An evening of good food and company

Evening of 3rd Dec...Wil's baby son, Javier's 1 year old birthday...went to the Pasir Ris downtown East chalet...the rest were already there...was worried for my eyes...afraid the smoke from the BBQ pits may agitate my eyes...thanks to my dear sista...who BBQed some food for me...ha ha...I asked for a cooked crayfish he just finished BBQing...and the rest made noise like nobody's biz...ha ha ha...complained that the biggest crayfish there was taken by me...complained of favouritism and teased me and sista like anything...hmm...
Anywayz...enjoyed the food tremendously...especially when u don't hafta cook to eat it...kahkahkah...

Michael's precious...cute little Jamie!

Evening of 27th Nov, Sun...went to East Coast to look for Ryan and skating gang...was so bored at home during recuperation period! Eyes not that strong yet...but...what the heck...I was bored to tears already...Ryan and gang were at the far end of East Coast when we reached...so sis and I rented cycles...met Ryan on the way...on the way back...spotted this beautiful sunset (alas the full effect could not be captured on his PDA)
On the way back from Changi Village for dinner (and back to East Coast...Darry drove his dad's minibus)...cool siah...the whole 9 or 10 of us sat in comfortably...Char got this mask from S.Woo and were playing with it in the minibus...ha ha...I swear...this mask creates the most eerie effect in the right lighting (or lack thereof)...and trying to scare the drivers behind our vehicle with it...ha ha ha...lucky no one got into an accident...maybe if there weren't that many of us seated behind the effect could have been better...I really luuvvv this pic... :D

Perfect Vision! Still adjusting though...

Morning of 26th Nov, Sat...Fang accompanied me for 1st checkup after the op...appt was at 10.15am...registered...but doc hasn't reached...waited around for a little while...doc said doing very good...no need eye shields anymore but right eye need the shield just 1 more night...can wash hair already...can watch TV...comp...etc...gawd...thank goodness can wash my hair...scalp starting to itch...cannot stand it...next scheduled appt is 1 week after...on the 2nd Dec...evening clinic since doc not going to be around after...

Went down Serangoon Garden Country Club to look for Za...and who should I see there but my eye doctor!! Just seen him at the hospital and saw him again not 2 hours later!! So coincidental...(head was feeling a little giddy since my vision is still not stable yet...still in the adjusting stage) Fang went with me to right outside the gates (and that funny girl...jay-walked across the road and told me to close my eyes cos of the dust?!! I hardly knew whether to laugh or cry...imagine crossing the road with my eyes close...even with a friend holding on to me)...Za's event...annual charity christmas light-up...but guess due to the poor weather, turn-out wasn't terribly fantastic...MC was Benson...I think he did great despite the barely existing crowd...kudos to him...but a little painful to watch though...

Senior members gave a great vocal performance...they can sing really well!!Za's mum and me...(I forgot I'm not supposed to stare into the flash!! Oh gawd!! My eyes!!)

Christmas is in the air!!

Hmm...these look terribly familiar...where have I seen 'em before? Black-face looking terribly unhappy...ha ha...Za hard at work...making sure event turns out alright...makings of a career woman...u go girl!!

Patch-work...nice!!

Close-up...

Everyone enjoying themselves...especially the kids...

Morning of 24th Nov...reached TTSH with sis slightly before 8am...TTSH Eye Centre was just opening...walked into the Lasik Centre...registered with them...supposed to pay before the op was done...but told recept I wanted to talk to my doc as I haven't decided which procedure to do...so recept said they'll collect payment from me after the op...shortly after was called in for a series of routine test...then a nurse approached me with eye pack...with the shields...eye drops...etc...with instructions...before I know it I was being called into the OT...saw doc inside in green hospital op gown...getting ready the machine while I was being prepared by op outside by young assistants...had to put on white gown...being administered eye drops...left eye which was done first...being cleaned by iodine solution...funny the thought that crossed my mind was...would I get an outbreak where the iodine was applied? Ha ha...and then it was time for the op...laid down on the op bed...geez...the room was freezing...or maybe cos I was nervous...so it felt extra cold...I remembered shivering...and telling the young assistant to place the blanket on my shoulders...I was worried that should I start shivering, it will affect my head position, which, I was told...was extremely important...and then the op started...being told to look at a blinking red light...then a round plastic apparatus was being clamped onto my eye...then was shifted to another machine (I chose intralase) where the incision was being done...didn't know it when the machine started making the incision...until the doc said '40 secs more'...and so on...remembered feeling nervous and trying to control my shivering...and feeling the wonder of it...didn't really feel any pain...but felt a little pressure in the initial stage...after that was shifted back to the laser machine...white apparatus removed...(metal I think) clamp was put over my eye...more eyedrops administered...should be anaesthetic I think...and then the actual op was done...in bout 10s of secs...the whole thing was over...I could see the doc using a tiny plastic 'spade' and going over my eye...like I was looking thru a clear glass...pushing the corneal flap back into place...funny...keke...and then I was being led outta the room and told to wait outside in the resting area...after a while...doc reviewed me then I was free to leave...I had already regained partial sharp vision 10-15 mins after the op...which was almost immediate! On the way home my eye kept smarting and tearing...until I could hardly keep my eyes open...it was a relief to reach home...went to sleep immediately...slept till nearly dinner then slept soon after dinner...next day went with WJ...did the right eye...pretty much the same procedure...eye smarted and teared for a little bit...but bout 1/2 hour after that it kinda ceased...still can sit at BK with WJ and MY chatting with them while WJ ate...after that went home to rest... My Eye-Care Pack...

Going for eye op tomorrow and the day after...feeling a little apprehensive...but I guess everything will be fine in the doc's competent hands...after Fri I'll be free of visual aids!! Yeah!! What could possibly be better than that?!!

Hmm...been messing around with my blog...and itchy hands of mine changed the template...ended up losing all my customizations...and...talk about being fickle-minded...took ages to decide to use this template instead...added a chatterbox in...ha ha...like that feature...easier than leaving comments...

Hmm...have not seen the bladers since the chalet...lively and fun bunch of pple...wanted to start blading with them...but just haven't got down to it...felt a little apprehensive in my heart though...wonder will they welcome us in their circle...or would they view it as intrusion? I suppose not maybe...since their circle has been expanding...oh well...since I must be especially careful the weeks and months after my op...needn't think of that at the moment...or of being active...

Gawd...Za...you eejit...actually posted a pic of me down on hands and knees scrubbing my floor in your blog...it's terribly unflattering you know?? That girl ahh...Oh well...I don't really mind I suppose...quoting my own famous liner 'What do I care?!!' *chortle*...at least she's having fun...*sigh* she's heading to Malacca soon...envy envy envy...how I WISH I could go with her!!! But it'll be the just 2 days after my op...think I better not try to be garang and go running outta the country...in case my eyes don't heal properly...shudderz...

And...Za!! I'm NOT blog-crazy ok?? I thought you were the one... :D

Dear Za...how can I ever thank God enough for having you around...thanks for calling when I needed the emotional support most...what would I do without my girlfriends I can't ever imagine...

MiMi's Big Day

Today is MiMi's big day...I think she looks absolutely gorgeous...I've never seen her looking so grown-up and beautiful...I think the groom and her looks a gorgeous couple together...

There we are...at MiMi's wedding...enjoying the lunch...and having a great time...

And after the wedding recept Za came over to my place...(and we saw a Hindu Casket vehicle...and we actually stood there and took pictures of it...ha ha...the things we get up to...well...we have never seen a Hindu Casket vehicle before)...and then did a minor revamp to my room...ended up with me doing a major overhaul...or is that facelift? Well anyway...ended up shifting furnitures and me wiping the windows and grills and...scrubbing the floor?!! Well anyway...it was really a good time...my floor now looked so white and clean...(but my arms are now aching like anything)...and Za having a swell time lounging on my freshly-made bed and directing...and Za with all her fungshui wisdom...removed the 1/2 length mirror facing my bed...can't say I'm not glad to get rid of the thing...feeling uneasy with it facing me when I sleep at night...now I can prob breathe better...anyway...decided to shift my dressing drawer back to it's old place...else the foot of my bed felt so empty...another uneasy factor...ha ha ha...anywayz...dear Za promised to help repaint my room before CNY...and helpfully suggesting all the lively colours...and...red? of all colours?!!! I think I'll turn mad in less than 48 hours having to face red walls...(hmmm...one of the best gift that God gave to Man must surely be best friends)...and one of mine turned out to be shorter than me...thank God for that...ha ha ha...

Well anyway...after finishing with the floors we got down to getting dinner...which I promised to Za...had a small but happy, contented meal...while watching Harry Potter...a short moment...but one in which I felt happy and contented...

Just received news early this morning that J's father has passed away...I felt pretty shocked when I saw the msg...the last I know of...J's father had been very lucky to get a suitable donor for a bone marrow transplant...mei xiang dao...it was only how many months later that this tragedy happened...

Sigh...felt quite sad for J...hope that he can take it easy...and not be too affected by it...not to mention him...I felt pretty melancholy too...cos I feel as though lately I've been surrounded by...well...death of a kin to nasal cancer...news of an ex-colleague being diagnosed with leukaemia...and now a long-time friend losing his father to cancer...whom we all initially thought had a high chance of winning the fight against the cancer...so I guess this latest news came as somewhat of a shock...

With all these things happening around me in a short period...it makes me feel more jaded than ever...jia lart...I think I've almost forgotten what it feels like to be light-hearted and care-free...to be able to laugh easily at the slightest thing...I miss that Me of the past... :~(

Hmm...shouldn't let things get to me too easily huh...afterall I shouldn't forget that I still have my family and good friends around me...

Visited auntie G, an ex-colleague, in NUH on Sun, 06 Nov...she had leukaemia...heard the news only recently...she looked none-the-worse-for-wear when we saw her in her private ward...thank goodness...I was 1/2 afraid to see her in a terrible state...suffering...as things stand...she had already suffered...having gone through the 1st session of chemo and all...at her age...and having had to go through another...can't remember how many more sessions...think 8 more? Anyway...she was relating to us how painful it was to have her bone marrow drawn...for tests I suppose...poor auntie...hope she will come through it fine...

On a Night Like This...

Hmm...today is Sat and I'm at home?!! Boring life...herr herr...well...taking a rest...had a pretty swell time this whole past week...not enough rest and all...so here I sit...typing whatever errant thoughts pop into my head...and putting into account past events...

Hmm...attended chalet org by R's group of blading friends...on the 31st Oct...initially thought I'd be bored stiff since I dunno anyone there...cept R & S...and maybe 2 or 3 other faces I'd seen before (but hardly knew)...but when sis and I reached...this cute doggy came up to us sniffing 'round our legs...turned out it's a cute little Jack Russell...sis and I went nuts over her...ha ha...couldn't stop hugging and carrying her...think the owner must be scared of us...hope not...keke...can't be helped...she's really darn cute...and intelligent too...I think for a Jack Russell...she's mighty obedient too...

Well...and then we kinda just sat around (or stood around the table) eating...and then playing Janga...and watching other people play games and all...oh and we played frisbee too...mighty fun...if not for the running around and catching da darn thang...heh...and then it's just like gathering in the rooms and chatting...free talk and all...and then whole group went for a late night supper...geez...I think by then it was already 2am plus or so...went back chalet at 'round 3am or so...and then the guys gathered in another room to play Risk...joined them in the room as I wanted to play with M (the Jack, that is)...so didn't turned in right away...and then ended up with no bed to sleep in cos other guys occupied the bed...well...no problem there...since I hadn't wanted to turn in first...who ask me to be so playful...ha ha...well...no regrets...enjoyed myself thoroughly playing with M...sigh...missed playing with her...maybe I should get a dog of my own...notwithstanding Mum's screams...that is...well...she's really cute...for a dog not my own...she actually curled up beside me to sleep...how I like that feeling...*grin*...but once when I think she's asleep and I shifted her...ended up offending her I think...cos then she was growling faintly away...sorry M...my fault my fault girl... :P

Ha so anyway...ended up not sleeping the entire night...gawd...I've not tried this since...sec school days? Or even at all...??! It's a wonder I managed to make it home alive...ha ha...was totally zonked out the next day...zombie state...at least a zombie can jump...maybe I can crawl...kahkah...(maybe I really will get a dog one day...once I get my new room sorted out...ha...)

Anywayz...just read thru Za's blog...some of the things she wrote made me smile...farnie ah...that girl...just visited her on H.Raya too...ended up not as a guest...but a slave...herr herr...Za...dun you dare deny huhh...but anyway...I helped willingly la...so no barbs there...keke...cept for the fact that I felt 1/2 dead...poor Za think she was tired too...but anywayz...thanks for the ride home girl...as for your wall...hmm...not bad lah...honestly...but your room now like so small leh...next time if I wanna stay over where'm I gonna sleep?!! :P

Oh ya...and however do you upload pics to the blog?!! I been trying to figure it out but my tiny pea-size brain just cannot fathom...

Goodness...it's late night already...better carry on finishing up my stuffs...

Never felt this sick...

Back from Kelong Kawal on Mon, 17 Oct...had great fun there...pity rained for 2 days...kinda spoilt it a little...played water sports in the rain anyway...and suffered for it...fever on Tues...and sore throat...fever abated on Wed and went in to work...wrong decision...developed flu and then cough...only good thing was sore throat went away...today is Thurs...flu and cough got worse...and then fever came back in the afternoon...while at work...had to leave office for home 1/2way...fever burning up...and then there was the chills...lucky I made it back alive from Tuas to home...longest journey in my life ever...at home and in bed...the fever seemed to get worse...until my whole head seem like a pressure vent...whole face was red...and felt very hot...worried that fever will affect brain...so used ice pack...now feeling better...head not so hot...but don't feel like sleeping...herr herr...received msgs from sis...dunno she imagine too much or really things are getting complicated...anyway also felt that direction seemed to be more and more different...while we wish to do the dance thing as leisure and R&R...another girl has totally different ideas...quite idealistic...pushing for improvements and commitment...not that that is a bad thing i suppose...w/o improvements and higher goals one cannot go further...herr herr....

dunno how things will turn out...(phew...head feeling woozy...but at least not hot like just now...like furnace like that...goodness...has never been this sick in absolutely ages...fever is no fun at all...at least my insides are not churning....should be thankful for that I suppose)....hmm....whatever happens hope friendship will not sour....else that surely will be the most regrettable thing....

And Then Some...

Went for eye test at TTSH on Mon, 10th Oct...finally decided to take the plunge and have lasik done...op is scheduled on the 27th & 28th Oct...hope the doc will be able to correct my vision to perfect clarity...or at least less than 100 degrees...

Yippeee...!! Going for kelong stay this coming Sat, 15th Oct!! Can't even remember when was the last time I even stepped outta SG for a short trip...finally studies have finished...now free to go where I like...do what I please...ha ha...going to make sure I enjoy this trip...going to fish for sotongs...ha ha ha...

Hmm...ok...going to start on my dance choreography...this time going to make sure I get the whole dance out...no matter how long it takes...my first dance choreographed by me...ha ha...this will be my next resolution...

It's been awhile...so many things have taken place during this stretch of time that I've not posted anything here...

My youngest uncle passed away on the night of 8 Aug, just before Nat'l Day...after finally battling and losing the fight against nasal cancer...he first began the fight for his life sometime in 1997...after chemo and all the necessary treatments...he was given the clear...then unexpectedly the diesease came back...after 5 years...and then it was decline all the way...when he passed away, he was hardly more than a bag of skin and bones...by the time I (and most of us) reached the hospital, he was gone...only a handful of us were with him before he left...I felt a little shocked when I heard that it was the doctor's delay that may possibly have robbed him of another chance of living...he passed away due to shortness of breath...and a houseman/apprentice/whatever-they-are-called was there but apparently didn't deem fit to take emergency measures...i remember feeling immensely sad when I reached and saw his still body lying on the bed....and everyone else crying....even now the image still make me feel sad...

I feel sad that he had to suffer so much for so long before he's relieved of his pain....and I feel sad that he's not given the chance to fight and to win the fight....
Well...the next few days went by in a flurry of activities...the funeral arrangments....rites....the final day....Friday....the coffin was cremated at Mandai....was the first time I saw a cremation process....next day we went back to collect the bones....felt a little surreal....like all that's left of his body was a pile of white bones....pretty much like chalk....somehow just felt that I wasn't able to reconcile the facts....

A Ray Of Light

Phew...finally...able to sit down and type uninterrupted...after having tossed together some salads to be brought to work the next day...ha ha...nothing pleases me more than munching on salads...healthy living, you understand...and doing a couple of other chores...the night's almost over for me...I promised myself early nights this week...after having rushed through life in the last couple of months...turning up for rehearsals...doing shows...attending vocal lessons...it was hectic, hectic, hectic...period. While I love doing what I do outside of work life...I do wish at times that it will slow down every now and then...

Well...since my first post...I've received a couple of positive commentaries...and I just wanna say...thank you! For Ad who said my thoughts inspired him and said he looked forward to my posts...thank you sooo much! You have no idea...that's the best compliment anyone can pay me...granted, I didn't set out to inspire when I first put those thoughts into words...but I'm glad you can find inspiration in what I've written...thank you too SM...for your compliments when you said I've written very well...I hope you will keep 'tuning in' to my blogs...ha ha...any more swell-headed and I'll have to hold my head in my hands...

Hmm...I actually felt more at peace these few days (and less of that restless feeling)...after wording my thoughts...perhaps that's because I had a fantastic weekend? Did a show at Jurong on Sat night...and after that went with the girls to karaoke...it was totally cool...all of us enjoyed each other's company...at least I enjoyed their company...I could only hope it was the same for them...I guess, what I liked bout our little group is that everyone is totally committed out of their passion for pursuing their interests...thus it made our connection simple and uncomplicated...

Hmm...Ad I guess you could relate to what I've said in my first post because you probably felt the same way...come to think of it...I suppose many S'poreans do...not knowing their real direction...not knowing what their true calling is...not knowing what it is they really really wanna do...so we...like so many others...just 'bumped' along in life...taking what comes our way...or we see some others doing something and we thought: hey that seems like a great idea...and then we felt like following suit...

Hmm...I've often felt that way myself...but one thing I keep reminding myself is...don't be afraid to explore...to follow my dreams...after all...if one doesn't have dreams...he doesn't have anything...it's from our dreams we may be doing what we do today...

"Don't be afraid to step out and try something new, because that's much more attractive than trying to be like someone else~Frankie Knuckles"

My First, Myself

Well...finally I got my first blog going...and my first post up...feeling a sense of satisfaction I should say...I've been wanting to do this a little while ago...finally got down to getting it up...I can really get used to this...ha ha...feels a little strange though...putting my thoughts where everybody can view them...

Been feeling pretty restless recently (could it be due to the lack of sleep?)...finally I've completed my part-time studies (1 of my 3 resolutions 4 years? ago...what's the point of setting resolutions when you know you won't get down to fulfilling them?) That's it...those are the only resolutions I've set myself (and fulfilled 2 of them...the 3rd is really more of a material want....and therefore...immaterial)...well...now that my studies are more or less at an end...I'm finally able to pursue other interests...and yet...I'm not feeling that sense of achievement that I thought I would ever since I've had plans in my head and raring to start my own pursuits after completion of my studies....it's starting to disturb me...what is it about humans and the rat-race they inadvertantly get caught up in? What's Life really all about? Is it pursuing your dreams one after another...how to make that first million...how to get to know that guy/girl u fancy...how to make enough to get that Gucci/Prada/LV whatnots....

Hmm...for me I think it is really a couple of factors...the biggest of which is to be thankful for health that I'm able to open my eyes every morning and see my loved ones...my family...my friends....that I'm able of body and sound of mind to do things which I love doing....to learn to be content with what I have...to learn that happiness is not about being able to afford that expensive bag in the display window...rather, it's knowing I'm loved and will be missed when I'm not around...to be at peace with myself...to be able to sleep when I want to...(ha ha that's a luxury I'm not able to afford at the moment) well...I can go on and on...

I guess....it's really a lifelong lesson...or reminder...humans are such that they're terribly forgetful creatures...they need to be reminded every so often...or they get so caught up in their own pursuits that they're blinded to everything else...well I'm no exception...in lieu of the 911 incident a person once said: "in the light of such terrible tragedy people unite together...it brings out the best in them...they show compassion...unity...they do things for others...and when it's all over...they forget...and if a tragedy strikes again...the same things happen...humans are forgetful"

'Life is not about destinations, it's about journeys'