FUNNYACCENT

Shopping Is a Bitch

As I am waiting for my kettle to boil, I turn on the tv and the scene I see on the screen outside the malls isn't much different from previous years on the day after the Thanksgiving scene. A mob of impatient grown ups stand outside the mall in a 20 degree temperature since 5 a.m to snatch and grab merchandise from the aisles. But this year's mob has turned into something I wish I don't see it.

When the door is finally open the mob elbow, push and trample on each other to claim their prizes. They literally stomp and step on each other. One woman fall on the ground and her wig comes off. She doesn't make an effort to raise as quick as she could for her safety reason, instead she picks up her wig and tries to adjust back on her head as she is half lying (or laying?) on the ground.

The second woman, a few feets away from the fallen wig, falls on her back while the mob rush past her. None of them stops to help these women up on their feet. I wonder if they ever noticed.

In another store two or three men break into a fight for a three hundred something computers. Parents dash, outrun each other to electronic sections to grab ipod and cd players for their children. A pitiful sight.

While the shoppers go insane max up their  credit cards or spend on their hard-earned cash before December 25th., the CEO's, the executives and whoevers and whatevers they are of these companies are having an euphoria mentally calculated their profit sharing. I guess some of us enjoy this activity, it should not be missed.

A few months ago we watched in horror the Katrina victims in New Orleans ran for their lives from natural disaster. And this week we witness parents and grown ups trample on each other to get their hands on objects that we foolishly believe it's so cheap it's like stealing.

Family and Holidays

By three o'clock this evening most of the residents have left The House heading back to their hometown. Three of the women are still at work and their kids are still at day cares/schools. They will be leaving the site tomorrow morning for the Thanksgiving celebration with their families or close friends. A few of them prefer to stay behind at The House. It's not that they do not have the families. They still have parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and aunties. But they know what would it be like every time their families get together.

There would heavy drinking after the heavy meal or a cousin would pass around a homemade rolled cigarettes at a dining table. An uncle would light another cigarette and inhales deeply in front of their children. The temptation is huge. These women are in recovery, another relapse is not an option. They might lose their spot at The House and will be homeless again. Another shelter, another city, another school for the kids. The price is too high for them to pay. So, they opt to stay at The House, cook the Thanksgiving dinner with the peers while the babies sleep in the cribs, sit on the high chairs and the older children play in the play room or watch tv.

We get plenty of food, donated by kind-hearted individuals, banks and business owners around the city. This morning, somebody dropped three turkeys, four sweet potato pies, and an evening staff will bake chocolate cake with the residents later tonight.

I don't cook anything fancy for dinner tonight. I'll get plenty of food tomorrow afternoon from my neighbors. For the past five years, Ord and her spouse Jay my next door neighbor have been generous to me on every Thanksgiving Day. By four o'clock tomorrow evening, Ord would knock my door and asks me to go her apartment to pick up our share. I've been offering my help, but Jay who rules the kitchen wouldn't let me. He doesn't even let Ord to go near the kitchen when he is cooking. "That is fine with me," said Ord. While Jay is making a mess in the kitchen, dropping the pots and pans on the kitchen floor, Ord would be sitting in her living room, sipping red wine. When Jay is done with his cooking, their kitchen is similar to a shipwreck, but the food he produced is heaven.

For the dinner, I whip a 3/4 cup of wheat flour, milk, and three eggs, a pinch of salt to make veggie pancake. I sauteed two cups of spinach and put on top of the pancake. Then I layer with slices roasted yellow pepper which I bought last week. I sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top and transfer the pan into a broiler for ten minutes.

Life After Hari Raya

I'd like to apologize to my blogger friends who have been stopping by on my site and I wasn't home. It has been a little hectic at work after Hari Raya. Three workshops and a couple of trips to two different district courts to accompany two clients in two weeks. If I could, I'd rather not be at the court at all, but sometimes when a client's probation officer asks me to, I couldn't say no.

On top of that, The House has been going through some renovation and expansion for another two bed rooms. It's not easy to concentrate on your work when every three or five minutes when some tall, broad shoulder hunks in faded denim and raggedy tool bags swinging on their hips kept passing your office door.

Anyway last night I rented two wonderful movies. Millions and a french film Apres Vous. I enjoyed both of them, but I didn't want Millions to end. I wanted to watch Alexander Nathan Ethel cute freckled face went around identifiying the saints. It was a heartwarming story. You will love it. I promise.

Malam Hari Raya Yang Berkat

                                                               

                                    Salam Hari Raya

                                                                     Maaf zahir batin

                                                                           Satu Hari di Hari Raya

                                                                     ku lihat chahaya bersinar indah               

                                                                         langit cemerlang tak terkira    

                                                                         Tanda kuasa yang Maha Esa

                                                                      Memberi nikmat pada manusia

                                                                            Satu hari di Hari Raya

                                                               Ku dengar irama yang sungguh indah

                                                                      Ku cuba mendekati padanya

                                                                             Kira irama itu adalah

                                                                        Suara pujian pada yang Esa

                                                                                 Satu hari di Hari Raya

                                                                        Aku menangis tanda gembira

                                                          Aku menangis tanda ku cinta kepadaNya

                                                                          Satu hari di Hari Raya

                                                                       Ku lihat wajah suci ibuku

                                                                     Ku lihat wajah kasih ayahku

                                                                                    ku gembira

                                                                     Mungkin inilah dia kebahagian