Earth Hour 2009

28 March 2009 has been chosen as Earth Hour and it's time to yet again, demonstrate our choice to contribute a little back to nature and to make a statement. Sydney was where it began in 2007, it went global in 2008 and is now in over 77 countries. We hope to reach a billion peeps in creating this awareness.

All it takes is just an hour. Wife, skip reading, kids may skip homework, I will give Warbook an hour break. And it starts at 2030 hours. If you can't do it just for an hour, Earth is doomed for sure.

Do know that this one hour will not save Earth. Are you gonna switch off all non-essentials because you really care about the planet you live on now? Or are you just in it because you were caught in the wave of hype and publicity. This stunt just shows that people are aware of such causes but I shiver to think what percentage of the population are actually doing what it takes to protect our planet after this hype wears off.

No wonder no Aliens ever lands on Earth. They probably know more than we do and find that it just ain't worth it.

My Pledge for Earth Day

We all know and have heard of the consequences of global warming. As a singular, I may not be able to make a change. But if everyone could just contribute some minor changes to their daily life, the total effect would be tremendous.

Therefor, I pledge to NOT TURN ON MY LIGHTS from the moment I step home this evening till tomorrow morning when I leave for work. How much will that help to give Earth a chance to heal? Not much probably but it's a start. Earth Day is about celebrating what earth has contributed to us and it's time to give back.

My First Tag Heuer

Ever since a couple of years ago, I've always like Tag Heuer's range of watches. Built tough with sporty features, it looks so much better than the old-man Rolex. I mean, come on, it's a Tag Heuer (pronounced: täg hoi-er).

All this while, my watches has always been Casio. From the early days of game and watch till the Casio calculator watch till today's G-Shocks.


Imagine wearing this during school days, fuiyoh ....

When I started working, even those steel or leather strap watches has no appeal to me. Then came the Tag Heuer Chronograph. Mika Hakkinen was the face of the watch if I'm not mistaken. Cool looking metal strap, black face, simply amazing. The cost? RM7,688. Could I afford it then? Well, I saved and saved and finally bought myself a Tag Heuer.









Ok, so it isn't a Chronograph, but a Tag Heuer nonetheless. Did it feel good? Nope coz wearing glasses is uncomfortable. People say "You'll get used to it someday". Sighhh, that's the problem, I don't want to get used to it. I guessed this is what I have to live with as I don't think I could ever trust a ophthalmologists with the Lasik procedure. For now ...........

Well, my eyes ain't that bad actually. My problem started when I had fever, flu & some sore throat 2 months ago. One of the medicine which was prescribed gave me bad side effects. I took it the night before I slept and the next morning. It was during driving that I felt I could not concentrate or focus. I had eye coordination issues. It was a good full week or so before the symptoms subsided. Then it began, I felt my reading has somewhat suffered especially under low light conditions. And oncoming cars were a bane to my driving at night. The onslaught of lights from oncoming cars made me squint my eyes to reduce the glare.

The lenses that was prescribed has made the glare less annoying and my reading has also improved. No longer struggling to read the finer prints. All at the cost of my esteemed colleagues saying, "Welcome to the club".

Fish Food

Having been bitten by some pesky fishes when I was swimming in the sea during a recent trip to Kota Kinabalu made me grew wary of them. I mean those fishes were stalking my every move. I can actually see them following me when I had my snorkel on and looked under water. I shooed them by kicking my leg towards them and they would just scatter only to return. And their bite sure pack one helluva punch. Even made some of my friends bleed. They'll swim fast towards your leg, and SNAP. You don't even know what hit you.

Well, I subjected myself to it again last Saturday, albeit a mild, or many mild bites. I'm beginning to love Pavilion very much. For it's shops, for its orange juice, ease in finding a car park, and now for their Fish Spa. For RM38, this is what some of us subjected our feet to for 1/2 hour.




Ticklish? I love it



They were ticklish at first, but after half a minute or so, it started to feel good. The fishes are known as "Garra Rufa". Discovered in Turkey, they are known to peck away at dead skin and that they did. My feet did felt smoother. During the treatment by the fishes, they somehow seemed to swarmed around my feet. Must be my dirty feet.

Crash Boom Bang

There is this short song that goes like that

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woe, despair and agony on me

Deep, dark depression, excessive misery

If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all

Woe, despair and agony on me"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Oh, I was floating alright, then came the stung. It happened in a similar fashion when I was in my late teens. Then, I was running across a road in the rain. The moment I jumped onto the curb, I slipped. I threw myself forward so that I don't fall backward. Next I knew, "crash", a lamp post came between my eyes and it became a starry moment for the next minute or so. The humiliation.

I was at Chef & Brew in Bukit Damansara yesterday, and it was kinda dejavu for me to see the same thing happening again. Well, almost.

It rained, as you would have it. Dotter offered to take a group photo of all of us after dinner. But nooooo, I wanted everyone to be in the photo too. So, I took the camera away from her, placed it on a flat surface, put on the timer, focus, click and it was ready. All it needed was for me to get back to the group within 10 seconds. The camera did snap a photo but it wasn't how it was meant to be.



Not clear enough?



Rushing to get into the frame, I slipped the moment I went up the step. Again, I threw myself forward, crashing on my right knee and my wrist instinctively went down to cushion the fall. I could have sworn at that very moment, I broke my wrist. The excruciating pain was just unbearable at that time. After a few minutes on the floor gripping my wrist, I got up. My dotters told me to go see a 'ta tit'. What in the world is that? Well, stubborn old me. I have yet gone to see one. I'm typing this aren't I? It hurts when I move it around much. No external swelling is visible. I presume the injury is a little crack in my wrist somewhere. We'll see how it is if and when the pain subsides before I decide on my next course of action. Till then, some TLC and restricted wrist movement will do.

Hmpth, and one of my dotter was still posing for the photo.

Simpson's Fav Food

WARNING : Last pix to be viewed with parental guidance as it is classified PG21G (G=gross)

I realise when you're really in pain, there really isn't much choice when it comes to food. Even more so when you can't even open your mouth wide or chew properly because of the pain. But survival is paramount. So, cook lah.






This was my first time with the ABC soup. Edible.

Anyway, I'm sure Homer Simpson eats way more than what is up there. They say that's whom I look like.




Don't I look like Homer



That was 3 weeks ago and it was horrible. Had seen 3 doctors in less than a week and the last ended with a jab in the butt. Ouch!

It's Disgusting, Don't Look

I can't believe my luck, and I don't mean a windfall or good luck. Who hasn't had a breakout of pimples before right? It should be normal. But of all places for it to pop out, this has to be my worse nightmare.



Come on, in between the nostrils? You have no idea the amount of pain it is having on me. Though not really visible unless you are shorter than me, it caused swelling around my nostrils and upper lip. And the constant pain gave me headache and sleepless nights. Panadols gave me some relief on Friday. But came Saturday, it was just too much. Rolling in bed and couldn't sleep, I rushed myself to a clinic and the doctor told me the pimple got infected. Gave me anti-nflammatory pills anti-swelling pills, stronger pain killers, anti-biotics, some cream + a RM65 bill. The pain killer took its effect 45 minutes later. It was then and only then could I sleep.

Till now the swelling is there. Burst damnit, burst I say @#%$!*?

Tainted Blood

Ever since I could remember, I always been reminded by my mum that I have G6PD Deficiency. Didn't really knew what is was till she passed me an A4 sheet listing down the medicines I am allergic to. Oh my god, am I that sick? But it didn't bother me at any point in my life. Only irritates me each time I made a visit to the doctors, I have to remind them of my allergies. As I grew older, a doctor once told me the deficiency will actually go away once I outgrew my childhood. Then some said it wouldn't. Damnit, can these doctors make up their bloody mind?

Oh well, life went on as usual till I made my first blood donation back in 2003. Feeling proud and considering I have no fear of needles, "prick away", I said to the nurse. The feeling I had diminished the moment I received a letter from Pusat Darah Negara some 3 months later. Dropping on my knees and praying, I opened the letter in my room. What could it possibly be? The content said nothing more than just asking me to pay them a visit.

Geez, such suspense. So, off I went a couple of days later to the centre. Preparing myself, I sat on the chair and asked the reason I have been summoned. "Mr. Matthew, your blood test shows you are a possible Hepatitis B carrier. Please make arrangements with General Hospital to have another blood test done to confirm it". WTF!!!!!!!! How did this happen? How did I not know? What are the symptoms? In fact, what in the world is Hepatitis B all about, a sad acknowledgement of my lack of awareness.

Hepatitis B, as extracted from Wikipedia

Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver and is caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a member of the Hepadnavirus family and one of hundreds of unrelated viral species which cause viral hepatitis. It was originally known as "serum hepatitis" and has caused current epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa. Hepatitis B is recognized as endemic in China and various other parts of Asia. The proportion of the world's population currently infected with the virus is 3 to 6%, but up to a third have been exposed. Symptoms of the acute illness caused by the virus include liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice, and rarely, death. Chronic hepatitis B may cause liver cirrhosis which may then lead to liver cancer, a fatal disease with very poor response to current chemotherapy. Hepatitis B usually gets better on its own after a few months. It may, however, cause a more serious chronic infection.


a micrograph showing Hepatitis B virions

So many questions to ask. Where do I even begin? During the session, I was advised to avoid alcohol altogether. Which is fine and dandy, seeing I'm not a heavy drinker anyway. But heck, did I feel like drinking at that very moment. I was also told, 95% of carriers will lead a normal healthy life while 5% will turn chronic. Does the odds sound good?

September 2007, here I am leading a reasonably healthy life. Consumption of alcohol has been reduced further. I'm not doing anything different as compared to before the diagnose. Anyhow, a collegue recently enquired on the status of my health. Sadly, I have been procrastinating and putting off getting a blood test, which is suppose to be once every 6 months. It's been 2 years. This test is to get the enzyme count in my liver, which will show if it has turn chronic or not. It's high time for another blood test. After Japan that is ....

Acknowledgement : a special thanks to Paul for enquiring. if it wasn't for that, I might have ignored the fact that I am a carrier. a geisha for you when I return from Japan

Childproof Yourself

Bah, who says childproofing is only for childrens. Having none doesn't equate to having a safe home, as the picture can attest.



Don't laugh, but this was courtesy of me rushing for the remote to watch a program and accidently bumping into the coffee table last Saturday night.

"What's that? Is that guffaws I hear? Stop laughing I say ...."