Living in a Foreign Language

Crashing Down to Earth

I was thinking today, a month away from the two year anniversary of moving here, that I needed to find something to do...I looked into some photography classes and some volunteer options, nothing really lit me up yet.  Then I started wondering???  Hmm, what was I doing before now?  It seems like I was holding on by my fingernails while people, places and things just whirled around me at a frenetic pace. The I really realized all that had taken place in the almost two years since I arrived here...

The first six months beginning June 2010...how delightful, crazy, and scary they were.  Lauren and I flew here, we met Ken and picked up the DES and went to our new home.  I continued working, albeit long distance but still had my hand in the work world I'd left.  Six weeks later Lauren went back to Houston, our shipment arrived and unpacking fun was had by all.  We quickly realized what a mistake we had made in the house of our choosing.   A few weeks later Rogielyn came to live with us.  We subsequently traveled to Bali, Miri, Singapore and Perth.  That was all in the three months before October...then the dreaded "C" word entered our life and we flew to Houston for 10 LONG weeks of doctors, radiation, and of all things, a broken ankle.

We brought Mr. Ken with the broken ankle back to KL in mid December, to the house with 3 sets of stairs, Cobra snakes, chemo treatments, and more travel.  In early 2011, we went to Singapore many times, back to Perth in February.  Everything seemed to rock along.  I finally officially "retired" and ended my consulting agreement with my former company in February.  Then there were trips to London, Italy and Switzerland in March.  In April the storm that is named Lauren came to town with all of its various 18 year old things, some good, some not so good.  Sometime in May we started having security issues with every other night attempted break ins...Ken always traveling somewhere...Seemed like there would never be any sleep.  Chemo rocked along until June... then no more and gratefully went to a pill everyday and Mr. Ken's health seemed on the upswing.  Some trips were made to Singapore, Perth and Malaka. In July I broke MY ankle and did physical therapy all the way up to December.  Some trips were cancelled but some trips were taken..Cherating, Genting and Langkawi.  In November Lauren went back to Houston, and we found out we had to move houses (yeah!).  We searched for a house, found one, made a quick trip to Perth before the movers came and we all, Mr. Ken, Rogielyn, Desi and I, happily moved in by Christmas.  

In January we went to Houston.  We saw, we met, we drove, we saw, we met...we did alot in a short amount of time.  In February we were back home in KL.  Then we went to Perth, Singapore, and back to Perth.  In between we had an out of town visitor, our first!  Throughout all of the three months we bought fish, killed fish, kept fish, bred fish; bought turtles, kept turtles, bred turtles.  I worried incessantly over the pond...Mr. Ken traveled even more, as he always does, and came back from Vietnam sick.  A few tests and a lot of prayers and breath holding later, all results were excellent and he was as good as 18 months ago.

In between all of the above there were many spas visited, restaurants eaten at, friends made, and blogs posted marking each and every event...a new Ipad to learn, and a new MacBook to hate somewhere in the mix....

And, then here we are in May of 2012.

All I can say is - ALOT can happen in two years!!  

Why am I just today reminiscing over the last two years?  Well, because since we've been back from Perth for a week, I've been at loose ends.  I keep thinking I must have more things to do.  Though, honestly, everything I can think of to do...finally organize all the photos from the last three years, print them, scrapbook or put them in albums, take a class, find a hobby, volunteer...go to cooking school, book a trip. ..I just can't seem to muster up the energy required to do any of them.   I told Mr. Ken after Perth I wanted to stay home for awhile...until Phukett at the end of May.  So, suddenly, what was making me itch to do something when all I REALLY wanted to do was....nothing.

I realized.  I had come crashing down to Earth.  I was finally actually just living here, day to day, minus the next crisis or shoe to drop, minus the next bag to pack or unpack...minus work, minus worry, minus stress.  In other words - if I am not the stressed out, worried woman I once was or the globe trotting, packing a bag every other week, spajunkie I thought I'd become, who was I?

Here is the conclusion I came to...  I've come crashing down to Earth.  I like Earth, it's a good place to be.  I like no worry and no stress.  I even like having nothing to do in a day but make dinner, post a blog, feed the turtles and fish or, God help me, read ANOTHER book.  Oh, I know I need to do something...sometime...but...for now, I've decided to enjoy this time of laziness.  This season, as it were. This being, and having a relaxed, slow, lazy life. 

You never know when you might need all the energy you are saving up being lazy for the NEXT two years of frenzy.

Living life in the SLOW lane, FINALLY.   Two years after retirement, a year and three months after "official" retirement.  

Love, spajunkie

Catching up with the DES

The fish now come when they are "called" for breakfast and dinner...look how big the "baby" fish are!  Yes, you do see "baby" fish also...someone had more babies while we were in Singapore so now we've got just about all age groups hanging here!  The procreating that goes on in this pond...as they say, must be SOMETHING in the water!

Scooter and Scout also know when it's meal time!

The DES has a new fascination...the pond, the fish, Scooter and Scout.  I mean a real interest that makes me think one day, soon, he will be IN the pond!!

 

I think Scooter likes the DES!

Last night he was on top of the ledge he is just hanging over here...I don't really relish the day I have to get in the pond to get him out...but I DO hope I have the camera on hand.

From our pond to yours...Love, spajunkie

Random Thoughts Wednesday(and some turtle X rated news)

Okay, I'm not really planning for Wednesday to be the random day, it just somehow works out like that. I wonder, do I just get random in the middle of the week because all the things I presumably needed to do at the beginning of the week are done, and because I know exactly what the end of the week holds? Not at all sure but here we go with random Wednesday!

Does anyone out there in blog land feel the need to send a care package to KL? Here is the thing...and had I known in February I was doing this recipe I would have bought this stuff in Texas, but I didn't, and now I'm super sorry. I have looked the world over (the KL world) and I cannot find cheesecloth and kitchen string/twine/whatever you call whatnot to truss a chicken or a turkey with, not to mention tie up your cheesecloth full of spices. Four grocery stores and three kitchen stores later, I was not successful. So, my braised cabbage for St. Patrick's day meal, it will have a tea infusion implement full of spices in it because it is all I could think of to take the place of cheesecloth tied with kitchen twine. Wish me luck! (Or, gosh, send me a care package!)

Turtles. Oh my. Turtles making babies! Yes, it is true, I believe in my heart of hearts the turtles are making every attempt to be parents...and they are not going the adoption route either! We have been told over and over and over again our pond is "lucky" because a Koi fish had babies. Well, the Chinese seem to think everything a bit out of the ordinary is lucky. (So, tell that to the numerous fishes who died for the cause!)  I'm starting to wonder about this pond though, it seems a little too sexy if you know what I mean! Herewith a few X-rated pics of the turtles. This is not PG rated so do what you need to!

Bon Jour Mon Cherie!

Je t'aime petit tortue

Le temps d'une cigarette mon animal de compagnie.

Yes.  So, too sexy for the pond!!!

I currently have five lists going on. Yes, five! A never ending grocery list, a Danice to-do list, a Rogielyn to-do list, a Ricki Ticki Tavi to-do list and an itinerary list of hopefully fun stuff to do in KL for my friend Sandra. I even typed up a list of things her room has and how to operate them! Ok, it is a bit much but, seriously, I hate going somewhere and not knowing how to work the TV remotes or the electrical outlets, etc. To wit, one fine day in London town, at the very posh Park Hotel, right next to Kensington Park and Palace, I plugged my hair dryer into a converter, into an outlet and it blew up! Smoke and everything, not to mention put out all the electricity on three floors of the hotel. It would have been ok, still not good, but ok, except for the electrical smoke smell wafting out from our room enlightening everyone on the floor as to why they had no electricity! But I digress, as usual...my point is helpful hints are good people!

If you've been living under a rock you won't know my dear friend of twenty something years is coming over, she arrives Monday. We've been all a twitter over this. Mr. Ken, the super sweet guy I'm married to even went to the Petronas Towers yesterday, stood in line, and secured us tickets for a tour on Tuesday! Was that considerate or what?

Today I went and got my hair done. High lights, low lights, cut and style. In Houston this takes about an hour and half, maybe two. Here it takes four hours minimum. By two and half hours I am DONE. Like I need out of here! But, alas, my hair is still in foil. I hate it, I dread it, and then I bite the bullet and do it. Only, here is the thing. My stylist, I actually really like, she doesn't speak English. Yeah! Okay, so...she all the time insists to dry my hair with a big round brush under. I end up looking like a Kewpie doll! Hate this look. Really. So, today, I just said, Callie (pronounced Collie), STOP. Much waving of hands and hand signaling and lively saying NO CURL UNDER. I think I finally got somewhere! Although, I still won't post a pic of the do because well, once you stop trying to make it fluff at all it is just flat. And I cannot wash it for two days. So, the drowned rat look for two days it is! I'm okay if you're okay, Callie! Aside from the curling under part the girl does an incredible job with high lights, low lights! Love it!

So, I believe most of the to-do's, and DO's are in hand, as it were, and Friday will be a successful dinner party and next week will be a fun time had by all. I think I've got Chez Oliver primed and ready for our first house guest and, well, let the entertaining begin! And the new do, DO! Let's don't talk about the turtles, K? Cuz we sure don't want them do-ing!

Spajunkie over and out!

Random Wednesday

Yes, I am back to randomness!  Here's the thing guys, I'm been trying to finish my blog on the last part of my waltz around south Texas and for reasons completely unknown to me I cannot upload the pictures.  I can upload pictures but not those pictures.  It makes no sense and I just haven't sorted out what is wrong.  At any rate, once I figure it out it will get posted ~ better late than never!

Finally, finally got my bath done the way I wanted.  It took a trip to Texas for some things I wanted but nonetheless it is done.  I'm a big bath girl, love baths, hate showers.  Isn't this super cute and cozy?

When I came back I also brought Texas wildflower seeds...which is all kinds of illegal in Singapore (where I spent a few days and went through customs twice) and in Malaysia but I felt the need for a little Texas in my yard.  I planted them in some pots and I have seedlings already sprouted!  If they actually DO bloom you will be the first to know!  Additionally, I got a miniature Texas flag (thanks for the stand Shar) for the garden. 

I've been busy planning our next trips!  We kept saying this was the year we were staying home but so far that isn't really playing out.  But FIRST up is my friend is coming to visit me from Ireland!  Yep, Sandra (who I have known for some 20+ years) and I met in London a year ago March 18th and she is going to head to KL that day this year!  Sort of an annual get together as it were.  Which I think MUST mean Ireland next year - :).  I am so super excited.  I just can't wait.  I've got a list of things planned ~ a day spa for sure; trip to Petronas towers, downtown KL, chinese night market, central market, Pavillion, KLCC, some local areas, some dinners out, some time hanging at the house...I'm brimming over with plans and lists and making the house perfect!  You know this is the year of the houseguests so better book early!  You know who you are!

So, our first trip is Perth March 25th to April 1st.  Always love to go to Perth and see friends.  The weather is always so perfect and the company so good!  Trying to figure out what I haven't seen yet to maybe see this time.

Second trip is ~ Singapore!  Yes, it is crazy since we go there all the time but Mr. Ken specially asked to go to Singapore so he can be a tourist!  He has never done anything in Singapore except work.  So, we have a free suite at the St. Regis, I have purchased tickets to see Wicked and we are going to spend a few days and nights just doing touristy stuff!  Off we go April 11 to 15 for a long weekend.

The last weekend in May we are off to Thailand! We've been wanting to take this trip for the longest time.  Phukett May 24 to 29~ check out the link:  https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/rooms/room_class_detail.html?propertyID=3452&roomClassId=1005371986 

For June we are looking at staying closer to home here in Malaysia ~ an island with one resort!  Check out this link: http://www.pangkorlautresort.com/malaysia/index.htm  It is really close - about a two hour drive, then a boat...I've never been to a privately owned island before!  If we keep this up it will be another 11 trips a year like last year.  It is just so easy and so cheap, I think we feel like we have to take advantage while we can! 

Let's see...hmmm, last night I spotted this guy - I'd been looking for his friend (who was about an inch longer or so) but I settled for a picture of him:

 I happened to hit the drop down button on my google bar and laughed out loud at my last googled items!

~ how big do snails get

~ will fish food make dogs sick (yes, he did!  don't ask how...)

~ what do snails eat

~ what do turtles eat

~ what pond plants will turtles not eat

~ what plants will snails not eat

~ can dogs eat papaya (yes, he did!  don't ask how...)

~ liberty devitto

~ resorts in malaysia

~ blogs on the bachelor

~ can dogs eat bell pepper (yes, he did!  don't ask how...)

~  can fish eat fruit

Talk about random!

Love, queen of random, spajunkie

 

 

 

 

The Pond - Round 5 and a Recipe or 2

 ...and not for fried Koi fish or turtle soup!   Hahahaha...

I hope everyone enjoyed a nice relaxing weekend, I know we did!  Mr. Ken finally got home and we enjoyed  a manicure, pedicure, massage, a nap or two and some really delicious home cooked meals.  Just what the doctor ordered, relaxing time at home!  Please note all of my puppy loving friends - no Luke.  He has been adopted.  Sad for us; hopefully happy for him and his new family.

I’m currently sitting in the Diva room watching food network and planning menus.  The first menu is for a dinner party on March 16^th.  I’m going with a St. Patrick’s Day theme.  Here is my cute little Irish table I did last week:

The menu thus far:

Smoked Salmon with herb butter on homemade Irish soda bread (as breads go this one is super easy.) http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/ballymaloe-white-soda-bread-recipe/index.html

Roast Pork Loin with Braised Red Cabbage http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/roast-pork-loin-with-braised-red-cabbage-recipe2/index.html

Oven Irish Roasted Potatoes:  Four lbs of peeled potatoes.  Boil for five minutes in salted water.  Dry completely.  Lightly coat with vegetable oil then salt heavily with sea salt.  Bake in 350 oven until crispy and brown on the outside, creamy on the inside.

Ballymaloe Almond Tart with Raspberries  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/almond-tart-with-raspberries-recipe/index.html

I’m also planning our weekly menu which as it turns out will only be our weekend/into next week menu as Mr. Ken leaves again tomorrow, back on Friday.  I don’t tend to eat dinner when he is gone, and if I do it is something really easy, like I don’t know, celery and carrot sticks or popcorn!  I’m not a big fan of cooking for one.  

Friday Night – lasagna served with salad and garlic bread  http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/extra-easy-lasagna-10000000258144/

Saturday Night – mustard roasted fish served with sour cream chive new potatoes and buttered carrots  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mustard-roasted-fish-recipe/index.html

Sunday Brunch – eggs scrambled with dill and parmesan, bacon, and biscuits served with fruit salad

Sunday Dinner – chicken enchiladas served with black bean, corn and pepper salad

Monday – chicken scaloppine served with pasta aioli and broccoli rabe  http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-scaloppine-over-broccoli-rabe-10000000686181/

On to the pond....after all of the overwhelming internet research on turtles, fish, and ponds; I came to these conclusions. 

1. Turtles are going to eat pond plants.
2. Fish are going to eat pond plants.
3. I am not having a pond without pond plants.
4. I am stubborn like that.
5. Turtles are destructive.
6. Fish are destructive.
7. I am not having a pond without pond plants.
8. I am stubborn like that.
9. I decided the only way to satisfy all of these items would be to inundate them with plants!  I mean after all they can’t destroy them all at once.  I rationalized this by reviewing my expenditures on the turtles, fish and pond and comparing them to my expenditures on the bi-annual refresh landscaping at our home in Houston.  So far I am way under budget!  This allows me to sleep at night and to get more plants! 
10. The real theory is that they will concentrate on all the floating plants because they float by and their roots hang in the water thus keeping them off the potted (more expensive) plants.  Then when they eat/destroy the floating plants, you just buy more because they cost about $0.10 a piece!  That’s the theory anyway.  Too bad I don’t speak turtle or Koi to be sure they understand the theory.  The pond, round 5:

I think Scooter and Scout are definitely enjoying it and really, that is all that counts! They might not be puppies you can cuddle with but you got to admit they are super cute together!

From turtle nirvana, I bid you good day!  Love, spajunkie

Sometimes Hilarious and Fun Facts to Know and Tell About Turtles

Yes, really.  Who knew there was so much involved in raising turtles?  Not to say that I really thought about RAISING turtles - I just thought, pond, fish, TURTLE, sign me up!

I must back up and set the stage as it were.  I arrived home on Monday evening around 7:30 after being away from home for exactly 30 days.  All was good, everyone was doing well.  Since then, to now, I have unpacked and put everything in its proper place (well, I is a little strong, Rogielyn did most of it!).  Additionally, I have planned this week’s menu, grocery shopped, dropped off dry cleaning, done banking, paid bills, dropped off five items to be framed (and might I just add WOW – framing is so super cheap here!  Five items total cost for matting, framing, etc., $162.50.), and in my spare time I’ve been researching turtles.  Which is to say I didn’t really have that much spare time and, frankly, as you will see below, after a few websites I had to stop reading not only in the interest of time but of sanity as well.

First I started with how do you tell what kind of turtle you have?  What a can of worms this is!  (Speaking of worms they rate right up there in the turtle grub area – one website actually suggested I harvest my own worms to feed my turtles – HAVE THEY MET ME????  I think NOT.)  So, basically after information overload I’ve completely decided our two turtles are amphibious Red Eared Sliders.  Why you might ask?  Good question.  BECAUSE THEY HAVE RED EARS!  Or at least I’m pretty sure the red parts are ears, it isn’t like they look exactly like ears or anything…

I’ve also been researching what they eat.  One website suggested prior to feeding them you should weigh them on a kitchen scale, upside down so they can’t scamper off.  Does anyone besides me think this is insane (not to mention how hilarious is it to think of an upside down turtle on a kitchen scale – “like, dude, I can’t swim or walk this way, HELP, the world is upside down”)?  I’ve done a lot, lot, lot of things for my pets but putting my turtle on my kitchen scale (not that I even have a kitchen scale) what with salmonella and all of the other turtle-y germs gets a big fat NO from me... they further go on to tell you how to sanitize said scale after said weighing… again, NO.   They suggest this so that if you over feed them the next time you weigh them you will know.  Really?  If they get too fat they can bust out of their shell.  Seriously, and, then what?  Do they have to go to the vet to get the shell fixed?  No really, then are the inside parts of the turtle hanging out through the broken shell?  This is WAY too much information for me to process...not to mention has the potential to keep me awake at night.

The real reason I have been doing turtle food research is not because they won’t eat turtle pellets, and this is one of the best things to feed them as it provides nutrients and vitamins they might not otherwise get, but because, let’s face it, I want to be the turtle mom that hands out turtle treats (worms not withstanding) and makes all the turtles love me.  That’s just how I roll. 

Now I just feel overwhelmed!!  To wit – one website claims turtles love veggies and fruits with a strong odor such as leeks, radishes, carrots, strawberries and melons.  In fact, they even mentioned that in the wild, and left to their own devices will eat wild berries until they get a stomach ache (or presumably bust out of their shell because they are so full).  How do you tell if a turtle has a stomach ache?  They aren’t the most communicative of creatures.  Another website claims turtles won’t go near anything with a strong smell.  Really?  Because they live in nasty smelly ponds with scum on the bottom, we think they are that picky?  In fact, I quickly have come to the conclusion that either they ARE that picky or, in fact, no one knows what the hell they are talking about and there is no real science to raising turtles…or to what they eat!  Yet another website mentions this “Pond lovers will tell you to always put pebbles in your pond plants to prevent the turtles from throwing dirt all in your pond when they ravage your plants, (yes, RAVAGE.  I have almost no pond plants left.), but be sure the pebbles aren’t too small or when they EAT them they may become impacted.”  So, let me get this straight not only do I need to know if they have a stomach ache now I’m expected to understand when they are constipated?  This is one of those scenarios where “you had me at hello” does not have a sweet romantic, happy ever after, ending!  Just saying…

Oh, and another interesting fun fact – turtles see in vivid Technicolor!  (I’m going to personally interject I think this is why they like leeks (bright green and white), radishes (white and red), carrots (orange), strawberries (red), etc..  They can certainly SEE all of it WAY better than other items such as pellets and worms, although worms do move and that is eye catching … but anyway…The one thing I do know is last night when I fed them, Scout came right over and hung near the edge of the pond where I sat while I threw chopped up radish and turtle pellets at to him.  He never even dove down – just looked at me with big ole sleepy turtle eyes that I am convinced were saying “Scout wants him some berries man...” You might be wondering “hey, how do you know it was Scout?”  (Or in reality you might be wondering why a grown woman presumes the goings on inside a turtles head?)  Good questions!  1) Because they look exactly alike, I have decided the one who is Scout comes over to be fed…and the one who is Scooter scoots as fast as he can away from any noise or shadow of a human.  Maybe raising turtles IS an exact science…or maybe naming them is anyway. 2) Because I do!

I just hope the strawberries, leeks, carrots and melon I bought today don’t give them tummy aches.  This reminds me, I need to phone my vet and find out if she sees turtles.

No pictures of the turtles in this blog because 1) the turtles RAVAGED the plants and all the dirt is at the bottom of the pond so you can’t SEE the turtles or the fish for that matter, and 2) now that a Koi fish has given birth to many, many, many baby Koi fish we cannot clean the pond for fear they will go down the drain or be sucked up in the vacuum.  Here is what I had in mind my heavenly pond would look like:

 

See how pretty all the colorful Koi fish are?  Green, but clear, water.  Yeah.  The only large Koi to survive, the one who had babies, grey.  Had grey babies.  Have you ever seen grey fish in a pond?  NO, and you won't they are GREY!!!!  I've been told there is a chance they "grow into" their colors.  I realize the sheer amount of money I've spent on the pond would make you believe I would believe pond scumsuckers like this...but I don't, my bet is on a pond full of grey fish!  Here is what the pond actually looks like right now:

 From KL, where turtles (and fish) RULE!  Love, spajunkie

KL Update 545

Where to start????? 

1.  The fish lived!!!!  They lived I tell you!!!!  And so a few more fish were added, we will see how this goes and when we are back from Houston we will add some more if all went well.  Here they are - Scooter and his mates:  I apologize for the formatting, it just gave me fits and at this point I just gave up!  (If you are thinking these fish look big!  You are correct!  We decided go big or go home...if these fish don't make it, NO more fishes.  There are about six smaller fishes too.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. I’m really having fun with the girlfriends!  I had them over for a girl’s dinner two weeks ago or so, we had a blast!  No one left until one a.m. Since then we got together for some shopping and then a traditional Gong Xi Fa Cai dinner where I learned how to order some fabulous Chinese dishes I would never have known to try!  I can’t wait to take Mr. Ken there and show off my new found knowledge.  Asian food has never been a favorite of mine but this meal has swayed me to think I just didn't ever have GOOD asian food.  Tomorrow I’ve been invited to one of the girl’s parent’s house for a REALLY traditional family Gong Xi Fa Cai lunch.  It is my understanding this is a very high compliment as a) I’m not Chinese and b) it is her parents, her husband and children, not just her.  I’m excited to go and I’ve purchased the traditional Chinese New Year gift of tangerines to take to give to the family, in a festive gift bag I’m making, of course!  Herewith a couple of pics from the dinner party (once the party started I failed to take pictures, BAD blogger!):   
   
   
   
3. I FINALLY finished my project(s) for the two weeks while Mr. Ken was gone.  It may not look like much BUT this represents three boxes of pictures not in albums or otherwise from 2003 through 2007.  That’s the good news – in that they are in place now (or thrown out)!  The bad news is that means I still have to a) print pictures and b) do something with pictures from 2008 until now.  UGH!  I so wish I enjoyed this process way more than I do.  It just feels like work and I approach it like work.  Take this, break it down and organize it to this, then take that, break it down and organize it to this, etc. until it finally all gets resolved!  WAY too much like work.  I wish that I was not so left brain (logic, detail, order, math and science) oriented and had more right brain (creative, big picture, imagination)…maybe I would at least enjoy the process more!                                                                                            
    
   
   
4. On that note, I made menu plans, grocery shopped, cooked, labeled and froze, and wrote instructions for Mr. Ken’s meals for 15 days while I’m gone to Houston and he is here!  Now, honestly kids, THAT was fun!  I totally enjoyed it.  He’s got quite the menu I must say!  A little sneak peek (not in the order they will be served): 

Roasted chicken, fried rice, pork spring rolls

Mini meat loaf, mac and cheese, green peas

Steak, baked potato, broccoli

Lasagna, salad, TX toast

Grilled pork chop, black-eyed peas, Brussels sprouts and cornbread muffins

Italian chicken and potatoes in the crock pot

Grilled Chicken and corn on the cob with baked beans

Spaghetti with salad and TX toast

Beef Stroganoff over fettuccine noodles with steamed broccoli

Grilled burger with French fries

Pulled pork in the crock pot - sandwiches with cole slaw and chips

Shrimp gumbo over rice with crusty baguette

Red Beans with pork loin in crock pot, served over rice with corn bread muffins

Two nights out to eat!

Since I’ve got everything, and everyone, all organized;  now I’ve got to get myself together for Houston!  Picking out clothes, shoes (sandals???), etc. is my next project.  Wish me luck, no working out for a month, holiday eating and drinking, and projects that have you sitting all day…fat clothes it is!  No judgment please.

Until next time, Love, spajunkie.

Scooter's New Friends

Today I was out getting some spa time...before I go to Houston where spa-ing is expensive.  And when I came home...

We had two fish.  It seems Rikki Tikki Tavi brought over two LARGE Koi as a test run.  When I called him he said "Sis, my company is sponsoring two fish for your pond..."  I said " Well, I saw the fish, they are lovely, what do you mean, sponsoring?"  He said "Sis, my company is sponsoring the two fish." 

At this point I ran out to look at the fish closer because I was somewhat expecting they should have on little T-shirts reading "Sponsored by Victory Vision Resources". 

But, seriously, maybe this explains the Vicky part...Victory, Vicky.  ???  I don't know.  Minus shirts I ascertained he meant he was giving us the fish for the pond...because he feels kind of bad the others died...

Anyway, the update is two new friends in the pond, so far so good.  If everyone is alive and well tomorrow we will have a school, pun intended, of fish to swim with Scooter AND his new two friends, SPONSORED by Victory Vision Resources.

You got to love the marketing thought either way!  I so hope this kid succeeds in life, he really deserves to!

I'm gonna really be happy if the fishes live. 

Think positively fishy thoughts guys!  Love, spajunkie

 

The World According to Scooter

(Most portions of this text have been translated from Malay to English for your reading ease.)

I was happily swimming around in this large pond having recently been rescued by a nice, but I think quite possibly, crazy lady. 

I am not sure but I think crazy lady may have read that I eat fruit and vegetables as she seems to pelt me with them regularly.  Hello!  If you do a little more research you will find out I am carniverous until I get older when the vegetarian in me comes out.  First I've got to build a strong shell and leg muscles and stuff.  So, x-nay the apples and lettuce babe!  I'd prefer tuna or some roasted chicken, no skin, easy on the spices.  Oh, and the turtle pellets from the fish store are a welcome treat as well but maybe not so many???  They get soggy quick. 

Everything was going pretty good (other than the food snafu)...I finally negotiated my way into and on some of the plants to get some sun.  It was nice of her to buy those just so I had a soft place to perch.  I think the crazy lady may even have had some kind of a bridge thing built for me to sun on but so far, well, you will see what I mean in a minute...

Tuesday I was happily swimming around with my friends, admittedly not great friends as I might snack on them on occasion but hey, Melvin is a good bloke.  Good for a laugh or two as he jumps out of the water just to show off!  Man, he's got some colors that Melvin does.

Anyhoo, where was I, oh, Tuesday.  Yep. So, the guy who swims with us sometimes came over, he is not at all afraid of us and just jumps right in.  Well, immediately I knew something was up.  The water started getting lower and lower and I thought to myself, Scooter, today is going to one for the books.

So, then crazy lady comes out of the house and says "Tup Retoocs tuo ni eht nedrag."  (or something like that...I'm from Malaysia, Saya tidak bercakap dalam Bahasa Inggeris (translation:  I don't speak English)...) Suddenly I am whisked up and away and land in a garden!  I knew it was there!!!  I just knew it.  All that time I've been climbing the walls, literally, and getting no where when I knew a garden, and maybe freedom, was just up that wall. 

Hello!!!!  Anybody home?

Ok, so it's a pretty nice garden anyway, maybe crazy lady can grow some stuff.  Yeah, maybe stuff I can eat on...well, in a few years when I get my vegetarian on.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, hold the phone! - WHAT IS THIS?

HELLO - HELLO!  HELP, HELP!!!  BEING HELD AGAINST MY WILL BY A CRAZY LADY FLASHING SOMETHING IN MY EYES AND FOLLOWING ME AROUND THE GARDEN!  HELP ME!!  CALL THE SPCA!  CALL PETA! CALL MY MOTHER!

Clearly that didn't work. 

Then, I was unceramoniously dropped right back into the pond.  Oh, the pond where I can live free!  BORN FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oops sorry, totally wrong theme song.  Melvin and all his gang were back.  It was just like before!  Swimming, chasing fish...I take it all back crazy lady!

Until.  Oh, the nightmare of it all.  I've heard about this ... believe me, it happens.  But I've never had to witness the horror of it all.  One by one the fish, dare I say, well, they went belly up, floaters, dead.  All of them.  All 29 of them, 20 Koi and 9 Goldies.  One by one.  My main man Melvin, he was the last to go.  Had a tear in my eye on that one. 

But then again, I AM a carniverous creature (until I get older) so ... hey, sushi is sushi, dead or alive!

The crazy lady went, well, crazy!  Apparently dead fish to her were NOT sushi! 

So, the next day our friend that swims with us, me, came back and here we go again!  Only this time I got put into a tub!  The indignity of it all.  AND, the pond had no water for like a day while I struggled in the tub.  I tried my best to get out...and I succeeded!  More than once.  Only to be put right back in.  I wonder if crazy lady and swimmer guy have ANY idea how long it takes a turtle to climb out of one of those things????  Seriously folks.  It is inhumane!  The only bright spot was crazy lady fed me some tuna...I would have preferred sushi grade Ahi, but hey, canned is okay too!  She's learning...she might be a keeper. (and, no, the tub wasn't always this dirty, this was right after mealtime, it got cleaned soon after.)

And, now tonight, back in the pond, all by myself.  I admit I miss Melvin and the gang, and well, I'm a bit depressed but I think things are looking up, there is water to swim in and MEAT to eat!

And if I've learned anything from the crazy lady I pretty sure Melvin's cousins will be joining me soon!

So, from my pond to yours, happy sushi!  Love, Scooter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random Thoughts Monday

1.  It didn't seem like that long of a time when we booked all of our travel for the US but....I still have like ten days, and nights, before I leave!  Ugh!  
2.  I have been accomplishing some projects I've wanted to work on for a while now.  (more on these in another post.). Feeling crafty!
3.  Has anyone ever heard that turtles like egg shells?  Guy Fieri said so today on his show.  I'm not that partial to his show but my ears really pricked up on that...And, what about the fish?  They seem to eat anything you put in the pond...and the Scooter is like the proverbial goat, eats anything on the surface of the water!  I still am not completely sure what to be feeding them so I've opted for fish food, and turtle food...and some random lettuce and other veggies.  But they all eat each others food. Have to wonder if that is a problem!   Plus the DES will sneak any of the pellets if given the opportunity...not to mention the gardener fertilizes with chicken $&;t, serious.  DES loves that too!  At least it isn't chemicals...
4.  I just don't get Pin interest, I really want to but I don't.   I've tried but I simply fail to get it.  If I wanted an outfit I would go buy it.  If I wanted to decorate a certain way, I would just do it.   If I want a recipe I print it or save it ... And just go on about my business.  I just do not understand.  It makes no logical sense to me.  (No offense to anyone who enjoys this particular pastime, I am probably too ADD to really focus on what makes it great.)
5.  Having friends here in KL has turned out to be surprisingly nice!  I had a dinner party Saturday night for the girls and in turn they have invited me out this Saturday night for Gong Xi Fa Cai Yee Sang dinner for the Chinese New Year and have invited me shopping this week so I can pick up a few trinkets for a few special peeps in Houston.  I am feeling almost popular!  Or at least as if some women enjoy my company!  (I have sworn off expat wives for the rest of my life!)
6.  I haven't even been back to check on Luke (the cocker spaniel puppy who should be mine), I just can't see those beautiful eyes again unless he is in the car with me coming home.
7.  Mr. Ken bought me the most gorgeous baroque pearls for Christmas, our anniversary, my birthday, and Valentine's day.  They were just delivered on Saturday.  They are from China, and are somewhat rare as they are a silver/pewter color with a gorgeous luster to them.   Baroque means that they are imperfect and unfinished.  Kind of like me!  Yes, that's it!  I am baroque! (not to be confused with BROKE, even though...)  Thank you Mr. Ken, I love you much!
8.  I keep saying how much I love this house...I will just keep saying it...from the pond, to the plants and the yard, from the decor to the layout of the rooms, I LOVE this house.  Plus, I feel super safe here.  No alarms going off in the middle of the night, no snakes of the two legged or slithering kind, just peace and tranquility.  Aww....big sigh of contentment!  While we were both excited to go to Houston and see family and friends we are both equally excited to come back and enjoy this space.
9.  Oh, and might I mention since the move I haven't been sick once!  I had a sinus infection for what seemed like the entire time we lived in our other house.  I swear if you took out the walls and ceilings you would find nothing but mold in them.  Here, no issues, so far, knock wood.
10.  Oh!  So, we have this gardener, handy man, jack of all trades, guy that we got hooked up with when we moved in.  His name is Vicky.  No really, I have his business card.  I at first thought he kept saying Ricky (which let's face it makes a lot more sense than Vicky).  Anyway, I have finally named him Rikki Tikki Tavi  After the mongoose in the short story in "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling.  Why?  I don't know, why is he a guy named Vicky?   But, as we've had Rikki Tikki Tavi do a lot of work for us I've gotten to know him and his story is amazing.  He is in his early twenties.  His father passed away and so he is taking care of his mother and sisters.  They are Malay Indian and as such he has taken it upon himself to provide for his family inclusive of giving his sisters their respective weddings which by Indian tradition are very elaborate and expensive.  He has never traveled, never even eaten Italian food, much less experienced any other culture (because as he said to "Sis, I've got to save my money."  He calls me Sis???  I don't know.)  So, in the tale by Rudyard Kipling, while Rikki Tikki Tavi fought the two giant cobras to keep the family who rescued him safe, we find our real life Rikki Tikki Tavi, keeping his mother and sisters safe when most young men his age are out on the town.  He is polite, unfailingly honest, does extremely good work, and I must say, I admire him.   He said to me recently that once his father died he knew at that moment his pride had to take a backseat to whatever he had to do to make a living and support his family.  That no job was beneath him.  He would do whatever it took to keep his home (that he bought and pays a mortgage on) so they always had a roof over their heads.  I just can't help but think there is a boy who was raised well by his parents.   He did also mention he wishes for the sisters to marry except that the weddings would break him financially!  You can't knock a guy for wishing!

So, on that note, I leave you...feeling very humbled by even having the good fortune to have met our Rikki Tikki Tavi, and we hope to keep him employed for a long time!  I am just sure the pond needs something else!  Oh, which reminds me...

11.  The pond now has lights for night and a bridge for Scooter to sun on!  (All Rikki Tikki Tavi projects!)

Love, the very random spajunkie