CRANKY

My mobile phone has always been cranky. Even more so of late.



To be fair, the HTC I'm using currently is quite an old model, and is second-hand. The older bro ditched "donated" it to me after getting his BB.

I really like the HTC. It's easy to get a hang of, not-very-complicated, and user-friendly.



Of late, though, it has been getting a little temperamental. Not only does it lag (and terribly, at times; so much so that sms-ing is becoming a chore), it also has a tendency to switch off by itself - unprovoked.

It has occurred quite a number of times. And when it happens, without the handphone alarm, I nearly missed my morning appointments.



I'm torn between an Iphone and a BB. The odds for a BB is higher, though. Just a matter of personal preferences.


Anyway, there's so much checking out to do. I'm a total idiot airhead when it comes to gadget stuff. Which model? What are the applications? How thick and heavy is the BB set? Data plans? Blahblahblah...

Not forgetting, I've also got to ask around the family members whether is anyone's contract up for renewal.


Arggh!

TO BE BELIEVED IN

Was "spring-cleaning" the FB account when I stumbled upon this. From a lecturer back in Poly days. Taught us Molecular Biology, and Molecular Genetics.






He was referring to varsity.



I even forgot to reply!!! *gasp*



It just feels humbling to be believed in.

Especially when you yourself is - or was - the one carrying the doubts. And people still believed in you regardless. Believe on your behalf.

It makes you feel... Thankful. A sense of gratification.

IF ONLY TIME STANDS STILL

There are some things and events which always bring along with them a sense of nostalgia. No one - dead or alive - has ever been spared from its claws.

I miss the days of a student - where the primary duties were homework, grades, and exams. I miss the days in school. Those were the days when - the heavy readings, mugging, and permanent head damage aside - lectures and tutorials occasionally end early in the early afternoons.

I miss the days of having early time off. Hanging around the mall for the occasional quick window-shopping. Dropping by and lingering in bookstores. Scooting off to Giant or Carrefour in the early afternoons and heading home eagerly with bags full of groceries, in anticipation of the food that's to be prepared. I miss cooking, baking cookies, cakes, making sushi, bulgogi, and trying out new recipes. I miss experimenting new things and doing new stuffs.

There are some things and events which always bring along with them a sense of nostalgia.

These are things that make me feel belonged. Things that I would love to do. And without it, it feels like something is glaringly lacking.






I still want to sew that bean bag chair. Do my first knitting. Try out some recipes. Cook new stuffs. Experiment with new things.

I want to maintain a cozy home; a haven. Of course, not forgetting that yellow study room.

Out of the 3 square meals per day, I would want to personally prepare at least 1 for my loved ones. I would like The Hubby to look forward eagerly to coming home to a good meal and a fruitful rest; after having battled it out gallantly a whole day at work.

I would want to be there when my kids open their eyes and catch their first glimpse of the world. Hear their first giggle. Take their first step. Hum the first song. Babble their first 'word'. Sprout their first tooth.

I want to be there. Beside them; with them.



In the early afternoons, we would take little strolls, or go to the supermarket, or play by the beaches, or just simply lie idyllically under the bask of the sun. The little ones would lumber about in zealous exploration. Build clumsy sandcastles. Taste some alien-looking algae and seaweed. Roll about in the grass. Chase birds. Catch butterflies. Feed some strays. Pat some dogs. Tease some cats. Poke some caterpillars. Collect leaves. Squeeze beetles. Squash chameleons. Flick spiders. Stack up snails.

They'll actively zoom around like busy worker bees - gushing and yakking excitedly about some weird bugs or creepy-crawlies which they've just discovered. Or asking frustrating questions like "why is the sky blue?", "where does Santa Claus live?", "how can a fat guy like Santa squeeze through the chimney?", "why don't we have a chimney?", "why can't chicken fly?", "why can't I have ice-cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?", or "what time is Daddy coming home?".

On other afternoons - if we are in the mood for indoor activities - we'll roll some dough together, bake some cookies, and make little messes in the kitchen. Or pop some M&Ms. Listen to some old English oldies or English country music. Play with bubbles. Grow our own mini-ecosystem in a 1 litre plastic bottle. Do some art and craft. Pot some plants. Play around with colours. Eat popcorn and watch silly programmes like Twitty Bird or Bob the builder.

In the evening, the little ones would be all exhausted that they'll sleep so deeply while I prepare dinner. The Hubby comes home. He showers, while I warm up the food. The kids wake up. We would eat, talk, play, bond, and then, retire for the night. The next morning, another new, exciting adventure unravels yet again.



I want this kind of life. This is what I see; and vision for.

YES OR NO

It was morning, and in front of me is a list of questions for an English composition.

I can't really recall or regurgitate the exact questions per se, but they sound along the line of:
"Recount an experience with someone who terrifies you so much that you tremble at the sight of him/her",
"Orientations in schools are usually a good opportunity to make new friends and make memories. Write about your own experiences, and to what extent do you agree with the above statement" and such.



I don't know about you, but at that instant, I felt stifled. The questions are quite a bore, and are definitely quite restrictive - in my personal opinion. For one, I don't think there is any person (yet) whom I'm sooo terrified of that I tremble at the sight of said person. Neither do I enjoy orientations of any sort (at least, not when I'm on the receiving end).

Frowning at the newly-discovered realization of this aversion for restrictive questions, I pondered briefly for the reason behind it. Just then, an old and forgotten memory came washing back like a good old friend. A sense of deja vu.



**************



It was in a mock English oral. We were preparing for the real English oral for O Levels. I was 15, or 16. Having completed "reading the passage" component, Mr. Teacher and I were in the midst of our "oral conversation".

The contents leading up to such are murky in my memories, but somehow, Mr. Teacher asked conversationally whether do I take to sports. I replied no, and that I'm not really athletic. He then asked, "Oh, then do you like to exercise? Do you, say, enjoy swimming?" I replied back swiftly, "No. I can't swim." Mr. Teacher pressed on further, "Why not?". I couldn't really think of a reason, and thus made up a lame one on the spot, "Because, of, errmmm... Fear of the unknown?" Believe me, I sounded like a total wimp.



Pretty soon after that, the oral ended. As feedback, Mr. Teacher commented that it's NOT GOOD to be too honest - because apparently, in a manner of speaking, my grades are inversely proportional to the number of times I reply "no" to questions. Even if you can't swim, Mr. Teacher continued, pretend that you can. Say yes, don't say no. That was his advice in short; the gist of the underlying message he was trying to get across.



Even till this day, I staunchly refuse to accept or concur with his ground of argument. For one, by telling a younger charge "not to be honest", what morals and principles is he indirectly and inadvertently imparting?

Secondly, I don't see the point in having a conversation in the first place if all it's going to amount to is a pack of lies.

Thirdly, you're the teacher, and I, (was) the student. If the conversation halts, it's your prerogative to either dig further, or to come in from another angle to keep the conversation going. It's not my duty to "lie" - or cook up some stories - just to make up for a person's lack of competency.

Not forgetting, this is Oral. My role here is to speak English, use English, converse in English, and answer questions in English; and NOT to weave up imaginary stories. I don't see the sense in taking up the additional burden of story-weaving. I'm not here to weave stories or to conjure up a supposedly double-life. As if undergoing an Oral examination is not stressful enough?!

Let us wind back the story and imagine the other possible scenario.



Mr. Teacher: "Oh, then do you like to exercise? Such as, swimming?"

15yo Me: "Why, yes. I like to swim. I would go swimming at least once per week (right. *eyes-rolling*)."

MT: "Who do you go swimming with?"

M: "I'll usually go with my parents." (pause to think) "We'll go to the nearby swimming complex on Saturdays."

MT: "When did you first learn to swim?"

M: "When I was in... Primary 3." (think think think weave weave weave) "Ahh... I had a private coach."

MT: "What do you like about swimming?"

M: (still weaving) "Hmmm..." (think think think) "I guess, it's the feeling of freedom and being carefree?" (think somemore) "And.. Ahh... You know, the sound of... Ahhhh... Water... Emmm... Gushing by your ears... Ahhhh... (by now undergoing a considerable amount of stress) Like a bird flying freely; ahhh... Except that... Emmm... you're in the waters? Like, you know... Flying... Underwater?"



You get what I mean? Do you see the stress?

I figured (and still do) that if I had said yes to the question, that would be the first irrevocable step into a quagmire. How is a person supposed to describe something without any personal experience with it?



I guess, from that Oral experience onwards, a general dislike for close-structured questions is planted within.



Can I swim? Really, no.

TABS!

I've not really been blogging anything substantial of late; ever since full-time work started. Ok, fine, I admit; this is just a convenient excuse.

Anyway, lately, I've been occupied with self-teaching on how to read guitar tabs. Youtube-ing and goggle-ing and all. And attempting tactics like hammer-on and pull-off and whatever.

||--------------------------------------------------------|
||--------------2h3p2----5-----5--2-----2-----2-----2-----|
||-----------2--------2--4-----4--2-----2-----2-----2-----|
||--------------------------------------------------------|
||--------0-----------------------------------------------|
||--0h2------------------4--4-----2--2-----2--0--0-----0--|

This is part of the opening introduction to Tears in Heaven. I spent quite some time figuring out how to read them, followed by trying to get myself accustomed with the unfamiliar, alien-looking tabs. Whatever little knowledge that I currently possess are all about chords (chords are for strumming). Tabs (for finger-picking) is quite a different ball game.



Managed to execute 0h2. BUT I'm stuck at 2h3p2!

YUSHENG

Reasons why yusheng is awesome:



1) It's colourful. Nice nice colours.

2) It's healthy. Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Alpha. Beta. Omega.

3) It's deliciously tasty.

4) It's a heavenly thirst-quencher. (really, no kidding!)

5) Got raw fish.

6) I'm THE RABBIT.



HAPPY "BIRTHDAY", everyone!

=)

D.I.Y.-ED

I had a little of a free time this afternoon.

Thus, time is not really an issue. I hence put it into good use; and did what most girls like to do usually.


I did full eye makeup; which I seldom put on. Eye base. Eye shadow. Eyeliner. Mascara. Fake lashes. All in all, it took quite a while. But in the end, I still had time to D.I.Y. the hair. And I did some LOOSE WAVES with a flat iron!!!



The hair looks relatively shorter than the original length now that it's been curled. AHHH!!! NOW I regret going for the haircut 3 weeks back! I chopped off 2 or 3 inches! Argghhh!




This only imply one thing. It's high time to wipe the mirror.






I had initially feared that I would look like an obasan! The other concern is that the waves might not hold - especially in the good, old, hot, humid Singapore air. Secondly, I had chose not to put on any hair products such as volumizer or hair spray. Nothing at all.

Surprisingly, though, not only did the waves hold out from 4pm all the way until 10pm plus, but it also turned out okay! In fact, I like it!

SHOWDOWN!

FINALLY!

Ju Encai has revealed her real identity to the in-laws, who would be going bankrupt following the aftermath.




So exciting!

I can't wait till the end of the whole drama!



P.S. Too bad I'll be out tomorrow night. Arrrgggh!

BE BOLD

I like yellow!












I honestly think this is really vaairrryy nice and daring; but yellow is known to be a stimulating colour. This idea doesn't seem fitting; I can't imagine needing to feel STIMULATED in a toilet. *kekeke!* Perhaps a study room is more appropriate. Yeah! This colour would be really nice for a study room.








Lavenders are awesome, too!




Credits: Some unknown; with apologies (kindly leave a message if you happen to have them!).

NICKELBACK

LIKE THIS!

=)

I've a friend whose birthday falls on today - 14th February.

CNY + Vday + Bday. TRIPLE! THREE-IN-ONE! I thought it's so COOL!



On second thoughts, now I think, it's quite lugi.

It's already bad enough that CNY coincides with Vday. It just kills the atmosphere and the romance (dongdongdong qiang! Dongdongdong qiang! Dongdongdong qiang dong qiang dong qiang! Gong xi ya, gong xi, fa ya fa da cai!) . Throw in a birthday as well. Not only is a person tied down with CNY obligations (e.g. go visiting some long-time-never-see-see-also-see-once-a-year relatives) and can't really celebrate the birthday per se; but the person also runs a high risk of being so short-changed. You receive a present - and it's CNY + Vday + Bday all rolled in one. Uni-purpose. One size fits all. Three-in-one.


HAHA.


I used to think of getting married on my birth date - because it's a pretty and meaningful date. On second thoughts, better not. For one, I would rather have more anniversaries and celebrations together with loved ones. Secondly, I won't want The Hubby to give a present and say, "Nah! For you... Happy **th anniversary! And, oh, by the way, Happy Birthday, too." That'll be so sad.



I don't know; but I think, having two memorable events coincide together on the same day is the equivalence of halving the possible loving, sweet memories one can have and keep.






Strangely, I woke up this morning feeling so good on the inside. It can't be due to CNY because, frankly, each time the Tiger comes visiting, I turn 12 YEARS OLDER. The next time when the Tiger visits again, I would be 36 (by then, I believe in faith I would have at least 3 kids - with the oldest in primary school - by then!).

When I was 12, I was absolutely delighted thrilled to see the Tiger for the first time. With the passage of years, though, the sight of the Tiger is honestly getting less and less welcoming. Biology is unfair. Men in their 40s are STILL considered to be in their primes (just think of local TV actor 57-year-old Marcus Chin [Chen Jian Bing]). Women, however, in their mid-30s are already OLD, really.

Anyway, woke up feeling so good.






I believe I can get the best that I want to get, as long as my life is lived as such that God is on my side every second of my life. I don't believe in compromisation.

DO YOU?

CHOOSE YOUR TOILETS

There was a session of badminton yesterday. Took a shower. Dried (or at least, tried to!) the hair. Hopped on a bus. Headed down to Tampines. Reached at 6pm. I'm rather early, I thought, and thus decided to pop by a store and purchase a bottle of herbal tea. On the way back up, nature called. Not urgently though.

Since it was relatively still early, I chose to answer it. I've always very much preferred the restrooms at Century Square. Since time was on my side, I decided to walk the distance.

I walked through the passage link-way linking TM to CS. And a particular "S" word that women all over the word are ever so powerfully affronted by caught my eyes.









SALES!!! *cue girlish screams!*


Remember this? IT'S MINE NOW!!! (And at $40 cheaper!) *hophopjumpjumpbouncebouncehophop~*



Someone, scream with me!!! NOW!!!

HEHEHEHEHEHEHEH!






P.S. My butt, thigh, and right arm are aching now.

PUNCHED!

Ate my first morsel of food for today at near 7pm - a packet of Cai Fan.

A very bad choice. It has been more than 2hours, but the stomach still feels so terribly bloated and uncomfortable. It's not a very nice sensation. Like someone just punched the stomach or something, yeah, that kind of feeling. Even now, I feel like puking out the contents.

I seriously don't like having a weak stomach.

V.I.P. ROOM

During last year's Christmas gift exchange, my present came with a nice little bow. And in purple, one of my favourite colours!

I took it off gently and - out of convenience - stuck it on my bedroom door (next time can "recycle").

Before going off to bed that night, out of fun, I stuck an additional post-it. Declaring that it's the, you know, V.I.P. room.




The next morning, I found this.




Courtesy of Dad.

FECUNDABILITY AND BIOLOGY

Read this article earlier. It wow-ed me because, you know, I realized that there are so many things I didn't know.



Ok, it's general knowledge that around age 35 (at the time of childbirth, NOT conception) is considered advanced-age pregnancy; and that fertility declines with advancing age - especially during the mid-30s. Risks involved are stillbirth, miscarriage, low birth weight, premature birth, health complications such as gestational diabetes, (the usual) chromosomal problems such as Down Syndrom (Trisomy 21), Trisomy 18, and Trisomy 13 etc. Factors that pit against advanced-age pregnancy - as per general knowledge - are the usual health issues such as: kidney problems, heart problems, weight (both too heavy or too thin), diabetes, high BP etc.

But!!! I've always thought that the declined fertility is due to eggs of lower quality being produced - you know, like how it is in sperms. Low motility. Cannot swim. Swim crookedly etc.



Anyway, apparently, other than quality, the OTHER MAIN CAUSE of the decline in fertility is due to LESS FREQUENT OVULATION (bet you didn't know that!). Meaning that on some months, there is no egg at all. What I didn't know too, is that there is also a higher risk of C-section, and miscarriage (even if the fetus has normal chromosomes). In fact, medical help should be seeked if there is still no news after (only!) 6 months of... Emmm... "purposeful" bedroom activity. Bet you didn't know this too!



Statistics:

Women who are 26 to 30 years of age have similar conception rates to women 25 years of age or younger. Conception rates for women under age 31 years, age 31 to 35 years, and over age 35 years are 74, 62, and 54 percent, respectively.

The chances of involuntary childlessness in women at age 20 to 24, 25 to 29, 30 to 34, 35 to 39, and 40 to 44 is 6, 9, 15, 30, and 64 percent respectively. Women aged 35-45 have a 20-35% chance of miscarriage.

Usually, eggs of superior quality are present at higher volumes at a younger age than after 30.

Fecundability (i.e. the probability of achieving a pregnancy in one menstrual cycle) begins to decline significantly in the early 30s (about age 32), with a more rapid decline a few years later.





The statistics wow-ed!



FECUNDABILITY! Just learnt a new word! And placenta pervia. Google if you're nerd enough to!


Biology. Biology IS educational! *woot!*

LAW LOR

A weird but funny thought crossed my mind just now.

I think, law students can get quite misunderstood - and a tad too often at that.

Especially during the season of CNY.



Relative A (whom is met only once a year): What are you doing now, Ah Boy? Studying or working?

Ah Boy: I'm studying.

Relative A: Ooohhhhh... What are you studying?

Ah Boy: Studying law.

Relative A: Oohhoooookkkkkk... Studying what, ah?

Ah Boy: Ermmm... I'm studying law.

Relative A: Ya lah, I know. Study WHAT?

Ah Boy: Told you already what, I'm studying law!

Relative A: I know, lah! But what, lah???

Ah Boy: Studying law!!! LAW!!!
*repeat entire conversation exchange with Relatives B, C, D, E, and F.









*kekeke!!!*

Ok, fine, I was bored just now.