Bah Kwa (BBQ Meat) with enriched vitamins & no cholesterol

{No cholesterol... Serious or not? Don't bluff me!}
{With enriched vitamins some more??? What the hack?}

{See this nutritional info... do u believe?}

The more "nutritional" these bah kwas are, the less I eat.

I only took ONE piece this CNY. This is a record!

Kiam-siap or bo-chap?

"Urh, do you know where can I get more paper for photostating?"
"Can I borrow stapler?"...
"Can I have more bullets?"...
"Hole puncher?"...
... eh, when did I become a "stationerian"?

Haha... someone then whispered ONE sentence to me (in a relatively joking tone) and ask me to use it next time:
"Eh, I also have UHU glue, calculator, pens, mechanical pencils, pencil leads, highlighters, erasers, rulers, scissors, penknives, paperclips, compass, rubberbands, liquid paper... do you need it too?"
So funnie... hmm, usually my brain is not fast enough for this kind of witty response...

Come to think of it, do you "work" at a place without the MUST-HAVE stationery even after two weeks?

There's no place for you here

So big... kept flying/hopping around... and I had to "siam" (dodge) here and there to avoid it. It irritates my "busy-watching-the-news" mum who then asked my "superhero" dad to catch it (佩服)... I can only manage those teeny-weeny grasshoppers.

Wait wait wait... and my dad obligingly held the grasshopper in captive for a slightly longer time for this blur sotong to take a photo. No killing is involved btw... it is only "flunged" out of the window... oops!

Cable Ski Park Ski360 is opened! So what!

Hmm... I wonder why I didn't read about its opening? Anyway, I went to East Coast Park last Sat and the Cable Ski Park Ski360 was really opened.

Forgot to see the opening hours... but more importantly, here's the $$$ info (as expected):
Weekday: S$30 hourly pass OR $6 round pass
Weekend: S$40 hourly pass OR $8 round pass
At the moment, there's opening promotion (pay for the 1st hour and get the 2nd hour free). Despite so, this is so FREAKING EXPENSIVE... and who on earth will pay for the round pass (well, maybe when it's super crowded)??? Btw, the park is pretty empty... I'm not sure but the salt water is a little "choppy" as compared to the enclosed lake in Batam - I wonder if the beginners will find it harder to ski.

FYI, Ski360 is computerized. I think you are required to wear some kind of "tracking" chip on your wrist and you need to scan at the starting dock before you start your round... not sure for what though.

Until now, I still recommend the wallet-friendly Cable Ski Park - Waterfront City Batam.

***

Hmm, my cold is gone... but just now, Vic asked me why my nose red red... like the Rudolph red-nosed reindeer... luckily she didn't say like clown... keke, she went to help me buy a cup of teh-nee.

2006 - The Year of the Woof Woof

What have you bought for CNY - The year of the woof woof?
NOT Puppies I hope!!! I heard that puppies sales increased and I hope I will hear of no one abandoning their dogs (especially outside C&J's grooming shop).

***

My home is filled with lots of
(i) CNY deco - a little too red for my liking - but if it's not, it wouldn't be like CNY right? (So contradictory);
(ii) CNY goodies - pong said si-gu-mummy made very nice goodies & snacks... the pineapple tarts from si-gu are so yummy that I think it'll be gone in another day or two, and


(iii) seven new pots of flowers.

{I'm a horticulture-know-nothing... the "tomatos", I heard, are actually "mini-peppers"...}

{The centre row, leftmost and rightmost pics are the "cha2 hua1" (茶花)}

Buying pots of flowers/plants is still better than buying puppies... though they also require some care (watering and making sure it's no breeeding grounds for the mossies) but my dad says these nice flowers will mati (die) in no time after CNY... so it's a shorter period of responsibility. Even, if a pot of plant becomes botak, it could possibly be an artistic piece in your compound.

{This botak plant is placed aside and is temporarily taken over by its prettier counterparts till the latter mati}

***

Tonight, I hope to catch I Not Stupid Too (Jack Neo's movie always have scenes that are so much closer to heart than any other movies)... I wonder if there's time.

As for Zodiac: The Race Begins (I heard that the theme is unique but the animation is not as good... but this is Singapore's first 3D animation film... support strongly encourage... but then I don't really luv watching "cartoons" on the big screen...) Later if you watch and feel that it's good and I should spend $$ to watch it too, do let me know hor.

B'day Celebration for Ray uncle & Xi

Yesterday, we kept the b'day cake intact till 11+ before we sing the b'day song, cut it and finished it up... it was sure late. It is no good having the cake straight after dinner when everyone is full - this will only ensure lots of leftover for the host.
ACTUALLY: We were busy playing mahjong... with the rest busy watching a movie.

Tiramisu B'day Cake from Jack's Place

The usual make a wish after the b'day song

It's time to cut the cake...

How many hands are needed to cut a cake... hahah...

Bad infrastructure design?

Last Friday, I happened to be on the bridge where NTU students like to wait for bus 179 or 199... to witness a possible traffic jam involving only buses. One bus broke down (well, of all places)... and no other buses couldn't drive passed it. So two buses stucked there...

Only cars can drive thru (with some skills involved)... with two more buses approaching...

Four buses stucked... and this is like within a span of less than 10 minutes...

Before we left the place on bus 199, we saw an internal shutter bus and another bus 179 on its way (within 200m) to the "jam".

Why can't they design wider roads?

It's free...

I flashed a toothy grin... and gotten a free ride from the kitchen to the room after getting a cup of warm water for my self-prescribed medicine (down with cold from the stupid freezing cold workplace where I froze and thawed many times each day).

The pooh pooh cup is a nice way to cheer-me-up. (This is, btw, Xian's xmas exchanged pressie which somehow become mine... great job! Next time u pple shld buy more niceties that he don't use *but you know I like*... then it would become mine... haha! ooohhhh... I'm so bad.)

Bike

I really love this cool pic of the GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc of リッジ (from Hokkaido, Japan)... Over here in Singapore, I don't have to worry about snow. I only worry about rain. Hopefully it doesn't rain this Saturday or my baby GT couldn't go to East Coast Park to "play".

Tomolo will go buy the cyclometer, bottle cage and the blinkers... then drive over to KP's place to get my ordered lube & spray oil... then get him to teach this blur newbie sotong how to do simple maintenance.

Washing my hands...

There are certain things in life which is much more of it than what one think...

There are certain things in life which require much more attention and planning way before its execution...

Action is born from the deliberation stage, through the decision stage, right up to the actual execution itself... *been in the initial stage for far too long*

One sided initiation, participation, and contribution is futile & frustrating...

No more... I shall washed my hands of the matter...

New clothes needed...

My k750i prompting me for a new set of "clothes" for Chinese New Year.

(who wanna give me a super early V-Day pressie *hint hint*)

Budget lor, what to do...

Budget constraint had once again resulted in me settling for something that is one rung below the one I desire (last aug, I wanted a w800i but ended up with k750i). This time round, I wanted a GT Avalanche 2.0 with Disc and ended up with GT Avalanche 3.0 with Disc... component wise, of course not as good... but it's easier on my pocket. Xi, you have "xiao hei", I have a "xiao GT aka baby hei"...

Finally there's no rain... yippee! This is one weekend morning where I didn't laze in bed. Rather, got myself up from bed with enthusiasm. Pong and I cycled to Semb Park. This is the first time I'm using Shimano Easy Fire Shift Lever... wah cool, really easy to use (especially useful when shacked during uphill climb... no more troublesome turning and turning, great!). I didn't expect it to be so sunny that resulted in two obvious shades on my arms (one tanned and nice, the other... haiz... cannot make it)... should have worn a racerback.

A slightly different jog...

Yesterday morning, it was raining garfields and Scooby-doos*. Later in the day, it was still still raining… but it was raining only hello kitties and snoopies*. Finally, it stopped in the late evening. These few days, it became a rare sight to see dry unsheltered roads/pavements. Though the tracks were still wet, I decided to go jogging. The breeze was very cooling and nice. Really!

Pushed myself a little more today. Xian was slow but I was even slower… keke… so he had to wait patiently by the “grandstand” which was nowhere near grand and help to feed a few hungry mosquitoes. Felt a little accomplished. I did a little warm down stretches and left. However, about half way through the journey home, I felt giddy and felt like vomiting. Quickly took slow deep breaths… felt a little better after about five minutes. After which, I felt the tingling numbness & slight stiffness (the latter is a scarier sensation, unfelt before) in both hands and legs... So I quickly move my toes... close and open my fists... and slowly both hands and legs slowly went back to function in their normal mode... (When I think back, I think I know why my hands & legs felt this way...)

I don’t think it’s dehydration… possibly energy depletion/weariness with low blood flow to brain. Next time I need to stock some energy bars & fluid… and possibly lying down with leg raised to get blood to flow to brain faster…

I'm still alive and kicking... so don't worry.

*The author found it too boring to use 'raining cats and dogs' - have been using it in compositions and essays from primary to secondary schools... that's why u see garfields and scooby-doos, hello kitties and snoopies now. Btw, the author don't like hello kitties & scooby-doos but couldn't think of any other...

By right it's not by left... but...

I must have really stepped out of my house on my left foot… that’s why everything went in accordance to the “by left” instead of “by right” manner. By right, yesterday evening’s class was canceled, but by left, it was somewhat resumed! I knew about it only at 1am this morning. Although I can go gaga over my k750i, I can forget about it at times (that’s why you sometimes find this sotong taking such a long time to reply or not picking up your calls)… Unfortunately, ML is also like me (Birds of the same feather flocked together). So any last minute changes communicated to her also do not get registered quickly enough… and so we both went MIA with this kind of “by left” arrangement.

So today, I made sure I stepped out of the main door, the stairway door, the gate, the car, the mrt, the bus using my right leg… Serious? Is it? Neh, bluff you one. I didn’t.

What's next?

The Chicken Fan-tastic (u know from where) is... yucks! Regret trying it. I mean, for the same amount of sinful calories, I could have taken something nicer. Nice rice burgers are still best obtained from MOS Burger... now I feel like going to the gym...

Even lunch is wrong... I wonder what's next?

Nothing seemed to be right today...

I have yet to get my hands on Wheeler :( because of some delays in delivery due to a miscommunication between the Uncle who took my order and the Auntie who arranged for the delivery)… But when I msn KP and he helped to call the shop, they said supplier no stock for the size I wanted. Wah liew… spoiler of the day. Sianz…

Pong is so excited over my new Wheeler. He threw me a challenge last night (hmm... he watched too much Initial D) – a race this Saturday. He even got my dad to pump his MTB tires. But I doubt it’s possible now.

*** ***

I could be easily labeled a Power Supply Tripper. Oh gosh, (I think) I did it again! Keke… for about 30 minutes, I helped everyone (not many lah, only 5 person) to rest and relax without his or her knowledge. Hohoho… I suspect it’s the fault of a multiplug. Again!?! But I better not try again to double confirm…;p

I must have stepped out of the house on the wrong foot this morning...

So many things to get... so little money...
So many things to do... so little time...

Really impressed with Venerable Shi Ming Yi's courage & determination...

Mum & Dad finally decided that it's alright to donate (after the NKF Saga) because it's a no-nonsense show (no prizes to lure donors - which should be the way). I think it's also because of Ven Shi's commitment that approx. 70 cents will be spent on the patients (NOT just ten cents - which is really shocking, sad & irritating to know).

I'm looking forward to 1st Jul... I would not have to tolerate second hand smoke at coffeeshops liao... hooray! *Thumbs up to gahmen*

I'm not going to Stef Sun's concert. Actually I planned to go. But two tics of the best seats cost a bomb (even more expensive than Jay Chou's one)! Anyway, best seats no longer available... so it's okay. One more reason not to go.

I've used this amount to get Wheeler instead... at least it's more valuable & useful... going to collect it soon... *yippee*

When it rained non-stop...

It's raining garfields and scooby-doos now and I'm stucked at home *yawn*

I hate rainy days... EXCEPT when I decide to be indoor or when I'm sleeping (shiok!)... and because of the rain (doubt it'll stop in time), we would have to pay to use the gym instead of the free running track later... Why so ON? Xian's IPPT coming...

Hmm...

Decided to have Lunar New Year Eve Dinner outside Singapore this year.
Reasons: (1) To be fairer to Xian, (2) To be able to play with *heh heh*... fireworks (woohoo!). I've outgrown the kiddy, extra-smoky, and boring sparklers... I'm looking forward to those ground spinners/hoppers, pop-its (which I have not played since it was banned), etc... and I wonder if this mountain tortoise will get a chance to light those super expensive box of fireworks?

***

I'm too lazy to bring my digital camera... if I can get some nice & decent shots from my k750i or from the newer w900i that Sheng is using, I'll post some up.

***

That day, someone commented that I'm too old to receive ang pows liao... *blink blink*

***

Getting a Wheeler Pro 19 soon... next Mon to be precise.

Stupid wild boar crosses the road

Yesterday night, we were so very close to having a badly dented car and a savoury boar loin gourmet meal. We almost had our car crashing into a wild boar!!!

pic from eGourmetChef.com)

(pic from British Wild Boar - site by Dr Martin Goulding, pic originally from www.amicale-matra530.com/.../ insolite.htm)

*Luckily we didn't collided... else you might see some fancy wild boar traffic accident headline in today's paper*

PHEW! Close shave.

Imagine yourself driving in the hours of "darkness" (with the only illumination from the lamp post and headlights) with visibility on the roads slightly reduced from the drizzling... and suddenly you realized one blackish dark "thing" (couldn't even tell initially) "popping out of nowhere" and moving into your path.

Before I could even react from Xian's question of "eh, what's that?"... I felt the slamming of brakes and heard the screeching sound.

Shit. We were so damned close to hitting it. So freaked out.

This wild boar wasn't even dashing across the roads like what cats and dogs normally do when they see the glaring headlights... it was sort of in a strolling mode.

Stupid Wild Boar.

How's ur meeting? Productive or complete waste of time?

There are two types of discussion/meeting.

One type: Waste of Time. Other type: Productive.

I remembered those I had when I was with a previous company: usually the former. So much so until someone daring-enough had to voice this out (read as: complained openly) to the HOD who chaired these meetings during one of the meeting. keke... and imagine the headache I had to go through to sieve out the necessary and put them nicely in words for the meeting minutes... ;p

Luckily the one I had today is the latter. Productive ones always set 'resting' engine going again.

Wondering when I would be able to upgrade my engine to the turbo type I used (wait huh... hmm... let me count...) five years ago.

Still no absolute plans after mission impossible?

It's year 2006. I'm still the same old me with status quo likely to persist for some time to come. Every now and then, I would have people coming up to me to ask me what's my plan after "mission impossible"... at the moment, "BOH" (nope). So, for all related qns, I have returned no definitive replies/answers but that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it at all. Just that it's still not the right time and I don't want to shut out any other possible options.

Should I: (i) continue to take up another "mission impossible" at the expense of tax-payers money (subjected to availability); (ii) join my collaborator (I suppose they need people now cos they had asked me on a number of separate occasions if I'm done here but of course I'm not... but whether they still need people when I'm done, I'm not sure - there's a vicious cycle of ups and downs in this industry); (iii) be my own boss - provided I've some biz ideas which unfortunately I haven't given it much thought yet, opportunities, and suitable biz partners (Someone just told me that I’ve the abilities to make a good business partner. Haha... a little flattered but it’s a little hard to believe considering the irrelevant stuff I’m doing now and the extremely short duration we've worked together);... etc... but be a full-time "tai tai" is NOT an option (cos Xian is still not my gold mine yet.... hee... give you a few more years lah... kekeke). Haha... actually more importantly, I think I will die of boredom if I in-charged of only household chores and nothing else (yucks! not at this age...) and I like to spend my own money to do the things I like to do (hmm... all women must have some form of self-reliance where money is concerned...) even though this applies: "我的钱是我的钱，你的钱也是我的钱"... hahah...

Hmm… anyway, still a little early to think about all these given this mission-almost-impossible... I'll give it a serious thought when I'm closer to being "done"... and I MUST make sure I have one whole month of "rotting at home and traveling" before I get down to do any other things... ;p

For the first time in about two-three years, Xi actually is BUSY with work *I think*... hahah...

--------------------------------

“Eh, I’m truly amazed by your endurance to actually stay and do some of these shitty stuff for such a freakin’ long time. If I were you, I would have left long time ago.”
– Quoted this from a friend who is now his own boss

Haha... I just loved his frankness but I didn't have a chance to tell him that (cos we both log out msn before I could write)...

"Not everyone can afford to leave as and when they like... and I believe there are always shitty stuff embedded in each and every jobs - his included...*insert haha smiley face*"

The Exorcism of E. R.

I don't really like to watch horror movies and I don't believe in paying to scare the wits out of myself. If it's free, well perhaps I'll give it a go. Went to a housewarming and was treated to this movie. Blah... frankly, it's not scary. I somehow think it draws more laughters (from the courtroom drama) than shocks (flashback demonic scenes). But apparently some of my friends are a tatty timid (even guy - amazing!) considering that it doesn't really fit into horror genre type of movies in my opinion. It's yet another unconvincing movie about demonic possession - terms like "demons/devils/satan" just do not ring a bell. I'm not discounting the likelihood that supernaturals do exists... but to me, a more convincing case of possession involves a different perspective... or perhaps the usage of different terms i.e. ghosts/spirits... Anyway, I think you can give it a miss if you need to pay. The Exorcist or The Ring are two better choices to pick from.

Long weekend...

The long awaited long weekend... cleared two days of leave to have five days to "rot" at home. Not much activities. Don't like the crowd at any public countdown sites. Promise myself never to step into one any more. Imagine you bathe, smell nice nice... take the effort to reach there via public transport to avoid traffic jam... managed to get past any human jam along the way... or better still, congratulate yourself on having managed to squeeze into the crowd to get nearer to the source of excitement... you'll regret horribly after a short while. You get pushed around, and when you wanna get out, you realized you couldn't and gotten pushed further in. When the DJs worked the crowd to a certain level of wildness, they turned crazy and you get elbowed accidentally... even a "wood block" will be cajoled to dance along when stucked among the shaking bodies... and with a terribly hot & humid weather, everyone sweats and somehow it seemed others sweat more and they felt sticky beside you. Yucks! Once bitten, twice shy... Anyway, the only vehicle needed to be shared... So I decided to stay at home to sleep and watch tv. Alas, re-confirmed just how terrible+horrible the tv programs can be without cable programs... luckily I still have the Initial D cartoons VCDs which I've borrowed from ML a week back. Phew!