Je Ne Sais Quoi

RUN AWAY

2012-01-29T15:14:00.000+08:00

Norway. Finland. Sweden. Venice. New Zealand. Rome. Belgium. Brisbane. Auckland. Poland.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

2012, BYE!

2012-01-28T10:11:00.001+08:00

Two nights ago, I was at a CNY-cum-old-classmates-gathering at a friend's house. There is just something about old schoolmates as friends; we grow up together.

The other day, an intern gave me her email address (for me to send some teaching resource over to); on which states her year of birth : 1993. I cringed inwardly. WHAT?! Is she, like, a baby or something? Is she even LEGAL? I did a quick mental calculation in my head. GASP! That lass is 19? GASP GASP!! AND I'M 7 BLOODY YEARS OLDER??!!

For the first time ever, I FEEL OLD.

It seems like only yesterday, prancing around in the pearl-white laboratory coat, happily studying immunology, pharmacology, hematology, clinical pathology, drug development and clinical trial, and the likes, and counting red blood cells under microscopic slides and cutting up chick embryos and cultivating their cells (cruel, I know).

It seems like only yesterday, prancing around in the pearl-white laboratory coat again, but this time studying grossly nonsensical stuffs such as organic chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry and the likes, and dealing with boring chemicals in the laboratories which make totally no sense.

It seems likes only yesterday that I was in the teachers' college. Running around and exploring the far far west but ironically, never venturing into the grounds of NTU because of grounds infamiliarity. Tutorials. Micro-teaching exercise. Field trips. 10-weeks practicum. All these seem like only YESTERDAY.

And it suddenly dawned to me : this is already the 3rd year since graduation from the teachers' college! But it seems like only yesterday when I was still a student!

I can't wait for year 2012 to come to an end. I can't wait for the bond to end; to break out of this fixed mould of work. It feels so dead, routine. There are still things I've yet to try. Working in a non-government sector. Traveling. Exploring. Flying. Playing. Experiencing. Living life.

2012, end quickly!

UNIQUE

2012-01-09T15:49:00.019+08:00

I am so in luuurve with this beautiful white guy.

Sometimes, the thought of living without him seems unimaginable. Oftentimes, I've tried to imagine life after his death, or how devastating his parting would be, and whether would he ever have any idea how much it would hurt. Or would he be only too happy to be freed from suffering, assuming that he would - in time to come - die from old age?

A random thought struck me a few days ago.
If time were to rewind, I am - with most certainty - able to instinctively pick out Tofu from a litter of puppies of similar breed.

Maybe it's in the way he proudly manifests himself in quiet strength. Tofu just has this charmingly dignified air (yes, yes, call me biased) around him. The way he puffs his chest up like royalty and holds his head high with ethereal poise and elegance. Or maybe it's the lively bounce in his prideful gait that is found in no other. Or it's how his paws go pitter-patter against the tiles as he trots lightly across the room. Or the telltale playful wags of his bushy tail; emanating his childlike, joyous innocence. The delightful, clever sparkles of brilliance shining through his clear, oval eyes. How his cushy paw seem to fit perfectly and melt as I hold it in my hand. How his ears perk up in alertness, and the particular angle in which his head is tilted to one side inquiringly. The way he automatically sits by my side like a limp piece of creamy-vanilla rug; with his face lit up with happiness and contentment at the mere display of affection - a simple tousle of his fur, a comforting massage on the nap of the neck, a series of light scratches on his manly chest. Or the way he likes to lap up water from the toilet tiles and mop basin - much to our exasperation. The way he sits quietly - all the time while drooling - as he makes known his feeble request to be fed off our plates. The fierce loyalty as he barks protectively when someone acts aggressively towards me. Or it's the way his fat butt wriggles cutely as he walks. Or maybe it's just how his snores sound. Or it's the way he licks my hand lovingly like he would a delicious piece of chicken bone. Or maybe it's just simply the way he gazes at me. Like I'm the most amazing thing on earth.

There is just something about him that makes him uniquely him, and unique to me. He just sticks out like a sore thumb.

And, for the first time in my life, I totally understand what parents mean when they claim they know which child is theirs just by one glance. Yes, mushy, I know.

AND my baby is turning two already in a few months' time. TWO!!! He has already lived one-fifth - or at best, one-sixth - of his life. Time flies by sooo fast! Let me weep.

HAPPINESS IS, BEING SIMPLE

2012-01-01T21:12:00.003+08:00

"Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."

Og Mandino

GRANTED

2011-12-26T22:27:00.002+08:00

A realization just dawned upon me a few days ago, and I realized how easy it is to take loved ones for granted; even if unknowingly or unintentionally. Even despite repeated reminders to yourself never to. It just sneaks up like that.

And how, sometimes, it takes an outsider - or so, to say - to put things into perspective.

Thank goodness, more often than not, it's never too late... To love.

PICTURES = THOUSAND WORDS

2011-12-21T16:15:00.007+08:00

I simply luuurrve this picture.

A mischievous Dad play-bullying our family dog.
A poor Tofu looking all comical and supposedly pretending to cry.
And a happy me grinning broadly because I find it all too awesomely cute.

Poor Tofu. Oh, my baby, he must be feeling absolutely bewildered, if anything.

COLD

2011-12-15T19:14:00.007+08:00

It is sooo cold today at -3 degree celcius. Even though I've been indoor today - wearing track pants and long-sleeve sweater and socks - it is STILL icy cold. It would be worse tomorrow, as the predicted weather forecast is -7 degree celcius. We're probably staying in tomorrow too, because of the unforgiving weather. Just as well, since when our Taiwanese friends arrive on the 22th, our daily schedule will be packed like sardines!

This is our dinner for tonight. It was purchased from a chicken shop near the hostel. Underneath my outer coat, I wore 2 pullover sweaters and a thermal innerwear; and topped off the whole assemble with a skinny jeans, beanie, shawl, and arm warmers. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN TO THIS MUCH TROUBLE JUST TO BUY DINNER! And despite all the thermal precaution, I can feel my mouth practically freezing off as soon as I stepped out of the hostel building!

Anyway, this chicken is fantabulous! The chicken is crispy but not too oily, the rice cakes are springy with every bite, and the sauce is thick, sticky, and tasty! Even thought it's nowhere comparable to Kyochon's, the less steep price thoroughly compensates for it. This chicken meal costs 6000won (~SGD$7), as compared to 15000won (~SGD$17) from Kyochon. AND the best part? I ate 1/3 of it for dinner tonight and am keeping the rest for tomorrow or the day after!

Now I feel like a hibernating bear; storing up all the food indoors and hiding under blankets!

WINTER AND FOOD

2011-12-14T18:43:00.014+08:00

Am currently on a 2-weeks holiday to South Korea! Will be back on the 28th!

We're planning to stay in for tomorrow. I guess it's getting a little boring already. Afterall, this is already our 3rd time visiting this country and state. In addition, it IS winter right now; therefore shopping is kinda restricted (if only it snows in Singapore too!).

It seems like there's natural air-con wherever you go. And I am still finding it amusingly entertaining; seeing all the mist forming out from my mouth as I speak and breathe out. Meanwhile indoors, even with the heated flooring system, our dorm room feels cold, especially as night falls. Overall, the weather is chilly, the wind is strong; even the tap water feels icy cold. Thank goodness for water heaters. Showering is becoming a torture, and heck, even my skin is starting to feel dry! I'm going to start slapping lotion on myself from tonight onwards!

Grouses aside, the food here is simply awesome! For one, their fried chicken from Kyochon is absolutely out of this world! Even their ramen (instant noodles) are a notch higher! I just had one pack of kimchi ramen for dinner, and it is sooooo thoroughly satisfying. Sigh! I AM GOING TO BE FAT!

P.S. There's still no sight of snowflakes yet!

POTATIFIED

2011-12-01T23:59:00.008+08:00

Last night, I had a meetup with this odd-pair long-time old friend of mine, Xu. We met at 5.30pm, and spent an amazing 4.5hours together. Despite the passage of years, it is still absolutely amazing at how starkly different we are in almost every way possible, but are yet still very very very good friends; and how we still click like old chains in spite of seeing each other once in a blue moon. And the best part? We're meeting again TOMORROW for some art and crafts! YIPPIE!!!

Anyway, I reached home last night at 10.30pm. Took a refreshing bath, had a quick snack, and surfed the internet to read up on a recipe which I was intending to try out. By then, lo and behold, it was already 11.30pm! I took out the cooled baked potatoes (I baked 2 medium potatoes before going out to meet Xu) and cut them into halves lengthwise. Scooped out the flesh pulp, and followed the steps as per instructed. When all was done, I left the four-halves potato shell to bake for the final 15 minutes.

Sadly, there are no pictures here because the products did not turn out as expected. The topping was a tad too runny! I consulted the recipe again, and - to my disgust - realised that the gravy topping was supposed to be mixed with a HAND MIXER until WELL-BLENDED and CREAMY. In my haste, I had (conveniently?) overlooked this little fine print of a detail. All I did was beat the mixture until it appeared fairly homogeneous - with a SPOON! Arghhh!!! There goes the potatoes! All because of a slight overlook! And because it is such a waste to throw both the potatoes away, I ate one of the halves, kept one of the halves overnight (experiment : to investigate how well the taste holds up when reheated in microwave), and threw away the remaining two halves. I am sooo stuffed with potatoes now. POTATIFIED! TOTALLY!

Anyway, the moral of the story?

Don't attempt any culinary tasks dead at night.

HEART THROUGH THE STOMACH

2011-11-27T16:56:00.003+08:00

The reason why I look forward to going home every evening.

Other than my bed. Internet. Showering. 3-in-1 coffee. And Tofu, of course.

RUNNING BOYS

2011-11-25T12:42:00.013+08:00

School's officially out for the rest of what's remaining of the academic year. Finally, it's my favourite time of the entire year! I like the free hours and lazy, idyllic afternoons - which bring along with it the leisure liberty to do whatever I want. Adding on the gorgeous cooling weather which occurs only annually, it's perfect! Oh, ohmygosh, and it's already FRIDAY today??? ALREADY???

I've gotta admit : life is good. For now. Ever since holidays (officially) started this week, I've cleaned and tided up my room (to await the arrival of Grandma, who'll be staying with us quite permanently), showered the dog, had breakfasts with Dad and younger brother, walked the dog, cooked tea leaves eggs, and read up on some potato recipes. AND there's still a course to go for later this evening! Golly!

We were walking the dog yesterday evening at 4pm. The bout of monsoonal drizzle for the day had stopped briefly, and the weather was just absolutely terrific. We were strolling and enjoying the evening breeze when the younger brother decided to jog ahead for awhile to burn off the dog's excessive energy, and poof! they went; the two boys exploded ahead zestfully like twin cannonballs, leaving me trailing behind sluggishly, snapping an opportunistic, impromptu photo of their retreating backs.

And, oh, did I ever mention how big an anus Tofu has?

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD

2011-11-08T10:03:00.002+08:00

An agony which hardly anyone understands better than we do :

KAYPOH AND GLUTTON

2011-09-23T22:29:00.003+08:00

Spot the kaypoh kia! =)

AND he's a glutton!

拿

2011-09-18T20:11:00.008+08:00

A friend asked why have the post entries slowed down to a trickle. Well, so, here it is.

Days lately have been uneventful. The recent September holiday is short and hectic; so much so I don't feel rested enough. Had to conduct ~~remedial~~ extra lessons from Monday to Wednesday, went back to work again on Friday for work review, and in between, went for courses as usual, picked up knitting, showered the dog, walked the dog, and (supposedly) attended 4 weddings; 2 of which I declined, because it's my birthday date. All these in one week and, poof! One week of holiday is gone!

Anyway, lately it's been getting increasingly difficult to find topics to blog about. Maybe it's because life is getting kind of routinised, now that it's my 2nd year into the workforce. Or maybe it's because work has been all-consuming; I hardly have time to sit down, internalise, reflect, and think things through. Or maybe, discretion is part and parcel of the job. Nowadays I find myself thinking twice - sometimes, thrice - before blogging /facebook status-ing about something. Or maybe I'm simply just getting duller! I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT!

I miss being challenged. Miss the times of being a student. Miss the times when I can read books, shop for groceries, do some cooking / baking, meet up friends for outings / gatherings, getting involved in thoughts-provoking, meaningful conversations, or just doing anything that is mentally-stimulating. I don't know, but my brain feels so mash-y now. I feel like an ignorant airhead; a leaky and empty vessel. Going to work, setting papers, marking papers, teaching the same old topics over and over again. Uneventful. So dead. ARGH!

Anyway, on a sidenote, things are a little unbelievably ~~crazy~~ jaw-dropping right now. Just the other day, I was asking - in all seriousness - a friend if there's anyone nice whom she'd like to recommend. And I just found out (yesterday) that her husband sent out SMSes with, apparently, a photo attached.
Now I feel like crawling into a hole and HIDE!

I CONFESS...

2011-08-29T11:18:00.026+08:00

- When I was 15, because of insufficient funds for GIRO deduction, the parents gave me money to pay for the school fees at the General Office. I used the cash to buy a rabbit instead.

- Sometimes when I look at Tofu, I find myself wondering how tasty and tender his meat would be. Especially when I'm hungry.

- When I was in NUS, I mistakenly entered the gents once. And even washed my hands. With 2 guys inside, 1 of whom was using the urinal when I walked in. And I WAS STILL BLISSFULLY IGNORANT that I'm in the wrong place.

- I overslept last Friday (26th August) and woke up at 7.27am when the national anthem is to be sung at 7.30am and my first lesson starts at 7.40am. Imagine the horror! I quickly changed, petted the dog, ran, and reached the workplace at 7.39am. I didn't brush my teeth that morning.

- I've a bad sense of direction. I get lost in Orchard, Douby Ghaut, Suntec, Clarke Quay, and even Chinatown. There was once I got lost in Chinatown. Entered a shop and asked the assistant which direction leads to the MRT station. The Malaysian shop assistant directed me, and then asked bewilderedly am I a local. Shit!

- I sleeptalk occasionally. Especially when I'm tired / stressed. There was once, in an Overseas CIP trip to Bintan with the kids earlier this March, Angeline and I sleeptalk-ed with each other. Our conclusion? Two sleeptalkers sleeptalking to each other and having a conversation! The irony.

- Earlier this year, I cried and moaned because I had a bad dream in which I dreamt I'm lost (no surprise there). The younger brother heard it and initially thought it's something eerie because it so happened to be Qing Ming Festival that fateful day. The next morning, when I told him that I had a bad dream and cried and woke the dog, he exclaimed, "WAH LEU EH!! SO it's YOU!!! I thought it's a ghost la! I was so scared that I switched off the computer and slept early, you know!!! I switched on the living room light, then to the kitchen light, and then bathroom light, just to brush my teeth, you know!!!".

- One of my silly, inner worries is to, one day, discover that Tofu is able to swim. Because the whole family is not going to let me live it down if the dog knows how to swim, and not the owner.

- As long as I've lived, I have trouble pronouncing the word "permanent". My tongue always automatically pronounce it as 'per-mer-memt".

- I'm horrified of lizards. Even had a nightmare involving them once. Damnit.

- On some mornings, before I head out to work, I get deadly envious of Tofu. Eat, shit, sleep, play, eat, shit, sleep, play only. That stupid dog.

- I sometimes wonder how much does Tofu love me actually. If he is able to speak, would he declare and gush about his undying love for me?

- When I was younger, I had a plethora of ambitions. I wanted to be a singer and be Celine Dion version 2. Then an actress winning awards at the then-glamorous Hong Xing Da Jiang. Then a policewoman who gets rescued by a charmingly suave male colleague who is polite, good in character, doesn't smoke, respectful to elders, good with friends, well-rounded, dominant leader, cheerful, fit, healthy, and we live happily ever after. Then a hairdresser. Then a news anchor. Then a reporter for Lime magazine so that I can get up close and personal with Backstreet Boys. As age sets in, so does reality. My first serious ambition is to be a journalist / reporter. At 15, Biology entered my world. My new-found love for Biology overrode my love for language, and journalist got changed to doctor. Too bad I didn't have the brains for it. I didn't want to do research work either, so I somehow switched from Science to education at the last minute - mainly because I couldn't afford university tuition fees and a certain organisation timely offered to pay for it. The current work I'm doing? I've NEVER thought I'll be doing what I'm doing now.

- I talk / giggle to myself quite frequently.

- I've never believed in Santa Claus. The idea of a fat old man having so much time and money to buy presents for ALL the kids in the WHOLE WORLD and gets them delivered personally sounds ridiculous and far-fetched even to a young me. But I once believed there's toothfairy who'll buy my tooth and exchange it for money. Pui.

COINS

2011-08-28T16:16:00.002+08:00

The savings habit. Except now, with the passage of time, there are some amendments to the rules.

Rule #1 : Upgrade to $100 maximum.
Rule #2 : Spend only notes, not the coins AND $5 notes.
Rule #3 : Save up all the coins AND $5 notes at the end of the day.

Unlike previously, I now also make a special effort to sort 10cents / 20cents and 50cents / 1dollar coins into 2 different coin boxes. Anyway, one of the coin boxes is FULL (yeah!!)!!! And it is the coin box which contains all the 50cents / 1dollar coins (yeah!!!).

Tofu is always so kaypoh.

Anyway, I was done counting coins last night.

That small milk bottle containing 50cents / 1dollar coins add up to a grand total of ~$500!!! Can ya believe it???!!!

DO

2011-08-27T20:05:00.005+08:00

There are so many things to do / have to do / can't do yet / yet to do.

- Might be meeting George and gang for Korean buffet dinner on 30th Aug (Tues, HARI RAYA!!!), if I'm free. He's still waiting for my confirmation. Oppps!
- Staff dinner on 1st Sept (Thurs). AND, after which, might be meeting Eric for supper. Provided he's not down for duty that night.
- Violet approached and asked me to calafare in a video for staff dinner. Think the making of the video would be quite a last-minute thing as no details are confirm YET.
- 2 wedding dinners to attend during the week of September holidays (one of which is at SENTOSA, omg).
- September holidays remedials to conduct. Shucks!
- Course to attend on Monday and Wednesday nights.
- Currency's pretty strong now. Ought to change currency now for December trip.
- Count my coin savings and either go for coin deposit in bank, or exchange for cash with the canteen aunties. I have saved too much coins over the years and months. SOOOO HEAVY!

How I wish time would fast-forward and these would get over and done with! But then, on another thought, all these are quite happening and exciting.

Anyway, it has been more than 2 weeks since course started. I've yet to follow up with my reading, neither have I completed the homework which have been assigned.

Teachers are bad students, really.

P.S. By the way, Yam Ah Mee is making a comback tonight!!! Cute guy, that one.

TIME FLIES

2011-08-24T16:06:00.008+08:00

Going off for night course in 1.5hours time. So tempted to ponteng. Argh~

Anyway, in the blink of an eye, 2011 is ending soon! Oh my gosh! This is already Week 9 of Term 3 (there's 10 weeks in a term). This means that next week is the LAST WEEK of Term 3!

After that, it'll be a week of September holidays (down for remedial again. 3 days of remedial. Shucks!).

Term 4 continues after September holiday, and for the first 4 weeks, it'll be lessons as usual.
End-of-year examinations commence on Week 5 onwards, and probably ends around Week 7. After which, there'll be a day of Marking Day for us poor souls.
Finally, Week 8 - Week 10, we'll go through the scipts and key in results and meet-the-parents sessions and VOILA!!! Academic year 2011 has ended!!!

And, to top if off, come 2012, I'm down to the FINAL year of my bond!!!

I FEEL SO HAPPY NOW! *hop hop*

LOSE WEIGHT

2011-08-21T19:46:00.002+08:00

I need to go on a diet!!!

D! I! E! T!

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow.....

Tooommmoooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooowwwwwwwwww...

TOMORROW!

Self-discipline!!! ARGHHH!!!

ARGH

2011-08-18T21:08:00.000+08:00

Still sick.

Awfully sick.

Wonder how am I going to talk tomorrow.

SOLUTION

2011-08-17T21:05:00.011+08:00

While eating dinner just now, a random thought struck me.

I wonder, why can't we TELEPORT???

I mean, hey, imagine the numerous benefits!

1) More sleep. Need to report to work at 8am? Simple. Wake up at 730am. Take a shower, have a quick breakfast, dress up, and at 7.55am, VOILA!!!

2) Less air pollution. Simple. No burning of fossil fuel. No carbon emission. Goodbye, global warming.

3) Less money spent on transportation. SMRT and Transitlink wanna rise price again?? NEVER AGAIN!

4) More arable land to be used for recreational / commercial / public purpose.
More parks. More playgrounds. More cinemas. More shopping malls. More sports stadiums. More houses. Enough said.

5) No COE. No road tax. No ERP. Enough said.

6) HDB prices may go down. (refer to point 4)

7) Lesser deaths. Due to nil probability of road / car accidents.

Of course, there are pros and cons. It would be total havoc if people are able to teleport as and when and where they like. Therefore, to deter uninvited guests, something akin to the firewall can be set up? For example, in order to teleport into my flat, a password is needed. Or maybe recite a tongue-twister backwards. Or maybe executing mambo-jambo techno dance steps to the tune of We Are The World.

Of course again, this would lead to the question of security and the possibility of hackers. But then again, it is another problem for another day.

You know what? I think I've just found the PERFECT solution to the worries of the average Singaporean.

Forget the 4 Tans.

Vote for me.

IN A NUTSHELL

2011-08-16T19:48:00.012+08:00

Fell sick with flu and fever. Woke up on Sunday morning with an unexpected and severe symptom of super sore throat and runny/blocked nose. On Monday, it exacerbated into fever. Made a trip to the doctor, who suspected viral infection and gave me two days MC for the fever to subside. She mentioned something about taking in plenty of water and having good rest. Went to the pharmacy counter after that to collect the medication. The pharmacist behind the counter, while issuing the medication, giggled and joked that the doctor must have really wanted me to rest ALOT, as all the 3 medication prescribed (excluding lozenges) are super drowsy. Doctor had also prescribe a medication to bring down the swelling of the throat, but the pharmacist says the polyclinic has ran out of it (????!!!). Instead, she gave me a copy of the doctor's prescription list and asked me to get it from the Guardian pharmacy. In the end, I didn't. Because I don't see the need. Because I was lazy. Because I wanted to save the money, and reasoned that the throat soreness and swelling would go down by today.

I hate how the ear, nose, and throat are connected to each other. Because of this viral flu, my ears keep getting blocked, and I have to constantly 'pop' them (which always feel so oddly satisfying!), only to find them blocked again after a couple of hours. ARGHHH!!!

Anyway, thanks to the drugs, I was sleeping almost the WHOLE day today!
Woke at 730am (to eat breakfast), went back to sleep at 830am. Woke up at 1130am, used the computer for a while, and returned back to sleep at 1pm. Woke at 2pm, played with Tofu, had lunch, attempted to do some reading, and went back to sleep at 430pm. Woke up at 615pm, played with Tofu somemore, and had a shower. Now, at 730pm, I'm sitting in front of the computer, blogging away.

I feel so rested. FINALLY, I feel recovered. Granted, the super pain and sore throat is still there. But, still, at least the fever is gone and my nose is no longer blocked. It feels sooooooo good to be able to breathe normally again. Hope it'll sustain throughout the night later! Last night was horrible. I had to breathe through the mouth. And the already-sore throat feels even more irritated with the flow of air.

On a sidenote, the first CIBTAC lesson started last night!
It was pretty okay. In fact, studying Anatomy and Physiology reminds me of Poly days!

My throat is still as raw as sandpaper. Even swallowing of saliva hurts. Ok, I regret not getting the medication from Guardian pharmacy. =(

FAST!

2011-08-14T19:12:00.000+08:00

Lesson's starting tomorrow! That's fast!

And I'm looking forward to it!

CIBTAC

2011-08-10T19:24:00.001+08:00

Registered!

ESCARGOT

2011-08-09T23:56:00.002+08:00

Title says it all!

Ate my first escargot a couple of hours ago.

Had quite a mental block trying to shove it into my mouth (omg, that's a SNAIL!!!!), but after sannakji (which I discovered I LOVE!!!), surely escargot is nothing.

Anyway, I survived escargot.

It's pretty nice and chewy. YUMMY.

Oh, yeah. Before I forget, Happy Birthday, Singapore.