Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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(270) it's all about...
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our ATTITUDES.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
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(269) i'm a sinner...
I'm not a particularly holy person, but today's incident made me think harder what it means to be a 'good Catholic'.
To many, it seems that being a good Catholic means toeing the 'party' line and being overly busy with all the right activities, for eg Bible studies. In some circles, a good Catholic can speak or pray well in public and is involved in many church activities - going to this, that and other church-related events. If this is so, then I am a sinner! (But the good news is that Jesus came to save sinners)
But is a really good Catholic one who is so involved in 'Christian activities' that he hardly has time to play catch with his kids? Is a good Catholic one who prays daily but does not treat people around him with basic courtesy? Pray, tell me how should a really good Catholic live his day-to-day life, at home, at work and at play?
"What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself.
As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him.
He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.
At that instant the atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"
At once, time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent.
As a bright light shone upon the man, a powerful voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"
The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian?"
"Very well," said the powerful voice.
The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed.
Immediately, the bear dropped his right paw. It then brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke:
"Lord bless this food which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."
Friday, October 16, 2009
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(267) perks of reaching 50...
1. In a hostage situation, you are likely to be released first. 2. No one expects you to run - anywhere. 3. Things you buy now won't wear out. 4. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room. 5. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service. 6. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either. 7. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size. 8. You can't remember who sent you this list. And you notice these are all in big print for your convenience.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! (If you're 50, tell this to everyone you can remember right now!)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
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(266) shut up and sit down...
Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
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(264) believe it or not...
Horrors.... I was taking my lunch when a 1.5cm long fishbone got stuck in my throat!
I tried to get it out by clearing my throat as if there was lots of phlegm stuck there but to no avail. Then I stuck my finger down my throat. Nothing.... except for some saliva and spots of blood. How do anorexic girls do it??
My throat hurt terribly and I was about to go to A&E when Rowina, my Filipina help said hesitantly, 'Ma'am, I don't know if you believe or not but I want to do something.' Quickly, she took a long fishbone from my plate, rinsed it, put it on my head and told me to be patient.
I didn't know what to think or say! So I cleared my throat again at the sink with a fishbone stuck in my throat and another on my hair. Rowina reminded me to be patient and to wait a while more. Then I decided to gargle my throat whilst tilting my head in such a way that the fishbone on my head would not fall off. As I bent my head forward carefully to spit out the water, I felt the fishbone in my mouth! I spat it out in great relief!
Rowina told me that she had to say a prayer after placing the fishbone on my head. She added another way they do it in the Philippines was to get a cat and wind its tail round one's neck! Old wives' tales?
But it was really amazing cos it was all over in a less than 2 minutes after the fishbone was placed on my head! Maybe I should give Rowina the $70 A&E fee!
366 couples in Singapore tied the knot today even though it falls within the Hungry Ghost Month, the 7th month of the lunar calendar.
09/09/09 is a very special date because the number '9' or '九' is pronounced 'jiu', which sounds the same as '久' which means 'long-lasting' or 'forever'.
One person said: 'I believe that getting married is a lifetime commitment, and so I would like it to be an auspicious date like today 09/09/09. It means forever and we hope we can be together as long as we live.'
So many chose 09/09/09 as their wedding day, hoping that the date would bring longevity to their weddings and lives. But whatever date a couple chooses, they should bear in mind the following quote:
No one falls in love by choice, it is by chance. No one stays in love by chance, it is by work. No one falls out of love by chance, it is by choice.
Friday, August 07, 2009
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(262) lesson of the day...
One day, a farmer's donkey fell into a dry well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey as it was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway.
The farmer grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried even more piteously. Then it quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit its back, the donkey was doing something amazing. It would shake the dirt off and take a step up.
The farmer continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal. As he did so, it would continue to shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest well just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
OK...... enough of this crap! Later, the donkey came back and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died from septic shock.
REAL LESSON OF THE DAY When you do something wrong and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.
Most Chinese will recognise these three deities. They are 福禄寿 or Fú Lù Shòu, which means Good Fortune, Prosperity and Longevity. Statues or pictures of them are hardly sold by their own since they provide symbolism as a trinity and enhance each one's powers by this union.
This is the Tianzi Hotel in Hebei Province, China. Apparently this 10-storey hotel holds the Guinness World Record for the 'Biggest Image Building'.... whatever that means!!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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(253) health management...
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies....
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
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(252) MCQ option 4...
Why Option 4??
Option 1: Diet After his annual check-up on Monday, Laogong asked to go on a diet because his doctor said he should get rid of 9kg! I decided to do it too so that we can motivate each other. Our 3-day diet/detox programme ended yesterday. Emily says that we will probably pig-out till our next session which is in 2 weeks' time. We weighed ourselves this morning - Laogong and I lost 2kg each :D We shall eat in moderation and shall not snack! We have to prove Emily wrong!
Option 2: Exercise Laogong and I try to exercise daily but it's a rather sedentary 45-min walk. We have increased our pace and if we're up to it, we carry weights as we plod along. Jon tells us to jog but our knees won't be able to take this sudden 'attack'. We'll just stick to brisk walking for the time being!
Option 3: Wardrobe Update Times are bad. So we'll just ransack our cupboards for clothes that we couldn't fit in since eons ago. Oh gosh.... more vigorous exercise and detox sessions before we can fit into those clothes!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
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(249) MCQ option 1...
But do diets really work??
Chocolate is a vegetable. Huh?? Well, chocolate is derived from cacao beans. Bean = vegetable. Sugar is derived from either sugar CANE or sugar BEETS. Both are plants, which places them in the vegetable category. Thus, chocolate is a vegetable.
Did you ever see the customers in a health-food store? They are pale, skinny people who look half-dead. In a steakhouse you see robust, ruddy people. They're dying of course but they look terrific!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
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(247) reflections for CNY 2009...
The article below was written by Lee Wei Ling for the Sunday Times, 04 Jan 2009. She is the Director of the National Neuroscience Institute but is most likely recognised for who her family members are.
I had been so busy the past weeks that I didn't have time to read her article. But now that my CNY preparations are almost completed, I sat down and slowly digested its contents....
Lee Wei Ling: My house is shabby, but it is comfortable....
In 2007, in an end-of-year message to the staff of the National Neuroscience Institute, I wrote: ‘Whilst boom time in the public sector is never as booming as in the private sector, let us not forget that boom time is eventually followed by slump time. Slump time in the public sector is always less painful compared to the private sector.’
Slump time has arrived with a bang.
While I worry about the poorer Singaporeans who will be hit hard, perhaps this recession has come at an opportune time for many of us. It will give us an incentive to reconsider our priorities in life.
Decades of the good life have made us soft. The wealthy especially, but also the middle class in Singapore, have had it so good for so long, what they once considered luxuries, they now think of as necessities.
A mobile phone, for instance, is now a statement about who you are, not just a piece of equipment for communication. Hence many people buy the latest model though their existing mobile phones are still in perfect working order.
A Mercedes-Benz is no longer adequate as a status symbol. For millionaires who wish to show the world they have taste, a Ferrari or a Porsche is deemed more appropriate.
The same attitude influences the choice of attire and accessories. I still find it hard to believe that there are people carrying handbags that cost more than thrice the monthly income of a bus driver, and many more times that of the foreign worker labouring in the hot sun, risking his life to construct luxury condominiums he will never have a chance to live in.
The media encourages and amplifies this ostentatious consumption. Perhaps it is good to encourage people to spend more because this will prevent the recession from getting worse. I am not an economist, but wasn’t that the root cause of the current crisis - Americans spending more than they could afford to?
I am not a particularly spiritual person. I don’t believe in the supernatural and I don’t think I have a soul that will survive my death. But as I view the crass materialism around me, I am reminded of what my mother once told me: ‘Suffering and deprivation is good for the soul.’
My family is not poor, but we have been brought up to be frugal. My parents and I live in the same house that my paternal grandparents and their children moved into after World War II in 1945. It is a big house by today’s standards, but it is simple - in fact, almost to the point of being shabby.
Those who see it for the first time are astonished that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s home is so humble. But it is a comfortable house, a home we have got used to. Though it does look shabby compared to the new mansions on our street, we are not bothered by the comparison.
Most of the world and much of Singapore will lament the economic downturn. We have been told to tighten our belts. There will undoubtedly be suffering, which we must try our best to ameliorate.
But I personally think the hard times will hold a timely lesson for many Singaporeans, especially those born after 1970 who have never lived through difficult times.
No matter how poor you are in Singapore, the authorities and social groups do try to ensure you have shelter and food. Nobody starves in Singapore.
Many of those who are currently living in mansions and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle will probably still be able to do so, even if they might have to downgrade from wines costing $20,000 a bottle to $10,000 a bottle. They would hardly notice the difference.
Being wealthy is not a sin. It cannot be in a capitalist market economy. Enjoying the fruits of one’s own labour is one’s prerogative and I have no right to chastise those who choose to live luxuriously.
But if one is blinded by materialism, there would be no end to wanting and hankering. After the Ferrari, what next? An Aston Martin? After the Hermes Birkin handbag, what can one upgrade to?
Neither an Aston Martin nor an Hermes Birkin can make us truly happy or contented. They are like dust, a fog obscuring the true meaning of life, and can be blown away in the twinkling of an eye.
When the end approaches and we look back on our lives, will we regret the latest mobile phone or luxury car that we did not acquire? Or would we prefer to die at peace with ourselves, knowing that we have lived lives filled with love, friendship and goodwill, that we have helped some of our fellow voyagers along the way and that we have tried our best to leave this world a slightly better place than how we found it?
We know which is the correct choice - and it is within our power to make that choice.
In this new year, burdened as it is with the problems of the year that has just ended, let us again try to choose wisely.
To a considerable degree, our happiness is within our own control, and we should not follow the herd blindly.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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(245) goodbye 2008...
As usual, December was too much of a good thing! Everyone, especially the kids had too much fun - birthday celebrations, chalets, sleepovers, late-night suppers, wedding anniversary celebrations, outings (to foodcourts), Night Safari and the family trip to KL/Genting (again?!!). And the adults refused to lose out and had tons of 'F's.... Figure-wrecking Food!
Judith's & Bosco's Birthday Dinner at Nihon Mura
23rd Wedding Anniversary (We were caught by surprise! Tsk, so sloppy!)
2nd Family Chalet for 2008
Doing the touristy stuff during the KL-Genting Trip
Maternal Grandparents' 52nd Wedding Anniversary at Prima Restaurant
There was more! We also celebrated paternal grandmother's dinner (food again!). Unfortunately the kids were all too busy having fun to upload their pics so I'll just have to wait :(
I was in the toilet when the phone rang at 9.03am. Within 2 minutes, it rang again. This time, I managed to get to the cordless phone but Ben picked up the other phone at the same time. I heard Ben answer with a 'hello' to which the distressed male caller blurted out: 爸爸, 我出事了!
Ben and I hung up almost simultaneously. I ran downstairs to confirm with Ben what we had just heard. Ben then told me that there was no response when he answered the first call. Despite the fact that Jon was away in Batam on a school trip, the incident was really laughable..... Jon wouldn't have spoken to us in Mandarin!
Gosh, this con stuff had been in the news for quite some time already. Did that trickster really think that he could get away with it? He must have thought Ben was a dad who didn't go to work today. Well, Laogong was still at home at that time..... fast asleep!
LOL, Judith asked for an update when she could have just gone into Facebook to view the pics! So here you are....
During the first week, the maternal family and I had a short but relaxing break at the SAF bungalow at Changi Village, courtesy of Uncle Joe. The bungalow was brand-new and very comfortable, for eg: 4 spacious bedrooms, each with its own LCD tv. So Darren and Emily watched movies the whole night, fell asleep with the tv on and woke up the next day, just in time for afternoon tea!
Then came mid-week and my xxth birthday! Laogong wanted to take me out for dinner but I decided not to... must save! Emily bought me a birthday cake! She must be feeling very rich from all her part-time jobs! I was in the study room when I heard a sudden 'whooosh' sound..... Ben lit the candle with his blowtorch and melted the top end of the candle and a bit of the cake!!
Then we had Porpor's birthday celebrations on the third week! Bosco (from the paternal side of the family) who often joins us on our Sundays at Porpor's home wanted to be a part of it. He surprised Porpor with a present and a bouquet of roses. Bosco wanted to 'score points' as well as secure his visits to Porpor's house for the rest of the year!
But October fun is not yet over! Ben's 21st birthday is just round the corner! 2nd sis-in-law and I had asked Ben if he wanted a 21st party but he declined. So it will just be our annual Ben's birthday-Halloween-family party.
Today's sermon touched a little too briefly on faith. So, what is faith? Well, I think it is best summed up below....
The teacher was going to explain evolution to her class of six-year olds. She started off by asking one of the little children:
TEACHER: Jimmy do you see the tree outside? JIMMY: Yes. TEACHER: Jimmy, do you see the grass outside? JIMMY: Yes. TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky. JIMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky. TEACHER: Did you see God? JIMMY: No. TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see God because he isn't there. He just doesn't exist.
A little girl in the class spoke up and said she wanted to ask the boy some questions. The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy:
LITTLE GIRL: Jimmy, do you see the tree outside? JIMMY: Yes. LITTLE GIRL: Jimmy do you see the grass outside? JIMMY: Yessssss! LITTLE GIRL: Do you see the sky? JIMMY: Yessssss! LITTLE GIRL: Jimmy, do you see the teacher? JIMMY: Yes. LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain? JIMMY: No. LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were just taught, she must not have one!
BURN!!!!!!!!!!!
FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT - 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7
I can't believe I had not posted for more than a month! My friendster is dead while my facebook is zzzzzZZZZZZZ! And please don't take offence if I don't reply cos I don't check hotmail regularly either.
Many people tell me I've got loads of time on my hands now that the kids are old enough to take care of themselves! Yes, I'd stopped tutoring them eons ago. Lately, I'm no more a 24/7 chauffeur though occasionally I ferry the kids (if 17 to 22 year olds are still considered kids) about. Oh yes, i still do a bit of nagging on and off
So what had I been so busy with? Errmmm.... I blog-hop, tag boards here and there, read the news, check-out the stock market but mostly, I visit my favourite forum. Hahahaha, if you want to know what forum it is.... Well, besides trashy romance novels, I have always loved mystery and detective novels. So this forum is about a real-life still unsolved 'whodunit' police case!
But hey, in between all these surfing, tagging and being an amateur armchair detective, I DO do real work!
After the Asian Invitational held in Desaru, these young men sailed in and flew out of Singapore, all in less than a day.
Actually Ben and the Red Sevens were showing them around the fine city of Singapore for the day. Since Ben hasn't gotten his driving licence yet, I was roped in to help out!
I'm sure many local paintballers are really pained (yah, I'm so lame) that a middle-aged non-paintballing woman got to meet these awesome pros! LOL, my nephews, Iggy and Andrew, would have skipped school if they had known!
Unbelievable.... 'The Prayer' had jolted BK into attending mass today! So I've gotten a few more prayers for BK. Well, another prayer or two will break the monotony of reciting the same prayer night after night....
Computer Addict's Prayer 1 The Lord is my Programmer, I shall not crash. He installed His software on the hard disk of my heart; all of His commands are user-friendly. His directory guides me to the right choices for His name's sake Even though I scroll through the problems of life, I will fear no bugs, for he is my backup. His password protects me. He prepares a menu before me in the presence of my enemies. His help is only a keystroke away. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, And my file will be merged with His and saved forever.
Computer Addict's Prayer 2 Dear God,
Help me log on without fretting Guide me, as I am interneting Bless my downloading and uploading Keep my browser from exploding
May my website be protected? Let not my password be rejected Keep my line always connected And all my inputs be accepted
Please keep my entire program alive And to remember to back up my hard drive And protect my computer from crashing drive, From a virus that would make it nesting hive
This post is specially dedicated to BK cos he told me to update! As there are five of them, which one of the siblings am I referring to?
Well, this particular BK isn't very religious. He does not go to church often cos he's always tired out after the long hours at his computer. But I understand our dear Almighty (as he calls himself) has lately, been trying his very best to attend catechism class every Saturday. Maybe that's because there are many girls at 'cat' class??
So BK, here's a very special prayer just for you. Maybe, if you recite it every night before you go to bed, your faith will rekindle and grow stronger each day!
Dear Lord,
Every single evening As I'm lying here in bed, This tiny little Prayer Keeps running through my head:
God bless all my family Wherever they may be, Keep them warm and safe from harm For they're so close to me.
God, there is one more thing I wish that you could do; Hope you don't mind me asking, Please bless my computer too.
Now I know that it's unusual To Bless a motherboard, But listen just a second While I explain it to you, Lord.
You see, that little metal box Holds more than odds and ends; Inside those small compartments Rest so many of my friends.
I know so much about them By the kindness that they give, And this little scrap of metal Takes me in to where they live.
By faith is how I know them Much the same as you. We share in what life brings us And from that our friendships grew.
Please take an extra minute From your duties up above, To bless those in my address book That's filled with so much love.
Wherever else this prayer may reach To each and every friend, Bless each e-mail inbox And each person who hits 'send'.
When you update your Heavenly list On your own Great CD-ROM, Bless everyone who says this prayer Before the chance has gone
Monday, June 30, 2008
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(235) fun, food and fats...
The second half of June was a whirl of fun, food and good company! It kicked off with an early Father's Day celebration on 14 June with the paternal side of the family. Some people couldn't make it, so foodwise wasn't that great but the atmosphere made up for it.
Then BTG and two of her brothers (Bosco & Mayle) decided to sleepover that night cos they wanted to pick Judith from the airport the next morning. They helped Emily prepare two placards: 'Hello' and 'Judith'. LOL.... when Judith approached the luggage belt, Laogong and Emily held the placards the wrong way that they read 'Judith Hello'! They probably didn't have enough sleep cos Judith's flight came in at 5.30am!
In the evening, it was family time with the materal side of the family as we had an early Father's Day celebration too! The maternal grandparents were pleasantly surprised to see Judith as we had kept her very short trip home a secret from them! They were also surprised to see four more 'grandkids' - 'gatecrashers' from the paternal side of the family!
The Dads!
Judith & the Crashers at the Park
The Bona-fide Grandkids
The Feast! (the reason we had crashers)
The next day, Sunday afternoon, was spent shopping with Judith, Emily and BTG. They probably wanted me along cos I am their ATM machine. And to justify their many buys, the girls made me to get new clothes for myself. They said I needed a complete makeover. Phew, we got home in time to pick up Laogong and the boys to Nihon Mura for our own Father's Day dinner!
On Monday, as if we didn't have enough food and fun during the past three days, we made our way to the Safra resort for our annual 4D/3N family chalet! As usual, we had a bbq on the first night and a seafood dinner at Changi Village on the second night. But for the last night... we had leftovers! So sad, right??
Just when I thought the feasting was over, my cousin, Catherine invited my family for dinner. Lots of time, it was always 'Hi-Bye' when we meet. But this time round, we had a leisurely and cosy get-together last Saturday. What a pity Judith had to fly off one week earlier. She and Brigitte would had have lots to catch up on. Food was secondary but I must say Catherine's bbq was the certainly the best I ever had!
Sigh.... now for Great Singapore Workout to get rid of the excess kilos!
I have offended God and mankind because my work didn't reach the quality it should have Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Work ethics include not only how one feels about his job, career or vocation, but also how one does his job or carry out his responsibilities. This involves attitude, behaviour, respect, communication and interaction; how one gets along with others. In short, one must be dedicated and committed to completing his work and tasks successfully
Whenever one of their engineers constructed an arch, as the capstone was hoisted into place, the engineer assumed accountability for his work in the most profound way possible...
Brendan Mayle Kor Chong Li's birthday falls on Vesak Day this year. But he is sad because his mum is in China and it is his first birthday with no cake and no party. So what does he do? At 10pm, he rings big-mama to ask if he can sleep over.
At the magic hour, Emily surprised Brendan Mayle Kor Chong Li with an ice-cream, topped with a solitary PINK candle. Big-mama then presented him with an angpow and Laogong, Ben, Jon and Bosco (his brother who slept over too) boosted his spirits with the birthday song!
So Brendan Mayle Kor Chong Li is a happy boy once more! (Look at him... gripping so tightly onto his angpow!)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
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(231) mother's day message...
Whilst in the car today, Jon asked me what my purpose in life is. Maybe he asked because it is Mother's Day. I replied that I'm here to teach/guide my children to be good, kind, responsible, blah, blah, blah, blah (good stuff only) persons. But unfortunately, I'm at it so much that they think I'm a nagger. And on this special day, I have something really enlightening for all kids out there ....
Rule 1: Life is not fair. Get used to it.
Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3: You will NOT make $40,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone, until you earn both.
Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.
Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping - they called it opportunity.
Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault. Don't whine about your mistakes - learn from them.
Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how 'cool' you are. So before you save the rainforest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try 'delousing' the closet in your own room.
Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades, they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.
Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffeeshop and go to jobs.
Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
CREDITS: Charles J. Sykes, author of the book 'Dumbing Down Our Kids'
To commemorate Labour Day 2008, a new office policy will be implemented. Kindly adhere to the policy when you report for work on 02 May 2008.
Dress Code: You are advised to come to work dressed according to your salary. * If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we will assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a raise. * If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise. * If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.
Sick Days: We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.
Personal Days: Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturdays & Sundays.
Bereavement Leave: This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend the funeral arrangements in your place. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.
Toilet Breaks: Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the cubicles. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the cubicle door will open, and a picture will be taken. After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the 'Chronic Offenders' category. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sectioned under the company's mental health policy.
Lunch Break: * Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy. * Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure. * Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.
Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.
This test consists of viewing a photo of 2 Dolphins...
* The dolphins appear to be nearly identical when viewed by stress-free individuals. The test is not sufficiently accurate to detect mild stress differentials, but is very accurate on individuals with higher stress-levels.
* Deviations in appearance between the 2 dolphins are indicators of potential stress-related problems and the deviations, if any, may also indicate the source of stress.
* If you experience significant deviations, you may want to consider taking things a little easier or perhaps go on a vacation...
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE PHOTO . . . . . . SCROLL DOWN A WEE BIT MORE . . . . . . . . . . . .
Friday, March 28, 2008
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(225 ) 40 tips for a better life...
Someone sent me this today....
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day... buy a lock if you have to.
3. Record your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to ________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai-chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more food that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of warm water. Eat blueberries, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realise that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed-out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. GOD heals almost everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36.. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for ________. Today I accomplished ________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Please forward this to everyone you care about.
Instead of forwarding the email, I took the easy way out - copied and pasted it on my blog ....
Thursday, February 28, 2008
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(224 ) super hot news...
No no, this is not about Edison Chen and his harem of starlets!
From the AsiaOne website: THE leader of the Singapore terrorist Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) network, Mas Selamat Kastari, escaped from the Whitley Road detention centre at about 4.05 pm on Wednesday, said the Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement.
A massive manhunt involving the police, Gurkhas and Special Operations Command forces, is underway to track down the escaped detainee, who walks with a limp.
'He is not known to be armed. Extensive police resources have been deployed to track him down,' said the ministry statement.
The forces have fanned out to areas in Beauty World in Upper Bukit Timah, Goldhill Avenue near Barker Road, and the men are knocking on homes asking residents if they have seen the escapee.
Yep, my estate was totally encompassed by scores of policemen and soldiers. Special operations personnel were all over the place. There were road blocks at the exit points of the estate. We even saw a car bearing the licence plate 'SPF 1'. No prize for correct guesses as to whose car that was! We also saw the top guy of our Gurkha Force.
I smsed the news to Ben and Emily and told them to 'train' to Newton Station so that I can pick them up. Guess what? They met up with each other at Orchard and told me they would 'bus' and then walk home together. They were such 'kaypohs', like their mummy!
Wow, the security personnel rang my doorbell at 12.40am, requesting to come in to check my garden and the backyard! The plainclothes officer and the young NSFs trooped into my house, boots and all. Gosh, Laogong slept right through all the noise!
Earlier, I had asked Laogong if we should go for our usual after-dinner walk. He replied, 'Why not? Tonight's the safest night ever to have a stroll!'
I hope our security forces apprehend that chap asap!
It was mealtime on a budget airline and the flight stewardess asked the passenger if he would like dinner. Hungry Passenger: What are my choices? Flight Stewardess: Yes or No.
NERD 1: Wow, where did you get such a great bike? NERD 2: Well, I was walking along yesterday minding my own business when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike. She threw the bike to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, 'Take what you want.' NERD 1 (nodded approvingly): Good choice, the clothes probably wouldn't have fit.
Sometimes life is difficult because of the number of choices we have to make. Some choices are very easy to make - it's either right or wrong, black or white. But many fall in gray areas. Sometimes we have to decide between what is good and what is better, what is just okay and what is right or best.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
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(220) of men & fine wine...
Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, And it's our job, to stomp on them and keep them in the dark Until they mature into something you'd like to have dinner with.
Year 2007 came and went, rather swiftly I must say. Well, time really flies as one gets older! Anyway, it was a pretty good year and I hope Year 2008 will bring more goodies for me and everyone else!
December was certainly the highlight of Year 2007! Laogong and I, his parents and 4 nephews flew to Brisbane for Judith's graduation. While we were there, we had excuses reasons for the many celebratory dinners. We had a Thai dinner after Judith's convocation, an Indian meal when she passed her driving test and of course, a Chinese dinner on her 21st birthday! When we got back, Judith celebrated her birthday all over again, this time with a costume party.
Food, Fun & the Newbie Driver!
So Laogong and I had a very quiet 22nd anniversary celebration this year. And before we could lose those extra kilos we had put on, there was the annual Christmas Eve dinner with Laogong's clan, followed by the Christmas lunch with the maternal side of the family!
Finally, to round off the year, we set off on a long-awaited break on Boxing Day. It was only a 5-day trip to Genting/KL but as it had been quite a few years since the cousins had a holiday together, they were super-excited. Only about half of the entire clan could make it but we had the coach all to ourselves, 24 of us!
The kids had plenty to amuse themselves with on the coach, in their rooms and at the theme park. The adults had their share of fun too.... at the casino! And whilst in KL, the girls had a great time shopping while the guys had a go at painball paintball.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
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(218) the paradox of our age...
We have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We've conquered outerspace but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorces, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete....
Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all, mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. by Dr Bob Moorehead
Sunday, December 16, 2007
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(216) made in china...
Whenever Laogong goes to China, he loves to buy stuff, stuff which I do not like or want. So this is a reminder for him.....
A man went on a business to China and wanted to buy some presents for his kids. He went to a shop and found a nice-looking CD player. Wary of buying inferior goods, he asked the shopkeeper, 'What would happened if this does not work?'
The shopkeeper quietly pointed to the only sign in his shop. It was in English and it read: 'GUARANTEE NO SPOILT'
Thus feeling assured, he paid for the CD player and returned to his hotel. He tried to use the CD player in his hotel room but it would not even switch on.
He quickly returned to the shop and asked for a refund or an exchange for another unit. When the shopkeeper refused to give either, the businessman pointed to the English sign that had assured him of a guarantee.
The shopkeeper then said, '兄弟, you are in China. Here, we read from the right to the left.'
I flew down under on 26/11 for Judith's graduation and only got home last night. Ben, Em and Jon could not make it, so it was just me, Laogong and his parents. In the end, 4 nephews also tagged along cos their families' holiday plans were scuttled! We all stayed with Laogong's youngest sis. It was pretty tough balancing the interests of 6 boisterous boys (plus sis-in-law's sons) and 2 old folks. Despite that, we had fun and many hilarious moments..... The boys swam every day, went for Laserforce challenges, bowled, did rock-climbing and had repetitious rides at the theme parks. They graciously attended Judith's graduation ceremony and shamelessly proclaimed that the best part of it was the refreshments! They then celebrated her graduation by pinching her champagne during dinner. The next day, they celebrated her 21st birthday with a yummy cake and a sumptuous Chinese dinner.....
I was sending Em & btg to school this morning when our car stopped at the traffic lights outside Thomson Medical Centre.....
big-mama: Yuks, look at that dog. At least the owner is civic-minded enough to pick up after it. But it's so gross! You know, we clean our butts after shitting, but dogs don't do it.
btg: *grins*
Em: But dogs lick themselves clean!!
big-mama: Yeah, then they lick your face, hands... And they jump onto the sofa, your bed, your lap...
Em/btg: *grimace*
big-mama: Hey btg, your mum told me that you and your siblings have been asking for a dog, the cute little toy dog type. How? You still want to get?
btg: I don't want anymore!
I know, I know, big-mama is a meanie. Dog-lovers, no flaming please!
Judith dedicated a post to me today... Yah, mums have lots to say to their kids... And 1 day's nagging is condensed into 2 min 55 sec! Well, here's her dedication to her no-nonsense mum...
The clan had a halloween party for the 2nd consecutive year, much to Ben's glee! Hah, he celebrated his birthday once again with the extended family and collected loads of ang-pows! At least, he didn't have 'strange' gueststhis time round!
Monday, October 29, 2007
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(209) the customer is king...
During lunch today, Laogong told Em and Jon about his recent encounter with an obnoxious customer. I would have handled the situation differently and to my surprise, the kids agreed with the way Laogong had handled him.
So, the customer is NOT always king! And here's one of the many creative ways to handle a difficult one.....
WAITER: What would you like to have... Fruit juice, Soda, Tea, Chocolate, Milo, Wine or Coffee?
CUSTOMER: Tea please
WAITER: Ceylon tea, Herbal tea, Bush tea, Honey bush tea, Ice tea or green tea?
CUSTOMER: Ceylon tea
WAITER: How would you like it ? Black or white?
CUSTOMER: White
WAITER: Milk, Creamer or Condensed milk?
CUSTOMER: With milk
WAITER: Goat milk, Camel milk or Cow milk?
CUSTOMER: With cow milk please
WAITER: Milk from Freeze land cow or Afrikaner cow?
CUSTOMER: Ummm, I'll take it black
WAITER: Would you like it with sweetener, sugar or honey?
CUSTOMER: With sugar
WAITER: Beet sugar or cane sugar?
CUSTOMER: Cane sugar
WAITER: White, brown or yellow cane sugar?
CUSTOMER: Forget about tea. Just give me a glass of water instead
Thursday, October 11, 2007
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(205) mum can cook...
I cooked lunch today. It was only fish porridge but it was very yummy fish porridge. Every spoonful was a generous serving of fish slices, strips of omelette, chopped spring onion and finely-sliced ginger. Laogong wanted a second helping but he was not allowed to cos he's supposed to watch his waistline.
Somebody woke up at 3pm today (and that was after I kept kicking at her bed). That somebody did not get up immediately. She continued lazing in bed and finally came downstairs at 4pm for TRUNCH! (TRUNCH = Tea+Breakfast+Lunch)
Because the porridge was cooked in a different way from the maid's, that somebody said, 'Wahhhh... you bought the porridge, is it?' Yeah, yeah... I know I seldom cook but that doesn't mean I can't cook!
The Cut Red Tape Movement was launched in Year 2000 whereby the public service actively looks at various ways and means to trim bureaucracy and cut red tape.
Sigh.... we are still waiting for their reply. Why are they taking so long? I suppose the key to everything is patience? You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.
Monday, August 20, 2007
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(200) the aliens are coming...
Some foreign visitors are flying in this afternoon. Actually, they are relatives from China....
Laogong's 4th cousin's son had gotten married recently but the young couple had long made plans to spend their honeymoon in Sin-City. When Laogong's dad heard about it, he told the groom to bring his parents along.
Then Laogong's mum's only sister was also invited to visit. And somehow, the group got bigger and bigger! '8' is a very nice number. It's Laogong's and my favourite number. But crazy lah... invite so many relatives at one go! This is going to be a 14-day nightmare!
And poor young couple... it's no longer an '二人世界' honeymoon!
We celebrated Laogong's birthday 3 weeks ago with a steamboat dinner. We invited his parents and one of his brothers + his family.
We had another steamboat dinner last night because my sister and her family are back for their annual holiday. This time we had 2 tables - the kids dined in aircon comfort while the adults sweated it out in the kitchen!
Oh no, Laogong has just asked me to host one more next week!
UPDATE Sun 12/8: I posted the pics last night and woke up this morning to see this article in the Sunday Times. If you didn't buy the papers, here's your free read....
HER front brain is telling her he's trouble. Look at the facts, it says. He's never made a commitment, he drinks too much, he can't hold down a job.
But her middle brain won't listen. Man, it swoons, he looks great in those jeans, his black hair curls onto his forehead so adorably, and when he drags on a cigarette, he's so bad he's good.
His front brain is lecturing, too: She's flirting with every guy in the place, it says. His mid-brain is distracted by her legs, her blouse and her come-hither stare.
'What could you be thinking?' their front brains demand.
Their middle brains, each on a quest for reward, pay no heed.
Alas, when it comes to choosing mates, smart neurons can make dumb choices.
Sure, if the brain's owner is in her 40s and has been around the block a few times, she might grab her bag and scram. If the guy has reached seasoned middle age, he might think twice about that cleavage-baring temptress. Wisdom, at least a little, does come with experience.
But if the objects of desire are in their 20s, all bets are off.
A lot will depend on the influence of Mum and Dad's marriage, the gossip and urging of friends, and whether life experience have convinced these two brains that what they're looking at is attractive. She just might sidle over to Mr Wrong and bat her eyes. And he could well give in to temptation.
And so the dance of attraction, infatuation and, ultimately love, begins. It's a dance that holds many mysteries to psychologists as well as to the willing participants.
Science is just beginning to parse the inner workings of the brain in love, examining the blissful or ruinous fall from a medley of perspectives: neural systems, chemical messengers and the biology of reward.
LOVE REVELATION It was only in 2000 that two London scientists selected 70 people, all in the early sizzle of love, and rolled them into the giant cylinder of a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner, or fMRI.
The images they got are thought to be science's first pictures of the brain in love.
The pictures were a revelation, and others have followed, showing that romantic love is a lot like addiction to alcohol or drugs.
The brain is playing a trick, necessary for evolution, by associating something that just happened with pleasure and attributing the feeling to that magnificent specimen right before your eyes.
All animals mate: The most primitive system in the brain, one that even reptiles have, knows it needs to reproduce. Turtles do it but then lay their eggs in the sand and head back to sea, never seeing their mate again.
Human brains are considerably more complicated, with additional neural systems that seek romance, others that want comfort and companionship, and others that are just out for a roll in the hay.
Yet the chemistry between two people isn't just a matter of molecules careening around the brain. Attraction also involves personal history.
'Our parents have an effect on us,' says Helen Fisher, evolutionary anthropologist at Rutgers University who studies human attraction.
'So does the school system, television, timing, mystery.'
Love, that one small word, stands for a hotchpotch of feelings and drives: lust, romance, passion, attachment, commitment and contentment.
The dance that leads, if we're lucky, to a stable commitment moves through several key steps.
First comes initial attraction, the spark. If someone's going to pick one person out of the billions of opposite-sex humans out there, it's this step that starts things rolling.
Next comes the wild, dizzying infatuation of romance - a unique magic between two people who can't stop thinking about each other. The brain uses its chemical arsenal to focus our attention on one person, forsaking all others.
'It's the love potion No. 9, the click factor, interpersonal chemistry,' says Gian Gonzaga, senior research scientist at eHarmony Labs.
The passion lasts for at least a few months, two to four years tops, says relationship researcher Arthur Aron, psychologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
As it fades, something more stable takes over: the steady pair-bonding of what's called companionate love.
It's a heartier variety, characterised by tenderness, affection and stability over the long haul. Far less is known about the brains of people celebrating their silver anniversaries or more, but researchers are beginning to recruit such couples to find out.
FACING THE FACTS The forces of attraction are in many ways mysterious, but scientists know certain things.
Studies have shown that women prefer men with symmetrical faces and that men like a certain waist-to-hip ratio in their mates. One study even found that women, when they sniffed men's T-shirts, were attracted to certain kinds of body odours.
That initial spark can flash and fade. Or it can become a flame and then a fire, a rush of exhilaration, yearning, hunger and sense of complete union that scientists know as passionate love.
Key to this state of seeing a person as a soulmate instead of a one-night stand is the limbic system, nestled deep within the brain between the neocortex (the region responsible for reason and intellect) and the reptilian brain (responsible for primitive instincts).
Altered levels of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin - neurotransmitters also associated with arousal - wield their influence.
But passionate love is something far stronger than that first sizzle of chemistry. 'It's a drive to win life's greatest prize, the right mating partner,' Fisher says. It is also, she adds, an addiction.
People in the early throes of passionate love, she says, can think of little else. They describe sleeplessness, loss of appetite, feelings of euphoria, and they're willing to take exceptional risks for the loved one.
Brain areas governing reward, craving, obsession, recklessness and habit all play their part in the trickery.
In an experiment published as a chapter in a 2006 book, Evolutionary Cognitive Neuroscience, Fisher found 17 people who were in relationships for an average of seven months.
She knew they were in love from their answers to what researchers call the Passionate Love Scale. They all said they'd feel deep despair if their lover left, and they yearned to know all there was to know about the loved one.
She put these lovesick, enraptured people in an fMRI to see what areas of their brains got active when they saw a photograph of their beloved ones.
'We found some remarkable things,' she said. 'We saw activity in the ventral tegmental area and other regions of the brain's reward system associated with motivation, elation and focused attention.'
It's the same part of the brain that presumably is active when a smoker reaches for a cigarette or when gamblers think they're going to win the lottery.
No wonder it's as hard to say no to the feeling of romantic arousal as it would be to say no to a windfall in the millions. The brain has seen what it wants, and it's going to get it.
'At that point, you really wouldn't notice if he had three heads,'
Fisher says. 'Or you'd notice, but you'd choose to overlook it.'
Other studies also suggest that the brain in the first throes of love is much like a brain on drugs.
Lucy Brown, professor of neuroscience at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has also taken fMRI images of people in the early days of a new love.
In a study reported in the July 2005, Journal of Neurophysiology, she, too, found key activity in the ventral tegmental area.
'That's the area that's also active when a cocaine addict gets an IV injection of cocaine,' she says. 'It's not a craving. It's a high.'
You see someone, you click, and you're euphoric. And in response, your ventral tegmental area uses chemical messengers such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin to send signals racing to a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens with the good news, telling it to start craving.
'The other person becomes a goal in your life,' Brown says. He or she becomes a goal you might die without. That one person begins to stand out as the one and only.
Biologically, the cravings and pleasure unleashed are as strong as any drug.
Surely such a goal is worth taking risks for, and other alterations in the brain help ensure that the lovelorn will do just that. Certain regions, scientists have found, are being deactivated, such as within the amygdala, associated with fear.
'That's why you can do such insane things when you're in love,' Fisher says. 'You would never otherwise dream of driving across the country in 13 hours, but for love, you would.'
Sooner or later, excited brain messages reach the caudate nucleus, a dopamine-rich area where unconscious habits and skills, such as the ability to ride a bike, are stored.
The attraction signal turns the love object into a habit, and then an obsession.
According to a 1999 study in the journal Psychological Medicine, people newly in love have serotonin levels 40 per cent lower than normal people do - just like people with obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Experiments in other mammals add to the human chemical findings.
Female prairie voles, for example, develop a distinct preference for a specific male after mating, and the preference is associated with a 50 per cent increase in dopamine in the nucleus accumbens.
But when the monogamous vole is injected with a dopamine antagonist, blocking the activity of the chemical, she'll readily dump her partner for another.
CHEMISTRY COUNTS The front brain certainly gets involved as it ponders all of life's experiences and past mistakes, researchers say - but not just the front brain.
The nucleus accumbens, virtual swamp of dopamine that it is, is also holder of memories. Its quest for reward is influenced by childhood experiences, friends, previous failed engagements or the jerk who cheated on you.
And, as it happens, practical matters like whether a couple both like pina coladas do matter in igniting passionate love.
A research project headed by eHarmony Labs' Gonzaga interviewed 1,200 dating and newlywed couples. The results, reported in the July issue of The Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, found that those who reported similar interests and feelings were more satisfied.
'Those who reported chemistry said they felt at ease, relaxed, connected. They knew they had some things in common,' he says. 'Chemistry is more than just being hot or handsome.'
The free fall of love's first rush can happen at any age, whether people are 20 or 70, says Elaine Hatfield, psychology professor at the University of Hawaii.
What differs is that the older people get, the more memories they harbour of joy and trust, rejection and disappointment. And as people learn from experience, the front brain, with its logic and reason, probably gets a greater say.
'When you are young, passion and hope are so strong that's it's almost impossible to stop loving someone,' Hatfield says. 'After you've been kicked around by life, however, you start to have a dual response to handsome con men: 'Wow!' and 'Arrrrrrgh!''
Somehow, it all comes together, for better or for worse, the sum total of what's found in the mating dance of the ancient reptilian brain, the passion of the limbic brain and the logic of the neocortex.
Monday, August 06, 2007
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(193) life is just a bowl of cherries...
Today's mass was very good..... All the three readings were meaningful..... The sermon was equally meaningful, and short!
Life is just a bowl of cherries Don't take it serious, Life's too mysterious You work, You save, You worry so But you can't take your dough When you go, go, go
So keep repeating 'It's the berries.' The strongest oak must fall The sweet things in life To you were just loaned So how can you lose What you've never owned
Life is just a bowl of cherries So live and laugh, aha! Laugh and love Live and laugh, Laugh and love, Live and laugh at it all!
Sunday, August 05, 2007
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(192) men are from mars, women are from venus...
A language instructor was explaining to her class that French nouns, unlike their English counterparts, are grammatically designated as masculine or feminine.
'House' in French, is feminine = 'la maison'
'Pencil' in French, is masculine = 'le crayon'
One student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?"
The teacher did not know and the word wasn't in her French dictionary. So for fun she split the class into two groups, appropriately enough by gender. Then she asked them to decide whether 'computer' should be a masculine or feminine noun. In addition, both groups were required to give four reasons for their recommendation.
The men's group decided that computers should definitely be of the feminine gender 'la computer' because: 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else 3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for possible later retrieval 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine'le computer' because: 1. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on 2. They have a lot of data but they are still clueless 3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem 4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you'd waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model
Besides providing us an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy, bananas can help overcome or prevent a number of illnesses and conditions.....
STROKE: According to research, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
BLOOD PRESSURE: The banana is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to reduce the risk of blood pressure.
NERVES: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
PMS: Forget the pills - the vitamin B6 a banana contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
STRESS: Potassium helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates our body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thus reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
DEPRESSION: According to a survey, people suffering from depression felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!!
I have been asked to babysit the nephews and nieces on so many occasions that I could have started/run a creche or childcare centre.
I took care of 3rd sis-in-law's kids last Sunday. Anne and Clare are 'easy' as they are already 9 and 5. It used to be 'plonk the kids in front of the TV'. But nowadays, all you have to do is allocate each a computer and they can entertain themselves for hours! Hmmm... bad bad aunt!
As for Charles... I had not looked after a 3-year toddler for a really long time. And that included diaper changing and the spoonfeeding during lunch! Tots are quite draining (mentally) but I had Emily to play with him. Sorry Judith, you had to fly off the night before. Sorry BTG, you had some NDP rehearsal thingy that day.
Kids (not your own) are easy to take care of.... really. Just have some sweets, jellies and kiddy-size drink packs in your home. Throw in the computer games (toys for the tots), a 'bubble' bath and a trip to the neighbourhood playground and they are your slaves for life!
Monday, July 02, 2007
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(186) reduce, reuse, recycle...
Jon is on the back page of today's issue of the Catholic News!
Actually it was the photo of the guys from the different uniformed groups that caught my eye first. When I realised that the drum major was Ian Chai (Jon's primary school classmate), I immediately knew that Jon would be in the pic too!
If you have a copy of the Catholic News and you are sharp enough, you will see that there are actually 2 pics of Jon on the back page! One of the photos is an old one - when he was in Secondary 3! Gosh, surely SJI has more than enough boys for their photo-shoots??
I have not visited my parents for more than 10 days. I can't make time for them cos Laogong's relatives from China are in town. The couple are here to source for business opportunities and for multiple medical check-ups.
I am the chauffeur. I am the translator. I even had to 'google' information for them as they are 'English-less' and are not familiar with the internet. OMG, I have just been told that another couple are visiting next month!
P/S: I found time to visit my parents on Sunday 1 July
PP/S: The other couple's not coming afterall. I mean they are not coming in July, BUT in August with five others!
An eye test is not just about getting glasses. An eye test can help detect eye conditions before you notice the effect on your sight. During an eye test, you will be asked to read letters or numbers on a chart. For those who are not able to read, there are other tests such as identifying pictures etc etc etc.....
Get up from your seat and move back about 2.4 metres Continue looking at your computer as you move back
An investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The banker complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied, "Only a little while."
The banker then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?"
The fisherman said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."
The banker then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, go for walks with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my friends. As you can see, I have a full and busy life."
The banker scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and can help you. You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat! With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to the capital city. After that, who knows, maybe you could take on the world!”
The fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"
To which the banker replied, "I’d say about 15 to 20 years."
"But what then?" asked the fisherman.
The banker laughed and said, “That's the best part! When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
"Millions...? Then what?" the fisherman continued prodding.
The banker said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, go for romantic walks with your wife, and in the evenings you could sip wine, play guitar and sing songs with your friends!”
To which the fisherman mused, “Isn’t that what I’m doing now?”
It is human nature to desire to be successful. We all want success because we live in a world in which being successful is everything. But how do we measure success? Can a person have too much success? Are we going to spend years climbing to the top of the financial ladder only to find it is leaning against the wrong wall?
Ralph Waldo Emerson (an essayist, poet & philosopher) defined success in a simple life well lived as: To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; To learn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a little bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
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(179) i am woman, hear me snore...
Whenever Laogong is out-station, I sometimes bunked in with the girls. It is not because I'm concerned with saving the earth but more of me being a thrifty person.
Emily whined and complained. She didn't like me in her room. She even recorded my snores the other night. When I picked her and BTG after class, they kept replaying the recording in the car and laughed at me. Doesn't she know that snoring is just noisy breathing through the mouth or nose during sleep? >.<
A study shows that children with at least one parent who snores are 3X more likely to snore themselves than kids whose mums or dads are silent sleepers. Well, she is 6X more likely to snore cos both Laogong and I snore!
Nah... I'm not promoting these drinks, I just find their ads really funny! Nope, I haven't tried either of the drinks yet. I will wait till somebody buys one or the other, then I'll just take a little sip cos canned drinks are always loaded with sugar. Anyway, whatever (pun intended) these drinks are, their ads tickled my memory about something equally confounding....
Once upon a time, there were four people... Their names were Everybody, Somebody, Nobody and Anybody.
Whenever there was an important job to be done, Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. When Nobody did it, Everybody got angry because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought that Somebody would do it, but Nobody realized that Nobody would do it. So consequently, Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done in the first place.
POSITION: Mother, Mom, Mommy, Mum, Mummy, Ma, Mama
JOB DESCRIPTION: Long-term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellentcommunication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required,including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends andendless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses notreimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at leasttemporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tonguerepeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 90 km/h in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such assmall gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half millioncheap, plastic toys, and battery-operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on acontinually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. Aballoon payment is due when they turn 21 because of the assumptionthat college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuitionreimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.
Ben, who is very passionate about paintball, got his siblings and cousin to play one day. Jon and Iggy like it so much that they joined him when he played in JB last month.
Ben has been trying to get Laogong and I to play too! Sadly, our spirit is willing but the flesh is weak! LOL, the only paintball game whereby we may just outlast these young'uns is this!
Some weeks back, I received an email from a friend. We have known each other since kindergarten, primary and secondary schools' days. She had gotten a divorce after years of marriage but she still keeps her spirits high....
Dear All
This is a very good story (which you may have heard before). Have a look at yourself, are you a carrot, egg or oolong tea...!!?? We all have our trials and tribulations but am sure with encouragement, we will tread our path with courage and success. May you all have an enjoyable & blessed weekend.
Warmest regards / XXX
OOLONG TEA…… A carrot, an egg, and a cup of Oolong tea… You will never look at a cup of Oolong the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed Oolong tea. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the Oolong out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see.”
“Carrots, eggs and Oolong tea,” she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the Oolong. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The Oolong tea was unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water color and taste.
“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the Oolong tea? The tea actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the tea, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can’t go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end, you’re the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
You might want to send this message to those people who mean something to you; to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.
If you don’t send it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to brighten someone’s day with this message!
May we all be OOLONG TEA !!!!!!!!!
But Laogong said being an egg is the better option! What if one was originally weak and soft? But after facing adversity, he toughens up and is now able to face any hardship or challenge!
Laogong says, "I am an egg. My shell looks the same, but on the inside I am brave and tough with a fighting spirit and unwavering heart!"
We brought the paternal grandparents to Nihon Mura @ Revenue House for dinner last night. As it was their first time there, I was their 'tour guide'. I showed them the self-service sushi belt, the wide array of 'ice-cream sticks' and how orders were placed. The in-laws didn't want any sashimi or sushi, they wanted only cooked food. When dad-in-law asked if that green paste was wasabi, Laogong said (with a straight face) it was Japanese chilli!
Ben, Emily, Jon, Iggy and Edward headed straight to the belt and picked off mostly salmon sushi. Then they went around collecting the 'ice-cream sticks' like nobody's business. I did not order anything, I ate whatever everybody could not finish. No wonder I can never lose those excess fats.... I'm the family's trash bin.
Laogong has been introducing his parents to new stuff. So what's next?
Sunday, March 25, 2007
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(167) you have new mail...
A few days ago, one of Laogong's friend sent him an email. Hahaha, his friend doesn't know I'm the one who clears Laogong's mailboxes every day?! Yep, I read it first....
To: xxx@pacific.net.sg From: zzz@pacific.net.sg Subject: wives - don't read; for hubby only
here's one for my fellow husbands.
and for our wonderful wives - hello hello, see title of this email.
The in-laws have been over for dinner for 4 consecutive Saturdays. Planning the menus is quite easy but it can be quite a daunting task entertaining the old folks. Afterall, they just sit around, watch tv and sip chinese tea that's brewed in little teapots and served in tiny teacups. LOL, last Saturday was definitely an eye-opener for them when I introduced them to the exciting world of...
Now they finally understood what Laogong and I meant whenever we told them we 'spoke' with Judith via the computer! They saw a webcam for the first time that night. Their eyes literally popped and their jaws hung low when they saw Judith 'live'! When they heard her screaming 'Ah Ma' and 'Kong Kong', they almost fell off their chairs!
When the in-laws next come, should I introduce them to the 'Dead Rising' zombies on Ben's Xbox 360?!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
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(165) good things come in pairs...
So Emily has got a place in the course she wanted in Temasek Polytechnic. As she had scored 9 pts for her L1R5 raw score, some people think she's crazy not to go the junior college route. But it's ok with Laogong and I. Afterall, the university option is still open.
And BTG has got a place in the same course in the same poly! Crazy lah, these two cousins always end up together?! BTG might as well move in with us and 'borrow' Judith's bed, cupboards, drawers, study table and everything else!
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the lunar calendar. The festivities start on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month and continue until the 15th day, when the moon is brightest.
The 7th day is traditionally 'everybody's birthday' or '人 日' as it is the day when everyone is considered one year older. Today is the 7th day of the Chinese New Year celebration...
Saturday, February 24, 2007
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(162) match-maker...
Are you compatible with the PIG? *1 - least compatible *100 - most compatible
RAT 88 ........ These two make marvelous mates OX 69 ........ Why not, it worth a try TIGER 77 ........ They are very different, but this will work RABBIT 91 ........ Very compatible. Everything will be good DRAGON 94 ........ Most Dragon/Pig marriages last forever SNAKE 45 ........ The Pig can never please the Snake HORSE 75 ........ This relationship worth a try SHEEP 98 ........ One of the happiest possible combinations MONKEY 81 ........ This could work. They admire each other ROOSTER 72 ........ The Pig is patient, this could work DOG 84 ........ They share their thoughts and feelings PIG 92 ........ An excellent match (Woohoo, that's Laogong & Me!)
Technically speaking, I'm a sow... Laogong's the bore. Oops, I mean 'boar'! So here's a special wish from us piggies... It's a little late... but it's ok. Today's only the 2nd day of CNY. '猪' 你 新 年 快 乐 !
Sunday, February 18, 2007
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(160) gong xi fa cai...
1923~1935~1947~1959~1971~1983~1995~2007
Today marks the beginning of the Year of the Pig...
PIGs are models of sincerity, purity, tolerance and honour. When you first meet them, PIGs seem too good to be true. They are careful and caring, obliging and chivalrous. Put your trust in him, he won't let you down and he will never try to. The PIGs simply want to do everything right.
PIGs are the people everyone admires most. Make a list of the PIGs in your life... Aren't they the nicest, most loving and scrupulously caring people around!!? Ahem, ahem, ahemmm....
Sunday, February 11, 2007
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(159) home economics...
After much prodding from BTG's mum, I decided to try my hand at making pineapple tarts! Hey...I didn't know it was so easy! Just make sure you buy A* ingredients!
And when we asked the kids to have a go, they clowned around instead of sweating it out!
And when they did step into the kitchen, they produced their masterpieces - the smilies and the ???
Sunday, January 07, 2007
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(156) past & present...
It is always an uphill task getting kids to help out with the chores. 'THEN' mums usually enforce it by threatening, 'You had better do it or else!' But the 'NOW' mums do it differently......
Monday, January 01, 2007
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(155) countdown 2007...
25 DAYS DOWN... 3 MORE TO GO!
This is not a countdown to the new year... Gosh, I'm worse than an nsf man & his ord!
I weighed myself this morning and found that I am lighter by 1kg. Hah, the only benefit of 3.5 weeks of housework slavery! And while getting ready for church today, Emily said, 'Ehhhh, you look like you have lost weight!'
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
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(153) i will survive...
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life. Housework done properly can kill you. Help keep the kitchen clean - eat out. My next house will have no kitchen... just vending machines!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
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(152) desperate housewives...
Yep, that's what BTG's mum and I are ever since both our maids flew off 2.5 weeks ago. But hers will be back in 4 days' time while mine is only returning in early January!
Chicken chop for dinner last Sunday! How many for dinner? Laogong, 4 of my own, 3 nephews, 1 niece and me! Desperate times call for desperate measures!
No cooking over a hot fire for me! Just microwave those boneless thighs! French fries? Why bother? Get those pre-packed mashed potato powder, add hot boiling water and some butter and stir. Salad? That's chicken (pun unintended) feed! Simply julienne white cabbage, purple cabbage and carrots with those modern kitchen gadgets, pour in a bottle of coleslaw dressing and mix well! And thank god for campbell soup - it's every housewife's 'you-can't-go-wrong-with-the-taste' soup! The garlic bread to go with the creamy mushroom soup? Pop into Delifrance (there's always one nearby) and get them to do up one!
VOILà! A yummy dinner for 8 hungry kids, Laogong and the cook!
In an exotic tropical island just south of the equator, an exciting challenge awaits the modern Singaporean female. Bleah... is Singapore an exotic place? Anyway, in this little red dot where the citizens are overly reliant on imported foreign labour of all sorts, we have the local version of a very popular tv series...
In this local production, the Singapore female undertakes the daily grinds and drudgery of housework. Life's little ironies... the superwoman at the office struggles to complete the chores which her foreign domestic helper accomplishes so efficiently?! She's an expert at office politics but on the homefront?? She schemes to get her kids to complete some of her tasks but does she succeed?
#`$@^%*&+^! The kids had formed an alliance! They all sang the same tune when I asked if they had swept the different areas of the home allocated to each... MUST THE FLOOR BE SWEPT EVERY DAY? Hello?! Are you going to let the grime and dust accumulate?
Friday, December 08, 2006
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(150) maid in singapore...
Hahaha...this is not a sequel to 'Maid in Manhatten'. Any similarity to Jennifer Lopez is all in the bottoms! Hey, I think mine's better than hers!
Our domestic helper flew off late last night for a well-deserved vacation. The last time she went off was for 3 weeks but this time, I gave her 4 weeks. What was I thinking?! Today's my 21st wedding anniversary AND I'm gonna be a maid for today and 27 more days?!
BMM: Ok guys, you've got to make your own beds, help out in the house etc etc etc. KIDS: How much are you paying us?? BMM: How much are you paying me?? >.<
Woaah... here I am, blogging away. So, it can't be that bad... yet?! Yep, I had prepared breakfast, washed and hung up the laundry and swept downstairs. Ok, ok, I'll sweep upstairs and prepare lunch after this.
Hey, Emily's up already. I can't believe it... so early? That's because Laogong's youngest sis and family flew in from Brisbane last night and are staying with us and she doesn't want to look bad! Em's the only one at home. Judith slept over at BTG's home last night, Ben's in camp and Jon's at one of his many holiday camps. Hahaha... I'll get Em to sweep the bedrooms!
Dinner?? We are eating out because...... 1. It's my 21st wedding anniversary today. 2. It's Bosco's (BTG's brother aka my nephew & godson) birthday today. 3. Laogong's youngest sis and her family are here.
So, my family, BTG's family and Laogong's youngest sister's family will have a little celebration before sending Laogong's sis to the airport. She and her husband are going off after only 1 night in Singapore as they are backpacking in Italy for 3.5 weeks. But her 2 boys are not going and will be staying with me.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
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(149) let there be peace on earth...
FRIDAY 24/11... Judith's flight touched down at 8.10pm, 20 min earlier than scheduled. Jon's flight arrived at Senai Airport at 11.30pm but we picked him at school and were home by 1.30am. Emily and Brenda the Great (aka BTG) went for a movie after their grad nite and I had to pick them at 2.45am.
So... the entire brood's finally together again! And BTG makes 5 teenagers in the house! And they (except Ben) were still awake when I retired at 3.30am!
SATURDAY 25/11... Bosco and Brendan (BTG's brothers) came over in the afternoon. Then they decided to have dinner here. Then they decided to sleepover!! Donovan came over for dinner/sleepover cos he and Ben were going for paintball on Sunday morning. BTG's mum, sis and other brother came over after their dinner. Iggy and his brother, Edward came later as Iggy was going for paintball too. Edward?? He was very bored at home.
So... the house was super-noisy. We had the 'warhammer' guys at the desktops, the anime fans glued to the laptop, the xbox addicts busy with the zombies in 'dead rising' and last but not least, the tv people! After BTG's mum and 2 other siblings went home, I counted 13 persons in the house - 4 of my own + BTG/Bosco/Brendan + Iggy/Edward + Donovan + 3 adults.
SUNDAY 26/11... Ben, Iggy and Donovan left for paintball at 8am. The remaining 7 kids finally woke up at 10.30am to get ready for mass. Ben, Iggy, Donovan and a paintball 'kaki' came back in the afternoon and plonked themselves at the computers. But Donovan and 'kaki' went off sometime later. BTG went off with her mum without telling me and so dared not come back for her sleepover cos I was so pissed (I had cooked her dinner). Iggy went home around 9.30pm
So... only Bosco, Brendan & Edward stayed over on Sunday and they played a quiet game of monopoly for a while before going to bed.
TODAY... Ben went to camp, as usual. Judith brought Brendan & Edward out for a movie, lunch & dinner. Jon & Bosco met up with Iggy for lunch & movie. Emily was the only one at home. Ehh? She's got a bbq in the evening!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
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(148) deck the hall...
It's that time of the year again! I've not taken out my X'mas tree since ???? Lazy? Maybe. Then why do I bother with the Lunar New Year? Afterall, both are joyous occasions.
Well, Christmas is not about the stuffed turkey or roast beef. It's not about the parties or presents. It's all about JESUS! Yep, no presents for you guys, again!
Monday, November 13, 2006
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(145) do you hear what i hear?
FREE internet?!!
Wireless@SG is a FREE wireless broadband network whereby we can enjoy FREE indoor and outdoor wireless broadband access with speeds of up to 512kbps!
To access this FREE network, we need to be located within the coverage areas. To connect to this FREE network, all we need is a laptop or a PDA, a web browser and a registered Wireless@SG account. Once connected to this FREE network, we can surf, check email, play online games etc etc etc. Basic services only... but it's ok because it's FREE!
So come January 2007, everyone will get to surf for FREE almost everywhere! Damn... how come 'almost' doesn't include my home??
Friday, November 10, 2006
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(144) tis the season to be jolly...
Another study has confirmed what wine drinkers have known for eons! Red wine is good... no no, GREAT for us!
In a recent study, researchers reported that resveratrol, a natural substance in red wine, offsets some negative effects of a high-fat diet. This supports other studies that have shown similar benefits of red wine.
In this study, mice were fed diets with 60% of the calories from fat. These mice were also given resveratrol. They gained weight but maintained normal livers and glucose and insulin levels in the blood. They also lived longer lives.
But to get the same amount of resveratol that protected the mice, a 68kg human would need to drink 1,500 to 3,000 bottles of wine a day! Talk about manna from heaven... Jonathan and Iggy will be ecstatic!!
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
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(143) the joy of giving...
'VOLUNTEER' is both a noun and a verb. When a volunteer volunteers, he performs or offers to perform a service of his own free will and he does so without pay or any expectation of a reward.
But are you sincere? Do you strive to give your best? Even the simple act of being on time counts! Five boys were 30 minutes late this morning... the four in my car and the one just coming through the gate as I was leaving. Were there others who were late too??
It is easy to volunteer but never easy being one for the volunteer must be responsible, enthusiastic and be willing to commit!
Twelve Kinds of Givers - which best describes you?
1) The Willing Giver - Abraham, who offered his only son (Genesis 22:1-19)
2) The Big Little Giver - The widow, who in giving two copper coins, gave all she had (Mark 12:42-44)
3) The Stingy Giver - Saul, who wanted to offer the spoils of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 14:17-23)
4) The Sacrificial Giver - David, who refused to give that which cost him nothing (2 Samuel 24:24)
5) The Covetous Givers - Ananias and Sapphira, who held back part of the price of their possession pretending to give all (Acts 5:1-10)
6) The Consecrated Givers - The Macedonians, who first gave of themselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
7) The Life Givers - Peter and John, who had neither silver or gold, but instead gave life to the lame man (Acts 3:1-9)
8) The Voluntary Giver - Zacchaeus, who gave his goods to feed the poor without being asked (Luke 19:1-9)
9) The Reward Givers - Those who gave to be seen. They had their only reward here on earth (Matthew 6:2)
10) The Unpretentious Giver - The Samaritan, who made no show of his giving (Luke 10:25-37)
11) The Perfumed Givers - The Philippians, whose gifts were 'an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God' (Philippians 4:18)
12) The Greatest Giver - God, who gave His only begotten Son for you and me that we might be saved (John 3:16-17)
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
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(142) happy halloween and...
HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY, BEN!
Who would have thought 2nd Sis-in-Law (a very traditional Chinese who sticks up her nose on western customs & practices) would have anything to do with Halloween!? Then she invited Ben to celebrate his birthday at her home so that the clan could have a birthday-halloween party...
It was a very last-minute thingy as the smses were quickly sent out to the extended family yesterday! And what a pleasant surprise it was when everyone replied that they were coming - on a WEEKDAY! Gosh, it was really hectic, having to rush about to get the food at such short notice....
But it was a really fun night! And Ben had such 'strange' guests...
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
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(139) words as weapons, sharper than knives...
Many local netizens would have, by now, heard of the 'wee-wee' saga. The perils of blogging are very real and I wouldn't want to be in that RJC girl's shoes right now. So always remember the one and only rule in blogging...... BE NICE!
Actually, it is a very simple rule, a 'common sense' rule. Just watch what you blog! Don't insult anyone, don't be abusive, don't be obscene, don't attack people personally and avoid inflammatory topics. It's ok to disagree, provided your tone is respectful. If in doubt, it's best you 'sleep on it' before publishing. This is not a matter of censorship. It's a matter of giving mature thought to each post.
You are publishing to a world audience. You publish not just today, but for the rest of your life because even if you shut down your blog, the posts can come back to haunt you. Things that you blog today can be incredibly damaging to your professional career and/or personal life years down the road. The world will judge you and not always fairly. Be prepared for the consequences and to accept the responsibility for each post you choose to publish. Shivers!!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
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(138) believe it or not...
Starfish haven't got brains.
Butterflies taste with their feet.
A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
You can't kill yourself by holding your breath.
It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
No word in the English language rhymes with month.
China has more English speakers than the United States.
The ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.
Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.
'I am.' is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
If you keep a goldfish in a dark room, it will eventually turn white.
A cockroach will live 9 days without its head, before it starves to death.
The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with.
Donald Duck comics were banned in Finland because he doesn't wear pants.
If you fart consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.
The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar and England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.
You share your birthday with at least 9 million other people in the world!
Yes, it is my birthday today! Hmmm... when one hits the 40s, his/her birthday is a relatively quiet affair. But my mum never forgets anyone's birthday, be it her children, their spouses or grandchildren! She baked me a cake and gave me an angpow on Sunday.
I was still up when Darrick sent an sms at 12.32am while my sister in London sent her wishes at 12.58am. Judith's sms came in at a more 'normal' time at 9.55am. Then Issac rang to wish me a good day. When I got the 'snail' mail, there were 2 birthday cards - one from Judith, the other from Issac. Then Judith tagged my board cos she believes all good thing should come in threes!
Laogong didn't go to work today so that we could go on a lunch date. Hah, guess where?! Later in the night, Laogong got the kids to sing the birthday song while I cut the cake that my mum baked. Hahaha... 1 candle only!
The grand finale was a silver chain and cross pendant from Ben! Wahhhh... he took half-day off from camp to go buy me a present! Aiyah, his army allowance is so measley and yet, he bought me something from the jewellers! Then, I can't wait for all of them to join the workforce and earn big fat salaries....
Mooncakes! They are so evilly laden with calories! My favourite, the lotus seed paste with one salted egg yolk, contains 790 calories. Drats, and it's getting harder and harder to lose all that excess weight. I'm fighting a losing battle...
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
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(136) it's a conspiracy, i tell you...
For eons, I've been visiting my parents practically every Sunday. My siblings and their children also visit on Sundays and the cousins will have a fun time together. But it is getting harder and harder to meet up so often as the kids get older. They have project work, camps and most importantly, they need to prepare for their Os and As (PSLE was chicken feed!)
The weekly visits to the grandparents have now been cut down to alternate Sundays and at times, only once a month. But I try to make it up by dropping by on weekdays to take my parents out or run errands for them. So it was really fun to see and chat with my nephews again last Sunday......
BMM: Hey, Darrick! What's this I read in the New Paper about a fight club in your college?
Darrick: There is no fight club. It was an isolated incident of mischief.
BMM: Come on lah, the newspaper says got.
Darrick: There is no fight club. It was an isolated incident of mischief.
BMM: Aiyah, some students even wrote about the fight club in their blogs!
Darrick: There is no fight club. It was an isolated incident of mischief.
BMM: Did you go watch the fight?
Darrick: There is no fight club. It was an isolated incident of mischief.
BMM: How come some students got caught? They couldn't outrun the police?
Darrick: There is no fight club. It was an isolated incident of mischief.
BMM: Aye, tell us leh!
Darrick: There is no fight club. It was an isolated incident of mischief.
BMM: Whoa... your principal's gag order is really effective.
Darrick: There is no fight club. It was an isolated incident of mischief.
This guy will make a great soldier! The enemy will get nothing out of him
Two sick kids in the house... diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fever. Was it something they ate or is it stomach flu? Emily first got it in school yesterday morning. Jon only had it very late last night or rather, at 4am this morning. And this is the second time in 2 weeks that Jon had these symptoms.
Laogong's ok. Ben's ok. The maid's ok and I'm ok. So what the heck is it? Well, they had just woken up and are taking their fish porridge now. Poor things, they look so sick and weak (must be exhausted from the constant toilet calls).
Aiyah... Jon has finished his lunch but has fallen asleep again. Emily? She's still struggling with her tiny bit of porridge. Looking at them now, I wonder how I'm going to get them to the doctor's?
UPDATE: Jon refused to go to the doctor's. He insisted he was much better already. What a stubborn fella he is! Anyway, the doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics for Emily. He added that Jon should have come for a check as he had a similar episode on 19 September (that's exactly 2 weeks ago)! The good doctor is either a very caring one or $$$$$$-faced...
Monday, October 02, 2006
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(134) elementary, my dear watson!
This is the last of my lame (but inspirational?) posts for students preparing for the English Language paper. Maybe my next one will be for the Chinese Language paper!?
For Paper 2, every student knows that he/she has to: * identify the main ideas and details in texts * use contextual clues to understand the information present in a text * synthesise, summarise and organise information * give reasons to support an opinion or a response
How a student will fare depends on his/her level of the above skills. These skills that the student should master are not unlike those which every self-respecting detective should be equipped with. So if you read enough mystery novels, you should do very well for Paper 2. Hahaha... BMM's naive logic??
Well, I love mysteries and my favourite author (authoress actually) is Agatha Christie. Sadly, she was not the one who created perhaps the most famous fictional detective and indeed one of the best known and universally recognisable literary characters...
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went camping. In the middle of the night, they both woke up and were staring up at the night sky.
Holmes: Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see.
Watson: I see thousands and thousands of stars.
Holmes: And what does that tell you?
Watson: Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?
Friday, September 29, 2006
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(133) mind your language...
This post is dedicated to Judith cos she's feeling a bit homesick now. I hope it will brighten up her day and make her laugh (which she does so horrendously loud)...
Remember how mummy taught you guys English? Besides the little vocabulary cards I made or bought, I also had those phonetics placards which I changed regularly on my little noticeboard. Hmmm... she's probably forgotten >.<
But do you still remember this little ditzy Hokkien rhyme that I kept reciting so that you all will commit to memory, the 5 vowels in the alphabet?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
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(132) back to basics...
This is an unusual paragraph: I'm curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it? It looks so plain you would think nothing was wrong with it! In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual though. Study it and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out! Try to do so without any coaching! Good luck! . . . . . . . . And what have you found out? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The letter 'e', which is the most common letter in the English language, does not appear once in this long paragraph.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
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(131) english as she is spoke...
The bandage was wound around the wound. The farm was used to produce produce. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. We must polish the Polish furniture. He could lead if he would get the lead out. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. I did not object to the object. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. They were too close to the door to close it. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend? I shed my clothes in the shed. And since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
Is English so hard to learn? Let's face it, English is a stupid language... There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in a hamburger; And neither pine nor apple in a pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England, Nor were french fries invented in France. Sweetmeats are candies; While sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that... Quicksand takes you down slowly, Boxing rings are square and A guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. Why is it that bakers bake, but grocers don't groce? If writers write, how come fingers don't fing. And if the teacher taught, why didn't the preacher praught. If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat!? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth - beeth? One goose, 2 geese... so one moose, 2 meese? One box, 2 boxes... one index, 2 indices?
Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? We park on driveways and drive on parkways? We have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, While a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which a house can burn up as it burns down, And in which you fill in a form by filling it out And in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn't a race at all). That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, But when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why it is that when I wind up my watch, it starts; But when I wind up this observation, it ends.
And finally, how about when you want to shut down your computer? You have to hit 'START'!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
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(130) good news? bad news?
It's official - Ben is now a clerk. It was the end of 'chiong-sua' for him after he fractured his hand. So I thought my new washing machine was safe from the smelly and muddy uniforms from field-camps and exercises. Then he was posted to OETI as an armour technician trainee. I shuddered at the thought of yukky engine oil-stained overalls. But now that he has revocated, it's goodbye to grease and grime under the fingers. Good news? Bad news? It all depends on how one views the situation...
The soldiers had been in the field for two weeks and hadn't had showers or been able to change their clothes.
Then one day the general came along and said, "Men, I have some good news and some bad news. Which would you like first?"
All the men shouted, "Tell us the good news, tell us the good news."
The general smiled and said, "Men, the good news is that today we're going to change our underwear."
All the men cheered.
Then the general said, "Now the bad news. Tan, you change with Lim. Chong, you change with Ng......"
Friday is 'market day'. That's when I go to the wet market to buy fish and chicken for the week. That's crap cos the market stinks and the floor is perpetually slimy and wet.
Laogong decided to accompany me to market today. So I asked him if he wanted crap... oops, I meant CRAB! His eyes lit up as he had not eaten crab for a very long time. Laogong told me to buy FIVE! I said that was too many but he said 'Crab No Enough'. So I bought Sri Lankan crabs, big succulent ones!
As the maid and I struggled to cook the 5 big crabs in our medium-sized kwali, Laogong and Emily were literally breathing down our necks! The minute we set the chilli crab down on the table, they started feasting and made a mess... and that's crap!
I personally think crab is crap because you go through so much trouble just to savour the taste of crap... errrrr, I mean crab!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
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(128) asses, arses & bishops...
Some people (I shan't say who) were such asses (arses?) today that they got me very agitated and worked-up.
Then later, at St Ignatius Church where we attended Jon's Sacrament of Confirmation, Archbishop Nicholas Chia gave a meaningful sermon when he spoke of the 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The Archbishop said with the Holy Spirit in control of our lives, we would be improved in terms of our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and we must always remember that these gifts should be used to serve God and other people.
After reflecting on the sermon, I now feel more at peace with myself and with everyone else. However, the runs-in with the asses (arses?) and seeing the Archbishop this afternoon reminded me of something I came across a long time ago. May His Grace forgive my trespass...
A pastor wanted to raise money for his church and on being told there was a fortune in horse-racing, decided to purchase one and enter it in the races.
However, at the local auction, the going price for a horse was so high that he ended up buying a donkey instead. He figured that since he had it, he might as well go ahead and enter it in the races.
To his surprise, the donkey came in third. The next day the local paper carried this headline: PASTOR'S ASS SHOWS.
The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race again, and this time it won. The local paper read: PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT.
The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in another race. The next day, the local paper headline read: BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.
This was too much for the Bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey. The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent. The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day: NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.
The Bishop fainted. He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for ten dollars. The next day, the paper read: NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.
This was too much for the Bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild. Headlines read: NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE. . . . . . . The Bishop was buried the next day.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
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(127) do good & care not to whom...
An ancient story has it that HEAVEN and HELL are exactly alike in that each is an enormous banquet with every wonderful dish imaginable piled on the great round table. The diners are each provided with a pair of chopsticks - six feet long!
In HELL, the diners give up struggling to feed themselves with these impossible tools and sit in ravenous frustration.
In HEAVEN, everyone simply feeds the person across the table.
6th Uncle was the glue that held his brothers together. He made time to visit everyone and kept them up-to-date on each other's families. He was always the first to visit anyone who was ill. Though his death was so sudden, it was a peaceful one. We are very sure that he has gone to take his place next to Jesus because he was a good man.
I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
We say that the hour of death cannot be forecast, but when we say this we imagine that hour as placed in an obscure and distant future. It never occurs to us that it has any connection with the day already begun or that death could arrive this same afternoon, this afternoon which is so certain and which has every hour filled in advance. ~Marcel Proust~
Paternal 6th Uncle passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning. But he had no known health problems except for a heart attack 17 years ago. Though he would have been 71 this October, he was youthful-looking and very active. As he could still drive, he always took time to visit my dad. Whenever I saw him at my parents' place, he always had nice words for my children. He was the grand-uncle my kids met most often.
When I was a little kid, 6th Uncle took my siblings and I on spins in his sports car. We were thrilled to feel the wind in our hair. He often treated us to ice-cream too. He was a good brother to my dad, a nice uncle and grand-uncle to my family. His sudden death was a great blow to everyone especially when we just saw and spoke to him last night at 2nd Uncle's wake.
Death does not send you any letter He comes sneaking just like a thief
I attended my 2nd Uncle's funeral wake last night. This is the second funeral I have attended this year. The first was 1st Aunt's. Both lived to a ripe old age but their lives were totally different.
Paternal Aunt's life wasn't so great. She and her late husband had two adopted children. She was sickly and was looked after by her unmarried daughter. Her married son was overseas most of the time and her grandson was studying abroad. When she passed away, there was only her daughter, daughter-in-law and grand-daughter. Her son had to rush home for her funeral.
Paternal Uncle had his wife, their 13 children and many grandchildren. Even when he was suddenly diagnosed with cancer and told that he had only 7 months to live, he remained a very strong (as in brave) man. He was prepared for his Lord to take him home. After the diagnosis, he continued to live a happy life. Just recently, he and his family celebrated his 60th wedding annniversary. When I visited him in January, he told me that he had lived a good life and told us not to fret for him.
Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think. Horace (poet, 65 BC-8 BC)
'Carpe diem' is a Latin phrase which literally means 'pluck the day' but it is usually translated as 'seize the day'. The simplest (and almost everyone's favourite) interpretation of this phrase would be 'Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.'
I prefer 'Memento mori', another Latin phrase which is translated as 'Remember that you are mortal' or 'Remember you will die' or 'Remember your death'. Whatever it is, all three translations share the same purpose in reminding people of their own mortality.
When Judith and her housemates were at class yesterday, their house was broken into between 11am and 3pm. Only the bedrooms upstairs were hit - thoroughly ransacked and turned upside down. The %#/~$&*()^@!+ burglar(s) got away with 3 Acer laptops. Lysha's Nikon camera and some money which Alvin (Lysha's brother) had at home were also taken.
Judith had some empty red packets in her drawers and these were totally ripped! Asian burglar(s)?? Luckily her passport and camera were intact, covered by the clothes the burglar(s) threw onto the bedroom floor. I hope the burglar(s) get electrocuted when he (they) turns on the stolen laptops!
Laogong celebrated his 47th birthday last month. Arghhhhh... mine's in 2.5 month's time. Sigh... I'm growing old too! And the signs that I'm getting on?
* There are three signs of old age. The first is loss of memory. I forget the other two.
* I'm getting old when I'm sitting in a rocking-chair and I can't get it started.
* When I lean over to pick something up off the floor, I ask myself if there is anything else I need to do while I am down there.
* I find myself in the middle of the stairway and I can't remember if I were downstairs going up or upstairs going down.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
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(119) dearest laogong...
YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN...
* 'Happy Hour' is a nap
* It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired
* No one expects you to run into a burning building
* Getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot
* In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first
* The little white-haired lady you help across the street is your wife
* You are cautioned to slow down by your doctor instead of the police
HAPPY 47th BIRTHDAY!
**UPDATE**
Laogong was sad because I did not prepare his usual steamboat birthday dinner as I already knew he had to work late. But he was very happy when Judith called from Brisbane to wish him a happy day. Then Gabrielle and Damien, our little god-children aka niece & nephew, phoned him at work too.
Later when Laogong got home, Ben, Emily and Jon surprised him with his favourite chocolate cake from Lana's! When his sister sent Brenda aka Big-Mama No 1 Fan over for her sleepover, she asked Laogong about how his birthday was. Even Laogong's mum asked him if I had prepared steamboat for him!
As our kids are always so busy with their own stuff and Laogong comes from a very big family, he was over-the-moon that so many people actually remembered his birthday. Funnily, Laogong did not know exactly how old he was... and he started counting the candles on his cake!
Wow, I had not blogged for more than 2 weeks! No, I was not exercising self-discipline in restricting my computer usage. I was just being plain lazy. Do you not know... laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired! Actually I prefer the word 'indolence' because it makes my laziness seem classy.
Anyway, who would want to read about my life? It's really super boring. It's almost the same old routine every day, Mondays to Fridays. ~ wake up, send Em & Jon to school ~ come home, send Ben to camp ~ come home, clear mailbox whilst taking breakfast ~ read the papers (in the loo) ~ wash up, brush teeth (it makes sense to do that after a meal, right?) ~ go to the office to be 'lao-pan-niang' for an hour or two, maybe more ~ come home, clear mailbox again ~ pick Em, Jon & Ben (different times on different days) ~ dinner & evening walk with Laogong ~ call mum for a little chat ~ shower, clear mailbox yet again, sleep
Of course, there are those trips to the supermarket & wet market, parents' medical check-ups, other errands here and there etc etc. And once in a very blue moon, there is that little bit of 'excitement' like when a van reversed into our car on Tuesday evening. It was a very minor accident but I think everyone in our car was shell-shocked by my screaming rather than the sight of a van slowing reversing into our car. To compound my stress, the @~#*%!$=^ van driver who had apologised so profusely after the accident decided to sing a different tune the next morning!
BUT THANKS TO BORNEO MOTORS, EVERYTHING ENDED WELL THAT SAME MORNING!
So do you believe in karma? What goes around, comes around! Hmm, I wonder what will happen to that dratted van-driver?
This is Edward, one of my many nephews. He's been sleeping over alot lately. As the maid is still sick, I decided to go to the carwash. As usual, Edward was ever ready to tag along. Perhaps he thought I would buy him something at the petrol station?
Emily and Brenda (one of my very few nieces aka big-mama's No 1 fan) decided to join us. The girls had not been to a carwash for a very long time. They thought I was going to an auto (no pun intended) wash. They didn't know that those mechanised washes have all gone bust. I didn't know they had taken a camera along until...
I had a terrible toothache last week and had to have root canal treatment. Anyone who has done this will know that it is a most tedious and agonising procedure which involves at least 2 visits. To make matters worse, it was a molar whereby 4 nerves were involved. Imagine keeping your mouth open for 1 hour last week and 1.5 hours this week! I have to go back for the 3rd session next week and the doctor had told me it would be 2-hour long! I hope that next week will be the last time I see her until my regular check-up is due!
And just when I thought I could enjoy this weekend, I started sneezing non-stop this afternoon. I may have caught the bug from either Ben or the maid. Well, I had spent the whole of Monday night sponging Ben as his fever went as high as 40*C. It was a sleepless night for him because he cannot take any medicine for fever at all as he is allergic to paracetamol and NSAIDs. And the maid was ill on Monday too. I helped out in the kitchen. So this whole week was spent in close proximity with 2 sick people!
I love money, who doesn't? But health wins hands down...
Money is the most envied, but the least enjoyed. Health is the most enjoyed, but the least envied.
Why do so many people spend their health gaining wealth, And then spend their wealth to regain their health?
Saturday, June 24, 2006
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(113) are you or are you not?
Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman. And wished I were as beautiful. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle. She had one leg and wore a crutch. But as she passed, she passed a smile. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two legs; the world is mine.
I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm. I talked with him, he seemed so glad. If I were late, it'd do no harm. And as I left, he said to me, "I thank you, you've been so kind. It's nice to talk with folks like you. You see," he said, "I'm blind." Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two eyes; the world is mine.
Later while walking down the street, I saw a child I knew. He stood and watched the others play, but he did not know what to do. I stopped a moment and then I said, "Why don't you join them dear?" He looked ahead without a word. I forgot, he couldn't hear. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two ears; the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I'd go. With eyes to see the sunset's glow. With ears to hear what I'd know. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.
Just a simple reminder that we have so much to be thankful for...
Oops, I haven't told her yet... no usual detour to Newton Food Centre on our way home from the airport. The temporary location is closed for the shift back to the original site!
Hahaha... can Judith wait till 1st July to satisfy her cravings?
I had been busy during the first 2 weeks of the school holidays. In fact, every day had been busier than a 'normal' school day that I had no time to surf, blog-hop, tag or blog!
What is this life if, full of care We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.
We had just come home from the orthopaedic clinic. Ben's prognosis is pretty good... no major wrist fracture! The fracture is on one of the finger bones somewhere in the palm area.
We had been so afraid that he had a scaphoid fracture. This is a very common fracture among young men but it may take up to 4 months to heal. Ben also had a torn ligament. The x-rays showed that when the ligament tore, it also pulled off with it, a tiny piece of the finger bone. The doctor said Ben is still combat-fit and needs not be downgraded. However his hand will have to be immobilsed for some time to facilitate the healing process.
The doctor took off Ben's splint but this was replaced with a plaster cast. Ben will have to bear with it until his next medical appointment in 3 weeks' time. By then, he would have gotten his posting...
Heck! Jon's helping out at the children's camp in church and Ben has to book-in tonight. Who's going to help Ben fold up the sleeves of his No 4?
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
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(105) trials & tribulations...
Ben was really unlucky to fracture his left wrist on Saturday! Only 10 days to POP!
Upon his book-out at 11am, Laogong and I picked him at the Pasir Ris MRT Station and drove straight to the sinseh. The sinseh took one look and told us that we should get his hand checked at the hospital.
The x-rays showed up a small fracture. The A&E doctor gave Ben an excuse chit for 3 days. Despite his bandaged wrist, Ben reported back to Tekong camp as usual last night. He saw the camp MO this morning and was given 1 week light duties.
Ben booked out again at 8pm tonight as he has an appointment with an orthopaedic specialist tomorrow afternoon. We pray for a favourable prognosis.
Sigh... life is filled with ups and downs. But these highs and lows provide windows of opportunity to determine our values and goals. We have to think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life we want.
I suppose her results are pretty respectable considering the fact she started mugging only during the exam period. But in the course of those last-minute cram sessions till midnight, she fell sick and had to see a doctor! Tsk! She had better draw up a study plan/timetable soon.
Jon got his on Thursday... ENGLISH : C5 CHINESE : C6 E.MATHS : A1 A.MATHS : A1 CHEMISTRY : A1 PHYSICS : A1 BIOLOGY : B4 C.HUMANITIES : B3 L1R5 : 12
So he scored full marks for E.Maths! And I thought only primary school kids do that. Huh? He topped his class! Heck, does this mean I can't nag him off the computer anymore? Well, he has got to do something about his languages!
So do they deserve a reward? Yes, why not? OK... no nagging during the first week of the June holidays! I'm such a nice mum...
Sunday, May 21, 2006
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(103) for better or worse...
Judith's best friend, Soh Sandie, posted this on her blog...
Tuesday, May 16, 2006 my parents found out about melvin today.
Soh Sandie is an only child... So Soh Sandie's daddy is very strict with her... So Mrs Wannanoeall (me) tagged Soh Sandie's board...
big-mama : and what did yr parents say?? ;) sandie : to big mama- the usual stuff lor... but my mom's more cool about it than my dad. if this happens to you, what wld you say? big-mama : good good, got boyfriend now got someone to da-bao free supper when he sends you home ;) sandie : haha MAMA you must be joking. how can you be so cool?! what if u found out judith has a secret boyfriend hidden in australia? haha!
Soh Sandie, my reply is way too long for your board. So here goes...
Australia is a culturally and linguistically diverse society with millions of immigrants from almost every corner of the world. The Aussies have about 200 languages and practise a wide variety of religions. So if Judith has a boyfriend tucked away in Australia, whether he's an indigenous aborigine or from Timbuktoo or the Bermuda Triangle, he'd better be proficient in English!
You see, communication is necessary for a good relationship or marriage. It takes listening, understanding, and honest sharing. Communication is not lecturing or being critical or putting someone down. It is not giving unwanted advice or interrupting the other person. If there is little or no communication in a marriage, especially in an inter-racial or inter-cultural one...
A POLISH man moved to the US and married an American girl. Although his English was far from perfect, they got along very well - until one day he rushed into a lawyer's office and asked the lawyer if he could arrange a divorce for him.
The lawyer said that getting a divorce would depend on the circumstances and asked the Polish man the following questions:
Have you any grounds? Yes, an acre and a half and a nice little home.
No, I mean what is the foundation of this case? It's made of concrete.
I don't think you understand. Does either of you have a real grudge? No, we have a car porch.
I mean, what are your relations like? All my relations are still in Poland.
Is there any infidelity in your marriage? We have a high fidelity stereo and good DVD player.
Does your wife beat you up? No, I always wake up before her.
Is your wife a nagger? No, she's white.
Why do you want this divorce? She's going to kill me.
What makes you think that? I have proof.
What kind of proof? She is going to poison me. She bought a bottle and put it on the shelf in bathroom. I can read and it says: 'POLISH REMOVER'
Thursday, May 18, 2006
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(102) a mother's pride & joy...
So, mother's day has come and gone. As I reflect on my 19+ years as a mother, I wonder if I've done well. Will my children be filial? Do they have good moral values? Will they be rich and successful? High-paying jobs? Good spouses? The list is long and never-ending. Yes, all mums have high hopes and dreams for their children. However, this surely must be the mother of all mothers' hopes...
Four old college friends were having coffee. The first woman tells her friends, "My son is now a priest. Whenever he walks into a room, everyone calls him 'Father'."
The second woman chirps, "My son is a bishop. Whenever he walks into a room, people call him 'Your Grace'."
Not to be outdone, the third lady says, "My son is a cardinal. Whenever he walks into a room, he's called 'Your Eminence'."
Since the fourth woman continued sipping her coffee in silence, the first three women give her this subtle "Well...?"
So she replies, "My son is 6' 6"... he has plenty of money... broad square shoulders... terribly handsome... dresses very well... tight muscular body... tight hard buns... and a very nice bulge... and whenever he walks into a room... women gasp, 'Oh my God!'."
It's great when the kids do not annoy you for an entire day
It's great when their blogs have posts dedicated to you
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Mummy I love you
I'm sorry for the times I made you sad. I'm happy for the times I made you glad.
Been a Mum for almost 20 years. You made it through the blood and tears.
I'm grateful for everything that you've done. Know that you'll always be my number one.
I love you Mum for everything. I promise one day I'll buy you a bling.
Thank you for raising me to what I am. You'll always be my Mum right till the end.
Happy Mother's Day Mummy.
Love, Judith
Sunday, May 14, 2006
25 hours ago i was feeling like SHIT. at 1.23am TODAY on a sunday i feel like i'm on cloud NINE. WEIRD, ain't it. moodswings. BAH. :D
9 hours ago i baked a batch of chocolate brownies for BIG-MAMA. its MOTHERS' DAY today, you see. it isn't THAT tastey so i don't think she really LIKED it. but i think she was HAPPY that i at least did SOMETHING for her. they say that its the THOUGHT that counts. lets all pray she doesn't get tummy aches. i BAKED it MYSELF since JONATHAN refused to help and only BOUGHT the M&Ms from caltex that helped decorate the brownies. but its okay. i'll EAT all the brownies since it's CHOCOLATE. (and since i baked it MYSELF) and i LOVE anything that is CHOCOLATE although they can be very FATTENING.
so there, HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY. I LOVE YOU MOMMY. (even though you are nagging at me now)
Yay, I'm getting a bling-bling! Wow, what if every day is mother's day? Oh yes, so sweet, very sweet, in fact too sweet... Ehhh? I'm referring to the brownies that Emily baked
Emptiness... The house is unusually quiet Laogong's been away since Saturday Judith's been away since February Ben's having a field day, errrrr, field camp at Tekong The only good thing is there is no squabble over the computers
On a happier note... Ben will be home in 1 day's time Laogong will be home in 1.5 weeks' time Judith will be home in 2 months' time The house will be noisy again, but I love it!
AND...
I received a mother's day card from Judith today She's a good daughter because she didn't send me a present this year Yah, she spent my hard-earned money on my present last year and the postage was 19.50 Aussie dollars Hmm, I wonder if the rest will give me a card or something this Sunday
Well, all I want from my children is complete obedience and subversience. Hahaha... just kidding. I know it's so cliche but I just want them to be god-loving, morally-upright, fine gentlemen and ladies.
He said he woke up at 5.45am, did some work and then went back to bed. I don't know because I only woke up at 7.45am and then left the house at 8am to send Laogong to the airport. When I got home at 10.30am, he was fast asleep. I didn't nag when he started on DOTA the minute he woke up at 11-ish. I didn't say anything when he had breakfast at the computer. I still didn't say anything when he had lunch at the computer. I just told him to study after lunch.
At 3pm, when he and his cousin aka DOTA kaki decided to quit playing DOTA, he asked if he could meet this cousin at the cc to play basketball. Of course, I gave him a flat 'NO'. I told him to do some revision first and to play basketball later at 5pm. He quietly packed his bag and told me he was going to the cc to do his work.
Of course I blew my top! Why can't he study at home? It's quiet and conducive. He tells me he can't study at home because I am at home. What the #&%~@*~! Whenever he studies in his room, I don't even check on him.
Gawd, now he is sitting cross-legged... on the ground... in the hot afternoon sun... right in the middle of the driveway... facing the gate... doing his homework on his lap! All because I refused to let him go to the cc? Oh well, let all the neighbours see what a good hardworking boy he is!
Life sucks... when you realise you have failed terribly as a parent!
Big-Mama's Chinese Zodiac ~ PIG!
Laogong's Chinese Zodiac ~ PIG!
Mum of 4 Teenagers
Undergoing Middle-age Crisis
Battling an Ever-increasing Waistline
& a Headful of Snow-white Hair
Holding 3 Ministerial Posts
Home Affairs Minister aka Full-Time Nagger
Finance Minister ~ manages weekly allowances & exorbitant hp bills
Transport Minister aka 24/7 Chauffeur
.
'H' is for HALLOWEEN
I cooked lunch today. It was only fish porridge but it was very yummy fish porridge. Every spoonful was a generous serving of fish slices, strips of omelette, chopped spring onion and finely-sliced ginger. Laogong wanted a second helping but he was not allowed to cos he's supposed to watch his waistline.
We went out for dinner today.
Some foreign visitors are flying in this afternoon. Actually, they are relatives from China....
1. Spend time studying every day so the work does not pile up
UPDATE Sun 12/8: I posted the pics last night and woke up this morning to see this article in the Sunday Times. If you didn't buy the papers, here's your free read....
I hate dealing with government agencies.
A language instructor was explaining to her class that French nouns, unlike their English counterparts, are grammatically designated as masculine or feminine.
Besides providing us an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy, bananas can help overcome or prevent a number of illnesses and conditions.....
'KA CHING!'
It was to be a surprise treat...
Jon is on the back page of today's issue of the Catholic News!
I am underpaid.
Get up from your seat and move back about 2.4 metres
Whenever Laogong is out-station, I sometimes bunked in with the girls. It is not because I'm concerned with saving the earth but more of me being a thrifty person.
Ben, who is very passionate about paintball, got his siblings and cousin to play one day. Jon and Iggy like it so much that they joined him when he played in JB last month.
Hi, handsome!
I've been minding Edward for the past 2 weeks. He is going home tomorrow as his parents will be back.
We brought the paternal grandparents to Nihon Mura @ Revenue House for dinner last night. As it was their first time there, I was their 'tour guide'. I showed them the self-service sushi belt, the wide array of 'ice-cream sticks' and how orders were placed. The in-laws didn't want any sashimi or sushi, they wanted only cooked food. When dad-in-law asked if that green paste was wasabi, Laogong said (with a straight face) it was Japanese chilli!
Ben, Emily, Jon, Iggy and Edward headed straight to the belt and picked off mostly salmon sushi. Then they went around collecting the 'ice-cream sticks' like nobody's business. I did not order anything, I ate whatever everybody could not finish. No wonder I can never lose those excess fats.... I'm the family's trash bin.
So Emily has got a place in the course she wanted in Temasek Polytechnic. As she had scored 9 pts for her L1R5 raw score, some people think she's crazy not to go the junior college route. But it's ok with Laogong and I. Afterall, the university option is still open.
I won't divulge much...
The 7th day is traditionally 'everybody's birthday' or '人 日' as it is the day when everyone is considered one year older. Today is the 7th day of the Chinese New Year celebration...
Technically speaking, I'm a sow...
It's that time of the year again! I've not taken out my X'mas tree since ???? Lazy? Maybe. Then why do I bother with the Lunar New Year? Afterall, both are joyous occasions.
I was and still am, no fan of 007!
Another study has confirmed what wine drinkers have known for eons! Red wine is good... no no, GREAT for us!
OMG! My uniform
This is Edward, one of my many nephews. He's been sleeping over alot lately. As the maid is still sick, I decided to go to the carwash. As usual, Edward was ever ready to tag along. Perhaps he thought I would buy him something at the petrol station?
