Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Nat King Cole - When I Fall in Love

Holiday

2007 holiday with H in Malaysia (April) and England (August).

October 26, 2007: Boredom

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{Edited 40 minutes later}

I didn't realize that this entry is the 450th entry on my blog!

I sure need to celebrate it in a better way!

OK, let's grab caramel cappuccino!

And tiramissu cake?

Anyone?

October 25, 2007: Only the Lonely

Good night 360! Are you lonesome tonight?

October 24, 2007: How to Sit in a Chair

Hi everyone,

I have been having this problem for almost a year - upper back and shoulder tension after sitting for 30 minutes or so. It is not so painful but it does makes me feel uncomfortable. I always end up going for massage when it becomes unbearable. (shhh, isn't that a good excuse to be pamphered by 1 hour body massage? )

Lately I have been reading and collecting facts of why's and how's, the do's and the don't regarding 'how to sit in a chair'!

Do you know that when we sit it is harder on back then standing? This is because when we stand the spine is in a state called 'lordosis' - with pressure evenly distributed along the 24 vertebrae of our backbone. Blood flow along the spine is free and unobstructed. When we bend our body at a right angle in sitting, we flatten the lumbar (lower section) of our back. This causes a state called kyphosis, or uneven pressure on the disks in our back. This state strains the muscles in that area and causes lower back pain.

Most people think our backbone supports our body. It doesn't. Our body actually supports our backbone. Our back's 24 vertebrae and its jelly-like disks offer us flexibility, but not much strength.

The less we move while sitting, the less our bodies are able to supply parts of our bodies with vital nutrients. When our lumbar area is nutrient-deprived, those fluids-filled disks harden. As they become less flexible, our body is more vulnerable to injuries caused by motion. And sitting incorrectly, essentially crunching our lumbar area, will gradually erode the disks in our back over time.

The best bet for our bodies is to maintain lordosis, which helps make sure that nutrients can reach vital areas of our spine. Sitting for just 20 minutes can so reduce the flow of nutrients to our disks that they begin to harden (errrrrr, Honey .... from now on we must take 5 minutes break after 20 minutes webcam session ). So, if our chair is too soft and fluffy, our body doesn't really move much. It's almost like being encased in a foam-rubber body cast. No movement. No nutrients. And our disks pay the price.

So, the goal is to continually allow our muscles and bones to find the most stable, most healthy position as easily as possible.

Below are tips from Neutral Posture Ergonomics, work for just about anyone. An ounce of "adjustment consciousness" can protect our body from long term stress injuries.

I hope you find it useful!

Love - Larra

If you experience this problem	Caused by:	Try this:
Neck tension, tightness, upper back and shoulders tension.	Head too far forward while you type or view your monitor	Elevate your monitor so your head and trunk relationship is more vertical.
	Hands and arms not supported while keyboarding.	Adjust the chair's armrests. Note: ideally ergonomic professionals suggest not resting arms while keyboarding. However in the "real world" we recognize this is often done.
	Head is too far back during monitor viewing.	Tilt the seat and backrest forward so as to keep the head and trunk relationship more vertical.
Hand, wrist and lower arm discomfort	The wrist is deviated (turned) in an unnatural position.	Set the keyboard or calculator to produce a neutral (straight) position.
	Excessive application of force to the keys	Train yourself to reduce excessive keystroke force. Excessive force is not needed or efficient.
Lower back pain discomfort.	Lumbar curvature is not being maintained or supported.	Bring your chair's backrest in closer to your back, tilt it forward, or change your lumbar support by increasing or decreasing the air pressure on the chair's air lumbar support (if you have this.). The backrest should be placed just above the pelvis to provide lower back region support.
	The major thigh muscle is pulling on the spine because your feet are dangling or unsupported.	Lower your chair and or use a footrest so that the feet support both their own weight and the weight of the lower legs only.
	Increased disc pressure because vertebrae do not have equidistance spacing. This results in stretching the muscle, tendon and ligament system.	Open up trunk/thigh angle towards the neutral position.
Buttock discomfort	Sitting too far forward in the seat pan and not using the footrest.	Sit deeper in the chair. It may be necessary to adjust the backrest by tilting the angle.
	Pressure is too great on the buttock/ischial tuberosities (the bony parts of the pelvis where we sit on.	Raise the chair height and increase the pressure naturally for the thigh. Back of the thighs should touch the seat pan.
Thigh discomfort	Too much pressure on the thigh because the chair is too high and legs are dangling	Lower chair height so the feet support themselves and the lower legs only.
	Too much pressure on the popliteal area (the soft tissue area behind the knee) from the seat pan.	Sit further forward in the seat pan and adjust backrest further forward.
Lower leg/foot discomfort	Too much pressure in the popliteal area (soft tissue behind the knee) from the seat pan so that circulation is restricted to the lower leg and feet. This puts pressure on the nerves to the lower legs and feet.	Sit further forward in the seat pan and adjust the backrest further forward.
	Infrequent posture changes in the feet and lower legs.	Utilize a well designed footrest to promote movement and frequent posture changes.

October 23, 2007: Food for Thought

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Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

(Author Unknown)

October 22, 2007: Breakfast in Kuala Lumpur?

Good morning everyone! It's a wet Monday morning in Kuala Lumpur!

Care to join me for breakfast?

Caramel machiato?

OR

homemade 'Teh tarik'? (pulled tea)

Note: Picture of rain drops on rose's leaves on my balcony this morning

- and reflections of the sky and next apartment building

October 21, 2007

..

..

..

..

........

..................

...............................

........................................

The falling leaves drift by the window
............The autumn leaves of red and gold ..........
.......................... I see your lips, the summer kisses ...........................
........The sunburned hands, I used to hold ..........
....... Since you went away, the days grow long .......
............................ And soon I'll hear ol' winter's song. ......................
............. But I miss you most of all my darling, ............
When autumn leaves start to fall.

.................

........

.....

....

.

(Johnny Mercer, lyrics, Autumn Leaves)

October 20, 2007: My Saturday!

Hi everyone,

My Saturday started early today. After webcam chat with Herb, I headed to train station as early as 9.30 am. My destination ..... Borders bookstore at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur. I had with me a list of 8 titles of books that I would like to read in preparation for my new job in February 2008:

1. Assessing for learning: building a sustainable commitment accross the institution by Peggy L. Maki

2. Assessment clear and simple: a practical guide for institutions, departments and general education by Barbara E. Walvoord

3. Assessing academic programs in higher education by Mary J. Allen

4. Quality and performance excellence in higher education by Charles W. Sorensen

5. Continuous quality improvement in higher education by John Robert Dew

6. Higher education in the world 2007: accreditation for quality assurance: what is at stake? by Global University Network for Innovation

7. Prioritizing academic programs and services .... by Robert C. Dickeson

8. Understanding faculty productivity .... by Michael F. Middaugh

~

I was so confident that I could find these titles (at least few, if not all) at Borders since I have checked Borders webpage and all of these titles are in stock at Borders US. And not to forget that Borders' bookstore at Berjaya Times Square is not only the largest bookstore in Malaysia but also the largest Borders' bookstore in the world occupying 60,000 square feet!

~

BUT ................ to my surprise, NONE of the books available in the bookstore!! I can't place an order either because these titles are not in stock at Borders KL! Did I mentioned that this is the largest Borders' bookstore in the world!?

Hmmmm .... it looks like I have to buy it at Amazon (these titles are in stock at Amazon.com) .... and pay the extra cost for postage!

~

Anyway, I can never leave a bookstore without buying anything . So I end up buying the following books:

1. I am Muslim by Dina Zaman (local author)

Below is the synopsis by Dr. Farish A. Noor, Political Scientist and Historian of Political Islam:

" I am Muslim is a selfish journey of faith. Dina meets shamans, nationalists, moderates and gets into all sorts of scrapes, to discover what Islam means to Muslims in Malaysia. Heartbreaking, angry and downright funny.

Dina Zaman's articles about being Muslim in Malaysia today captures the multifaceted aspects of difference and alterity in normative religios life better than many academic studies... "

~

2. The Secret of Secrets by Hadrat Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani

"This book considered as one of the greatest works of classical sufi mysticism and interpreted here for the first time in English by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al Jerrahi.

The Secret of Secrets reveals in a brief compass the very essence of sufism, showing how outward practices such as prayer, fasting and almsgiving contain a wealth of inner dimension which must be discovered and enjoyed if external actions are to be performed in a manner pleasing to God ..... "

And also another cook book :

With that I headed towards Starbucks for my favorite

caramel machiato and marble cheese cake. But, something is missing ........ Herbie is not here! Who is going to help me finish the cheese cake as well as caramel machiato?

~

Before headed home, I stopped by at the hair salon for one and half hours henna treatment.

~

So, how's your Saturday or what have you planned for your Saturday?

Love - Larra

October 18, 2007: Book Tuesday on Thursday!

Hi everyone,

I haven't been writing on BookTuesday for quite sometimes! Does it means I have been a lazy reader lately?

Anyway, yesterday I finished reading a book by Orhan Pamuk "Istanbul - Memories of A City" that I bought while at Manchester Airport last September.

I heard about the author from an Estonian friend of mine who is in the publishing industry. Orhan Pamuk's books have been translated into more than 20 languages, and typically deal with clashes between civilisations and Islam's relationship with secular nationalism. He has won the 2006 Nobel Prize for literature, has earned international acclaim for his writing while also generating controversy in his native Turkey. His best known works are the novels Snow and My Name Is Red. (which are now in my list of books to read)

Reading this memoir giving me the 'urge' to visit Istanbul and to 'walk through the book' ..... Turkey, a product of Ottoman Empire and Ataturk's revolution ..... has always been a'mystery' to me .

" Pamuk's achievement in ''Istanbul'' is to show the human damage done by Ataturk's revolution without succumbing to the benighted nostalgia of many Turkish Islamists. He is appalled that many secular Turks (including, presumably, Pamuk himself) must ''grapple with the most basic questions of existence -- love, compassion, religion, the meaning of life, jealousy, hatred -- in trembling confusion and painful solitude'' but he offers no solution. "

(Christopher De Bellaigue - THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, 12.6.2005)

Happy Thursday! "Reading to the mind what excercise is to the body."

Love - Larra

October 16, 2007: Woman's Wishing Well

Have a fun Tuesday !

October 15, 2007: A Gem of A Friend

. Precious, rare and hard to find .... That's what your friendship is! Here's wishing you a very H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y PIA!!!! ~ ~ from LaRRa & HeRBie

October 14, 2007: Some Fill With Each Good Rain

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There are different wells within your heart.
Some fill with each good rain,
Others are far too deep for that.

In one well
You have just a few precious cups of water,
That "love" is literally something of yourself,
It can grow as slow as a diamond
If it is lost.

Your love
Should never be offered to the mouth of a
Stranger,
Only to someone
Who has the valor and daring
To cut pieces of their soul off with a knife
Then weave them into a blanket
To protect you.

There are different wells within us.
Some fill with each good rain,
Others are far, far too deep
For that.

~ Hafiz ~

October 12, 2007: Memory of 'Malam Raya' - the Brightest Night

Hi everyone,

'Malam raya' (Eid night) is among the awaited moments especially for children. When I was little, this is the only night that mother would allow us to play fire crackers (even though it might had been bought few days before). We (my siblings and I) will be waiting anxiously and checking the firecrakers like 20 times every night until the 'malam raya' arrived.

Other than firecrackers, during 'malam raya' we will also light 'pelita' (oil lamp). I have mentioned the background of 'pelita' in my previous blog. However for the children , we love malam raya simply because it is the most brightest night in the village - all neighbours will have their own set of pelita.

The pelita is either hanged in rows or own its own around the house. This type of pelita is sometimes called 'pelita ayan'.

Those days we can't afford to have all 'pelita ayan' around the house. So normally mother will light only few pelita, while the rest of the area will be brighten by 'pelita buloh' (bamboo lamp) made by my brother!

Not just that we will also burn coconut shells. During the whole month of Ramadhan (sometimes even few months before that) we will be collecting coconut shells around the village and kept it in a dry place. On malam raya the coconut shells will be arranged horizontally on a long wood (special type of wood need to be used so that it won't burnt along with the coconut shells). Then we will start burnt the top part of the coconut shells - it will be left the whole night until all the coconut shells burnt. Unfortunately I couldn't find the picture - maybe people don't do it anymore.

BUT tonight, no pelita ayan, no pelita buloh ..... Only this - candles on my balcony - to brighten my malam raya in the city .....

Goodnight everyone!

Love - Larra

October 12, 2007: Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

Hi everyone,

Tomorrow, Saturday 13th October 2007 (1st Syawal, the 10th month in Muslim calendar) Muslims in Malaysia will be celebrating Eid - to celebrate the completion of Ramadhan or 30 days of fasting.

Here are information from Wikipedia on 'Hari Raya Aidil Fitri' and how it is celebrated in Malaysia:

Hari Raya Aidilfitri (also Hari Raya Puasa) is the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr. Hari Raya is also known as Lebaran. Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore celebrate Eid like other Muslims throughout the world. The term "Hari Raya" literally means "Day of Celebration" — it is also occasionally used to refer to Eid ul-Adha in the form of "Hari Raya Aidiladha". The main greeting used by Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore is "Selamat Hari Raya" which means "Happy Eid" in Malay. Another greeting is "maaf zahir dan batin" which translates loosely to "I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually", for Hari Raya is a time to reconcile and renew relationships with others.

On the eve of Hari Raya, Muslims will recite the 'takbir', which is held in mosques and surau (smaller place of worship). In some communities, there will be congregations reciting the takbir from house to house.

Below is YouTube video of 'Takbir' raya (thanks Luna for the idea!)

In big cities and towns, shopping malls and commercial centres will hold big promotions and price discounts for festive shoppers as people purchase clothes and supplies. Decorations are hung in public areas and Hari Raya songs will be played in shopping complexes. The media, such as the television will host various programs in conjunction with the celebrations.

Many people also traditionally return to their hometown generally from big metropolitan cities to rural areas. This is known as 'balik kampung' — literally going back to one's home town to celebrate Hari Raya with family and friends.

The Celebration

Usually on the eve of the celebrations, family members, especially mothers and housewives, will be busy preparing food, cakes, sweets, biscuits and various delicacies to be served on the day of Hari Raya. Delicacies such as 'ketupat' or rice cake and a meat cuisine called 'rendang' are among the most famous cuisines that are served during this day. Other family members will help in other chores such as decorating and cleaning up the house.

Days before Hari Raya, house compounds, particularly those in the countryside will be lit up with oil lamps known as 'pelita' or 'panjut'. This display of oil lamps will reach its height on the 27th night of Ramadan, called the 'Tujuh Likur' night. 'Likur' literally meaning a figure between 20 and 30, hence 'tujuh likur' means twenty seven. Originally during the early days of the arrival of Islam among the Malays, the purpose of lighting the oil lamps was to attract spirits and angels to descend to people's homes during the night of 'Lailatulqadar'. However after ages has passed, such misconception is regarded counterfactual as much understanding of Islam were obtained. Nowadays the oil lamps are lit solely for decorational purposes.

It is customary for Malays to wear traditional Malay costumes. The dress for men is called 'baju Melayu' while the women's are known as 'baju kurung' and 'baju kebaya'. Traditional textiles such as 'songket' and 'batik' are worn favourably during this day.

Muslims will attend Eid prayer in the morning and consecrate together harmoniously while taking the chance to meet and greet each other. Once the prayer is done, it is also common for Muslims in Malaysia to visit the grave of their loved ones. During this visit, they will clean the grave, perform the recital of the Yasin — a chapter (surah) from the Qur'an and also the tahlil or prayers for the deceased. All these are done in hope that their loved ones are blessed by God and they are spared from the punishment in the grave.

The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives or serving visitors. Hari Raya is a very joyous day for children for this is the day where adults are extra generous. Children will be given token sums of money, also known as 'duit raya' from their parents and elders.

October 09, 2007: 10 Best Foods You Aren't Eating

1. Beets

These grungy-looking roots are naturally sweeter than any other vegetable, which means they pack tons of flavor underneath their rugged exterior.

2. Cabbage

Absent from most American kitchens, this cruciferous vegetable is a major player in European and Asian diets.

3. Guava

Guava is an obscure tropical fruit that's subtly acidic, with sweetness that intensifies as you eat your way to the center.

4. Swiss chard

Hidden in the leafy-greens cooler of your market, you'll find this slightly bitter, salty vegetable, which is actually native to the Mediterranean.

5. Cinnamon

This old-world spice usually reaches most men's stomachs only when it's mixed with sugar and stuck to a roll.

6. Purslane

Although the FDA classifies purslane as a broad-leaved weed, it's a popular vegetable and herb in many other countries, including China, Mexico, and Greece.

7. Pomegranate juice

A popular drink for decades in the Middle East, pomegranate juice has become widely available only recently in the United States.

8. Goji berries

These raisin-size fruits are chewy and taste like a cross between a cranberry and a cherry. More important, these potent berries have been used as a medicinal food in Tibet for over 1,700 years.

9. Dried plums

You may know these better by the moniker "prunes," which are indelibly linked with nursing homes and bathroom habits. And that explains why, in an effort to revive this delicious fruit's image, producers now market them under another name.

10. Pumpkin seeds

These jack-o'-lantern waste products are the most nutritious part of the pumpkin.

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To discover more why you need to eat these foods and how to eat it, check this article.