Happy Birthday Daddy

My father turned 79 on Wednesday but I was super-busy this week (M9 remember?) so we arranged to have his "celebration" dinner tonight instead.

I was kinda expecting dinner to cost a little more than it did - so when the bill arrived and it was only $61.50 I was over the moon :)

The sister and family joined us for dinner so she split it with me (or I should say, the sister's husband did). 

From extreme left (clockwise):

Venison with Ginger n S/Onions 

Diced Chicken with Cashews

Egg Fu-Yong

Sambal Mussels

Kai-Lan in Garlic

Center: Home-made Tofu

The fried noodles had already been cleared out!

Here's dad chowing down -

And after dinner we headed back to The Sister's house for cake and tea...

...where Jason (+ guitar) and Sandra provided some live entertainment via McFly and Simple Plan songs.

I know it wasn't this super glamorous party or anything and I wish we could have done more for you, but still, I hope you had fun daddy. I love you!

Courtesy Is Alive and Well

There may be hope for our countrymen after all. 

The folks and I were on our way back from Suntec City on Friday and it was about 430 in the evening. Mum scored herself a seat on the ridiculously crowded train (we got on at Paya Lebar) and dad and I hovered where she was seated. These 2 blokes got up and offered their seats to us.

"Oh it's ok, I can stand", I blurted, indicating that they didn't BOTH have to sacrifice their seats. But they would have none of it and so dad and I sat our aching bones down for the journey home. So, this is me saying thanks, fellas!

Here's to you two. Maybe the world isn't ALL bad eh?

Seen this week

And for $8.90 it's a dam good buy! I'll collect my copy tomorrow - thanks to Che-Che Sue : Pop Club member extraordinaire!

I mentioned that Hershey's was coming to the east - Tampines Mall to be exact - but look what I saw while I was wandering around Citilink Mall :)

There can never be too many stores, in my opinion. Mmmm - I can already taste the peanut butter in my mouth!

Study Study Study

If you've been wondering why I've been so out of it lately - here's the reason:

This is the big mama that I've been ploughing thru the last month in preparation for the M9 Exam (as it is affectionately known). The book is tres heavy! 

125 questions. pass mark is 88. that's 70%. 

And I passed. I'm thankful I can still remember stuff even tho it's been ages since I had to study anything. And it's heartwarming to know that my friends have every confidence in me being able to do this (and do it easily, I might add).

Thanks for all the encouragement and motivation guys. I Love You!!

PROOF!

What's with the men these days?

This is a pissy post. If you're not in the mood for it, DON'T READ IT.

Over dinner I had the opportunity to gossip with my girls.

The story was told of a certain feller who couldn't get the girl of his dreams, so he settled for this other girl who really really likes him. Now they've been together for a bit and she's hinting ALL OVER THE PLACE about applying for a flat, looking at bridal magazines, saying how her horoscope makes her an ideal candidate for a wife. (Personally I don't think that has anything to do with it, but, ok...)

When the feller was confronted by friends (who've heard the massive hints on the part of the girlfriend) his answer was this - if I keep quiet I'll be alright.

Dude- wake up. You WON'T be alright. You'll be 50 and living in the mind of an 8 year old.

"So if you don't intend to marry her, why even pursue this relationship?"

"I'm afraid if I give her up I won't be able to find anyone else"

R-i-g-h-t. That makes a lot of sense. Let's see, as a single person you can do whatever you want, go out with whoever you choose, sleep as late as you like, have NO commitments to said girlfriend and won't feel as if your every move is being policed.

Now that you're attached, you're constantly looking for ways to go out sans said girlfriend, refuse to be affectionate to her in public, can't stand it when she calls to ask where you are, don't bother to text or call her...

Tell me again why you're so afraid you can't find someone else? It's not like you're even ENJOYING this relationship you DO have.

Take if from me because I have first hand experience right? If you have the b*lls to break up with her now (CLEANLY) cos you just don't love her that way (or any way, for that matter) she'll be pissed but respect you for your honesty.

If you keep her hanging till she's at her wits' end SHE'LL want to break up with you (leaving you with no one anyway) and on top of that she'll be PISSED AS HELL. This whole let's-do-nothing I-don't-wanna-be-the-bad-guy routine DOES NOT WORK. Haven't you figured that out by now?

Cos if you don't take up the I'm-the-scum-of-the-earth title now, you'll end up with one way worse when your relationship finally does come to an end. 

Ask me how I know. I dare you.

Achmed The Dead Terrorist

I've seen this a bazillion times and it still cracks me up! (I'm not even sure if I've already posted it but since it's a favourite of mine, here it is...)

And here's his Christmas song - Jingle Bombs. ENJOY!

Jiffy Corn Muffins

Last week Che Che Sue called to ask if I could bake these for her if she bought the mix - she's oven-ly challenged :)

The verdict - super easy to do but a little dry for my taste. Having said that, if you throw on some butter / jam / honey / any other spread of choice, it's actually quite yummy taste-wise.

Here are the pictures:

What Am I Watching These Days?

(Pictures and Synopses taken off the web)




1. White Collar 
Starring : Matthew Bomer, Tim DeKay,

WHITE COLLAR revolves around the unlikely partnership of a con artist and an FBI agent who have been playing cat and mouse for years. Neal Caffrey (Bomer), a charming criminal mastermind, is finally caught by his nemesis, G-Man extraordinaire Peter Burke (DeKay). When Neal escapes from a maximum-security prison to find his long-lost love, Peter nabs him once again. Rather than returning to jail for his daring getaway, Neal suggests an alternate plan: he'll provide his expertise to assist the Feds in catching other notorious and elusive criminals. Initially wary, Peter quickly finds that Neal provides insight and intuition that cannot be found on the right side of the law.

Why I watch this:
Cos Matt Bomer's Hot!

2. Dark Blue

Starring : Dylan McDermott, Omari Hardwick, Logan Marshall-Green, Nicki Aycox

Carter Shaw (played by Dylan McDermott) is the head of a crack undercover team of LAPD officers who are so covert, many of their own colleagues do not even know they are involved. His team includes a recently married cop (played by Omari Hardwick) who struggles with personal relationships he has developed while undercover; a shoot-from-the-hip officer (played by Logan Marshall-Green) whose activities make fellow team members wonder if he has gone over to the other side; and a callow patrolwoman (played by Nicki Aycox) brought in because of her excellent skill in lying and her shady past.

Why I watch this:

Cos I like the whole 
undercover rogue thing!

3. Royal Pains

Starring : Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Flint, Reshma Shetty

ROYAL PAINS is a USA cable network television series starring Mark Feuerstein about a young E.R. doctor who, after being wrongly blamed for an important patient's death, moves to the Hamptons and becomes a reluctant "doctor for hire" to the rich and famous. When the administrator of the local hospital asks him to treat the town's less fortunate, he finds himself walking the line between doing well for himself and doing good for others. The series is based in part on actual concierge medicine practices of independent doctors and companies.

Why I watch this:

It's like a medical 
version of McGyver.

Great stuff!

4. Burn Notice

Starring : Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, Sharon Gless, Coby Bel

The show follows the life of protagonist Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), a covert operative who has been "burned" (identified as an unreliable or dangerous agent) and tries to find out why. With his assets frozen, he is unable to leave Miami and forced to live off any small investigative jobs he can find, with the help of his former girlfriend Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar) and his old military friend Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell), who briefly informed on him to the FBI. His return to Miami also reunites him with his mother Madeline Westen (Sharon Gless), who becomes an increasingly important part of Michael's life even as he tries to hide his activities from her. Underpinning the episodic stories of Michael's investigative jobs is the running subplot exploring Michael's efforts to find out who burned him, and to get his job and reputation back.

Why I watch this:

Honestly, I don't know - 
I enjoy it, but I can't put 
my finger on WHAT it is 
that I like about it.

5. Rookie Blue

Starring : Missy Peregrym, Gregory Smith, Enuka Okuma, Charlotte Sullivan, Travis Milne

The drama follows the lives of a group of police officers who have just graduated from the academy. They must learn not only to deal with their duties as police officers, but also deal with the problems and expectation of their families and friends.

Why I watch this:

NOT for the rookies. 
The Detective and 
Training Officer are 
both kinda hot-ish :)

6. Leverage

Starring : Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Aldis Hodge, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf

 LEVERAGE follows a five-person team of thieves, computer experts and con artists, headed up by former insurance investigator Nate Ford, who use their skills to right corporate and governmental injustices inflicted on common citizens.

Why I watch this: 

It's SO SO Clever!

7. Scoundrels

Starring : Virginia Madsen, David James Elliott, Patrick Flueger, Leven Rambin, Vanessa Marano, Carlos Bernard

Cheryl West is a middle-aged woman with four children: twin brothers Logan and Cal, and daughters Heather and Hope, the youngest. After Cheryl's career criminal husband Wolf is sentenced to five years in prison, Cheryl forces her family to quit its criminal activities. However, even from jail, Wolf interferes with her attempts to reform their family.

Why I watch this:

Because before this  ^^ 

<< there was this 

and I'm just a loyal fan!

8. Drop Dead Diva

Starring : Brooke Elliott, Margaret Cho, April Bowlby, Kate Levering, Jackson Hurst, Josh Stamberg, Ben Feldman

The show tells the story of a beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe, Deb, who has a fatal car accident and suddenly finds herself in front of Heaven's gatekeeper, Fred, who declares her a self-centered "zero." Outraged, Deb attempts to persuade Fred to return her to her shallow existence but is accidentally relegated to the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott). A brilliant, thoughtful and plus-size attorney with a loyal assistant (Margaret Cho), Jane has always lived in the shadow of her more comely colleagues, whereas Deb has always relied on her external beauty. Now, by a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, Deb must come to terms with inhabiting Jane's plus-size frame in the ultimate showdown between brains and beauty.

Why I watch this:

Cos it's Lawyer-y and 
Fashion-y all rolled into one

Hershey's - Coming Soon

Last I wrote I was munching on a NutRageous bar. And regretting that I didn't buy more. Well, after the (I assume) success of their first store in Resorts World, Sentosa, Hershey's will now be coming to the heartlands. Tampines Mall promises a new outlet Coming Soon. I can't wait!

Moose? Meese? Mooses?

From Wikipedia:

The moose (North America) or European elk (Europe) (Alces alces) is the largest extantspecies in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a "twig-like" configuration. Moose typically inhabit boreal and mixed deciduous forests of the Northern Hemisphere in temperate tosubarctic climates.

I wish I knew what all those words meant without having to look them up - in my quest to be clever I did :)

palmate - of a leaf shape; having leaflets or lobes radiating from a common point


boreal - toward or located in the north

decideous - (of plants and shrubs) shedding foliage at the end of the growing season

subarctic - of or relating to latitudes just south of the Arctic Circle (I wanted the official definition)

And I'm slightly happier (and smarter) now... 


Oh, and the plural of MOOSE is MOOSE. 

Channel 5-ism

Disclaimer - This post may offend some. In which case, don't blame me if you choose to read on.

I'm convinced that people who aren't fluent in English shouldn't try and pick up a girl in English. Someone wrote me to ask me out on a date - something about coffee this weekend and made mention of how my profile pic was rockstar. Then someone else wrote "hi, how are you doing?"

Now I ask you, who do you THINK I'm going to reply to first?

Also - if all you can talk about is what movie you like, fishing for me to invite you over for drinks, and then say "haha" as a copout whenever you're faced with a potentially explosive line of questioning, don't expect me to be eager for a date. Cos your competitors are out there talking about the demise of graciousness, the intolerance of society towards homosexuality (and lamenting this)  and how non-state institutions, be they business, professional, personal interest, or religious play a useful role in society. 

Dude, I'm 37, not 13. Please go away now.

There Are Lots of Crazies Out There

I think I've been teaching from home for WAY too long. 

Recently I've had reason to go out cos

1) I've begun teaching part time in a music school

2) I'm on the long long road to getting licensed to sell insurance

3) I have to buy suitable work clothes / shoes so I had to trawl the malls.

And I've come to the conclusion that

1) When you wear great shoes, you feel great

2) You never truly realise how fat you've gotten until you've looked at yourself in a fitting room mirror under harsh fluorescent lights

3) The people who live in Singapore leave much to be desired.

I suppose over time I may have forgotten what it's like to have so many people around me that chances for bumping into ID10Ts skyrocket.

Also, I suspect people have gotten less and less gracious ( not that we were all that gracious a society to begin with) over the last 10 years that I've been ensconced in my safe little world (read: my home).

Take for example, the crazy woman who bumped into me 4 times on the bus because she couldn't balance on her seat every time the bus jerked, and then promptly turns and stares and "tsk"s me. Hello? If you sat properly on the seat you wouldn't have to yo-yo back and forth along with the movement of the bus. And then as if that wasn't bad enough, had the gall to tell me to watch how I sit cos my foot was in her space. I'm like - woman, your whole BODY is in my space. And my foot is nowhere NEAR you. Conclusion - mental. 

Or the fellow teacher who was eyeing me suspiciously, then gave me a limp handshake when another teacher introduced us. Sure, look away when you shake my hand. I really didn't want to meet you anyway. And, oh, go ahead and look at my shoes while I'm talking to someone else because I know you covet them. They're the same colour as when I bought them. Unlike yours, which used to be white... I think. I can't really tell cos your toes are hanging out over the base of the sandals you *think* you're wearing. Did I mention we have a dress code? Clearly she didn't get the memo. Conclusion - weirdo.

And then there's this new habit I've noticed of people turning to stare directly at you. When did it stop being impolite to stare? Maybe *I* didn't get the memo. I get at least 2 stares per day. Not the Oh-you're-so-hot-can-we-hop-into-bed kind, mind you. Not even the lecherous Xiao-Jie-yao-bu-yao-zuo-peng-you? kind. These are creepy look-you-up-and-down stares. And people don't bother hiding it. They'll turn their heads to follow you and are totally nonchalant that you KNOW they're staring. Conclusion - rude.

And oh, the taxi drivers. Seriously? It's unsafe to flag a cab anymore. Taxi drivers are a new breed of NUTS. Here are the rules they play by:

1) Do not be polite to any customer. In fact, be as rude as you can. After all, they're now your hostages.

2) Say you know how to get to any destination then totally screw it up. What can they do? Jump out of your cab on the expressway?

3) Ask if there's a preferred route then ignore their answers completely. You're the cabbie, you know best. 

4) When you see someone flagging you down on the side of the road, slow down, then just when they take a step towards you thinking you're going to stop, accelerate and point to your on-call sign (which should NOT be clearly displayed).

So maybe we take the bus right? Wrong. Bus drivers don't realise there are brakes on their buses. They don't seem to understand that a red light means you have to come to a complete stop.. not test out your clutch control and rev the engine to antagonise the old couple trying to cross the street. And since when did asking if this bus goes to Parkway Parade turn into a conversation that required the services of a kindly old man who was willing to translate for me? Surely even if you're NOT Singaporean you should be able to understand THAT right? 

Singapore's a scary place right now. I miss the country I grew up in. Maybe we should bring back the Courtesy Song... 

I did a bit of snooping and it seems I may be on to something. The last campaign was in 2000. So it *HAS* been 10 years. 

I'm shaking my head at this revelation. Are we so pathetic we need a campaign to tell us to be nice?