IS IT TRUE THAT FB IS BAD FOR MARRIAGE?

I was pretty deep in facebook. I felt pretty free expressing what I felt at various issues raised by fb friends.Until I wrote down simple cheeky words to a brother of mine. The words were: "Who's that brother? Is there anything.?" Then all hell broke loose.

I was accused of trying to break-up a marriage. Despite of my explanation, he still said that I was the one responsible for his rocking marriage. I vehemently denied. I have used fiercer words before, without any jealousy or fights before. I was informed much later that a laptop was broken to pieces soon after.

Then there was this fb friend who was going on a meeting in Riau, Indonesia. I texted him wishing him bon voyage. Then, unexplainably and out of no where, a lady fb friend  answered and the text read: "Thanks 'abang'...I'm at LCCT.."

Then a war, just short of the third world war,  broke out. I was attacked relentlessly by the lady folks in the family. Why? Just because of the word 'abang' that I thought was mistakenly sent to me?

I was accused of having an extra-marital affair, flirting with a girl of my daughter's age, being an itchy old man  and other what nots that were too dirty to be mentioned here.

I tried to explain, but failed miserably. I chose to remain quiet. I quit fb for good just to pacify the raging fire.

"Is it there any truth in people saying that fb is one of the great causes of marriage break-ups?"

 What say you?

AN OLD MAN'S NAGGING

When I first thought of joining the university, all I wanted to do was just giving lectures to students. That's it, just lectures and nothing else.
No more administrative works for me.
But that, like so many things in life, remained as a wish.
I don't blame anybody for this, just like my father rightfully said:"It is what you want..your choice".
With just two full-time lecturers in the entire department at the moment, what do you expect? I really don't mind having 3 solid subjects to lecture on, provided there is help around and adequate facilities.
Two of my tutors, who had helped a lot in laboratory works, have now gone to Glasgow for their PhD. They will not be back till they have finished their study and that will be in 4-5 years time.
Commuting from my house to City and KUSZA campuses can be outright uncomfortable, especially knowing well that there will not be a parking space waiting for me when I come back.
Well, I am just voicing my feelings, that is all. I am thankful to Allah for giving me this job. But being a mere mortal, I too can get tired and fed up with all the inadequacies and mind you, I am no more a robust young man like I used to be those days.
And this irritating, hacking and non-productive cough lingers on. The cough worsens at night time. I just could not sleep as easily as before any more. Now I realize that there goes one more of the numerous blessings from Allah...falling to sleep every where as long as I want to.
I pray to Allah that I still have the energy and zest to provide for the next 8 years!

Lousy food

It is always frustrating, to say the least, when the food I order is not to the standard that I expect. What more if it is from a well-patronized food joint.

The food is either tasteless and far from the original taste that kind of food is supposed to taste. It is just incorrigible that a simple dish like 'nasi goreng ikan masin' turns out to be either so stale or too oily and there was no salted fish anywhere!

The same things goes to seafood tomyam. Where is the sour and hot taste? Where is the seafood? All I taste is the sour taste of vinegar and not the lime. And the sea food - aha! only pieces of squid heads and tails.

The rice, it is terrible. I know and understand well that they want to make as much money as possible from their operation, but please once in a while try to look and taste your rice.

TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE?

A pious man once told me that an angel of blessing will visit our home and spread his wings over our house as soon as we plan to have a feast. But the minute we start counting how much money we could get from the feast, the angel will fold his wings and leave us.

To get the full benefit of holding a feast, the intention must be clear - to get the blessing of Allah. Of course the procedure mus be right too.

All people, irrespective of social standing, should be invited and not discrimiated in the seating. It is said that it is not mandatory for us to attend a feast if the host does not invite poor people.

The culture of giving money to the host after a feast is fast becoming a must for guests. The sight of the host standing in front of the house wearing 'baju Melayu' with pockets full of money is common.

I don't mind giving, but what I do not like is the fact that when the feast is heald at the middle of the month, when there is not much 'excess money' is present in the family. What then? Rather than being embarassed with coming empty-handed, many choose not to attend.

In a state that I won't mention here, it goes further. The host prepares a notebook and records down the names of guests and how much he/she gives. When asked, they said that it is for them to pay back to the guest when they hold a similar feast.

I have also come across a host who openly declares that they do not expect guests to give money or present during the feast. They think that their good intention of holding the feats will be nullified if they accept the money.

No matter what, all I am hoping is both the gusest and the host should be clear of their intention and not to go overboard in their action.

AN UNDERDOGS' SOLILOQUY

It is sad, or rather depressing to see good people go down or in the position to go down and not-so-good people go up and up the socioeconomic ladder, as if no one cares.

Being an under-dog siding party and altruist, I just can't help but silently pray that they will get what they are supposed to get pretty soon.

To those not-so-good people who are at the helm, please once in a while look down. You may fall flat with a thumping blow on your ego one of these days.

The power you have now is really not yours. It is just lent to you to see how well you manage it.

You may go around, making promises along the way. So much promise you have made that you have lost count of any of them. But, remember those whom you have promised will never forget.

They will curse you for going against your promise. Remember, the doa of a victimized person, there is no barrier between him and Allah.

You have also amassed wealth, abused your position for personal and relative gains. You may have also closed one eye towards someone who needs your help badly to continue what he has been doing.

Instead of giving them a helping hand, you poison them. You intentionally find ways to see they suffer, to see they go down.

Imagine how much money, time and energy they have put towards their venture. You came and made promises. You went home leaving your sweet promises along the way.

You cut short their opportunity and laugh at their misfortune.

You gather more richness with the passing time. For you know damn well that your time is numbered.

You don't care whose feet you step on, whose feelings you hurt, as long as you reach your goal, your unquenchable greed for more and more wealth.

Finally, let me tell you this - as always life is a cycle. Now you are at the top, tomorrow you will be at the bottom. And when that time come, there will be no one to help you up.

You'll be all alone. The physical materials you have gathered while you are in power means nothing anymore. Your children, well I wonder whether you have treated them well or not. Your wife too. Was she properly looked after?

To the underdogs out there please remember that you're never alone. Out there somewhere there will be underdog-lovers who will help you when you need it most.

The time is now, or at the latest very soon. You will, once again see the light.

HYPERKALEMIA - WHY?

Yesterday was the first day for Syazwan to collect his blood for liver enzymes monitoring at Kemaman District Hospital. The procedure was reasonably fast. It was all over before 11.00.

Thinking that it would be normal or improved, we did not pay much attention to him collecting his blood results that afternoon. So Syazwan just drove to the hospital while I was ready for Australian Open men's final and the ladies, oh they all went to Mesra mall in Kemasik.

Then Syazwan called. His Potassium level was way high. So too were his ALP. He was immediately warded.

The first thing that I asked from the staff nurse as I arrived was for him to be put in the first or second class.

"Sorry sir, District hospitals do not have first or second class wards. All we have are third class wards!"

So, Syazwan had to bear with the crammed-in condition of the ward.

SYAZWAN WAS SO YELLOW!

Sorry for not up-dating my blog for quite sometimes. I just did not have anything worth writing so far.

Then my son, Khairul Syazwan, over in UiTM Shah Alam called. He had just had his back x-rayed...there was nothing broken, just soft tissue damage perhaps. He was given muscle relaxant tablets

That night again he called, this time telling me that his urine was red in colour! I told him to go back to the medical centre. He did just that and was given antibiotics.

The following morning again he called me telling me that his eyes were yellow and he was very tired. I asked him to go to the clinic again immediately.

The doctor there suspected that he was suffering from acute hepatitis and asked him to be sent to Hospital Klang. I called him to change it to HKL instead and so on that Wednesday afternoon he was sent to Ward 27 HKL.

I told my head department about his health problem and was asked to go to my son immediately. So I drove down to Kemaman and got ready to drive to HKL the following morning.

Syazwan was intensely yellow! Even his dark skin could not hide the yellowing effect of bilirubin. A quick discussion with a doctor told me that it was an acute hepatitis.

A band of tests were carried out...hepatitis A, B, C; Leptospirosis, Malaria, Epstein Barr Virus...all were negative, much to the surprise of the doctors.

Ultrasound examination showed that his liver, bile ducts and pancreas were normal. There was no gall stones. But his liver enzymes continued on the increase trend. That worried the attending doctors.

Finally doctors and a pharmacist thought that it was probably drug-induced hepatitis. Myonal, a muscle relaxant, may be the culprit.

Cousins and friends visited him while he was in the ward. Even parents of his friend came all the way from Gombak to see him.

After more than a week in the hospital, his condition improved. He was very happy. His liver enzymes and bilirubin was beginning to show a decreasing trend. The doctors agreed to discharge him.

He was to see the nearest hospital to have his enzymes level monitored twice weekly.

So on Thursday afternoon I drove him home much to the delight of his mom and little sister.

Welcome home Acik and may you recover fully. Syukur Alhamdulillah for bringing back his health so soon.