Song of the Year

Song composed by Singaporean students in UPenn, Philadelphia.

Congratulations

To dear Amanda, who gave birth to chubby little Cayden a month ago, and to Adeline, who gave birth to Javen a week ago.


Are Cayden, Caven, Jayden and Javen the most popular boys' names in 2009? An accquitance gave birth to a boy named Jayden some months back.

Rants

I truly made the worst mistake in my life, to improve myself academically. I officially declare, an academic life is not for me. Instead, I suspect I have some bimbo blood in me.

How fun it would be to just shop the day away, to spend the nice Spring noon over a cuppa, or to bake some nice moist cakes. I could have diligently made use of this time to try for a little me, and sweep the shelves clean of all the cutest dresses in the world.

Sigh......

True Love

"It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it wa s well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor'sappointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.

He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said,

'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,

'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain."

-From a Mr. Tay's blog.

Sushi

My comfort food, and my weekly cravings. I have no idea how I had the misconception that they were too expensive to be consumed from Dierbergs, that I had avoided the sushi bar for the past 8 months. Now that I realised they are actually very affordable and palatable, I have made a pact to visit the sushi chef once a week. Maybe more often, to make up for the 8 months worth of losses. =P

No QC? Saw 2 pieces of sushi without avacado? Still, I love them to bits, cos they are the next best alternatives to nothing!

Shopping Made Easier

Have you always envied those who managed to get the many branded goods at the ridiculously cheap prices sold in the US? Fret no now! Visit "buy4meleh", and start shopping to your hearts' content! I've done the calculations, regardless of the shipping n costs n handling fees chargable on this website, it is still alot cheaper to buy Coach, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Polo Ralph, Timberland, Foley & Corinna, Juicy Couture, etc, etc, from them than in Singapore!

Happy Shopping!

First Bloom of Spring

Spring is finally here! Yesterday was the first day of Spring, and it's time to ditch the coats and to air the shorts, skirts and dresses! I'm amazed to see flowers suddenly blooming out of nowhere, just in a span of 2 short days. On day 1 we see the buds appearing on the trees, and the very next moment, we see flowers covering the entire large plant. I never knew flowers take only 2 days to blossom; very fascinating!

Pretty yellow flowers greet us at the entrance to our estate.









Flowers sprouting on trees along the road leading to our apartment.












Most of the trees are still bare though. It'll probably take another 1-2 weeks or so to see Spring in full bloom! I'm anticipating!




Along N. Big Bend Blvd just outside campus, on my way home.

Bad Things Come in Pairs

I was sad enough that I had to go back to school (again) when I was barely having enough of the break, yet I was hit by a devastating news on the very 1st day of the Spring mini B term. I HAVE TO ATTEND SUMMER COURSES! Was looking forward so much to the 4-month long Summer break starting in May, that I was already counting down to it and making plans way before I could even smell it. Then the bombshell fell and flooded my vision with darkness. Plans to tour Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and L.A. with my parents are now put on a hold. I still cant decide if I should skip a week's lesson (which is a day in fact cos there is only a day class weekly) for the vacation planned, bring forward the vacation and shortened it considerably, or forsake it totally, which I am very unwilling to. Damn it! I just can't fathom why can't the school inform us much earlier of the requirement to attend the freaking Summer classes. As much as most of the visiting parents will like to tour parts of US upon arriving for our commencement, we the unfilial kids are now unable to bring them around cos classes start just 3 days before the ceremony. How unruly! Morever, since classes are only going to be held a day per week for 6 long weeks, can't they just compress the class schedule to 6 consecutive days instead, just like what we did for our foundation courses? I'm a lot more willing to go to school for 6consecutive Summer days, rather than once a week for 6 long freaking week, and forsaking all my vacation plans!

What's worst now is, I can't decide if I should still go back to SIN for a 2-week vacation. Summer courses end in June, and after our trip to NF and Toronto, I will only have a mere 6 weeks left before the Fall semester starts. If i were to spend 2 weeks in SIN, I will have prob only 3 weeks left to enjoy my STL life totally, after spending 1 week to recover from jet-lag. If I do not go back to SIN, I will waste that free ticket, and the opportunity to earn the mileage points. GGrrr...... I hate school a lot more now! Academic life sucks, big time!

Hate It!

The 3rd term is starting tmr, and I seriously dreaded it. It's gonna be the toughest and busiest term. Having the worst time-table to date makes me abhors school more. Classes starting at 11.30am everyday means I have to wake up early daily. And the worst part is, classes end at 5.30pm the earliest on Wednesdays, and the lastest at 9.15pm on Mondays! I have to be in school till 6pm on both Tuesdays and Thurdays. In short, this just means no time for home-cooked dinner on school days! How sick!!!

Count My Blessings

I am a lucky lady, to have a Hubby who brings me on holidays ever so often. At least for these 18 months. A glance at the magnets on my refrigerator, it strucked me that we have been to plenty of places over the past 8 months. Chicago last Sept, Colorado in Nov, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and NYC in Dec, San Francisco in Jan, and lately South Dakota last week (noting that we've arrived in STL only last Jul). We have almost confirmed 3 more trips over the next 9 months; Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and L.A. in May, Niagara Falls and Toronto in Jul, and lastly Florida in Nov. If the bank account permits, we may squeeze in a mini road trip over the Labor Day weekend in Sept. Though he insisted on not parting his money for that Chanel/ Miu Miu (which means I may have to forgo them??!!), I am still thankful for having someone who constantly plans and pays for my vacations. On a side note, I suspect this goodwill will last only for 18 months. Nonetheless, I am still a happy lad for being able to live off the Hubby during this short stint.

** Introspectively, perhaps Hubby had no choice but to bring me along on these trips. He yearns to visit as many states/cities as possible during our stay in the States, and I bet he does not have the guts to exclude me from his escapades cos my parents may castigate him? For all I know, he may be bringing me around purely because he has to since I am his responsibility, not because he wants to. That will be extremely devastating.

Ridiculously Cheap

TWC and I went to Plaza Frontenac once again yesterday. To our amazement, Mont Blanc was having crazy sales! Sunglasses and keychains at an astonishing 90% discount and leather goods at only 20% of its original prices! We all bought ourselves a pair of sunglasses each. Though I'm no fan of Mont Blanc, I couldnt resist paying $32 for a pair that cost $320 originally. Wanted to get Hubby a belt for casual use, but couldn't find any suitable ones. Instead, I found a keychain at a mere $11 as a gift for him.

I bet the sales staff had a love and hate relationship with us. 5 excited ladies in a shop, no doubt it will be rowdy. Plus the fact that we kept asking them for the prices of many of their goods since the prices were not displayed, we sure made their lives hellish by running to and from their PC. However they should be thankful that we wiped out many of their items. Not exactly me though, cos I controlled my spending; and that's because I have to keep some funds available for the next mega shopping spree coming up next weekend in Osage Premium Outlets! Woohoo!

Green wih Envy

One of my besties is expecting a girl! I'm sooooo jealous and happy for her. I wish I'll have a princess as my first born too, maybe 2 years later. Now I have an additional reason to shop for babies' dresses!

Overdue Random Pictures

One of the 1st few pictures Hubby took when we recieved the new camera, while toying with the different functions on the gadget. I am so grateful for the pair of gloves that Mummy got for me. It covers a good length of my hands, is durable and non-slip. Her purpose was to protect my hands and prevent it from the harshness of all the washings. Only mothers know best.


I mentioned about taking a picture of myself with my school bag once we receive our new camera sometime in January. I feel weird associating myself with a school bag at this age, as I am typing away. Haha... That's my favourite down-filled jacket mentioned 2 posts ago, and the world's most comfy and warm pair of boots, the trusty Uggs.






Up the stairs to our apartment. Was testing the new camera then. Our apartment is to the left, and Kinyoong and Peisuan's to the right.





Welcome to our home. Chinese New Year Couplets brought back all the way from SIN during our last trip home. They're still on our door now, and I feel so lazy to bing them down. Hubby is proud of his job, thus the round Singapore F-15 sticker on our door. He wanted to make it easier for friends to recognise our apt too, when we host gatherings.


What I found in the Chinatown Supermarket- my favourite gum when I was young. Brought back lots of childhood memories. Strawberry is still my favourite, after so many years. If I didn't recall wrongly, the orange flavour was Emily's (my childhood playmate) favourite.


Surprised delivery on V-day, from my beloved Hubby of cos. Box was left ouside the door by USPS.







Double surprise to find a vase and a bouquet of flowers in a box. Never knew flowers could be delivered in this manner, unlike in SIN.






My flowers, after trimming the stems, and filling the vase with water and flower food. Yes, it comes with 2 packets of flower food, enough to last through a week. I am kinda sick of red roses actually. I will love to receive Gerbera Daisies the next time round, if there is any. I hope Hubby remembers my new preference.

Cookies

I had fun in the kitchen tonight. All thanks to Betty Crocker!

Fast, easy and yummy! Initially I bought only 1 packet, the walnut choc chip flavour. It was too yummy and the greedy me braved the cold and went out at close to 10pm to get the 2nd pack of a different variety. Equally tasty!









Cookie jar, filled to the brim!

Permed Fur

I permed the fur on my down jacket! It looks ugly and feels disgusting. Permed fur! Imagine a wig with v bushy and short permed fringe; that's how the hood of my jacket looks like now. That's for putting my jacket into the dryer in a hurry, without reading the washing label. Having 5 loads of clothes to wash after the Mt. Rushmore trip, I turned up the heat of the dryer, wanting to dry the jackets faster so as to dry the next load of clothes asap. For that, I got myself a jacket with permed, ugly and rough fur. That's my all-time favourite jacket that I carry around with me almost everywhere. Sob...

More Bags Please

Have been waking up early daily, conquering as many malls as we can since the start of my Springbreak. Thus the lack of posts, though I am suppose to have more free time on hand now. Hubby said I have been very hardworking lately, at trying to be the earliest bird at the malls, and that he hasn't seen me waking up that early every single day during my school term. Wahaha......

Anyway, we finally moved our asses to Saks Fifth Ave this morning. Had wanted to check out Foley & Corinna and Prada. Instead, we found ourselves going ga-ga at Chanel's. Was besotted by it's classic handbag, but with it's sky-rocket price, I had to patently shift my attention to a cheaper alternative...
The Chanel classic wallet! Looks similar to the bag I adored, but definitely a much cheaper version at slightly below US$1k. Tell me it's pretty, and tell that to my Hubby too! I wish for it as a anniversary cum bday cum xmas gift. I said I WISH.............







Then as I was doing some online window shopping comparing prices later in the day, I saw this!
Have been longing for a Miu Miu bag for ages. Love the brand and am smittened by this two-way bag for now. I can use it for both work and play, with the detachable strap. How fun! However, at an exorbitant price, I had to think about it over a few nights. Let's see if I am still hankering for it after our Mt. Rushmore trip.
I sure have sometime to decide before I squander away my hard-earned allowances. I haven't really decided between the brown or the white yet. Preferred the white especially since I do not have a white leather bag, but because it's tougher to maintain for someone who likes to throw her bag around, it may not be a wise choice. Anyway, we shall see how my bank account feels like come next Tuesday. I so wanna own it!