I should write something about our trip but haven't really felt like it.
Before I forget I'd better put down these words:
- St. Joseph's Cathedral on 3rd Ave and Beech Street (up 5th Ave from Hard Rock)
- Horton Plaza
- Hornblower
- Mary Jane's restaurant at Hard Rock
- Rite Aid drugstore
- Without A Trace
- Project Runway
- cheap cameras
- Aldo, GAP, Wet Seal, Banana Republic, Macy, Ritz
- Bourne Identity
- Never Let Me Go
Photos are available at Sean's facebook profile.
Friday, 1 February 2008
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Back again.
I HAVE to just say, it was a very full 4 weeks we had with Consuelo gone home to the Philippines.
Some of the more memorable moments would include Sean being home with the kids, reasoning with a crying Sarah refusing to go to school and Sophie taking the chance to get hold of Sarah's mug of chocolate milk and, yes, sloshing it all over our cream-coloured sofa and low table, dripping into the basket of toys below.
Another would be yesterday (last day) -'s slapfest: Sarah was whining and I promised her I would smack her cheek if she whined again and of course she did and of course I smacked and this went on for 3 or 4 smacks until I stormed off steaming, with Sophie in my arms the whole time. Then Sarah let out another whine, whereupon Sophie promptly struggled out of my arms and toddled back to Sarah and delivered her a smack, her little arm stretched up high in order to reach Sarah's face. I watched with horror at the instant replay of the example I had so definitively set in the last few seconds!
We have all made up lovingly of course. But no thanks for any repeat of such experiences.
And I still think Sean should have taken a roll of red carpet and a dozen leis to the airport to welcome Consuelo back at 1 a.m. last night.
Some of the more memorable moments would include Sean being home with the kids, reasoning with a crying Sarah refusing to go to school and Sophie taking the chance to get hold of Sarah's mug of chocolate milk and, yes, sloshing it all over our cream-coloured sofa and low table, dripping into the basket of toys below.
Another would be yesterday (last day) -'s slapfest: Sarah was whining and I promised her I would smack her cheek if she whined again and of course she did and of course I smacked and this went on for 3 or 4 smacks until I stormed off steaming, with Sophie in my arms the whole time. Then Sarah let out another whine, whereupon Sophie promptly struggled out of my arms and toddled back to Sarah and delivered her a smack, her little arm stretched up high in order to reach Sarah's face. I watched with horror at the instant replay of the example I had so definitively set in the last few seconds!
We have all made up lovingly of course. But no thanks for any repeat of such experiences.
And I still think Sean should have taken a roll of red carpet and a dozen leis to the airport to welcome Consuelo back at 1 a.m. last night.
Says Ah Kong...
We were at my parents' place when "Alien vs Predator" started showing on TV. 4-year-old Sarah expressed some fears.
Not wanting to change the channel, my Dad told her, "Oh, this is 'Predator vs Alien'. Not frightening! There are only some aliens, and monsters. Anyway, you can't see anything because the whole show is all very dark! OK?"
Not wanting to change the channel, my Dad told her, "Oh, this is 'Predator vs Alien'. Not frightening! There are only some aliens, and monsters. Anyway, you can't see anything because the whole show is all very dark! OK?"
Monday, 24 December 2007
A Blessed Christmas
to everyone!
Consuelo has gone home and will only come back to us mid-Jan. We're surviving alright, mostly on Burger King chicken tenders, french fries, and a variety of party foods.
Sophie is "talking" a lot now, and utters some truly intelligible words like jie-jie, kor-kor, Daddee, ma-ma (grandma), por-por (my mom), mee-mee (milk, water, 7-up), I wan(t), and the loudest and clearest of them all, "NO!"
Her "please" is "nair-see". Sarah's used to be "ah-bair". Don't ask me why. They apply it consistently and insistently and you just KNOW that's what they mean.
Sarah will be going to a new kindy. We're still waiting to hear from the school and bus service. No biggie, I'm not fanatical about her starting on the dot on 2 Jan. She'll only be in K1. The important thing is she's registered. They can take their time to let us have the details.
Matthew starts Primary One in just a little over a week! We'll take it in turns to drive him to Barker Road every morning. He has to leave the house by six-thirty. Grandma will take him home by bus and train. We've got all his things, after sitting through a really long orientation in September (that gave me a headache by the end of it), and blowing a Saturday morning on another admin session to pick up books, passes and what-not. I've yet to sew name tags to his shorts. His uniform is so oversized and obviously unweathered on him - haha!
I'm very thankful for everything that's happened this year. The family has grown closer (and upper), we're more empowered as parents, Sean's finally got the subwoofer he's been waiting almost 10 years for, and I have a sea-view room at work. I couldn't ask for more.
Consuelo has gone home and will only come back to us mid-Jan. We're surviving alright, mostly on Burger King chicken tenders, french fries, and a variety of party foods.
Sophie is "talking" a lot now, and utters some truly intelligible words like jie-jie, kor-kor, Daddee, ma-ma (grandma), por-por (my mom), mee-mee (milk, water, 7-up), I wan(t), and the loudest and clearest of them all, "NO!"
Her "please" is "nair-see". Sarah's used to be "ah-bair". Don't ask me why. They apply it consistently and insistently and you just KNOW that's what they mean.
Sarah will be going to a new kindy. We're still waiting to hear from the school and bus service. No biggie, I'm not fanatical about her starting on the dot on 2 Jan. She'll only be in K1. The important thing is she's registered. They can take their time to let us have the details.
Matthew starts Primary One in just a little over a week! We'll take it in turns to drive him to Barker Road every morning. He has to leave the house by six-thirty. Grandma will take him home by bus and train. We've got all his things, after sitting through a really long orientation in September (that gave me a headache by the end of it), and blowing a Saturday morning on another admin session to pick up books, passes and what-not. I've yet to sew name tags to his shorts. His uniform is so oversized and obviously unweathered on him - haha!
I'm very thankful for everything that's happened this year. The family has grown closer (and upper), we're more empowered as parents, Sean's finally got the subwoofer he's been waiting almost 10 years for, and I have a sea-view room at work. I couldn't ask for more.
Friday, 21 December 2007
New face, same ring to it
Got myself a 'smart phone' without realising it. My contract had come to the point where I could get an upgrade, so I thought, why not? Actually all I was looking for was a Nokia I could use in the US (going for a conference there in Jan). Found two models at the Handphone Shop that looked nice: the 6300 and 6120 Classic. What's the difference between the two, I asked.
"Oh, the 6120 is quadband, while the 6300 is triband," answered the salesman.
"And triband doesn't cover which areas?"
"Oh, the 6120 is quadband, while the 6300 is triband," answered the salesman.
"And triband doesn't cover which areas?"
"Japan, Korea and Mexico." Right, so no practical difference for me so far.
"And what else?"
"The 6120 is a smartphone. Which means better web browsing, advanced sms and customizable interface. Oh, and it comes with a free 256MB micro SDcard vs 128MB for the 6300."
"Um, so you're telling me the 6120 is more advanced all-round, AND I don't pay a cent for it, while the 6300 costs $48?"
"Yes, but the 6300 is slimmer."
"Okaaayyy... I'll take the 6120."
I later found out that the 6120 - the 'Classic' designation differentiates itself from an older model of the same name - has an excellent 2MP camera, plus a secondary one for self portraits and video calls. I can also upload my songs onto the memory card for use when I don't have my iPod around. It even displays MS Office and Acrobat documents.
But it's also quite complicated. Smses now look like emails, and you choose your recipient before drafting the message. Even checking for the time of a received sms requires more steps than previously. Oh, and those buttons sure are small!
All in all though, I can't complain. This thing does all that I need it to (and lots more that I don't), while interfaces can always be relearnt., Plus hey, it's free!
Now my mum's up for an upgrade and is thinking of getting the 6120 as well. Why? So she can come to me when it has a problem, of course...
Thursday, 29 November 2007
House of Flying Straw
"OK kids, how about we use these three cows since we don't have three pigs?" I said.
"OK!!"
"And the lion can be the wolf," I added.
Sean started with, "The three little cows were great friends. THIS little cow built his house with straw...", wriggling the white cow finger puppet.
Sarah went, "Yay, house of straw, he can DRINK! Sssssluuuurrrrp!"
"OK!!"
"And the lion can be the wolf," I added.
Sean started with, "The three little cows were great friends. THIS little cow built his house with straw...", wriggling the white cow finger puppet.
Sarah went, "Yay, house of straw, he can DRINK! Sssssluuuurrrrp!"
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Proper English, please.
"Matthew, when you talk to Sarah, speak proper English OK? The way you talk to Mommy and Daddy?"
"OK," he replied.
"And don't talk down to her OK?"
"OK."
Sarah added, "Talk high!"
"OK," he replied.
"And don't talk down to her OK?"
"OK."
Sarah added, "Talk high!"
Friday, 2 November 2007
"New" Home II
The kids rooms were rearranged at the same time that we reorganized our living room. We took the opportunity to replace the broken bureaus in the girls' room. The drawer bottoms had all given way under the weight of their tons of clothes. To make way for the new chests of drawers to be delivered, Sean moved the old bureaus out into the corridor.
As usual the kids were all over the place, and it was hairy work getting the two dressers out while watching that the drawers didn't suddenly tip out and knock over the small ones.
As Sean was straightening up and putting the last drawer back in place where the bureaus finally sat by our neighbour's front door (luckily neighbour is grandma), Sarah, who had been following everything with great interest, suddenly asked, "Daddy, now I have to go outside to get my clothes?"
As usual the kids were all over the place, and it was hairy work getting the two dressers out while watching that the drawers didn't suddenly tip out and knock over the small ones.
As Sean was straightening up and putting the last drawer back in place where the bureaus finally sat by our neighbour's front door (luckily neighbour is grandma), Sarah, who had been following everything with great interest, suddenly asked, "Daddy, now I have to go outside to get my clothes?"
"New" Home
I love our "new" place!
Funny how it's taken us so long to figure out that TV and sound system don't HAVE TO HAVE TO always be positioned en bloc. Breaking this mindset literally opened up our living room so that we now have full access to our floor-length windows.
The whole place is dramatically brightened, no more TV-in-your-face first impact. What we get here is a light, airy, cosy expanse overlooking the rooftop garden. I really look forward to weekend mornings so I can read my paper on the smooth parquet floor, with my cup of coffee and butter-and-sugar toast.
Funny how it's taken us so long to figure out that TV and sound system don't HAVE TO HAVE TO always be positioned en bloc. Breaking this mindset literally opened up our living room so that we now have full access to our floor-length windows.
The whole place is dramatically brightened, no more TV-in-your-face first impact. What we get here is a light, airy, cosy expanse overlooking the rooftop garden. I really look forward to weekend mornings so I can read my paper on the smooth parquet floor, with my cup of coffee and butter-and-sugar toast.
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Scary ice-cream flavours
We were at Swensen’s choosing ice cream flavours from the dessert menu when Sarah cried, “I want the purple one!”
“Ugh, that’s yam ice-cream, it’s disgusting,” I shuddered.
Matthew asked, “Why is it disgusting? What is yam?”
Sean gave me a look.
“OK it’s not really disgusting. I just don’t like it. Yam is a vegetable, like a potato. But it’s purple inside. And it’s sweet.”
Matthew gave me a disgusted look. Haha!
Eventually we got our order and were happily helping ourselves when Matthew suddenly said, “Imagine broccoli ice-cream! Haha! That’s disgusting!”
“Or prawn ice-cream!” I said.
“Yucks! How about carrot ice-cream?!” Matthew laughed.
“Chicken ice-cream!” I added.
Sarah piped up, “Or baby ice-cream!”
“Ugh, that’s yam ice-cream, it’s disgusting,” I shuddered.
Matthew asked, “Why is it disgusting? What is yam?”
Sean gave me a look.
“OK it’s not really disgusting. I just don’t like it. Yam is a vegetable, like a potato. But it’s purple inside. And it’s sweet.”
Matthew gave me a disgusted look. Haha!
Eventually we got our order and were happily helping ourselves when Matthew suddenly said, “Imagine broccoli ice-cream! Haha! That’s disgusting!”
“Or prawn ice-cream!” I said.
“Yucks! How about carrot ice-cream?!” Matthew laughed.
“Chicken ice-cream!” I added.
Sarah piped up, “Or baby ice-cream!”
Friday, 26 October 2007
Allergic!
"Mommy, why does Kimi make us sick?" Matthew asked.
"Kimi has germs!" Sarah swiftly answered.
I replied, "Everyone has germs. You all are allergic to his saliva particles. He has saliva right, and when it dries and floats into the air and settles on your nose or eyes, it makes them red and watery."
"Oh, we are allergic to the cat?"
"Yes, but when you get used to it your body will stop reacting like that."
"Ya, our white blood cells will know what to do."
"Er, it's not really the white blood cells, but your body won't get triggered by the saliva particles anymore. Anyway different people are allergic to different things. Some people are allergic to some types of food, some people are allergic to flowers..."
Sean added, "Ya, I'm allergic to smoke, you know, cigarette smoke."
I put in, "And I'm allergic to beer."
Sarah declared, "I'm allergic to fire!"
"Kimi has germs!" Sarah swiftly answered.
I replied, "Everyone has germs. You all are allergic to his saliva particles. He has saliva right, and when it dries and floats into the air and settles on your nose or eyes, it makes them red and watery."
"Oh, we are allergic to the cat?"
"Yes, but when you get used to it your body will stop reacting like that."
"Ya, our white blood cells will know what to do."
"Er, it's not really the white blood cells, but your body won't get triggered by the saliva particles anymore. Anyway different people are allergic to different things. Some people are allergic to some types of food, some people are allergic to flowers..."
Sean added, "Ya, I'm allergic to smoke, you know, cigarette smoke."
I put in, "And I'm allergic to beer."
Sarah declared, "I'm allergic to fire!"
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Matt Reads
As we were waiting for the traffic lights to change, Matthew told us, "That way goes to the Punggol doctor."
"What Punggol doctor, Matt?"
"There, the sign says Punggol doctor is that way."
Puzzled, I looked around for what sign he could be talking about. And then I saw what he meant.
Right by the traffic light was a green street sign with an arrow pointing to the left and written on it in big white letters were the words:
"What Punggol doctor, Matt?"
"There, the sign says Punggol doctor is that way."
Puzzled, I looked around for what sign he could be talking about. And then I saw what he meant.
Right by the traffic light was a green street sign with an arrow pointing to the left and written on it in big white letters were the words:
Punggol Dr
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Don't follow strangers!
As we were talking in the car on the way to school, Matt said, "If strangers say 'follow me and I'll give you a sweet', you mustn't do that! Don't listen to them."
"Whey shouldn't you follow strangers, Matthew?" I tested.
"Because they might put you on a chair and tie you up."
"Whey shouldn't you follow strangers, Matthew?" I tested.
"Because they might put you on a chair and tie you up."
Friday, 21 September 2007
The Patent Truth
I was driving the kids to school one morning when Sarah said, “When I grow up, I want to be a dentist."
"That's very good, Sarah."
"What do you want to be when you grow up, Kor Kor?”, she asked.
“I want to be a race driver.”
“Race CAR driver, Matthew,” I corrected.
“Oh ya, I want to be a race car driver.”
Sarah said, “What do you want to be when you grow up, Mummy?”
“I’m already grown up, Sarah!”
“No, what do you want to do, I mean.”
“Er... I’m a patent agent.”
“What’s a patent agent?”
“A patent agent is someone who helps you to get a patent.”
“What’s a patent?” Matthew asked.
“A patent... OK, if you invent something and you don’t want people to copy it, like say Toyota invents a new engine for cars (I pointed at the cars around us) and they don’t want other car makers to copy them, they can file a patent. And they go to a patent agent who helps them to do that.”
“But how does the patent stop people from copying?” Matthew pressed.
Good question.
“Yes, the patent itself can’t really stop people from copying, but if you have a patent, you can take it to a judge who will decide whether the person is really copying, and if he’s really copying, the judge can make him stop or make him pay a lot of money.”
“Oh!” Matthew replied.
Then Sarah piped up, “Kor Kor always copies me!”
"That's very good, Sarah."
"What do you want to be when you grow up, Kor Kor?”, she asked.
“I want to be a race driver.”
“Race CAR driver, Matthew,” I corrected.
“Oh ya, I want to be a race car driver.”
Sarah said, “What do you want to be when you grow up, Mummy?”
“I’m already grown up, Sarah!”
“No, what do you want to do, I mean.”
“Er... I’m a patent agent.”
“What’s a patent agent?”
“A patent agent is someone who helps you to get a patent.”
“What’s a patent?” Matthew asked.
“A patent... OK, if you invent something and you don’t want people to copy it, like say Toyota invents a new engine for cars (I pointed at the cars around us) and they don’t want other car makers to copy them, they can file a patent. And they go to a patent agent who helps them to do that.”
“But how does the patent stop people from copying?” Matthew pressed.
Good question.
“Yes, the patent itself can’t really stop people from copying, but if you have a patent, you can take it to a judge who will decide whether the person is really copying, and if he’s really copying, the judge can make him stop or make him pay a lot of money.”
“Oh!” Matthew replied.
Then Sarah piped up, “Kor Kor always copies me!”
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Sophie or Kitty?
Watching Sophie crawling around on the floor one morning, I was comforted that we still had our own lovable little animal at home despite not being able to get the Ragdoll kitten I wanted so terribly.
I said to Matthew, "We don't have to get a kitten right, Sophie is so cute, she's like our kitten."
He replied, "Ya, she's really really cute. She's just like the kitten. Except she's not so furry."
Another time the kids were clobbering and tumbling all over each other on our big bed, and thinking again of the kitten I was denied, I said to the big kids, "It's ok if we don't have a kitten right, you can play so well with Sophie."
Matt replied, "Ya, Sophie is really fun. Except a kitten is not so rough."
I said to Matthew, "We don't have to get a kitten right, Sophie is so cute, she's like our kitten."
He replied, "Ya, she's really really cute. She's just like the kitten. Except she's not so furry."
Another time the kids were clobbering and tumbling all over each other on our big bed, and thinking again of the kitten I was denied, I said to the big kids, "It's ok if we don't have a kitten right, you can play so well with Sophie."
Matt replied, "Ya, Sophie is really fun. Except a kitten is not so rough."
Monday, 3 September 2007
L'Osservatore Condemns Twin Abortion in Italy
ZENIT - August 27, 2007
A Down's Syndrome fetus was targeted for abortion but her healthy twin was killed instead.
L'Osservatore Romano is the Vatican's semi-official newspaper.
A Down's Syndrome fetus was targeted for abortion but her healthy twin was killed instead.
L'Osservatore Romano is the Vatican's semi-official newspaper.
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
If you haven't heard by now (if so I beat you to it by one entire day, haha), this thing is monstrous. I don't think I have the capacity to meet the intense pressure I feel to actively say hi to each and everyone that keeps getting added to my list! AAARGH!
I know I know, it merely keeps the channels open without anyone having to actually do anything beyond confirming a "friend?" request. But when I see someone get added and I don't go and say hi, it feels like I've just walked past them in the street and purposely avoided making eye contact. Too strange. Too rude?
Even weirder to be browsing people's open photo albums or profiles or whatever. Sure, they've made it public but it's so like rifling through someone's belongings. Even if they've given permission, I can't help feeling like I'm taking a liberty.
Anyway. Another instance of technology affecting how people interact. If this connectedness keeps up I'm going to need to go someplace without internet and mobile access soon. Speaking of which, my annual 3-day silent retreat is coming up so that will be a good breather from all this instant accessibility! My mom's coming with me, but it's a silent retreat so I can be as untalkative as I like. That's a lot harder than it sounds!
I know I know, it merely keeps the channels open without anyone having to actually do anything beyond confirming a "friend?" request. But when I see someone get added and I don't go and say hi, it feels like I've just walked past them in the street and purposely avoided making eye contact. Too strange. Too rude?
Even weirder to be browsing people's open photo albums or profiles or whatever. Sure, they've made it public but it's so like rifling through someone's belongings. Even if they've given permission, I can't help feeling like I'm taking a liberty.
Anyway. Another instance of technology affecting how people interact. If this connectedness keeps up I'm going to need to go someplace without internet and mobile access soon. Speaking of which, my annual 3-day silent retreat is coming up so that will be a good breather from all this instant accessibility! My mom's coming with me, but it's a silent retreat so I can be as untalkative as I like. That's a lot harder than it sounds!
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Cannot Have
A cat, that is. We went and visited a breeder of Ragdoll cats on Sunday. They're absolutely beautiful creatures. I could go on but I haven't much inclination to blog right now so to put it simply, we're not going to get one. Doc says no, S says no, everyone says no. If I go ahead, it just means bad parenting. Sarah is quite allergic, who knows if Matt and Sophie will get sensitized with time? I'm prepared to deal with the discomfort myself but the kids don't have a choice. For a while I considered isolating Sarah from the cat but it won't be very feasible. I must say the disappointment was pretty severe. The kids were ok but I think I wept a little when I had lunch by myself yesterday. Not quite crying into my wanton mee but I know my heart broke. I felt somewhat better after buying a pair of shoes and a handbag at Charles & Keith later on. A new 22-inch flat panel monitor would probably help a bit also. What else... hmm...
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
British Blue
If you're the sneezy, sniffly kind, your husband and kids the same (slightly asthmatic to boot), plus your mother-in-law who lives next door and visits everyday is allergic to cats, would you still go ahead and get a pet like this?
I need your views please!
I need your views please!
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
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