Why nurses look so glum at the counter?

Assalamualaikum, readers...

Today my entry is dedicated to all nurses, mostly in the dental and medical department.

We always wonder why nurses don't have a friendly smile on their faces when we go to the counter for registration.

Well...i had the privilage to sit at the counter with the nurses and i too got a bit stressed and understood why they act sych way.

1. Too many patients.
- well, this is not a reason. But for a person to be asking the same thing over and over again like a broken record sometimes ires a person.
- some patients even tell stories of why are they at the clinic....at the counter. I know this may seem funny, but it gets irritating to some nurses, because they have to attend many other patients that are waiting behind the line.

2. Patients ask the same question over and over again.
- one or two patients who ask of the same question is fair enough. But if 50 patients ask of the same question...how would you feel?

3. Too mamy forms!!!
- if you've worked behind a counter in a government facility, you'd know there are just too mamy forms to fill.
- i work in one of the busiest clinic, and the nurses have to stamp a few stamps in the card, help.me chart the dentition of the patient, assist me in suctioning the patient's saliva while i work, prepare instruments and materials for the treatment, make sure the patient brings the treatment card and pays at the counter, clean up after the patient and then...
...call the next patient in.
And the cycle repeats....for the next 30+ patients.
- after all of that, the nurses have to gather data monthly on how many patiemts have been treated by multiple officers, check all the materials expiry dates and how much of them are left in the room and also some other stuff i have no idea of.

4. Irritating patients.
- sitting at the counter, patients sometimes come at their own sweet time (even though appointment has been given) and when the patient misses the appointment, the patient blames the nurses for not having sympathy.
- some come with reasons to postpone the appointment (that was given by the doctor) for some petty reasons. When they explain nicely to the patient, the patiemt refuses to listen. And the blame game begins...
- once, i received a patient who just cant sit still. He was an adult male, and he kept his hands behind his head like this is some dort of a spa. He kept moving and it was difficult for the nurses to assist me. She lost it and said sternly to the patient to stop move around. Imagine having to deal with patients like this....on top of all the workloads.

5. Long working hours
- this is dedicated to the nurses in the hospitals who work longer shifts and attend more patients, with lots of shitloads going on in the hospital.
- nurses on the dental clinic even though work from 8am to 5pm daily, they have to be on their feet for long and that tires them.

No matter what we been through, i know by right we, government officers and staff have pledged to serve the community with a nice attitude and sweet smile daily.
But this is just something to open up your minds and TRY to understand why they arent always smiling to you.

Im not saying all nurses are glum looking and pissed off all the time, just that when they have reached their limits, they tend to act certain ways. We are all humans. And we do make mistakes.
No matter how much we think we have done our best, there's always someone elese who finds whatever we do as bad.

In the end, it's always nice when patients come back saying Thank You and smiling happily as they leave the facility.

Thank you.

Mr Zorro, my plans...and him

Assalamualaikum readers.

it's been a looonnnggggg while since i've updated anything on this blog.

short updates on my life now:
- my sister got married in December last year and i have a new Brother! yayyy!!
- i got a job in Perlis. wehee!!
- my dad is no longer in pain. Alhamdulillah...

what's up with this Zorro crap?

LOL.

Ever since I could ever remember, i fell in love with Zorro, the character, not Antonio Banderas.
Mr Zorro is mysterious, tall, handsome i suppose, strong, a leader and a loving person because he owns a horse. haha...

He is an ordinary man in the day, but a hero at night.
he saves people from their misery, fight for their rights and rides his horse into the pitch black of the night....to who knows where.

and every time i feel like i needed a break, i would wish that Mr Zorro would wait for me downstairs with his horse, mask and sword, where he would take me on a ride, an adventure.

I don't see myself on a shrieking horse, galloping so fast, making sharp turns every now and then, because i would be peeing in my pants, my shawl would get tangled in the branches of trees and i would be screaming so hard, it wouldn't be fun anymore.

I rather see myself pouring my heart out to Mr Zorro, where he would listen, the horse would walk slowly, stop at a fountain or some vast field, where the moonlight is upon me. i would stare at the sky and breathe in the night breeze. i hope it doesn't rain though.

so who's Mr Zorro?
my future husband i suppose.

what has that got to do with my plans?

i went through some unpublished entries earlier and i saw an entry where i asked myself, what if Mr Zorro is a freak? scared of heights or has a phobia for horses?

then he wouldn't be Mr Zorro!

but i actually wrote that i would hold on to the rope myself, as terrified as i may be, and grip onto Mr Zorro with another hand, and we would walk together in unison. i felt it was unfair to let Mr Zorro carry the burden all to himself, so i kindda played Zorro myself.

(still don't get the plans....)

all my life, well, not exactly...

since the topic of my sister's marriage was discussed and brought up in my family, i've always expressed my opinions on what qualities i want in a guy.

1. great smile (that's the first thing i would look at anyhow)
2. tall (because i'm short, haha)
3. steady job (not necessarily a high ranking or all time people's favourite job like doctor, surgeon, engineer or teacher. i don't care if he earns lower than me)
4. awesome personality, funny to be precise (because i love to laugh)
5. non smoker

and that's when point no 3 comes in...him.

i found the guy. not exactly. he was right in front of me, but i never saw him.

and i feel like God is testing me with him. will i fulfill my promise, or will i run away?

so far i'm sticking to my promise, but i don't know how long will this last...

there are a few things that are making me second guess this.

- my mum and sister opposing this
- what my future would look like on my engagement and wedding receptions (because of my mum and sister opposing this in the first place)
- how he would be treated in the future if this goes on. will he be treated differently because he wasn;t my mum's favourite?

i know i think about things too much...but if he were to become my husband, i wouldn't want him to be bullied. or felt like he wasn't good enough for me.

and that's the reason i've been asking him over and over again if he would be okay with this. with me.

and his answer is the same as me.

"as long as you stand by my side, i would be strong"

the same thing i used to plan to tell my future husband. i will back you up no matter what, but i need you to be strong.

and it's easy and light talking about big decisions and important crucial things with him. he doesn't complicate. he eases things. he compromises.

all good qualities i am glad i found in him.

but again, i don't know for sure.

help me, pray for me.

if he's the One, let this thing work and last forever.
if he isn't, may Allah guide us through this chapter and opens up a different chapter for us.

ameen...

who's the protector-Allah or random objects?

Assalamualaikum, readers,

Today, we revert back to the side of me where we don't talk about love, marriage and boys. let's talk about superstition.

i am a Muslim. been a Muslim my whole life. grew up in a Muslim family, with Muslim practices.

however, somewhere in between, there is some blurred lines.

for instance, my Grandma recently told me to put some Quranic verse in the car. as a protection.

protection from what?

protection from the evil spirits, protection to the car, myself and whoever in it while driving.

i didn't argue much, but told her there is a Quranic verse (which is laminated by the way) in the glove compartment. 

then she passed me a gift, tasbeeh (beads) from an uncle who went to Mecca to perform umrah, she told me to hang the tasbeeh in the car, again, as protection.

well, this is where a lot of people go wrong. these were never taught in Islam.

so where did my grandma went wrong?

first and foremost, i would like to clarify that in Islam, we are taught that Allah is the protector. He is the Creator, He is the most Powerful.

that's why a true Muslim would recite some doa (prayers) before performing anything. because we want the job/activity to be blessed with His name. so that He protects the activity/routine from evil/harm.

however, one should also be reminded that just because you recite the doa, doesn't mean that you will be forever protected from harm or mishap. 

because, we all believe in qada' and qadar (The phrase means "the divine decree and the predestination"-Wikipedia) basically we believe that our fate has been decided long before we were made, and that everything happens for a reason.

but, we should never believe that the tasbeeh or Quranic verse in the car is the PROTECTOR against all evil/mishap. NO!

that is wrong.

same goes to when babies are sick, usually infants, the elders would believe it's because of evil around them. and that placing the Quran near the babies when they sleep at night would protect them, because the evils would be AFRAID of the Holy Quran.

but actually, Allah is protecting the child. so we should ALWAYS and FOREVER believe that Allah (God Almighty) is the only protector. so we should pray to Allah that the child is protected against all evil, or any sickness. 

this is just a rant, because i could never change my grandma's perspective on it. i think she knows that the ultimate protector is God, but somehow she still feels the need to just have the things there. 

but i hope you would understand the concept of protection in Islam. 

Wallahua'lam.

row on a boat or ride a horse?

relationship is never easy. and it is never a straight path.
(you'd think i was in at least 3 relationships. but i was never in one)

a lot of people were very sure of a relationship at the beginning of it, where the flowers were blooming on each sides of the garden, the river was calm and the weather was perfect for a date outside.

and then when they reach a hurdle, that's when everything is tested.

distance, time, work, trust.

then suddenly the flowers began to wilt, the boat started to rock and there is a storm. 

will you survive?

if you water the plants, if you don't panic on the boat and look for a shelter to survive the storm, then maybe you will.

but if you just stare at the plants, scream and panic on the rocky boat and just stand in the rain waiting for the storm to pass, then maybe you won't make it through.

but you would know how i love horses and Mr Zorro and riding into the middle of nowhere? (you'd know if you have been reading my blog)

i would like to address my future relationship as the horse riding experience.

i may be terrified of heights (i really am) and i've never went horseback riding before.

and i've never met my Mr Zorro, so i have no idea how he will be.

but if he has the patience and strength to help me on a horse (because i'm fat and heavy), then calm me down while i am on the horse freaking out if i would be okay, then maybe we would have a wonderful journey in front of us.

but hey, why is he playing the hero part and you just act like a princess?

okay. i will get down and dirty as well. 

if he doesn't like horseback riding, then maybe we could just walk with the horse. 
if he hates or has a phobia with horses, i will hold the rope myself, and he can walk beside me. we can accompany each other, gripping each others hands bracing for whatever that might happen after that. (what if the horse started acting out and gallop away? or what if he jumps and i let go of the rope?)
P/S: did i mention i am kindda paranoid of the possible circumstances of...EVERYTHING?

the thing is, relationship is a two way thing. you complete each other. you never let go of each other no matter what lies ahead,

if one is feeling like shit, the partner should make some tea and sit by the other on the couch, try to lift his/her spirits up.

if one is happy and delighted of a promotion, they should celebrate. hug, kiss or dance, order some pizza and have some quality time with each other. watch a movie or something.

life is simple. we complicate things. 

our brains do. 

other peoples words do.

don't let anybody else control your life, but you.

you made a commitment to each other. stick by each other. no matter how shitty things get.

My Mr Zorro

who is my Mr Zorro?

when i was younger (in my undergraduate years) i would wish Mr Zorro was there on the field, waiting for me, on his black horse, ready to pick me up for a ride, while i cried on his shoulders if i was sad or scream my lungs out if i was angry. no matter what, he would be there to comfort me. 

the reason him being a Zorro is because he is a mystery, i do not know who he was, nor his looks. 
but i know he is caring and that he loves me.

somehow, by the end of my 3rd year, i kindda forgot about him. entirely. i don't know where he went, or why didn't i reach out for him. he stopped visiting me in my dreams too. 
maybe i had enough support from my friends, that i didn't need to run into his arms when i needed him most.

now, i am 25 years old. (oh gosh, i feel so old!) reading my old blog entries, i realized i totally forgot about him. and i wrote about him quite a lot, but then what happened?

i grew up?

LOL.

i did blog about marriages, husbands, relationships...but i recalled of me writing an entry of the characteristics i look for in a man i'll call my husband. but i can't find it.

i don't think much has changed. i stand by what i say...even until today.

so, here goes.

1. i don't have specifics on how he should look like. but i would like his to have a nice face. when people look at him, they can't help but smile. yeah, that's the face i'm looking for. 

2. tall. he should be tall. because i am short. i want my kids to be tall. hahha...talking about genes and inheritance. how tall? hmm...when i stand by him, i should be at his shoulders, so...around 5' 10"? one more thing is that i would like to wear a 4 inch heels on the wedding day, so he still has to be taller than me, even with heels. 

3. physique: don't mind if he's fit or slightly chubby. i used to long for a muscled man, like Randy Orton. but then i realized, what if he's a gym freak? then, i cannot enjoy food around him. i have to eat healthy. then we'd bicker a lot. sigh.
then i also liked the idea of a chubby husband, then i would look thinner and smaller around him. and i get warm hugs. hehe...

4. job: steady job. as long as he's working, i'm okay with it.
i don't demand him to be an engineer, doctor or architect. i'm pretty much okay with anything, even a clerk. insyaAllah i'm okay. 
but i am a dentist, why would i wanna marry a clerk?
it's not that i wanna marry a clerk. i'm saying that i don't demand for him to be working with a 3k salary every month. i don't mind if he earns lesser than me.
as long as he can provide for me, and willing to strive and work harder for the both of us.
and he would accept me as his wife, even though i earn more than him, he's okay with it.
and when people (relatives) ask about his occupation, i don't want him to be intimidated with their questions. truthfully, i would back him up. i'm pretty sure i would. i promise i would.
but he needs to understand all of the circumstances before we agree to get married (if he really earns lesser than me)
if he earns more, Alhamdulillah.
P/S: my dad earned lesser than my mum when they got married. and a lot of people looked down on my dad. but my grandpa and mum backed him up, saying he's hardworking and a good guy. *choking up* so, what's the matter? my dad turned up to be a businessman 10 years down the road. and he supported my mum and three kids. Alhamdulillah.
P P/S: can't believe i'm tearing up. i'm emotionally wrecked.

5. house: i used to set my dreams big, he has to own a house for the both of us to live in. but looking at the current situation now, i'm kindda okay if we have to go through hardship earlier in the marriage. like, living in a rented place while looking for an apartment for long term plan. 
but if he has bought a unit for us, that's a bonus.
what about living with his parents? i'm not sure.
maybe i would, maybe i wouldn't. can't really decide on it yet. 

6. transport: whether he owns a car or a motorbike, i am grateful either way. as long as we have a transport. hahah...
i don't really look at brand, i don't know about it. as long as we can get to a place safely, that's good enough for me.

7. personal traits: funny, respectful to elders, willing to accept my brother as his own, responsible, hardworking, easy to talk to, family oriented person.
handy around the house, if the light doesn't work, he has some knowledge in changing them, if the sink goes crazy, he's willing to check the pipes and fix it (need to try first before we call the plumber). these are the traits that my dad has, and i wish he has it too. 
loves music and movies. please, if he hates music, i'm sorry i can't go on. coz i'm a music freak. 
i even thought of him presenting me a mixtape for our engagement or wedding. it's a little present for me. just like the old school western culture.
loves animals, i really really wish we could adopt a black cat and name it Toothless (just like Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon). we would have it until we have kids of our own, and the cat would become part of our lives. yay! insyaAllah. (why am i obsessed with the cat? because i can't have it in my own home, so i am dreading for it) 
what if he doesn't like cats? bummer! 
what about a pet rabbit? i just need something that i can pat and put on my lap while i watch a movie or read a book. 
hmm...what else? 
i think that's pretty much it.

8. bonus trait 1: could sing and dance. 
wouldn't it be nice if he was crazy enough to dedicate me a song on our wedding day?

bonus trait 2: knows how to play a musical instrument.
too bad i can't play anything besides the flute. and the last time i blew a flute was in primary school. 
it'd be romantic if he could strum a few chords when he's bored at home, singing his favourite songs, even teach me how to play on the weekends. *snap out of it, emma!*

okay sorry, i got too carried away. 

basically these are the things i look for in my husband, my Mr Zorro. 

wherever you are, know that i will wait for you, insyaAllah. 

and may i get to meet you someday, and you pick me up on your horse, and we ride in the middle of the night, to our own adventure.