DRAMA-MOVIE ADDICTS – how to become one

“Phew Ma, do you know that Wilson refused treatment?” my eldest greeted me as I entered his room yesterday. 

Immediately I knew he was talking about "that" Wilson. (House M.D. "Holding On" Season 8 Episode 21).

Wilson who is the head of the Department of Oncology at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is being diagnosed with cancer with a projected five months to live. 

Having watched the transformation of hundreds of dying patients, Wilson tells House he's not going to do anymore chemo; he would much prefer to have five healthy months than a year or so laid up in a hospital room suffering terribly.  

House series is finally coming to an end this week.

Last week my 2^nd son came home for the weekend and as soon as he saw me “Ma, Rowling is going to launch a new book this September – The Casual Vacancy.., I asked him why the sulky expression on his face, “Ooo that means no more Harry Potter, I sure am going to miss him, I kinda grew up with him you know” came his serious reply!


Details of Rowlings new novel, The Casual Vacancy were released by her publisher. The new book, to be published worldwide on 27 September including ebook and audio formats, begins with the unexpected death of Barry Fairweather, whose demise in his early 40s leaves a space on the parish council. 

And just two days ago my daughter came to me with red swollen eyes.

What happened, now who else got shot and died, or was it that old lady with cancer? Anyway, why are you so unhappy, I asked giggling at her.  

“Desperate Housewives has ended, I don't care who died, it is the end of the series that saddened me; I am really going to miss Gabby and the gang” was her reply.

 

Over the years ever since my kids were little I am forced to blend in and keep up with many of their favourites, even sing and dance to the tunes of Teletubbies, Barney and Friends, Barbie, Doraemon, Power Puff Girls, Dragon Ball etc.

 

Who says being a mother is easy?

A Street Cat Named Bob

A real story of how one man and his cat found hope on the streets and highlights that things can get better no matter how hard life becomes. 


A heartwarming tale with a message of hope story that will touch the heart of anyone who reads it…. 

As he describes in the book, Bob changed his life. “I believe it came down to this little man. He came and asked me for help, and he needed me more than I needed to abuse my own body.”  

 

It has been six years since he used heroin, though he still relies on “scrips” (prescription drugs) to deal with his mental health problems.


Happy Reading

THE HUNGER GAMES – Against all odds

"Those who haven’t read the book are flocking to read it and those who have read it are flocking to go see it". More.

“The Hunger Games” is a movie that was created from a novel by Suzanne Collins. 

After writing the novel, Collins signed a six-figure deal for three books with Scholastic in 2006.  

By February 11, 2010, The Hunger Games had sold 800,000  copies and 26 foreign editions. Rights to the novel have been sold in 38 territories, and there are over 2.9 million copies in print. The book is a USA Today and The New York Times Best Seller.


The film currently holds the record for the third best opening weekend box office sales of any movie ($152.5 million) in North America behind The Dark Knight ($158 million) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 ($169 million) and the biggest for a non-sequel.


Two days after the film was released, it became Lionsgate's highest grossing film ever. More.

THE HUNGER GAMES ADVENTURES

A social network game called The Hunger Games Adventures was released for Facebook to coincide with the film's release. It is a role-playing video game developed by Lionsgate in coalition with Funtactix. 


STORY PLOT
As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol in which a 13th district was destroyed, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected by annual lottery to participate in the Hunger Games, an event in which the participants (or "tributes") must fight in an outdoor arena controlled by the Capitol, until only one remains.

Shocked youngsters 'are walking out of The Hunger Games' as experts demand film's certificate is raised to 15

Psychologists, child health professionals and parents yesterday joined calls for The Hunger Games to have its rating raised to a 15 because of its violent content.


Children who see the controversial film are at risk of having its disturbing scenes ‘hard-wired’ into their brains, one expert warned.




One mother said: ‘The fact that you actually see kids killing other kids is something I would not want a 12-year-old to watch.’ More here.

GAME OF THRONES - Season 2 airing 1st April 2012

Game of Thrones is an American medieval fantasy television series based on George R. R. Martin's best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels. 


The long awaited second season is scheduled to begin airing in the U.S. on HBO on April 1, 2012.

The first season primary locations being the Paint Hall Studio in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the city of Mdina, Malta. 

For the second season, the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, was used instead of Malta for scenes in King's Landing and elsewhere. 


 
Scenes set North of the Wall were filmed in Iceland, on the Vatnajökull glacier, in November 2011.

STORY PLOT

Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Political and sexual intrigue is pervasive. Amidst the war and political confusion, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night's Watch, is all that stands between the realms of men and icy horrors beyond.

AWARDS : here

Throw Away Your Worries – Breaking Point

I was having breakfast with my friend yesterday at a restaurant (chuckling and laughing at her jokes) when a group sitting next to our table suddenly turned their attention towards me and one of the men casually commented “Ahh... look at Katrina, a person with no worries.. sooooo relax!” 



Eh? Apparently they were having some heated early morning discussion about life in general, fretting and grumbling nonstop.

So this is how people here see me all these while? What else can I say except throw them my usual smile? 


hmmm “”If only they knew!”” that a few years back I was struggling within and was once on anxiety pills - “panic attack” said the doctor. “Try as much to avoid stress, change your ways of life” he advised.

I was given anxiety pills by the doctors; I sadly confided to my best friend over the phone… “Oh oh, that’s a mild dose of medication, doctors usually will give to psychiatric patients a stronger one (Crudely put in Malay - Ubat untuk Orang Gila). This definitely is bad news!”.

She drove all the way from Kulim and we spent the weekend analyzing and discussing my ‘panic attack’ – I had to get an honest outside opinion of what is actually wrong with me.

Many women especially Single Mothers these days have to work full time in high stress jobs plus take care of the house and kids. This is definitely not an easy task, however, sadly to note our society places very uncompassionate demands on us women.

Without realizing, ‘silly we’ unconsciously submit/comply to these expectations hence pushing ourselves unnecessarily – finally, at one point somehow your “sanity” just cannot cope and you will eventually explode.

I am not going to waste any more of my precious time being a slave to my worries. I decided to spring-clean my brain. 

Breaking Point - 
Why Women Fall Apart and 
How They Can Re-create Their Lives  

by Martha Nibley Beck is an interesting read, a real eye opener.

Read more: 

MENOPAUSE - What your mum n doctor may not tell you?

OBLA DI OBLA DA – Life goes on rah!.. la~la~la~la life goes on. Oh dear, the  lyrics ~~~Molly stays at home and does her pretty face ~~~

How I wish life will go on and on like Molly and her pretty face!

My late mum never discussed the horrible ‘M’ with me. In fact she never complained or had anything to say about this sneaky ‘M’. Well, don’t blame my mum; even Dr John R. Lee M.D. came out with his book titled “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause”. 



Now, now...... why all these silence? hmmmm

This is a phase in our life where not many women are prepared to talk openly? Huh! Menopause typically (but not always) occurs in women in midlife, during their late 40s or early 50s, and signals the end of the fertile phase of a woman's life.

Anyway this is one refreshing and educational book for those about to enter or are now going through menopause – one can learn what to expect and it is always better to be prepared.


I feel husbands/men should also know more about this topic so they can understand their women/mums and help their ladies go through this phase smoothly. I was told even men go through menopause?

VERTIGO – Simple Exercises

You feel dizzy, unstable, nausea, sweaty, the room is spinning and you are floating about crazily, try lying down and the moment you rise – starts all over again.

 

The first attack caught me by surprise, without any warning, very scary indeed as I have never been through dizzy spells before. A few hours in the hospital for thorough examination, tests and observation, the doctor explained to me what Vertigo is all about. Phew… what a relief, something’s just not right with my inner ears!

Image Source: here

I was very lucky my first experiences happened at home but imagine if one is driving a car, swimming, climbing the stairs or carrying your baby etc? 

Roughly a third of patients have such recurrences within a year of treatment and half have recurrences within five years, do you need to carry the pills with you at all times?

There are vertigo exercises that you can do at home to help manage these attacks, simple steps that will take less than 5minutes of your time, it works. There are many videos posted in the internet to help you with these exercises.

Learn more here and here.

Back to the Kitchen – Cooking Varieties – Chef Dato Dr Rusly

In Malaysia we have our celebrity chef an Accountant by qualification, the famous Chef Wan. And I too have a special friend Wan, also an Accountant by profession who is as passionate in cooking and shares her special interest blogging on food - Cooking Varieties. 

What makes CookingVarieties exciting is that Wan invites guest bloggers from all over the world to contribute and share their interest in food; recipes, food ideas, tips, suggestions, health benefits and food jokes etc. 

In one of her recent posting on Pancakes we get to learn of the varieties of pancakes enjoyed by different communities around the world. 

I have no talent in cooking. Years of being away from home I had no opportunity to learn to cook from my late mum. When I was home she would rather I not enter her kitchen – I only mess things up for her. Even at this age I am struggling, left to cook on my own, I am simply lost. I still need to depend on cookbooks, surf the net for food blogs and attend cooking lessons - yes, learn how to cook from scratch.

Chef Dato Dr Rosli (Chef Li) inspired me the most; his easy simple ways make cooking bearable and fun. I attended many of his classes – tricks, shortcuts and tips from him are priceless. In one traditional menu “Nasi Lemak” session, within just few hours we can come up with as many as 25 dishes! Fantastic - learning about his simple paste system, will save us so much time in the kitchen. 

And you get to learn of the little secret ingredients/herbs used, for instance to prepare the famous Hainanese Chicken Rice. You may try as hard but if just one special ingredient is not added, you may not get the original taste right. 

 

Anyway Chef Li offers a wide selection of menus to choose from - traditional dishes, Chinese, Thai, Western, baking, ice-creams, drinks and also how to process noodles, yoghurt, bean curds etc. 

He is also the author of motivational books such as “Jutawan Senyap”, the Silent Millionaire, where he encourages others to venture into simple food related business as means to earn a living. 

Sexual Abuse – Justice for victims?

Updates:  08 August 2012
Puzzling and frightening verdict  - here

"National bowler escapes custodial sentence for statutory rape"

 

I was once living in a remote secondary jungle area when I first got married. To get to the nearest town, if weather permits, will take hours - jungle tracks, dirt roads and two river crossings. 


Childbirth? Villagers seek the services of midwives to help deliver babies. I became acquainted to one of them; a gentle and pleasant lady who reminded me of my mum back home. We developed a special strong relationship, close enough for her to be willing to share her tiny-winy secrets with me.

 

It was during one of our quiet moments alone when she confided to me an incidence that had been troubling her conscience for weeks. A baby she recently delivered - the new mum’s father is also the father of the baby. The man’s wife and his family knew but decided to keep quiet about the whole affair?

Disgusted, shocked and angry yet just like them, after taking all possibilities into consideration, I too decided to remain silent. That was about all I did – feel for the unfortunate girl and her baby, fullstop? It had been 20 years, always on my mind and yet not a word to anyone!

WHY?

“There really is no darker secret than sexual abuse” – said Oprah in her November 1986 talk show where she revealed to her audience that she was raped by a 19yr old relative when she was only 9years old – here

and even recently,

Rape victim was 9 years old when she got pregnant, here

WHY?

……Not enough people understand what rape is, and, until they do..., not enough will be done to stop it. — rape victim, quoted in Groth 1979 (p. 87) .... A Natural History of Rape, www.nytimes.com (book review).

..... Rape is a conscious process of intimidation by which all men keep all women in a state of fear... 


 “A world without rapists would be a world in which women moved freely without fear of men. That some men rape provides a sufficient threat to keep all women in a constant state of intimidation, forever conscious of the knowledge that the biological tool must be held in awe, for it may turn to weapon with sudden swiftness born of harmful intent.” – Susan  Brownmiller in Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape - 1975

Wikipedia Blackout - Message

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For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia. Learn more.

Make your voice heard

Raising Boys Without Fathers – Single Mothers

Raising boys without fathers? This question came into my mind from the very day my husband died. Little girls are cute adorable darlings and so simple to care for but boys, with their ever changing unpredictable aggressive behaviors one can hardly guess what next they will surprise you with!

My little boys (10years old and 5years old) were very close with their father, enjoyed doing all the boys stuff together, he was their best friend and their playmate. The special love and bond shared between father and sons, even I as their mother can never understand. What happens when this very special person suddenly disappear forever from their lives?

Experiencing Death of a Parent as a Child

.......Experiencing the death of a parent is traumatic at any age, but it's particularly harrowing for young children. With the death of a parent, young children are deprived not only of the guidance and love that that parent would have provided as the children grew up but also the sense of security that the parent's ongoing presence in the home would have bestowed. More often than not, the child feels terribly vulnerable, especially when the death is accompanied by a relocation of the family..... Greg Harvey . 

Read more here, here, and  here.

After his father’s death Khairul became depressed and withdrawn, firmly refused to attend Kindergarten. In Year One his behaviour became worse, horribly impossible, coaxing, pleading and screaming at him just to get him to go to school. He hated school, hated all the teachers and refused to make friends. After six months I decided to transfer him into a private school, a 30km drive from home, 4daily trips for me. 


We later discovered that just a few days before he died my husband was planning with the boys about our family trip to Europe - which did not materialise due to his sudden death. Was Khairul angry with his father because of the unfulfilled promise? When he was 8years old, after consultation with family members we decided to send him to stay with his auntie in United Kingdom for 2months. 


There he attended school in Reading as a guest student. Being the only Malay boy in that school he was very well received by his classmates and teachers – he was so fond of Miss Cheek, his class teacher. He enjoyed the new experience  and the time spent with his uncle. His short stay there worked miracles; he came home a completely changed boy. 


When my sons were young (between 7years old to 15years old) I sent them to as many holiday camps and educational workshops so they can interact and enjoy activities with new friends and their male instructors. It was good for them; the boys really enjoyed these experiences.


Whenever the boys were invited to join their best friend’s families for family trips - picnics, fishing or for weekend activities, I freely gave them permission. (Zainun, Ida, Johar, Fuziah, Harun, Izan, and Cecilia would call me up to “borrow” my sons – my blessings to all my very dear friends for making my sons life so blissful). What I wanted was for the boys to be given the opportunity to feel the atmosphere of being around, doing things and sharing daily activities with “fathers”. 


They are lucky as we live in a closely knitted community where the Village Elders (JKKK Kampung) organized monthly programs and activities. They included my sons in many of these voluntary activities. The young boys became active members of the Rakan Muda Masjid, where they learnt how to communicate and mingle freely with people of all ages, especially men.


The strongest support came from close family members. My late mum in law was always there for the boys – a fantastic grandmother who kept the memories of their father fresh and alive for them. In good health or sickness, sharing the joys and sorrows with them are their exceptionally special uncles and aunties who loved and cared for them as their own children.

In "RaisingBoys Without Men," research psychologist Dr. Peggy Drexler says that boys raised in households headed by just mothers can grow up emotionally stronger, more empathetic and independent than boys raised in traditional two-parent households.... Happy reading....