In-betweens

I don't usually spend more than 5 minutes in the morning deciding what to wear to work. But today as I had to give a presentation to my new Managing Director, I found myself exceeding the quota (which meant I was potentially late since I always set the alarm clock with exactly enough time for my teeth-brushing, face-washing, clothes-changing, accessory-doning, 2-minute buffer, shoes-wearing).

I realised that I have a decent number of proper office attire but I have nothing for 'casual Fridays'. One should not take 'casual' too literally where an office environment is concerned. We still need to exercise discretion, for eg. no spaghetti-stapped top, no black bra with light-coloured tops, no VPL, etc. and as nobody in the office would be in more formal wear, being in Mondays-Thursdays attire would be screaming for attention.

Finally I settled on a combination which is what I always ended up in on Fridays. Very safe, i.e. very boring and very uncreative. I definitely need more 'in-between clothes'!

Sis is back!

For her regular affair with marathons (at this time of the year, it can only be StanChart's), sis is back from Ho Chih Min. So tonight is one of the rare full-fledged family dinners at my place!

Relationship

I think you probably spotted (in one of my recent entries) that I groused a little about my current financial planner. Now the tricky part is how to lose her. Afterall, it's been a 2 -year relationship and it's not as if she was completely hopeless throughout (she is just completely hopeless NOW for the past 3 months).

It made me wonder how people initiate break-ups. Fading away leading to disappearance is the chicken but easy way out. Or should I do the "It's not you, it's me" thingy?

You Are What You Read

If you take the public transport, I'm sure you have had experienced more than once other passengers peering over your shoulder checking out what you are reading.

I for one was glad I wasn't into sleaze this morning when I side-glanced and found one man shamelessly reading intensely what I was reading. The large fonts and clean layout facilitated his past-time. Well, he'll probably have found that Mike Gayle (yes yes, I'm still at him. Into my 5th consecutive book) is hilarious and very good at subtle analysis of the human's thought processes.

I haven't seen people carrying around a Mills & Boons novel for a long time (hands up for those who remember the raunchy romance!!!). I think I'll even be too embarrassed to get caught with Sidney Sheldon. It's like screaming: "hey, I can't get it on in real life so I fantasize in books". Friends who know me may be surprised by such self-consciousness but this is one aspect I shudder just thinking about it!

Dirt, anyone?

M sms-ed me yesterday that he was still out in the fields and hadn't bathed for 3 days. Let me remind you that it's been raining everyday and hence, he was covered with mud on top of the odour. Ew...

I'm thankful for being a woman with my monthly PMS!

3 months...

On the way to work, walking along the passageway to my connecting E-W train, I looked up and observed the date on the screen - November 22 - and remembered I had an entry exactly 3 months ago.

Bizarre.

And scary. How time flies. In these 3 months, the troops have graduated, I have moved on to light-hearted novels, the biggest hurdle is out of my mind (my maid is renewing her contract with me and not going back. Yay!), I managed to track down my long-lost penpal (we corresponded for 12 years) in Facebook, I got pissed with my Boss 1001 times, I got very disappointed with my 2-year financial planner, physical inspection by my regular doctor revealed that my breasts are free from lumps (yippee!) and my favourite teh si stall at Kovan has been closed for more than 1 month.

My life.

L'le Baker

Becks' kindergarten organized a 2-day baking class for the K1 and K2 students so we decided to let her participate. She brought back corn flake cookies and 'rainbow salad' yesterday. I don't know how much of her own effort went into them but they tasted great!

Singaporean children are really fortunate. Their education these days can be so well-rounded.

2-week Reservist

I miss M.

Bad Habit

Having spending only S$8 to do a complete manicure in Bangkok last Wednesday, I was proud to have found such a good deal and at the same time, could abstain from nail/skin chewing. But the minute I removed the nail polish today, I was back to 'old days'.

I have zero willpower.

Quotable Quote

"The secret of life is to fall 7 times and to get up 8 times".

- Paulo Coelho
(The best quotes are the ones which are in one short sentence and gets you thinking "Hey, so true. Why didn't I think of it?")

Engaged/Married

With reference to marital status, what does 'being engaged' mean? My closest cousin just told me she is already so in London where she is based.

I believe it's the prelude to marriage but what does it really signify? That the couple or one of them is too afraid to take the big step, so 'let's take that quite-big step, one step before the gigantic one and see how it goes'?

Frankly, in Singapore, I am not sure of any difference in legal implications but personally, where finance and logistics are concerned, it is definitely not practical because the couple would have to arrange everything twice.

Post-Year End Concert

I'm going to try to be objective about this without sounding like a proud gushing mummy ... Becky can dance! Just a year difference, I could see the enormous change in her confidence level in going on stage, in socialising in general.

I'm so keen on sending her to a dance/arts performing class but I know of none at the moment.

Thank you, Howu!

Howu & wife invited us to their place for a home-cooked meal. It is not everyday when somebody bothers himself with marketing, cooking and serving me. I was truly appreciative! And you guys can cook! (I still dun feel bad that I can't though...)

With Arms Wide Open

My brave cousin gave birth to her 4th and final child yesterday - Ashleigh Jade.

I was contemplating if I should post the photo without asking her mother for permission, then I thought - why not? Most babies are identical. With their nondescript features, frankly I don't understand why some people dramatically coo over them.

Imagination...the lack of it.

So I'm not the only one who thinks Rachel Weisz is absolutely beautiful. Annie Leibovitz thinks so too and it pleases me to think we could have the same taste (assuming all other 'common' human beings do not exist). If you have a copy of TODAY newspaper today, go to page 48 and you may agree with me.

The thing is... whenever I read a novel and the author describes a beautiful woman, I tend to imagine Weisz or Jennifer Connelly (if I'd want to throw in those unique grey eyes to the character). I realised I have the dark-haired women in their 30s, I don't have one in their 20s. I haven't read a book recently that centralised a female in her teens or 20s anyways. I guess growing up struggling with zits or post-grad options doesn't make good read.

And when it comes to blokes (UK characters for UK authors) or dudes (American characters for American authors), I'm at a loss.

I don't have a vivid imagination. I need to 'borrow' faces that I know. And strangely, only Caucasian works *sheepish*. It amazes me to no end how people can read and enjoy fantasy books, and of course its authors. I always hear people saying that the book is definitely many times better than the movie. How can it be so? Are there sound and visual effects in our minds that am not aware of?

Year-end Concert

It is Becky's year-end concert again, tonight. Imagine I have to register her for Primary 1 next year. The next big milestone...for me.

Me & You & no dog named Boo

Retro hairdo notwithstanding, this is one of my all-time favourite photos.

Destress

Nothing like a good laugh and banana walnut muffin......