A Mind of My Own

I would usually pamper myself on this day. This year, I didn’t really pamper myself because I have given myself the early gift of perfect eyesight by Lasik. Expensive, that was. A few friends SMS me wishing me Happy Birthday. CD, in India for work, MMS me with a birthday song. Even my mum SMS me too. I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye.

DD called me last night to be the 1st one to wish me. 2 poly friends wished me via SMS yesterday. On the day of the makeover at DeCharacter, ES, NL and HF treated me for dinner after the makeover. So sweet. I don’t have to pay for the makeover as it’s gift, right?
During the makeover, we had fun with the poses. I was often told to open my eyes bigger as mine are the smallest pair among the 5. I want bigger eyes. I wonder if I go Korea, I will get bigger pair of eyes. Upon the output of the photos, I was really disappointed. My eyes were simply too small next to the group of girls. I shall never. Ever. Have any group photos with them again. In addition, anyone with huge eyes shall not take any photos next to me.

I blame my dad for giving me tiny eyes. I blame my mum for giving me high eyebrows. My eyes already so tiny and yet she gave me high eyebrows positions! Ok, so it’s the genetics issue. Can doctors change the genetics such that next time, my children won’t inherit tiny eyes? Wait, if they don’t then they won’t be my children, what am I talking about?

It’s a pity that I don’t have any leaves to take as my contract is ending soon. Thus, won’t be able to take some time off work for today. Besides, I prefer long weekends.

And I need a new job.

Family outings used to be great fun for us. We looked forward to Genting Highland trips as we would get to ride the bumper cars by ourselves. My mother would announce that next week, we will be going to Genting and I would pack my bag happily.

A family trip in the long car ride was not the highlight was we would get car sick. We have serious motion sickness. However, the thought of enjoying the cool weather and the theme parks was enough to be excited about a non-exotic place for a holiday.

Over the years, my family trips reduced as we had different schedules due to CCAs and meeting with friends for shopping or projects. The family favourite routine is to arrange for a trip on the go. Once the decision to visit the zoo was made, the very morning, as long as the sun was shining brightly, we were off to the zoo.

It is so much easier to just go out as a family upon the decision was made as any other days would have resulted in one missing family member. Take the Singapore Flyer ride, it was made in the evening and when I reached home, I had to go out after dinner for the ride.

There was no time to think too much. The weather was just perfect and the traffic was fine. It isn’t much of a routine but something that is tradition in my family. The fastest way to have a family trip, decide on the day to go anywhere in Singapore as long as weather permits.

It took me a few rounds of phone calls before finding a studio that had a free slot before 3pm. Of all days, it had to rain. Heavily. I settled on Gloria Photo Studio in the end as it was able to have a slot before 3pm. The photographer was very friendly and made us feel comfortable.

Even the brother who loved to give stern faces for each and every family photo smiled. I had specifically stated to the men in the family that they had to smile. If not, I will make them pay. Thankfully, they did smile for the camera.

The session took about 30 minutes. The style for convocation photos for this studio is traditional. The background has stayed the same. So, for those who prefer modernised versions, it would be best to select other studios. This studio doesn’t provide makeup for the ladies either. That’s why the package is cheaper than DeCharacter and The Makeup Inc (both that I initially wanted to choose).

A family portrait is important. If any of the family member feels that it isn’t, slap them upside down. If they dare to do that on your wedding day, give them two tight slaps.

An aunt of my cousin’s passed away this week due to womb cancer. She was in her 30s. Womb cancer often strike women of age 30 and above. AY’s mother was diagnosed with womb cancer and had hers removed. She was also above the age of 30 during the diagnose. [Update] She got better after the operation. [/Update]

A talk with my father a few days back had him telling me that stomach cancer runs in my paternal side. Stomach cancer tends to hit men more than women. The causes for it is unknown. However, there are certain factors:

• Age: Most people with this disease are 72 or older.
• Sex: Men are more likely than women to develop stomach cancer.
• Race: Stomach cancer is more common in Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and African Americans than in non-Hispanic white Americans.
• Diet: Studies suggest that people who eat a diet high in foods that are smoked, salted, or pickled may be at increased risk for stomach cancer. On the other hand, eating fresh fruits and vegetables may protect against this disease.

Symptoms may include the following:

• Discomfort in the stomach area
• Feeling full or bloated after a small meal
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss

What I do not know if I will pass down the genes to my children. It’s also a good idea to compile the family’s medical history.

Time to officially announce my new project, Lovely Momentos. It’s about weddings, hotels, bridal studios and love. I try to compile articles related to wedding, hotels and most important, reviews of bridal studios whenever possible.

Getting married in Singapore or anywhere is no mean feat when there is so much to plan for, guest lists, wedding gowns, dinners, hotel selection and photographers. So, I hope this would help anyone who is looking for wedding ideas.

I hope that Lovely Momentos will help in your search to keep lovely memories from your wedding.

DD and I went to attend his friend’s baby’s 1st birthday. All the mahjong tables except one were out in full force. Goes to show that people do love mahjong. A lot. However, all the tiles had bright colours. I wonder how they managed to keep their eyes from being blinded just by washing them. The bungalow at Aloha was rather spacious. As were reached there at around 8pm, the rooms were close and I didn’t want to intrude on anyone resting.

The birthday cake was of Minnie Mouse. Apparently, the little girl must have adored Minnie Mouse. The parents wore matching Micky Mouse T-shirts. Most couples I’ve seen loved to do that. However, there was this couple whom I saw and they were wearing pink. Unfortunately, the guy didn’t look that great in pink.

With 4 bedrooms, I rather like the bungalow despite it’s age. It’s been there for quite some time. However, the bungalows are not that easy to be booked. They can only be booked 3 months in advance. If anyone has a bungalow with affordable rates, do let me know. I haven’t tried booking a bungalow for chalet, just NTUC, which can’t even qualify for bungalow.

I felt the cake was rather sweet to me. Not sure which cake shop as the box didn’t state. I thought cake shops are proud to show off their cakes?

Ah, the big day is here. No, I’m not getting married. Yet. It’s Valentine’s Day and we see florists having a field day selling to couples with exorbitant prices. It seems that love is being shown only on this day. Sometimes, I love/hate this day.

[via 3D Screensavers]

So, does that mean that we don’t show our love on other days? Restaurants and hotels having a good day because couples have booked the slots way much earlier to ensure that they will have a romantic day complete with flowers, dinner and finally, bed. Definition of bed is up to your imagination.

The soft toys often used in this gift giving period are teddy bears and more teddy bears besides cute dogs. To think bears are ferocious animals when provoked. It would also seem that ladies find Valentine’s Day as important as the date they started dating, wedding, ROM and birthdays.

Men find it a chore to remember so many things and prefer to just gift the ladies something and that’s the end of story. No wonder women find such men unromantic and dull. However, there are other ways to make it special, without spending too much money.

In addition, love can mean love for your family and friends too. It doesn’t just mean boyfriend or girlfriend love. Likewise, no one wants to be left alone.

Do note that it’s also the best day to propose to her if you have been meaning to.

[via Flickr]

Chinese New Year is coming. So are the frequently asked questions by the relatives who are very concerned about my marital status. Since they don’t see me every time throughout the year (that is in case they get sick from looking at me and won’t give me the ang bao so generously), they will ask me “So, when are you getting married?”

A colleague of mine would answer this way, every year, “Yesterday.” That was that. Good, I should start using from now until I get married. The next question to field is “When are you going to have a baby?” Maybe I should use the same answer, no?

As mentioned before, it’s expensive to get married in Singapore especially when most of the elders want you to hold an 8-course dinner. I want to say “SILENCE! I KEEL YOU!” Achmed style. Cool, right? Of course I can’t just tell them that. They will kill me before I have even ended the sentence.

Sometimes I wonder if life is just all about marriage, kids and work. Have we made our lives so utterly routine that the questions are always about marriage, girlfriend, boyfriend, kids, flat, money and many more? I want many things but they aren’t achievable at this stage but I will get there.

Another question they will ask you after your first child, “Second one coming?” Besides money being the problem of feeding the first one plus all the money going to the flat, I seriously wonder where the heck do the parents cough out the money for all those stuff.

What I’m hoping for is that they won’t be asking me about my mundane life and just focus on my kids about their studies and height. Or I should just go adopt one and let them ask the kid.

My question is “How come must hold an 8-course wedding dinner one?“

This little girl is unable to eat food. She needs a special formula concocted by the doctors in order to survive. The bill is expensive too but the health insurance refused to let the family claim the amount. It’s a food supplement issue according to them.

This makes me wonder, if my insurance refused to cover such issues and I have to fork out so much money, why on earth am I buying from this insurance company for? Have we ever bought the “wrong” insurance before? What if one day, you thought that your insurance is enough to cover for almost everything since you have paid high premiums, but the company says, no, sorry. You can’t claim because it’s <insert some insurance or medical or whatever term> and you won’t get a cent from us.

What is the purpose of buying insurance if we can’t claim it? What are the things we should be looking out for? Can we ever be able to cover absolutely everything in life?

It’s easy to be touched. Claimed by some people. However, what makes your heart just beat faster or you going all soft an gooey? Bobo’s Love touched her with a breakfast. She has vacuum packed the evidence too. Aww. I love that gesture of breakfast.

I have been touched by my mother. There was once I was limping due to my carelessness in hitting my foot against the table. That was because I thought my leg was way stronger than the leg of the table. Not. She woke up in the middle of the night and use ointment vigourously on my injured foot. Ouch. However, can you imagine someone waking up in the middle of the night and helping you to lessen the pain in your foot?

There were other times like just making porridge because of my wisdom tooth surgery. Mention something that I had problem looking for and the next few days, I will find that item on my desk. Touching, right?

Not to forget the times DD looked for ways to watch movies at cheaper rates with me. Save money, important too, ok? And the time DD offered to send me home after watching Alien vs Predator 2. BTW, the movie was not that worth the money either. I wished we had won the tickets instead. Oh well, it’s over.

Have you been touched?