Ponderous Pondering (I have no idea what that means)

So, its time for one of those reflective, its the beginning of the year let's look back on 2007 type of blogs. Actually, i think i'll give that a miss this time. 2007 was an ok and sort of uneventful year. Which is good, better no events than bad ones, you know? So, there really isn't much to mull over.... except maybe we shouldn't drink so much. yeah, i think thats it. For 2008, I promise to:

1)....what the hell... i can;t think of anything i want to commit to, so forget it.

The RULES

Growing up in one of Singapore's most atas (but not neccessarily the smartest la) girls school, my girlfriends and I were educated in what I believe in certain style. The correct moral values are of course passed down to us, but there are certain things, which i have learnt after I left school, that are unique to our education and upbringing.

I'm not saying that its the best (tho i think so...but just not gonna come right out and say it... : p ) but here are the rules, spoken or unspoken that we go by:

RULE ONE:
"GIRLS, YOU ARE THE BEST. WHEN YOU GROW UP, YOU WILL BECOME WOMEN WHO WILL OWN THE WORLD" This is not quoted verbatim, but it's sort of the vibe we're used to.

RULE TWO:
WE'RE HIGH CLASS. AND HIGH CLASS WE SHALL REMAIN. (ahahaha)

RULE THREE:
WE'RE ALL ROUNDED. Which other top ranking girls' school offers etiquette class and modelling classes to teach stature?

I guess rules one to three are pretty kiam pah. And these rules manifest most strongly in one's personality when one JUST graduates from school and sort of dwindles along the way as reality sets in. Of course for the odd few (BNN.hahah), the superiority complex never goes away.

But the most important rule of all, and what i believe is the single most valuable thing i took away, is the rule of friendship.

LOYALTY. SINCERITY. GENEROUSITY. COURAGE. SERVICE.

We don't believe in being disloyal to our friends. They may not be right, or do the right thing, but we'll defend to death their right to do them. We'll loyally defend our friends and hate anyone else who is mean or may be mean to them.

True friendship is one that is Sincere. How can it be otherwise? If you'e not sincere about being friends, then don't bother! I believe in being sincerely selective. : p

Generousity, in time, in love, in everything.

True friendship is a test of courage. Most importantly having the courage to tell your friend if you have wronged them. Or having the courage to say you're sorry. Running away when you have done something wrong makes one a cowardly wuss.

Service. That I have nothing much to say since my friends and I like to think we're royalty. So service is kinda out of our league, just sorta thrown in the mix to make us look less bratty. Er, service...pay well and tip well?

I'm amazed at the things that people inflict on their friends, the stench of betrayal reeking so strongly it makes me wanna retch. Dating one of your best friend's soon to be but not yet ex-husband, and then having a child with him out of wedlock? Its just wrong. WRONG!

Falsies no more.

For the past three weeks, I have been looking effortlessly gorgeous! With the help of the most irritating thing on earth - The Semi-Permanent False eyelash. Yes, it does look good, and makes your eyes look damn nice BUT it's super annoying, Esp for me since i love to rub my eyes, squinch them, whatever.

The WOMAN @ the PLACE said it can last up to 2 months. 2 months my backside. Today, a good almost three weeks, I could not take it no more. And i have gone to get them removed. Yes, remove still must pay. I'm now the proud owner of like 3 real lashes or something.


2 days after it was done, how beauuuutiifuul



Today. I'm eyelash-less. Almost. Sigh.

Is it ONE year already???!!

Wow. Married for ONE year!! Its not exactly long, compared to many out there, but certainly, it feels like a milestone to me.

Actually, married life is not so much different, in terms of our relationship...the only thing that really rocks is living on my own. Which also equates to a lot more clubbing, a lot more drinking and a lot more boogie-ing since I got married. (and sans the man too!!) So, I'm pleased.

The only downside to this whole marriage thing, in retrospect, is the housework issue. Since the Empress Dowager (Me) does not like doing any, and I mean any, housework at all, it WAS a HUGE pain to start trying to do laundry, iron clothes etc. In the beginning, the man did everything, and I just sort of lounged on the bed, feeling gulity about it. Of course, that issue has been sorted out with the ever so nifty LYN!!! Lyn - my part time domestic help...is a godsend. Works at the speed of lightning and her ironing skills...KICK ASS MAN.

Ok, so enough raving about the maid and not so much about the husband. HAHAH. Anyhoo, anniversary was celebrated @ Graze, where the food is excellent and the desserts even better!

PICTORIAL ACCOUNT



TRying to look lovey dovey. It's not easy since BC and I are into tough love. : p



Yummy Starter



Me and my "photogenic" husband



Some strawberry dessert that was served with GENEROUS helpings of honey comb..YUMMY!!



This was the dessert I ordered. The description said something like fried bananas with honey/caramel or something. Turns out its just our friendly goreng pisang with ice cream, instead of some atas dessert. Yummy all the same tho my poseur self was a tad disappointed with the crude looking fried WHOLE bananas. ( I tot pan fried slices ok!)

Mini Ben

Finally, the mini Ben is out into this world! Since the day I found out that Gi was preggers, we've been ever ever so excited for the baby to arrive. Mini ben, or huatlet as we like to call him, was born on the 12th October, 7.03pm. At the time he was born, I believe I was having a glass of white wine at Xiyan. In anticipation of a celebration no less.

Here are some pics of Huatlet @ 3 hours old. And ALREADY such a cutie. Since most babies look like hamsters or slightly gremlin-ish when they are new borns, I think Huatlet has the makings of a hottie as he already has like a "face" @ three hours old. You know, like different and distinct, not like the other generic lookking babies. Is it a biased view? Do I care?


Fresh from the oven


Ben the man carrying baby for the first time! See the joy? Even I am touched looking at this scene...


Aunty Daphne trying get ahead in the fav aunty race.


Huatlet with Mommy and fav aunties. To think the 12 year old Gi that screamed at me & Daph for trying to mutilate her school uniform is now a mom! Gosh!


The YEOS.

Happy Birthday Yona

Yes, today is Yona's birthday. She'll probably hate me for saying it but ya, its her 30th! HAHAHAHH. Whats the big deal anyway right? Not like she looks 30? (Er...Yona, you owe me $50 for that wahhahaha).

Anyway, the weekend to celebrate this milestone was eventful, to say the least. i shall not go into details, as I still wanna be alive by the time she reads this. But I will say, it was fun, for the sober ones like me and Yvonne at least. I can only say, luckily nowadays liver can get transplant.

Power Puff Girls

Buttercup, Blossom and Bubbles. Prue, Piper and Phoebe. Charlie's Angels. Rachel, Phoebe and Monica. The power of three! Seems like all the girl power groups are all made up of three best friends. Three. Only three???? Pathetic. Hahah. Well, I'm really one lucky girl to have so so many cool girlfriends who have been nothing less than truly amazing. And this blog, is a tribute to them. (And yes, this is me taking stock and being so darn grateful)

My girlfriends (in no particular order, of course.)

Andrea

There's nothing to be said that has not been said. My dearest friend in the whole wide world, my confidante, the piglet to my pooh, the craziest person I know, yet the most sane at times. Love you so much babe. There are really no words, or maybe too much, so I'll just leave it as this. xoxo

Gi

My chilli padi of a friend. Gi is the most loyal, unwavering, solid friend one can ask for. Call her when you feel like shit and she'll dish out advice to make you instantly feel better. Hang out with her after one long day, and you instantly feel relaxed. Now that she's going to be a mother, I wish nothing but the best for her and her baby BOY!! Boy will I love mini Ben/Huatlet with all my heart and soul. I can't wait to be part of the process (living life of a mother vicariously through my best friend, really, what better way is there? )

Daph

Better known as my xiao DN, Daph never fails to greet me on the phone with our secret coo language to make it burst out laughing! Sharing laughs at things at only we find funny, secret languages and stupid 8 year old "airport bus" secrets. All the things I love about my almost 20 year friendship with DN. She nags me like my mother does, drumming sense into me in ways that only a best friend would. How could I have survived without her sensibility, friendship and all the shared laughter and (some tears i think)? I think I could have, but the journey would not have been as great.

Pui

CAI PEIYI. My tao bao, cool as a cucumber friend that I've known since Primary 1. Despite her cool exterior and laser eyes, Pui's a loyal, generous and steadfast friend. It is my prayer and hope that she finds happiness in her life. That she will be always be the tao bao to others who don't know her, but the hilarious, cool, witty and loving friend to those who are fortunate enough to be her friend. : p


Yvonne

My dear dear Ba Ne Ne. Words alone cannot describe to me how surreal these last 4 months have been for me. I've missed you so much over the past 3 years, and I've never been happier now that you're back! I promise that I'll always be here for you, to make fun of you, to laugh with you, to cry with you, to get drunk with you. I know my gorgeous friend will finally find someone who will love her the way she deserves to be loved. But God has his own timing and He knows what is best for you. Yvonne is really the most generous, giving, loving and true friend one can find. I know I can depend on her speed away in her speedster beemer to bail me out of jail if i ever needed her to. And I know I'll do the same for her.


FK

FK, my most brilliant but bimbo friend. Always ready with a word of advice or simply a sympathetic nod. FK is one gal pal you'll love to have. Those afternoons in Trixillini, sharing our woes and joy whilst guzzling hoegarden, or just working together on our different businesses in silence. FK is a keeper.


YONA!!!!

So, save the best for last? hahaha. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I never thought I can make such a wonderful and dear friend outside of my SC world. hahhah (Since I've NOT made any other friend after secondary school) . YONA.... what will I do without those long conversations about anything and everything under the sun, analysing other people and ourselves. What will I do without your pep talks when I feel like shit about myself? What will I do without my gym buddy egging me on to run another five minutes or disallowing me to eat carbs!?? (ok ,this one i know the answer lah, put on a shit load of weight! hahah). Yona, I promise I'll bail you out of jail if you ever need me to. Really, I promise. : )

Teenager Weekend

Man. I'm old.

Totally shagged out after a 'packed to the max' program filled weekend!

Friday: Club 21 Sale (AGAIN!) with Ba Ne Ne
Met Yona for early dinner
Back to Yona's place with BNN for MJ with Jaime
MJ ended about 1am
Proceeded to KBox
Sang till 3am

Saturday: Woke up in the afternoon
Attempted to do some housework (Failed of course, as usual BC aka Mr Ah Fang did the work)
Met Yona, Germaine, Ms P, FK for dinner @ Min Jiang. It was Yona's treat as she had huge ass bonus this year!
Proceeded to OOSH for drinks.
Went to Zouk after for more drinks and an attempt at dancing. (Failed, the music is so not my thing)

Sunday: As a nice Christian girl, woke up to go to church in the morning
Met Gi and BNN for plan and execute surprise Bday party for Ben (AKA HUAT)
Bought Indian food for dinner (at Jaggi's!) And as usual bought way way too much.

*How do you tell its too much? Its when the boss and his wife kept sniggering as the three of us struggledto carry, i swear, about 5kg worth of food to the car. And when i asked him, "Is it too much?" The boss went (with a shake of the head) " A little bit EXTRA" whahahaha*

We then proceeded to SICC to collect the Bday cake and had snacks (Curry Puff) for the road.
Back to Gi and Ben's to prepare the food. At which point Angel had already put up the decorations and was
sleeping on the couch .hahah
Entertained ourselves while waiting for the rest to come by having tea and listening to Angel's love exploits.
Ate up a storm after surprising Ben
Zonked after eating too much, we all sat around and bitched.

Its a packed weekend. I feel like a teenager. But at the same time, totally reminded myself that I was not!

Pics of Saturday! (Sun ones to come soon)

Cute Baby

My dear friend Pearl, AKA Zhen Zhu, whom I mocked and bullied and love so dearly...is NOW A MOM!!

The reality so did not set in when she was preggers. Obviously cos the stupid woman still looked damn good and SLIM.

From the time when she was talk of the town in VJ, till now, mother of cute baby Shane. Pearlie Wurlie, total Yummy Mummy.

Check out how cute Shane is...





I think we terrorised Shane too much that day. Pearl said he had nightmares that night! Oh dear.

Is this it?

So, we spend a large part of our lives pursuing. Pursuing wealth, status, love and everything else that falls into our path along the way.

In essence, pursuing what we think would make us happy.

But, after we acheive all that, what else? We stop to ask ourselves, is this it? Is there more? Should there be more?

Man, there is no ending to all this. Which is why its a pursuit. You never really get it. (Got this insight from the movie The Pursuit of Happyness).

Depressing epiphany.

Which is why, I'm gonna try to stop. Try being the operative word. So instead of asking myself, "Is this it?"

I can say, " This is it!" (ok ok, maybe after I get the miu miu bag hahaha)

Try?

OBJECT OF DESIRE

PRESENTING THE MIU MIU COFFER BAG

Bloody Connie Yeow has it in black. Hate her.

I like Money

Money is great! It buys you nice stuff, allows you to take cabs everywhere, pays for massages, pedicures, good food and wine...and SO MUCH MORE!!!

Sometimes, I wish I was born swimming in money, or married someone swimming in money.Guess NOT. haha.

A famous local socialite was once asked: "What's the secret of your success? " (meaning, how did you, an ah lian turned SQ girl become a Hermes-toting, Patek Phillipe wearing rich tai tai?). Her answer? "Never marry a local man."

Classic.

As I now live from hand to mouth, spending whatever I can after paying off card bills, loans and trying to contribute to my parents as well as now my own family, I realised, with some amount of surprise, that I am HAPPY! How weird. Since I don't tote no Hermes bag, no overpriced Franck Muller watch adorning my wrist, and not zooming off in my SLK. But I'm still happy!! God really works in his mysterious ways, teaching us to appreciate what we have.

Yup, much as I still have not-so-secret hopes of my husband making big bucks so I can be like abovementioned socialite, I think this current situation suits me.

At the risk of sounding pathetically cliche, there are the little things that can make you happy. And since I'm a queen of lists, here is a short one:

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

1. Losing weight
2. Some bitch that I don't like gaining obscene amounts of weight (hahah)
3. Chatting with Andrea on the phone
4. 4pm "Hoegarden" breaks with FK
5. Talking nonsense with Yona and making her laugh (yes, you ARE my number one fan! )
6. My husband occasionally buying me little treats. The funny man bought me a cool board game called BLOKUS which I have been hankering after. And he even played it with me!! (He hates these games)
7. Mahjong sessions with Ben and Gi
8. Finding Yvonne again. : ) (Babe, I missed you and am SO glad you're back!)
9. When Connie Yeow comes home to visit
10. Talking and greeting DN in our secret 'coo' language.
11. When clients pay us on time
12. Getting my salary
13. Looking and playing with cute babies. (esp Ashley!!)
14. Buying things for my parents, and bringing them out for huge meals.
15. Singing KTV and making fun on MT for making up her own music. WHAHAHAH

Things that make me laugh and cry

I'm being to slowly admit to myself that yes, I am an emotional person.

Though most of the time I do a pretty good job of behaving pragmatically, logically and in the most "efficient" manner. (being emotional is hardly efficient, no?) I have come to slowly realise that I am emotional (gross) So, here are the list of things that make me laugh, cry, laugh till I cry and cry till I laugh.

Things that make me cry (or tear uncontrollably)
1. Old people in old folks home, old people who walk alone on the streets, or old people having a lonely meal by themselves at Macdonalds. (Tho friends have informed me that perhaps they are alone cos they're seeking solace from irritating grandchildren. Granted. but...)

2. Other people crying (On OPRAH, award ceremonies where actors/actresses I don't know or don't care about win a much deserved award....) Yes, in fact, I shed a tear this morning for Martin Scorsese who won a long overdue BEST DIRECTOR award. I didn't even know it was overdue till I heard it on E! (What, you think I follow "Mr Bushy Eyebrow's" career?)

3. Guilt

4. Sad songs

5. Anger - Mostly when I feel wronged. Or treated unfairly. Or both.

6. Death - Mostly in movies where there is usually one tearjerker who screams and shakes the corpse wailing " WHY!! WHY??? Why did you leave me so soon!!??" BOOHOOO!!

Things that make me laugh

1. Top of the list: Crappy Taiwanese game shows. Where celebs and plebeians alike go on to humilitate themselves. Freaking hilarious.

2. Cute babies. Much as I hate kids, some babies are just too cute.

3. When BC and Ben make up stupid lyrics and butcher otherwise great songs. I know, i try to NOT laugh when they replace any word/lyric they don;t know with "Father Mother Ass Backside" etc Its LC but somehow, its a reflex action to laugh.

4. Stupid word games and silly friends who make up silly names of cities that do not exist. EG. Beijing, Hunan, Hu Chou (as in Body Odour) Whahah.

5. The shopaholic series books. Bloody Funny.

Well, the list probably goes on and on, since I have now opened the floodgates of my ever gushing emotions. Haha.

Gong Hei Fatt Choy

What a boring CNY. Just married last year so am no longer entitled to ang pows. How much more boring can CNY get?

ANG POWS : N/A

Goodies: Full of carbs. Cannot eat

Shops: Closed and even if they are open, there is no mini windfall (aka Ang Pows) for me to spend

Weather: Hot like anything! If not it'll be pouring!

Fortunately there was no visiting for me this year so I don't have to constantly dish out the "Oh i just got married, first year no need to give Ang Pow" lame excuse.

WAHAHa

But it was a good break anyway. Connie Yeow was back but she was sick. So no hawker goodies for her. Poor thing.

Its still CNY, so things may get better yet.

Almost another year

Well, its close to another year since the last entry.

Obviously I'm not cut out to make blogging a living.

Anyway, here are some pictures from the past year (Mainly, I mean my wedding! hahah)



Us with my best friends in the whole world



The influential women of my life



PY and the men in black



Personalised strawberries!



My drama friends with more drama hair then me! : )

PART II
Beautiful wedding deteoriates into an alcohol soaked wedding party








More pics: http://rulinity.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html

Fun times.

I love holidays. Especially resort type holidays. Yes, the sun, the sea, the lazing about doing absolutely nothing at all! Sometimes i wish i can sell coconuts by the beach, not the massaging tho, i dun think i can massage others for a pittance. Haha.
When's the next holiday babe?!

Is being excited all its hyped up to be?

I have a problem. I find it so hard to get excited about things. Perhaps its a way of over compensating in case I get disappointed. Perhaps I've just become too jaded about stuff on earth. Tough.

I'm getting married in October this year. October 14th to be exact. I should be a little more excited about the wedding, planning, being the bride from hell and all. But I'm not! HOw strange. I'm truly looking forward to being married though. Maybe I've planned too many events in my work so the wedding seems like another event for me. Maybe I've seen too many failed marriages to know that its not the wedding that's important but the marriage that is.

I'm looking forward to starting my life with BaChuan. To perhaps even to learn how to cook a proper dish or two. (Not the ironing though, that i'll never learn to like). I'm looking forward to trying to be a good wife (hahah, yes, i'm serious!)having my own home, a husband (a husband!) to go home to...

But I'm not excited cos excitement is overrated.

Does time really fly by? Or do we let it?

Gosh, its been one full year since the last entry in this blog. Created in the throes of extreme boredom from my last job, this blog has been sadly ignored for one year!!

Man, it has been ONE extreme year.

1) Quit my job
2) Started my own business
3) Got overwhelmed by this business, the people, the work, the everything.
4) Realised life is so much more than constant worrying.

I think so much has changed in this past year. The way i think, the way i put value on things. The perspective. Its unlike me to be this way, but well, people change, and its sometimes taking a step back from the shallow things of life that makes you realise what's important.

Its cliche i know. But too bad, this IS my blog and I can be as cliche as i want. hahah

WAHHH!!!!

BOO HOOO!!!!!!!!!! For the record, I AM NOT PREGNANT!! Despite this crazy awful shot of me looking like i am about to POP any moment! WAAAHH!!

This will teach me to forget to suck in my stomach! I am never posing like that again man! Lean back girl lean back!! Never ever!!


BOO HOO 

The Joke's on YOU!

Oh yes. Today is April Fool's Day, the day that we once eagerly anticipated so that we can play tricks on our classmates and teachers. Not anymore. April Fool's has now become an afterthought, together with Valentine's day, birthdays, Christmasses and anniversaries.

As I grow older, things become "de-romanticised" and it becomes more and more difficult to whip up a sense of excitement. Shopping trips overseas become ho-hum, birthday parties are just...that. How do we get excited all over again? How do we relive our childhood emotions of extreme spectrums?? I think working life has jaded all of us. It's sad. Its sad that when work sucks, life sucks.

This year, I want to re-invent the way I look at things. I want to gain some perspective, which i HAVE slowly but surely acquired after one sucky job and the next sucky boss. HA.

Lower your expectations in life. And get excited all over again.