Month: February 2010

Great Expectations

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Turning 35 comes with it’s own expectations but that’s my biggest take away from the first 5 years of my 30something life, to have no expectations. Have I lost you already? Yah, most of the time I do that to myself too … I agree, it is tough being me :p

Anyway, yes, I’ve learnt the secret to me being happy 🙂 It’s to do everything from my heart and not expect anything in return. Nope, I haven’t got it right, not yet anyway but if the last 3months is anything to go by, it’s a lesson I’ve had to relearn. Unconditional love … is it even possible and is it worth striving for? I don’t know … I’m totally open to be proven wrong but in my little world, I kinda don’t know what else to do but to keep trying 🙂

Having said that, if it’s anything I’ve also learnt from the past 35 years, is that, just when you figure out the secret … life changes all the rules and you realise it’s a different game.  A conversation with my parents a couple of weeks ago, revealed that in their 50s, they are still trying to figure it out and that’s why my parents inspire me.  They make it look fun and exciting … trust me, they are honest about the pain and suffering that comes with the curve balls that life tends to throw at you too.  Despite all that, how my parents live their lives make me want to try and make the most of mine … keeps me grateful 🙂

So when someone said to me that the 30s are the new 20s … I don’t know … I’m inclined to think the 30s are just the new 30s … the game keeps changing … or does it?  Whatever it is, all I know to do is to keep trying my best.  I may fall every now and then, it’s about picking myself up and taking the next step and the next and the next 🙂

Here’s to being able to sleep soundly … at the end of the day, I’m just a girl who loves to snuggle into her bed, close her eyes and dream.

Nige and Linli, Happy Birthday!!!

Puppysitting

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Other than little people a.k.a. children, I have an extreme soft spot for animals so I really don’t mind when my sister takes off for a couple of days.  That’s because when she does, my husband and I get to watch her little puppy Wags.  So when she and I missed each other as I came home from NYC and she took off to Perth to share CNY with our Daddy and Mummy, my husband had to watch her for a couple of days.  That means it was him and Wags ALONE with each other … so needless to say, they were both excited to see me when I came home from NYC last week 🙂

And they were both so game for an afternoon out.  My husband though possibly wished that I left my iPhone at home :p  He took the following picture because he says that’s all I ever do now … looking at my iPhone :p

So much so I was even thinking of giving up my iPhone for Lent … but without a spare phone to use … … I guess I can’t do that :p  I’ve decided … maybe giving up sugar for Lent is the next best thing alternative 😉

Back to the walk, Wags, this mini of a Maltese has a serious case of Napoleon complex.  She, one, thinks she’s bigger than the biggest dog in the park and two, actually thinks she’s human.  So you have been warned, proceed with caution when you encounter … …

It isn’t often that we get time to relax, enjoy the balmy afternoon breeze and just relish an afternoon with a puppy.  So that we did, my husband and I caught up, trying to figure out what to have for dinner, why we both love the Botanic Gardens, what work excites us and even how the future can be scary.  That’s the other half of how exciting the future can be too, I guess 🙂

Meanwhile, I’m learning to be grateful for such simple pleasures for life could be so much more worse.  I am a lucky puppy myself 🙂

Playing Housewife

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Every now and then, I reckon I can give up the rush of getting a project done, hanging out with friends over lunch, having financial independence and be a stay-at-home wife.  So on weekends and over holidays I can pretend and test out the concept.  My husband gets to benefit from wholesome meals 🙂

Tofu, eggplant and mushroom in the foreground.  French beans stirred fried with carrots coupled with brown rice 🙂

It was fun and I reckon, sure, I can do the whole Nigella thing for a meal here and there but I’ll definitely need a little angel or two before I can do the whole stay home thing.  For now, my husband gets to benefit from my nesting needs.  I’m thinking of what to whip up next … soup and fried rice?  Yes, my Asian palate is yearning for some comfort food.

Meanwhile, I’ve found out why we have finger nails … in my case, thumb nails.  They are there to protect you from chopping the tip of your thumb off.

Yes, it happened as I was chopping garlic for the stir fry.  Don’t worry it didn’t fall into the garlic … I had to peel it off and chuck it in the trash but if my nail wasn’t there … I may have no tip of a thumb to speak off anymore.

More than that, it looks like I’m in serious need of a manicure :p

So Long Miss Neo

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As Hens Nights go, we manage to put together an extremely fun yet tame one for our dear friend, Michele.  I still remember her telling me about their first kiss at Zouk Out 2008 and I’m so thrilled that come March 21st, I’ll be in Perth saying farewell to Miss Neo and hello to Mrs Christian.  Well, not before the all important Hens Night, which started at Marrakesh Moroccan Lounge and Bar.  By the way, it’s a nice atmosphere but the drinks are a lot better than the food :p

So I’m not sure if we’ll be back.  However, it was good enough for our night and it was fun especially when the company is as good as ours 🙂  Once dinner was over, our bride-to-be started the night with a lychee martini.

And it was looking like it was going to be a FUN FUN FUN night 🙂  After Makkakesh, we headed towards to Attica.

We got to Attica early and the crowd was thin, to say the least but when it’s the 5 of us, that seems to be enough of us to have fun 🙂

So for each letter of her new name, Michele had to complete 9 tasks before we could declare the night to be over.  With two bottles of champagne, Michele was raring to go.

Our bride-to-be friend soon found out that most men were indeed true gentlemen who helped her out with her simple tasks.

Just as long as they spoke English 🙂  She found two Germans who spoke no English and took a while to explain that she was a bride-to-be with crazy friends who have put her up to all this nonsense.

They turned out to be as smart as they are cute and quickly figured out that she was already off the market 🙂  Among the nonsense she had to do was to stand on the chair and dance like there’s no tomorrow.

Before she got too crazy, she was nicely told that she had to get down but she promptly explained it was her hens night and no manager in a club was going to ruin it for her 😉  I knew she’s always game for a night of drunken revelry and that the night was.

We had so much fun, we’ve decided that we’re going to plan for faux pas hens night every other month.  We even practiced on who’s going to be the next bride-to-be.

From left to right, may I present the soon to be Mrs Vaugh-Norton, Mrs Cooper-Baker and Mrs Reeves 🙂  Looks like Mrs Cooper-Baker has won hands down for her hens night next.  Sure, our husbands Vince-Edward, Bradley-Simon and Keanu are in our heads but we’ll still have fun 😉  Just like we did for Michele’s.

So from the bottom of our hearts, Mich, here’s wishing you and Paul a lifetime of happiness and love.  Thank goodness, he’s a good guy and we do like him 🙂

My Cousin The Chef

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Growing up my cousin, Gary a.k.a Ah Boy always had a penchant for the kitchen.  I remember him cooking things up, experimenting with different cuisines … he actually makes a good steak … yes, when I ate meat :p  If he didn’t mumble so much, I’d actually produce a cooking show for him and he could be Singapore’s Jamie Oliver 🙂  Since he does mumble, I’ll just be grateful when he whips up an incredible meal for me.

Which is exactly what he did last week when I dropped by to hang out with my munchkins 🙂  And for someone who isn’t a vegetarian, he made a killer salad with mushrooms to die for and POLENTA!!!  I love POLENTA!!!  And I never made it before because I don’t know how.  Trust my dear cousin to figure it out and it was good too 🙂

Thank you Ah Boy for the very yummy vegetarian meal, you constantly surprise me and thank you thank you especially for my little munchkins 🙂

I’ve said this before but I’m saying it again, I’m so  so so happy that they live so close by now 🙂  but I think I’m going to get fat from our weekly ice cream jaunts :p

Defying Gravity

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Remember the episode of Ally McBeal when they picked their songs that would give them the boost they needed?  Even if you don’t, I think I’ve found the song to get me out of my humdrum-ness and put the bounce, I’m so yearning, back.

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules
Of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!

It’s time to try
Defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I am defying gravity
And you wont bring me down!

I’m through accepting limits
”cause someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know!
Too long I’ve been afraid of
Losing love I guess I’ve lost
Well, if that’s love
It comes at much too high a cost!

I’d sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I’m defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you wont bring me down!

I’d sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I’m defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you won’t bring me down!
bring me down!

I did say after Wicked, I’ve been in the mood for singing and dancing 🙂

Because I Can’t Believe I’m in the Office

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I had to look back at my photos of New York and pretend it isn’t a scorching 32degrees outside.  It was really quite a treat to be away for a bit … the humdrum of the office is already getting to me and it’s only the FIRST day of the year of the Tiger :p

So here’s why I realised I actually missed the city and am making plans to go back soon … and this time for fun 🙂

That glass cube on the left is the Apple store where it’s open 24/7.  Yes, even on Christmas day!!  I had so much fun just hanging around and checking stuff out … even stuff I’ve seen before :p  No disrespect to the PC but ever since I converted, which was in 2001, I can’t imagine not using apple products.  That said, I do love the little Lenovo Thinkpad I use for work 🙂

Also, this trip worked out really well because of the company … I always knew I’m a people type person i.e. I have to be around people I like and care about and if I am the suck-iest of situations, like a blizzard, it’ll be ok 🙂

I already said Wicked was that much more fun because of these two.  Two gentlemen, man enough to get in touch with their gay side and enjoy a musical … thank goodness the two of them don’t read my blog or they might smack me silly but I’m so glad they were there in freezing NYC with me.  I can also forgive them for making me walk in the sub zero temperatures for dinner :p

The thing I love about the US, decent salads that actually make a meal 🙂  We trooped in the snow and bone chilling cold to a fave of Erv, Junior’s.  Where we fed our tummies, discussed the musical and just hung out … sure, we could do this back in Singapore too but there’s something about in the middle of Time Square that makes it a little more special 🙂  Thanks guys!!

My Little Sweetie

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I don’t know how parents do it and when I become one, I guess I’ll learn.  For now, I didn’t realise how much I would miss my little god daughter when I go away on my work trip and how much she’s taken a big place in my heart.  I can’t wait to sniff her little head and give her a cuddle.

You can’t tell me that little smile doesn’t just melt your heart 🙂

P/S: Don’t you just love my iPhone apps that does these cool things with the pictures in my camera roll?

NYC

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I wasn’t looking forward to this trip but now that I’ve gone and come back, I’m really glad the trip happened.  For one, I was reminded how much I enjoy New York City.  Being surrounded by tall buildings and walking in Central Park, with so much to feed my senses, NYC definitely has a hold on my wanderlust.

Could I live in the city?  I’m not quite sure … maybe for a couple of years but for a couple of months, for sure.  Whatever it is, I’m hoping to come back soon for fun 🙂  Meanwhile, the last couple of days … so enjoyed them, even the crazy cold … I mean, we’re only there for a couple of days, what’s some cold … I even miss it a little now that I’m home :p  More than that I enjoyed my friends who were with me on this trip.

Thank you guys!  For the warm company that made it fun 🙂

Wicked

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Ever wondered why the wicked witch is the way she is and really how in the world does water kill her?  Well, wonder no more and Wicked will tell all 🙂  One can’t go to NYC, even if it’s for work and not catch a musical on Broadway.  So that’s what Erv, Daryl and I did the other night.

We actually braved the cold and walked something like 5 blocks to get to the Gershwin Theatre and it was worth it 🙂  As it already is, Wizard of Oz is one of my favourite stories of all time and “The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz” just gave it more depth to excite my own creative impluses.

Reminded me why at the core of my heart, despite the advances in technology, I simply love live performances.  There’s something about watching people sing. dance or act in front of your very eyes that can wake your soul.  Made me miss being a theater practitioner … what would I give to be designing lighting or managing a stage again?  I’m not quite sure if I have an answer to that but I do know I was glad to have shared it with Erv and Daryl.

They were the perfect guys to share a musical experience with.  Both understood the beauty of it and once out of the theatre, could relate to the fact that I felt like dancing and singing 🙂