Classic Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup of butter (softened at room temperature)
2. 1/2 cup of soft brown sugar
3. 1 teaspoon of baking soda
4. 2 eggs (room temperature)
5. 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla essence
6. 1 1/2 cups of organic all-purpose flour
7. 3 cups of rolled oats

-------------------------------------------------------------------

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, and baking soda. Mix until well blended.

2. Beat in the eggs and vanilla essence and mix until well blended.

3. Add in the flour and mix thoroughly.

4. Add in the oats and mix thoroughly.

5. Preheat oven at 190C.

6. Drop tablespoons of dough on a baking tray lined with baking paper.

7. Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

8. Allow to cool.

9. The cookies can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container.

A Conversation With Doctor Zombie

Let me make myself clear before I begin today's post. I HATE hospitals. Totally loathe it. But then when I'm sick, that's the place I head to. I have no choice.

So after collapsing in bed at 10pm on Monday night, I woke up feeling better on Tuesday morning. The flu-ey-ness wasn't there. The raw throat was gone and the sickly feeling had disappeared. It is wonderful what a good night sleep can do to our body.

And then, I noticed the rash that had broken out on my right leg had gotten worse and it had spread overnight. And it was stinging. I have had shingles and I know how painful shingles can be. This wasn't shingles pain. But I became very worried that I had developed something else which could be passed to Joel (and my brother who is still currently very weak and tired from last week's influenza B attack).

Thus I headed to the hospital at 2 pm yesterday to see a physician. I wanted to find out what on earth I had.

So Mr. Physician took a look at my records online and saw that I had a bacterial AND influenza B infection 10 days ago and was given Zithromax, Tamilfu and anti-histamines. I told him that I did not take the Tamiflu as I did not know whether I would react in an anaphylactic reaction or not. That was when the 'conversation' became 'interesting'.

Note: Words in bold, in red and in brackets are MY THOUGHTS!

Mr. Physician: What are you allergic to, exactly?

Me: Salicylates and a .... (I got cut off before I could even finish answering his question) (WHY THE HELL DID HE EVEN BOTHER TO ASK ME?)

Mr. P: Oh, aspirin. Then why can't you take Tamiflu? Tamiflu is not aspirin, you know.

Me: (DUH! As if I can't tell the difference!) I have Idiopathic Anaphylaxis and do not know which medicines can kill me or help/save me.

Mr. P: What can you NOT take? (And gives me the look as if I have grown two devil's horns)

Me: (Actually, I cannot take idiotic doctors who give me idiotic looks as if I haven't the faintest idea of what I'm sensitive to!) Painkillers, NSAIDs, Paracetamol, Bactrim, tests which use dyes, food with colouring, preservative, flavoring, additives, MSG.

Mr. P: (In an appalled tone) WHAT DO YOU EAT THEN???!!!

Me: (My diet consists of brainless doctors. And there are plenty to go around in the Klang Valley alone!) I make, bake, cook everything that I eat. I eat everything fresh.

Mr. P: WHAT KIND OF LIFE IS THAT??!! What quality of life do you have?!!

Me: (My life definitely has a HIGHER quality than yours obviously.) I have adapted, evolved and I am already used to it. I have lived like this for FOUR years now!

Mr. P: (Sputters and at a loss for words) But to reach to the point of anaphylaxis is SERIOUS!!

Me: (YAWN!!! Blah blah blah.... I am so tempted to smack this idiot on his forehead. As if I don't know that anaphylaxis is a serious thing. I almost died. You mean that is not serious???) Of course it is serious! I carry Epi-Pens with me. I have even used them. TWICE!!!

Mr. P: OOHHHH! You know about Epi-Pens! Where did you get yours? Malaysia no longer sells Epi-Pens!

Me: (BREAKS INTO A THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE!!! BRAVO!! 10 POINTS FOR MR. P FOR KNOWING THAT MALAYSIA NO LONGER SELLS EPI-PENS!!!!! CLAPS HANDS ECSTATICALLY! OF COURSE I KNOW ABOUT EPI-PENS! I HAD A.N.A.P.H.Y.L.A.X.I.S!! DUH!!!!!!!!) I order my Epi-Pens through hospitals. I got mine from Sime Darby. But the procedures takes about 2 months or so as they have to place an order directly to US.

Mr. P: Is there a cure for this thing that you have?

Me: (I wouldn't be sitting down here telling you that I have lived with this for FOUR YEARS if there is a cure for this thing that I have, now would I??) NOPE.

Mr. P: How did this happen to you? What happened that you developed this? Were you like this as a child?

Me: (Now you're using your brain!) No, I did not have this as a child. I had a normal childhood. I started being sensitive to Panadols, NSAIDs, painkillers one year after giving birth to my son. I had a very problematic pregnancy and was on hormones for 5 months as I had 3 near miscarriages. Most of the problems that I have today with my health started after giving birth to my son.

Mr. P: I have never come across someone like you!

Me: (But I've across MANY doctors like YOU! What's NEW??? I hear this all the time.) OK, so what is this rash on my leg? Is is a viral thing or something else?

Mr. P: It should not be dengue rash because your fever has broken for about 3 days now.

Me: What do you think this is? I am worried that it is something viral and that it could spread to my son and brother. (Oh GOD! He hasn't the faintest idea of what I have on my leg!) It does not look like shingles, does it?

Mr. P: Shingles is painful. Is this rash painful?

Me: This rash hurts but it does not hurt like shingles.

Mr. P: How do you know that shingles hurt?

Me: I have had shingles before! (DUH!!!!!!!!!!)

Mr. P: How OLD are you? Shingles usually strike the elderly.

Me: (I AM 120 years old!!!!!! AND I WILL STILL OUTLIVE YOU!) I am 36 this year. I had shingles when I was about 18 or so. Back then, I could never get the chicken pox even though I went near people with the virus. Even when my brother caught it real bad, I did not get it. And when I finally got it, I did not even know I had it because it was so minimal that I thought I had sand fly bites. I only knew that I had chicken pox when my GP noticed that I had shingles on my collar bone and that was only 4 bubbles. But it hurt like hell. So that is how I know that shingles hurt.

Mr. P: Did your doctor give you Acyclovir when you had the shingles back then?

Me: No.

Mr. P: Then what treatment did your doctor give you? Why did she not treat you with an anti-viral? Were you allergic back then?

Me: (HOW THE HELL WOULD I KNOW WHY SHE DID NOT GIVE ME ACYCLOVIR??! AND ARE YOU DEAF? DID YOU NOT HEAR THAT I WASN'T ALLERGIC BACK THEN? WHY MUST EVERYTHING BE TREATED WITH ANTI-VIRAL MEDS? CAN'T OUR BODY FIGHT IT?) No treatment whatsoever...................

Mr. P: Ok, if the rash becomes worse or it becomes bubble-like (as in shingles-like or chicken pox-like), come back and we'll run some blood tests and start you on Acyclovir if it is shingles.

Me: (WTF! I just told you that I am diagnosed as Idiopathic Anaphylaxis and you want to prescribe me Acyclovir. Even if you're the last doctor on earth, you won't see me 100 yards from your clinic. Thanks but no thanks!)

And before I walked out of Mr. P's clinic, I saw this frozen on his laptop screen. It was Plants vs. Zombies. No wonder he behaved in such a manner. The zombies have simply eaten his brains! HAH!

________________________________________________________________

Before I left the hospital, I went to the other side to look for Joel's pediatrician. I basically did NOT trust Mr. P's diagnosis (whatever that was). Dr. Pediatrician said that my immune system is currently very weak and I am picking up bacteria like a vacuum cleaner picking up lint. I must have scratched myself and somehow the follicles got infected with some bacteria. Fucicort twice a day will do the trick for about a week. And she told me to stay at home during this whole week and not go anywhere until I am strengthened.

And the Fucicort seems to be working!

Part of the rash. 

Round TWO??!!

It seems that at this point of time, my immune system is very vulnerable to the world of the unseen viruses and bacterias. I was recovering when I felt something creeping in stealthily into my system... AGAIN!

I think I caught a secondary infection. Feeling fatigue, flu-ey, raw throat again and sneezing non-stop. Hopefully it is a secondary infection and NOT pneumonia. No fever at this point. Hopefully it does not come to that again.

Feeling kinda down but I refuse to ask why.

Simply because 'shit happens'.

I ate good food everyday and I slept enough (on many days, more than enough). Drinking tons of water  and am just relaxing at home as it is school holidays.

The weather has been crazy of late. Sudden strong gusts of wind. And we've been having very bad hazy and hot days with sudden lashing storms. Staying indoors is fine by me! Imagine the dust. And a neighbour nearby has been having renovations for these past few months which never seem to end.

I'm just going to listen to more music and just let things be.

Hassle-Free Moist Butter Cake

Ingredients:

1. 125gm of softened butter
2. 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
3. 3/4 cups of soft, brown sugar
4. 3 eggs (room temperature)
5. 1 1/2 cup of organic self-raising flour
6. 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
7. 1/2 cup of soya milk (room temperature)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Preheat oven at 180C.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat all ingredients until just combined.

3. Pour the mixture in a baking tray lined with baking paper.

4. Bake for about 40 minutes.

Bon appétit!

Recovering!

Still having very low-grade fever during the nights. Just waiting it out. Still feeling tired and weak but slowly getting better, that's for sure!

Now that the worst is over, I started listening to music again. I like one of Justin Timberlake's latest song from his 20/20 Experience. It's called Mirrors.

Norah Jones' 'Miriam' is a chilling one! Watch it!

This woman is amazing!

Still Battling Influenza B!

It has been a week since I fell really ill. In those times when I felt the nights really creeping by, today a week has passed.

The crazy fever spikes have left. I was still burning till 101F on Monday night. I went to see my ENT on Tuesday afternoon. He said that I was recovering and I might have a few more nights of mild fever. The insides of my sinus and nose were red, swollen and mighty bruised. And that's part of the aftermath with an encounter with Influenza B. He also said that I did not have any sinus nor ear infection but there were some crackling and popping sounds in my lungs.

I got a Ventolin inhaler from the hospital and used it every 4 hours just to get relieve from the hacking cough. It helped. And I continued with Zrytec-D every night to help with the severely blocked nose.

The fever still comes back every night at around 8something, but it is less than 100F. Other than that, I still have the severe dizzy spells, trembling, extreme fatigue and exhaustion.

I have started moving around a bit at a time. But at this point of time, I dare not push myself too much as my body is still not completely well.

But it's a start that the end of the battle is drawing near!

I Can't Win, Can't I?

Ok, so yesterday I sunk into depression. Five days of continuos fever-yo-yo-ing drove me insane. I think I would have yelled, 'OFF WITH MY HEAD!' if I had the voice and strength.

So fever finally downgraded to mid-99F and I thought, 'Finally! I'm finally winning this battle!'

And then a small little thought whispered a voice, 'Uh-oh! Never jinx oneself'.

'BAH!' I replied, 'I don't believe in such rubbish'.

Demon virus started cackling from the bowels of Hades of Influenza B.

--------------------------------------------------------

I went to bed to rest as usual at 8 something.

As usual, I could not breathe with the clogged-up nose. I took Zrytec-D to clear the clogged-up nose and to knock me out. I haven't had a good night's rest since Wednesday night. Zrytec-D took 1 1/2 hours to relieve my clogged up nose and it couldn't even knock out an ant! What more me???

And then it happened.

I could feel a talon embedded in my throat. And the talon would twitch and THAT would send me into a never-ending-coughing-spasm which could last for a duration of 20 minutes.

And when it finally stopped, I would be so exhausted but relieved that it had stopped.

Demon virus must have been rubbing its hands in glee because the never-ending-coughing-spasm kept me awake until 4am this morning. By 4am, exhausted was an understatement. I dared not even breathe in case the talon which demon virus had embedded into my throat would twitch again.

In my exhaustion, I started hallucinating that I must have been a murderer in my past life. Or even a pimp, who whacked the shit out of his prostitutes. Or a wife-stealer. Or husband-stealer. Or a politician.

You could see that demon virus was now playing with my mind.

I even told hubby that I prayed that I would die in my sleep last night.

God was deft to go deaf when I spoke that sentence. He did not hear me.

I collapsed with exhaustion.

---------------------------------------------------------

I woke up at 8am.

Oh god. My right sinus was in searing pain until to my right ear. I knew I had developed a sinus infection. And the right part of the throat too was in searing pain.

And the mucus that came out was rust colour.

And then demon virus started twitching its talon again.

Finally at 11am, I dragged myself out of bed to make lunch. My brother too had succumbed to this virus. The hospital gave him Tamiflu. So it's only hubby left standing strong. May he be strong forever!

My hands have been shivering since the high fever. Thus, I dropped an egg on the floor (CRACK & SPLAT!), poured sugar all over the counter while cooking, forgotten whether I've added salt to the chicken, etc. It was a miracle that I did not burn the kitchen down. I seem to have memory problems these few days.

But I did manage to cook some scrambled eggs, stir-fried broccoli with carrots with sliced garlic (garlic is supposed to help chase away demon virus!) (I'll hang lots of garlic in the house tonight!), salt chicken and ABC chicken soup.

Lunch was good. Though we couldn't eat much.

I felt good!

-----------------------------------------------------

And then a small little thought whispered a voice, 'Uh-oh! Never jinx oneself'. 

'BAH!' I replied, 'I don't believe in such rubbish'.

Demon virus started cackling from the bowels of Hades of Influenza B AGAIN!

De-ja vu! 

Within 5 minutes, demon virus twitched its talon which sent me into the usual never-ending-coughing-spasm. But demon virus took it to a new level. It made me threw up my beautiful lunch! Every single bit of it. Until all I could do was retch out air and nothing else.

I just can't win, can't I?

And then the washing of the throne and the showering and the collapsing in bed exhausted and YET, the talon would not leave me alone.

--------------------------------------------------

I am counting down till Friday as it would be the day my parents can come back. I banned my parents from coming home. 3 doctors told me the same thing, keep them away! They'll suffer worse then us. The elderly can develope complications. And mum is diabetic. Friday, how I love thee. Please come quickly.

I am also very glad to have a neighbour who has been cooking whenever she can for the guys. Buying food that we need. Calling and messaging us to fight on, to keep on going. She has been such a great help. No words can describe my gratefulness in her helping us. And thank you all who wrote to me telling us to fight on. 

This battle has been tough because I caught BOTH bacteria and viral infections. To top it off, the period decided to come at such wonderful timing. 

I just can't win, can't I?

Fighting A Losing Battle

It looks like I am fighting a losing battle. I'm in very bad shape today. Today has been a horible day. The flu is beastly. The fever won't give up. The cough is unrelenting. And I started wheezing. Which means my lungs have constricted. Each breath is becoming very tiring. I've depleted all my strength to fight. I can't go on anymore. It looks like I will have to get myself admitted in the hospital.

I am on the verge of giving up. This is just too great a battle for me.

Nightmare on Influenza B Street - The Viral Fever From Hell!

This unwelcome visitor does not waste time in pouncing on its host. It comes with the speed of the Ferrari which leaves you blindsided. And before you know it, the virus will have you knocked down with its overbearing presence in no time.

You will NEVER be able to sleep! It will make sure that you are aware of its presence at ALL times!

Every joint and body parts will ache to the point that if anyone 'touches' you with a finger, bloody murder will be the only thing on your mind.

Anxiety and panic attacks will strike for no apparent reason.You'd think that the 'ping' sound that pinged during the middle of the night is from a group of guerrilla soldiers waiting to ambush your house.

OR

The bed is all out to kill you.

Every step your feet steps on the floor = stepping on durians.

The only purpose of the cough is to expel your lungs out of your body.

The fever has a temperament of a woman with menopause. It will swing to extremes like the pendulum at any time of the day and when it is quiet, you'd think that the battle is finally over.

That is where you are wrong.

It will come back and scream at you like a bitch with its scorching temperature and will be all out to fry your brains; sunny side up.

Your good friend for the next one week or so will be the throne. You'll expel 'stuff' from both ends.

You'll be so dehydrated that the Sahara dessert will pale in comparison. You'll be dripping a drop or tiny drops of pee.

OR

You'll be peeing boiling lava out.

The taste of water = water from the sewer.

Your nose is all out to suffocate you.

Your body will think that the Gangam dance is not hip enough. It thinks that the shivering dance is the coolest thing on earth.

Your body will adorn itself with a self-produced tattoo - the viral rash.

Nausea and vomiting will be your new best friends.

You new BFF is EXHAUSTION.

Your throat's only purpose is to cause you great pain. VERY great pain.

You will not need blusher. AT ALL. In fact you can be called Miss or Mr Red.

You'll adopt a new name; Little Miss or Mr Sensitive. Every single sound will be amplified 100x. The toilet bowl flush will resemble the Niagara Falls. The neighbour's kids' laughter will sound like the cackling of witches. The stirring of the spoon in the mug will sound like the contractor's polishing tiles with his grinding machine. The neighbour's cuckoo clock will be so damn bloody irritating that you will feel like blowing it to bits with a shotgun.

You will be able to do spells. It is called The Dizzy Spells.

Your stomach will behave in only one manner. Revolts at the sight of any food.

My ways in overcoming this nightmare:

1. Showering

Easier said than done. Even the water spray from the shower hurts!!!!!! Even warm water is so freaking COLD! Cold is an understatement. But this will help lower your body temperature. The doctors recommend it. By showering, you'll show the fever who the BOSS is. If it comes back to scream at you like a bitch with its scorching temperature, you shut it up with tons of water.

2. Move

Moving a little bit at a time helps. Slowly shuffling to the toilet, to the dining table, back to the bed. Of course this feels like scaling Mount Everest at the moment. But moving helps. A bit of blood circulation will help the body to recover faster.

3. Hydrate Yourself

Drink lots of fluid. And I don't mean alcohol. Lots of barley and water. Some doctors recommend 100Plus. Though water tastes like sewer, you have no choice. For Joel, he drank ORS. Lots of it.

4. Eat

Even a small bite will do. Easier said than done. But seriously, if you don't eat, you can't fight. That is what I have been doing. It's not much, 2 tablespoons of rice, a ladle of soup. A bit of crackers. Better than nothing.

5. Wash Up!

After every puke or episodes of diarrhea, WASH the throne and surrounding area/bathroom. And then bathe. This will prevent the virus from spreading to the other occupants of the house.

6. Air-Circulation

Open ALL windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate in the house. And also switch on every single purifier/ioniser you have in the house!

7. REST!

8. And if you can, get Tamiflu.

I went through worse than my son, because being a person with Idiopathic Anaphylaxis, I'm not sure whether Tamiflu would heal or kill me. But Joel recovered at a faster pace than me. I'm still having fever and it's the fourth day!

So, what good comes out of this? You'll lose tons of weight.

The downside?

Immunity for 2 or 3 months! After going through hell, you would think 1 year or lifelong immunity would be good!

People with impaired immune system or diabetics must avoid us at all cost! It can lead to complications should they get infected. Yes, even the elderly.

Ah yes, before I forget, the virus will leave you with a forget-me-not present, before it really goes away. It will attack your muscles. Especially the calf muscles and leave you with a walking impairment for a few days. Joel was unable to stand when he woke up this morning. His calves couldn't support his weight. He has been shuffling like the zombies in the 'Walking Dead' and 'Plants vs Zombies'. His father carries him up and down the stairs or supports him when he walks. I on the other hand have been walking like an old woman with severe osteoarthritis. I'm bent over. My whole body feels as though I have been in mortal combat and kick boxing classes. My shoulders and knees are stiff. I can't bend my knees and I can't lift my arms.

Truly a nightmare.

Oh, yes, did I tell you that it could lead to meningitis and pneumonia for kids and for the adults, encephalitis and pneumonia?

Freddy Krueger is not so bad, eh?

Super-Duper Germs!

I started to have fever late last night. Sleep was terrible. My whole body was aching. My joints were aching. I felt as though I had been run over by two buses.

By this morning, I was burning at 100F. And then it became 101F. And then it became 102F. And then it became 102.9F. Hubby took EL and rushed home and took me to the ER.

The doctor ordered a nose swab for me since Joel is Influenza B positive and also some blood tests. Results showed that my platelet count to be very low. So are my white blood cells. And I have a bacterial infection. But the swab came back negative for Influenza A and B.

Doctor suggested dengue could be the cause since my platelet count is low. But then again, viral fever can be a factor in lowering the platelets too.

I have to return on Saturday morning to do a dengue test and also the platelet count again as it will be the third day since the fever attack.

We had to bring Joel to the ER last night as he was wheezing and his body broke out in rash. We were worried that it could be dengue as he and I were bitten at the beach in PD. His tests were negative! Yay! His platelets are good!

The doctor prescribed Zithromax antibiotic for the bacterial infection and at this point of time, the fever has dropped. As I am typing this, the fever has broken. What a relief....

Your prayers for us are much appreciated.

Thank you!

Influenza B Positive

Joel has been tested positive for Influenza B positive and is currently under house-quarantine. He has been given the Tamiflu to fight this.

He is currently in very bad shape. Even with ibuprofen his fever will not go down. He has not eaten anything. And he is throwing up.

He had to have 2 suppositories inserted into the bum today.

Do keep us in prayers as I too have developed a raw throat and excessive sneezing and extreme fatigue.

Chinese Green Mung Bean Soup

The Chinese believe that everybody's body is a combination of the 'yin' (cold) and the 'yang' (hot). The Chinese have a habit of drinking a bowl of cold sweet mung bean soup everyday. It is a 'cold' (yin energy) dessert which can cool down your system during the hot weather.

Beans are naturally rich in protein, fiber, good carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, these tiny green beans, when made into soup or congee is able to expel toxins from our body! As the mung beans are the 'yin' (cold), they help greatly in dispelling internal heat, promote urination and relieve hot weather ailments and rashes!

I am a 'yang' person. I get heaty very easily. Just 2 minutes under the scorching sun, and I will feel as though I am a dragon, breathing fire out from my mouth. I will get ulcers. And I will feel as though a great, big ball of fire is inside me, burning me from inside out. Even my eyeballs feel as though they are on fire!

Before the anaphylaxis attack, I could eat all sorts of food. Ginger included. A dish cooked with ginger would induce a sore throat the very night!

Thus, I would go for all sorts of 'cooling' food to cool my body down.

This is one of the dishes that helps me 'cool down'.

_________________________________________

Ingredients:

1. 250gm of dried mung beans
2. 1 cup of sago
3. Approximately 6 litres of water
4. 1 1/2 cup of soft brown sugar

-----------------------------------------------

1. Soak the mung beans in hot boiling water for about 1/2 hour. Alternately, you could soak it overnight in the fridge.

2. Rinse the mung beans.

3. Pour the 6 litres of water into a large pot. You could use a pressure cooker, or slow cooker. I used my multi-purpose electronic rice pot which has the soup function.

4. Add the mung beans and sago into the pot.

5. Boil on high heat for 1/2 hour and medium low for the next 1/2 hour.

6. Stir it and add the soft brown sugar.

7. You can continue to boil it until the beans have softened and broken up.

8. You can either serve it hot or allow it to cool to room temperature. You can even chill it in the fridge and have a cold dessert!

Bon appétit!

Note: Many people add screwpine leaf or pandan leaf to this dessert. They tie the leaves into a bundle and throw it in and boil it together with the dessert. This plant is known as the 'vanilla of the east'. It will give this dessert a very aromatic smell. That being said, I do not know whether it has salicylates or not. Be careful if you wish to experiment with it.

You're A Housewife???

click on link.

Enjoy!!!!

A Brief Respite! (Part 2)

I woke up to such amazing skies on Saturday morning at 7.30am! Felt grateful and peaceful as I saw the rising of the sun.

By 8.30am, it was a furnace!

So calm and peaceful! And then I had the thought of 'If a tsunami would come at this time, we would be doomed!' A definite of too many Hollywood movies!

A peahen!

On the way to another smaller beach, we passed a small bird/pet park which the hotel had made within its grounds.

I thought of Peter when I saw this cute little rabbit! Isn't it cute Miss MCS? Hehe...

Shadier and much cooler!

Very busy with his sandcastle making! Because of sandflies, I applied tons of repellent for the both of us and covered him with his PJs. The hotel placed signs telling us to be aware of sandflies and to apply repellent.

4 little castles. I am so happy that he had such a great time! 

We went back to our room before it was 10am. The heat was getting to me. As usual, we stayed in during the afternoon. The heat was terrible. It was 35C! But Saturday being the last day, we had to venture out at 4.30pm to catch some mini crabs during the low tide. And venture out did we.

What the hell was I thinking? It was a FURNACE! As hot as hell!

We braved the heat for THESE???!! The little young man was ecstatic! 

The video above shows hundreds (if not thousands) of the baby crabs walking on the beach. One would think that it was the sea water trickling back in. It wasn't. It was the crabs. A whole lot of them!!

A Brief Respite! (Part 1)

Hubby had a 2-day company retreat on Friday and Saturday. And it was held at a hotel which has water chalets.

Joel had suggested that we follow hubby for a short holiday. You see, he LOVES beaches. I wasn't really thrilled of the idea. I was exhausted and going anywhere would need extensive preparation. We said no to Joel.

But then I started thinking. Why not? Joel is a kid who needs to go to places to have experiences in life. And he is such an outdoor person.

Thus I decided that we would go. And we kept the change of mind from Joel until Friday morning. Boy, was he THRILLED!

I baked and cooked my food from Tuesday to Thursday. Even though it was only two days, I would need main meals and snacks! And the place had no kitchen. I had to get creative with my food!

The first day's meal was kept in 3 Thermos jars. I made chicken + potato stew, stir-fried cabbage with garlic, fried egg and rice. The second day's food was my own home-made instant noodles which I had froze in the freezer on Thursday. I packed the two frozen packets of noodles with ice-packs in a styrofoam box. And I brought my trusty old rice pot and used the steam function to reheat the noodles. I baked potatoes and boiled some hard boiled eggs to be eaten as snacks. I also made some rice crackers. I baked a butter cake but I had forgotten to bring it along! But food was more than enough because I did not have much appetite.

The one good thing that the trip did for me was that I was able to sleep in the afternoons! I'm always on the road during afternoons. I never get a chance to nap even though I am exhausted. But I managed to nap for about 3 hours during the 2 days! And that really refreshed, rejuvenated and recharged me.

The beach is about 109km from our home. The journey took us about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

And I am extremely glad that we went.

For it was a brief respite indeed!

BLISS!

2 beds and a day-bed.

The tub.

The 'outdoor' shower.

The 'open-roof' which is next to the shower area.

You can look down at the sea while you are showering.

Low tide on the 1st day! Perfect for crab hunting.

Awesome cloud!

The high tide was returning!

The water chalets!

A dead crab.

Beautiful skies!

4 Years

A very big congratulations to myself for having lived to tell the tale of living with Idiopathic Anaphylaxis.

In a blink of an eye, 4 years have passed.

In a blink of an eye, I have travelled through the driest deserts of life, climbed enormous mountains, swam across the continents of the world of faith, bungee jumped off cliffs of obstacles (in order to get a better view of life!) and battled in never-ending battles of life. 

In short, in a blink of an eye I have arrived at a destination called exhaustion. I have never been more exhausted in my body, soul and spirit than today. 

How I long for times where I could just jump into a car without planning and just drive wherever the road leads me to without worrying of the consequences. 

How I long to be able to travel to places afar without worrying about food and the smells that permeate my airspace.

How I long to break out of this cocoon that I am in that keeps me safe from all the perils of life.

How I long to be free.

Free from all the bonds of Idiopathic Anaphylaxis. 

Free from all the bonds that synthetic chemicals and salicylates have bound me with.

I have many times longed to just go to sleep and never wake up. Because even in my sleep, I struggle. I am unable to attain the deep rest that my body and mind craves for so much. Nightmares constantly haunt me.

Damn this pre-menopause that decided to strike so early with all its damnable symptoms!

Damn this insomnia!

Damn this migraine!

Damn you, Idiopathic Anaphylaxis and Salicylate/Chemical Sensitivity!

-------------------------------------------------------------

They scream,

They taunt,

Haughtiness brim,

'Oh thou look so gaunt.'

They snicker,

They giggle,

They never seem to end the bicker,

'Thy brain is such a muddle.'

When will it ever end?

Will I ever attain the Beckham Bend?

Or will it be forever a dead end;

Even though I press in again and again and again?

I gaze into the starry night,

And cast my burden onto the great, big paper moon,

I prayed with all my might,

That the great, big explosion might be soon.

The sea was severely choppy,

The wind was more than howling,

Even the fishes agree,

That it is useless to be bawling.

So I guess I'll do the boogie,

And say goodbye to Broody,

Reward myself with a cookie,

Bid hello to Life is Wacky!