My "Too Cute"s

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Grey's Anatomy

About 3 days ago, my friend was telling me that her husband has diabetes and during Raya, he didn't watch his diet. As a result, his thigh is now swollen with pus. I don't know the medical term for 'bisul'. He might have to go for a minor operation and with diabetes, it would take longer to heal. And the situation would be worse if the thing burst; and if it doesn't heal, he might just lose his whole leg. So she was telling him, "You're a diabetic patient. A lot of things can happen. We have four children. I have to take care of a lot of things. And if you become crippled, I also have to take care of you. So, why don't you take care of yourself first from now before the unwanted happens?" Then, out of curiousity, she asked,"If I'm sick, would you take care of me?" He answered,"I will hire a maid." So she asked again, "What is the maid for?" since they already have one.
"To take care of me," he replied, smiling.
"That sounds like you."
Then he said, "Noo-lah, the maid will take care of you." So the conversation ended here and he didn't notice that my friend was upset. Little did he know that his answers (though light-hearted on his part) hurt and were creating a snowball effect. Because, some time back, she had asked, "If I died, what will you do? Who will take care of the children?" He answered that he'd remarry because he still has strong sexual desire. She was upset then and he didn't notice it either. The Malay would say, "Tak sayang mulut" as this would be considered as suicidal remarks. Kalau nak kawin pun, tak yah ler cakap or avoid answering it altogether. (Please note that I'm retelling this with permission.) But what has this got to do with Grey's Anatomy?
Anyway, when I heard this, I was amazed that a husband can come out with these kind of answers and I had this burning curiousity to hear what my husband would answer.
My chance came last night. I am a peminat mati keras (die hard fan) of Grey's Anatomy and even though my husband wanted to eat out last night, I opted to cook and stay home. By 8:10p.m., dinner was served. However, I missed 10 minutes of the series because I was waiting for the news to end and it went on. I didn't realise we were watching TV3! Aaaaaarghhhh!
So, after watching the show, when I got some 'us-time' with my husband, my children were sleeping, and I was folding tonnes and tonnes of clothes, I told him what happened in the show. I said it was such a funny episode because that Sandra Oh's character (I remembered her name last night) and Burke went on their first dinner date, and it was clear that they didn't really know each other's likes and dislikes. But I digress. So I told Zul about the patient that was assigned to Meredith, an old lady named Esme, who underwent an operation. The doctors discovered that she had gallbladder cancer and informed the husband who asked the doctors not to inform his wife. He wanted her to be happy before she went. So Meredith was somewhat in a dilemma: to tell or not to tell? So I asked my husband, "Darling, what would you do? Would you tell?"
"Of course!"
"Well, that's what Dr. Bailey said, 'You have a responsibility towards your patient. She is your patient. You have to tell her that she is dying!(or something to that effect.)"
So Meredith told Esme that she had cancer and guess what Esme asked Meredith to do - to not tell her husband that she was dying! So now both of them know but don't know that the other knows too!
"Darling, would you want to know that you're dying?"
"Of course! I have to make plans," he answered.
"Would you tell me that I'm dying?"
"Yes."
"If I'm sick, would you take care of me?"
"Ye-es!" he answered in a strong, confident manner. There was no hesitation in his answer, his tone reflected that he found it strange that I'm even asking as if there is somebody else to take care of me when it should be him.
At that moment, I was so proud to have him as my husband. My next thought was, "Poor friend of mine."
So my question is: Have you ever asked this question to your spouse? If so, what is the answer?

Monday, October 30, 2006

Selamat Hari Raya & Happy Deepavali

First of all, it's been ages, I do mean ages since my last post. Life has been exceptionally busy and I finally finished 70% of my marking and keyed in that lot into the system. Another 30% is still waiting for me but after non stop marking for 3 days and nights, I think I deserve a break.
I need to design a short quiz for the last class of the semester and I am done with classes this semester. I need a vacation! Hey! I need a sponsor!
Anyway, to all my fellow Muslims, "Selamat Hari Raya!" and hope that Raya has been an enjoyable and uneventful one. And to those celebrating Deepavali, "Happy Deepavali!" to you. I remember back in college, one morning I woke up, I was serenaded a Happy Deepavali song. I don't know how long my crazy friend Hafiz was waiting for me to get up, and the moment my eyes opened, she sang:
HAAAAAAPpy deepavali
hapPEEEEEEE deepavali
happy DEEEEEEEEpavali
happy deePAAAAAAAvali
happy deepaVAAAAAAAli
happy deepavaLIIIIIIIIII
The song was contagious, and soon we were singing that song to everyone we knew. Gosh, those were the days! Bulan Ramadhan was bulan makan. Of course we did our tarawikh and stuff but that was after berbuka. The berbuka itself was sooo festive. Orang sepatutnye lose weight during Ramadhan, but we gained. Sorang2 debab2 that Ramadhan. It was our final year and final semester. When it was time for berbuka, friends from different blocks and rooms got together to buka puasa and though we were allowed to bring only a rice cooker, we did so much with that rice cooker, bubur jagung, cucur kentang and bilis, chicken rice, omelette, we even made chicken and fish porridge to sell for RM1.20 or was it RM1.50. Sometimes we had to use the pantry because there was like 20 of us! Every day was a feast. When we didn't buy, we cooked. Friends with cars would drive to the bazaar Ramadhan to buy ikan bakar, tepung pelita and tako. One night, we prepared so much food for Sahur and nobody woke up. Yg untung yang tak dapat puasa. It was the best Ramadhan we ever had.