Living in a Foreign Language

Hello New Week!

Hello Monday! Might I say you have started out WAY better than last Monday.  This weekend was all about movies! Some new, some old (thanks Mel!), some at the movies, some at home. We saw What to Expect When You Are Expecting, which was just okay and frankly, made me depressed but that would be another story entirely. I do love our theatre though! Super comfy lounge chairs complete with pillows and blankets and waiters!  (Picture courtesy of Mr. Ken's cell phone and is not the best.)

At home we watched several movies but the one that stood out (mainly I think because we had not seen it before) was Moneyball. There are a few baseball movies that I love…Field of Dreams, A League of Their Own, and my most favorite of all time, Bull Durham. How could you not love a movie where a relatively washed up minor league player (the always sexy Kevin Costner) paints the toenails of his current paramour (the beautiful Susan Sarandon). It is a funny, sexy movie moment not to be forgotten…anyway, I am adding Moneyball to my list of favorite baseball movies. It is based on a true story, in fact, you can google all the names involved and they really were all there at the time. Brad Pitt does a great job as does Philip Seymour Hoffman (a character actor who I think is terrific).

Speaking of movies, I think I failed to mention sometime back we finally watched The Iron Lady on the plane back from Perth. I love Meryl Streep anyway, she is always fantastic but this movie was SO well done. It deserved every single award it received, and more. Every single thing about it was so well thought out and the attention to detail and history was exquisite.

I had a surprise in my mailbox this weekend! The cheesecloth I had lamented about in one of the blog posts! Thank you to my dear friend! It was a lovely surprise and can I just say how much I love to get mail, in the mailbox! It is such a treat. I mean you just know people went to a lot of trouble to make it happen as you can't just stick a stamp on it and put it in the mail. Made my whole weekend!

Today, I went to do errands as I usually do on Mondays. Here, because of the parking garage scenario, there are a lot of "escalators" that honestly are more like conveyor belts as some of them are made to accommodate your grocery baskets going up or down to get to the parking areas. So, imagine a sort of wide conveyor belt conveying people and their grocery carts up and down, no stairs involved. I am, at the time, on the up side, coming in from the parking garage, no basket yet. I was fiddling with my sunglasses (on my head…no, I don't consider it an addition to my fashion statement…today it was a necessity because I went to bed with my hair wet and well, not a pretty sight…yes, I could have redone it before I went out in public, but that just isn't how it rolled this morning.) Okay, so fiddling with my sunglasses on my head, hit my earring (should I add it is a David Yurman earring I for sure don't want to lose) and off it came. I tried to catch it but…next thing I know, physics being what they are, my earring is bouncing back down the escalator/conveyor belt I am riding up on. You know going backwards back down takes almost double the number of steps as just walking up it…you lose a lot of real estate since it is still moving up while you try to back track. All the while, of course, I'm saying out loud, MY EARRING! Yeah. I'm thinking it was pretty funny to witness. I'm just glad it was a big earring and didn't get stuck in the grooves!  And, was solid and didn't disintegrate with the many, many bounces along its downward trajectory.

Which brings me to a really funny story!! Many, many, many years ago I went to Dallas for a wedding. After a lot of champagne my friend and I went to the Hyatt (I think that's right) to go to the observation deck and view the city. Well, the escalator to get up there was VERY, VERY steep. Somehow, I was looking up, up, up and maybe so much so I was leaning back and….well, I ended up falling backwards as it was going up. I'm still not sure how…all I know is those little groove things ate my gorgeous dress (which actually was my best friend's dress but that's another story) and it was touch and go if I would make it up and unstick my dress before we got to the top and the escalator basically ends. It didn't help that I fell on my friend who quite possibly was the only person around who could help me up. Never a dull moment I say! I'm beginning to really think champagne is not my friend.

So. OPC. Other People's Children. Which in my world constitutes just about all children except those in some way related to me by marriage, family or friends.   Anyway, I was checking out at the grocery today and first off, the woman behind me totally crowded into my space as I was checking out which irritates me. Like stay back where the belt is and you load your groceries until I have paid and left the little pay counter in the middle, because really, your stuff hasn't even been rung up yet. Along with her crowding me was her little brat, boy. He was really crowding me and at some point started swinging this metal gate (used when the lane is closed), as he swung it hit my kneecap, over and over. Finally, with not a word or look to either one I reached down and grabbed the gate and held it where he couldn't move it. He began to pitch a fit and his mother GLARED at ME. REALLY? Seriously. She did not tell him NO, she did not even say oops sorry, NOTHING. Like how did that become my fault? I've got a dang bruise on my kneecap. And, I said nothing and I didn't even look your way with a look that would have told you exactly what I was thinking. Honestly, keep your OPC to yourself.

This afternoon I am starting to get together some things for….THAILAND. We leave Thursday for six days, five nights. Pure vaca on the beach. I actually bought some real books to take (I don't find the IPad user friendly out by water or sun). I've been looking through my travel guide and the info the hotel sent for excursions and night life...sounds like some fun stuff but also a lot of the same things we did in Bali, just in Thailand instead of Indonesia.  But,  I'm excited to finally go after it being postponed for two years now.

I got some really different stuff for reading this time...we will see if I can make it for the duration with NO thriller mysteries since I've half decided the IPad stays home (sorry WWF pals, I will be AWOL for six or seven days) and the Air goes with.  I think.  Maybe.  

Until then...

Delicious Dinner

While worrying and waiting for Mr. Ken to get home from Vietnam I busied myself with making dinner...I created the following and it turned out SO yummy! I was wanting something comforting, light, fresh but very tasty and with good crunch! This fit the bill! I regret I was in creative mode and I didn't know how good they would turn out, I didn't take any pictures...anyway...they turned out as pretty as they were good! The other thing is if you did use store bought tostado or chalupa shells this meal is on the table in less than an hour! Additionally, I made everything in advance and put it all together once he got home. It works out very well for thinking ahead meals. You could even use leftover or store bought rotisserie chicken to save even more time but I did love the marinade on the chicken. Chicken Chalupas with Guacamole (this was made for two people, adjust accordingly for more) Ingredients: 1 large chicken breast (I used with skin and bones, you can certainly do without) 1/2 cup fresh lime juice 1 heaping teaspoon chili powder 2 large avocados 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (I juiced two large lemons) 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 cup shredded green cabbage 1/2 cup shredded red cabbage 1/2 cup shredded romaine lettuce (I did all three in long thin strips) 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved 3 or 4 radishes julienned 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (you could use cilantro, I didn't have any) 10 soft corn tortillas (you could substitute pre-made tostada or chalupa chips - I can't get those here, but I loved the homemade version and might always do that!) 1/3 cup Canola oil Lemon Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Course black pepper, Crazy Janes Salt, Garlic Salt, Sea Salt (all to taste, below) 1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used white cheddar, use whatever you've got) Preheat over to 180 C or 350 F. Put chicken breast in smallest oven proof baking dish, with lid, it will fit in (I pulled back the skin some and put the breast in upside down so the most meat was in the marinade). The point of the small dish is to maximize the marinade surrounding the chicken and make the chicken really tender and moist...more pan surface, less marinade on your chicken meat. Mix the lime juice and chili powder, pour over the chicken. Put the lid on and bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven, leave in dish with lid on until ready to dice. While the chicken cooks... Guacamole I've tried numerous versions of making this. I've added tomatoes, cilantro, onions, jalapeños, mixed and matched all of those. Our favorite way to eat it is super simple this: Mash two avocados in a bowl. Add about two teaspoons of fresh lemon juice. Season to your personal taste with lemon pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic salt, and Crazy Janes salt. We like ours pretty well seasoned especially with the pepper. Remember when adjusting your seasoning that your chips are salty also! Store in the refrigerator with the seed of one avocado in it until ready to serve. Serve with tortilla chips (or with warm tostada chips below). Assemble your salad by mixing the cabbages, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes and parsley together in a small bowl. Dress the salad as follows: In small bowl whisk the remainder of the lemon juice, olive oil, and I add some Crazy Jane and some cracked black pepper to taste. I prefer the dressing more lemony than oil, if you prefer the opposite whisk in more olive oil. You should be able to tell by the smell - more lemony or more oil to your taste! Toss with the salad and reserve in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the tostadas. Heat the canola oil in a shallow skillet large enough to hold a tortilla. Drop a tortilla in the oil, turning a couple times. Let them just brown and crisp up a bit. Remove to paper towels to drain. Repeat until all are crispy and golden brown. Sprinkle a little salt on them while hot to season. To assemble: Remove your chicken from the dish, remove bones and or skin, dice the chicken in small bite sized pieces. Remove your salad, cheese and dip from the fridge. Take the avocado seed out of your dip for serving, and give your salad another toss to make sure all ingredients are mixed well. Take a tostada, layer on chicken, cheese (I don't actually do the cheese but Mr. Ken prefers it), salad and a dollop of guacamole. I made two per person. I broke up the rest of the tostada chips and served alongside the remainder of the guacamole. Fresh, easy, delish...Enjoy guys!

To Read or Not to Read, Can that really be a Question?

I just got through reading a new post on one of my favorite blogs, www.thepioneerwoman.com , in the entertainment section, entitled "Books Can Be Your Friend" by Big Mama.

My mom asked me yesterday why I hadn't written any blogs recently and I said because I had nothing to write about since all I've been doing for three weeks is reading and watching DVD's. After reading the above post I decided to write a blog on books. I am sure PW won't mind if I do a blog on books seeing as we likely don't have nearly the same readership in common (hers of the many thousands, mine of well, a few!)

Here below are my most favorite books I've read in my life which are not in any order after number one...

1. Gone With The Wind - what, you thought that would change since the last time I blogged about it? No can do. Top, all time favorite, ever.
2. Harlot's Ghost by Norman Mailer. If you are intrigued by all of the conspiracy stories and theories surrounding the time in history of the Bay of Pigs, JFK assassination, Marilyn Monroe's death, the CIA, The Mob, Sam Gianncana, and other mysteries of that time, this book is for you! It is a fantastic work of "fiction" that more than one person believes was written based on pure fact as told by a CIA operative to the author. ( And by more than one person I mean ME and my fictional friend, Darian - oh, seriously, you have a fictional friend too!  I'm just willing to admit to mine.)
3. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. If any book could make me pick my politics, it would be this one. Free enterprise, ergo Capitalism with a capital C = good, Government ergo socialism with a capital S = bad.   And, I pretty much still lean that way.
4. Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. Love it. Love it. Love it. The time period, the people, the mistakes, the realities, life in a small southern town.
5. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. The first book I ever read that made my hair stand up on my arms. You don't really know or understand what has happened until close to the very end and then nothing is what you thought. A classic which started my love of mysteries and thrillers.
6. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. What could I possibly say? It is a literary classic that you owe it to yourself to read.
7. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. This is the only novel Emily wrote and is considered by many to have surpassed that of her sisters work. Again, a classic, a must read. And a must re-read!
8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of my favorite quotes is "her voice was full of money" said by the narrator, Nick, about Daisy. Think about that...what does it mean?  Anyway, a fantastic novel about Gatsby's failure to obtain the great American dream...or at least his version of it. Fitzgerald's writing is sublime.
9. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. New on the horizon but I believe destined to be a classic. Fantastic read, I couldn't put it down.
10. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. A children's book that I've read over and again even as an adult. One of my favorite quotes "....just because we don't understand doesn't mean that the explanation doesn't exist.".
11. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery. Another children's book but one I believe holds the keys to a happy life! Some of my favorite quotes, which are actually underlined in my well worn copy of this book:

 
"He who would travel happily, must travel lightly."
"A goal without a plan is just a wish."
"If I were to command a general to turn into a seagull, and if that general did not obey, that would not be the general's fault. It would be mine."
"That is the hardest thing of all. It is much harder to judge yourself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself, it is because you are truly a wise man."

Now for the second favorite list. I know, really, all the favorites should be on one list.  Let's put it this way; the above 11 books would be what I'd grab if there were a fictional fire and I had to choose what 11 books I could take with me...get it... "fictional fire"...hahaha! (Not to mention I'd rescue my fictional friend, Darian!)  Okay, I've been cooped up way too long if I think my jokes are funny, and I do! I'm LOL on that one. Anyway, the books listed below would also be grabbed if I was allowed to take more and I had enough hands...and are in no particular order, but are books I've totally enjoyed reading and highly recommend.

1. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough. What a brilliant saga set in Australia...a love story to end all love stories. I'm even going to tell you a secret, I don't like, actually despise, love stories (and don't even get me started on the actual Love Story  by Eric Segal - what a sappy, icky, whiney mess)! But this is so much more than that ...plus I recognize many people love - love stories - so if you do you certainly can't beat this star crossed lover hit from the eighties. (At the time I read The Thorn Birds I did still read love stories but as time wore on the novel wore off and now I much prefer a gruesome murder mystery to any sort of hearts and flowers...and, no, I haven't stopped to consider what that actually says about me. I just prefer to think I outgrew the genre much as I outgrew Anne Rice and Tom Clancy at some point.)
2. The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. Well, not so much the chronicles as the first two books, Interview with a Vampire and The Vampire Lestat. With all due respect to Ms. Meyer (see below) no writer does vampires like Ms. Rice did vampires! To say I loved these books would be an understatement. After reading them I haunted New Orleans for anything and everything Anne Rice. I also loved her book The Witching Hour.
3. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. Okay, again with the love story but it was essential to the plot and not my favorite part of the books. Plenty of action, and vampire-ness to keep me enthralled with each and every book. Read each one cover to cover in one seating. For pure reading pleasure...but I must say of them all; the best, hands down, is Twilight.
4. The Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling. Fantastic books. Wonderful for absolutely any age group...well, maybe not small kids but certainly good to read with your kids when they get to this reading level. I loved all of them but the first, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was my favorite.
5. Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond. Pure reading enjoyment and a true story! This is one "love story" I loved!  So maybe its the ones with less sap and more substance I'm able to stomach!
6. The Shipping News by Annie Prouix. Lovely book set in Newfoundland which surprises at every turn... not sure I know anyone who read it but me!
7. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. You wouldn't think a story about a girl who was murdered could be this engaging but it is heart stopping, don't want to put it down, good.
8. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. Told as a memoir by a gentleman who ended up joining a circus this gritty account of his life there is another read I couldn't put down.
9. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. This puts the dysfunctional back into the family! Sometimes laugh out loud funny, sometimes not. I simply loved the book!
10. Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. This memoir is equally laugh out loud funny and tragic all in one swoop.
11.  The Hunt for Red October, Red Storm Rising, Patriot Games, The Cardinal of the Kremlin, Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of all Fears all by Tom Clancy.  I don't know what to say.  No one does espionage better than Clancy...but he lost me after The Sum of all Fears.  Not sure why, but he did.  It is strange how I became a fan though...on a business trip to Ireland way back in 1987 I met a gentleman at a dinner party my boss took me to  made me attend.   After a lot of very interesting conversation surrounding Irish politics he confided to me that his wife had been killed by an IRA bombing in Northern Ireland on their wedding day in December 1982.  He then spoke of a book he found very interesting.  The next week in the mail I received  Patriot Games from him.  This is a fictional book about the "ULA" or Ulster Liberation Army in Ireland and England.  I never saw Gerald again but I'm always reminded of him and the IRA when I think of Tom Clancy books.

So, there you are ~ some things to think about, or pick up and read! Leave me a comment or list of your favorite books! I've got plenty of reading time on my hands...

Until the next time I leave you with my most favorite quote of all time from The Little Prince.

"It is only with the heart that one can see clearly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.". 

Spa-licious!

Hi spajunkies!  I've been very remiss in posting.  I don't know what to say except nothing much has happened in the week Mr. Ken has been in South Korea.  (Well, that's not entirely truthful but I haven't decided if I'm going to post some of what has gone at Amarin Kiara - or "Crazy Amarin Kiara" as Rogielyn calls it...and I don't surmise in an altogether good way!)

I've been busy with "this and that".  "This" being a lot of books read, but the only ones worth mentioning are, of course, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, I couldn't say enough about how much I enjoyed it.  And, a surprising hit with me was Inside the Kingdom by Carmen Bin Laden.  I admit I do love to read about the Middle East though...she is the sister-in-law of the infamous, and not to actually be mentioned by name, devil himself.  It's a really good read if you are into those types of things.

And, "that" being playing games on my Ipad.  I'm currently playing Words With Friends and getting my butt kicked by two friends, over and over.  It's not that I particularly like losing it is just that it keeps me connected with friends!  That's okay though, words, nor puzzles, have ever been my strong suit, I'm a very black and white, linear person.  I'm learning though and having fun with it.  It's great you will be asleep and wake up and you've got like five moves in your court.   I also have, still, been doing crossword puzzles.  I'm getting quite good at those though I admit I'm still doing the easy ones, see above black and white and linear.  Crosswords and words themselves seem to blur up or something on me...kind of like can't see the forest for the trees and then find out the answer and go, "duh, should have had a V8"...oh, that was 8 down...

Anyway, other than that, one of the things I admittedly look for when going around town are new spa openings (really, you don't say???).  Whenever this happens the new spa runs all sorts of "promotional offers", so I happened upon one in Plaza Damas and decided to look into the promo.

I was able to buy a package of 10 - 90 minute massages for the equivalent of $280 USD.  That works out to $28 per massage for 90 minutes and they can be used by anyone I designate, meaning me or Ken in this case.  That's super cheap even for over here.  So, I had a massage and now I've got 9 left....it was a good massage but not particularly the best I ever had...but it was definitely the best $28 - 90 minute massage I ever had.  (and the only one!)

They were also promoting a facial and body scrub package for the equivalent of $100 USD, a three hour treatment with all natural products.  I booked myself for today.

Let's talk about body scrubs...you either like them or you don't...some people don't want to be virtually naked while someone scrubs their body with dead sea salt.  Me, I love it.  Your skin feels incredible when its done.  This one was a bit different in that once done they zipped me up into this warming sort of sleeping bag and left me for hours....well, it seemed like hours.  Anyway, here I am all pupae like in my little cocoon.  At first I fell asleep, then I started fidgeting around, I'm hot, I'm a little itchy...!  No arms, no feet...anyway, so I thought well I could just look at the timer under the table (which I had seen when I was previously face down) and be able to tell how long I've got left until I can shower this crap off...

So, I started to lean over the edge of the table and then...oops oh no, the feet are starting to go, opps no, I've got this, oops no, CRAP. 

I'm on the floor.  In my pupae cocoon like state.  Damn, I thought, what now?  I've no legs, no arms, I'm a mummy for goodness sake!  Not a very great predicament to be in, especially given that all I've got on under the mummy suit are my DP's (if you don't know what this is, well, you need to go WAY back in the blog!). 

I guess fortunately ???? my peals of laughter alerted my captives to my dilemma.  I was soon rescued by my torturer who was laughing almost as hard as I was. She said to me "were you feeling bad or?"  I said "well, a little claustrophobic, how LONG have I been in this thing?"  She said "fifteen minutes."  Oh. 

 Once I was righted and laid back down to be unzipped, I showered and then went for my facial.  At some part of the facial she had layered my face with a mask and kind of wrapped me up only to ask "you WILL be okay here until I get back?"  Yes, I promise I don't care what time is left...

And, that my friends, is why I am the spajunkie!  Love ya!  Spa-licious!!!!!!!!!!!

Interrupting...

My own dang best 7 list for a random update on things here in KL...

1.  Mr. Ken left today for a week in South Korea.  Praying that he has easy travels, good meals and plenty of rest.  When he left I felt like I'd sent my first born off to camp for the first time...we have not been apart longer than the hours in a work day since beginning of October.  That's a long, long, long time for us!  I would say in the last three to five years we traveled separately at least 12 to 16 weeks of the year.  I don't know what to do with myself without him here...Safe travels Mr. Ken!  I love you.

2.  Okay, well, at least I know ONE thing I'm doing - my birthday package from my momma arrived for me this week and this evening I will be starting, and likely finishing, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels  by Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman.  Thanks momma!  I can't wait to read it...love you.

3.  I posted some time back in December about the black snake that was in our house slithering around...well, at our little Rabbit dinner party soiree in January, several people who have lived here a very long time asked me, "what color?"  "Black."  "Did it move up and down and sideways to slither instead of more or less straight?"  "Why, yes, yes it did, why do you ask?"  "Oh, that's a cobra."   CO-BRA...COB-RA...C-O-B-R-A.  Any way you say it just doesn't sound good. 

4.  So, I was reminded of this dinner party banter I had since forgotten, when today Desi and I went for a drive.  As we left our gates on our road to the main road, there was a snake crossing the road.  The same road in July I watched a monitor lizard cross.  I don't believe he was a CO-BRA because he wasn't black and he slithered like a normal snake.  He was, though, quite large, he took up almost the length of the width of my lane on the road.  I had it in my mind to run him over and at the last minute I didn't...I kept having visions of him up under the Fortuner all tangled up, maybe still breathing, and thought...THEN WHAT???  I just let him slither right on over the embankment, same place the monitor lizard went in July...one place I can assure everyone I will never venture anywhere near on foot.  I'm thinking this area needs one of those yellow duck crossing signs but with snakes and lizards instead...

5.  The reason I remembered the monitor lizard from July is because on, I think Wednesday (I didn't have the car at all this week so my days are running together), I was on our patio doing crossword puzzles when something in the backyard (read mountain jungle) caught my eye...it took me awhile to actually focus in and realize...it was a monitor lizard, about 5 feet long, walking along the bottom of the jungle behind the house...I ran to get my camera and in the ensuing excitment of walking right past it, going to an entirely different floor, when I got back he was under the cover of dense brush...the camera didn't quite capture the brush moving or him in it.

6.  While I'm all one for the flora and fauna of where one lives, I'm about done with the snake/lizard thing.  Seriously, I am happy not to see another even if I don't have pictures! 

7.  This morning I caught Desi with another shoe, before he chewed it up, thankfully...suitcase was out for Mr. Ken's trip.  The Des really has decided he doesn't prefer us to travel anymore. 

8.  I've got all of the flights and hotel booked to go to London in March.  The beautiful Lauren is going there on spring break so I'm meeting up with her.  I leave on March 14th and return on the 20th.  I'm super excited!  My friend from Ireland, Sandra, is going to fly over and meet me for a couple days.  I haven't seen her since 2007 when we were in Ireland...we've known each other for a good many years, we worked together way back in my first career...we've had some great times over the years and I know London will be another one!  I also think we might look into taking the Chunnel train to Paris for a day.  I'm so excited!  It wasn't really in the budget but Mr. Ken said to me "I'm glad you are going to get a break sweetie after all of the stress and work these last five months with me..."  Awww, you're aren't work Mr. Ken, my prince...not at all...not at all demanding...not at all a total baby when you are sadly gimping around with crutches...NOT AT ALL!  Walk in the park, babe.  I love you!

9.  Wish me luck, next week I'm finding a gym to join.  I hope I can find one that meets the criteria.

10.  I miss my girl friends...so if you are reading this an email or a little text message how do you do something or other would sure be nice!  I'm 10,000 miles away hanging out with snakes and monitor lizards, maybe a monkey and gecko or two.  Oh, and of course, the English cocker spaniel who needs a dog whisperer.  I'm doing crossword puzzles for heaven's sake!!!!! 

Might be a crazy person soon, or a crazier person anyway.

Love, spajunkie.

 

 

Update from KL

Thought everyone might like an update from our side of the world...

1. Ken is doing really well after Chemo Round 2. The update from his DR was really good last Friday, his blood work is still all within normal range, his weight is maintaining (and I might say it's the weight he was when we met, so while he seems thin, he's really just back to his normal weight), he has an excellent appetite, his ankle is completely healed, and he's doing PT once a week to improve his agility in the ankle. All in all we feel very blessed at how it's going so far, and we are very happy, even surprised, at the level of quality medical care he is receiving.  And, I am so amazed on a daily basis at his strength and endurance going through all of this.  He's my hero.

2. It's been raining here for two days and nights, solid rain...I know it's the rainy season and all but, I for one am ready for some sun.

3. You may or may not know that in the U.S. my birthday frequently falls on Superbowl Sunday (weekend)...meaning that really the whole country celebrates my birthday! Cool, huh? So, for several years we had a party commonly know as ... the Diva Bowl. This meant that lots of friends would come over, guys would watch the game, girls would, well, be girls, and at halftime everyone would answer 20 "Diva Bowl" questions, 10 about the birthday Diva, and 10 about football; prizes were awarded based on who answered most correctly...they were some tense times particularly surrounding the question of if I played softball or not :)...but all in all I believe a good time was had by all. This year, seeing as Superbowl Sunday is on February 6th, I was wondering, WTH? No nationwide celebration...no Diva Bowl and this a milestone birthday and all. Then I found out Malaysia, not to be outdone by the U.S., has a Federal Territory holiday on February 1st! Yep, the whole of KL will be off work to celebrate...then everyone is off work for Chinese New Year on the 3rd and 4th. Meaning practically my whole birthday week is a holiday!!! I was thinking too bad I don't know anyone here to have a National Diva Day party!! So, this leads to...

4.  Mr. Ken took me out on the weekend for some shopping...he really needed new pants, what with his whole "back to fighting weight look", and he let me buy some new clothes for my birthday.  I went with a whole new look...let's just call it British India look because, well, that's where we shopped!  It's a lot of loose cotton-y but dressy sort of look, super smart casual.  Love it.  Thanks Mr. Ken, shopping with you is ALWAYS fun!  And, so, then...

5. Mr. Ken is taking Mr. Ken wife to the Ritz Carlton hotel in downtown KL for her milestone (30th) birthday tomorrow and Wednesday. Along with enjoying this luxurious hotel, we will be dining in the city (don't know exactly where yet but probably Q'Ba for my birthday dinner), plus, of course, there is a Spa Day booked in there somewhere.  I guess if you can't have a Diva Bowl, or a National Diva Day party, then the Ritz is a pretty good substitute!

6.  Desi is driving me crazy!!!!!!!!!  Yesterday he stole a bag of Twizzler Nibs and ate all of them...today he has torn up kleenex and receipts from the trash.  I don't know what all this acting out is about but he couldn't have had more attention this weekend.  Crazy dog.  My theory is his stomach hurts from the Twizzlers and is eating paper as some sort of dog Pepto Bismal.  Or maybe the Nibs and receipts are a welcome taste change from the Geckos!

7.  On Saturday the 5th we fly to Singapore, then on the 6th we fly to Perth.  We have dinner plans with different friends every single night in Perth.  Really looking forward to seeing everyone!  Plus I've got my eye on a little side trip for me to visit Cohunu Koala Park where you can....HUG a Koala Bear.  Yes, that's right, HUG.  Seriously, that is on my 1000 Things to Do list.  I have a thing for Koalas.  But this does entail renting a car and driving an hour because the guide book says it's hard to get there without a car which is a shame because I really did have the train system down well...and driving, let's just say my track record over on this side of the world isn't so good.  But, Australia is a lot like Texas in that it's BIG and there are real, normal parking lots...so maybe it won't be so bad.  We fly back to Singapore on the 13th, and back to KL on the 16th.  It should be a good trip.

8.  The next trip we are looking at is South Korea.  (?!)  I know, right?  The thing is, to get where Mr. Ken needs to go is about 2 days of travel.  Fly into Seoul, then take another flight to somewhere I totally cannot pronounce, then take a BOAT to the shipyard in another town name I totally can't pronounce.  You know when Mr. Ken promised me I could see the world with him I didn't really have in mind a shipyard in South Korea.  I more had in mind, well please review #5.  The only place to stay at the shipyard is the Samsung hotel, yes, owned by, Samsung, for all of their visitors. I want to visit Bangkok, I even want to go to China, and I guess I could be convinced I'd like Seoul but a shipyard on the southern most tip of South Korea.  Not so much.  At least it is as far opposite North Korea as you can get while in South Korea.  That's certainly a plus.

9.  Black Heels to Tractor Wheels  the new book by Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, hits the shelves tomorrow.  My sweet mommy (well, with a HUGE hint from me) ordered the book for my birthday and I will get it once we get back from Perth.  I seriously cannot wait.  She is hilarious, a link to her blog is posted on the left over there...she also has fantastic recipes!!  I have no doubt I will be reading her book cover to cover in one sitting.  I'm jealous that Angela (whose fabulous blog link is also listed on the left), will be reading the book tomorrow!!!

10. I feel like I should have some sort of prophetic thing to say on this eve of my (30th) milestone birthday...So, here it is, you can't have enough Spa Days.  LOL!  Did you really think I have anything prophetic to say????  Have you met me?

Really.  Love, spajunkie.

The Nightmare before Christmas...by The Des

This was originally posted last year but I like it so much I decided to repost this Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas to all!

Twas the day before Christmas in all of K.L.  Not a creature was stirring, not even the Airedale.  The stockings were hung on the railings with care, in hopes that more dog treats soon would be there.

Desi was nestled all snug in his bed, while visions of dog bones danced in his head.  With Mr. Ken on his crutches, Mrs. Ken as the driver, mom and dad set out for Solaris - pedi and mani.

Suddenly at home there arose such a clatter, the Des sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.  Away to the window he flew like a flash, tore at the shutters and ripped up the sash.

The sun light on the drive gave off such a glow, giving lustre of mid-day to objects below.  When, what to his wondering dog eyes appeared, but a family of monkeys just looking for cheer.

With a little old gecko driver, so lively and quick, he knew in a moment it must be a trick.  More rapid than greyhounds his coursers they came, and he barked and he growled and he called them names!

"Go away -  Go away - Go away ALL!"  "You must be a dream" he said to them all.  Oh where oh where are Mr. and Mrs. Ken, this is not the way this eve should begin.

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.  So up to the house-top the coursers they flew.  With 12 monkeys in all and a gecko or two.

And then, in a twinkling, he heard on the drive, the tires of the Fortuner, mommy and daddy had finally arrived!  As he drew in his head, and was turning around, in through the door they both did abound.

His eyes - how they twinkled!  His dimples how merry!  His cheeks were furry, his nose a black cherry!  His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, he barked and he barked to welcome them home!

The stump of a bone he held tight in his teeth, and his worries of monkeys circled in his head like a wreath.  Mommy soothed his face and little round belly, it shook as he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

It was horrible and scary, a terrible dream - monkeys and geckos all making a scene!  A wink of her eye and a twist of her head, soon let him know he'd nothing to dread.

She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work, bones and toys for Desi, that most playful pup.  He snuggled back into his bed, not a care in the world, monkeys and geckos - how crazy and absurd!

As he drifted to sleep he heard a monkey give a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But he heard him exclaim, as they drove out of sight "we'll get you my pretty, on some other night."

 

From me, Mr. and Mrs. Ken, with love ~ We hope all of your DREAMS come true this Christmas!

A note from Mrs. Ken - the original "Twas the night before Christmas" was written in 1822 by Clement Clarke Moore.  Below is the complete poem and its origins in case you'd like to share it with your family on the night before Christmas. 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas Poem also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas"

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition

"Apparently you really CAN go home again...

but it's gonna cost ya."  That's a quote from Sex and The City, the Movie, by Carrie Bradshaw, AKA Sarah Jessica Parker.   I loved it when I heard it first off and I continue to like it more and more each time I re-watch that movie.

Everyone wants to know - "like, other than this cancer thing, isn't it great to be back and see everyone?"  I can't even tell you how many people have asked that question.  Everyone knows that I am pretty straight forward and so I guess the brutal truth is No.  It isn't, but thanks for asking.  Here's the deal.  I do love seeing everyone, particularly my mom and Jim and Lauren.  There is just such a huge mental difference of flying home for an emergency  medical issue and flying home to spend Christmas.  One is a feeling of dread, like it you don't get to Houston none of it will be real.  The other is a feeling of happiness, of celebration, of all the people you get to see, and laugh with, and go to Church on Christmas Eve, and, well, you get the picture.

Now that we are here, we are dealing with everything in the most positive way we know, and we truly Believe it's a blessing to be in Houston with the greatest medical care in the world.  We have a confirmed appointment at M.D. Anderson Thursday at 7:30 a.m.  So, not only do you have to deal with all this crap, apparently you have to do it at the crack of dawn!  Not my best time of day for sure.

Going back to the office I worked at for seven years - while great to see everyone - is just weird.  I mean I've been "consulting" for them since I left so that part isn't weird but going into an office where I don't actually have an office is surreal.  Kind of like you work there but yet you don't.  I feel like I'm in Oz....only there really isn't a yellow brick road to follow.  I do, however, believe in Glenda the Good.  (Sorry, but I do!)  While there are those that will use this analogy to presume I am the Wicked Witch (LOL), currently I'm playing the role of Dorothy.  Only Toto (Desi) got left behind in Kansas (KL).  I think Ken is the Tin Man - not in the way of having no heart but in the way of needing some oil (treatment) to get moving again.  The Wizard - he's cancer for sure because let's face it he ended up being a little bitty man, nothing at all to be afraid of.  And, here she is, Glenda the Good (M.D. Anderson), granting wishes as only a fairy Godmother can do.  All I really know is I wish I could click my red sparkly shoes together three times and go home! 

Because as much as Houston is our hometown, it's not our home.  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Amarin Kiara, that's our home.  That's where we live, that's where our life is.  This life of suitcases and invading other people's space and doctors and procedures and treatments, this is not our life.  Fortunately, we Believe this is but a bump in the yellow brick road back to Amarin Kiara, back to our Desi, Rogielyn and the monkeys....

I know the irony is that the wicked witch had monkeys but I'm Dorothy!!!!!!!!!!  There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home.....

Ooops, still here.  I've got to get these shoes worked on.

Oh, and I guess to bring it all to conclusion, in case it's not intuitive to you, dear readers, getting home will cost - ALOT just as Carrie said.  And I'm not talking money, I'm talking patience, strength, prayers, fortitude, good humor, lots of energy, and the best doctors and treatments in the world.

And, of course, LOVE.  I LOVE you Tin Man! We will follow that yellow brick road right back to our life, in KL.

 

The New Foreign Language We Are Living In...

I've just realized I didn't update the blog since September 25th.  How time flies whether you are having fun or not.

We've meant to contact many of you, and probably we didn't end up doing so.  Since this might be the first update you've seen, here's what has been happening.

Ken came back from Houston at the end of August not feeling well.  We then traveled to Singapore and Australia, back to KL.  He, by then, felt okay but couldn't shake a nagging hoarseness in his throat and a minor pain in his back.

Finally, on Thursday, September 30th, we went to the Pantai Hospital in KL.  It's different there in that you can go to a hospital and really nice people come up to you and ask if they can help.  When you tell them you think you need a general doctor for a sore throat, they send you to reception.  At reception they call a doctor office, and you go up and within an hour you are seen.  The doctor was very nice, he thought we were dealing with a sinus issue as that is what Ken thought.  He ordered an x-ray of his sinuses.  I mentioned the back pain and we now realize, very fortunately, he also took a chest x-ray. 

The process to have the x-ray was relatively painless, I must admit.  It actually ran like clockwork.  Once the x-rays were in hand we went back up to the doctor.  He saw something on the left upper lung and decided to send us for a CT scan.  We were able to do that with the same efficiency as the x-rays.  So, within about 4 hours we had seen a doctor twice and had x-rays and a CT scan.  He asked that we come back the next day for the results of the scan.  We spent that evening thinking it was probably pneumonia or some infection contracted while traveling.  We calculated Ken hadn't been at home but two nights of the last 40 or something ridiculous like that.  Anyway, we weren't too worried.

Friday, October 1st.  The results of the CT scan still showed, but more clearly, this mass on the upper left lung, so we were sent to a specialist.  He indicated to us it could be  cancer.  He asked where we were from and when we told him Houston he said we should go back home as we have the best medical care in the world.

So, after a whirlwind of phone calls and packing and general craziness, we left KL late Monday night and arrived in Houston Tuesday, October 5th.

Wednesday the 6th we visited with our general doctor who had also scheduled us to see another specialist.  We met with him and he scheduled a biopsy for Thursday.  Ken sailed through the biopsy procedure with no issues.

We went back to see the specialist Monday afternoon.  The results were non-small cell lung cancer.  No, he doesn't smoke ~ that question pops up often.  At this time we are waiting to get into M.D. Anderson.  All of the records and doctor recommendations have been sent along with our request for a preferred physician.  We hope we hear something today.

Ken has agreed for me to chronicle everything that happens in our new foreign language, medical words way over your head-speak, here on my blog...while we in turn concentrate on treating this.

A book was recommended to us ~ Anti-Cancer ~ which I will talk more about but the main thing it taught us was food is an all important component to preventing the (start) or spread of cancer cells.  We've started a "diet" of mainly green tea, fruits and vegetables, a little meat, fish, multigrain breads, red wine (one glass a day - we haven't succeeded on that front yet), dark chocolate, and some other interesting additions - like Kim Chi.  Anyway, the main point is no refined sugar or white flour as studies have shown this promotes cancer growth and spread. 

The other point to make is that we are lucky to be going into this treatment process with a very healthy person.  We got bloodwork done last week and it was all very, very good...nothing out of the normal range.  We feel very optimistic this can be treated and we will resume our normal life.  In other words, we are positive and we want everyone else to be positive too!  We are very lucky to have so many people thinking of us and praying for us.  We Believe God will get us through this.

We are, currently, hanging out at my mom and Jim's.  Once we know better what the treatment will involve we may move.  Either way, keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  We will keep everyone updated via the blog.

Public Service Announcement and other Randomness

A few days ago I was on FB chatting with some friends and randomly in the chats I would ask this question:  Did you know that baby turtles carry salmonella bacteria?  The varied and interesting responses I received were:

1.  Okay dear, I will keep that in mind.

2.  What the hell are you talking about baby turtles for?

3.  Yes, actually I did know that our pediatrician told us that years ago when the kids were little.

Well presumably at least a couple of people thought I had lost my mind...but here's the thing REPTILES carry salmonella bacteria.  They do. 

Lauren text us that she was in the ER - had not been able to keep anything down for days and they were doing a CT scan to check her appendix was okay.  So while we fretted here about her there....we later received an email from her mom saying that everything had checked out okay, but as they were getting ready to leave the Doctor "said do you have any pets?"  Lauren answered "no".  Her mom said "what about the baby turtles?"  The Doctor said "TURTLES, why didn't you say that before now?"  So, she got salmonella poisoning from baby turtles.  Poor Lauren...she is doing better now after two bags of fluids, one bag of antibiotics and more meds sent home with her.  Last I heard she had kept down some soup and an english muffin.  We love you - hope you are much better now. 

So, my PSA is this - baby turtles (all reptiles) carry salmonella bacteria!  Be careful.

My Randomness is this -

Yesterday we went shopping ~ we are attending the British Ball on October 9th at the Hilton in KL Sentral.  A very dressy affair and we without any dressy duds.  So, Ken was fitted for a custom made tux.  While it may seem extravagant they are pretty cheap to have made here and we figure he will wear it at least twice.  Once to the ball and once when Lauren gets married.  Which we hope is a long, long, time from now.  So, he got a classic cut tux that will stay in fashion...

I, on the other hand, purchased a long ball gown.  I'm not so much into long gowns, ever.  I really prefer short dresses because, well, my legs are the only thing I like about how I look.  But, I digress.  I found a pretty, deep purple dress that just flows beautifully.  I also got some very sparkly shoes, bag, earrings and things for my hair...which hopefully will professionally be in an up-do.  We will obviously be taking pictures since we weren't even that dressed up at our wedding!

We have new neighbors moving in a couple doors down.  They have completely renovated their house.  From the outside its got so many, many lights!  We are glad our bedroom doesn't face that side.  Looking into the inside are even more lights, mirrors and glass.  It's quite something.  I'm just thinking that at least with all of the lighting its pretty doubtful they are drug dealers....

Last night we watched Eclipse.  We were able to purchase six movies for MR50...about $16.00.  So, clearly they are copies and I say "copies" as the nice word for them.  All of the movies have subtitles, which oddly are in English.  Or some version of English anyway.  One of my favorite mis-quoted lines was this:  Edward asks Bella to marry him.  She says "not unless you change me".  The subtitle says "not unless you change".  Seriously, that really, really "changes" the meaning!  After that we propped a book up on the lower part of the screen so we couldn't see the subtitles - we were so distracted by what the actors were saying versus what the subtitles said we couldn't watch the movie!!  We also watched Date Night and Bounty Hunter.  And, I made homemade spaghetti sauce.  It was a delicious dinner and a movie(s) night.  Plus it rained.  Making it even cozier.

I did just recently read The Second Short Life of Bree Tanner which just made me anxious to see Eclipse.  And, can I just say this, I wish I had seen it on the big screen.  And, I will never, ever tire of this Twilight series.  Ever.  I want to watch the movie again today.  I want to read the whole series over again.  There is just something so appealing about this love affair between vampire and mortal, werewolf and mortal.  I would have even still loved the movie if Jacob had worn his shirt more often.  Seriously.  But then again I'm pretty set on Team Edward, still, I think.