Fluffy Massage

Some of you would have known that I suffered some back pain a few weeks ago due to office ergonomics. I was sitting sideways most of the time, which resulted in sprain of the left back waist muscle. I was on pain killers for three days but then the pain came back, nagging.

Just now, since a colleague wanted to visit the chiropractor somewhere in Kepong, I hopped along to get some massage done to ease the occasional pain.

Upon reaching Oriental Osteo Care in Jalan Belibis, there were already many people waiting. The place is air conditioned and modern looking, with a flat screen tv entertaining patients. I saw many awards and accolades but mainly for a some form of Korean sounding martial arts.

We waited around 5 minutes and I cringed upon hearing people screaming from closed curtains – “Ah ma! Ah ma!” LOL! Then, followed by, “OUUUuuuUUUUUUUU…..” LOL!! I think if I were to come last week for this, I would probably be the one screaming “Ah ma! Ah ma!”

Then, came our turns. My colleague went first to get his sprained hand massaged. Not long, I was gestured by a flabby looking guy. He looked like a mini sumo guy. I gulped. I prayed that I wouldn’t be shouting “Ah Ma!” later.

I told him of the pain coming back on and off. He laid some tissue paper on the bed and told me to lied down, face down. He apologized while he flipped open my t shirt and pants. Saw patches of unsightly Salon Pas marks on my back.

“So, this is where the pain is?” he asked while pressing down his fingers.

“Uh huh.” I said.

He started to massage my waist and applied appropriate strength on it. I didn’t feel much pain, partly because I wasn’t in real pain tonight, just that, the pain would come as and when they liked it. So I buat selamba saja.Then he started to assert more pressure and I started to feel a little strained.

Then, he asked me to lie sideways while crossing my leg. He enveloped me and pulled my arms to the back. It felt good! Actually, since he’s rather flabby, I actually felt a “giant, fluffy pillow” engulfing me! He did the same thing to me on the other side way. Later on, he asked me to lie straight on my back.

For the next part, he asked another colleague for assistance. I thought to myself. Geez.. this is not good!! He brought along a sarong. I looked at the sarong, puzzled.

He asked me to relax fully while his colleague hold onto both my legs. Then, he wrapped the sarong around my neck and emphasized I should relax. I heaved a low breathing and suddenly, “CRACCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK” I felt as if my neck had been severed from the body! I felt loose! Kinda relieved that I was at loss of words.

He asked me if I felt “loose”. I said, “Yes. Better!”

I went out after he placed a patch of herbs on my back. My sis and colleague laughed at me. I couldn’t contained my laughter either. My face was all red. It was quite a fun experience! I told her about the fluffy pillow part. I guess, that is how someone must have felt when I hug them – Fluffy!

For that experience, I am Rm70 poorer. Was told to stay off alcohol, chilli, soy food and seafood. Damn! My Singapore trip is this weekend!

Hopefully, tomorrow, I would wake up – with less pain on my back!

Oriental Osteo Care
17, Jalan Belibis, Kepong Baru, 52100 KL
Tel: 03-6276 3033

18, Persiaran Mergastua, Kepong Baru, KL
Tel: 016- 3333 757

26, Jalan 21/11B, 46300 Seapark, PJ
Tel: 012-3931 433

No. 151, Jalan Genting Klang, 53300 Setapak, KL
Tel: 016-3333 787

2, Jalan Hujan Rahmat 3, Taman OUG, 58200 KL
Tel: 016-3333 767

2f-36, Bangsar Village II, No. 2, Jalan Telawi Satu,
Bangsar Baru, 59100 KL
Tel: 016-3333 797

Monday Blues

Last week, I received the same phone calls over and over again asking the same question. Sometimes, it surprises me why the person is employed.

Idiot: Hello? Can I speak to Mr Clear River?

Me: What is it regarding please?

Idiot: It’s about a project blah blah blah blah blah.

Me: Ok, I pass you to the person-in-charge, Ms A. She can help you. Please speak to Ms A.

Idiot: Ok.

A few minutes later…

Idiot: Hello? I am calling from Idiot Company. Have you received my fax?

Me: You called just now right? Have you spoken to Ms A?

Idiot: Yes. But have you received my fax?

Me: Please speak to Ms A and liase with her. She’s in charge.

*Transferred call*

Another hour later….

Idiot: Hello? I am calling from Idiot Company.

Me: Hold on please.

*Direct transfer to Ms A*

Me: Ms A, this idiot really DOESN’T UNDERSTAND A SIMPLE INSTRUCTION TO LIASE WITH YOU LAH!

Ms A: Ok ok.. cool down lah… transfer je!

Me: OK ok….

Then yesterday….

Idiot: Hello? I am calling from Idiot Company….

Me: HOW MANY TIMES YOU WANT TO CALL? I TOLD YOU TO SPEAK TO MS A?? SINCE LAST WEEK???

Idiot: Yes.. but this is the first time I called today. I just want to inform that there’s some changes….

Me: YES! Changes or whatever, PLEASE CALL MS A DIRECT AND SPEAK TO MS A!!!!!

*Transferred call*

Ms A: Eh, I told her liao, we are not going to participate in their project lah.

Me: Say earlier lah. If she calls again, I am going to hang up on her! Haha!

Dark Humid Night

Power went dead twice on the same night last night. At first, I thought there was a problem with the unifi wiring since they sent such “geniuses” over to do it. I went to see if it was only our house which is out – but noted that there were other stretches of houses all over Selayang were out of power!

Total darkness loomed over Selayang. It was a scary thought. The entire house went on a frantic search for candles. Unfortunately, we do not keep candles anymore since my aunt started to use electricity bulbs as candles for the altar as offering to the Heavenly Deities in the house. Talk about advancement of technology! We made do with small candles from left over birthdays. Before the commotion was over, in 10 minutes, the power came back again, much to our relief.

Made a mental note to buy candles – tea lights perhaps and some white candles, batteries for the long, dead torchlights and put in an emergency box, so that we don’t have to grope aimlessly in the dark. Somehow, my outdated candy bar handphone saved me! It was in-built flash lights for video which I find it rather handy during “darkest hours”. Heh!

The entire night, I somehow felt restless. I have not been to work for two days. I was sick on Wednesday. I couldn’t get out of bed as my left waist was killing me. Went to the doc’s and found out I sprained my back muscles. Must be the office ergonomics. Then, took the next day off for Unifi. I tried to sleep my tiredness off, preparing to go to work the next morning but somehow, sleep eluded me.

I was watching tv for awhile to foster some mood for sleep. When I was about to sleep at 2.30 am, again, there was another power outage! I heard our door clicked. I knew it was my aunt, who just came back from her sporadic mahjong session. I quickly rushed downstairs with my awesome flashlight cum handphone. Waited for her to feed my niece before I set up a few more dainty candles for the house, in case dad wakes up at night to go to the toilet, I didn’t want him to fall. I looked around the neighbourhood again, and again, there was dead silence, saved for a few cars driving carefully in the darkened street. Seriously, a scene from Zombie movie popped up in my head. It felt like a movie scene – the night of the dead.

I was preparing for bed and greeted by snores from my third aunt who is sharing the room with me. She is visiting to assist mom to take care of the baby. I tried to sleep but was attracted to the rhythmic sounds of her snores – she did a “Darth Vader” sound – I kid you not!

Just when I was about to sleep, I heard the fan started turning. I wasted no time to blow out all candles. I finally felt relieved to get some rest.. and before long, the phone alarm went off.

Unifi Experience

I took leave today just to get my Unifi installed because I called the call center, and they told me, they needed 4-5 hours just to install it! Geez!

I was pre-warned by James that, it’s going to be a nerve wrecking experience, so I better be prepared for it. I refused to believe him, till my tv died the day before installation! I must have been jinxed! So, in order for things to go smoothly, I went to buy a tv at a nearby shop and paid RM999 cash for 32″ Toshiba Regza LCD. Talk about impulsive buy! Haha! Actually, I’ve been wanting to buy an LCD tv for the house a long time ago, but we keep getting free tvs from our relatives and friends. I can say, for over 20 years, 3 out of our 5 tvs were given free!

Ok.. before I deviate, I just want to share with you my experience. I signed up for Unifi online. Actually, I just want to find out if there’s Unifi in my area by clicking “checking”. The next few days, an agent called me and told me, do I want to install Unifi, so I said yes. So after making arrangement for installation, I hung up the phone. The next day, I received an e-mail saying that, they will come a month later.. wow.. talk about “efficiency”. The guy online spoke like it’s coming tomorrow!

So, after a month of wait, the day for installation came. I am not going to bitch too much about it.. so, here are the pictures. Pictures paint a thousand words.

I don’t understand this concept. But you can’t deny they are creative in pissing you off! Apparently, the roof area to my house is sealed shut… but then, I wonder how the Astro guy did it because he basically didn’t drill anything either! I told them to follow the Astro line but they said, “Cannot!”, with no explanation.

When they are drilling holes (which they said, they wouldn’t!), they didn’t ask you to remove your stuffs and let them covered in brick dust.

The mess after all the drilling! This floor is already half swept!

And they blew a hole in my wall.. sigh…. my aunt went berserk! Forgive the pink wall and the blue ceiling, entirely NOT my choice of colors!

They didn’t ask me for a chair, so they climbed on my old, trusty washing machine.. poor thing!

All my vanity stuffs are covered in brick dusts.

And the “bonus” at the end of the installation… they left their smelly socks behind..

All that said, I hope that Unifi lives up to its name. It’s very fast to stream youtube now! Previously, I had to actually go do some house chores while waiting for the video to stream! Facebook seems faster.. but there’s also a little lag just now, probably FB was occupied at peak hours.. blogging is more or less the same.. uploading pictures is quite a breeze.. I think my old lap top can’t keep up! Perhaps it’s time to get a new one.

Multi Grains Beverage

Well, as promised to Sue, here’s the “recipe” to make my multi grains concoction every morning for breakfast. A good meal replacement for breakfast!

What you need:-

(a) 1 mug of multi grains (about 3 spoonful)

(b) 1 scoop of flax seed (the soup spoon)

(c) 1 scoop of buckwheat (the soup spoon)

(d) 1 handful of pandan leaves (shredded. If you are using slow cooker, just tie 5-7 leaves together in a knot)

(e) 3 scoops of oats
(f) 1700ml water
(g) Seiketsu blender/ slow cooker

*This amount of ingredient can actually feed 6 people, each person can drink at least one mug. So it depends on how much you want/can to take.

I use a special machine from Seiketsu for this. Only need 30 minutes to prepare. If you are using a slow cooker or stove, I guess it takes the same time as cooking porridge.

Soak the grains (a to c) for 2 hours before cooking. Normally, I would soak once I got back from work, then leave it for several hours. I would drain them before I go to bed. Left them overnight. This is to soften the grains so that it’s easier for our digestive system. In the morning, mix the grains, add on pandan leaves (for this machine, it actually blended the pandan leaves till invisible!) and 3 scoops of oats into the blender container. Fill the blender cooker with 1700ml water. Cook for 30 minutes, and voila! Your healthy multi grains drink is ready!

Well, for knowledge purposes, I share below the benefits of the multi grains diet.

10 Multigrains

Brown rice
Rich in Fiber and Selenium
Lower Cholesterol
Phytonutrients with Health-Promoting Activity Equal to or Even Higher than that of Vegetables and Fruits
Lignans Protect against Heart Disease
Reduce Your Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Black glutinous rice
high in fiber, vitamins and minerals

Millet
Heart-Protective Properties
Development and Repair of Body Tissue
Millet and Other Whole Grains Substantially Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Helps Prevent Gallstones
Fiber from Whole Grains and Fruit Protective against Breast Cancer

Wheat
Women Who Eat Whole Grains Weigh Less
Substantially Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Help Prevent Gallstones

Barley
Barley’s Fiber for Regularity, Lower Cholesterol, & Intestinal Protection
Additional Protection Against Atherosclerosis
Significant Cardiovascular Benefits for Postmenopausal Women
Prevent Heart Failure with a Whole Grains Breakfast
Barley and Other Whole Grains Substantially Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Buckwheat
A Grain That’s Good for Your Cardiovascular System
Better Blood Sugar Control and A Lowered Risk of Diabetes
Helps Prevent Gallstones
Health-Promoting Potential Equal to or Even Higher than that of Vegetables and Fruits
Significant Cardiovascular Benefits for Postmenopausal Women
Prevent Heart Failure with a Whole Grains Breakfast

Gordon Euryale seed
Astringing intestines to arrest diarrhea, tonifying the kidney to preserve kidney essence and curing leukorrhagia.

Oats
Lower Cholesterol Levels
Unique Oat Antioxidants Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Prevent Heart Failure with a Whole Grains Breakfast
Enhance Immune Response to Infection

Lotus seeds
Anti-Aging Compounds
astringent properties, which makes them helpful in relieving the symptoms of diarrhea and improving appetite

Adlay (red job’s tears)
hay fever, high cholesterol, cancer, warts, arthritis, obesity, and respiratory tract infections. It is also used to treat a disease called toxoplasmosis that is caused by a parasite.

I add additional spoonful of flax seeds (1), buckwheat (1) and oats (3).

Flax Seeds
Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Omega-3-rich Flaxseeds Protect Bone Health
Protection Against Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes
Flaxseeds Help Prevent and Control High Blood Pressure
Flaxseed Provides Comparable Cholesterol-Lowering Benefits to Statin Drugs

Source: http://www.whfoods.com/