren is a convert to Islam. (Ross, McCarthy, and Hill 1/28/2009) After the story is picked up by other media outlets, the Los Angeles Times notes a political aspect of the revelation: "The allegations have the potential to represent a serious setback for the US as the Obama administration is trying to repair relations with the Muslim world." (Miller 1/29/2009) Isobel Coleman, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who specializes in women's issues in the Middle East, says, "It has the potential to be quite explosive if it's not handled well by the United States government." Former CIA officer Robert Baer comments on the security implications: "My question is how the CIA would not have picked up on this in their own regular reviews of CIA officers overseas. From a national security standpoint [the alleged rapes would be] not only wrong but could open him up to potential blackmail and that's something the CIA should have picked up on. This is indicative of personnel problems of all sorts that run through the agency." (Ross, McCarthy, and Hill 1/28/2009)
The CIA should have immediately fired Andrew Warren, an officer accused of date rape (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), says Leon Panetta, the nominee to head the agency. Panetta makes the comments at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Although prosecutors have not yet charged Warren, Panetta says: "The level of behavior involved in this situation, I think is so onerous that the person should have been terminated. And we have the responsibility, as director of the CIA, to implement that kind of termination." Warren will actually be fired some time in the next few weeks (see Shortly After March 20, 2009). Panettta also says that the current management's decision not to notify Congress of the case when it came to light last October was incorrect. "I think that was wrong," says Panetta in answer to a question from committee chair Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who first learned of the Warren case from ABC News. When asked by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Panetta also says that the case was a "significant intelligence matter," which triggers automatic reporting standards to Congress. He adds: "My understanding is that first information about this actually came to our attention some time back in October. And I think that was the time to have briefed Congress." (Ross 2/6/2009)
Andrew Warren, a CIA officer accused of date rape (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), is fired by the agency. The exact timing of the firing is unclear, but Warren is apparently notified of his impending dismissal by March 20, 2009. (Warrick and Smith 3/20/2009) According to a media report, Warren will have been fired by late June, when his indictment by a federal grand jury is announced (see June 18, 2009). (Ryan 6/29/2009)
Andrew Warren, a former CIA station chief accused of date rape (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), is indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of sexual abuse. Warren surrenders to a Diplomatic Security Service agent just outside the federal courthouse in Washington, DC, but is released on his own personal recognizance after pleading not guilty. Warren's indictment will not be unsealed for over a week. ABC News will comment, "Officials provided no reason why there was a delay in unsealing the charges." Morton Taubman, an attorney for Warren, says his client is "Not guilty.… He is innocent." (Ryan 6/29/2009)
Andrew Warren, a CIA officer facing date rape charges (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), exposes himself to a neighbor. This appears to be part of a series of instances of strange behavior following Warren's firing by the agency (see Shortly After March 20, 2009) and indictment on the charges (see June 18, 2009). According to a neighbor on Vimy Ridge Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia, where Warren has been living for a year, Warren comes over to her house to introduce a newly arrived roommate. "He had his genitals hanging out of his pants, over the top of 'em," the neighbor, who lives with her fiancé in the house, will recall. She will add that Warren claims his name is "Marco," and has been to see her and her fiancé at their house several times. "He tried to brush it off on the fact by saying, you know, 'Excuse me. I've had minor surgery so I get a little horny sometimes,'" the neighbor will add. "While he was in the restroom, there was moaning and groaning, and it sounded like he was masturbating." She will also say that after Warren leaves, she finds evidence that suggests her suspicion is correct and her fiancé then calls the local police. A similar account of erratic behavior will accompany Warren's arrest later in the month (see April 26, 2010). (13NEWS 4/26/2010) In addition to this strange behavior, a long-time acquaintance of Warren's will recall that visitors to his house in recent months have seen "multiple sets of IDs in different names, with Social Security numbers, from different sources." (Stein 4/28/2010)
Lawyers acting for Andrew Warren, a former CIA station chief accused of date rape (see September 2007 and February 17, 2008), request their client be given access to psychiatric and drug addiction services. Attorneys William Martin and Mark Hunter say their client has been held in a medical unit since being transferred to Washington from Norfolk, Virginia, following his arrest but is not receiving psychiatric services. Martin says that Warren has been examined by a private physician and is competent to stand trial, but requests that Warren receive a social services assessment as he might be in need of treatment for severe depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction issues. Warren appears in court with one of his feet in a cast. (Hill and Chinn 5/14/2010)
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Oh, Bernie Eccelstone. That zombie-Warhol-looking bastard. What'd the F1 Supremo do now? Oh, he said he "completely agrees" with Russian President Vladimir Putin's brutal anti-gay rights stance. As Putin's policies on his own gay population has led to widespread oppression and violence, this makes Bernie an asshole.
Here's the full quote, from a CNN interview:
"I completely agree with those sentiments and if you took a world census you'd find 90% of the world agree with it as well."
I think you could also take a "world census" and find that 90% of the world thinks Bernie Ecclestone is a wrinkly cartoonish dipshit, too. You can feel however you want about gay people, and you can talk about it to the press until you're a lovely shade of indigo. But Putin's policies have gone so far into genuine human rights violations that if you support them, it's safe to say you're an asshole.
Not that Bernie needs much assistance in the asshole-being department. Remember, this is also the man that once called women "domestic appliances" and praised Hitler's get-things-done abilities, so this isn't really a shock to anyone. Shocking would be him taking a stand for something that wasn't hateful and horrible. Though I think if that had happened, his head would have exploded and the tiny poop demons that make his stunted, troll-like body appear to move and eat would have scattered everywhere.
So, Bernie, on behalf of all non-awful sentient life, fuck off.


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A 55-inch 3D TV currently reduced to £999.99 - say what? The born-again budget TV brand may have impressed us with the cheap 32-inch Finlux 32F8030-T and 40-inch Finlux 40S8070-T, but we weren't prepared for this humungous slice of home cinema real estate arriving from Finlux for such a low price.
The Finlux 55S9100-T is actually slightly dearer than 2012's Finlux 55S9090-T, an even more budget-orientated attempt at a 55-inch LED-backlit TV, but the brand new version we have here features an updated smart TV platform. Even its full price of £1,299.99 is very competitive.
Read more: Netgem Soundbox HD review
The Finlux 55S9100-T is also a 3D TV arriving with a stunning eight pairs of passive 3D glasses. And you've probably got a few more pairs at home from that trip down the multiplex to see Avatar in 3D a few years ago.
If 3D is waning on most TV buyers' shopping lists, design and slimness certainly are not. The Finlux 55S9100-T ticks all the right boxes here, with a depth of just 36mm (1.4 inches) and a mirrored chrome bezel that's a mere 5mm (0.2 inches) in width.
However, the finished look isn't nearly as impressive, slender or as eye-catching as the bigger brands' premium efforts, being rather bulgy. This is because the Finlux 55S9100-T's 5mm curved chrome bezel is added to by a strip of black plastic that measures 10mm, with a further 5mm of empty space to where the image actually begins.
It's certainly not a 'frameless' design, but instead it's an attempt at creating an illusion, and it doesn't really work. A Finlux logo juts out from the bottom of the screen, while a mirrored, chunky spider desktop stand further adds to a slightly industrial look.
Arguably much more important is what's inside the Finlux 55S9100-T. There's a Freeview HD tuner, catch-up TV and social media access via a smart TV platform, and the inclusion of Wi-Fi connectivity. We're just thankful that the days of the dongle have all but disappeared.
Built around an LED-backlit LCD panel, the Finlux 55S9100-T has a Full HD resolution and 100Hz processing, too.
Also available
Finlux has developed a vast pantheon of affordable TVs over the last year or so. It takes a slightly different approach to the bigger brands, in that though it regularly updates and upgrades its lineup, the previous models remain available - and often receive regular and drastic price cuts.
It makes getting hold of last year's fine-at-the-time TV - such as the 32-inch Finlux 32F8030-T with Freeview HD and BBC iPlayer, which is now reduced to a paltry £270 (around AU$429 / US$410) - uniquely possible.
The 55-inch Finlux 55S9100-T isn't alone in the brand's S9100-T Series, either. It's accompanied by the 42-inch Finlux 42S9100-T and 47-inch Finlux 47S9100-T, which currently sell for £600 (AU$953 / US$912) and £750 (AU$1,191 / US$1,140) respectively.
Other 55-inch competitors from inside the brand's stable include the Finlux 55S9090-T, which is broadly similar in terms of 3D compatibility, but requires using a Wi-Fi dongle for smart TV antics. It's available for £100 less than our Finlux 55S9100-T sample, but more savings can be had for plumping for either the Finlux 55S8090-T or Finlux 55S7090-T, neither of which offer 3D. Both cost less than £800 (AU$1,270 / US$1,217).
With 3D, Full HD, Freeview HD and PVR recording, the Finlux 55S9100-T looks hard to beat if judged on pure features alone.
The rear panel of the Finlux 55S9100-T is equally generous, with video ins and outs including three HDMI inputs, two Scarts - increasingly a real rarity on HD TVs - a set of component video inputs, a VGA input for a hooking up an older PC or laptop and a wired Ethernet LAN slot.
Also back there is an optical audio output for attaching to a home cinema system, a dedicated subwoofer output, an RF aerial port for powering that Freeview HD tuner, and a pair of phono inputs.
Then there's also a side panel, which adds a fourth HDMI input alongside composite video, a headphones jack and two USB slots.
Those last two power the Finlux 55S9100-T's PVR recording feature, as well as its ability to play back digital media files. Recording live TV is a rather limited experience when the TV only has a single Freeview HD tuner. And though it can be useful to hit pause or record if you suddenly have to stop watching something - perhaps for a phone call - we're not convinced many people use it that much.
It's a tad manual, and demands some preparation (buying a USB flash drive of the correct size, formatting it, inserting it into the TV's side... what a drag).
Whenever you buy a TV with such a feature on its website, there is an option to buy a SanDisk 16GB USB flash drive. We like that everything is made simple and the size of stick mooted is spot-on (each gigabyte equates to around an hour of live TV recording or pausing), but the cost is rather high, at £29.99. Dig around online and you'll quickly find that a 16GB USB stick can be had for under a tenner. It's also worth considering buying a standalone USB flash drive if recording from Freeview HD becomes a habit.
Though many a brand has experimented with smartphone apps, we hadn't expected the budget end of the market to get involved quite yet. We're proved wrong once again by Finlux, which has developed its free Smart Remote app that enables gesture control, but not file interaction with the TV. It only works on iPhones, iPads and iPod touches though, so if you have an Android or Windows Phone device it can't help you.


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Edge Pot Ø38, Low / 825 dkk
Designed by Stilleben
Edge Pot is a series of simple, hand-thrown terracotta flowerpots in various colours and sizes, for indoor use. The series takes inspiration from the characteristic shape of the Amphora vase in the ancient Greek-Egyptian pottery tradition.
This version does not have a drainage hole.
- Details
- Glazed Terracotta / Light Grey
ØxH: 38x15 cm
Item no. 1810417
- Packaging
- WxDxH: 40x40x17 cm
Weight: 5,9 kg
- Material and care
Proper usage and maintenance
Proper usage and maintenance is vital for getting the most out of the valuable resources we have. Our designs are made to last for generations, but just like everything else, they need a little care to get there.
Terracotta is a beautiful looking type of earthenware formed by low-fired clay. Skagerak's terracotta is hand-thrown in Portugal, which gives each pot a unique expression. Terracotta means "baked earth" in Italian and the pottery technique can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece.
Cleaning and maintenance
The product requires a minimum of care. However, if necessary clean the pot using lukewarm and soapy water. Wipe afterwards with a dry cloth. Be aware that terracotta is fragile so always take care when moving the pot around. Before re-potting it is advisable to make a drain, which will allow for excess water to leave the pot. Place a small piece of fibre cloth at the bottom of the pot in order to prevent the hole from clogging. Then place a layer of hydrograins. To optimize the drain finish with a small piece of fibre cloth before adding the potting soil. Always use potting soil as normal soil is too heavy for the pot.
Note: Pot Ø38x15 does not have a drain hole.
Winter storage
This product cannot withstand freezing temperatures and should therefore be stored in a garage, cellar or the like. To avoid frost damage, make sure to empty the pot and turn it upside down before storing it.
Note: Do not place on wooded surfaces or the like to avoid spots on the surface.
From the same series
About the designer / Stilleben
Like the art phenomenon it derives its name from, the design duo Stilleben ('still life') represents a combination of elements that come together in a harmonious whole. Ditte Reckweg and Jelena Nordentoft have achieved the same harmonious resonance. The two ceramicists met at The Danish Design School, and shortly after graduation they had the idea for the shop Stilleben, which carries carefully selected craft and design objects for the table, the home and the wardrobe. Today, Stilleben is a trend-setting and internationally recognised gallery in the heart of Copenhagen, driven by a clear sense of aesthetic, quality and passion.


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Student or Learner
Hello there! I've been testing myself on some phrasal verbs recently, and as a part of the test I create my own sentences with phrasal verbs I get acquainted with. If you could just take a look at my sentences and give me some feedback, or simply correct them and gime me an explanation, I would be most grateful. I would like you to concentrate onf two things - firstly - whether I've used the following phrasals correctly or not - and secondly - whether my sentences are grammatically correct or not. OK, here we go.
1. come forward
a) During our English classes (or lessons?) no one wants to come forward and answer the teacher's questions.
b) They've come forward with ambitious plans and ideas. (VS "came forward...")
2. come into
a) After his grandpa's death, he came into a lot of money.
3. come off
a) I really hope that our little party at the end at the end of the weel is gonna come off. (could I use will here? would it make any difference in meaning?)
b) A: What are you doing here? I thought you were (VS "are") in London! B: Nah, it didn't come off. (VS "it haven't come off")
4. come about
a) I have no idea how come such a thing have come about. (could I simply say "came about" ? does the simple past tense change the meaning somehow?)
b) A: My cousin had an accident last week. B: How did it come about?
5. turn in
a) I think I'm gonna turn in as I am very tired. (can I simply say "I think I will turn in..." ?)
b) Let's turn in. (it sounds a bit unnatural to me, but I'm not sure...)
c) Let's turn in earlier today.
d) We will wait till everybody in the house turn in, and then we will break into it.
6. patch (things) up
a) We fell out over two weeks ago, and since then we haven't patched things up.
b) A: I had a quarrel with my wife this morning. B: You had better patch this up. (can I say "I've had..." ?)
7. dip into
a) Honey, I think we will have to dip into our car savings in order to tide us over. (any difference between this one and "I think we're gonna have to..." ?)
b) He is so mean. He never dips into his bank acount, no matter what happens (VS "is happening" ?)
8. dry up
a) My presentation started well but I dried up quickly.
9. cough up
a) Scrooge was such a person that could hardly cough up a penny for a poor man.
b) Mary could hardly cough up a pound or two after loosing her job.
10. doze off
a) The child burst into tears, but after a short while it dozed off. (VS "it has dozed off" ?)
btw. I beg you - correct me I I've made (vs made) any mistakes... thanks :D


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Loft button down; Vintage necklace; Gap jeans; Banana Republic flats
As my time at home draws to a close, I decided to take advantage of the lovely scenery an Easter Sunday spent at my uncle's house affords and made Natalie take a few photos of me - and while those didn't turn out too hot, I think the scenery shots I snapped afterward are quite pretty.
It's been a restful time at home, I've watched some TV, played some piano, done a little shoe shopping... and I love seeing my family, if only for a few days. Now we're sitting down to a little television and homemade popcorn (the amount of food I eat at home is borderline
but actually really ridiculous). Hope you all had a lovely weekend!


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jjanoski wrote:I forgot to tell Beth that I am sooooo happy that she placed high with her poem. It was my absolute favorite this week, and there were a TON of entries that I loved.
Josh Thanks ...and sincere congrats to you!
Congrats to all those whose names are listed! It was a great week to read entries.


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Check in and one of our Clue Crew will explain your Key Quest objectives.
Escape the room. Your Quest for the Key Awaits!
1. What is Key Quest?
Key Quest is an introductory live action escape room presented by Laser Quest. Our single room experience requires observation and critical thinking skills to find clues, solve a series of puzzles, and ultimately, discover the "key" to escape the room within 45 minutes.
2. How many players play at once?
Up to six people per room, however we can accommodate larger groups outside of our posted operating hours
3. How old do players need to be?
We recommend players be at least 12 years old to try our current escape rooms.
4. How do I make a reservation?
All you will have to do is call your local Laser Quest to make a reservation.
5. Is it safe?
6. Are we locked in?
In our version, players are never locked in; you can get out any time you like. We recommend bathroom breaks before the game starts, so you don't have to leave midway through your game experience.
7. Can I take photos?
Photos and videos aren't allowed in the game. Feel free to take pictures outside the room using our fun signs. Don't forget to share the photos with your friends!
8. What do we do if we cannot solve the riddles?
You will receive one hint from our Clue Crew to assist you in getting back on the right track.
9. Where do I leave my belongings while I am in the Escape Room?
Lockers are provided for Customers during the Key Quest Experience.
10. Who would like this activity?
Anyone who likes solving puzzles, lateral thinking, or having fun!


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The lead singer of punk band Against Me! has become the first major rock star to come out as transgender in her new interview with Rolling Stone.
The 31-year-old, who was born Tom Gabel but is changing her name to Laura Jane Grace, described to the magazine the intense gender dysphoria and shame she experienced growing up, as well as her plans for transitioning.
She said she plans to begin hormone treatment and to undergo electrolysis and possibly gender reassignment surgery as part of her transition.
U.S. & World
"I'm going to have embarrassing moments," she said. "But that's part of what talking to you is about — is hoping people will understand, and hoping they'll be fairly kind."
Gabel had hinted at her gender identity — and the inspiration behind her new name — in her band's 2007 song "The Ocean," The Guardian reported.
"If I could have chosen, I would have been born a woman. My mother once told me she would have named me Laura," she sang in it.
In her Rolling Stone interview, Gabel stressed that her transition will not affect her marriage to wife Heather, with whom she has a 2-year-old daughter, and that her being transgender does not indicate any change to her attraction to women.
According to The Associated Press, Against Me! is going on tour with The Cult later this month. The June issue of Rolling Stone, featuring the full interview with Gabel, hits newsstands Friday.


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WESTCHESTER, N.Y. – Westchester County may see a wintry mix Tuesday night into Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
There is chance of snow Tuesday night before 1a.m. and snow, freezing rain and sleet are likely between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then snow after 4 a.m. Low around 31. The overnight low temperature will be around 31 degrees. New snow and sleet and ice accumulation of around an inch is possible overnight.
Snow may continue until around 1 p.m. Wednesday, with a chance of rain between 1 and 4 p.m. A snow accumulation of up to 2 inches is possible by Wednesday afternoon.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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The Lion King HD Gallery
The Lion King
17. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
You know her, she knows you.
You know her, she knows you.
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The Lion King © Walt Disney Pictures.
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The quickest way to a presidential candidate's heart (or at least a small measure of loyalty) is to make a campaign donation. And both the Democrats and Republicans are adept at raking in the cash.
Figures filed by the campaigns with the Federal Election Comission as of Sept. 21, listed by opensecrets.org, show that Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have combined to raise a whopping $711 million. Of that total, Obama has pulled in $432 million and Romney, $279 million. Obama has an advantage in the final weeks of the campaign because he has nearly $89 million left, while Romney has "only" $50 million. Of course, these figures don't include the massive super PACs that can spend, with some rules about how they do it, on behalf of either candidate.
Where does all that cash come from? The stereotype is that Wall Street and big business showers its donations on the GOP, and the Democrats are left to fund their campaign through small, grassroots donations. The truth is more of a mixed bag. Obama can count on the legal sector as one of his top supporters, while Romney, according to NBC News, has the backing of most of the CEOs of top companies.
Of their totals, Romney has raised 81% from large donors and Obama 61%, according to opensecrets.org, which combs through Federal Election Commission reports to analyze political contributions.
Still, the stereotype does have some validity. Romney's top five contributors are banks or financial services firms including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley. Obama's top five includes two elite colleges, the University of California and Harvard, and two high-tech firms, Google and Microsoft. (Opensecrets.org says the totals are not from the organizations themselves but derived by adding those from PACs, individual employees or owners and their immediate families, as well as affiliates of the organizations.)
It's also worth noting that in some sectors, tens of millions are being funneled through outside spending groups, which are less transparent as to who they back.
We decided to look at just who is donating to each party by using opensecrets.org's economic sector breakdown of contributions. Here is AdvisorOne's look at Obama vs. Romney: Top 7 Places Where Campaign Cash Comes From.
1. Lawyers & Law Firms
Of the $29 million contributed to the nominees this year, more than 60%, $18 million, has gone to Obama. Big law firms, like Mostyn Law Firm, Kirkland & Eliis, and DLA Piper, as well as the American Association for Justice lead the way. It's not clear why Obama commands such a lead, but Republicans have long battled for tort reform as a way to keep down the costs of class action suits to businesses. Also, law firms are the top source of bundled money for Obama's campaign. Bundling is the practice by individuals who reach their contribution limit of soliciting donations from friends, family and associates.
2. Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
Romney has a more than two-to-one lead in donations here, $39 million to $14 million. Among his top contributors are Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase, each on the hook for more than a half million dollars. Romney's former company, Bain Capital, has given $4.6 million, most of it to outside spending groups. Other top supporters in the sector include Barclays, Wells Fargo and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. On the other hand, The New York Times noted that Obama has managed to reel in some big donors of his own, including Jay Snyder, a financier, and Azita Raji, a retired investment banker.
3. Health
With all the controversy over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), it might not be surprising to learn the candidates have each had their share of donors from this sector. Obama leads with $11 million to Romney's $9 million. The Romney campaign was reported to have raised $2 million in the days after the Supreme Court's ruling upholding Obamacare. There was no word of the president receiving a similar bump. It should be noted that the Adelson Drug Clinic of Las Vegas has donated more than $17 million to outside spending groups. The doctor who runs the clinic is the wife of Romney mega-supporter Sheldon Adelson, who has donated a record $70 million to support Republican candidates in the 2012 elections.
4. Energy & Natural Resources
Romney has a four-to-one edge in this sector, having raised more than $6 million to Obama's $1.5 million. With Romney's vow to open more land for oil drilling (remember GOP's "drill, baby, drill" from 2004) it's not exactly an upset that he would lead this category by a wide margin. The heavy hitters who made direct contributions leaning staunchly to Romney include ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the National Rural Electric Association. In addition, Alliance Resources and Oxbow Corp. each gave more than $3 million to outside spending groups.
5. Communications/Electronics
Obama has a huge lead in this category, having raised more than $13 million compared to Romney's $4 million. The top contributor in this category is the cable company Comcast, which has pumped more that $3.4 million to both candidates, with a slight edge to the president. AT&T gave the bulk of its $3.1 million to Romney, while Microsoft leaned the opposite way with its $2.8 million. Newsweb Corp., an Illinois based publisher of weekly newspapers and owner of radio stations, is the second largest donor in this sector, having given more than $3.3 million. Most of that went to outside spending groups with a tiny fraction going to Romney.
6. Defense
Companies in this sector are hedging their bets. They realize that no matter who is president their expertise will likely be needed. Obama leads Romney $658,000 to $574,000, totals that leave the industry far down on the list in terms of total contributions. However, the firms have contributed in the millions over the last two years to candidates in other races. Leading the way are Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
7. Miscellaneous Business
Each candidate has attracted millions from this this sector, with Romney ahead $17 million to $14 million. But the real eye-opener is in the amount given to PACs, those ubiquitous outside spending groups. More than $39 million was given in that fashion to aid Romney and the Republicans by just two entities, the Las Vegas Sands casino, whose chairman is Sheldon Adelson, and Contran Corp., a holding company that controls various businesses that make and sell titanium oxide pigments, engage in waste processing and manufacture engineered components for a variety of products.
See also:
Obama vs. Romney: 6 key differences on taxes, regulation
Undecided boomers talk about Obama vs. Romney


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How time flies...
How time flies...
I can tell you this much: It's the most tiring job! I expected it to be tiring, but still it's so much more tiring than I thought!
It is also the most rewarding job ever! Alhamdulillah.
(I'd love to write more, but now that Adreena and Muiz are sleeping, I'd better go and get lunch ready.)
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.
So we said goodbye to Bibik on Friday. I am grateful to report that there was no drama swasta at the airport that night. Alhamdulillah
I think a huge part of the 'success' was because we decided to tell the kids about our plan just before we left home for the airport. Afiq was not so happy about going to nursery, Mariessa was eager, Adreena, well she doesn't understand anything yet. So Shahril told them that they only have to go to the nursery for 5 days.
Mata terbeliak… "5 days je?"
"Lepas tuuuu?"
"Lepas tu duduk kat rumah la, macam biasa"
"Sapaaa nak jaga kitoranggg"?"
"Mama cuti?"
"Takkkk… Mama dah berhenti kerja"
"Hahhhh?? Berhennnntiiiii?" Terbeliak some more.
"Sampai bila bila?"
"Iye, sampai bila bila la, InsyaAllah"
A few seconds later
"Alamakkkkkkk… maksudnya siang dengan malam lah kena mengaji dengan Mama??" <- guess who said this.
Spent the Saturday in Bangi.
Baruuuu je masuk lift,
Edrick: Errr..Aunty Reennn.. I forgot my goggles, I cannot swim without my goggles.
Naikkkkkkkkk atas balik. :)
By the way, that's as far as Adreena would go. Baru masuk sikittt je.."Mamaaaaa, basahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Hish.
See? Still there.
Sent the kids to the nursery this morning. We were not sure what was the best way to go about it – Shahril & I send the kids together ke, I send the barang2 dulu and then Shahril sends kids ke… Sebab we know if I was there, mesti lah ada drama sikit (not me, kids lah of course). Problem solved when tiba tiba, enjin Savvy tak boleh start. I find it amazing in ways Allah answers us.
So berangkut la semuanya (except Afiq who has left for school) ke nursery. Sampai nursery - Muiz tak faham apa2 lagi. Buat muka heran je. Adreena who was excited dari pagi about going to nursery, sampai pagar je, dah stop. Tak nak jalan. Pujuk2.. masuk la jugak ke dalam. Kat pintu rumah, stop lagi. Last2, we kissed her goodbye and terus masuk kereta. Meraung la itu budak. "Mama! Mama! Taknak! Taknak!".. Kannnn dah kata, mesti ada drama kalau Mama ada.
I got in the car, terus nangis! <- Ini yang sebenar2nya drama. Hehe.
Mariessa saw me crying and said "Takpe lah Mama.. Nanti Kakak balik sekolah, Kakak tengokkan Deena dengan Muiz"
I, of course lah cried harder. Drama, kan?
Had breakfast with Shahril and Mariessa kat kedai after that. Senyappp je masing2. Then Shahril said, "we're doing the right thing".
Me: which right thing?
Shahril: Ainil resign tu.
Me: Kalau Ainil belum resign, hari ni jugak hantar surat rasanya. :)
It's going to be 5 chaotic days. But thinking of the days to come after that 5 days, I know it's sooo going to be worth it.
Cepat la pukul 6. I just want to go home.
- is my last Friday at the office. I have to work until Thursday next week. After that I'll be putting on a totally different hat. One I've been dreaming of, waiting for, praying for, but at the same time one that makes me excitedly nervous.
- 2 of Shahril's uncles are going for Hajj. Bila dengar Talbiyah, hati rasa bergetar, air mata terus mengalir. Semoga Allah menjemput kita menjadi tetamuNya dalam masa yang terdekat ni, InsyaAllah. Perkenankan lah doa doa kami, Ya Allah. Hanya Engkau lah yang mengetahui isi hati kami.
- Bibik's going home for good. Kids have been told about this since last week as to prepare them. They are also told that they'll be going to nursery starting next week. What they don't know yet is, they will only go to the nursery for a week. We're keeping it a secret still, until I don't know, maybe tonight?
- Going for lunch with the girls at the office. I'm touched and honoured. Rasa perasan glamour sikit pun ada that some friends have asked to 'book' me for lunch next week. Thank you girls and guys! :)
I'm having mixed feelings. Ada rasa sedih, ada rasa happy, ada risau. Sending the kids to nursery makes me worry. Afiq & Mariessa can InsyaAllah cope. I'm not too sure about Adreena though. Muiz lagi lah. Itu lah yang paling merisaukan. Deep down I know (I hope), they'll be fine. But i'm a mother. Worrying about my kids is what I do.
5 months old now. How time flies.
My thoughts are jumbled up at the moment. Apart from finishing whatever work I still have, I can't stop thinking about the million things I want to do at home. Have to start planning. Have to start making schedules and lists for me and for the kids;
1. Daily activities with Adreena & Muiz while Afiq & Mariessa are at school.
2. Activities with Afiq & Mariessa when they're home.
3. What to cook for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At least for the next 2 weeks or so. So we can shop accordingly. (I have to get that 1 hari 1 resepi cookbook).
4. Those new recipes I'd like to try but never had the time to.
5. My own schedule. – What time to wake up, how often do I iron (excited to try our new vertical clothes steamer – I take it as a 'resignation' gift from Shahril), how often do I mop (this, i dread. I don't like doing it. Can anyone suggest a really, really good mop? Saw one at Cosway, quite fancy, not too sure how good though). Also to "include'" Shahril in the chores. Sidai baju has always been his favourite task, so let's leave that to him among other things, of course. :)
6. Where to go on weekends. Hehe. I'll be home 5 days a week now kan, so I have to go out to widen my horizons on weekends lah, ye tak?
And the list goes on and on. Do wish me luck, guys.
I hope I can be istiqamah and be the kind of wife and mother I've always wanted to be. InsyaAllah.
A friend wrote this on her FB wall, taken from another FB wall. I like it a lot, so I thought I'd share it here.
1. Make peace with your past, so it doesn't spoil your future.
2. What others think of you is none of your business.
3. Time heals almost everything. Give the time, some time.
4. No one is the reason for your happiness, except for yourself.
5. Don't compare your life with others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
6. Stop thinking too much, it is alright not to know all the answers.
7. Smile – you don't own all the problems in the world.
I googled and found a lot of other variations too. Among the ones that I like:
1. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
2. Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.
3. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
4. If you know GOD, you will always be happy. So, be happy.
5. Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does
6. Forgive. Don't ruin your present happiness
7. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: In five years, will this matter?
10. Forgive everyone for everything. Don't hold grudges against anyone. It only hurts you.
11. Remember GOD heals everything. Prayer can change things when nothing else will
12. The best is yet to come. You will reap what you sow.
Baked this Marble Cheese Brownies last weekend. Got it from a friend. Apparently the recipe is all over the internet too. :).
MARBLE CHEESE BROWNIES – I'm copying it from K.Nor@SecubitGaram
sumber: Rinnchan
sumber : K.Nor@SecubitGaram
Bahan-bahan Brownies :
250g butter
1 cwn serbuk koko
3 biji telur gred B
1 1/2 cwn gula castor
1/2 cwn susu cair
1 1/2 cwn tepung gandum *Ayak dgn BP & SB
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda bikarbonate
1 tsp esen vanilla
1. Cairkan butter. Masukkan serbuk koko dan kacau rata.
2. Handwhisk gula dan telur. Masukkan ke dalam adunan butter+koko. Kacau sebati.
3. Masukkan susu cair dan kacau sebati.
4. Masukkan tepung+BP+SB sedikit demi sedikit sambil dikacau hingga sebati. Akhir sekali, masukkan esen vanilla dan kacau rata.
5. Panaskan oven pada suhu 175 darj cel. Alas loyang 10" x 10" dgn grease proof paper. Biar kertas berjuntai pada dua belah yang bertentangan supaya mudah mengeluarkan brownies.
6. Tuang adunan brownies ke dalam loyang dan ratakan. Tinggalkan sedikit untuk membuat marble di atas lapisan cheese nanti.
7. Bakar selama 20min menggunakan api atas dan bawah.
Bahan-bahan lapisan cheese:
250g cream cheese
1 cwn gula castor
1 biji telur gred B
1. Pukul cream cheese hingga gebu.
2. Masukkan gula dan pukul lagi hingga sebati.
3. Masukkan telur dan pukul lagi hingga sebati.
*Selepas 20min keluarkan brownies dari oven. Tuangkan adunan cheese dan ratakan. Paipkan baki adunan brownies ke atas lapisan cheese dan lorekkan corak ikut citarasa. Masukkan semula ke dlm oven dan bakar lagi selama 15min atau sehingga cheese masak. Biarkan sejuk sebelum dipotong.
*Best to chill it first before cutting.
The only picture I have.
It'd be better in a square tin but since I don't have one, bulat pun bulat lah.:)
Afiq gave me two thumbs up, so I know this recipe is a keeper!
That's the title of the email I received today from BabyCenter on Adreena's progress. I find it really amazing that most of the time they can be spot on like that!
What strikes me the most is the fact that Adreena is still a 2-year-old. I hardly think of her as a 2-year-old to be honest. She'll be 3 at the end of November but I've thought of her as a 3-year-old since early of the year and I now realize that it's really unfair of me.
The rest of the email: from here
As you've noticed, 2-year-olds are striving for independence. They tend to ignore their parents' no's because they're determined to assert their own will. (Aih, this is soooo true!) Their motor and language skills are booming (that explains her talking non-stop. :P), too, which makes them perfectly capable of both running away from you and loudly proclaiming that they're unhappy with (or simply unwilling to abide by) your request. As frustrating as this may be (very, very frustrating sometimes), take heart in the fact that your child is practicing her new skills on the person she trusts most — namely you (Yay!). What's more, she's still a long way from being able to control herself. So when you tell your child to stop playing with the telephone cord, she may be able to think of nothing but the cord and find it nearly impossible to put down.
When you find yourself in a moment like this — and you will — be patient (Easier said than done..:p). Distract your child from trouble whenever possible, and provide a stimulating, childproofed environment that gives you plenty of opportunities to say yes. Then choose your battles carefully and focus on the transgressions that are truly worthy of reprimand — such as running into the street or pinching her baby brother. When you do say no, make sure you mean it.
Shahril tried to call his friend before we went out to get his advice on direction but he didn't pick up. So, armed with a map which he had given in an email and also with a kadang-boleh-on-kadang-tak-boleh-on GPS navigator, we set out for Klang.
Took the SILK highway, on to SKVE, down to NKVE and then reached the Shapadu's Bukit Raja toll.
Just as we were 7 kilometres (according to the GPS navigator which could be switched on that day) away from the friend's house, he called back.
Turns out his open house is NEXT Sunday!
Obviously Shahril's getting a little too old. :p
But then I realized it's ME who's getting old (although I'm always 3 years younger than Shahril, let's not forget that) because when Shahril turned to me and told me that the open house is NEXT week and that we have travelled FORTY kilometres just to turn back, I did not get upset! In fact I was not even annoyed! (I'm a 'panas' person, for those who don't know me.. And I usually get annoyed very, very easily. So, this not getting mad is new).
We both just laughed, took the next turn and stopped by at the nearest fast food outlet we could find.
The hikmah is, the kids got to have their lunch at KFC all the way in Shah Alam. :)
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I recently made a huge decision. A decision which will definitely change my life when it takes effect. It wasn't an easy decision to come to, I've been thinking about it for so long, looked at it from all angles imaginable, playing with it in my mind in so many scenarios. It is a very logical decision to make but logics don't always make things easy.
I always believe that things don't just happen. Things happen for reasons that are sometimes too big for us to understand. Sometimes I think things happen as signs that lead us to bigger things. They don't always make sense when they happen but at one point when we look back and think about it, it always does. .
I have come to a point where I think I've seen and felt too many signs. I've been praying about it for so long that I've become accustomed to just praying about it. It took some time for me to digest the signs, but I am relieved that I have finally understood them.
Still, it wasn't easy. I am lucky to have full support from Shahril. He thinks it's time we take ourselves out of our comfort zone. "How can we expect different results if we keep doing the same things?" - that's what they always say at work and I think it applies here too.
My intention is clear and if our deeds are judged by our intentions, I hope I'll always remember why I'm doing this. Doing something "lillahi ta'ala" (semata2 kerana Allah) sounds so simple and yet I think it's extremely hard to achieve. I'm taking baby steps and I pray that my next chapter in life will be blessed.
Note to self: Someone at work recently said, " If you're climbing a ladder, first make sure that the ladder is against the right wall". I am climbing no ladder, but I am sure InsyaAllah, I have the right walls around me.
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I was sitting on the bed with Muiz. Afiq had just finished his solat Subuh.
Afiq: Mama, bila Muiz nak besar ni? Abang ada banyak benda la Abang nak ajar dia.
Mama: Abang nak ajar Muiz apa?
Looking at Muiz,
Afiq: Abang nak ajar Muiz main bola, main badminton, hmmm… main chess, tapi chess susah sikit la Muiz, tapi Abang akan cuba ajar jugak. Lagi, Abang nak ajar Muiz solat, mengaji… macam2 lah Mama.
Afiq, Muiz is lucky to have you as a brother.
And I am the luckiest mother.
Exactly a year ago, Shahril and I went for the most meaningful trip of our lives. It was life altering in so many ways, I can never be thankful enough that Allah has bestowed upon us the 'rizq' and invited us to be His guests.
It honestly doesn't feel like it has been a year since then. There hasn't been a day that I didn't wish we could go back. Go back we must, as it felt like we belong there. Hopefully soon, we will be called to perform the Haj. Soon too InsyaAllah, we hope to be able to go with our kids in tow. Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.
Wahai Tuhan kami! Janganlah Engkau memesongkan hati kami sesudah Engkau beri petunjuk kepada kami, dan kurniakanlah kepada kami limpah rahmat dari sisiMu; sesungguhnya Engkau jualah Tuhan Yang melimpah-limpah pemberianNya.
Please grant us your blessings and rizq Ya Allah.
A lot to tell since I'm back at work. But boy, time sure is tight. Ok lah, I should not put the blame on time. Everybody gets the same 24 hours. But my 24 hours is really shorter than everyone else's. Hehe.. Nak jugak tu.
I feel like I'm rushing all the time, really. I wake up and I rush to work. I get to work and I rush home. At home I struggle to do everything I want to do – divide my time between Shahril and the kids. Not that they demand for it, especially not Shahril. It's me. It's not as easy as it used to be. Actually, everything is not as easy as it used to be, not when you have a newborn. Don't get me wrong, I am far from complaining. I am just stating the truth. I am in the phase of adjusting. Tengah warming up lah senang cerita, to the new routine.
At work, I am struggling too. 2 months is a long time to be away from work. (Not enough to be away on maternity though, if you get what I mean). The first cycle of the financial year is closing soon, so I have to catch up on lost time and at the same time sprint towards the finishing line. Again, it's not easy but I am adjusting and catching up, InsyaAllah.
One thing I notice though, my capability of making small talks has decreased so significantly. I just get tongue tied and my mind goes blank. My wits (assuming I had any) is just gone. It doesn't help that people sometimes ask me questions that make me go…'duh!' (dalam hati). Their intentions are undoubtedly good lah, but how to answer meh? I don't want to be sarcastic and offend them but at the same time I really don't know how to answer them best.
Contohnya, a lady upon knowing that I have just given birth asked: "Eh bila you pregnant?"
In my mind (beside 'duh!') I thought, should I just say "9 months ago?". Or should I laugh and say.. "Eh tak lah.. I x pregnant pun… I bersalin je!"
One other time, upon seeing me washing some of my pumping accessories, someone said " Your baby mesti comel, macam mak dia"
Should I say A: Of course! (perasan la pulak kan? Hehe)
B: Eh tak lah… my baby je comel. I comel ke? (obviously fishing)
C: Eh mana ada. I lagi comel! (Confidence at its best).
Tough, kan?
Oh well…
Have lots more to write about, but I have an SOP to write first. Bo…ring…. :P
A lot of people tell me that Muiz takes either after Afiq or Adreena. I personally think that he takes after Afiq a lot. But see whether you can tell them apart. These are photos of all 4 of them at about the same age (2-3 months).
The shahrils (minus THE Shahril himself, hehe)
Adreena: Tak bulehhhh
Mama: Ala.. Tolong lahhhh
Adreena: Okay lah. Mama cakap plish dulu.
Mama: Please...
Adreena: Butan, butan. Butan mcm tu. Mama kena cakap plish Meena..
Mama: Please, Deena.
Adreena: Haaa.. Baru botol (betul). Dud (good) job, Mama.
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It's day 4 since we let Bibik bercuti. She has a daughter in JB and last weekend we offered Bibik some days off to go visit.
Bibik has done so much for us, especially since I gave birth. I terminated the confinement lady's service after only 2 days instead of having her for two weeks (long story) and so since then Bibik was the one who took care of me and basically the whole family. It's a bonus that she's also able to do all the urut and tungku stuff, Alhamdulillah. Now that school holiday is here, we thought it's only appropriate that we let her rest for a change. Plus I am already up and about.
As for me, mula2 tu anxious la jugak. To let her go off during school holidays means I'll be at home with FOUR kids all to myself 24x7. Hehe. On top of that, on Sunday the day before Bibik cuti pulak, we sent Afiq for circumcision. Interesting household I have right now. :)
As I said.. today is day 4 and I have to say I'm loving it. It's tough and it's highly depending on Muiz's mood basically. If he get's too clingy, everything else has to be put on hold. But so far, I think we're doing great.
In a way, I am testing myself. I wanted to know if I'm really up to it – being a full time mom. I believe it's the toughest 'job' in the world. No annual leave, no emergency leave not even sick leave. It's something I want to do though, but I do have my doubts. Now that I've experienced it for 4 days so far, I can safely say that there's no job in this world that can give me the kind of satisfaction I get by doing just this. I pray that the time will come soon for me to do this full time.
Bibik is leaving us for good come October. Her 2 years with us is up and as I have expected, she wants to go home. She has a daughter of Mariessa's age and I understand her priority. She has given up 2 years with her daughter to work with us, and for that I shall forever he grateful. We have decided not to look for another maid, so since I cannot quit my job just yet it looks like we have to send the kids to daycare once Bibik leaves. I hope the next chapter will be a smooth one for us, InsyaAllah.
The feeling was so overwhelming that the next thing I know, I was in tears.
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It's been a while since I last wrote a proper entry here. A lot to cope up with – recuperating, trying to establish a routine, handling a newborn and three toddlers etc. It's overwhelming sometimes if not most of the time honestly, but I'm doing good nonetheless.
Baby Muiz is 34 days old today, Alhamdulillah. How time flies. That means I only have 26 days left before going back to work. I am freaking out. I am soooo not ready. So much so that there are days I wish I have the guts to just quit my job and be a stay-at-home-mom. Half of the time I think I even manage to convince myself that I should just do it, that if my 'niat' is right, all will go well in the end but the other half of the time, I am not so sure. I know eventually it will happen, but I'm not too sure if now is the time.
Oh well…
Afiq, Mariessa and Adreena are adjusting well, Alhamdulillah. Afiq is definitely happy to have another boy in the house and can't wait for Muiz to grow up so they can play together. (I guess he's tired playing with girls.. haha. Asyik kena mengalahhhhhh je) Mariessa is happy being a 2nd mother to Muiz, fussing over him. Adreena… well… other than hiding behind the sofa everytime "Muiz beyak", she's doing great! She calls him "Muish-tudin", sometimes "baby boy", but last night when Muiz cried, she shouted "Mama… cepat sini.. budak ni nangis!". Tak tau la daripada mana dia dengar 'budak' tu. :P
7 years ago, I struggled to breastfeed Afiq (largely due to my ignorance – I thot it would come naturally, so I didn't read much about it prior) and I miserably failed. So this is more or less like the first time for me breastfeeding a boy. Oh boy, the difference! Muiz can't seem to get enough of milk, and it's not because the supply is low I assure you that! With 26 days to go, I now only have one bottle of EBM stock in the freezer and I honestly don't know if I can get as much stock prepared as I had done with Mariessa and Adreena. We'll see how it goes. I am determined not to let this worry me too much – no use worrying over this anyway, it will only affect the supply if not anything else. :)
( As I was writing this, Adreena came to me and said.."Mama.. kenapa ni monyok monyok ni?" Hahahah.. Ada2 je budak ni!).
Muiz will wake up soon for his feed, I think. So I should just publish this before it becomes another draft. :). Have a lot more to write about, if and when the time permits InsyaAllah. Until then..
To my wonderful husband, I don't think words can express how blessed I feel to have you in my life. Thank you for being the coolest, the calmest and the most patient man I've ever known. Thank you for sticking with me through thick and thin and for holding my hands through our happy moments as well as difficult times (think labor room :) ).
Semoga jodoh kita berkekalan hingga ke hujung hayat & semoga kita dipertemukan semula di Jannah, InsyaAllah.
With all my heart, I love you.
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Alhamdulillah, Shahril and I would like to introduce -
Afif Muizzuddeen Bin Shahril
Born on 22nd April 2012 at 4.56pm weighing 3.75kg.
Semoga menjadi anak yang soleh..
Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.
About 2 hours after we went out:
Afiq: Mama, Abang rindu la kat Deena.
Mariessa: Kakak pun! Kakak rasa macam dah lamaaaa tak jumpa Deena.
Needless to say, my heart just melted.
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Hopefully I'll get to sit down and write soon, InsyaAllah. I do miss writing but time is really not on my side. Until then, a sneak peek to the highlight of the school holidays. :)
Am now at the hospital waiting for my 32nd week checkup with Dr. A. Went to the hospital's surau earlier. One lovely lady was already in the surau when I went in:
LL: Dah azan ke dik?
Me: Dah, dah, baru je habis azan.
LL: Terima kasih. Ni dah cukup bulan ke?
Me: Belum lagi. Baru nak masuk 8 bulan, InsyaAllah.
LL: Ohhh.. Anak sulung ke ni?
Me: Tak, ni yang no 4, InsyaAllah.
LL: Ohhh, nampak mudaaaa lagi.
Lovely lady, wasn't she? :D
As I mentioned, I am now entering the 32nd week. Checkup is now 3 weeks apart. The last time we saw Dr A, she estimated Baby A weighing at 1.6kg already, Alhamdulillah. I am already so huge, people at the office have started asking when I'm going to pop or whether I'm carrying twins on a daily basis!
Ironically, work has never been heavier and I'm not even exaggerating! I am enjoying it although I can't stop wishing I could just work from home since morning traffic is horrendous these days and sitting too long is giving me pain all over. Oh well... :)
My turn's to see Dr. A. Praying that all's well, InsyaAllah.
A lil update:
Here's Baby A at 32 weeks. See how chubby he already is? ;)
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I have been idle from the blog, I know. Almost a month now, I myself can't almost believe it. A lot of things had happened since then. Some are good stuff which stayed good, some are good but didn't turn out so good in the end, some didn't start so good but ended well and some unfortunately stayed not so good. All of which leads to one thing: me analysing myself.. and my priorities. Muhasabah diri nak senang cerita.
Betullah, kesenangan dan kesusahan itu makanya 2 jenis ujian Allah yang sama tapi berbeza. Often times, I find kesenangan to be a much harder test to pass. Senang sangat hanyutnya. And probably that's where I have been, unfortunately without me realizing it. Hanyut. Fortunately though, harap2nya hanyutnya saya tak berpanjangan.
So here I am, at the end of my 2-day sick leave. It was a good 2 days of rest, although I didn't entirely restrict myself to bed rest. It's quite funny how the pain came back just as the 2 days were coming to and end, eventhough all the while I was feeling much better. I guess it's a reflection of the state of mind. Mind over matter kinda thing.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day.
More aptly, hopefully tomorrow will see me as a better person.
For a year or so now, I've been reading Prof Kamil's blog. Just before I went for umrah, I bought his books too. Something about the way he writes, touches my heart. When reading his entry, most of the time, tak sedar airmata mengalir.
I know I don't have that many readers, but I thought something this great should be shared even with just one other person. So I'm copying this from Prof Kamil's blog, in case any of you are interested.
Masjid KRTS
Pelancaran Tabung Masjid KRTS
Jika anda sudi menjadi 100 penyumbang RM100/sebulan selama 24 bulan, sila maklumkan kepada saya di email@example.com bagi tujuan rekod dan peringatan yang anda mempunyai komitment.
Tuan/puan boleh membayar RM2400 dengan sekali bayar atau dibayar setiap bulan.
Bagi mereka yang lain, sumbanglah setakat mana yang termampu. Di takdirkan saya meninggal dunia, Roza akan meneruskan usaha-usaha ini – insyaAllah – sehingga berjaya.
Saya mohon dimaafkan.
Sumbangan boleh dibayar melalui akaun maybank Raudzah Roslan: 112102080097 yang sudah kosong dan dikhaskan untuk projek ini semata-mata.
Jumlah Terkumpul 19 Januari 2012: RM4800
Sasaran: RM300000 (19.1.2014)
Lokasi: Di kawasan yang sangat-sangat memerlukan sebuah masjid yang akan ditentukan kemudian.
Semoga sumbangan kita, banyak atau sedikit akan memberi manfaat yang berpanjangan. Amin.
Mama: Hari ni hari Khamis, sayang.
Mariessa: Ooooo.. Khamis tu Tuesday eh?
Mama: Bukan, Khamis is Thursday.
Mariessa: Oooo Thursday! Lepas Khamis, hari apa pulak?
Mama: Lepas Khamis, Jumaat.
Mariessa: Jumaat tu... Friday?
Mama: Yes! Very good. Jumaat is Friday.
Mariessa: Lepas Jumaat?
Mama: Lepas Jumaat, Sabtu. Kakak tau tak Sabtu tu apa in English?
Mariessa: Tau tau tau. Sabtu tuuuuuu Saturday!
Mama: Good job! Lepas Saturday hari apa?
Mariessa: Hmmmm... Kakak rasa, lepas Saturday mestiiii lah Sunday kan Mama?
Mama: Pandai!
Mariessa: Tapi Sunday tu hari apa?
Mama: Sunday tu.. Ahad.
Mariessa: Lepas Ahad?
Mama: Lepas Ahad, Isnin. Isnin tuuuu...
Mariessa: Kakak tau, Kakak tau, Kakak tauuu! Isnin tu Monday! Lepas Isnin?
Mama: Lepas Isnin... Selasa.
Mariessa: Selasa tu Tuesday kan, Mama?
Mama: Ye sayang. Lepas Tuesday?
Mariessa: Lepas Tuesday Kakak tau. Wednesday! Sebab Wednesday Kakak boleh pakai baju sukan pegi Little Caliphs kan, Mama?
Mama: Ye sayang. Pandai anak Mama.
Mariessa: Wednesday tu Rabu kan? Lepas Rabu?
Mama: Lepas Rabu, Khamis!
Mariessa: Ohhhh... Dah Khamis lagi sekali rupanya. Hmmmmmm.. Lepas Khamis tadi hari apa pulak Mama?
Adoih! :p
If it's not because I was rushing to send Afiq to school pagi tadi, I'm sure we would have repeated the conversation at least 3 more times! :) . That's so Mariessa. :)
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Rindunya hati, Masya Allah.
Jabal Rahmah on the background.
Mengikut sejarah, Jabal Rahmah merupakan tempat pertemuan semula Nabi Adam dan Hawa di dunia setelah sekian lama terpisah. Maka, ramai yang berdoa di sini agar dipertemukan dengan jodoh yang ditentukanNya. Doa saya, semoga jodoh kami berkekalan hingga ke akhir hayat dan semoga dipertemukan semula kami di Jannah. Amin.
I'm wearing exactly that to the office today. Have never done it before as I'd usually pair the jubah with a coloured tudung. Tak tau kenapa hari ni terasa nak berpakaian serba hitam. I started to love wearing like that then, and I love it even more now. It makes me feel liberated. Semoga ia sesuatu yang dapat berterusan, InsyaAllah.
Mariessa normally goes to Little Caliphs berlenggang kangkung. But last December when we went shopping for Afiq's school bag, she insisted on one too. So we bought her one. Yesterday I let her bring her bag to LC.
At noon when I called her…
Mariessa: Mamaaaaaaaaaaa… (kalau meleret leret ni, mesti ada maknaaa)
Mama: Haaa… kenapa?
Mariessa: Kakak kan… tadiii…. Kakak tertinggal lah beg Kakak dalam van Uncle! Macam mana ni???
Mama: Hmm.. OK lah.. Nanti Mama bagitau Aunty Liza, suruh simpan beg Kakak
(Aunty Liza is the owner of the van, Uncle is the driver).
So, the whole night last night and this morning I reminded her to take home her bag. Ayah punya la menyakat dia, toksah nak kata lah!
Today at noon when I called:
Mariessa: Mama!! Mama!! Kakak BERJAYAAAAA dapatkan beg Kakak balik! Yessss!!!!
Last night Afiq started her KAFA class. Mariessa goes for Qiraati class at the same place too. Afiq's KAFA class is 8 – 10 pm while Mariessa's Qiraati session is 8-8.30pm. When we picked Mariessa up from her Qiraati class, I asked her how it went.
Mariessa: Best, Mama! Ustazah kata Kakak pandaiiiiiiiiiiiiii. Peh tu (lepas tu) ada kanak kanak lain jugak baca Iqra' macam Kakak! Tapi ada sorang tu kan Mama, dia tak bawak buku Iqra' dia sendiriiiii… Nasib baikkkk Ustazah ada banyak buku Iqra', boleh la dia guna Ustazah punya buku Iqra'! Lepas tu kan.. Ustazah ajar semua kanak kanak, lepas tu Ustazah penat, Ustazah garu2 kepala.
Afiq looks like he's enjoying school so far, Alhamdulillah. Everyday bawak bekal ke sekolah. He's not a nasi person, so dia tak heran dengan nasi lemak or bihun goreng sold at the canteen. Bekal2 dia so far: tuna sandwich, egg sandwich, hot dog, nuggets. Benda2 simple macam tu. For tomorrow he wanted something new though: Gardenia's waffle. :)
I gave him RM2 as duit belanja everyday. From Day 1 lagi he told me he would like to buy drinks. I told him iced drinks are not good so he negotiated and told me he would buy the drinks on alternate days instead. Last Thursday was his buying day.
That Thursday night, I checked his wallet and true enough tinggal seringgit aje dalam wallet dia. So I put another ringgit in.
On Friday, (I have totally forgotten about our alternate days deal) I asked what drinks he bought at the canteen. He said, "Kan Abang dah janji Abang satu hari beli… satu hari tak beli? Semalam kan Abang dah beli… jadi hari ni Abang tak beli lah". Aahhhh….such innocence. :). I am sure glad he's sticking to his words.
That night
Afiq: Mama, Abang rasa semalam Mama dah tersalah lah!
Mama: Salah? Salah apa?
Afiq: Mama kan kata Mama bagi Abang two ringgit kan. Tapi Abang rasa semalam Mama bagi Abang three ringgit lah!
Mama: Kenapa Abang rasa macam tu pulak?
Afiq: Sebabbbb… semalam kan, Abang kan beli air tu kan. Air tu kan one ringgit? Jadi two ringgit minus one ringgit, mestilah tinggal one ringgit je. Habis, kenapa dalam wallet Ben 10 Abang tu, hari ni ada two ringgit pulak? Jadi, Abang fikir… mesti Mama semalam bagi Abang three ringgit sebenarnya.
Mama: Ohhh.. bukan.. malam tadi, Mama tambah one ringgit lagi dalam wallet Abang. Tu sebab dia jadi two ringgit balik.
Afiq: Oh… He he he.. Abang ingatkan Mama tersalah bagi semalam. Kenapa Mama tak bagitau Abang Mama tambah duit dalam wallet Ben 10 Abang? Buat terkejut Abanggggg je.
Alhamdulillah, I turned 34 today.
What a milestone for me – seeing my first born going to school today. Time really flies, I know I keep saying that. But it's just so true.
Started the day early as the 4 of us : Shahril, Afiq, Mariessa and I headed to Af'iq's school. I decided Adreena is too young to join us, so she stayed home with Bibik. Arrived at the school at about 7.15 and straight we went to the assembly area. As soon as I sent Afiq to where his (temporary) classmates were lining up, there was an announcement telling parents to clear the area and wait at the canteen (which is just a few metres away) instead. Let me just say that it's 'interesting' to see how stubborn people are. Even after three of the same announcement, there were only probably 20 of us at the canteen. The rest 60 or so were still at the assembly area. It makes me wonder, how can we expect our children to listen to their teachers if we're showing them otherwise?
Anyway, it was quite a long assembly. My just-turned-34-yr-old-and-pregnant hormones were acting funny. I was tearing at the simplest things, like hearing the national anthem! I can't even remember how long has it been since I last heard it live. It reminded of the time when I used to be the one standing in front. I also realized that it was my first time hearing the Selangor's song. They were 2 other songs, one of which was the school song. The other one was the Gemilang song I think. Quite interesting song if I may say so.
While waiting for the assembly to end, we had nasi lemak at the school canteen.
The portion was big for a RM1 nasi lemak, but the sambal is oh so pedas!
Dipendekkan cerita yang panjang, the standard one students were later divided into new classes based on the test they took yesterday. It was called Ujian Diagnostik. When I asked Afiq yesterday,
Mama: Macam mana test tadi, Abang?
Afiq: Senanggggg je Mama. Semua jawapan Abang betul!
Mama: Eh? Mana Abang tau jawapan Abang betul?
Afiq: Sebab Abang semak semua jawapan Abang!
:). Gotta love that confidence, eh? ;)
Afiq on the orientation day. "Hari ni memang terbaikkkkk lah, Mama" was his exact words. :)
I have to admit that I was nervous to find out his new class. During the taklimat given by the headmaster yesterday, we were told that 1X will be the 'weakest' class. I'm not sure if the other 3 classes were ranked too, but as far as I am concerned, I was just hoping that Afiq will not be in 1X. First the teacher announced the list of names for 1W. No Afiq. Next was 1Y. Still No Afiq. (I was getting paler and paler). Then the teacher announced the names for 1X. Alhamdulillah, No Afiq. :) Afiq is put in 1Z (bukan nama sebenar, of course) along with some of his Little Caliphs friends. I could breathe properly then. :). I might be exaggerating it, but I am a mother. That should explain it. Kan? :)
Next was looking for a bus that would send Afiq home. Alhamdulillah, dipermudahkan semuanya. Found Pakcik Fuad, introduced Afiq to him and let Afiq took the bus home while we tailed the bus very, very closely. :D
Fast forward to 8pm, Afiq was supposed to start his KAFA (long story why we enrolled him for night KAFA class) tonight while Mariessa starts her Qiraati at the same time, but when we went to the school, we were told KAFA and Qiraati will only start next week. So Shahril took kids and I to McDonalds instead.
Parking was full, so after dropping us off at McD's entrance, Shahril parked the car by the roadside.
After 45 minutes or so at McD, we decided to go home. Sampai aje kat Savvy, Shahril saw that tingkap belakang Savvy kena pecah! Mungkin sebab beg sekolah KAFA Afiq was on the back seat, agaknya pencuri ingat beg notebook agaknya. This is the first time for us (hopefully the last), so naturally we are a little shaken by this incident. Alhamdulillah, aside from the bag (a very simple bagpack, nothing fancy), a writing pad and a pencil case (2 pencils, a ruler, a sharpener and an eraser inside), nothing else were missing. Alhamdulillah.
I didn't realize how badly kids (Afiq and Mariessa) were affected by this until we got home. Afiq was shaking when he asked for a glass of water. Mariessa was really pale and didn't want to go anywhere by herself. Sedih bila tengok anak2 ketakutan macam ni. It's a gentle reminder I know, semoga Allah sentiasa melindungi kita semua dari sebarang niat jahat, InsyaAllah.
So that was how the day went. It wasn't just filled with good things, but it was full of emotions: pride, sadness, happiness and fear which makes it as a whole – bittersweet, thus perfect. Thank you for all your wishes (mostly via FB) and doa. I truly appreciate each and everyone of them. Hopefully with another year added to my life, I have and will continue to strive to be the best that I can, in everything that I am – a muslimah, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an employee, an employer, a neighbour and a friend.


text:
I haven't done a whole lot of art fun in a really long time, so when I saw this, I jumped. Lucky me snagged a spot in The Mystery Project: make a stranger's day. Art House Co-op is offering this project with Prismacolor as part of their 10x10 Series. I've spent countless hours poring over Keri Smith and Sabrina Ward Harrison books in my day, and I always had this goal to make art and leave it in a public space for someone else to find. But I never followed through. So this is my excuse, motivation and opportunity. Check back soon to see what I did with my mystery project kit.
Feeling inspired? Signups for this project are over but there are several other rad projects open for participation right here.


text:
'Women of Vail' serialization: Vail became 'home'
Women of Vail
Editor's note: This is an excerpt from "Women of Vail," by Elaine Kelton and Carolyn Pope. The Vail Daily is serializing the book as Vail celebrates its 50th anniversary. The book is available for purchase at http://www.bookwormofedwards.com, the Colorado Ski Museum, Pepi's, Gorsuch, Annie's and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.
I'm a Colorado girl and grew up in Golden. I worked in the "basket room" and as a swim teaching assistant at the city's municipal pool from age 14. At 16, I taught swimming and was a lifeguard there for eight summers before coming to Vail as a college graduate and young newlywed in May 1968. That early work turned into a bit of a career here in Vail.
When we arrived, I went to the Lodge and inquired at the front desk about a lifeguard position and whether they might permit a swimming lesson program at their pool. I was told, "Yes, but someone has already been hired." As luck would have it, Hermann Staufer (then assistant manager of The Lodge) overheard the conversation, came out from a nearby office and asked my name. When I told him, he said, "You're the person we hired." Nobody had told me. That was funny and a huge relief; I had a job.
David and I were hoping to have some summer and winter fun in Vail before returning to grad school. In February of 1968, before coming to Vail in May, I wrote a letter to Vail Associates inquiring if there were many children in Vail and if there was a pool that might need a lifeguard and where I could conduct a swimming lesson program. Lillian Ross, of VA at that time, answered my letter and told me that there were some children and to write to The Lodge at Vail as they had the only pool large enough to need a lifeguard and hold swimming lessons. I immediately wrote to The Lodge, but was very discouraged not to receive a reply.
I thought it would be interesting for people to know that we had Red Cross swimming lessons early on in Vail. My swim program was affiliated with the American Red Cross to have their nationwide standards available here in Vail so local and guests' kids could obtain their Red Cross certificate "at the next level."
Sandy Troxell had been the first to teach a handful of kids swimming lessons the previous summer, but she was leaving Vail. We taught a few classes together before she left. I finished the lessons for the summer and continued conducting my ever-growing Red Cross Swimming Lesson Program for the next 32 years. Of course, there were the Vail and Minturn kids, but families came from as far as Red Cliff and Gilman (people still lived in Gilman then), Eagle, Gypsum, McCoy, and beyond to bring their kids to swimming lessons. Later, the Ogilby/Garton Vail Intermountain Pool was the first "permanent" location for us (until its foundation started sliding down the hill into Gore Creek, and the pool was officially closed). Once again, we relied on the kindness of other lodges' pools and, finally, Bobby Warner and Jeannie and Brian Hauff allowed me to use the private Homestead Court Club pool in Edwards. Adult classes were fun, too, and Warren Pulis was my first adult student in Vail.
Besides teaching swimming, I worked at The Lodge's Bear Trap Bar in the late '60s as a waitress for John Dobson's famous and wonderfully funny melodramas; next at Bud and Gretta Parks' Gondola Ski Shop, followed by a job at Gorsuch. I loved winters, summers, springs and falls, outdoor life, hard but satisfying work, and the good friends I made. The Vail area became "home," a place to raise a family and do meaningful work. My kids, Sarah and Keith, were both born in Glenwood Springs. There were no maternity facilities in Vail at the time, so they are not quite "native."
Back then, I was 23 and only wanted a fun, yearlong adventure. I'm still here 44 years later. Now, in spite of the loss of the wonderful Wild West, rough-around-the-edges, small-town early Vail, where cowboys tied their horses outside Donovan's Copper Bar or rode right in, where everyone worked hard creating this new town and knew everyone else, we now have what some might say is "the best of both worlds." There is still the wild and rural beauty all around us, and a variety of good schools and easy access to amenities.
"Women of Vail" was produced by a team that includes Elaine Kelton and Carolyn Pope, publishers; Joanne Morgan, designer and production; and Rosalie Hill Isom, writer and editor.
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