Variety is the Spice of Life

I love my friends. I really do. But sometimes too much of a good thing can be overwhelming.

Today I had to get up early (by my standards, anyway) to go for a medical checkup so that I can get insured. My agent, also a friend, student's mother and ex-neighbour all rolled into one, came with me.

After subjecting myself to awful service (the clinic staff SO needed some customer-service training) we grabbed her daughter from school and went off to lunch at Changi Sailing Club. You HAVE to try their House Cheeseburger! It's awesome!

Then it was off to Swensen's for ice cream. Oh my love, my Coit Tower. Yes, it has been a while. Yum!

I realised amidst the laughing and chatting that this feeling I've had recently of wanting to be by myself and holing up at home isn't really about wanting to be ALONE. It's more like I needed some time out from the usual suspects.

Which makes me wonder 1) Am I easily bored? Do I always need NEW things - friends, toys, hobbies? or 2) Is it just a matter of being stuck in a rut - always wearing the same type of clothes, talking about the same things, hanging out with the same people at the same places?

Either way I had a good time so I won't dwell on it too much. I'm going to put it down to that old cliche : variety IS the spice of life.

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More Dumpling noodles..

and stuffed eggplant

(Old Hongkong Cafe at Katong Village)

XO carrot cake and calamari

At old hongkong tea house

86 East Coast Rd

Singapore 428788

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I'm a Rat and I'm proud of it

I came across this website on Chinese horoscopes and from what I've seen it's quite accurate. This is what it says about me:

THE WATER RAT

Being guided by the Water element means these Rats have a knack for influencing people. With their strong intellectual powers and great insight, they are also great puzzle solvers. They are quick to understand others and are incredibly practical people. Rats apply their talents to their everyday lives, making them obliging, generous and compassionate to other people. Generally, they are liked and respected by everyone. Like all Rats, however, they can be determined to seek their own gain, and will not mind using these talents to achieve it - though generally without losing anyone's respect in doing so.

AT HOME WITH THE RAT
Rats make good homemakers who are always willing to do household chores. 

THE RAT ON THE JOB

Because of their intellect and observatory powers, Rat people possess prudence and perception. They can anticipate problems, and are always able to see the big picture. They can hone in on issues at hand and make measurable judgments. These skills, combined with their sense of aspiration also make them clever operators. Status, money, title, and recognition are important to the Rat. They have keen senses of observation that allow them to foresee upcoming business opportunities as well as potential occupational problems. The Rat makes a better boss than an employee and, although motivated, they can be pinned down by routines. Rats work better in flexible situations where they can be freely creative.

and look what it says about 

RAT ENRAPTURE
One of the Rat's greatest assets is his charm. Rats can melt hearts with their smiles. Add that to their coquettish personalities and you can easily see how they conquer the hearts of others. And, since Rats love to go out, they have plenty of chances to meet potential suitors or future partners. An annoying quirk of some Rats is they have a difficult time severing ties with former lovers. Obviously, this can pose potential conflicts for the Rat and his new lover and can even endanger his ability to develop new relationships. When the Rat finally settles down with Mr. or Ms. Right, he will find a sincere satisfaction in the intimacy of the partnership.

Tell me it's not true? *Wink*

There's more on the site so go wander around and see if your horoscope is true for you too. Enjoy :)

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CNY : the 15-day plan

The 15-Day Celebration of Chinese New Year

The first day of the Lunar New Year is "the welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth."Many people abstain from meat on the first day of the new year because it is believed that this will ensure long and happy lives for them. On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.

The third and fourth days are for the sons-in-laws to pay respect to their parents-in-law.   The fifth day is called Po Woo. On that day people stay home to welcome the God of Wealth. No one visits families and friends on the fifth day because it will bring both parties bad luck.

On the sixth to the 10th day, the Chinese visit their relatives and friends freely. They also visit the temples to pray for good fortune and health.

The seventh day of the New Year is the day for farmers to display their produce. These farmers make a drink from seven types of vegetables to celebrate the occasion. The seventh day is also considered the birthday of human beings. Noodles are eaten to promote longevity and raw fish for success. On the eighth day the Fujian people have another family reunion dinner, and at midnight they pray to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven.

The ninth day is to make offerings to the Jade Emperor. The 10th through the 12th are days that friends and relatives should be invited for dinner. After so much rich food, on the 13th day you should have simple rice congee and mustard greens (choi sum) to cleanse the system.

The 14th day should be for preparations to celebrate the Lantern Festival which is to be held on the 15th night.

[taken from http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/china/15-day_celebration.html ]

Agyness Deyn

When I first heard her name over soup noodles at Old HongKong I thought, Lamb of God? That's a strange name... That prompted some surfing and so here she is, English model and singer, and one of the top 30 models of the 2000s according to Vogue Paris.

Born Laura Hollins on 16 February 1983, Deyn's name was apparently coined to further her modelling career after she consulted her mother's friend, a numerology expert who advised her of the most 'fortuitous' way to spell the name 'Agnes'. It was reported that her mother Lorraine and sister Emily have both changed their surname to Deyn, while Lorraine has changed the I in her first name to Y. Friends call her Aggy.

 I think she was cuter as a child. But what do I know.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

This clip comes from one of my all time favourite musicals - Fiddler on the Roof. Enjoy!

Guinness Ad

Thanks, DJ for posting this.

Sister dearest, here's the song you like :)

Gossip Guys

Which Gossip Guy gets YOUR vote?


Nate Archibald (left) played by Chace Crawford (25 yrs, 1.83m)

OR 

Dan Humphrey played by Penn Badgley (24 yrs, 1.79m)



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Gossip Girl

In a bid to connect with the younger generation I've begun watching Gossip Girl, a TV series about a bunch of teens in New York's Upper East Side. Gorgeous, bitchy and inevitably entrenched in the world of scheming and plotting that their parents inhabit, these seniors are all about the glitz, the glamour and living it up. 

What started as an attempt at learning more about what my students are watching these days has developed into a real interest in the series. I'm amazed at the amount of what, in my opinion, should be rated 18+ scenes. The series dares to navigate around plotlines involving rehab centres, extra-marital affairs and entering into romantic partnerships for the sake of business. Oh, and sex. But seriously, should 15-year olds be watching this stuff?

If your kids are watching this, here's a bit of advice. Go get your hands on it too so that you can keep an eye on their moral development. Watch it together - there be many drool-worthy cast members!

Twitter me this, Twitter me that

I came across an article about a fellow-tweeter going without Twitter for 2 weeks. 

The thing that struck me most about what he had to say was this:

"Twitter is more or less a fun diversion where I can see what others are saying and chime in from time to time. In that regard, it serves more as a free-form online message board, not a platform for self-promotion as some have called it."

While I myself have mostly only random things to tweet about, and sometimes get into long-winded chats with people online (not the most effective platform to have a chat, I know), I do also recognise that many use it as a place to blast ads or tell the world about how they're now cleaning up their doggy's poo, what they're having for dinner, and how long it took to trim their toenails. I mean, seriously.

Still, I don't take it too seriously and have survived a couple of weeks without logging in at all. It's my when-I've-got-nothing-to-do kill-time activity. If you haven't tried it out, go ahead. Meet some people while staying anonymous at the same time. It's kinda nice. *Smile*

Lapis 2010

The first kueh lapis-es of the year and they're looking good!

All gone soft!

Changi sailing club - banana split FAIL! Check out the wafer.. Talk about tak napsu!

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CNY food - what they mean

Click on the title to read the article, or here's a summary:

-serving a whole chicken symbolizes family togetherness

-noodles represent long life - an old superstition states that it's bad luck to cut it

-clams and spring rolls symbolize wealth; clams = bouillon and Spring Rolls = gold bars

-the Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like rising fortune, so it is very common to serve a lettuce-wrap

-the words for tangerine and orange sound like luck and wealth

-the Chinese word for pomelo sounds like the word for "to have"

-the word for fish, "Yu," sounds like the words both for wish and abundance

( on New Year's Eve it is customary to serve a fish at the end of the evening meal, symbolizing a wish for abundance in the coming year. For added symbolism, the fish is served whole, with head and tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and ending for the coming year)

-Cakes such as Sticky Rice Cake have symbolic significance on many levels- their sweetness symbolizes a rich, sweet life, while the layers symbolize rising abundance for the coming year. Finally, the round shape signifies family reunion.

 

and there you have it. Now go eat, and forget about that cholesterol for a little while.

Currently watching - The Big Bang Theory

Recently I had the privilege of acquiring the first 2 seasons of The Big Bang Theory. Don't ask me how. I could tell you , but then I'd have to shoot you. (Or you'd have to buy my silence by becoming entrenched in the secret world of sacred boxes that I live in - and once you're in, there's no getting out... wait, did that sound like an Eagles hit or is it just me?)

And it has been brought to my attention that while the show's hilarious (I was actually LOL-ing), is it politically (read: socially) correct to be laughing at the antics of the stereotyped Geek?

I know *I* don't laugh at how socially awkward they are, rather it's the way they (in particular, Sheldon) deliver their lines with such serious expressions that really gets me. I think they're extremely good actors. (The 2 main boys in particular.)

But I suppose that some might watch and laugh at the ridiculousness of their behaviour, their "geekiness" as it were. Not a nice thought. Not at all.

Well, I'm as much a geek about some things as the next guy, so have a heart the next time you wanna laugh at someone ok? Look inside and find the geek in you. It's liberating to have a label that you can attach to that bit of you that remembers the year any pop song made it to number one on the charts, or your ability to discuss at length any number of F1 drivers' careers... or even the part of you that can successfully Origami 76 different animals.

Go Geek!

Why In Fact Publishing Will Not Go Away Anytime Soon: A Deeply Slanted Play in Three Acts

One of the more enjoyable things I've read online in a while.

Thanks, DJ, for the FB post.

Happy almost-weekend everybody!

Midnight snack

Blk 56 new upper changi road - tucked away in the corner of the coffeeshop is a little stall that sells satay and barbequed chicken. Good stuff.

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Auspicious Days and Times to start work after CNY

If you want to know when NOT to start work again after the CNY holidays, go take a look at the chart.

I'll be resuming classes on the 17th at 3pm. According to the chart it's safe for me, being neither Dragon nor Ox.

I'll just have to remember not to change lesson times to anything before 1pm cos that's bad for Rats.

This rat will be all snuggled up in bed to make sure NO WORK GETS DONE!

GONG XI FA CAI!

Dumpling noodles

On the quest for passable and good noodles. Canton kitchen on sunday was disappointing. Especially after Old Hongkong the night before. Today's $4 noodles - cheap and good at the corner of east coast road and joo chiat road, diagonally across the road from D'orange:)

Google Chrome

To all Windows users - has anyone actually tried Google Chrome?

I'm tempted to but my PC is sooo prehistoric I'm afraid to download anything these days.

I'm holding my breath as it is, praying each time I boot up that it doesn't choose that day to give up the ghost.

Let me know what experiences you've had with Google Chrome.

Also, keep your fingers crossed that I'll have a little more cash by the middle of the year to build a new PC at sim lim. Oh I can't wait for my pop ups to actually work. (I've been told my "post-to-profile" frames hang because I don't have enough virtual memory, whatever that means.)

The Law of Never Having Enough $$

Earlier this year I was happily doing my sums. With a new student and a part time job, I figured I'd have a bit more moolah to 1)pay off my debts a little sooner; 2) buy new stuff that might need replacing - PC, aircon, couch; 3) treat myself (and my friends) to a slightly higher level of eats (point-point-rice at Lantern is good, but Old Hongkong once in a while - without worrying about being broke - would be nice)

Unfortunately, for some reason, none of these is happening. As soon as I realised how much more cash I would have every month, it became apparent that more and more things needed to be sorted (and paid for) before I could even begin to start enjoying the extra cash.

This sucks. And proves my theory that there IS in fact a law of never having enough $$. It's not even that, as my mum puts it, the more you have the more you'll spend. It's more like, the more you have, the more stuff crops up that you'll have to spend on. 

And so, this is me, one month into 2010, cracking my head once again, trying to figure out how to earn more dough so that I don't have to bat an eyelid (or quiver an eyelash) at spending 20 bucks on dinner.

Lexus Got Kissed

Quick go buy 4D