Hair and Beauty

They tend to come in the same mold - fair, clear, porcelain complexion, naturally sweet-faced...and hairy arms. Hair that is long enough, like willows for the wind to blow.

There ought to be a case study to show the relation. The result could be interesting.

Nail Art (part 2)

It was one of the Taiwan business trips - I kid you not. That's why to advise 'never mix business with pleasure' is bullshit.

Nail Art (part 1)

A Sad News

Jun, my maid never made it to see her father one last time before his last breath. She was scheduled to return home from 2 to 16 May to see her whole family. Then she received a call through my mom's cell phone that her father had passed away the day before...in his sleep.

I got the news at 10am...and went on to attend my meeting with a damn heavy heart...

Energy Consumption

Working experience in the central area has changed. By this I mean there are now so many more retail areas for people to de-stress during lunch-time or after-office hours. MRT stations are also equipped with music to welcome commuters early in the morning. * seriously I wonder if it really helps? To make us feel more sophisticated as people working in an executive environment (as opposed to sad faraway industrial areas chucked in the corners of Singapore)?* Then there are small flat screens in the lifts of some office buildings, showing stock market performance, "Did You Know" segments and general affairs. When we get to our office during peak hours, the lift gets so packed I bet nobody is going to crane their necks to read that finger and toe nails take 6 months to grow fully from the nail bed to the top.

My point is - we must be consuming electricity exponentially in the past years! They say things that go up must come down. I don't have much faith where the price of crude oil is concerned. We can only grit our teeth and bear it...and pray we don't lose our jobs.

5th Anniversary

I broke my own record - today is exactly my 5th year in the same company...without much feeling of dread and boredom yet! But the road ahead remains uncertain...

Being a Chaperone

Whatever problems or obstacles faced, they dissolve the moment I see my troops upon reaching home before sunset.

They have found some good friends to play with every evening at the playground. Yesterday I was amused with myself for playing 'chaperone' to 6 kids...and I think - I can do this everyday!

Yummm~~~

Guilty as charged - I snacked. Less than an hour after I posted my last entry.

Right after a rather heavy lunch with Mich, we proceeded for teh si and kaya toast. Finally an outlet with thick crispy toast and enough rich & creamy kaya. I was starting to lose faith completely.

Like most people who are struggling with abstinence, I comfort myself that THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW.

PS: The charm bracelet is in my hands now. Nice! Do check out BNW!

It Is Time

You know it is time to....

1. Quit your bad habit (nail-chewing)
when your colleague passing by your workstation tells you :"Hey, stop biting your nail."
(Oops. Was I? In broad daylight when your GM was seated so near?)

2. Cut your hair
when your 5-year-old daughter had commented more than thrice during the weekend :"Mummy, why is your hair so messy?"
(oh....it's just the wind. Oh....it's the fashion these days - the just-got-out-of-bed fashion. Oh....*damn. I ran out of excuses*)

3. Buy more work clothes
when you spent more than 10 min every morning at your wardrobe, swinging hangers from left to right, right to left.

4. Buy more work clothes - part II
when you wonder when the next time you will go to your folks' place where you can run through your younger sis' wardrobe (she has A LOT of new clothes which she did not bring to Vietnam!).

5. Stop snacking
when your colleagues whom you see everyday commented that you have a double-chin and seemed to have put on weight (I thought the weight gain is subtle! Only my clothes are a bit tighter now...but my reflection in the mirror....)

6. Panic
when your GM doesn't care a thing you are saying anymore (because he's leaving soon!).
A few outstanding issues and project....how, who, what, when? I was almost going to take the initiative to take them up because shamefully, 2 of my staff have expressed concern over his, hence mine, nonchalance. Then I consulted 'some people'. M summed it up for me - "Don't be a hero".

Heros always die in the end, don't they?

Sophie Kinsella

Phew! Glad Mich has heard of and even has a collection of Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella! Hope she likes my gift...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND!

I love the author. Ever since I've stumbled upon her books in the library, I've been zooming straight to the KIN shelf to check if there are any others not on loan. She's nice-looking and she's got a great sense of humour. Now how many of our girlfriends belong to this category? :PPP

A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

While I was battling with my sinus on the way to work - as usual! - I couldn't help but glance at the packet of facial tissue from which I had been pulling continuously pieces and pieces to save my morning. "Cutie" says the plastic...with a picture of a baby with black curly hair in diapers (wait, or is it a rikishi???).

I am amused. Who comes up with the designs? Imagine a group of guys in smart black Hugo Boss suits coming together for a meeting, working overtime daily, brainstorming designs that will capture the hearts of consumers. And finally, the CEO goes : "I like the baby! We go for that one!"

My Neighbour

There are some people in this world whom you should never have a run-in if your life depends on it. In-laws (especially MOTHER-in-law. It is an innate quality for most women to not forgive and/or forget), colleagues (you see them more often than you see anyone else), boss (you are f*cked! Forget about that increment...) and neighbours (they know who lives in your unit, what living style you adopt, what your underwear looks like).

I went through it, albeit a slight one (actually how should I define 'slight'? It's not like there's a meter to measure this sorta thing) last weekend.

For months I had tolerated with their frequent drilling, the screechy sound of furniture being dragged across the floor, their dog pit-pattering across, marbles dropping on the floor at anytime of the day...and night, etc. So while I was watching a movie in a blissful state and my troops were napping, this sudden loud drilling came directly above my head! I was shocked and angered. True enough, the troops were jolted from their slumberland and Mong was shrieking, inconsolable. That angered me even more, so I trudged upstairs immediately and rang the doorbell.

Once, twice...nothing. Then I heard a child's voice inside so I was certain at least an adult was home. I knocked on the wooden door a few times and finally, a crack opened. The face that met me wasn't polite. The attitude that accompanied it was even worse - she was haughty and defensive while explaining to me about decibels and that 'drilling was community noise'.

Community noise??!!! Drilling??? I told her I wasn't convinced because there are time restrictions and since it was a Sunday, actually no prolonged drilling should be allowed. She was almost close to slamming the door when she kept going, "You can check with NEA. OK?....OK?!" What was I to do? So I said "OK" and with that, she closed the door. *bitch!*

Seething, I called the neighbourhood police to confirm there is no 'acceptable decibel' but for drilling works to be carried out, it boiled down to how long and if the resident/s was tolerant enough. *ha! I win!* A few exciting options swam my mind. I could either get the police to check on them or slip in a note, quoting so-and-so about her being wrong. Well, luckily I managed to calm down and stay rationale within 10 seconds. No sense in worsening things with your neighbours. Also, I still had that lovely movie to complete...and Mong was already pacified and resuming his nap. So I went back to my normal life and decided to close the case.

The highlight of my Sunday.

LIFE

RJ told me she has been thinking about life. Well this was through sms so I did not ask further and neither did she elaborate. The first thing that went through my mind were a couple of words - osteoporosis and calcium.

Osteoporosis is one disorder that hits women and we should all be very concerned about delaying the process. Calcium is the key, right? I don't suppose the milk in my teh tarik and teh si counts, so other than that, I really don't consume milk or any other dairy products.

I need to get calcium pills pronto. What's a good brand? All the same isn't it??? It's just a matter of aggressive marketing and hence, different retail pricing (what does sis' voice keep ringing in my ear? FYI - she is in product marketing). So first, to battle with the Devil Procrastinator in me. *the problems that I have.....life...*

User Acceptance Testing

For a module which was going to be launched on 1 April and having presented to about 25 companies already, the fact that we are still going through UAT and the 3rd one is a fucking worrying sign.

It doesn't end. There were still observations to be rectified! By when, by when??????

The system developer seemed to be losing their steam. To be fair, they were very competent and great to work with at the start. After 2.5 years and a continuous series of phases, I guess every normal human being will get burnt out. But professionally speaking, should it even happen? Can we get our money back? :P

Zzz

I go to work today, bleary-eyed. It's been some time since my physical endurance has been put to the test. Mong had a temperature of 39C at 3:30am. After medication and sponging, by the time he fell asleep and I fell asleep, it must have been close to 6am already (I dared not look at the time!).

Luckily there is nothing major going on today. I have mastered the art of sleeping with my eyes open afterall..........

Get Butt Naked!

I have to post about one of my very few close friends who have not yet been claimed by exhausting motherhood and/or auntiness, one still with a lot of zest and healthy sense of fashion and entrepreneurship.

I met her over lunch and teh-si, always enjoyable with our crappiness, bitchiness, seriousness. She showed me a few pieces of accessories which she has bought for her e-shop, something which was conceived many years ago I believe, and finally born out of creativity, hard work and risk-taking.

Kudos, Mich! And congrats for finally taking the leap!

Beauty is Impermanent

Following M's footsteps, after watching Daniel Day-Lewis' sterling performance in There Will be Blood, I found myself interested, curious in fact to see him again in The Last of the Mohicans.

It actually felt weird to find him so attractive in the latter movie because he's not really there now. Then I did the Math and realised when it was filmed, he was a good 34 years old only (*hint hint* I turn 34 this year). No wonder the aura of manliness!

Beauty is truly impermanent. Hell 'yea! What did I expect??? At this point, some people may think I'm being shallow and cliche...the artsy people will go "his looks may have left but his craft gets better with age".

I don't disagree.

For ole times' sake?

Just met the gals for lunch and we were thinking up a list of secondary school classmates whom we wanted to see, either out of curiosity ("let's see who got fat and ugly" or "are you really that pretty or successful as so-and-so had claimed?") or genuine interest ("are you doing fine in life? I'll like to see you again after this").

The combination ended up seeming odd. I wonder if it can materialize!

F.A.T.

I saw my photos taken 4 years ago....thought I'd never say this about myself - I got fat!

Sunny Side Up!

The sun finally shines again this morning.

Que Sara Sara

Lunch was with my boss at Ma Maison Restaurant @ Central. It was organized personally to break the news officially to me that he is leaving on 1 May. I thought I was soaked in hell already. Looks like the journey to the ultimatum is nowhere near ending yet. It is likely I will report directly to the MD... petty emotional power-hungry...any more substitutes for HORROR?

Que sara sara....................................

To be or not to be...married

A few secondary school galfriends have located me in Facebook recently. I wonder why their first question tends to be: "Are you married? Have kids yet?" One of them was amusing. She added - "I'm not and don't intend to be."

OK OK! I wasn't asking!
(I don't care even if you die a virgin)

Taiwan (4-7 Mar)

I am easily coaxed in the company of energetic gal friends. Energetic for retail therapy, grooming, etc, that is. I did nail art for the first time. In Taiwan no less. All 10 fingernails in leopard spots, bright as day.

RRRRoarrr!!!

The business trip was mentally gruelling but thankfully, the testing completed half a day earlier which enabled us some free time. We woke up at 6:30am on the last day to catch a train to Taipei City, then to Danshui. Picture this....Raffles Place to Boon Lay.

No regrets. The weather and the scenery were fantastic.

Uppity Gourmet

On a lighter note, the dinner at Shang Palace on Friday night wasn't bad if you focus on the food SOLELY. I heard it cost about S$200 per person. I can live with that, given that I'll never splurge that kind of money on food.

Out on a LimP

5 days and Mas Selamat is still out there, on a limp.

It's really a big jolt to everything about Singapore. Can we reset? And how far back...in order to restore people's confidence?

Shangri-La=Torture

It happens when you have dinner, seated at the same table with 5 Japanese men who are management. It doesn't matter how good and expensive the food is, how fantastic the ambience is.

All of a sudden, I miss my plate of $3-chicken rice.

Basically, actually...(what talking you?!)

Have you encountered people who, in their effort to mask their nervousness or lack of fluency using the words 'actually' and 'basically' excessively (not necessarily both at the same time) in just a few sentences?

So I found myself very amused when I received a call from a lady who tried to make a sales pitch.

Bad me...I know she's just doing her job.

Manhunt of the Year

Biggest news ever in Singapore and nothing is reported about 'how' and 'why' it happened in the papers! I thought we were always taught to give comprehensive account of happenings with the 5 'W's and 1 'H' - who, what, when, where & why and how?!

I don't even spend 80c on newspapers now. Do you? :P

Latest

It is confirmed - Sis' next posting is Sydney.

Atheism-my problem

I've always been an atheist. But the moments that always make me wish I wasn't will be when I'm travelling in an airplane through turbulence and when I'm along the roads of a developing country where traffic is crazy.

Recently, I found myself holding my breath a lot and mumbling words but not knowing who to say them to.

To the Power of Infinity

Want the real definition? The number of kids in Brangelina's household.
She's pregnant again?!!

New Delhi

New Delhi was amazing. I mean if I disregarded the fact I went there with my boss, was insufficiently-clothed (weather information on the internet was wrong?!), had a physically taxing flight schedule, it impressed me that the city with a population of 14 million people did not have a single Starbucks outlet.

While the rest of the world has been invaded by the coffee culture, this city remains resilient. Staying at a hotel with a room rate of about S$400 per night, I didn't have MTV and HBO channels but movies and entertainment news pertaining only to their very own Bollywood stars.

India

You read it right - India trip. It's tonight, it's for business, it's barely 24 hours before I'll hit home again.

It is gonna be sooooo tiring. And it doesn't help that I hear horrifying stories concerning hygiene (whatever can I drink there????).

I hope SQ has nice movies for me to take my mind off things.

Ya-ya Sisterhood

Sis was back for one whole day yesterday. I was soooo glad my India trip was postponed to today, otherwise lunch-shopping-tea-more shopping with her would not have been possible!

She just returned from a 10-day leisure trip from Denmark and through her, my ignorance towards the country was alleviated. I confess I just realised:

1. Denmark people are not Dutch. They are Danish.

2. Denmark is known for Hans Christian Anderson (at least I remembered he wrote "Thumbelina" (refer to my email address*hee*), B&O and Danish cookies (those sold in nice tins in Cold Storage...but sis said Danish doesn't eat them!)

3. 1 krone has hearts on the coin and a hole in the centre of it.

4. Danish are effectively bi-lingual, English being one of them.

****

Sis will return to Ho Chi Minh this morning, back to the grind. She said her next job posting may be Sydney, Australia.

Shen's Visit

I can't possibly leave this out. Shen, having returned from Scotland, visited the troops at my place on 13 Feb. I marvelled at his way with them and their enthusiam with him. It is also not often that a friend sits with us at the dining table to enjoy a meal. For a tiny affair, I must say it gave me a great feeling!

"Lo Hei" Dinner

I always dread social events, worse if it's among people I'm not remotely close to. But I realised each time it is over, I'd be glad I went because it was personally fulfilling (I was involved in the lucky draw prize distribution and manning the venue).

The organizer is probably in her late 60s, a veteran in such events. For those born in the 70s, you'll probably remember "Er gu" in Kopi-O during SBC days. Notwithstanding oldies crooning old songs which were probably a huge hit in their hay days but left me completely clueless and bored, she held the show really well with her cute antics and jokes. And then there was the upbeat performance of 2 dancing 'sisters' who reminded me so much of the ones in "881" but were probably more than twice older with figure TO DIE FOR. With a change of 4 flamboyant costumes, besides having middle-aged men drooling in their seats, I was enraptured myself.

In the end, basic decoration in a HDB estate's multi-purpose hall as venue, nothing dampened anyone's spirits. It was a success!

Singapore Flyer

I haven't taken the cable car for at least 2 decades. My folks had been the ones who brought the troops to experience the thrill the past few times. It's not my lack of time, it's my phobic for heights.

With Singapore Flyer operating very soon and with all its hype, I wonder if I'll give it a miss in this lifetime or face my Fear Factor.

Go Green

I think many Singaporeans are still not very environmentally-friendly. I've noticed that they still do not reject plastic bags when buying a small item.

This morning on the way to work, I noticed an Executive lady struggling to chuck something into the dustbin. Curiosity overriding disgust, I peeped in and saw a few newspapers ("My Paper")!

Can meh??????

I'm not aiming to be the spokesperson of the latest green campaign but I do try my best. Maybe because nowadays when I'm out, I'm usually with my troops. To be a responsible parent emcompasses (almost) everything. It is rewarding whenever Becks, who's growing ever so fast, chimes each time she sees me rejecting a plastic bag: "Mummy, we don't need plastic bags all the time right? SAVE THE EARTH!"

Multi-tasking?

Eating Doritos cheese crackers and typing on the computer keyboard at the same time can be messy!

Duet

I forgot to share that after months of avoidance (on my part) and offer of physical and financial support from my parents, Becks has started taking up piano lessons since the beginning of this year.

It is heartening to know that more than a month later, more than 6 lessons later, she is still keen. Just a few days ago, she even asked if we could even play a duet one day!

I tell myself the moment she is progressing towards Grade 1, I will shift my piano from my parents' place to mine, albeit lack of space (!!!!). And perhaps with inspiration, I may just start taking up refresher lessons too.

Be My Parrot

"I love you mummy" Mong says it very well whenever I ask him to.

I wonder when he'll be too embarrassed to be my 'parrot' once he realises the true meaning. So for kicks, I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

Heels

The high-heeled shoes which women wear to work these days can be weapons. That piece of metallic-looking chunk! I'm lost in the world of fashion. Always has been.

CNY Cards

They come only electronically now. What with vibrant colours and motions...but they are not as impressive as the physical ones which we used to get plenty via the post. Who does it anymore these days?

My life...my job

I've become so boring now. Besides having expanded my vocabularly in cursing my boss, I can't seem to have a decent conversation with my close friends without complaining how sickeningly bad my working life is right now.

Anyway if I focus on the good side, at least I have a compatible colleague in the same project. We recently went to Shanghai for a meeting. My I-will-never-share-a-hotel-room-with-anyone policy collapsed when I entered the room and felt the creeps. I had never have bad vibes before, prior to this business trip.

Now business trips will take on a whole new different meaning...

Bak Kut Teh

I forgot how good it tasted. Had the one at Havelock Road. YUMMY!

Uganda

I kept wanting to post this but always ended up forgetting, only to remember whenever I was far from internet connection like crossing a road, bathing, buying stuff from Watsons, etc.

An article I read in a magazine has been imprinted in my mind since I read it last year.

Girls from very poor families in Uganda were constantly sucked in a vicious cycle of not being able to fulfil their educational pursuit. How so? Sanitary pads from international export became too costly for them so during their menstrual cycle, they couldn't go to school for about 10 days. But thankfully, now with cheaper alternatives from domestic production, they can afford the pads and are able to go to school to complete a level seamlessly.

There are so many issues in the world that we can never imagine because we take so many things for granted. We truly forget how lucky we are.

Stressssed

I'm quite stressed at work these days - I anticipate a potential staff crisis by April. Hope I'm wrong.

It doesn't help that I'll be leaving for Taipei and Shanghai for the whole of next week for work. I heard the latter country's winter is biting and Mich, having visited there recently came back sick for 3 days!

Praying Mantis

A huge praying mantis was in my dining area last night. 2nd one I've seen in my 33.5 years...

Go with the Flow

"If we don't change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going." Chinese Proverb.

- Nineteen Minutes
By Jodi Picoult

Which one???????

Hand Gesturing

I was amused by a woman in front of me, talking on the mobile phone, pointing somewhere with the index finger among other wild hand gestures, as if the person on the other line could SEE what she was pointing at.

Do people really forget?

Time for (real) work

After enjoying 3 half-days for festivities & a company event and annual leave clearance in Dec, I told myself when I woke up this morning that I WILL BE AT WORK - mentally!

Ever since realising my boss is a slave driver, I have been coping with a growing resentment. I don't want to channel it elsewhere, even on him. Work consumes so much of our time so I can't let it take over me like a virus.

Some Kind of Wonderful

"Your child may turn out to be one of the most wonderful people you will meet in life" (something like that)

- Bill Murray's character in Lost in Translation

1st Day

1.5 years ago, I blogged about my anxiety towards Mong's apparent speech delay. Of course things have improved much since. Time has also flown. He went to Nursery today - his first day! Though it was an emotional and physical (no kidding!) struggle, things went well. Thanks to my mom for ensuring that. Again, I emphasize family is best.

Don't forget that.

Au revoir, 2007!

I can't believe it's already the last day of 2007. What happened to the other 364 days?

2007 saw me getting sick very frequently, even contracting HFMD and undergoing a minor surgery so to me, nothing matters except good health.

This last month was also eventful in that I met up with a really long-time and long-lost friend, Irene G. I was apprehensive how the meeting would turn up. Whether we had grown apart, whether her appearance would be a turn-off (and vice versa) with us having to be polite for 2 hours over dinner. BUT it turned out very well, no pretence at all. My feeling was reciprocated by an email from her indicating her interest to meet again in the near future. :)

My closest cousin whom I haven't seen for 4 years also returned from London and paid me a visit. She brought David, her Brit fiance with her for our first official introduction.

Not forgetting my college friend Jessica who returned from Canada....and Jeff S. My dear friend of 8-9 years????? We really should meet more than once a year, given that both of us are in Singapore. No excuse!

And so, as usual with no big bang (but it also means all is good), 2007 is soon to be concluded.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!!!!

MIA

I know I've not been blogging. Having been swarmed with work and not going through any significant moment (other than Mong was able to spell "Curious George" on paper and name all 8 true planets of the solar system in their exact sequence by just learning once) have rendered me very uninspired.

I hope to be back more regularly!

Brrr...

I may have made a few life-changing stupid decisions before but the most recent one has to be agreeing readily to go to Shanghai (business trip).

A lunch with Michy made me realise that going there in mid-January would mean experiencing the heart of winter. With a low travelling record, much less to say countries with 4 seasons, where would I find winter clothings that would fit my post-pregnancy (x2) figure? In retail shops where I have to spend a bomb, NOT reimbursed by the company.

VERY THANKFULLY (and luckily), Michy who will be going there soon has offered to lend me her coats. Black and vintage pink. I say for a 3-day trip, the black will do. Thanks Mich!

Note: Don't ever stop talking to friends. They make you realise the forgotten bits and can also save you from dire straits!

The Expression

What must have been 'circle seats' of yester-year's cinema, I saw my new Managing Director scowl and roll his eyes in disgust during Management's Meeting!

I have never seen a real grown man do that before. I always think the one thing that SHOULD separate men from women is the ability to be less emotionally-transparent. Anyway now that I've seen The Expression, I am certainly hoping that I will never be at the receiving end!

OHM!!!!!!!!!!

My regular check-up at the hospital took less time than expected so I went for my much-delayed haircut.

Now a lot of colleagues think that it looks retro (NOT INTENDED!) and one has even managed to pin it down specifically to the 'ohm' symbol.

I am seriously contemplating to cut it much shorter next time round...

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......

Breakfast with :B

You know how cravings can creep up catching you completely unawares, then until it is satisfied, it is all you can think of in your waking hour. I was thinking of prata with egg, prata without egg, a dash of white sugar and chicken curry and teh tarik, strictly in this combination.

:B is back from Japan on a business trip. With her extremely tight schedule, even lunch was impossible so today before her flight, both of us met at 7am and took a train down together to the hawker centre and I had the above combination.

I swear given the gloomy weather and time, we were the only ones alive on the train. It was good catching up. EVERY personal mission accomplished! Till the next time, good ole pal!

How to make a friend an ex?

My 2nd Mike Gayle's 'conquest' - My Legendary Girlfriend - was shortened by many days. So it should appropriately be my 2nd Mike Gayle's 'attempted conquest'. I should have known better when the review mentioned it was like Bridget Jones' Diary. It was so whiny!

Talk about that, WL has been trying to shake off her whiny gal friend for the longest time. 2 months??? Despite obvious signs (which are apparently not obvious to Whiny Gal), she continued to contact WL many times since the 1st day of effecting Avoid-Whiny-Gal-Period.

So how does one get rid of a once-good friend by not breaking his/her heart?

Dream

What language are you speaking in your dream?

I was asked this once. It struck me because I never thought about it or realised it. It sure as hell isn't French!

What's In a Name?

Mong has a pretty Indian classmate by the name of "Arbana" (or so I think this is how it's spelt). We see her often at the nearby playground and they play well together. Such a sweet sight. He calls her "a banana". Trust me, it's not deliberate but kids are just creative naturally and innocently, in every way.

Medium

Michelin is one of the reasons that doesn't make me wonder why I blog what I blog.

I hope she managed to get the Mike Gayle's book at the book fair. He's gonna gain another fan!

The ABC of Blogging (i.e. it's very easy!)

I could have been lunching with a few 'dinosaurs' on Friday. Nice 'dinosaurs' nonetheless...I knew them all during my secondary school years. When they learnt I blog (only one of them knew actually), they couldn't contain their 'oohs' and 'aahs', believing I was savvy and so updated. If only they knew it's just a couple of text typed out like how one does in Microsoft Word.

Anyway, Germ, if you are reading this - Happy Birthday to you!!!

Non ti muovere

There are some actresses I have an inexplicable problem watching and one of them is Penelope Cruz. But I'm glad I got over that and spent 2 hours yesterday watching the movie. I must have also spent 75% of that time sobbing. What a melodrama that shouldn't be missed!

Teatime

What do you get when your daughter is very pally with another girl from school? You have tea with her mom! Altogether!

We all have our virgin moments.

The Art of Talking Without Talking (not by me)

Here's the scene: my mate Trevor is standing in Wax Lyrical with his girlfriend when he gets the look.

"What?" He responds.

"You know," she replies.

"I don't know!" he protests.

"If you loved me, you'd know," she says. Then Trevor's girlfriend storms off leaving him holding a box of scented candles.

When, days later, he shares his story with me and the rest of our mates down the pub. we all nod in silent recognition. "It's the female art of talking without talking", I say, "It can really bugger up your day."

The art of talking without talking (henceforward known as ATWT) has long been a source of fascination and fear for mankind. I remember when a group of us were at the pub when one of our friends (a woman) came in crying. She exchanged one glance with my better half, then disappeared to the toilets.

"What was that about" I asked my good lady.

"She's split up with Tony, she's just had an argument with her mom, her cat's sick, she can't make her mind up about a strappy floral print dress she saw in Kookai.....oh, and she hates her job."


"You got all that from one look??" I asked.

"Of course," she replied. "Isn't it obvious?"

OK, so that might be a slight exaggeration of what happened but it wasn't far off. When the ATWT is used for the power of good, it's amazing, but when it's used for the power of evil (i.e. against me), it's truly scary.

My first encounter with the ATWT came in my teenage years while I was hanging out in the park. I was minding my own business when a random girl appeared from nowhere, stood next to me without saying a single word for half an hour, then disappeared. Next day at school, I discovered that Melane Chissock and I were now officially 'going out'. How did this happen? The ATWT, that's how. In her world, standing next to me was a declaration of love, while in my world, it meant that she was either lost, bewildered or waiting for a bus. It was all very confusing.


In the last 15 years I'd like to think I've become more worldly-wise, but when it comes to the ATWT, I'm as hopeless as the teenage me. For example, I was at a party recently with the woman in my life. I'd chatted to a few people I didn't know, had a bit of a dance and we'd disappeared home just after two. All in all I'm thinking it was a good night. In the car, however, I got the silent treatment. After much begging and pleading on my part, I discover I'm guilty of being flirted with.


"Who was flirting?" I asked.


"That trollop in the boob tube."


"Which one was that?" I asked.

"You don't even know?!!" she cried.

The thing you have to realise about us men is that we are very simple creatures: what you see is what you get. When it comes to reading between the lines, we can't-we're illiterate-which is why having a go at us for not understanding why you're upset when you refuse to tell us is both cruel and mean. It's like smacking a puppy for leaving a deposit on the carpet when you had clearly stated in a 7-page document left in the kitchen drawer why it's not the done thing. Men, like puppies, can't read 7-page documents or find anything located in the kitchen drawer and , most of all, they can't read women's minds. Which is why if you ask us to guess what's troubling you, we will invariably get it wrong. We don't do this on purpose: what we do is work on the assumption that, mentally speaking, you're a bit like us. This means that there's not a great deal on your mind to 'read' other than endless lists of top-ten favourite things, pictures of naked women and fluffy clouds. Even if we tried to put ourselves in your shoes, there'd be problems. Have you tried walking in a .air of kitten-heeled mules that are several sizes too small? Exactly.


The answer to the problem is, I'm afraid, a little obvious. In a straw poll of my mates down the pub six out of six of us agreed that the one thing we'd love the women in our lives to do is just tell us what's wrong rather than us having to guess all the time. As my mate Trevor put it, "We're reasonable people. If they just talked to us with their lips instead of their brain waves, we'd know exactly what to do."

So, there you have it. Save the guessing games for Christmas Day at your gran's, the psychic exchange for Uri Geller and start taking to your man like a regular human being.

- Dinner for Two

By Mike Gayle (thoroughly witty and enjoyable...thereforeI had to type all out to share and to keep as remembrance...Gayle should be so flattered.)

Say....what?

I met Say over a long overdued teh-si and gossip session about everything and nothing. Don't we really wish for times with friends who gather with no agenda?

Pessimism/Perception

A: It's been so long....when do you expect to break-even?
B: Yea...4 years. I dunno. I'm always hoping to check the end of the tunnel.

C: The pessimist will say 'there's only a train at the end of the tunnel'!

Miffy: What's so bad? The train is waiting for you, right...to bring you to your destination (goal), greater heights!
C: No! A train coming your way, a collision impending!

Oh.

Maybe I can conclude I'm not much a pessimist now.

Post-Fab 4 Dinner

It is not often to have 4 33-year-olds get together to talk about ANYTHING. I felt so comfortable with them that the 'after taste' lingered long after I reached home. I sms-ed my galpals that we needed to do another one again 'soon', that is before The Brave One grew too fat and clumsy and pop (expected delivery date is Jan 08).

By 'anything', I assure you it is a wide range, short of politics (as one can expect with Singaporeans).

Given the current raving culture of Facebook, Instant Messenging, Friendster, Short-Message Service, I am glad I know them well by face, by their mannerisms, by facial expressions, by their tones in which they deliver their opinions on people and any other matter, etc and not simply by smileys, buying each other virtual gifts and joining virtual clubs.

Just a Thought

Facebook, Friendster, Blogsites, Forums...life seems to be made more easy by getting more complicated...

Dinner - Fab 4 (self-proclamation)

4 of us: QT "The Brave One" (pregnant with her 3rd child!), SC "The Entrepreneur" (Made With Love is doing well. How does she manage with 2 young kids?) and SK "The Missioner" (she recently went to East Timor) and me (zzz...).

I think the last time we met was 6 months ago. Given our track record, it is surprising that tonight's dinner was so easily arranged. I'm looking forward:)

Somebody, give him the mints!

One of my colleagues has really bad breath. Imagine when I'm seated and he's standing next to me talking, the distance between my nose and his mouth is a good 60cm apart yet, I can smell it.

He has a girlfriend and I wonder if she has given him this feedback...I mean if not her, then who?!!

I am so compelled to place an anonymous note on his desk.

PDCA

I admit I scoffed at PDCA. I came across it first many years ago when I was 'arrowed' to be in one of those Quality Projects. I thought surely it was one of those theories designed to impress academic nerds.

Well, I am wrong. On the personal front, I skipped the "Check" and found myself plunging into "Act" which is regrettable.

Damn.

5th

Becky turns 5!

It could be conditioning...she never asks me to buy anything from my business trips, she didn't ask me to buy anything for her birthday too. Oh, does waffles filled with chocolate count?

I'm starting to count the number of candles on her cake. Amazing how time flies...

Simplicity

As I watched the girl, I was wondering why her gait was so awkward and slow when her father (or guardian) was already ahead.

Then I noticed the all-familiar pattern. Lines of tiles not stepped on, probably imagining the black tiles are land and white ones the sea. Tread, skip, jump, tip-toe, etc. So many different ways to get from point A to B without breaking 'self-imposed rules'. So much fun in such a short distance.

Simplicity.

Anger Management 101?

In the end, CF was the one who dissected my problem and my anger, which had miserably consumed me since last night, dissipated almost immediately.

I'm glad I kept an open mind and heart, to subject myself to another's analysis and criticism.

Leap of Faith

A: "The problem is having to take that first step."
B: "Don't worry, I'll tell you how....
Just close your eyes and jump."

Stick 'em up!

I finally went for my medical check-up concerning my health insurance renewal.

I guess my throbbing vein could not provide enough blood fast enough...never had a needle stick in me for so long! It was truly the adoption of 'mind over matter' technique to get through that!

"Project Ego"

I've been trying to control, not to show my emotions on my sleeve. It gets harder as I find myself being thrown into more tasks and projects by my boss. They all have the same project title that spells E-G-O.

Who says only female bosses are tough to work with?

What's in a Number?

I can't count the number of slimming centres, spas, advertisements that have sprouted exponentially over the recent years. Earning money from females seems so guaranteed.

Over lunch, my colleague told me she signed up for a slimming package of 10 sessions worth S$5oo. Mind you, she is not fat at all. But after a free trial which probably consisted of vibrating one's thighs for 20 minutes, she found the circumference reduced by 1cm. And so, the slimming centre gained one happy client.

Some women (like me!) just don't get it.

Everything AND The Girl

It's amazing how the footballers and musicians always get the girl. James Blunt, being one of the currently popular and talented artistes, looked so dishevelled and greasy in his latest video. He is dating some exotic model now, isn't he?