18,880 hits

Thanks to all, my blog clocked 18,880 unique visits today since the day my blog moved here from blogcity a few years ago. An auspicious start to the year of Dragon! May all of us have a smooth-sailing year, blessed with good health and enough money to spend!

Here's the Chinese New Year manicure/pedicure for mum but unfortunately she has now ruined it with all the chores and cooking she did.

No, Oma, no

I was on the train back, thinking about that can of abalone my dad wanted and playing Unblock Me at the same time. Suddenly my phone rang, and my sister broke the news,"Grandma has died, she's in the hospital A&E now." I was stumped. I didn't know how to react, I wanted to go down, but she asked me to wait for another call. Then after some discussion, we rushed down, most of my extended family were there. We waited for nearly 3 hours before we got any news from the doctor. Geez. But fortunately it was worth the wait, they managed to save her. When the ambulance arrived, she already had no pulse. It was said she choked on her food but she didn't have the strength or ability to cough or react. Grandma has grown old and a lot weaker these days. I am so glad she survived this black Friday - Friday, the 13th.

Grandma, thanks for coming back and we do want to celebrate the Chinese New Year with you.

What I can do without her?

On the days my mum is not cranky, she can be quite nice. Sometimes she's my hero. She also sometimes says things that never fail to surprise me.

This morning, she was happily shading her numbers for TOTO (lottery), when I casually commented. And she said if she wins the top prize, I will have the leisure of not working. You heard it right, she says me. Woohoo. How nice of her... When will we strike, please?

I had a very frustrating night trying to remove stains from my new dress, but it got worse this morning with more area affected. I had so many question marks and my head was about to explode. I showed it to mum, and she immediately found the cause. The color was coming off the sleeves which was black. So much for doing my own laundry and best thing I learnt to blame myself for things like this. I gave up, mum offered to help later today while I am at work. I hope she does magic because she can.

Superhero, mum, you are.

Motivated

Thanks to Koert's new photo on Facebook today, I feel inspired. Nothing shall keep me back from pursuing what I am passionate about. I need to spend more time this week building up my self promotion booklet :P One step closer!

Is there even a destiny?

I'm awake and thinking. As usual, I wish my brain is more retarded, it would save me some sleeping time. I just read a friend's wife's blog, a cancer survivor. I don't know her but she is an inspiration, her blog is so often filled with optimism revolving around her life stories. Even an entry on her trip to the dentist was a good entertainment. Then I got linked to another blog who quoted a phrase, saying something along the line, that if bad things didn't befall, most wouldn't cherish what's around them. So true but I certainly don't want them to happen too. I always make myself promise to cherish the things and people around me, but its always easier said than done. I am thankful for everything even though imperfect. But only with imperfection, there's room for improvement. Change is like my only constant. I always believe changes are good when things are too stagnant, and are somewhat limiting you from releasing the full.potential. I also trust that the people we met along the way came into our lives for a purpose (probably said this before) and when time is up, they leave. Some stay to fulfil a greater purpose. Do you believe so?

A new start

I had a dream yesterday that I shaved my head. Yes, all of my hair off. I have never been this courageous... but in the dream I was. I was so sick of my hair and I decided to do it. I was even fascinated by the idea that I could use my wigs! This is amusing.

I did a little search online about my dream. It might signify that I want a fresh start, a new beginning. And yes, I want that.

Signs

Life is always giving us signs to guide us along. If you read "The Red String Book", it says our journey is actually to discover ourselves, to make us grow and wise up. Do you believe it? Many probably didn't know what's the purpose of life? Many of us chase after fame, wealth and status, why we do need them? Do we really need so much money to survive? Are we chasing blindly because everyone else is doing the same. I don't have an answer. Recently I got upset with certain things and some people. Why make myself miserable when they probably don't care? I take them as a sign to move to, to initiate something to lead to something else. Do I want to sulk, complain, get stuck in the situation without doing anything... Quite impossible. So get on with life, smile along the journey, it will be a breeze.

Scum

I hate it when someone shows their true colors. So many times, I witnessed all these fake people trying to be nice, trying to impress, trying to be amiable when they are actually not. I have lost my motivation because someone I respected is not worthy of my worship. He made me feel disgusted, his pretence so often irks me, his conversations only trying to make him look good. Selfish. One of a SOAB, sorry, have to use acronym to be less rude.

What makes me happy...

It's not living for the future, saving for the future, and dreaming of a perfect ending... But it is doing what I really enjoy at the present moment. Unfortunately its not happening right now. I need to escape.

2011 Recap

A number of things I am thankful for...

1. A business trip with my first business class flight
2. I visited London
3. I visited London, in winter
4. I got rid of friends whom are not worthwhile, but the true ones have returned
5. I participated in charity fund-raising doing what I really enjoy, gift-wrapping
6. I survived an accident during my travel to Chiang Mai (probably not my first time, but always got lucky)
7. I got close to elephants, and I fell in love with them
8. My first trip with my elder sister went quite smoothly despite our clashing personalities
9. First of our FAB 4 got hitched, and I was the maid of honour, my speech was amazing I was told (^.^)
10. FAB 4 finally reunited for the first time in years, at the wedding
11. I attended a proper cooking class, making Thai cuisine (of course, in Thailand)
12. I started joining my friends for weekly Trivia night and was amazed how much I didn't know out there
13. Nail painting became my therapeutic hobby
14. I ran my first marathon for charity
15. Joy returned to Singapore and we always have fun hanging out
16. I picked up a new sports, spinning
17. My team at work is great so far (though I have realised otherwise about some people)
18. I have overcame the fear of carrying a month old baby :)
19. I bought my first Marc by Marc Jacobs tote.
20. I reconnected with my primary school friends, people I knew when I was about 10
21. I also caught up with my secondary school friends and teacher
22. I have adopted HTC, and missing my BB
23. Everyone at home is still healthy, alive and kicking.
24. I enjoyed Malacca so much I went twice this year
25. My dear Toshiba lappy is still going strong, about 4+ years old now

And there are probably many more that I left out... but I am thankful I survived 2011. It wasn't bad, but not the best. I hope that all things will be even better in the new year.

Welcome 2012!