Reminiscence

When I was younger there was a period in time when I would not say “good-bye” or “bye” to anyone. Instead, I would say “see ya!” in a nonchalant way when in fact it was not.

I was keenly aware that my words carry meaning only I know. It was at a time when I found I am constantly feeling sad about friendships drawn apart by time and changes. It was well into many seasons of people leaving, people coming, people moving all over. It was as if “bye” was taboo and if I keep saying “see you” I would see you again. If not soon, then sometime later.

I am still aware that friends I made in certain phases of my life, I might probably never meet again ever. The thought used to make me cry.

Suddenly a piece of memory came to mind. It was when we were 17 and attending the LEO Forum in Genting Highlands. It was the coolest event of the year. One the first night, Gin fell ill and could not attend the opening dinner. It was the formal night, where everybody got dressed up. The second night was usually themed.

I remember leaving dinner on the first night to buy glucose drink for Gin, who was in our room resting. I remember coming back to our table and Hean Chuan had so thoughtfully got food for me. Unfortunately he got me chicken breasts and I don’t eat chicken breasts. And Jenn said, “See! I told you she doesn’t eat chicken breasts.” I remember the next day CM, CH, me and some other people took a ride on the train around the lake and we took pictures there. CH and I took a picture together and we were unwisely sitting on a bush. Just as the picture was being shot the bush gave way and we were captured in less-than-graceful positions.

I am not sure why I am telling you this. I don’t see how it directly relates to the discontinuation of nicolaephoria.

Yes, I have decided I won’t be blogging anymore, until the season come again if it does, that I should blog once more. I kept it up until now because it made Gin sad.

I could just stop posting and let you come visit and not find me here and you would stop coming. But that would be chicken shit and cruel. And I won’t do that because I’m the sort that needs closure to move on.

This blog would still be here and I am not gone ☺ You can also find me on Facebook and I’ll buy you a drink if you buy me one.

See ya.

Dinner at CafeCafe

My sis have been raving about the food at the fancy French restaurant she works in. It apparently has the best French food in town. I had reservations (feelings, not the table) because I always thought French cuisine is overrated. Especially for it's price.

We did make a real reservation and the food was worth all the rave sis gave :)

No picture of the food because we polished the plates.

Here's some of me and family, though. Sis is not in here because she was our waitress :P

People say I look like my mom. Do I?





I still have not figured out how to rotate pictures in Blogger!

New Year, New Beginnings

It’s corny, I know. New year, new beginnings.

That’s what my church in Singapore proclaimed for 2008. That God would do things He has never done before in our lives. GASP.

The year just barely passed, 2007 – was proclaimed as the year of multiplication, increase, and fulfillment. In some ways that was true for me ☺

So yes, I want everything God wants to do in my life and all the good things He wants to give me. Yes, and Amen.

A few people asked me if I have resolutions for the New Year. I don’t make resolutions. But I do intend to do these:

1. Gain at between 2-3kg. Trust me, it is tough.
2. Exercise more.
3. Learn how to in-line skate so my Rollerblades don’t hibernate in the box. Also because of No.2 and so that Auntie Cindy won’t laugh at me.
4. Save money, finally.

Honestly the first would be the toughest to achieve. Especially for the weight to be strategically distributed!!! I need an instructor :P

Here’s wishing all of you a blessed and wonderful new year. Cheers!

Grand adventures

I’ve recently been asked by a friend to join him in surfing.

Ha ha.

Me.

Surfing.

Or is that so impossible?

My main concern is that I cannot swim to safe my life. I could perhaps float. I once told my former flatmate, who is a swimming coach, that I get embarrassed thinking of how badly I swim that I don’t.

My other main concern is pigmentation. Yep.

If I go out in the sun more, it would just hasten the development of dark spots on my face – as little freckles they may be cute but they would soon disastrously grow and grow and grow and grow and grow and grow and…

In any case, this friend is a surf addict. He also recently told me that on a rainy day he paddled really far out into the sea because the surf was there, and he was paddling because no boat would take him out. I called him crazy but he said he knows what he is doing. And actually, I trust that he does.

To be honest I am curious with what it feels like. Would it be something like hang gliding? I imagine the feeling of immense freedom once again.

Nature is so vast and I am so small that being in a situation where that contrast is tangibly (?) felt puts me in awe.

The caress of the wind, the power of the waves; all the glory of God. And then one mortal creature deriving immense enjoyment of being in that midst; delighting in God’s creation and the harmony of that creation.

I wanted to tell my friend perhaps that also pleases and delights God who is looking down from heaven above :)

A lovely and fun-loving little girl of 28 started this year with the resolution of seeking great adventures. I’ve lost touch with her since we went hang gliding together. I hope she found her adventures and that they would all be worth it.

A toast to an amazing 2007 and a promising 2008.

The longest tag!!!

Rena, this is only because I love you OK? :P


1. Name one person who made you laugh last night.

My flatmate and good friend Aileen, as we were talking about things that we want to pray for each other. Needlessly said, we digress.

2. What were you doing at 0800?

I have no cognition of that time.

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?

Answering work emails.

4. What happened to you in 2006?

Was a bad year, don't want to recall.

5. What was the last thing you said out loud?

Ma! Do you want to get changed now?

6. How many beverages did you have today?

One- "home made" barley at the kopitiam downstairs :P

7. What color is your hairbrush?

I don't use a brush cos I have wavy hair. But I comb while rinsing off the conditioner and that comb is purple in colour.

8. What was the last thing you paid for?

Breakfast, with mom.

9. Where were you last night?

At home. I'm a homebody.

10. What color is your front door?

Terracota, as with all the other HDB units in my area!!

11. Where do you keep your change?

In a bowl in my room.

12. What’s the weather like today?

Cloudy in the morning, raining right now.

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?

Vanilla by and only by Haagen Daaz

14. What excites you?

Vacations by the beach where you do nothing; and doing fun stuff like ww rafting and hang gliding, etc. Shopping for nice things. I don't get easily excited, actually...

15. Do you want to cut your hair?

A la Rena, I'll keep it long, thank you.

16. Are you over the age of 25?

Someone recently said I look like I could be 12. Go figure. Someone also said we should stop counting at 27.

18. Do you watch the O.C.?

The only channels I watch are CNBC, Hallmark and Discovery Travel and Living. And ESPN when there is F1.

19. Do you know anyone named Steven?

Yes.

20. Do you make up your own words?

Yes, and then I define them. Check out the name of my blog.

21. Are you a jealous person?

A little, I think...

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’.

Aileen.

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’.

Karen [Ho]

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list?

Lost my phone in Bali, and SIM card just got reactivated. Lots of messages but no calls yet.

25. What does the last text message you received say?

"Morning! I got many questions to ask about your faith but too many for SMS. It's really nice here [in Bali], thanks for letting me join you guys. I hope to catch up with you soon."

26. Do you chew on your straw?

Yes.

27. Do you have curly hair?

Wavy, but around the fringes they get curly.

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to?

Take mom to Suntec city for the Duck Tour (which I really want to go to except I have meetings in the office!)

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life?

I don't remember them.

30. What was the last thing you ate?

Toast with butter and kaya, with teh-o.

31. Will you get married in the future?

Only God knows and I believe His timing is perfect. So would be His will and choice.

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?

C'est tout ensemble - a French movie starring Audrey Tatou, on board the plane to Bali.

33. Is there anyone you like right now?

I like a lot of people. I like 90% of the people I know. Others, I don't remember them.

34. When was the last time you did the dishes?

Yesterday.

35. Are you currently depressed?

"Depression is meditation of the wrong information". I have the Truth :)

36. Did you cry today?

Nope.

37. Why did you answer and post this?

Because I love Rena. And because otherwise, I would need to use more grey matter to come up with a post.

38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey.

No thanks.

Cute and funny

Cute and funny don't take away pain, but they help.

I went to the neighbourhood clinic for the first time since we moved in here and discovered that Dr Richard Lee is really cute and funny. About the cutest doctor since Dr Brad Davis, the neurologist I worked for part-time at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

I kinda wished I didn’t have to go see him for an illness as embarrassing as urinary tract infection. Too bad he is married with kids (pictures all over his clinic) or I might fall ill more often. Just kidding!!

I was the third patient in line and I really couldn’t keep still because I was in great pain and I keep wanting to pee but I also don’t want to pee because it hurts really bad.

Dr: Have you had this before?
Me: Not this bad, not that I can remember.
Dr: Usually, it comes back once you have it and if it is not treated well.
Me: Is it serious? (He had a grave look, ok?)

He asked me if I had loin pains and I was like, what’s that? I have a different sort of pain!

Dr: It happens for a number of reasons. It could be because of dehydration (possibly), holding back your pee (maybe), or sexual intercourse (definitely not).

He looked at me and I looked back at him. Was he expecting me to answer that aloud? But it wasn’t a question.

It turns out my symptoms say it is a “classical” urinary tract infection and it should go away in three to five days.

Me: You mean the pain is going to last three to five days?? (My tolerance for pain approaches zero).
Dr: No, the irritation is caused by inflammation and that should be reduced with the antibiotics. The pain will become less and less.
Me: Can you give me something that will take away the pain quickly?
Dr: Yes… but this is not miracle ok? (Gives me wide eyes and smiles). It will take time to work.
Me: I know.
Dr: This particular medicine will change the Ph of your pee but it will also turn your pee orange. Like really orange. Bright orange. (Wide eyes again).
Me: Ok, orange (I gave him serious, wide eyes back).
Dr: No, really, are you listening? Some people don’t listen and then they panic and rush back here. (Smiles)
Me: Yes, orange!
Dr: Ok, and the blood come with the pee?
Me: I guess.
(Gives me a quizzical look)
Me: Well, it’s not my menses! And it definitely comes with pee.
Dr: But you have to know where it comes from, like the upper, middle or lower…
Me: It definitely comes with my pee! (Do NOT blush!)

I am SO glad he does not have to examine me!!!

Dr: You have to come back in five days for us to test your urine to make sure the infection is all gone.
Me: Ok.
Dr: Are you allergic to anything?
Me: Cats. (Stops short and turns to me with a bemused look)
Dr: What?
Me: Cats! I sneeze nonstop and I tear and I fall sick.
Dr: O-k (scribbles something on my records). You need an MC?
Me: Yes please (I have not slept since 4am when I went to sit on the throne and could not be parted with it).

I am still in pain and will be glad to see Agent Orange.

To nuke or not to nuke? You have the answer...

I found out from one of my discussions with our country heads that there is technology to "neutralise" the radioactivity of nuclear waste fuels.

There are two types of nuclear wastes, it seems. "Nuclear waste" are those leftover from fissile reactions (which creates energy) that are of low to moderate radioactivity. "Nuclear waste fuel" are those leftovers that are of high radioactivity, which can be used to make nuclear weapons.

The buyers of uranium enters into a contract with the sellers (a small number of countries in the world) to transport the waste fuel back to the sellers, who have the technology to neutralise their radioactivity so that no one can take advantage of the waste fuel to make weapons (other than the sellers, of course, which have all proven to be belligerent nations some time or other in history).

"Then why can't the buyers send ALL grades of waste back to the sellers to be neutralised" asked moi.

Because it would cost too much, was the logical answer. So that's why we have cases of radioactive waste being buried deep underground, albeit in supposedly omni-proof containers. Still, nobody wants them in their backyard. Do you?

Then please don't turn your air-conditioner to 16C 24x7 because otherwise, there would be no other way to meet wasteful consumption than going nuclear.