Pacey's Tots

Determination!

2011-12-21T20:54:00.000+08:00

About 2 weeks back, I went back for my regular checkup. Finally, I've reached the "no-scans" stage of checkups.

To me, it's an upgrade of sorts. It's like I've reached a stage where I have a lower risk of having a relapse. However, yet at the same time, I wonder if the comprehensive blood test done is enough to determine if I'm absolutely in the pink of health. Not that I don't trust my doctor, but it's like I have not been scrutinized enough, if you may. Crazy thoughts, but yah, I don't mind doing a PET scan.

And with this, I'm afraid I would get complacent. Diet is the only thing that I can control of what goes into my body. With this, it seems like a "green light" to have my favourite instant noodles and luncheon meat, which is not exactly good for me.

But, DETERMINATION is key. 6 years in remission and counting! :-)

Parenting101?

2011-10-26T22:19:00.000+08:00

I remembered when I was younger, growing up and trying to be a little adult, I refused to hold my parents' or guardian's hand while crossing the road. I wanted to show them I was old enough to cross the road on my own, but they nevertheless still grabbed my hand or arm and refused to let go. Now I finally know why they did what they did... They wanted to make sure I'm safe and to protect me.

Whenever I see kids running around without supervision at the supermarket or at some eating place, I get angry at their parents/guardian. People are pushing trolleys or carrying trays of hot food. Should the kid gets knocked by the trolley or gets scalded by the hot food, who's the blame? So, I tell myself, my kid should never leave my side in case any accident happens.

That CCTV footage of 2 vehicles running over a little toddler in Foshan, China, attracted a lot of attention worldwide. Some criticized the people who walked past the scene without rendering any help, some criticized the lady who helped saying she helped because she wants to be famous, some criticized the drivers, some criticized the moral values of the country, some criticized the law and policies, etc.. I'm not here to point fingers at who's right or wrong, nor am I writing this to criticize on morals, law, policies, etc..

When I first saw the footage, I was horrified and shocked. A little girl, lying in a pool of blood being ignored. Of the first few questions I had after watching the footage, one was "where are the parents"... I then shared the footage on Facebook. One of the reasons why I decided to share was because I want it to serve as a reminder to myself, not to let my kids venture away from me, from my sight. Accidents do happen, and it's up to me to protect my kid and keep him/her as safe as possible to try to prevent an accident from happening...

Restoration Of Pearly Whites - Part 8

2011-10-26T21:45:00.001+08:00

This will be a real quick update...
With work on the upper jaw completed, work started on my lower jaw two Fridays back. Two front teeth did not need to take the root canal route.
Went back to the clinic last Friday again to work on the tooth on the right of the two front teeth, and no root canal needed as well. Checked on the wisdow teeth extraction wounds and everything's ok as well.
Will be back at the clinic again this Friday to work on the teeth to the left of the two front teeth...

10 Warning Signs Of Cancer

2011-10-06T20:49:00.000+08:00

Recently I came across an article titled 10 Warning Signs Of Cancer. I shared the link on Facebook and thought I could share some thoughts about the article. You can read the article here.

For those who are going to laugh or brush this off, let me put things into perspective: I HAD 4 out of these 10 warning signs. I'm not saying that when one has these 10 symptoms or warning signs, one has cancer. But it DEFINITELY calls for a visit to the doctor.

The 4 I had were:
1) Fatigue and weakness
I slept, and I slept a lot. A few months before I was first diagnosed, every weekend, without fail (unless I had to wake up early), I'll be having a good long session of about 13- to 15-hours. If I do not have to wake up for work the next day, I'll be clocking in those hours as well. And it is not because I sleep late on weekdays and hence I needed to catch up on my beauty sleep. I usually sleep by 12 midnight and wake up at 7am.
I felt tired easily and after work, I simply had no energy to do anything.
2) Unusual bleeding
The first nose bleed on CNY was brushed off as too much bak kwa, hence heaty, hence nose bleed. If I recall correctly, the second nose bleed came about 3-4 weeks later, the third was about 2 weeks later. Then it became more frequent, to a weekly affair, then to once-in-2-3 days affair.
3) Swollen lymph nodes
There was a swell below my right ear, near the jaw, on the neck. The swell never once subsided, it just grew and grew and grew. Turning my head was such a chore as it was damn painful.
4) Persistent pain, fever, cough
A few months before I was diagnosed, I fell ill quite frequently, with flu and cough. Ok, maybe we could or want to pass that off as immunity weak or I was working too hard, etc...
However, we cannot disregard the fact that I started to have fever on the night after I had my first radiotherapy session (blog post here). The fever never left and I started to have backaches as well (blog post here). Even a few weeks after I'm done with radiotherapy, the fever and backaches still haunted me (blog post here). It was only after a PET scan was done, that we realised that my cancer had spread.

Please remember that for some cancers, there's a higher chance of survival if it's diagnosed during the early stages. I'm probably a miracle case as I was 2-6 months away from knocking on death's gate. Who could have thought that one with liver and bone metastasizes could survive? Moreover, from the day I was first diagnosed till the day it was discovered that it has spread, it was just a little more than 3 months. In 3 months, the cancer cells decided to turn aggressive, wreck havoc and party round my body. Even my oncologist said that chemo is to help keep me around longer, with the option to cure.

It's your life and it pays to be vigilant.

Restoration Of Pearly Whites - Part 7

2011-10-05T21:15:00.000+08:00

And the whole climax arc starts from here!

Last Friday, it was yet another dental appointment. This time, it's really starting work on fixing my smile. Dr Lee first took impressions of my teeth. Then he started drilling away the decayed parts of my 4 front teeth on the top jaw. Good news is the decays did not go too close the nerves and hence, we were allowed the option of putting in fillings or to continue with root canal and crowning. And so after weighing out the pros and cons and the whole scenario, we chose to do fillings.

Why fillings over root canal and crowning? No one can be really sure and confident how long the fillings or crowns will last. To do root canal and crowning, much more drilling is needed to be done and the already weakened structure of my teeth will be further weakened by the additional loss of the teeth's natural structure. By doing fillings, I can retain a little more of the teeth's natural structure, so I decided on take the least damaging route. Should the teeth further decay, then root canal and crowning can be considered at a later stage.

This Friday, I'll be back at the dental clinic, starting work on my lower jaw. Dr Leong will be attending to me instead of Dr Lee. Dr Lee is a root canal specialist, so since we are doing fillings, Dr Leong will start doing the drilling and all first. Should any particular tooth needs to take the root canal route, then Dr Lee will take over for that tooth.
Dr Lee is so sweet. I was mentioning after the fillings were done that my teeth felt heavier and perhaps I'm not used to them yet. He called me yesterday to find out if I'm coping well, if there's any sensitivity, discomfort, pain and all! Actually I'm doing fine and I'm more used to extra "weight" already. This is actually my first time having a doctor to call and check on me. Really touched by his gesture...

Honestly, I'm kinda hoping I don't have to take the root canal route at all. Why take away some healthy parts when they are still useful right? Will update again after this Friday!

Restoration Of Pearly Whites - Part 6

2011-09-11T17:01:00.000+08:00

Went to remove stitches on Thursday. Good news is the dentist was pretty pleased with the progress of the healing, no exposed bones and all.
Bad news is that with the stitches removed, there isn't a "cover/blanket" of sorts to shield the holes from bits of food. Some friends have given me the advice of using a syringe to help clear bits of food stuck in the holes. Tried it yesterday and I guess probably my frequent rinsing is working well, so didn't spot any bits of food. heheh...

Because of radiotherapy treatment in the past, the main worry/ issue is that the wound would not heal at all. Although my progress is much slower than others, at least it is healing. Maybe I worry too much, but I guess I'm going to hold off chewing solid food still. At least for another week or so...

And finally, after ranting and ranting about the dumb template and all, I finally managed to customise it earlier in the afternoon. Doesn't look as close as how it does in the past. I still can't figure out how to customise each little part. For example, the AdSense banner just below the blog header. Using the little html knowledge I have, I was able to change the size of the banner. Now, when I click on "edit html", everything looks so foreign and, honestly, I totally catch no ball. Haiz....

Restoration Of Pearly Whites - Part 5

2011-09-06T19:09:00.000+08:00

Before I begin on the update, I have something to say.
Blogger.com, give me back my old template!!! I clicked on the "Try the updated Blogger interface". Realizing that my blog template changed and I had to customize from scratch, I did not save the changes and then switched it back to the current interface. And guess what, the template that you are looking at now remained. WELL DONE... Why wasn't there any prompting that blog template/designs would not be kept?! So now, I will probably have to burn my weekend editing and customizing a template.
I do have a CSS template saved eons ago, but I can't edit CSS no matter how hard I try. At least using it as a guide, I will be able to know how my right hand bar used to look like and what links it had, and work something out...

Ok, back to the update on my teeth...
I don't know if it's me and my eyes, but my right cheek still looks more puffy compared to the left. Maybe I'm aware of the stitches on the inner right cheek, hence I feel this way. Once in a while, the wounds on the lower jaw still ache a little, like what I drink something too hot or something too cold, or when I open my mouth too big, or when I yawn.
Though there are stitches, I can see from the lower jaw that not the entire gaping hole is being stitched up. Comparing now to when I first saw the wounds, the holes seem to be a little teeny weeny bit smaller. I dunno if the holes are meant to be closed up, but if they are, then I guess that's good news.

I kinda know how Survivor contestants feel when they are able to brush their teeth with toothpaste after not being able to for a period of time, especially for contestants who get booted to Ponderosa.
I didn't brushed my teeth since Day 1 of the extraction, only using mouth rinse, because I don't dare to open my mouth that wide. Even when I was able to, I was afraid the bristles might get caught in the stitches, so I brushed lightly without any toothpaste in the event the foam blurred out everything inside my mouth, and then followed up with the mouth rinse.
Finally, on yesterday night, I brushed my teeth with toothpaste for the first time in 12 days. The feeling is super shiokness and it felt super clean. I probably only brushed the 8-12 front teeth, as I'm still afraid, but it was very satisfying! The shiokness and clean feeling of brushing my teeth with toothpaste this time surpasses the shiokness and clean feeling of bathing after Poly softball training (where we used to pull/drag each other into/around the mud after trainings).

Restoration Of Pearly Whites - Part 4

2011-08-30T23:46:00.000+08:00

As each day passes, I'm able to open my mouth bigger. I try not to open too big as I'm still on painkillers and afraid that because the pain is numbed, I'm actually stretching it and aggravate the wounds.

Today, I saw the wounds on the lower jaw. Maybe I've just eaten... Saw bits of food stuck on the ends of the stitching threads. Grossed me out a little. Perhaps I should start brushing the back few teeth as well or maybe just live on a liquid diet.
Saw some stitches on my inner cheeks as well, probably that's why my inner cheeks felt sore the other day.

The wounds are no longer itching that much, still aching a bit but I still dare not take myself off the painkillers. But I have to try because the painkillers have a little groggy/drowsy effect on me.
Overall, I think I'm coping better as each day passes, but now I'm starting to get scared... I'm scared of the pain when the stitches are removed. *Shudders* 6 years back around this time, I went through throbbing stabbing pain, even painkillers cannot numb the pain totally. My tolerance level of pain should be pretty good aye? But I can't take the aching pain now, that's why I'm still taking the painkillers...

Restoration Of Pearly Whites - Part 3

2011-08-28T14:32:00.000+08:00

Some updates as per the last post... No, did not go for more extractions or started on the root canal and crowning yet, but just some happenings...

Remember I was saying that the wounds are itching, rather than being painful? I'll take that back... From Day 3 on, they are itching and there's an aching pain to it. It gets more intense when the painkillers are wearing off, while rest of the time, it just itches.
Dear's remedy to the itch: put an ice pack on the cheek. It works quite well actually. But I have to be careful not to press too hard. I actually do have a habit of cupping my jaw with my hand and resting my face on my hand when I'm in front of the computer. Perhaps this experience will cut the habit.
As for the pain, I'm dutifully taking it as per prescribed. I stopped taking thinking there was no pain, but when I woke up yesterday, it was aching and sore. So I had no choice but to take.

I'm still on a soft diet, anything that let me minimize on chewing... Eg, minced meat, smashed fish, smashed carrots, porridge, soy beancurd, soggy cut noodled, ice cream, milk, milo, etc. I'm eating almost every 2-3 hours or so when I'm awake, get hungry a little easier. Feel like I'm a baby...

Some of my friends were wondering why I chose to extract all at one go and not split it into 2 treatments. I figured that while doing root canal and crowning, I would probably be suffering the same thing, so if I could cut short the suffering period, I would rather do so. Go through it all at once, rather then again and again.
Some were also joking that I got a little shortchanged by doing so. The dentist usually gives a 5-7 days MC for wisdom tooth extraction. So if I were not to extract all at once, I could have gotten at least 20 days of MC. hahahah... No thank you, I don't think I can take it...

Restoration Of Pearly Whites - Part 2

2011-08-26T17:51:00.000+08:00

As per the last post, I didn't start on the root canal and crowning right away as I needed to extract all four wisdom teeth plus a molar, which are all infected and are seemingly "time bombs".

Yesterday was the extraction. As one of the wisdom teeth was partially embedded and my gum has to be cut, I chose sedation as I didn't want to feel a thing. So, there I was lying down on the dentist chair with pulse and blood pressure readers all hooked up. The anesthetist was asking me what's my weight, I gave him my answer. Then he commented that that was light, so did the oral surgeon, and I knocked out. Can't remember a single thing after that.
I could only recall someone calling my name, but I couldn't open my eyes. I heard the nurse asking someone "wake up already?", and that someone, the boyfriend, answered "not yet". When he came into the room, I have no freaking idea.
When I finally woke up, I was still kinda groggy, kinda couldn't walk very straight. My whole cheekbone to chin area was numb and my throat was damn freaking dry. Couldn't really talk... Got briefed about the mouth rinse and my check up was set on 8 Sep. Went to the toilet and attempted the drip some water down my throat, but even the back of my mouth is numb. The water, mixed a little of the blood, ended up dripping out of my mouth and staining my tee. Changed the gauze, caught a cab and went home. I can't remember where the boyfriend and I caught the cab from and who paid for the cab.
Upon reaching home, I changed and set the alarm clock to wake up and take my painkillers and antibiotics. When I woke up when the alarm rang, and the boyfriend was trying to dig me up to take the meds. If I recall correctly, I think I told, or rather slurred to him that my mouth is still numb and there's no way I can swallow the meds. Not too sure if I went back to sleep again or I just lied in bed...
When I finally sobered at about 3 (according to my Facebook post), I brought my laptop out to the living room and plonked myself in front of the TV. Mouth was still numb and I have no idea how I'm going to swallow the meds. At about 4 plus (again according to my Facebook post), I felt the aching and pain start to set in, so I told myself, die die also have to swallow the meds. I heated up soy beancurd and swallow it bit by bit, but it was damn difficult still. When I finished eating, the numbness seemed to go away a little, I could feel my left cheek n and left corner of my lower lip, but right side still can't feel a thing... But I still managed to swallow the meds.
At night, my inner cheeks started to feel damn sore... I still managed to brush my teeth a bit and rinsed my mouth with the mouth rinse. But I had trouble sleeping lying down. The top right wound seems to ache more when I lie down, so I went to the living room and brought the beanbag in and onto my bed. I slept in a reclined position.
And when I found the best position, the wounds started to itch a little. I was so hoping that I don't stick a finger into my mouth to scratch them and that my tongue will stay good and not go and play with the wounds. Improvising from a friend's advice to line the pillows with towels just in case I drool, I tied a towel around my neck and treated it like a bib. And then I finally went to sleep...

This morning my alarm woke me up to take my antibiotics. Went back to sleep after taking and finally woke up at about 1+ in the afternoon. Freshened up, had lunch, took meds and starting working. It's weird that the wounds are itching and aching, rather than being painful. But I guess that's good news because it means the wounds are healing!

One thing I still can't figure out... I had extracted adult teeth before when I was younger because of braces. But I don't recall the wounds being so troublesome!!! They don't itch and I can open my mouth wide. Now, I can't, and my inner cheeks are still dam freaking sore...

The Winner Of Glee Project Is...

2011-08-26T16:53:00.000+08:00

Sam and Damian!!! Both of them won 7 episodes arcs and I'm one super happy girl!

Ryan Murphy built up suspense, talking to Alex and Lindsay and telling them they did not win. Thus, it was down to Sam and Damian and Ryan said Sam won. After all the cheering and all between the 4 on stage, Ryan talked to Damian. And he, being ever so earnest, real and sweet, said that he was happy that Sam won. And then Ryan told him that he won too. The image of him jumping up and down on the stage still brings a smile to my face. So damn blardi cute!

Then Ryan called to both Alex and Lindsay. Telling them that the writers would like to write a guest-starring 2 episodes arc for each of them too. So, all won something in the end!

I hope the writers would do something for Hannah and Cameron too! heheheh

And I Forgot...

2011-08-23T04:13:00.002+08:00

Dear Blog,

I didn't mean to forget your 10th birthday... I'm really very very sorry...

Been kinda busy with work and my own stuff, thus instead of trying to blog as planned, I selfishly chose to chillax and stone my time away. But I've never never ever beared any thought of abandoning you because you are the only one who can neverendingly tolerate all my nonsense, whines and rants. You are the only one who can tolerate my tantrums. Ok, probably cos you are a non-living thing... But you are always here, listening to me whenever I need to clear my thoughts of clutter. I will try to blog more often k?

Nevertheless, Thank You for being thru soooo much with me, thru my ups and downs, thru the period where I was almost knocking on death's gates, thru my happy times and sad times, thru EVERYTHING in the past 10+ years of my life.

Love you deep deep! *muaaacccckkkkssss*

The Glee Project - Down To Final 4...

2011-08-18T01:31:00.000+08:00

Ok, I'm finally up to date and just finished episode 9 of The Glee Project. Watching some of my favourites go one by one, it's super heartbreaking.

First of them to go was Marissa von Bleicken. Pretty gal with a good voice. She brings it on every week and is dynamic on screen, the camera loves her!
Week 6, and the theme was Tenacity. She won the Homework Assignment, but the judges felt she fell short a little during the music video shoot and she just wasn't how she was week in week out. During the Last Chance Performance, she was up against Alex Newell and Cameron Mitchell, and the judges picked a song that they had sung from their auditions. She did a good job, but Alex and Cameron did fabulously great, hence she was sent home.
Some questions Ryan would ask himself before deciding was "how to write a character for that person", "how would this person fit into Glee", etc... Honestly, I really don't know what kinda character Marissa could play. But thinking about the cast who are graduating at the end of S3 and what kinda characters are missing, I was thinking she could probably be some kinda hot nerdy chick? But that isn't much character/plot development to talk about eh?

Next was dear Cameron. He's so darn nerdy cute! He's a singer-songwriter, who performed an original song during auditions. Now, that's what we are missing on Glee, a singer-songwriter. Yes, New Directions is a show choir club, they do not need originals. But it would be a very interesting character to put in.
Ryan had been always wanting to write in a character with strong religious beliefs and Cameron fit into this character so darn well! He's so pure and innocent, that when Lindsay Pearce kissed him on the lips impromptu during a music video shoot, he felt that he had cheated on his girlfriend of 2 years. It's acting, but he felt that it was still wrong. He's suuuch a sweetie-pie!!!!! Awwwwww...
During the Last Chance Performance, Ryan told him he had always been wanting to write that character. If plot develops and Cameron has to kiss Rachel Berry's character, he said Cameron would be a showstopper because of his own personality. And Cameron said he wants out. Ryan told him that that decision saved Damian McGinty. What makes it so darn heartwrenching is that Cameron and Damian are the best of buds! Seeing Cameron cross out Damian's name in the "not called back" list and writing his own name just broke my heart...

3rd one to go was Hannah McIalwain. To make it bad enough for me, all 3 of them were eliminated one after another, week after week... The week's theme was Believability, but during the music video shoot, she wasn't totally in the zone. During the Last Chance Performance, she didn't really connected and convinced with the song.
Hannah is so loveable and she is one character that Glee hasn't seen yet. Yes, we have a plus size gal already, but Lauren Zizes is like the cool type, while Hannah could be a cute, loveable, bubbly one. She can rap and they call her MC Hannah. LOL!

And now, 4 are left in the finals. Well, it was supposed to be Top 3, but I guess since the theme was Generosity, none were cut. So, here's a round up and my thoughts about the last 4...
Lindsay is a real life Rachel Berry, she IS the obnoxious and try-to-be-perfect Rachel Berry. It would be interesting to have another Rachel Berry character, since the original one is going to graduate and New Directions will need another female lead. But I kinda think it's no point having another Rachel Berry kinda character, it just doesn't feel fresh.
Alex is a cross of Mercedes Jones and Kurt Hummel, so where does this get him? I think it would be great to see an episode where Alex and Mercedes can trash out who's the real diva. Alex could also be love interest to Dave Karofsky and sistas to Kurt and Blaine Anderson?

The remaining 2 are also my faves and I'm so hoping one of them would win...

Samuel Larsen is special. He looks like a cool, collected, tough rocker, bad-boy kinda guy. But like Cameron, he was raised in a traditional Christian family.
He was afraid his mum would be upset that he was romancing Alex in a music video shoot. During a Last Chance Performance, that was touched on a little. He explained to his mum that it was only acting and his mum was very supportive.
I could see Ryan writing that religious character for him. He is slightly different from Cameron. Cameron has this innocent boy thing and kissing on reel is a no-no, though it's acting, but that's what makes him sweet. Sam knows when he's acting and when it's for real. But he's sooooo darn cool, it's like there's a shield and you are unable to get inside of him...

Damian is another cutie-pie. His Irish accent makes him so cute!!! Of the 4, he seems the most real. He doesn't look like he's hamming up for the camera and he feels sincere. He grows every week and regardless if he or Sam wins, I'll be one happy girl.
I kinda think he's a perfect character to write for. A boy comes from Ireland with his family as his dad got a job posting in the US. He's an outcast because of his accent and joins New Directions because he loves to sing! As the winner, one would get a 7 episode stint on Glee, so at the end of the 7th episode, his dad's job assignment ends and he returns to Ireland. Tada! Perfect!

Yeah, and now it's time for me to hit the sack...

Restoration Of Pearly Whites - Part 1

2011-08-01T20:14:00.000+08:00

Was all psyched up and prepared for root canal and crowning, and of course, the pain to start last Friday. But x-rays reveal a much more complicated case... All of my four wisdom teeth plus a molar are infected and are seemingly “time bombs“ which have to be extracted asap.

As I had radiotherapy before, my oncologist has to be consulted first, as the gum may not heal properly for someone who has gone through radiotherapy, for example, yours truly here. Thankfully one of my consulting dentist is the daughter of my oncologist, and because my case was a “time bomb“ one, a few text messages settled the go-ahead quickly. Otherwise, with the waiting for official letters and visits and ding dong here and there, it might take ages for the "yes, extraction is ok" answer to come through.

Once my oncologist gave the ok, calls were made to the oral surgeon and the anesthetist. As the wisdom tooth on my lower left grows sideways and is partially embedded, my gum has to be cut. I do not want to feel anything while my gum is being cut, so i chose sedation. When it was confirmed that 25th Aug will be the day I lose 5 teeth, it was discussion time. We threw up a few scenarios, basically wondering whether to start root canal and crowning first, and if the temporary crowns could last long enough till extraction wounds heal and all temporary crowns are fitted to make the final impression for the permanent ones. And we are afraid that the temporary ones would not last...

And thus, the earliest sight of any pearly whites would be early Oct, unless the extraction wounds heal faster than the estimated one month time frame... But still, it is going to be quite some time till all 8-10 teeth are nicely crowned, as the root canal specialist will be only doing 2-3 each visit... I cannot imagine doing all in just 1 or 2 visits, either I'll end up having a locked jaw or the root canal specialist will end up with sore arms muscles and become crossed-eyed.

P/S: For those who want to find out why my teeth are in such horrendous state, please read the previous post

Cancer Battle Post Mortem - 6 Years On

2011-07-28T20:52:00.001+08:00

Its officially 6 years since the day I'm done with radiotherapy treatment, but am still having the side effects due to it...

Firstly, stinko breath...
It's due to the scab / dried mucus thingy... Every few days or so, I would have to gargle some salt water and then throw/expel the salt water out via my nostrils. In the process of doing so, it softens the scab and dislodges it from the walls of the back of my nose, so it's easier to purge it out. ok, a bit TMI, i know...

Secondly, the 2 bald patches at the back of my head...
Well, thank God they can be concealed cos I've got long hair and the patches are pretty much nearer to the neck. Got a few super fine baby strands of hairs growing, but that's about it. I'm kinda speculating it is gonna be like this forever cos the roots are pretty zapped dead.

Last but not least, my teeth...
They are in a super duber uber horrendous state with decay stains and all. I visited the dentist last Saturday and asked him to fix and restore my smile. He got pretty shocked and did nagged, asking why didn't I go back often to see him. My bad, I admit. When I went there, honestly, I was prepared to get a huge nagging/scolding...
And so, come tomorrow afternoon, I'll embark on a journey to restore my pearly whites by doing crowning... I did some reading online to find out more about the procedure, and it seems to be quite *FARKING* painful. I've got phobia of butterflies (guess whoever's reading this must be either shocked or laughing their heads off) and I really don't like the feeling of them fluttering in my stomach right now... And at the same time, I can already feel the drilling on my teeth... And yet, I can't wait for it to be done so I can have nice nice teeth! I'm nervous, scared shit, and excited at the same time! Can I just fast forward the time to 2359hrs Friday, 29th July 2011? HAHAHAHAH
I'm guessing I'd probably be making a few trips to the dentist in the few weeks or so... Who likes going to the dentist? Not me... But no pain no gain! May God bless me with strength and courage! :-)

But going through crowning is not the most shocking or scary discovery made. It is discovering that 2 of my wisdom teeth have decayed and "disintegrated" to the point that there's only half of each tooth left. Any normal human being would already be running to the dentist, complaining of pain, and demanding that something needs to be done immediately. For me, because of radiotherapy, the nerves are zapped till they are constricted, hence I feel NOTHING... Half a tooth left and I still feel NOTHING, now that's shocking and scary...
If you are reading this and know of anyone, directly or indirectly, who have gone through radiotherapy around the head and neck area, please advise them to have regular dental checkups. I didn't and now I'm paying for a painful and costly lesson...

Keeping It Real With Glee

2011-07-21T09:00:00.001+08:00

I love Glee and am a self confessed Gleek.
Hate to say this, but news about axing/graduating some characters is actually kinda expected...
They have to graduate afterall... In real life, who doesn't graduate from school? Hmmm, but with that being said, y can't they fail their exams or get suspended or something? Then they'll have to repeat their final year ya?!

Then again, news is kinda expected but its still hard for me to accept it... Prob it'll take the whole of season 3, watching how the plot rolls out, then i‘ll be able to accept the fact that graduation time is here...

Another Milestone In Life: Passing THE 5-Year Mark

2011-04-25T23:09:00.000+08:00

Before beginning on my main topic, let me talk about something superficial in a way. I FINALLY got a new phone. After 2 years of saying "I need a new phone", I finally got one!
Ok, back to my main topic...

5 years. How many 5 years does one person have? A 50 year old has 10 which, in quantity, is a lot. But to me, a cancer survivor, 5 years is a HUGE milestone, almost unquantifiable.

The past 5 years have not been easy emotionally, and it swings up and down... I've seen and heard people around me starting the battle and/or losing the battle. Why do they have to fight the battle in the very first place?!

Good news is, my oncologists decided not to see me that often after my checkups 2 weeks ago was all good and clear. Yes, not seeing me often is actually good news. Financially, yes, I don't spend so much, but that's not the main point.
It's more like, it's like a step forward, a progression towards almost a full pink of health. Although I know I'll never be fully cured, but staying as long as possible, of even forever on a NED (No Evidence of Disease) status is what I ultimately want.
So, from a every 6 months checkup, Dr Khor will see me in 12 months time and Dr Whang, 8 months. Then again, I feel a little insecure in a way. It seems that 8 and 12 months seem a little long to keep tabs on this little monster. But, I'm glad.

I thank the Lord for giving me these 5 years. And, yet again, I'm questioning myself. Why me? What the purpose? Is there something He wants me to do? Lord, I need guidance, please show the way...

Aunt M, I miss you. I really do. I saw a lady on the bus a few months back and she looked so much like you. I almost called out to her. And then when I realised she was not you, I pretended to yawn cos I couldn't hold the tears in my eyes.

Eagles Fly In To Singapore!!!

2010-07-25T16:00:00.000+08:00

I'm still thrilled and excited over what happened yesterday that I really dunno where to start!

I haven't been spending time, catching up on pre-season news, especially when World Cup was on, so I really didn't know Burnley is in Singapore for a pre-season tour. I needed a break from work (I think it was either lunch time or that I was OT-ing) so I decided to head downstairs to buy some munch munch and get TNP.
While reading the paper, there was an interview with Brian Laws, Chris Eagles and another ex-Man Utd youngster Richard Eckersley. In Eckersley's interivew, the phrase "Eckersley told TNP after the team's training session at the Singapore Cricket Club yesterday" rang alarm bells. Then, I re-looked at the entire 2-page article and realized that 4 different TNP staff covered it. The next thought was, even if there was a SCC in England, how can it be possible that they sent 4 people over to cover it? I then flipped over to the last page where sporting events are listed. It was then set in stone that Burnley is indeed in Singapore for a pre-season tour.
Immediately I called the bf, and I was crying when I was telling him to go get tickets. The tickets were being sold during working hours and I was afraid they will be sold out if we waited till match day to get them.

So there I was yesterday, at Jalan Besar Stadium, watching Eagles play a whole 90 minutes and scoring a goal from a free kick. But before the match even started, I was already trembling with excitement and happiness. Before the match started, the players were in line, getting ready to come out from the tunnel. I went to the staircase which was right beside the tunnel. There I saw, Chris Eagles, standing right in front me.
So close but yet so far, the blardi railings separated us. But Thank God for the railings, for I might have been booted out of the stadium or even have to spend time at a police station... I quickly snapped some photos, ran back to my seat a few steps way and grabbed a marker and sketch book out. Holding the marker and sketch book, I put my hands through the railings and called out to him to help me sign an autograph. Guess what?! I got it!!!!!!

He signed while I held on to the book, and while handing me back the marker, he smiled at me!!! This image will be forever etched in my memory!

I really don't care if he thinks I'm a crazy fangirl... Cos really no words can explain how ecstatic I was! For 6 years, I've been supporting him. I've been a Chris Eagles supporter since he was just a virtually unknown Man Utd youngster back in 2004, when I saw him play during a telecast of the Man Utd's US pre-season tour back then. I don't live in the same part of the world with him, and there are only 2 ways I can get to see him up close, fly to England or hope he travels here. And now that he is indeed here, one of my biggest dreams, that's to watch him play and get his autograph, has been fulfilled.

After 8 FUCKING LONG Years...

2010-06-27T01:58:00.000+08:00

坚持是对的，改变是对的，爱唱歌是对的！(Loosely translated: Persevering is right, change is right, love singing is right!)

I can't agree more. 8 years is too fucking long a drought. 8 years of nominations and not getting anything is just too much to bear for me. For 8 years, I see her clapping her hands and cheering for others, but I feel as though my heart's being stabbed.

There was a year when almost everyone thought she was a shoo-in for Best Mandarin Female Vocalist. To the point where when the nominees are all announced and the award presenter was delivering the "the-winner-is" part of the announcement, some were pointing at her and her fellow nominees for the same category were looking at her. But she did not get it.

Last year, she finally managed to do her own thing. Producing, writing, choosing, singing and dealing in every single aspect, she showed us the inner-most side of her and the real her - a little emo, a little wild, a little rocker, a little ah lian in-a-way. Being a fan for 14 years, I think that this is her best album of date. Imagine my joy when I found out that the album had 10 nominations in the Mandarin categories : Best Song of The Year, Best Album, Best Music Video, Best Composer, Best Lyricist (2 nominations for this), Best Arrangement, Best Female Vocalist, Best Producer and Best Album Packaging.

For 8 years, I shed tears, tears of sadness. Today, these tears were of tears of joy! To me, these belated birthday pressies will be the most treasured. The album scored the following wins: Best Song of The Year, Best Album, Best Lyricist, Best Arrangement, Best Female Vocalist and Best Producer.

My beloved Zhang Hui Mei 張惠妹 aka A*Mei 阿妹 aka A-Mit 阿密特, your hard work and effort finally paid off! 坚持是对的，改变是对的，爱唱歌是对的!!!!!!!!!

World Cup Fever

2010-06-16T03:41:00.001+08:00

I am a SUPER DUPER UBER HUGE soccer fan. I don't play the game, but I do suffer from withdrawal symptoms during off-season periods. Well, there are soccer matches all year round, but I prefer to not bore myself with some and keep myself entertained with BPL and games that matches up or are even better in entertainment value.

Thanks goodness, every 2 years, there's either Euro and World Cup that provides super entertaining games. And then, you have the "smaller" tournaments like the Confed Cup...

This year, I have World Cup as my antidote. And I really do not care if I screw up my internal bio clock to catch games at 2.30am. But when I do that, the game better reward me in some way. hahaha...

Right now, it's Brazil vs North Korea. Brazil keeps attacking, but can't finish. North Korea, I'm kinda amazed by their good defending so far. But, it's one of those games which I would describe as "fustrating", just like Japan's game with Cameroon yesterday...
I wana see some more freaking goals please................. 1-0 is just not enough lah.............

WORST Flu EVER

2010-05-17T21:45:00.000+08:00

Usually when I catch the flu bug, it's fever for a night, running and/or blocked nose and maybe a little pricky throat or a slight cough. But the max period I've suffered these symptoms, prob about 2 weeks and it doesn't incapacitate me in any way.

Who knows what the hellish kinda flu bug I've gotten this time around. Apparently there is a flu bug going roung and it's just my luck I guess that I've gotten it.
It all started last Tuesday night...

I was making my way home from work and I felt weird... One moment, my body felt like it was burning, the other, it was just so damn cold. And so I thought, it's going to be the normal flu, I'll sleep off the fever and have loads of tissue with me. And I thought wrongly...
I woke up at about 2+, 3am (can't remember the exact time) and my mouth was SUPER DRY and my body was BURNING. I got up and slowly made my way to the kitchen to get some water. I was toying with the idea of waking the bf up to accompany me to the doc but was still thinking that the fever would be gone in a few hours time.

And again, I thought wrongly... I opened my eyes and I couldn't get up. My body was burning and aching, my head was spinning and my throat was hurting. I smsed my boss and HR, and the bf, telling him i needed someone to accompany me to c a doc. A light sleeper as he is, he called back immediately, came over and brought me to the doc.

From pulling myself to the toilet to bathe, walking down to get a cab, and while waiting to c the doc, the fever has already proved that it can drive me REALLY MAD, alternating me between really cold and really hot, sweating moments.
And so, doc sent me home with 2 days MC, antibiotics, some relaxant (apparently for my fever and aches), gargle and cough syrup.
I'm not a very strong believer of medication, so I chucked the cough syrup aside, and dutifully took the antibiotics and relaxant. My fever NEVER went down, ok, maybe dropped a little during the day, but always came back in the night. And I went to work on Friday zombified. If the medication's working, my fever should have subsided right?!?!

The bf went online, did a little checking and *tada* a side effect of the antibiotics was fever... HA! No wonder my fever didn't go down at all!
So I was off antibiotics and the only medication I took Friday nite was the relaxant.

Saturday morning I woke up, no fever. So I thought the worse was over. Again, I thought wrongly. After lunch, the fever started creeping back into me again. FUCK IT! NON of the fucking meds are working at all for me! I had to endure feeling the fever creeping into me becos doc specifically said since I'm taking the relaxant, I can't take panadol and I have to wait till there's not much of the relaxant left in me before I can actually take panadol to bring my temperature down.

Saturday night, I took 2 panadol cold, and slept. Woke up on Sunday, feeling a little weak, but no more fever. Took another after lunch as a booster measure and *tada* I'm fever free.
Not that I'm encouraging anyone to not listen to the doc and self-medicate, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

And so, today was the day I felt kinda normal after the roller coaster ride the past 5 days. I only enjoyed that normality for less than 5 freaking hours. I threw up twice before lunch and saw the company doc after lunch. He said I was at the "tail-end" of stomach flu. I don't see the "tail-end" cos I only started throwing up TODAY! He gave me a day's MC and I went home. And so I thought maybe I won't throw the 3rd time.

Yet again, I thought wrongly. Thank goodness I grabbed some plastic bags when I was going home. Guess where I threw up? When the lift door opened and while I was walking to the door and unlocking it. There I was, one hand cupping the bag to my mouth to collect my vomit, the other, unlocking the gate and door to let myself in.
I vomitted my entire lunch, which wasn't much in fact. From the yong tau foo stall - half a beancurd, some stalks of vegetables, a slice of radish. See, I didn't even finish my lunch. After letting myself in, I had to sit on the sofa to continue vomitting.

Dinner's over. I've taken the new meds company doc gave me. Nope, no sign of throwing thus far. And I hope it remains. Give me the running nose and terrible cough anytime, but keep the fucking fever and vomitting away from me. No, keep the FUCKING flu bug away from me!

My Voice

2010-03-25T00:43:00.000+08:00

Well, some of you may not have heard me talk yet... And seriously, if you do not like my voice, neither do I... But, I was born with it and I have to live with it. Unless moolah drops from the sky and I'm able to go under the knife to do something to it...

Here's what happened the other day...
A colleague brought his amp to the office, because we had our annual staff party, hooked up a mic to it and got me to mic test. There I was, yabbah yabbah into the mic, and I really cringed. I told them I can't stand hearing my voice cos it's SUPER whiny though I have no intention to whine.
Then they laugh...

I'm irritated not because of the laughing and what not. Because as normally as I try to speak without whining, I still sound as if I'm whining! And sometimes I feel that because of the pitch and tone of my voice, no one takes me really seriously and would always brush my comments off as whining... When in actual fact, I'm NOT whining...

Back to what happened the other day...
And so, a few moments passed and there I was at the processing area, obviously doing something... As we had stock take earlier in the morning, some colleagues who were working morning shift could go home a little earlier. But because we had the staff party in the night, some decided not to go as it was a blardi long day for them.
So, one of them was just about to go home and I started to really whine and asked this fella to go. Then we started to joke, saying I whine to "wrong target" cos this guy is gay. Then Boss and I brought up what happened in the office a little earlier, and there I was, saying that I have a permanently whiny voice.

Back in Poly, a lecturer and some friends told me that if I want people to take me seriously, I have to stop whining. But I really can't help having such a pitch and tone...

Something just set me thinking... Are there cheaper and less invasive alternatives to "tune" my voice? Say vocal lessons or something? If anyone knows, please drop me an email or a comment on this post or the tagboard on your right. Help and suggestions much appreciated. Thanks in advanced!

Sick & Whiny

2010-03-01T11:34:00.000+08:00

Sometimes when I'm sick, on MC, and in need of a fucking good sleep and rest, things just fucking happen...
- Woke up in the middle of the nite so many blardi times
- Automaticaly woke up at 7+ when I've already switched off all my alarm clocks
- Woke up again at 9+ with all the loud banging ping-biang-bing-piang noises coming from construction downstairs and somewhere right above my own blardi room.
- Woke up again at 11+ with the phone ringing non-stop!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Saving My Lappie & Porridge Buffet

2009-12-27T22:12:00.000+08:00

I guess the 3rd part of the bad luck(s) came along about 2 weeks back. I was using my lappie as usual and all of the sudden, my screen became distorted and blurry. Thinking it was just overheating, I switched it off and let it cool before turning it on again. But the problem still persisted. So, I switched it off overnight, (I usually leave it on because I need the alarm to wake me up) and switching it on again after I got home from work the next day. Still, the problem persisted.

Dear then accompanied me to go get a VGA cable and we hooked the lappie to the family computer's monitor in the living room last weekend. The screen looked ok and we ruled out the possibility that the video card was spoilt.

During this long weekend, we went down to Funan to hunt for a cheap monitor, so I could hook my lappie out to use it. While looking around, we went to ask a HP reseller about the repair of the lappie and she told us the cost of repairing was about $400-$500, and the cheapest monitor we found was $149. Though the monitor was within my budget, I didn't buy it immediately.
Reason was because we saw this unassuming shop on level 3, sitting below the escalator, that repairs computers and lappies. The price for the repairs was about $300 (depending on the size of my screen) and it will only take one day, and will be able to give a firm quote once they see my lappie.
Weighing out the options, Dear suggested bringing the lappie down to HP Service Center first thing in the morning on Saturday and see how much and how long it would take for my lappie to get it repaired there.

Woke up early on Saturday morning and almost got lost at HP till we found the security checkpoint. There, a very nice security guard gave us directions to the service center.
Like all service centers, have to take queue number first lah. There were a lot of counters opened, so the queue moved pretty fast. But the initial diagnosis took a little longer. The lady who served us told us the cost to change the screen with all labour charges and GST would total up to about $614. Of cos, me, being so broke and already not earning much, would take the cheaper alternative lah.

We then took a bus down to Suntec to fill our stomach with Joaquim's Porridge Buffet. The spread and everything was good but the aircon toooooooooooooooo damn blardi cold, making the porridge and dishes cold very fast. To imagine how cold the place was, here's what you should know: the braised gravy of the pig trotter dish "jelly-fied" at the end of our meal.

Got back to serious business and walked down to Funan. Showed the guy my lappie and he said that this particular model of lappie heats up very fast, and now my screen has this problem, the most common reason is because of the motherboard. He told us, to change the screen, it will be $320 and about 45 mins wait, but if it's the motherboard problem, he will repair the motherboard, which will only cost us $250 but we can only collect the lappie at about 7pm. He then took down my hp number, told us to walk around first and will give us a call once he has changed the screen and tested it.
Within 20 minutes, the call came. He told us that it's confirmed that he has to repair the motherboard and even asked if we would want to take a look at the lappie first to confirm. We just told him to go ahead and repair the motherboard because I really dun see how he could be cheating us lor... hhaha...

So, Dear and I nua and walked around Raffles City till about 6pm. As we were about to reach Peninsular Plaza for Dear to place his soccer bets with Singapore Pools, the call came again and told us the lappie was ready for collection.
When we collected the lappie, he even told us he has tested a few rounds and there isn't any problem during testing. There is also a one month warranty and if there's anything wrong, can go back to look for him. Dear and I then deduced that he has actually finished by about 4+ to 5pm, but was leaving it to test. Not only was the service good, the delivery was punctual, or rather, earlier than expected!

Saving up now to up my lappie's RAM, which they can also do! hehhehehe

I'm Still Alive...

2009-11-17T02:12:00.000+08:00

Decided to drop by and breathe a lil life into my blog.

I've been so swamped lately, I've been bringing home work almost everyday for the past few weeks. I actually just finished doing up some stuff but sleepiness hasn't crept in yet...

Planning for a great big bang isn't as easy as I thought it would. Sometimes, I just wished time would stand still for a while, so I have more time on my hands. Now, if only my favourite character in Heroes, Hiro Nakamura is for real, I would really need to enlist his help.

Stressed? Probably... I have all the timelines drawn up and prioritized what I would have to settle first. But, Dr Murphy has to keep looking me up! If only I have full control of everything, but I know I don't. Hence, I realised, I really have to play by the ear.

I don't know how else to push myself. I tell myself, "just XX days to endure", but yet, this seemingly pushing factor is a stress factor as well, cos I only have the same XX days to get things done. Suggestions anyone?

Bah... I'm signing out. Probably should get a lil more work done since I'm not that sleepy...

Damn Fucking No Mood...

2009-09-28T22:43:00.000+08:00

Either I spend too much or I'm destined not to be able to save any money or my luck's really down...

1st, my toe got trapped under the door about 1+ week back. It hurt and bled so much that I literally collapsed onto the floor, clutched my toe, held it up high, sat in a damn weird position to try to stop the bleeding that in the end, Dear had to help support me cos I was getting too tired in that weird position. Now, seems that the wound has healed and a new nail is forming. Thank God my nail hasn't dropped out yet, and I hope it doesn't till the new nail has formed nice and long enough for a pedicure session. HAHA...

Then just when I thought finally I can get to save a little this month after setting aside money for a jie mei's bday treat, another jie mei's wedding (clothes and ang bow), installments and all other necessary spendings, my external hard drive has to die on me. And, I have no other copies of the data I have inside that HD. I've just sent it in for data recovery and am waiting for the big surprise, the quotation... I have no idea how much it would cost me, but I guess I'll have to sign for it on my dad's sup-card and pay him back bit by bit.

Some people say bad luck comes in 3s. So what's the last part in this trilogy huh?! BRING IT ON DAMNIT!

Nicholas Zhang Dong Liang 张栋梁 Autograph Session @ The Heeren

2009-09-16T21:07:00.000+08:00

One of my posts that had been sitting realllllly long in the drafts. Couldn't really get to sleep the other nite, so decided to finish a bit of it... Finally, this is done! hahaha...

Since young, I've been to quite a few autograph sessions to ogle at my favourite artistes in flesh. I've always been at the receiving end of it, getting my CDs signed, say a quick hello, shake hand, or even hug these artistes. And most of the times, I'm the one getting fustrated with the organizers for not doing this and that.

But on July 11th, I got to experience what was it like to be on the other side of the fence. Not every single little teeny weeny detail would go according to what you planned or what you had imagined it to be. Thank God for his blessings and grace!

Also would like to thank these people for giving me such a brilliant on-the-job experience textbook can't teach!
- I had help from an experienced marketing team at The Heeren who have dealt with such events before. They were brilliant and were such a great help, helping out in all small little nitty gritty details so the event could be carried out smoothly. Thank You!
- I had help from a security team, which acted really fast, did up barricades in such a short time, did a great job at crowd control, and acted as past of a human wall when needed... Thank You!
- The fans were brilliant and so cooperative that I wish I will face such fans in future for all other events! An event had ended earlier, but before the stage could be barricaded, they had swamped round the stage. But they were damn nice lah! I told them I needed about 45 minutes to set up the area for the autograph session and needed them to not crowd the stage meanwhile. Within 5 minutes, some left, some hanged around nearby but no longer directly in front of the stage and cleared that much needed space for set up to be done. So sweet rite? Thank You!
- Last but not least, of cos, Thank You Warner for letting us play a part in this album's promotions.
- And of cos, my boss... Thank You for giving me such a chance. It was crazily busy, but I really enjoyed the experience and the learning process of putting together such an event.

Talk so much, some of you might be wondering how Nicholas Zhang Dong Liang 张栋梁 is really like in person right? Truth to be told, I did not have the chance to interact with him much, cos I was working on site, rather than chatting with him.
But during those few sparse minutes I managed to see him, I can tell he is a very nice, warm, down-to-earth, friendly person. Definitely not your diva-ish kinda celebrity! He's TALL, according to me, someone who is pretty vertically challenged, he might be probably about 180+cm. Hello, that's TALL for me lah!
And before I say the next comment, let me just set a disclaimer... Different people for different taste ok? He's actually quite good-looking, quite cute, quite suave, the type that would make girls melt and weak at the knees and/or the type which mums would like their daughters to bring home... But not exactly my type in the looks department, I still think my fave guy celebs rank higher.... Dun hate me, we just have different taste! *runs*

The Dunkin Donuts Rant (Again)...

2009-09-02T22:07:00.001+08:00

Well, if you have no idea which (first) rant I'm referring to, here the link.

About a month back, I decided to give my dearest DD another try. Thus, during lunch break, I walked over and grabbed 3 donuts: Double Choc, Blueberry Cake and Rainbow Windmill... And here's the verdict:
Double Choc - One of my most-est favourite flavors in the entire range. Compared to the REAL MCCOY in the US, VERY dry, VERY tasteless, VERY flat, regretted that I even bought. Even Pop Doh, often regarded as my local "back-up" for DD's cake donut, scores a landslide victory over local DD. I ish damn sadded lahz...
Blueberry Cake - I didn't get to try to REAL MCCOY back in the US, so can't compare taste cos it wouldn't be fair. But although it taste a bit yummy, it's still very dry.
Rainbow Windmill - The REAL MCCOYS call it the French Cruller. Best of the 3. But then again, I didn't get to try to REAL MCCOY back in the US, so can't compare taste cos it wouldn't be fair. But compared to Pop Doh's Crullers, both are kinda on par overall.

But there's something which I notice: There are tags telling customers the flavors of the donuts!

While this DD fan refuses to give up and will track back once in a while to see if the "standards" are improving, I shall much prefer to get my donut fix at Pop Doh (for cake donuts and crullers) and J Co (for bread-texture donuts), thank you very much!

Dunkin' Donuts Opens In Singapore

2009-07-22T22:13:00.000+08:00

As most of you would have known by now, I've a FREAKING HUGE DD fan... If you don't, read this, this and this.
Before I begin, I'm going to do a disclaimer first. My post might be offensive to some, but as a FREAKING HUGE DD fan, I have my expectations of how a DD donut should taste like. I can still remember how DD donuts tasted like and how they melted in my mouth although it was more than a decade I've last ate them in Singapore and more than a year since I last ate them in the US. Not that I do not trust franchisees, but since eating the REAL MCCOY in the US, my expectations of how a DD should taste like are damn high. If a DD doesn't taste like a DD, then I, in my honest opinion, think that it doesn't do justice to the brand.

So, imagine THE HUGE ANTICIPATION that overwhelmed me when I saw a recruitment ad on The New Paper a few weeks back for the store in Singapore. And, imagine THE EXCITEMENT that overwhelmed me when I saw tstar's plurk about a DD store at ION a few hours ago. Once I finished work, I really walked damn freaking fast down from Heeren to get my favourite donuts!

But I can tell you that I am FUCKING SORELY DISAPPOINTED!!!
1) The REAL MCCOY in the US lets me choose my combination of munchkins. Here, all packed in a box of 20.
2) Where are the cake donuts? Look at THE REAL MCCOY's menu. For a moment, I thought I stepped into J. Co. Mind you, J. Co. is my favourite brand of bread-texture donuts. But, DD is a US franchise, so gimme back those flavours it had before it disappeared from our shores more than a decade back.
3) Thank goodness they have some jelly and kreme filled ones. But these fillings, sadly, don't taste like the REAL MCCOY. Just a tad flat... Flat never mind, the fillings of the REAL MCCOY literally FILLED the donut, sadly, this doesn't.
4) The dough, although I know it will not be as soft as J. Co., doesn't have the "oomph" of the REAL MCCOY. My mum tried the SG-made DD donuts more than a decade back, and it's actually kinda her fault for getting me hooked onto DD, feeding me with them almost weekly when I was younger. Trying this now, the comparision of her facial expression when she tried this and when she tried the REAL MCCOY is priceless. One was "HEAVENLY WOW", the other, a mix of "huh-er-eww". And she agreed with me when I said that it doesn't taste like what DD tasted like more than a decade ago in Singapore and what we had in the US.
5) No tags telling us what the flavours of the donuts are. Already shocked to see unfamiliar-looking flavoured icing donuts, I was looking at the small little holes in the filled ones and figuring out if that is strawberry or some other kinda berry.

But, still being a FREAKING HUGE SUCKER for DD, I'm going to return in a few weeks time to check out the flavours again. Going to give it the benefit of the doubt that whatever's on the REAL MCCOY's menu and wasn't there in the store were all sold out...

Remembering Frank McCourt

2009-07-22T14:36:00.002+08:00

In recent years, some movie screenplays have been published as books, but like some others, the book existed first before it was made into a movie. In the case of the highly-acclaimed movie, Angela Ashes, the "book version" existed before the movie.

Written by Frank McCourt, the book talked about his life in Ireland, his almost-always drunk dad and how poor they were during the days of the Depression. I'm not a very avid reader, but I could say I've read quite a few books and Angela Ashes was one I cried and laughed with.
His 2nd book was 'Tis. He talked about his life when he came back to America (he went back to Ireland during the Depression) and about his youth.
3rd book was Teacher Man, which sadly, I didn't have the time to finish, and I first picked the book up in August 06!

I'm not a very "literature" person, and I can't really describe or go at length why I like his writing. But when I start reading his books, I find it hard to pause or put the book down. I would read and flip the pages, almost addicted. Which is partly the reason why I have not finished Teacher Man till now.

May God bless his family...

I Have To Start Blogging...

2009-07-18T12:29:00.000+08:00

To save my blog from dying into oblivion (haha), I've thought of a plan to push/motivate/force (choose which one you like) myself to blog more often...

1) Everything will be done in drafts.
There are times when on the bus, or when I'm about to sleep, I would go, "shit, I forgot to blog about it!" And many times, these are things which I find that are important to my life and things which I wana record down, so when I'm old, senile and having dementia, my kids and my grandchildren can tell me, "Mum/Granny, these are things that happened in your life"

2) Finding those bits of time to blog.
When I have a draft or points that I wana blog about, I will find bits of time to blog. Say, during lunch, after work, during weekends. And when the entries are fully done up, I'd publish it. Yes, it might take days or even weeks before a blog post is up, but better then now right? Ever since I started work, I think I'm like averaging one post a month lor...

3) Get a notebook. Or probably a data plan for my phone.
Yes, I think it would be good to start drafting on my notebook or have a data plan n start typing away on my phone, on the way to and fro work. Well, not that I don't have a "note" function on my phone and then email it to myself which will cost my 5 cents each. hahhaha... Let's see which works better and cheaper...

4) Actually keeping to this plan of mine....
Sometimes I procrastinate... so... yah... Let's see how this works out ah?

Happy Birthday Ping.sg!

2009-07-04T00:51:00.000+08:00

I haven't blogged for more than a month and since I'm too full from the buffet dinner earlier on, I might as well type a little while waiting for the food to go down. haha...

Anyways, Happy Birthday Ping! I might as well do it now cos I know I most probably will not have to time to blog again within the next few days or even weeks. And also since Ping's birth is there and about these few days. heheh

Time really really flies. Ping.sg has already been around for 3 years. Last year, I did up this post, talking about my 1st year with Ping. Now, a few weeks shy of being a member of Ping for 2 years, I must admit I haven't been as active as I was in the past and there's a whole new group of "regulars" on the shoutbox now. haha...

Of course, I wish Ping and Ping Daddy aka janitor aka boss aka Uzyn a wonderful and smooth 4th year! Happy Birthday!

I Slept My Way To Hollywood

2009-05-26T15:15:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I just wonder when will I ever finish blogging about the US trip which happened LAST YEAR. When I heard of my juniors complaining about the cold winters last December, I knew I was 6 months behind in my postings. Now, when another batch of my juniors are talking about the ever-changing weather, tonardo warnings and all, urgency kicked in. And thus, I present to you now, a post that has been overdued for almost a year...

After touring Universal Studios, we went to walk around Hollywood the next day.

If I could turn back time, got tickets to the American Idol results show and got more budget to plan for the trip, I really would have re-done the itenerary so I can get to stay at the (expensive) hotel where most Idols stay (and hopefully get to "stalk" David Cook) and get to see him being crowned the winner "live" at the Kodak Theatre. Too bad...
I didn't have the chance to venture into the place because only I found it interesting and I didn't want to cross the road alone...

Lunch was at California Pizza Kitchen
We were driving down from San Fran to LA, and I was sleeping when I should be giving my Dad directions. But we didn’t have to make any turnings on the highway for an hour or so, hence I took a nap. Hehe...

We did a little shopping at Hollywood & Highland Centre and then made our way down to Beverly Hills.

While nearing the neighbourhood of Beverly Hills me and the sis were all awed by the big beeeaaaauuutttiiiffffuuullllll houses and cars that we forgot to reach for the camera to snap snap and plus the fact that Dad could not slow down a little due to the traffic, we could only go "wahhhhhhh....."
We headed for Beverly Center and did some window shopping. They had Macy's and all kinds of brands (which we had shopped at the outlets at outlet malls) but it was at Bloomingdale's which made me spend money. I bought a pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs jeans which cost me about SGD200.
By then, it was getting a little late and we decided to find dinner. Since the days at Oklahoma, I've always wanted to try Cheesecake Factory. Trying my luck, we got into the car and keyed Cheesecake Factory into the GPS. Tada! There was an outlet nearby within the Beverly Hills vicinity!
We drove down and found a parking area in about 10-15 mins. After we parked and alighted from the car, I felt damn "low-class"... Here we are, parking a Dodge mini-van in a carpark filled with the likes of BMWs, Mercs, Chryslers, Porsches, etc. I told my family that and they were laughing and commenting that Beverly Hills IS a rich-man's area after all. However, when we were walking towards the staircase to lead us downstairs to street level, I saw this a Ford and commented that we are not the only "low-class" ones. And they laughed at me again...

By this time, it was getting a little dark and most shops around were closing. We crossed the relatively empty street to Cheesecake Factory and till now, I'm regretting why I did not take a photo of the restaurant from across the street!
While we were discussing on what to ordered, I told them that while in OK, I was told that the salads were good and huge. My dad was then thinking of ordering 2 mains, a side and a salad. I was confident we would not be able to finish so I told my dad to look around and he gave me a shocked look when he saw a server serving a nearby table their salad. So, we settled on a main, a side and a salad. And while we were looking around, we saw that most had a main course to themselves and ordered a salad and/or side dish to share and started wondering aloud how they can finish...The food did not disappoint me. There are DAMN good! Even though the four of us were struggling to finish the food due to the HUMONGOUS portion, we could not stop eating cos they were SO devilish yummy good!Since we are all so stuffed already, we packed 2 slices of cheesecakes. But seriously, they are nothing to rave about...

Last day of the US trip coming right up...

Win A London Trip!

2009-05-22T10:10:00.001+08:00

HMV is doing a tie up with Universal to send 2 people to London! Airfare and accomodation included! Also included will be tickets for the Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009 in London.

YES YES YES I want that trip
But, Jonas Brothers... Erm, I'm not a huge fan. Think I'll give it a miss.

Alien Speak?!

2009-05-03T23:22:00.000+08:00

Seriously, sometimes I don't understand if my mum gets what I'm telling her. A few weeks back, she told me she wanted to do some spring cleaning and I specifically told her not this long weekend.

I knew this long weekend would be a good time for me to stone, relax and not do anything because I knew the past 1-2 weeks would be hetic at work. And I was absolutely right! It's the time when the stores changes campaigns and on average, I had been clocking at least 10 hours (lunch break excluded) everyday at work the last 1-plus, 2 weeks. But, these long-hours day do not end just there, and would continue for another 1-plus, 2 weeks.
Which is why I knew I would need a break and just slack the weekend out, so I can recharge and have enough energy to battle out the next 1-plus, 2 weeks.

I slept over at the BF's place at Thursdy nite and only came back on Friday nite, after spending the entire day with the BF and was at work for a short while in the evening. And when I came back, I had to pack my stuff a little cos mum decided to spring clean a little.
On Saturday nite, I went over to the BF's place again and only came back just a while ago. And because she changed my bedsheet and could not find a complete set, I had to search for the remaining pieces. Which means, I had to ransack my wardrobe. And because this weekend is meant to be a recharging weekend, not "working" weekend, I simply do not have to mood and energy to put everything back in. Yes, my clothes are all strewn all over my floor now and I don't fucking give a damn.

Not that I do not appreciate her helping me clean my room and changing my bedsheet, but I can do these all myself. And because I know I have to "pack the loose ends" after her, I just want to find a less hectic period that I do not need the weekend to recharge and have the energy to pack and clean.

I just wana fucking stone and relax this weekend to recharge! Which is why I specifically said "NOT THIS WEEKEND"! If I speak English, you can't understand, what language do you want me to speak in"?!

Thou Shalt Not Be Lazy...

2009-04-27T22:13:00.000+08:00

For the past few weeks, I tried to blog... But I seriously am too tired to blog after work... And on weekends, I'm just too lazy, simply lazing around and relaxing.

Now that the "feeling" to blog has arrived, I'm buried under the rubble at work because the "campaign-changing" period has arrived. If I'm buried under the rubble, the designers at my printers helping me out are buried underground... 'Nuff said...

But there's something which I need to "announce". No, I'm not getting married yet. No, I'm not pregnant. The scatterbrain part of me just realised that it has been almost a year that I've been to and back from the US after seeing the status updates of some of my juniors who are there now. And, I've yet to finish blogging on the US trip. HHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA I'm trying to re-define the meaning of "find time" and "soon" in my dictionary now...
I'm soooooooo missing the windy winds, t-storms alerts that interupt tv programs, lovely cool weather, shopping in Texas, breathtaking views at Wichita Mountains, cooking, eating, chatting and gossiping, etc, ALL experienced with my lovely friends in Oklahoma... I miss Bricktown and its Bass Pro, canal, IHOP, and Mickey Mantle's road. I miss the HUGE Walmart and Ross a few doors down. I wana go back................

Porupine-y me has gone emo due to missing the US. No wonder my needles didn't defned me just now and there's a bruise near my shin...

All-Expenses Paid Trip To LA To Watch American Idol Final!!!

2009-04-09T17:00:00.001+08:00

Scanned this ad which was published on TNP the other day... Being an American Idol fan, I so so want this all-expenses paid trip lah! FREE flight and accommodation some more! And if Danny Gokey makes it to the Final 2, wah, even better! HAHAHAHAHAH

Excuse? Whatever!

2009-03-30T22:45:00.000+08:00

In a bid to make myself less porcupine-y, I treated myself to a little retail therapy after work just now.

Mango was offering a 20% discount for members, and me being a Mango fan, and blah-blah-cut-long-story-short, I spent $292 in all.

Now now, which rational should I use to make my bank account feel better?
a) I spent $365 but got a top and a tube free?
b) I got $73 in discount?
c) I got everything at 20% discount and avoided the scenario of looking island-wide for a size during the sames period?

Haha! Whatever it is, I do feel a little less porcupine-y now! But be careful, don't ruffle my "needles"...

The Past 2 Weeks In Random-ness

2009-03-23T22:07:00.000+08:00

Already the disclaimer in the title, this post will be at total random-ness. If you want it in chronological order, piece it yourself.

Some of you might feel that I'm giving "attitude" judging by that one sentence above. I am, I don't care and I think I'm entitled to, because I don't feel too well. I've been having gastric, digestive and bowel problems for the past few days and I have no freaking appetite.
The one thing that I do not need is an onset of a headache, which started to creep in mid-day and is threatening to burst my skull any fucking minute right now. And so, I cab-ed home. And the last thing I needed was a cab smelling as though the can of air freshener was spraying into my nose throughout the whole journey. I swear that if I was feeling drowsy or had a HUGE lunch that had not been digested yet, I would have puked in the cab.

And speaking of smells... I have to state I do not have a hate relationship with perfumes and fragrances. However, I just think that there are just some people who love their fragrances too much.
I was sitting at the very last row of a double-decked bus, the new ones with ramps to facilitate wheelchairs, the other day. I closed my eyes, and was relaxing and enjoying the ride to work.
Then came along a lady who sat across me. She smelt as though as she had splashed a WHOLE bottle of perfume on her. A few stops later, another lady sat beside me. She, too, smelt as if she had splashed a WHOLE bottle of perfume on her. With 2 "bottles" of perfume engulfing me, it wasn't the end. The lady beside me took out her scarf with also smelt as though as she soaked her scarf in ANOTHER WHOLE bottle of perfume!
When I reached office, my nose was numb and I was having a headache.

Sometimes when I get home, I get reminded of why I don't like to be at home. I guess I don't have to explain myself, most of you get the drift...

Sometimes I don't like to explain myself. Sometimes i just don't feel like chatting or talking because I want my fucking peace and quiet. Sometimes I feel that some people try to engage me in a conversation but EPIC fail cos I'm really not fucking interested. Sometimes I feel its tiring to be nice and "entertaining" and sometimes I just feel like telling some people to fuck off and back off. Do I really have to tell u in the face that I don't really feel like talking? Just leave me alone... Puh-lease...

Last week was a kinda tiring but it was a fabulous week. I broke my own OT record by staying one evening till 10.15pm and went back on Saturday to work. AND I cab-ed to work EVERY day... I kinda OT-ed every day, so I reached home late, slept late, and hence, woke up late. However, there was one evening, I went home early, prepared to tuck into bed early so I can avoid cab-ing to work. But I ended up tossing and turning and only got to sleep close to 3am. In the end, I cab-ed to work again... But these "negative" points of the week were overshadowed when I was hanging out with my fabulous people over the weekend!
My weekend started on Friday evening (though I had to work on Saturday) being with my wonderful jiemeis. We went for shabu shabu at a restaurant in Cuppage Plaza. I seriously can't remember the name of the place but apparently it had not too bad reviews. My personal review: there is much room for improvement since the only thing I liked about the place was the sesame sauce. Personally, I don't think I would go back there again if I'm going to compare quality of food vs price. However, I would go back there again if I'm going to compare time spent with my darling galfriends vs price, because the time spent with these gals would negate every single negative point there is!
Saturday evening was spent at timbre at The Arts House with my MDIS classmates. The place was cooling, the music was not too bad and I had a great time chatting, catching up and gossiping with them. Haha... Jack and Rai performed and it was my first time hearing them "live". They are actually not too bad lor.
Sunday was the day that ticked my bio clock... LOL... Went to my friend's princess's one month old celebration! The baby so cute lah! She woke up and it was time for milk. But she did not cried loudly, instead, she was making cute whining sounds and was rubbing her feet against each other! Haha... Dear was commenting he cannot imagine how a baby is going to fit into me cos I'm like so petite. Yah, I LOOK petite but I have an (in my opinion) ugly big fat bum and going by the old wives tale of those with big bums can carry or give birth to babies easily, I think I can "fit" the baby in me lor...

I think this is DAMN funny and I don't care and I'm just gonna blog about it! In my job scope, I work with a few sales/account people who service my company's account. The other day, one of them was looking for me, but accidentally called my boss instead. The first thing this fella said, in Mandarin, was, "oei, where are you?" (We sometimes use this question as a "greeting term", instead of the usual "hello" because sometimes we just need to be in the office to refer to emails as we talked) My boss was like "huh?!" When this fella called me and told me about it, I was laughing my head off cos I can NEVER imagine this fella talking to my boss like that. I still think its funny, till now... hahahahaha

October 4th Was Happening!

2009-03-23T20:45:00.000+08:00

This is a damn back dated post which was sitting in the drafts for a little more than 5 months. Haven't had time to properly blog about it till recently...

This day in 2008 is a very special day for me. It marked the end of a stage in my life and it was also a day where I met up with some friends whom I see about once or twice a year and get to scream my lungs out. It was the day of my graduation ceremony and A*Mei was in town for her concert. However, I was kinda afraid I would have to skip one initially.
I had already bought a ticket for A*Mei's concert, then, came the news that the ceremony would be held on a Saturday in October. I was so hoping that the dates and times would not clash! Thank God they did not.

On that day, a few hundreds of us gathered at Ritz Carlton. We had to arrive much earlier than our guests for a ceremony briefing and rehearsal. After that, a few of us went to Pasta de Waraku at Marina Square for lunch. After lunch, we were back at the hotel to robe for the ceremony.

After the ceremony, there was a high tea buffet spread, but it was considered dinner for me. Some of my friends hung out later, but I was having a fabulous time at the Indoor Stadium.
A*Mei as usual was always teasing the crowd. I remember there was one moment where she was talking about her taking part in a musical in Japan, where she played a queen. My friend beside me let out a cheer. She turned over to us and asked teasingly, "皇后有设么好叫的 (what's there to cheer for when i said queen)?" and a few of us started cheering. She then paused for a second or 2, looked at us and said "皇后 (queen)", and our whole group of us starting cheering. She laughed and gave a signal to stop, like how an orchestra consuctor signals a stop by closing his/her palm. She then paused for a second or 2, still looking at us and said "皇后 (queen)". This time round, the entire stadium roared.
Besides singing her own songs, she also sang Stefanie Sun's 天黑黑 and Alicia Key's If I Ain't Got You, which was damn damn good!
Can't wait for the next time she comes to Singapore... I'm missing my diva already...

The Battle With Cancer Is NEVER Once-Off

2009-03-07T16:26:00.000+08:00

I guess my hatred for the enemy will never "soften". Whenever news trickles in that someone has passed on due to cancer or that someone has a relapse, the intensity of hatred and determination to win this battle just increases.

Fighting cancer is NEVER a once-off, its a lifetime commitment and determination. Once you are on its radar, be aware, because you will ALWAYS be on its radar.

I will not give up in this battle, nor do I wish to hear/see anyone giving up. I want to win this battle "gloriously" in my own way and with God's blessings, which is to rather die in an accident, of an heart attack, stroke, etc, than to die of cancer.

Rant Mode On...

2009-03-03T20:56:00.000+08:00

I finally got hunted down and was greatly disturbed by the Evil Presence. During the first visit of the year, I escaped relatively unscathed. But I wasn't that lucky today.
I really hate it and get annoyed when it happens to others and now when it has happened to myself... Let's just say, I'm just trying to keep my bitchiness to ranting on this entry and letting off some steam.
Seriously, sometimes I just wonder why... Why just can't fucking hell fuck off back into your own fucking realm. May I have God's blessings to shield me away...

While I was bathing just now, I found a freaking HUGE bruise on my lower thigh. What the hell did I ram into?!

I'm at home now and I wish for some peace and quiet after a damn lousy day, but someone somewhere nearby is practicing on the violin. Not that the person is not playing well, but I would prefer a much slower piece... Wonders if the person takes song requests...

For the record, I freaking hell hate broken records though I might be sounding like one myself now... I know that I had told myself before loads of times to STOP whining about this, I simply just can't...
Man Utd has gotten the 3rd trophy this season, Community Shield, World Club Cup and now, The Carling Cup. Looking at the squad that went up to collect the winner's medal, I can't help but imagine the what-if-Chris-Eagles-is-still-in-Man-Utd scenario... There was a huge chance he was up there collecting the medal! ARGH!

American Idol Top 36 Round 1

2009-02-20T00:13:00.000+08:00

This year's American Idol has a new format of choosing contestants into the final Top 12. I kinda feel that its a do or fail, and its only one chance kinda "system" right now.

What happens is that instead of a Top 24, this year's AI has a Top 36 instead. And these 36 will be split into 3 groups of 12. The top gal and top guy and the person with the next highest amount of votes of each group will get a place in the final Top 12.
Sing once, into Top 12 or not, unless once gets called back via wildcard later. No more "escaping" elimination by having a scrappy perfomance one week and then get a second chance to buck up the next.

Since the first auditions, I've been supporting quite a few contestants whom I think are my kind of American Idols. 2 of them were in round 1, Alexis and Danny.
When Alexis finished her song, I was thinking to myself, can she sing another one? I wana listen to her more!
When it was Danny's turn, my hair stood and I had goosebumps all over, then I could feel tears swell up in my eyes. It was so damn blardi touching lah!
And after the results show earlier on, I was so happy that both of them got through!

What even made me happier was seeing 2 of the many contestants whom I was rooting for last year (it was a crazy season and I was rooting for David Cook, Brooke, Syesha, Ramiele and Amanda as well) Carly Smithson and Michael Johns, come onto the show and perform. And Michael announced that his album will be releasing soon!

Bad Start To A New Week

2009-02-09T22:39:00.000+08:00

I made a big boo-boo at work today. Something I feel that it is one of those most serious-than-serious kinda mistake.

Though more than 10 hours has past, I can't help feeling guilty, sorry, having that kinda spongy-squishy-sourish-tangled heart with a knife stabbed into it. Boss had harsh words and did not flare up at me, which made me feel even much worse. I really really know I have such a great lovely wonderful boss, but today after what had happened, I questioned myself, "What/ Why/ How did I deserve to have such a super duper uber fabulous boss?"

Although I'm still feeling sorry for my mistake, I must try not to let it bog me down or affect me negatively. I must treat it as a lesson learnt, grow from it, and avoid such mistakes or any others in the future.

To my dearest friends, thanks for being there for me this afternoon. Although I did not say much, I'm really touched and happy you guys gave me support and encouragment. Really appreciate it...

I Remembered...

2009-02-04T22:50:00.001+08:00

I remembered a few months back, I did say that I had some entries that were backdated... Now, these entries are REALLY backdated liao lor... Seriously! Die, must really find time to finish blogging about the US trip and dig from the "grave" the whatever drafts I have...

Just some quick updates before I retire for the night...

5th week into my job and I'm still learning how to target which is priority/ important, which one can wait a little. But I think I can manage my tasks and time kinda well, just a little blur blur on what can or cannot be done. Still smoothing the rough edges out and learning to be a little bit more independent and not keep running to my boss and ask her "can? possible? how?"

I've yet to receive my degree cert!!! grrr!!! A few of my classmates already got it, apparently, they are doing it in batches. Haiz...

CNY is ending, and the flow of angbows is "drying up"... Hehe... I wonder how much I get this year. Not gonna open till after the 15th!

Goodbye

2009-01-31T03:02:00.000+08:00

After much deliberation, I'm leaving the Association of Bloggers (Singapore). I'm really glad to have been a part of the protem committee but I know for sure that there are others out there will do a better job than me. It was an experience through this journey and I thank everyone who was working with me.

With immediate effect, I will not handle any issues pertaining to the Association, so if anyone has any comments, feedback or questions, please approach the Association directly.

Why Is This Happening?!

2009-01-30T01:50:00.000+08:00

I seriously do not know how I want to write this post. Right now, I'm just feeling a HUGE mix of emotions...

My heart just sank as though weighed down by a million or even gazillion tons. My stomach's churning. I'm tearing. I have the urge to question God or maybe even shout at Him. But yet, I feel inspired, motivated and even more determined to win this battle. My hatred for this enemy has been renewed and the intensity of this hatred has increased.

Just die and fuck off because you have now left 2 kids motherless! When are you going to stop?! Just when?!?!

A memorial will be held for Shin this Saturday, 31st Jan. For more details, please drop by her blog.

Shin, thanks for showing me your feisty spirit against cancer.

I'm speechless... I dunno how to carry on with this post...

Finally, THE Day Has Come!

2009-01-19T11:35:00.000+08:00

I've been blogging for a little more than 7 years and I can dare say that THIS is DEFINATELY the BEST thing that ever happened to me in my life as a blogger! I'm SO honoured, proud and excited to announce to you that the Association of Bloggers (Singapore) is born!

The first half of my blogging life was just me, myself, and me, so much so that nothing else matters. After I have the privilege of being 2-6 months away from death's gate, my perpectives changed. It was no longer about just ME, it was about how I can contribute to the society and make myself useful as God would want me too. I made use of my blog to get "out there" so people would know that there is this cancer survivor out there who can help. As I did so, I got more involved in the blogging scene (not that I'm a blogger with celebrity status already), got to connect with bloggers who are now friends and also questioned myself as to how I can contribute to the local blogging scene.

Few months back, I had the privilege of meeting like-minded bloggers who initiated the start of an Association to contribute to the local blogosphere and thus decided to hop onboard. One of the main reasons I decided to do so is because I feel that the local blogging scene is not very united, in Mandarin, I would put it as 一盘散沙. And I hope with the Association, we can make things better and forward the positive development of the local social media scene.

I do not have to be a "somebody" to help contribute nor do I have big aspirations to be that "somebody" leading everyone else. I just want to play my part and help make the local blogosphere better. I'm sick and tired of the flame (blog) wars and irresponsible blogging antics. Though one might say, what's news/publicity without all these, but as Sandra Bullock once said, "world peace". Amen to that!

I'm IN. So are they:
DaintyFlair
DK aka Darryl Kang
EastCoastLife
Mr Endoh
Nicole
Paddy
Xinyun
Xtralicious
Wilfrid
How about you? Do you want to do your part? Check out at our temporary home at http://associationofbloggers.wordpress.com/

My Very Exciting Week

2009-01-16T01:55:00.000+08:00

And mind you, the week hasn't ended yet. So many things happened, I felt I was on a mini roller coaster ride. You have been warned that this will be a really really long post...

Firstly, I would like to dedicate a little letter/note to a friend here...
Dear Friend,
Though I don't know if you will read this, I still have to say this... Though we do not talk to each other frequently nor keep in contact frequently, I was glad you found me on Facebook! So happy to be able to re-connect with you again!

Next, a slightly longer letter/note to another friend...
Dear Friend,
Though you may not read this, though we do not always keep in contact, and have not met for more than 3 years, though we have moved on and got on with our lives, I still remember you as a friend whom I can talk anything under the sun to.
When you called the other day and when I saw your name flashing across my handphone screen, I was more shocked than surprised. When you ROM-ed, you did not tell me lor! (How dare you! Bleh...) So now, when you called, I thought a "red bomb" was coming my way, and was shocked cos I did not expect to be invited...
But a bomb it was, though not red. It was a bomb with my dreaded enemy, which MIGHT be now yours too. After you put down the phone, I prayed for you. Even thought its not confirmed, I really hope its not.
Though its a bit late now to say this, I still have to say it, cos its never too late... AH BENG, STOP SMOKING IMMEDIATELY LAH! That day on the phone still dare to bargain with me lor... *faints*
But remember, (choy, touch wood) you are not alone on this battle. Your family and friends, including me, are with you all the way! Jia you! And keep me updated hor!

I met a gal on the bus. She's here on an international exchange program at SMU. She said something interesting what I asked her why she chose to come to Singapore. Her reply was that Singapore was a tropical country and she wanted to see how it was like. No babe, Singapore's no jungle rite? Hehe...

The big bosses are in town, and so far, I'm being disrupted the least compared to my other backroom office colleagues... Thank God and I hope it stays this way...

I saw a teenage gal (maximum age I would give her is 20) and her 40-ish to 50-ish mum look alike. Let me put it this way, both have the same hairstyle, from the bob, to the fringe, to the center parting, to the length, except the gal's black, the mum's dyed brown. Both were wearing polo T-shirts, gal was wearing blue, mum was wearing pink, with checkered collar. Both were wear denim 3-quarts, colour and style a bit different. Both were wearing ankle socks and sneakers. Both were carrying tote/tote-ish bags, gal was carrying a pink one, while mum opted for a Gucci.
Psst, Sis, if you are reading this now, please do not let mum see the following...
After observing them, I tried to picture how I and my mum would look. *shudders* And seriously, I rather be caught dead! Thankfully or not, I and my mum have different dressing sense/styles...
Acutally, I'm ok with the idea that mum and their daughters and dad and their sons dress alike. But, I believe in dressing your age. More often than not, it is quite common seeing mums or dads dressing up their kids similarly. But that similar dress sense/style kinda gets less common when the kid is a teenager or older...

And I'm ending this post with a rant.
Fuck you understand! Fuck you! You DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, steal. Understand that?! DAMNIT! I freaking hate freeloaders. After all the hard work put in, you DO NOT take that hard work and pass it off as your own. Seriously, may your God punish you and may you burn in hell...
p/s: I just need to let it out, but please reserve me the privacy and not ask what this is about till I'm ready to talk about it k? Thanks!

Tis The Season... To Be Jolly?!?!

2008-12-25T19:12:00.001+08:00

Tis the season for the flu bug, the hunter/commando flu bug, perhaps... I was at Clementi's 24-hour NTUC last nite to get some Panadol Flu, and there were only 2 boxes left. Can tell that a lot of people are down with flu.

For close to 2 weeks, I've been having headaches, tiredness, tummyaches and/or gastric pains. Since I had a happening, blasting, eventful and happy weekend last week, I guess my immune system has been kind enough to persevere through to this weekend. Now, it has decided to give up at last.

So, may I annouce I have a full blown flu. I'm having a bad throat, sneezing and having a not-so-runny-but-not-blocked nose. I'm trying soooo hard not to break out my first cough as my throat started itching last night. Drank so much water, I had to wake up to pee in the middle of the night.

Now, I wonder if I'm making any sense now. It says "Non drowsy formula" on the box of Panadol Flu, but my head feels light and is spinning a little...

Nevertheless, I'm still a happy girl! Cos I got the latest album by Janice Wei Lan (卫兰) and Bosco Wong's (黄宗泽) 1st album!

Happening Weekend

2008-12-21T20:58:00.001+08:00

Short quick one before I succumb to the headache that made me stayed at home instead of having the reunion dinner for the winter solstice festival at my Grandma's place. So, if I sound weird, forgive me. I can't think straight now...

Finally, I was able to catch up on some sleep yesterday. Went for Rinaz's wedding dinner where I saw so many blogger friends. It was almost like a blogger gathering!

I then scooted off to a classmate's place for a Xmas meetup/gathering/party with my classmates. We then proceeded on to Butter Factory before heading home. I haven't clubbed for soooo many years, but I can say, personally, Butter's is not my favourite place if I do club on a regular basis. I prefer R&B, Hip Hop, Retro, Top 40s, etc, over House, Trance and Techno and Butter plays mainly House, with a smaller, warmer, less air-con room playing R&B/ Hip Hop.

Woke up late again today, but I woke up with a headache. It was not even a hangover, taking into the fact that I did not drink a drop of alcohol at all. On my way home, my dad sms-ed to ask if I'm going to my Grandma's place. Since I was a efw block away, I decided to reach home then tell them that I'm not feeling well. When I reached home, my parents had already left for my Grandma's place. So, I called my dad to let him know.

Rotted at home, eating tang yuan my mum left in a pot on the stove, while watching Man Utd being crowned WORLD CHAMPIONS!

Now, I'm wondering if I should go to bed or watch the 2nd half of Singapore vs. Vietnam game...

My 2009

2008-12-15T16:16:00.000+08:00

A new year. A new job. A new beginning. A new life. A new me.

Some things will stay the same while some things will change. May God bless that the changes will be for the better.

Yet Another Of The Boyfriend's Nonsense

2008-11-30T17:38:00.000+08:00

Most of you would know by now that the bf irritates me, to the point that sometimes I suspect he has never irritated anyone before in his entire life and thus vent out his irritating-ness onto me...

Here's what happened a few weeks back...
Bf: Why are they digging the ground there?
Me: Maybe they want to put the foundation thingy?
Bf: Then when put make up?
Me: Huh?
Bf: Put foundation already then must put make up mah...

Here's what happened yesterday on the bus...
Bf: Ask you ah, in winter, what do you call a Comfort cab in Korea?
Me: Winter Sonata
Bf: Y you so clever?
Me: (Gave him the duh look)
Bf: (Turn the aircon vent towards me) Very cold rite? (Smiles happily like a little boy)

Excuses

2008-11-22T22:09:00.000+08:00

I'm freaking lazy and nothing has irked me so much that I need to do a blogpost to rant about it...

I know, I have yet to finish my updates about the US trip... I look at all the topics/drafts sitting in my post listings, a bit scared-ed lor. Will try to push myself to finish up a post by end of next week... No guarantees k?

I guess I'm like that. When I work, I tend to neglect my "online" life. Bah... But sometimes, I really wana slack and stone to relax mah... Anyways, I'm still working part-time, haven't found a full-time job yet. I'm searching damn hard, but I believe God will lead the way!

Warning: Rant Ahead. Proceed With Caution!

2008-11-01T01:38:00.000+08:00

Sorry guys. I know I haven't been updating much and now when I finally do, its a rant post. But I really need to vent it out, so allow me a few minutes here...

Today is a damn damn f-ed up crappy day. I thought the day began well when I had time to buy coffee and breakfast before I start work, but it was a "blessing in disguise". In a way, the blessing of having my favorite latte was a disguise behind the crappiness of whatever's gonna happen throughout the day.

Lunch for most of us, who are too lazy to walk too far, would be from the basement foodcourt in Cineleisure. And so, while some of my colleagues went to Ngee Ann City for lunch today, I went to Cineleisure to get economical rice. Not being stereotypical here, but why these young chaps who sell economical rice all have so fucking sweet tongues, to the extent that I feel like cutting them off? Whenever I approach ANY economical rice stall tended by a young chap to look at what dishes are offered, the first 2 words that I would hear from them is 美女 (chiobu/ pretty gal). Ok, I understand, sales pitch... Make me happy before I buy from you. So fucking stop it when I have decided to buy from you!
What really irked me today was that when I said a pack of rice to go, the young chap went, 美女, 什么菜 (chiobu/pretty gal, what side dishes)? When I ordered the 1st side dish, the young chap went, 美女, 还有呢 (chiobu/pretty gal, what else)? When I ordered the 2nd side dish, the young chap went, 美女, 还有呢 (chiobu/pretty gal, what else)? And also after I got my 3rd and final side dish. In short, every single phrase/sentence he spoke to me begun with 美女 (chiobu/ pretty gal).
I'm not interested in making small talk nor flirt with you. Just treat me as a normal customer who only wants to get economical rice and go!

It was crazy in the processing room today. Quite a few new releases and chart items that were on high priority to get out onto the sales floor asap. So, it was non-stop bagging and tagging the stocks. Well, everyday is, but it was double-/triple-speed non-stop today, especially after lunch. And the number of cartons of products waiting to be processed never shrunk, but only grew. Despite how much me and my colleagues had done and how many trips the peeps on the sales floor had to come in to take their products out to rack.

After work, I met my friends for dinner. I took a bus to get to Bugis from Orchard. I think most of you guys have sat on the new disabled-friendly double decked buses. I saw an empty seat and I was determined to get on it because I was damn tired. It was one of those like the ones you have on the MRT, with the windows behind you, and you face everyone. But on my right was a big sized lady who took 1/4 of the empty seat, while an auntie on the left sat "diagionally", facing the front, and thus took up 1/4 of the seat. Tired me didn't care and squeezed my butt into the seat.
Big sized, I don't care and I don't mind. But auntie, can don't sit "diagionally"? If the bus is empty, you can sit "diagionally" across 3 seats, I don't care. But it's crowded leh... I hate to say this, but sit "properly" can?

When I got home, all I wanted to do, was to bath and then go to bed. But have to "fight" for bathroom and I was too tired already. Sometimes I really don't understand. Why the hell do you have to wait till the freaking last minute before you go to bed then bath. Yes, have to cool down first. But try to think lah. Since you are home early, why can't you go bath first? Why must wait for everyone to come home then bath? This is not the first time that I come home, put down my stuff and while gathering my stuff to the bathroom, and then, to find you rushing to the bathroom.

And the internet also bully me... So damn freaking wols!!!

Crappy irritated day. Off to bed now...

Just Updates...

2008-10-14T23:37:00.000+08:00

I've been in touch with a fellow NPC survivor. The last checkup revealed a little scare, but Thank God, after further checks and a PET scan, all is still clear! Die cancer die!!!

I started work on Monday, going back to HMV to earn some teeny weeny spare cash for about 2 weeks or so. Actually cannot say "going back", because the department that I'm in has a headcount freeze for part-timers, so I haven't been working, I am not being sacked and I have not resigned. Right now, I'm with another department.

Don't know if I have the time, but I will try to blog... Working and then coming home to look for jobs and fill/send time-consuming online application forms cum resumes, I don't think I have much time left on hand everyday...

Love Is Blind... And Deaf...

2008-10-10T17:10:00.001+08:00

Some say love is blind... To me, no matter how much he irritates me, makes my blood boil, and no matter how many bad habits he has, I can open one eye, close one eye. I would be fierce at him one minute because of all these, but the very next minute, I'm no longer angry, pissed and in fact I might even be trying to pretend to be angry or pissed.

But now, may I also add that love is deaf... Not that the Dearest cannot hold a tune, but he snores, real real loud sometimes. And yet, I still can fall asleep beside him. To me, his snores are like a lullaby, putting me to sleep at times. Sometimes when we are not sleeping over at each other's place, I would actually miss his snores.

In a week's time, it would be the 4th year since we first got together. Time really flies. Looking back, 4 years seem to be just yesterday... Sometimes I can't believe we would have gone this far because of my illness. Really have to Thank God...

I Saw Hiro Nakamura!

2008-10-06T21:38:00.000+08:00

Here comes yet another long overdued "edition" of my US Trip posts, as continued from the previous one about the freaky taxi driver I met on the way back from the airport after the New York day trip...

The next day, we drove to Universal Studios. I must say that I really love the GPS system lah. Without the system, I doubt we would have had problem-free navigation througout the entire San Francisco and Los Angeles legs of the US trip.K, reality check... Not "just" for me lah, for all visitors lah...Then we went on the studio tour to the backlots where we visited sets, soundstages and studios where filming is done.
This part of the trip was almost cancelled off the itinerary if not for the already bought tickets, because Mum was damn worried and wonder if it was safe enough to go. Apparently fire broke out and part of Universal Studios was destroyed.Adoi, Desperate Housewives fans, are you guys sleeping? LOL... Yep, the tour also brought us to the set of Desperate Housewives.As we exited the theme park to have dinner, I saw a filming schedule for the day.And that marks the end of the day!

Last 2 days coming right up...
p/s: "right up" may not necessarily mean right now. This week is a busy week...

The "Horror" Of Online Job Application Forms

2008-10-03T20:11:00.001+08:00

I have decided at 5.30pm just now that I will stop sending in resumes for the day. My excuse: No one will be going through resumes and do much work because the weekend is beginning.
After wasting brain cells tackling application forms online, I seriously think I deserve a break mentally. If u think filling in application forms online is easy, imagine me in these "horrifying" situations...
1) I have more than 3 working experiences and a particular one only allows me to enter in 3. And with no section for one to input other details of my resume, or a text resume, I can't even "display" my "all-roundedness" in "excelling" in both academic and co-curricular activities.
2) An error prompt of overlapping dates in employment history. Hello, cannot hold 2 part time jobs at one time ah? Thankfully this site had a text resume portion so I can "customise" around and fill in stuff accordingly.
3) Text resume portion with a limit of characters. What's the point in having a section for text resume then?
4) After filling up the entire form and had "errors" like above, you tell me that "there's an error in submitting your resume"?! Waste my time and effort and brain cells rite?!
5) Having to work around sites that limit the number of characters for job descriptions.
6) Having to work around sites that require you to type in your entire transcript. And you dare tell me "this application form takes about 20 to 30 minutes to fill in". By the time I finish ctrl+c, ctrl+v everything, 1+hour gone...
7) Having to work with sites that tie up with online job portals like jobsbd and jobstreet. Instead of entering your ID and password and the system extracts your resume from the online job portals, you have to fill in every single field of the application form all over again.
8) A combination of almost each n every single one of the situations listed above.

And so, I sent out my last resume/online application form and I begin packing my bag and preparing for tomorrow's graduation, but that was done pretty fast.

But the next thing on my "to do" list is something which I dun feel like doing now. My excuse: lazy and no mood to churn brain cells. I seriously think my brain cells deserve a break.
I should take this time now to catch up on what I want to blog about. To me, these are issues I do care about and like writing essays, I do want to do up a good post about it. But my mind's shutting down, I cant think through them properly and how to do up those posts.
Also, the US trip posts. My excuse: too mentally drained to think through what happened chronogically...

Maybe I shall spend this evening on my facebook applications or games, clicking away without spending a bit of "intellectual energy". Or maybe I should watch my TVB VCDs...

Short Random Update

2008-10-02T02:45:00.001+08:00

This is going to be nice, short and sweet. I'm still alive and was spending the past week searching and applying for jobs, watching Heroes, F1 and soccer, being with the Dearest, went out with my galfriends cos we owed one of them a bday treat and went for 1 interview.

I have yet to finish my entries on the US trip. Hopefully my memory doesn't fade and I can still clearly remember what went on. Maybe I should spend one day during the weekend to do up these entries, but I doubt it is going to be this weekend.
Saturday's graduation ceremony and after that will be A*Mei's concert. Sunday's free, but, dunno what plans Dear might have...

The pending drafts in my lists are growing and growing, to the point that I feel some of them are "out-dated" already...

Heart Pain...

2008-09-20T01:26:00.000+08:00

The Dearest is having his reservist which started on Wednesday. Did not manage to see him for the past 3 days only till just now...

Heart pain, I tell you... Dear look so tired lor... Then his face looked sharper also. *ouch* But his belly is still existing! Thanks goodness for that! So still very huggable! hurhurhur...

But in 3 days, he's tanner and he definately looks cuter now... Hehe... *swoons*

Ok everyone, stop puking already! Can cut me some slack? 3 days never see him, miss him deep deep mah... hehe!

Here I Go Again... Argh...

2008-09-18T04:45:00.000+08:00

Okay, so Johnny Evans got to start instead of "Where's" Brown lah, because the latter got a knee injury. But Brown is still on the bench leh, so is John O'Shea. Hmm, a youngster starting instead of O'Shea?

Maybe the manager's worried that O'Shea might pick up some knocks and would like to have him fully fit for the match on weekend? And thus, Evans is picked to start?

Whatever lah, whatever... So what if the squad has no depth? These are all defenders. Chris Eagles is a midfielder, so should leave. Should lah, if not dun have regular football to play.

Argh!!! Stop it Jasmine!!!

Villarreal seems to be Man Utd's nemesis... 0-0 draw... Haiz...

A Sincere Appeal For Help...

2008-09-16T15:25:00.005+08:00

I know I don't have much readership, but I kindly appeal to everyone out there to help spread the word around. To me, this is an important issue and I hope someone would join me and do a small part to help...

During the Beijing Olympics 2008 closing ceremony, one of the cameras managed to take a shot of a few people who wrote "SOFTBALL 2016" on their arms. It was a very fast shot and was on air for only a few seconds and I wondered if anyone caught that. It was a very touching gesture taken by these people and I do not know if they were athletes or people from the audience in the Bird Nest stadium. Thank You so so much...

Although I no longer play the game, but I still love the game very much as I used to play in while in school. Please do bring softball back into Olympics and onto the international stage, so the sport would not die out.

Part of the reason that softball was excluded was that there is a misconception that it is an "American" game and there isn't worldwide participation of the game. Now now, who said only Americans play the game? Japan won the gold medal for the Olympics this year and Australians went home with a bronze.

During the recent SEA Games held last year in Thailand, our girls won the historic silver while our guys (my coach/poly senior, another poly senior and a secondary school senior were in the team) got the bronze. The win was sweet because for years we have not gotten any medals from huge events like this!

You can do your part by leaving your name on the following websites. Whether it would work? I really do not know, but I'm not giving up that glitter of hope.
1) http://www.softballfever.com/olympicsoftballpetition.html (My signature is #11427)
2) http://www.savesoftball.com/ (My signature is #2551)

p/s: to my ex-teammates, seniors and juniors, it's time we really can do much more for the sport... Please spread the message round to all other players in out community. Thanks!

For The Past Week...

2008-09-05T03:02:00.000+08:00

I just realised that I haven't blogged in a week. To cut long story short, I did not have the time in the past week to sit down for at least an hour to do up a proper post. There are things I want talk about, but these topics deserve my full attention and I REFUSE to come up with a "chop-chop-anyhow" post on it.

Yah lah, some of you see me on plurk and on kuwakchai, but in the midst of clicking and typing and clicking, I'm actually checking emails and tidying up some SC stuff too. And I have a social life and need to see the dearest...

Finally I got all my results and my convocation date. Time to start looking for a "sign-my-life-away" job, but before I actually embark on flipping through the papers and job webbies, I still have to do up my resume, etc...

Suddenly, now I realise why I've been having fast-paced-adventure-filled dreams and wake up the next day feeling tired, as though I had ran from Tuas to Changi and back. Because I keep thinking and trying to remember what is the next thing to do, which is more important at this very moment, etc... Not very good rest lor... The best part is that I had wrote down everything that I ought to do and thus can relieve some burden off my brain cells but... haiz...

Time to koonz...

Free Coffee At Starbucks!!!

2008-08-29T14:38:00.001+08:00

Exceptional surprise! I didn't know Starbucks would serve coffee on the house and not charge a single cent. I've taken samplers given out by Starbucks staff along the streets but this is the first time I got a Venti Latte for FREE!

What happened was...

I was with my council mates at Starbucks at Cathay, the one at Handy Road near Plaza Singapura for a small discussion yesterday. While settling down, joining 2 tables for the 5 of us and 2 laptops with a powerpoint nearby, the shop's light keep going on and off and at one point, I heard one of the staff even asked someone if there's internet.

When everything seemed "stabilized", I went to get my coffee. Since my friends were going to be late, I wanted to settle for a Venti instead of a Grande and have my favourite coffee drink, Latte. I went over to the counter and the staff joked and asked, "ice water"? I guessed it was because he thought I was just looking for a power point since I asked him earlier. Haha... I was kinda amused and blur at the same time lah. I told him I wanted a Venti Latte and he asked it I wanted a Super Venti. I don't know if it was meant as a joke, but seriously, a Super Venti would be caffeine overkill lah! So I told him a Venti would be ok.

Now, the best part was, everything was up and running, except the Point-of-Sales (POS) machine aka the cash register. I didn't know what was happening to the store or the register, but I just wanted to pay for my coffee and there wasn't some "welcome" message on the thing that tells you your bill. Meanwhile, there was another staff at the register who was looking for the key or something to open the register. And so, when I asked how much, this staff who was at the register told me it was on the house. That's when I managed to put everything together.

I told them, I can give you exact change, and you can key it in later. The staff at the register kept emphasizing, "no its ok, its on the house, really", while the joker one kept saying, "its my treat, but dinner's on you". When I got my Latte, I still wasn't quite sure about the free coffee. But the staffs ensured me again and again.

And so, I got my FREE coffee!!! Hiak hiak hiak...

Stop! Damnit! STOP!

2008-08-26T07:53:00.001+08:00

I think I really ought to slap myself real hard over and over again so that I can wake up, face the real facts and the truth and move on. No more "what ifs" and "by rights" anymore!

But why do I still cry everytime it happens? What's done has been done and there's no way it can be reversed. Time can't be turned back. Why can't I ever learn? Wake up wake up... ARGH!

Man Utd won Portsmouth just now and I should be darned happy because we don't look miserable at the bottom half of the table. I am happy, but because I'm still sour, sad, disappointed, grieved, (insert your description of negative emotions here) over the transfer of Chris Eagles, I did not feel as happy as I think I would have.

Seeing the lineup, it was torturing and tormenting and I became overwhelmed by emotions and the whole vicious cycle happened all over again. With the Brazilian de Silva twins, Possebon, Campbell and Gibson named as some of the substitutes and with John O'Shea playing in central midfield, the thought that one of them could have easily been Chris Eagles once again brought tears to my eyes.

And I start to wonder again if it was the right choice... ARGH!!!

The Freaky Russian Taxi Driver

2008-08-21T21:26:00.000+08:00

I was alone and when someone is so friendly to you, asking all kinds of personal questions at some unfamiliar place, its really damn scary lah... Anyway here's what happened...

I reached back LA at 11+pm after the New York day trip and boarded a cab back to hotel. Upon boarding, I said "I'm going to Ramada Hotel at North Vermont Avenue." The taxi driver said he did not know where is the hotel but would drive me to the exact street and I could give him directions. Well, I felt brave and confident enough to do that, after all, we had driven around and I can kinda recognise the area around the hotel. He also said that he did not know how to go by the minor roads and would take the freeway all the way. Of course I knew taking the freeway was a small detour (imagine taking the MRT from Orchard MRT to Raffles Place or City Hall MRT then to the final destination at Bugis MRT, where taking SBS bus service number 7 is faster), but I was tired out from the day and anyway that gets me back to the hotel is good.

He then started chatting, asking where I am from, what I was doing in the US, what I was studying in Oklahoma, where my flight arrived from, what I was doing in New York, yadda, blah, etc. He then started asking personal questions like if I have a boyfriend, whether we are planning to get married, how long we have been together, yadda, blah, etc. I did not think much of it as I felt he had been "Americanized" (he's a Russian and had been in America for the past 7 years) and was just being very friendly. Furthermore, I could recognise that we were on the correct way back to the hotel, and thus did not sense "danger." But still, we were still not near the hotel yet, and he was freaking me out just a teeny bit...

Then, he commented I was a "good person" and very friendly. Ok, friends say that of me also, so again, I did not think much of it. Furthermore, I kept telling myself that he is just very friendly and chatty and brushed aside any thoughts of him as a scary person. I mean, afterall, he exited correctly on the freeway...

As the taxi was a few buildings away from the hotel, he said he would stop the meter here because I was a "good person". As we were pulling into the hotel driveway, he said that if I was free, he would like to bring me out for dinner because I was a "good person". I FREAKED OUT at this very moment. Where got people so damn freaking super duper uber extremely very friendly one?! Within 25-30 minutes on the taxi chatting, you ask someone out for dinner?!

So, I replied that my days are very packed and I would not be free. But this fella would NOT give up. He continued by asking when I was leaving. I told a lie, "a day after tomorrow." I felt bad because I was no longer a "good person", but I felt I had to because he was just getting toooooooo freaky for my comfort!!! I then thanked him for sending me back and said good night. He replied his byes and good night and wished that I have a nice holiday in the US. I quickly got off the taxi and brisk walked back into the hotel... I almost felt that I was running...

I wished I had bought more stuff but I was kinda scared that my debit card account didn't have enough. Bah!
(From left to right, top to bottom) Derek Jeter bobble, stadium commemorative replica, thermal mug, Derek Jeter handphone strap, display car plate, Alex Rodriguez tee, Yankees jacket (the most expensive item in the loot), Derek Jeter tee, souvenir bat, Derek Jeter-jersey-patterned bag and "the only team that counts: Yankees" tee...

Universal Studios coming right up!
p/s: So so sorry about such a delayed update on the US trip.

Contridicting Myself All Over Again...

2008-08-18T01:30:00.000+08:00

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!

Fraizer Campbell started for Manchester United in the opening match against Newcastle. Rodrigo Possebon came on as a substitute and so did Rafael de Silva.

Could Chris Eagles have gotten a chance instead of them? Its a definate yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!! But instead he played for Burnley in a 3-0 loss to Ipswich! Argh!!!

I dare not confirm that if Eagles did start and played in this opening match, Man Utd would have picked up a full 3 points. But... Argh... Rafael, can't say anything because he is a defender... But I seriously don't see how Campbell and Possebon would have been picked ahead of Eagles if Eagles is still in Man Utd!

I better stop here, before I start the Chris Eagles and the vicious cycle ranting again... Pfft!
*Start to psycho myself that it's for the better good for his career and hold back tears*

The Vicious Cycle...

2008-08-16T05:31:00.002+08:00

I looked at the Manchester United squad numbers registered for the 08/09 season and started crying again because I realised that, at one glance, if Chris Eagles was willing to hold out a while more, his chances of first team regular football is actually quite high.

Some youngsters were given numbers and the squad registered is actually bigger this year compared to last year. And honestly, these youngsters, I feel, are still nowhere on par with Chris Eagles, although I have high hopes and expectations of the Brazilian twins.

At this moment when I'm still grumbling, which does not change the fact that he has already signed for Burnley, I realised it becomes a vicious cycle. The cycle of me grumbling and crying about him leaving Man Utd and then trying to psycho myself that he needs regular football if he wants to have a chance to get back into the England squad and the possibility that another EPL club will buy him or Burnsley will get promoted and that will bring him back to play in the top flight.

And at this very moment, I realised that I have to add another label, "Chris Eagles"...

Singapore Finally Get Its 2nd Olympic Medal In History!!!

2008-08-15T18:09:00.000+08:00

Sorry for the false alarm for all the weird reasons it happened. Here's the real deal...

The women's table tennis won their semi-final against Korea. We now confirm have a medal, dunno what colour only... Haha... Wooooooot!!! Well done gals!

It was damn exciting and it was a close fight with the Koreans. But Li Jiawei have to stay calm and composed lah... Lost to Kim Kyung Ah 4 years ago in Athens, gotta learn from that lesson.

Feng Tianwei is a player we ought to watch. Very clever and composed... Won us both singles matches!!!

But personally, I felt that Wang Yue Gu had a better day compared to Li Jiawei. Hopefully all of them will excel in the individuals later on also... 加油!

A Message That Made My Jaw Drop

2008-08-14T21:46:00.000+08:00

Guys, will you send this kinda message to girls whom you do not know on social networking websites such as Friendster, Facebook, etc? I almost fell off my chair when I saw this message from a guy whom I did not know!

Anyway, to protect this fella's identity, I censored some personal info like name, company name and handphone number lah...

Good afternoon.just back home from work , just eaten lunch at home.eaten "lontong" .you eaten yr lunch? do remember to eat yr meal soon.drink plenty of water as weather stuffy and hot .bit down on cough and flu , seen doctor two tme but did not recover .bit down on luck , injured one of my finger during work few days before .not heading anywhere today , will be resting at home .mind be a friend ?.let me intro myself first ... (name) here, 23yrs old Singapore Chinese guy , height 1.72m n weight 60kg .

Short profile of myself. Single.completed army last year sep . wrking in outdoor sale line for (some company). Tend to care for others more and also be truthful to others .wrking hard and hope to get my car licence so can drive mitsubishi lancer .love to eat dim sum and drink Soya bean.hardly clubbing , maybe once a year ,no smoking .Sincerely hope you give me chance to know you more.sometime do help out in housechores.always tend to care for others more before me.i do drink but it like only abt twice in half a year .

hi . as my friendtser got "connection error" .find it very hard to log in . you can sms me at (handphone number) if you don mind .Sincerely hope able to recieve your sms .

Am i allowed bring you cross over to malaysia to eat next time or perhap in time to come ?Do known of famous stall selling herbal roast duck and japanese food.

When you are free i make fried "BEER" chicken wing for you to try .

sincerely hope can bring you go eat nice food next time .

Happy 7th Birthday, My Dear Blog!

2008-08-12T16:45:00.002+08:00

7 long years of blogging... I guess I might be even have been blogging longer than a whole lot of Singaporean bloggers and even some prominent and "famous" bloggers.

Compared to them, what have I achieved? Nothing... Zilch... No advertising payments (my ads as you see on my blog have only earned me less than USD$8 since I put it on 12 months ago) nor paid for endorsements and reviews nor even a manager.
But yet I still blog...
I only get like an average of 20 hits a day. Mind you, its 2-0, TWO digits, not like others who have a 5-digits hits daily.
But yet I still blog...

Since I have nothing, why do I still carrying on blogging in this boring blog?

To me, I blog because I want to and I love to. Its like an online diary. Some of you may say that diaries are not meant to be publicly read, but to me, my most inner thoughts are often kept up in my heart and not on this online "article/ document."

In the past, I used my blog mainly to vent out my fustrations, whines and grumbles. I did nothing else. As friends started to know I have a blog, I started to type about what's going on in my life to update them in a way.
When cancer came into my life, I still updated as much as I can to let my friends know how I was coping with treatment and all. Then I felt that there was something more then just talking about my daily life. I felt that I should use my blog to reach out to other cancer patients, survivors and their care-givers.

And thus, I moved my blog from a lesser known platform, diaryland, to blogspot. I also joined some blog "directories" to get my blog out there for people to reach. All I want is to share my experience and be there for other cancer patients, survivors and their care-givers out there. I just want people to know that there's this cancer survivor who has this blog and it is opened 24/7 for other cancer patients, survivors and their care-givers to contact.

I do not need fame and fortune from this. I do not crave for it nor do I look for it. I just want to be there for other cancer patients, survivors and their care-givers. If fame and fortune comes along, it is not a must, it is only a bonus.

I'm just a gal who has a blog, and because of that, I'm a blogger. But I'm not a full-time/part-time/famous/etc blogger. I'm just a plain old blogger who is a gal that has a blog and she blog because she simply love to and want to.

Happy 7th Birthday!

Leading Strong In This Long Battle Against Cancer

2008-08-11T19:55:00.000+08:00

1 month and a 1 week shy of my 2 years in remission, I went for my scheduled regular checkup with my radiotherapy oncologist, today. He did an endoscopy for me and all is clear, at least for the primary site!

I remembered 3 years ago, this week, I was having my first chemo dose. I remembered trying to keep myself occupied by watching the tv in the clinic but was complaining to my bf and the nurse that I was damn drowsy and my head was really heavy and spinning away crazily. The nurse then told me to sleep and that it was ok to sleep, trying to make me feel less "pig/ lazy". It was there and then I learnt that sleeping was the best way to keep myself occcupied while having chemo, and many others felt the same way too. Haha...

The True Colours Of Authority And Administration?

2008-08-07T23:27:00.000+08:00

First you say no to everything, giving no reasons or lame reasons, or reasons that have solutions to it. We listened and made changes and provided solutions and backup plans. Still you said no. Sometimes I wonder if you say no for the sake of saying no.
Then, we see our ideas and plans implemented by you and you pass it off as yours without crediting us any single bit.
Now, you clam down on us saying that we did not produce ANY results and try to discredit us in every detailed single way possible.
Erm, hello... You being the thickest, biggest, longest wall possible (even thicker, bigger, longer that Great Wall of China), saying no to everything and grabbing our credits, what results you want to see from us huh?! You taken everything already what!

Seriously, this is a viscious cycle. Want to see results from us, then give us the fucking due credit! I had enough of this kind of people. God, please bless me that my direct boss is not like that when I re-enter into the working world again...

Selling Chris Eagles Is Manchester United's Loss And Burnley's Gain

2008-08-04T01:59:00.001+08:00

With the news of Sir Alex Ferguson (might be) giving youngster Fraizer Campbell a taste of EPL this season reaching my ears, my blood boiled AGAIN!

Oh, just because he scored the only goal in the testimonial match for Solksjaer and won the game!? HELLO, my Chris Eagles ALSO scored an only Man Utd goal during the pre-season Vodacom Challenge opening game against Kaiser Chiefs and saved you from a loss. Campbell is still untested while Eagles has scored in last year's EPL opening match against Everton!

Although the transfer news/rumours have been going on since end-June, early-July, he has never been really interested in leaving. He wants regular football and as a manager, you could have told him to polish his skills while he could wait till Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs to retire where he could stand a chance to have a regular football! Look at the Man Utd players who were sold to divisions below the Premier League, where are they now?! And now, I fear the same for Chris Eagles.

Eagles had been featuring regularly in the under-(age) groups for England and you can safely say that he is an England youth squad member. However, in the past 2-3 years, he was not picked. So, what is the reason? A coaching flaw in Man Utd's youth academy or England's youth academy (if there's one)? He's 22 going on 23 and now that he is playing for the lower divisions, I really doubt the chances he can play for England's senior squad.

Psst, Man Utd, you can start kicking youself for agreeing to let the fabulous Chris Eagles go... He scored in his debut appearance for Burnley...

Sometimes I Feel I'm Unappreciated

2008-08-02T04:53:00.000+08:00

In a certain way, I feel that no one listens to me seriously nor take me seriously. Even when facts are presented, whatever I say or do seems to be just a breeze that just went by, tickling just a single leaf on a tree while the others dun even shift a millimetre.

Is it because I'm small sized and look like a little girl. Ok, so blame it on my parents who gave me a baby face meh? Look at the fucking fine lines and wrinkles beneath my eye lah!
Is it because I have a sreechy high pitch voice? I'm not a guy, so my voice does not break upon puberty.
Is it because people who work with me do not know me well enough to see that I'm less serious and picky when it comes to work? Is it because I "worry" too much? I do admit I'm picky and go right into the nitty gritty finest details. I also ~~like~~ love to envision the worst case scenario. But why do I do so? Has anyone fucking understand why I have to play the devil every single fucking time?!
I'm not insisting that I want to have my way. I do so because we must think further and be prepared for things that would crop up. It is true that not all of us have the ability to foresee if a plan would have any hiccups or will move on smoothly, but is it wrong to anticipate than to let the matter catch us off guard?

Be it any matter that crops up, school, work, friends, etc, every serious comment I make is always for the better good. But has anyone fucking listened?! Which is why sometimes I feel damn useless too. Maybe I should not expect too much. I'm just a nobody in everyone's eyes. I'm just that small-sized gal who is part of their social circle, hidden at one end, away from everyone.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Its Your Fault!

2008-07-30T23:02:00.000+08:00

Man Utd have lost a promising player, Chris Eagles. Why I'm saying it's the gaffer's fault is because Eagles hasn't been getting first team appearances that he deserves! You don't even let him warm the bench lah!

I thought he had a pretty good pre-season and was actually kinda looking forward to seeing him play in this weekend's testimonial match for Solskjaer. During an interview last year, he even said that he will remain in Man Utd even if he only plays in reserves. It just goes to show how loyal he is to the club.

If Eagles is on loan to another club, I still not so sad. But now, he is actually being sold to Burnley for slightly more than a million pounds. Man Utd, look at your blardi aging midfield, the question marks over Ronaldo's future at the club, Carrick's invisibility and Nani's forever off-forms, I don't understand why Eagles has to be sold! I don't think Man Utd is so hard up for that million pounds right?

I guess this will be the last time I'll see him in the Man Utd jersey... And I'm still in a state of shock...

I DESPERATE! Can Or Not?!

2008-07-30T16:27:00.000+08:00

The reasons behind this made me feel like a despo somewhat! But who cares? And so...And why am I crying when I blogging about this? Bah!

This Is What Happens...

2008-07-29T00:17:00.000+08:00

...when you plurk too much... Bah!

Bad Start For The Day

2008-07-25T16:36:00.000+08:00

When we went down for breakfast at the hotel, I started to miss Anaheim and even more of Oklahoma. Remember I complained about breakfast in Anaheim not on par with Oklahoma in this entry? I shall apply that complaint all over again here with some changes here and there.
1) The breakfast spread in Anaheim was bigger and better and the one in Oklahoma was EVEN bigger and better.
2) The eggs in Oklahoma were REAL scrambled eggs, not some pancake-looking pieces of eggs which tasted like flour.
3) There was only caffinated or decaf tea. In Oklahoma, we had green tea, chamomile, earl grey, etc., on top of the caffinated and decaf red ceylon tea.
4) Ignoring the poor tea range, at least we still had hot chocolate sachets in Anaheim, which was just like Oklahoma. Over here, none.
5) About yoghurt? None here to speak or even complain about.
6) In Oklahoma we have cheese sauce. In Anaheim, we have shredded cheddar. Here, nothing.
7) In Oklahoma, most of the time, we had sausage patties that tasted like McDonalds and on a few occasions, we had what tasted the same, but in the shape of a sausage. In Aneheim, we only had the sausage shaped ones. I'm suspecting that they all buy from the same supplier or something because over here, the sausages taste and look the same as the ones in Anaheim.
8) I don't think I'm being picky because in Vegas, breakfast was not provided and we had muffins and bread at our relative's place in San Francisco. I was kinda gearing for some kinda McDonalds Big Breakfast!
Haiz, so chin chye eat lor.

After walking around, we got back to the hotel early as I needed time to shower, pack and catch my flight out to... Hehe...

More US adventures coming right up!

Moving On To Los Angeles...

2008-07-23T16:31:00.001+08:00

Presenting to you, the journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles through peektures!!!And so, we reached Los Angeles. We unpacked a little and decided where to have dinner. My sis suggested Yoshinoya, since we saw it while driving and it was only a few blocks away. I was telling my dad to drive, but he said no need and did not want to, maybe he is tired after driving for so long.
And so, we walked to Yoshinoya, which is damn far lah, although it was only a few blocks away. Moreover the sun was setting and this street is so empty, unlike Vegas. A bit the scared actually. Then don't know who suggested to eat in, but majority wins and we ta bao-ed dinner back to hotel. After getting dinner, I think we almost kinda brisk walked back to the hotel. Vegas felt so so much safer, despite the raunchy-ness that is everywhere, most probably its because the Strip is so brightly lit and there are so so many people around...

While my sis slacked out, and my parents in the other room, don't know doing what, I was busy. Busy planning where to go first, finding out where to park and the exact street names to key into the GPS system.

Busy and fun filled LA days coming right up!

The Eagles Soar Yet Yet Yet Again!!!

2008-07-22T01:01:00.000+08:00

I'm in a happy mood today because my DARLING Chris Eagles made me happy!!! And yah lah, thanks to the stubborn old man, Sir Alex Ferguson who was willing to give him a first team appearance to play in central midfield lah... My Chris Eagles scores for Man Utd AGAIN!!!!!!

Grabbed this off youtube!

1 Year Rendezvous With Ping.sg

2008-07-21T16:35:00.001+08:00

1 year ago on 21st July 2007, I joined Ping.sg and hence, our love affair begin...

I can't really remember how I stumbled upon ping, but I was looking to get my blog listed on some site so I can reach out to other cancer survivors and/or patients. Like a blur sotong, I was trying to figure out how things work around here and even thought that I as long as I pinged, my post would be the one on top for that moment in the latest listing. 2 pings later, I realised that blogger aka blogspot post time is the time of creation, not time of posting and ping.sg lists post based on timing, thus, my pings would end up in the middle of the big sea. Finally, I got clever and did the right thing.

I saw the shoutbox and thought that it seemed like a mini mIRC chat room. I couragously typed something and was warmly welcomed and greeted by a few people. And for the next few days, I found myself addicted to the shoutbox, and more importantly, the community, as everyone was like a one big family! On the shoutbox I chatted with people like Xizor, Daphne, DK, Chillycraps, Arzhou, Rinaz, Malique, UFC (sorry if I forgot anyone) and got to know even more people, even the members who joined after me, as the time went by.

I was 2 weeks late for the 1st anniversary party, and some did asked why I wasn't there cos they thought I had joined before the party which was held on the 7th July. But I felt that I was part of ping community within a week of joining when I was involved in the ping.sg adverts started by (I think) Cris, and I did it again and again.

Days later, 3 gals began talking about cheesecakes on the shoutbox and it became a Secret Recipe outing. Initially set at IMM, it was shifted to a more central location at Forum Shopping Mall so it would be more convenient for the "easterners". At this virgin outing of mine, I saw first hand, the power of Twitter and I think we managed to psycho DK to cut his class and come down. Haha...

There was a day when I just got home and since I have a tab permantly fixed on ping on IE already, I took a peek at the shoutbox while cooling down and getting ready to shower. Then I saw ping Daddy, Uzyn jio everyone for supper damn last minute at Fong Seng (behind NUS) because Daphne was feeling down and needed some company. In about 15 minutes, some "westies" agreed to come out and it was already close to midnight. At this moment, I could feel that the community was tightly knitted and everyone regarded each other as friends when all of us rushed down to Fong Seng in our own ways to meet up. DK drove down and fetched some others and even offered to give me a lift, but when Arzhou called me, I was already in my Dad's car, hehe!!! And, I was the first to reach! Funny stuff happened and I remembered that DK was damn stunned (jaw-dropping-stunned) when he got to know how old I was. At the previous Secret Recipe outing, we were talking about male pingsters having a belly and I came up with a post based on the supper...

About a week or 2 later, I got flamed left, right, up, down, center over this post on my blog, my tagboard and some forum. First time I kena this kinda thing, and I really did not know what to do. So, what else can I do but to talk to fellow pingsters about it, since they are all bloggers as well? I went down to Cafe Cartel to meet up with them, and they comforted me and gave good advices. To me, this ping community was a big family of people who cared for one another.

Then I did up a post on a pasar malam happening in Clementi and another gathering took place. We bought food from the pasar malam stalls and went to a nearby kopitiam to order drinks and enjoy our food while having a TCSS session.

Soon, I kinda like disappeared from the radar because my modules were beginning to pile back to back and were even overlapping. Furthermore, a few of my classmates managed to push MDIS for a Student Council and I was on board as a committee member. Thus I didn't really have the time to lurk on the shoutbox or come out often for gatherings. I remembered having ice cream at Island Creamery and the TCSS session at Essential Brew, then there was the yu sheng session at Decoder's Cafe and the Good Friday Waraku and TCC TCSS session. I was so tied up with school that I missed Daphne's surprise birthday party (Sorry Daph)...

I further disappeared into thin air when I went over to the US for 6 weeks to complete the last 3 modules for my degree and my family joined me over there for a holiday after that. While I was studying, the hotel I was staying in had free wireless connection and I would be free after about 8pm Oklahoma time and on the weekends. So, I would try to blog something or to appear on the shoutbox. When touring started, there was hardly any free time as we would be out the whole day. It was also a clash of timings when I thought I could help contribute to the 2nd anniversary party after a year, but I can't as I was overseas and had to mug for 2 papers and essays when I came back. But thanks to the organizing committee who had let me played a small part by helping out to present one of the awards!

Recently, some unhappy stuff happened as well. I was horribly affected and cried numerous times because I did not know what to do. I did not really take sides as both were friends to me and I felt I did not do a good job in trying to help. I really miss the good old days (where there were still people chatting on the shoutbox at 4am in the morning) but that doesn't mean I don't want the good new days (where there are more pingsters and there is now a bigger community).

I remembered how we used to have discussions over grey areas such as pong cheating and all, or how to improve ping over the forums or the ideas page and everyone contributed their 2 cents worth. Everyone somehow played a part as a community member to help improve ping through their ideas and I could see some of the ideas coming to life as Uzyn is improving the site over time through version 1.8 and the upcoming version 2.0 which was given a sneak preview during the 2nd anniversary party. And yep, till now, I still miss the old ping pong balls... (Psst, Boss, can we have the ping pong balls back again, please please, pretty please...)

And oh ya! (Belated) Happppeeeeeeeeeeee 2nd Birthday ping.sg!!!

I Went To Prison... Almost...

2008-07-18T16:21:00.000+08:00

I managed to persuade my dad to drive down to the Embarcadero area the next morning for the Alcatraz trip. Since we had drove past in the cab the day before, have the GPS system in the car, maps and research on where to park, it was not going to be a headache. And it turned out kinda easy. Even when we got lost when we made a wrong turn, the system would go "recalulating" and still bring us to where we wana go. It was also really easy to find parking space, maybe because it is a "tourist-y" place.

We gave too much time allowance and turned out that we reached really really early. While waiting for the booth to open to collect our tickets (which turned out that we need not to), I was happily snapping away at the waiting and queue area, displaying some exhibits on history and ex-inmate quotes and regulations when it was a federal prison the waiting and queue area.Alcatraz was a maximum, high-security federal prison. Many have tried to escape. Most were either dead or recaptured, except for a few whose whereabouts are still unknown. I could feel what the prisoners were feeling upon stepping on the island. Here I am, on an island surrounded by freezing, rushing currents. It was a feeling of "that's it." If that wasn't enough, the lost and helpless feeling was worse upon stepping within the walls of the actual prison building.
We left my sister at home because she was running a high fever and since Embarcadero is where Fisherman's Wharf is, meaning pier, meaning sea, meaning strong winds, we did not want her to fall sick even more. After the Alcatraz trip, we went back to get her, and then drove out again to sightsee.Also drove past Chinatown and experienced the hilly-ness the San Francisco. Damn scary. Try directing your dad with the GPS system in the front seat when you have the fear of heights and taking a roller coaster ride, with steep slopes, at the same time.I love seafood and I want Bubba Gump in Singapore because they cook shrimps in so many different ways!!!

Went home after dinner and started packing. Remember how worried I was when I saw the spoiled luggage in this entry? Thank God! Everything was intact and nothing inside was damaged, even my F.R.I.E.N.D.S complete series boxset didn't suffer any dents.
A lesson learnt... Don't pack the luggage full, because when TSA opens it, they will not have the time nor remember how you arrange your stuff nicely. If your luggage can't be closed properly, chances are that your luggage might be damaged and things go missing because they fall out. Help TSA and yourself out.

Meanwhile, more of my mum's cousins came over to say hi and goodbye because we were driving back to Los Angeles the next day. Honestly, I can't remember when was the last time I saw these aunties and uncles and I hope it won't be the last time...

Los Angeles adventure coming right up!

TSA Spoiled My Luggage!!!

2008-07-15T16:57:00.000+08:00

The main thing I love about Las Vegas is the shopping, the fact that I can walk around the Strip at 10pm and there are still lots of people and that the city is very compact because everything is at most only 30 minutes away. But, still gotta move on...As we went to the airport shuttle and onto the shuttle bus to collect the rental car, nothing could calm my anxiety and anger. I was really damn worried and anxious to rip it open and check because my textbooks and notes were in it, my graduation gown and Phi Kappa Phi medallion were in it and my F.R.I.E.N.D.S COMPLETE series BOXSET was in it as well! I've also heard enough horror stories of things missing after TSA opened to inspect it and with these horror stories playing in my mind, nothing could help calm me down...
We then drove back to my mum's cousin's place and settled down. It was damn kind of them to put us up in the San Francisco leg of our tour, and they were really nice hosts! My uncle brought us to Costco, which was Walmart in a bigger and cheaper way, to get a replacement luggage and things which we need. In the end, we settled for a 4 piece luggage set because we reckon that there will be more shopping and we might as well get it now since we would not be bounded by any more domestic flight baggage regulations.We then had dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Finally, DECENT Chinese food, although Panda Express does help curb the need for Chinese food... BUT, FINALLY, DECENT Chinese food!!! Wah lau, try being in my shoes lah. For like almost 5 weeks, Panda Express was the only (kinda) decent Chinese food, buay tahan one lor!

Got back, washed up, booked a cab and slept early. We were going Yosemite the next day and since the meeting time was damn early and we were not familiar with the place and especially where to park, my dad wasn't really keen on driving down to the Embarcadero area where the meeting place was, so we had to book a cab.

The thing about me and Yosemite is that I'm NOT AT ALL impressed. After seeing Wichita Mountains on day 4 of my on-campus residency where the colours are damn beautiful and clear (blue is damn blue, green is damn green, brown is damn brown) and heading out to Grand Canyon while in Las Vegas, Yosemite really pales in comparision with its blobs of varying degrees of brown. Adding fuel to fire, Yosemite is at least 5 hours away, which meant we spent a whole 10 hours on the bus, which also meant a waste of time to me, although we caught both sunrise and sunset on the bus.
More San Francisco adventures coming right up!

Finally!!! Its OVER!!!

2008-07-05T17:20:00.000+08:00

NO MORE exams!!! Wooooooooohhhooo!!!

But I'm not feeling as high as I thought I should. Don't mind me if I sound weird, I'm actually crying now and its not because I'm happy exams are over, its because I feel USELESS! I only want the best for the community and for everyone. I should never be a mediator again in future, huh? Or rather, I should NEVER EVEN TRY to be a mediator... I tried, I really tried. But it didn't work. 手心是肉, 手背也是肉 (the palm of the hand have flesh, the back of the hand also have flesh) I only want the best for the community!!! I tried, I really really damn fucking tried. But still... Sorry guys, I didn't try hard enough... I really feel damn lousy, damn freaking useless now. I can't even do anything constructive to help!!! And I still dare to say I love the community to death! But I didn't do anything to help, did I? I'm really really sorry...

Maybe seeing A*Mei win the best female vocalist later will perk me up...

The Devil And The Angel Fights Again...

2008-07-05T00:17:00.001+08:00

Fight, fight only... Only know how to fight!!!

So, eh you the devil, stop asking me not to read through my notes lah. Listen to the angel on the other side of my shoulder!!! So what if you look like Man U's mascot huh? Must listen to you meh? 13 hours only!!! And that 13 hours includes sleeping time!!! Eh zai... Tahan... 13 more hours only... If can finish the paper earlier, hiak hiak hiak, muuuuuuuuuahahahahahahaha... Ganbatte ne!!! Angel, I think I need words of encouragement... Aiyah, both of you can fight it out lah, I feel like sleeping now...

THE COUNTDOWN STARTS TO NO MORE EXAMS!!! (oops, sorry for the caps... too excited liaos...) Wooooooooooohhhhoooooooo!!!

Yesh, naggy angel, must read notes first before sleeping...

Rant...

2008-07-02T15:59:00.000+08:00

ARGH!!! I need to kaobei! I want to shout! I want to sleep! Me essay ish keeling me!!!
Family planning in India, Thailand and China huh? China I know how to hantum, but the other 2 parts are ripping my brains apart!!! Although I have done 5 pages already, every sentence is punctuated with "(author page)"!!! I have no input on my own sia... I've been trying to find the policies on the governmental pages, but I can't find anything helpful!!! And it doesn't help that I can only understand damn simple and basic Thai like kop khun ka and although I have a half-Thai boyfriend, we can't read Thai! I've been to the English sites, but nothing...
Then I still have to prepare for my exam. Thank goodness our lecturer gave us a list of questions that she'll choose from for the exam, BUT I have not touched on those yet!!! I want to go back to Oklahoma and/or the US, BUT not for on-campus residency lor... Cannot fail and pressure's building... My friend say textbook can find the answers, hopefully easy to find lor.

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Rant done, back to the fucked up essay...

China Travel Scam Or Not?

2008-06-29T15:55:00.000+08:00

I received this a few days ago as a comment posted on one of my entries. The reason I'm not approving this comment is because there is no "credible" source to it. Anyone else got this? How true is it? (Click for a bigger pic)

The Thing About My Boyfriend IS...

2008-06-28T16:28:00.002+08:00

Sometimes I really feel like knocking him hard on the head for his irritating-ness. I guess most of you already know who he is...
Anyway, here are some conversations that took place in the past week...

1) We were talking about why some kinda girls only appeal to some kinda guys...
Dear: Guys like that girlfriends to be presentable, so can bring out mah. Like trophy like that.
Me: So I am trophy lah.
Dear: Something like that lah.
Me(Starting to get irritated already): Than I what kinda of looks, what kinda trophy?
Dear: Erm, that kinda girl-next-door look lor.
Me: I don't look like your neighbour mah.
Dear: But the look is different one.
Then he took one of my friends and say that her look is the "upper-class girl-next door" look and that she has a different kinda look compared to my "girl-next-door" look.
Me: But I still don't get it leh.
Dear: Got the village girl, 土乡, look.
Me: So it's the country girl look lah?
Dear: Something like that, very hard to describe lah.
...Say I look toot say so lah...

2) I slept over at his place the other day. We met up at slightly past midnight, on the morning of 24th.
Dear: Happy Birthday!
I was so damn happy lah, because this guy sometimes damn goondu one. BUT when we went for lunch the next day...
Dear: Today what date ah?
Me: You asking me? How can you forget my birthday?
Dear:i know today your birthday and it's on 24th, but just cannot connect.
...Somehow, Dear's brain is wired differently from us, the normal human beings...

3) I finished my paper and we were having lunch just now. He was telling me about his friends getting married and they got together around the same time as us.
Me: Wah, they so fast get married ah?
Dear: Ok lah, we together 3 years coming October right?
I stared at him.
Dear: Not 3 meh? 3 or 4?
...dot dot dot...

4) Today I felt we had kinda good telepathy. Over lunch just now, we were talking about the kopitiam stored-value card and the discounts for each different kinda card. He said something while I was having food in my mouth. So I twisted my index finger and middle back and forth.
Dear: Yah lah, reverse one.
Me: Wah, you know what I mean ah?
Dear: Yah lah, I clever one.
Me: Your 10-years-series throw away liao ah? In this case should say, of course, I understand you mah.
Dear: 把到了(Get already), 10-years-series still keep for what?
...Pure irritating-ness...

THE Experience In Vegas!

2008-06-27T13:20:00.000+08:00

Kinda sad that we are leaving soon, and it is also a very slack morning/ afternoon for us, while the real fun kicks in at night!

And so, we got up real late, ate the remaining donuts for brunch and while my parents and sis went to Ross to buy another luggage, I stayed in the hotel to book day tour tickets for our next leg of the trip. We bought another luggage because it's cheaper to pay for additional piece of baggage than have an overweight baggage and we did toooooooooooo much shopping that even though there is space in our luaggage, the weight limitations means we have to get another luggage.

So, maybe you thought last day no shopping. You thought wrongly lor. We spent the afternoon at Fashion Show Mall before moving to Fremont Street for the Fremont Street Experience.The first show will start roughly about 8.30pm or when the sun fully sets, goes on for about 15 minutes, returns again at 9pm and at hourly intervals and the last show of the night will be at midnight.
We got to and from Fremont Street by riding on The Deuce again and from the top deck of the bus, looking down on the lights of the Strip, BEAUTIFUL lor!!! Again, no photo evidence because lost in transmission, argh!

Back to the hotel, we packed and packed. Trying to make sure each luggage will not exceed 50 pounds. But before I pack, of course must take photo first lah...- Right at the top, 2 Aeropostale shorts and a black underwear.
- Footwear (on the right, from top to bottom): black Anne Klein wedges, black Marc Jacobs flip flops, 2 Timberland flip flops, brown and black, DKNY casual wear and white BCBG wedges
- 3 Calvin Klein bottoms on the left.
- In the middle (from top to bottom): baby blue CK top, grey BCBG top, grey DKNYJeans top, Banana Republic spaghetti strap, black AX top, no brand dress from Ross, DVD on Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton (its very special to me because my favourite designer is a Creative Director for my favourite brand), Marc Jacobs Daisy solid perfume and (ultimate splurge) Marc by Marc Jacobs Groovee in Black from 2008 spring collection.

San Francisco adventures coming right up!

On The 4th Day In Las Vegas

2008-06-26T14:35:00.000+08:00

After 2 whole days of shopping madness, its time to relax... Although I do seriously think I can go on physically, so guess where we went...

Final day in Vegas coming right up!

Krispy Kreme Was Disappointing...

2008-06-20T16:12:00.000+08:00

As I was saying, I was looking forward to Vegas because of the shopping. And guess where we went the next day...But when my mum saw this, I kena niam, "We have in the fridge right? How come you buy again? One whole box in the fridge haven't finish and you buy again..."
Besides staying in a good location justifying the lok kok kok-ness of the place, there is another point to justify the lok kok kok ness... On the ground floor of the hotel, there is Krispy Kreme. And so, on the very first night, we had already bought a dozen (argh, photo lost in transmission) and had tried them for breakfast the morning before going to Outlet Center.
Verdict: KK TOO DAMN FREAKING SWEET lor... The dough had the donut "oomph" and since KK is the "bread-y" kinda of donut, seriously, it is not soft enough. When I took the dough with icing/filling together, I can't taste the dough anymore and I felt like rubbing bittergourd all over my mouth to neutralise the sweetness that was making me cringe. Before I went on the US trip, I had tried J Co a couple of times since it's in Singapore already, and J Co scores landslide win over KK lor. J Co, also the "bread-y" type, after refridgerating, is still SO DAMN FREAKING BLARDI SOFT! The dough has the "oomph", the icing/filling does not overpower the dough and it not too sweet too. Honestly, once you tried J Co, you can forget about KK liao. KK really let me down.
As a DD fan, to be fair, the "bread-y" ones (glazed, jelly, etc) win "ommph" over KK and J Co, but in terms of softness, it loses to J Co since it is very close to KK. But the "cake-y" ones, DD is KING! "Oomph" to the max, soft and melts in the mouth!!! Now, can someone airfreight me 50 chocolate munchkins?

Sorry ah, digress too far... So, anyway, we took The Deuce, a bus that travels up and down the Strip to the Outlet Center and back. You can never miss your stop unless you have fallen dead asleep or there is some technical fault, because the bus driver annouces the street name or the location of the stops or plays a traped recording.Seriously, Vegas is the only city that I see crowd (i.e LOTS of people) walking on the street at 10pm...

After 2 whole days of shopping, do you think we took a break? *Evil laughter...* Hehehehehe...

4th day of Vegas coming right up!

Enough Is Enough

2008-06-19T22:58:00.000+08:00

So what if the blog post has been reported on the papers? So what if the guy has come forward with his side of the story? To me, the whole matter has been blown out of proportion. I also seen several blogs paparazzi-ing the happenings. Is that at all necessary?

Yes, our blogs are not private and are public but we post what we want to post, even our darkest secrets. If you do not have constructive comments, then keep your hands off the keyboard. Who are you to scold and say or-bi-good? Who are you to make judgements or analysis of the case?

At times, our judgements may not be that good and people do make mistakes. If so, let the parties concerned solve the problem themselves. What has happened has happened, as outsiders, no point scolding or trying to pin-point blame also right? Enough is enough. Let them have their peace...

First Few Hours In Las Vegas = First NSFW Post On My Blog

2008-06-19T11:42:00.000+08:00

On the cold morning of 23rd May, we took a bus from Anaheim to THE sin city, Las Vegas. I was actually very looking forward to the Vegas part of our itinerary mainly because of shopping! Seriously, you tell me lah, with an outlet mall each on both ends of the Strip, with Ross just opposite the hotel I'm staying in, and with 2 shopping malls about 15 to 20 minutes away, HOW to resist shopping you tell me?!

Upon reaching Las Vegas, we freshened up, went to hunt for dinner and explore the area a little. Staying right smack in the middle of the Strip and right on the Strip itself justifies the cheap, lok kok kok and spacious Manor Rooms we are staying in Circus Circus. The moment we stepped out of the hotel onto the Strip, we saw a foodcourt opposite the road and decided to eat there.Guess where we went next? Ross lah of course! We then went to Walgreens, which was beside Ross and got drinking water because the lok kok kok hotel room did not have a coffeemaker (at least) to boil water. While walking through the aisles, we saw a USD9.99 electric hot pot and decided to buy it and use it as a kettle. We then went back to the hotel to prepare for "war" the next day and not explore further...

As to why Las Vegas is sin city... Besides the gambling that happens everywhere, there are strip clubs too. If that's not sinful enough, I had photo evidence of ~~pimps~~ men distributing pamphlets in luminous green t-shirts that read in the context of "want girls in your room in 20 minutes?" But unfortunately (and fortunately for them), as you would have read in the previous post, I had some photos that were lost in ~~translation~~ transmission. Also lost were pictures of vans carrying billboards making their rounds up and down the Strip, advertising "girls in your room in 20 minutes".*Disclaimer: Even if you think this pic is not raunchy enough, it is for my G-rated blog. Comparing "standards" this is deemed NSFW for my blog.

More Vegas adventures coming right up!

Trip To America's Very First Theme Park, And It's Not Disneyland...

2008-06-19T01:05:00.000+08:00

Another good thing about booking with Disney is that you can personalise your trip! We added in a trip to Knotts Berry Farm and all we had to do was to call to confirm pickup date and time!It may not be the theme park on top of everyone's mind, but there was so much history about the place. It all started with Mrs Knott's chicken. There was development around the area and to make ends meet, she sold fried chicken to people who stopped by (it was once near/ along a freeway) to get a bite. As the chicken got famous and queues grew, Mr Knott build a "ghost town" to entertain the people. From then on, the "ghost town" grew into a theme park.

Over at Knotts Berry, you also get to know about the Native Indians. Every inch of the place had a country/ western touch to it and that was also the setting for Knott's Fool's Gold Stunt Show.

The rides there are SCARY! Which is why we did not get on them all except only 2. I had some pictures of the rides, but somehow while transferring them from my handphone to my laptop, it took too long, communication was lost, and I lost them, together with some Disneyland photos. All I can say is that they are taller, faster, wetter and more upside-down-er than the rides in Disneyland Resort. When I was looking at those rides, I felt like a doll being thrown and tossed around by my owner (which was why we left Six Flags Magic Mountain out of our itinerary).

We bought the famous jams and da bao-ed the famous fried chicken home for dinner. The mashed potato was good but the chicken was just chicken... Not too sure if the jams are avaliable in Singapore though...

Las Vegas coming right up!

Getting REAL WET This Time Round On A Special Day

2008-06-18T11:37:00.000+08:00

One BIG HUGE MAJOR advantage of booking the entire package with Disney is this!
After the madness, we went back to Fantasyland to fulfil my sis's wish of taking pictures with the Princesses. We queued one and a half hours to take pictures with only 3 of them lor! If we were to take with all the Princesses, I think have to spend one whole day queuing and re-queuing because they rotate and take turns too.

We then went back to California Adventure Park's Hollywood Pictures Backlot to catch what we missed, the Aladdin Musical. Thankfully again, since we booked the package with Disney, we had "preferred seating" for the musical. There was another queue specially for us and we could enter the theatre first, while hundreds waited outside. Hehe! The entire Aladdin animated film was presented musical style, with the Genie being the goofy-est and modern-est character. To me, this was the most entertaining attraction in the whole of Disneyland Resort.
1) When Aladdin summoned the Genie the first time unknowingly and got a shock, he asked Genie who was he. Genie's reply, "I'm a Mac and you're a PC."
2) Genie was holding an umbrella in a scene and guess what happened? He went, "Umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh."
3) In the film, Genie wasn't a kid per se, here in one scene, Genie threw a tantrum like a kid.
4) Towards the end when Jafar was gotten rid of, Genie turned to the pet parrot and said, "Now it's time for the Tiki Room reject."
5) The Genie's script was the only one being updated to suit the modern day. Everyone else spoke lines from the film. There are snippets on youtube and you can actually tell how Genie has been updated.

We then proceeded back to the Golden State area for the WETTEST ride in the whole of Disneyland Resort. The only way to stay dry in this ride is to seal yourself up in a poncho or waterproof yourself some way or another. With each bump, water flooded in. We were then on the track up to a mini fall, after the a-few-feet plunge, I was half wet while some were a quarter wet. My sis and I were discussing how wet we get is depending on heng or suay, and whether we land first when we do the final plunge down. But we were so damn wrong. At the final plunge, water was sent into the raft, making the bottom half of our bodies wet (I could feel water going into my underwear lor) and water was sent up into the air, landing into the raft, making the top half of our bodies wet. There was no escaping regardless of where you sit or whether who lands first.Drenched, we proceeded on to the "Soarin' Over California" ride, which was a simulator ride, suspended in mid-air with an Omni Theatre sized screen, minus away the sharp movements.

We then moved on to Paradise Pier, which was like a fun fair. Of so many rides there, we only took the Mulholland Madness, which was a roller coaster ride. Some were blah like the ride where you are brought up in mid-air and go round and round as though you are flying on Dumbo, while some we did not dare to take on, like the roller coaster that goes upside down, the vertical tower plunge down thingy, or the ferris wheel, Sun Wheel.With that, we bade the rides and attractions goodbye and shopped for souvenirs.

Seriously, it was a good thing we had the 5-Day Hopper Tickets. There were too many shows, different parades taking place, too many rides and there was too much to cover in the Parks. To catch every single thing avaliable, weekends are the best days as all shows and parades will be avaliable, however, also because it is the weekend, it would also mean more crowd and more time will be wasted on queuing up for the rides and attractions. Although you can cut queues by getting a special ticket for a higher price, which is valid for only one day, there is still no way to cover everything even with that ticket in a day.

While I was having fun, Man U won the Champions League title! Dear was sms-ing me, giving live commentary. Hehe...
Another joyous thing to note, David Cook wins American Idol!!! I did not manage to catch the final showdown nor did I manage to catch the result show. Heng hotel got wireless and I was able to go online. Hehe...

The Trick To Staying Dry In A WET Ride

2008-06-17T17:36:00.000+08:00

We got up earlier and made it to the entrance of Disneyland Park at 9am. However, there was already a queue to enter the Park. When we entered the Park, we made a dash for the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. When we got there, the queue was damn long already, but thankfully we are not at the 90 minute mark, but 70 minutes is still a long wait lor. As we queued, we saw families sending representatives off to buy breakfast and they were eating breakfast in the queue. Guess who I saw queuing up too? Anais, Fiona, Jo, Sam, Daryl, Stephy and her friend!
There was something different about this ride. Like all other rides, it uses a track too, however, the whole ride takes place under water where you ride in a submarine looking thingy. When the ride starts, there are announcements, giving you that feeling that you are in a submarine, exploring the world under. Then bubbles appear outside the window, giving you the feeling that the submarine is submerging, going further deeper into the water, however, you are still at the same level as when you board the ride, hehe...

We then moved to Fantasyland to finish up the last ride which we missed, Peter Pan's Flight. It was interesting in a way even though it was just like the Snow White and Mr Toad rides. Instead of having the ride go through on a track on the ground, in Peter Pan, the track is in the air, so you are really like Peter Pan, flying through the adventures.

Frontierland was next. We took a river cruise on Mark Twain Riverboat and we were starting to feel hungry. And so, we settled down in one of the eateries in Frontierland, The Golden Horseshoe, before proceeding on to the rest of the attractions.The performance was such a bonus! After lunch, we explored Pirate's Lair On Tom Sawyer Island and took a roller coaster ride on Big Thunder Mountain.

New Orleans Square was next. It was just beside Frontierland, at a corner, and they both complemented each other in a way as both were very country/western. We went into the Haunted Mansion, which wasn't really that all scary, and the Pirates Of The Caribbean ride, which was like Nemo, but not in a submarine, but a boat.

Cirtter County, home to Winnie the Pooh and friends, also just beside both Frontierland and New Orleans Square, complemented to the country feel to the entire area. We went on Splash Mountain, which was a WET ride. While in the queue, my sis and I saw...
1) A notice, displaying that the seating arrangement was a single file and advising that the bigger sized people should sit at the back of the "boat".
2) Some people getting REAL WET while some looked like they were just splashed with a little bit of water.
3) There was this lady, who was 4 times my size, in the queue with her friend behind us.
4) There was this group of 5 teenage girls in front of us.
My sis and I then went into a discussion/ speculation saying that...
1) The person right in front will get real wet while the people at the back not so wet.
2) We would share the "boat" with the lady and friend behind us because the girls would take up one "boat".
3) Which also mean we would have to sit in front, bearing in mind the bigger sized people have to sit at the back.
4) Which also mean we would get REAL WET!
We were saying jialat liao, wet liao, don't know if can squeeze in with the girls, if we get the front seat then how we are going to use our dad's waterproof jacket to waterproof ourselves, etc. At the boarding point, after the staff assigned the group of girls to their seats, she asked my sis how many people are there in her party. My sis replied 2 and she asked if we wana squeeze into the back. OF COURSE want lah!!! Turns out that the seating arrangement was a "T" shape, which was why bigger sized people have to sit in the back. And so, we siam the front seat and the situation of beaing REAL WET. The "zee pah dee do dah" song that accompanies you all the way to the top of the ride was a smokescreen lor, not a wonderful day after all if you kena the front seat. As we made our way to the top, my sis and I came up with a wonderful idea to shield us from the water. Since we are sitting side by side, we treated our dad's big jacket as a blanket, wearing it dom-ba-lek, putting my left arm into the jacket's right sleeve and my sis's right arm into the jacket's left sleeve and using our free hands to hold up the collar and duck ourselves inside the jacket. So, we did not get wet, except only our feet! Woohoo!

Adventure Land was next. We saw robotic singing birds in the Enchanted Tiki Room, went down the Jungle Cruise filled with robotic rhinos and robotic piranhas, climbed up Tarzan's Treehouse and got to know his childhood and went on a mini roller coaster ride in Indiana Jones Adventure.

Although we have decided to leave Mickey's Toontown for Wednesday morning, there was still time, so we decided to take a look and get onto a ride or 2. On the way to Toontown, I met my friends again and they were commenting that Toontown was really cute.After the ride, there wasn't time for another. So we went back and rested, waking up early for a program that was only for the privileged the next day.

Last day of Disneyland adventures coming right up!

Singaporeans Not That Kiasu Afterall...

2008-06-17T14:35:00.000+08:00

We started out Day 2 in Disneyland Park's Tomorrowland. We did not get up really early, and when we got there, the newest attraction, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage had a 90 minute queue already. We decided to forgo that and come back really really early another day for it.
We first got on Autopia, which represented the cartoon, Cars, and all you have to do is to step on the pedal and go. Watched a Jedi training session where kids went up on stage to be trained as Jedis while having lunch. Went for a 3D show next, Honey I Shrunk The Audience. Know the film, Honey I Shrunk The Kids? This time round, the invention was on an awards show and it accidentally zapped the audience, which was us. We had water drizzled on us and wind rush past under our seats when rats appeared on screen escaping.
Innoventions was next. It was a some kinda showroom telling everyone what to expect in the future. It featured exhibits including console games, interactive touch-screen computers that let you envision how you look like when you are old and how life would be like The Jetsons and Honda's amazingly flexible robot, Asimo. Honestly, after watching the presentation on Asimo, I really want one for myself! See Asimo dance and run!

Space Mountain was next, a roller coaster ride with damn beautiful lights. We then went on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Think arcade gun shoot shoot game, except this is a ride and you shoot as you go. I never really figured out how to score the points and my sister managed to win me by 10,000 points.
Star Tours was next. It was a simulator ride, bringing us into the world of Star Wars.

We then went over to Fantasyland, the land of the Disney Princesses, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Peter Pan and much more.Snow White's Scary Adventures was next, followed by Pinocchio's Daring Journey. It has a similar concept as Mr Toad, just that this time round, it tells the story of Snow White and Pinocchio.
In the last entry, I did talk of the nightly parades. So, being kiasu Singaporeans, we left Fantasyland and went back to Main Street to catch the Parade of Dreams. As the Parade starts from Fantasyland itself, we decided to stake out nearer to Fantasyland and so we can go back to the attractions if there is still time and beat the queues. We found a bench and sat down to wait for the Parade to start. This time round, we were not that kiasu, there were others more kiasu! Our bench was one of 3 that were still unoccupied and families were starting to sit along the pavement with their picnic mats. The Parade was, well, think Chingay, with those movable platforms and people prancing around.After the parade, there was still time left. So as planned, we made our way back to Fantasyland and took the Storybook Lan Canal Boat. We we sailed down the man-made little river, we saw minatures of houses of different stories such as 3 little pigs. There was still one ride left for Fantasyland, but the Park was closing already. So we decided to go back to the hotel to get some rest and order Pizza for dinner.

While having dinner, we were discussing to get up a little earlier and run straight for the Nemo ride first thing in the morning and leave out Mickey's Toontown, which is in Disneyland Park till Wednesday because we are the privileged ones. You guys will know what I mean when you read that entry later.

Day 3 of Disneyland coming right up!

Getting To Know Disneyland, Great Food, Kiasu-ism At Its Best

2008-06-16T11:34:00.000+08:00

I had my first breakfast in Staybridge Suites, Anaheim on 18th May, which was part of the hotel package. I walked one round the buffet area, and started to miss Oklahoma all over again.
1) The breakfast spread in Oklahoma was bigger and better.
2) The eggs in Oklahoma were REAL scrambled eggs, not some pancake-looking pieces of eggs which tasted like flour.
3) There was only caffinated or decaf tea. In Oklahoma, we had green tea, chamomile, earl grey, etc., on top of the caffinated and decaf red ceylon tea.
4) One big bowl of plain yoghurt makes me wonder if they clear out the yoghurt or just keep topping it up. In Oklahoma, yoghurt was served as above and we had Yoplait.
5) In Oklahoma we have cheese sauce!!! Over here, we have shredded cheddar.
6) Maybe its because I had been eating this for 3 weeks already, I'm starting to get picky. Bo pian right? So have to make do with whatever I felt like eating lor.

The night before, we were discussing not to take the Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) to Disneyland Resort, but instead, walk and get to know the bearings of the place. So after breakfast, we walked to Disneyland Resort. It was not a long walk and we noted on the map eateries that we would want to go to fill our stomachs with. The entire area is called the Disneyland Resort. Once you pass the security check area, you enter the Main Entry Plaza where you will see the ticketing area next. As we had the entire package done for us by Disney, our tickets were already given to us in an envelope when we checked into the hotel the night before, so we did not have to queue to get tickets.The Downtown Disney District will then be in front of you. It is where the Disney Hotels are and the entire area there is almost like a small town, complete with eateries and shops. To the right is where Disneyland Park is, and to the left is where California Adventure Park is. We had the 5-day Park Hopper Tickets, meaning that we have access to both Parks, everyday for 5 days!As both Parks were huge and we did not know how or where to start, we decided to first get the maps, take a look and then start walking around. Within each Park, there were different sections of different themes/"worlds"/era, which made deciding even harder. We then noticed that Disneyland Park had a few modes of transportation within the park. So we decided to hop onto those, starting from Main Street, to get an overview of the park and let us have a better understanding of how to move around.At the stop in Tommorrowland, we dropped off.We then continued on the Railroad back to Main Street. Main Street is practically a street. Along this street, you can find a vistor center (City Hall), a musemum, shops and eateries. To get to to the other sections, where most of the action is, you would have to walk down this street, whether you like it or not, as they are situated on the other end. Although it only takes a short while to walk up and down Main Street, for the lazy ones (hehe), there are Main Street Vehicles that you can take from one end to the other end of Main Street.There is also a Horseless Carriage, but I didn't manage to get a picture of it. These Main Street Vehicles are only one-way and we only realised it when we were on the Omnibus, the only one we sat on. As we reached to the end where the attractions are, everyone got down, but we didn't bother. The driver then called out to us and told us that the bus only goes one-way and if we wanted to ride it back to Main Street, we would have to take the next one. As we got down, he asked where we were from. I had heard enough "horror" stories about how people thought where Singapore was, so I was kinda thinking, this guy better know his geography. My dad answered Singapore, and one way to tell that he at least knows Singapore is not in China and in Asia was when he said that it was a small country, his wife is from Thailand and although he was working for Korean Air, he did not get a chance to visit Singapore. I then asked if we could join the queue and take the same bus back to the other end of Main Street. He said that we are able to, just that because it is a one-way vehicle, technically, we would have to get down and join the queue.
There were different shows, character meets and bands playing throughout the day and nightly parades in both Parks. There are also some shows which take place along the open areas that only happen on weekends. A lesson I learnt is to really take a look at the show schedules and different opening hours of the Park to help plan your way through the Parks. Since its a Sunday, and the fireworks only happen on weekends and we were hungry, we decided to have lunch, move to California Adventure Park for the rest of the day and then come back later for the fireworks.Luckily we only order 2 mains, don't see picture small small, the servings were huge lor. The fish was fresh and the sauce was yummy. The ribs were soft and chicken, was just normal grilled chicken. The salad, was just salad. But overall, the food was really quite nice. But the pancakes, ohhhh, the pancakes, killer sia! I'ver NEVER EVER eaten such FLUFFY and SOFT pancakes ever before in my entire life!!! I want IHop in Singapore!!! And so, after the damn filling lunch, we proceeded on with the itinerary for the day.We had missed the showtimes there for the day and so we went straight for the rides and attractions, coming back another day just for the shows.Every inch of the Parks has a damn good set design which relates to the theme/"world"/era of the sections and even right down to the different attractions and the area surrounding it, such as the queue area. Take the Monsters Inc ride for example, it was done up to look like transport terminal with posters around it.It was a playground of sorts for little children with an area where they can play with water and splash around (think Bugis Juction fountain and Vivo City), and lots of teeny weeny sized rides. Already damn impressed with the set design earlier on, I really felt like a ~~character~~ insect in A Bug's Life when I saw this.We then walked over to the Golden State section, set up with a western/ cowboy/ historical feel, which covered almost half the Park. It was subdivided into several different areas. We walked around Pacific Wharf and learnt how tortillas and sourdough bread were made. We caught a film by Whoopi Goldberg called Golden Dreams about the history of California at The Bay Area. As we had to rush back to "chope" a good place for the fireworks happening at the other Park, we did not manage to cover the whole of Golden State. We quickly took some picture of Paradise Pier (another "world" in California Adventure Park) and went back to the Disneyland Park. But the best thing is, we don't know where to stand! As we have heard that the fireworks will appear in the sky above the castle of Fantasyland, we decided to ~~stand~~ sit on Main Street. But which exact spot? Since Main Street is a street, a straight road, and if you stand on the entrance gate end of Main Street and look straight ahead, Fantasyland is directly in front of you, we decided that was the best spot. We were right when we spotted Disney's cameramen behind us and there was this uncle who had set up his videocam and tripod. And we waited for about 40 minutes, with more people joining us at our good spot 25 minutes later. The entire display was 15 minutes long, so I can't possibly load it here, so, here is a snippet of the display.

With the end of the fireworks, the day ends and we made our way back to the hotel via the ART.

Day 2 of Disneyland coming right up!