フルーティー！

My eyes are weary and I am ready to sleep. But it gets hard to fall asleep when I have spent the entire day working on the computer. Just thinking about it makes me a little moody. Lucky for me I keep cute little things on my desk and they boost my spirits in bits (because they are so little) so I love them to bits (because they are so little).

These fruit I got from my favourite game of 'turn turn then got toy come out' in Hong Kong. What do you call them? They are fun... I will play with them for a little bit then to bed.

The Castle - Laputa

I am excited! My parents just got the keys to their new place and I am tasked to do it up! Yes!!! It's going to be tough - lots of planning and hounding, walking and choosing, managing opinions but... I am excited!!! Spent two hours at Kinokuniya yesterday stealing ideas (pictures above)... Oh I am going to be so tired... and so annoyed... but still so excited for now!!!

I look forward to a new place to hang out. My baking headquarters. Look forward to a spot to permanently anchor my KitchenAid mixer. And less cluttered space to room in. Now, I gotta work for it!

Freedom…ka?

I'm shopping at Paragon's Marketplace and found these Barn Laid Eggs. Eggcited! I have to blog immediately. Layer Hens for Barn Laid eggs are kept indoors - in barns, hence the name - but not in cages per the usual practice. The hens are given free movement around the barn. Although I really don't know (and may never know) how much space they actually get and how ethical this form of egg farming is, I believe it's gotta be better than caging up the hens! They only cost a little bit more at S$2.90 for 6 eggs! They are by Singapore's Chew's Agriculture. So the local egg farms are finally doing something, or am I finally catching up?

my blog about my blog

So I revamped the blog and thought I should put in a new entry to mark it. I have not been blogging for so long I feel rust cracking and falling off my fingers as I type. At the same time, I am thinking of what to blog, what to share with y'all... and I can think of nothing. I could, if I wanted to, tell you about my last few months at the Job or first few days at Rest, but that is so boring to recount and account for today, although I had and am having a good time.

I dig deeper. It has become so hard to unlock that bit of inspiration at my will. It comes and goes at its will and all I can do is wait. I wait with my laptop and fervent fingers, ready to spring into action when the thought comes, over twenty-six alphabets, punctuations and numbers. I wait with ample hours ahead of me, to dedicate to one lightning spark of brilliance. I wait by reading and regurgitating, crafting and honing, so I have words best to dress and express an idea. I wait like a puppy by the dining table, relentless, even if it had been pointless many a dinnertime. I am ready to clamp my jaws on that stranded knob of chicken bone!

Sometimes I wait for things that do not make me jubilant when they come. Work that has been held up. I don't like to wait for work that has been held up. I want things done right away, as fast as possible, and perfectly (for many, many reasons that will only be too tedious to discuss now). Oh, I am a monster like that, to myself, because I find it hard to be firm or mean, which is why I don't like to work. I like to sit at home waiting for inspiration to lap upon the shores of my consciousness. I like to drink copious amounts of coffee and still go to sleep. I like to bake and cook and be meticulous about them. I like to run my fingers over the warmth of Wabi's soft, plush coat. I like to write and re-read my writing and edit my writing and re-read my edits. I like to do things leisurely.

Wabi is sleeping sideways now, tucked between the curtains and windows. She is licking her paws and the floor and her paws in the middle of her sleep. The rain came early today diluting the world into a misty shade of gray; and people worry about floods at every rainfall now. News flood with flood news. I will hop along to the supermarket in a bit to get a jar of peanut butter for baking cupcakes tomorrow to bring to a potluck party (that has caused the host some grief).

my current squeeze

This is my favourite picture of the now. Ming and Mom in camaraderie, bonding over some laughable thing about Dad. Of course, he was across the table.

I heart Gula Melaka

Ice is good food for a sore throat.

My Stash

I was reading a novel about how a woman's life improved after she started clearing out her home of unwanted things.

The clothes one size too small 4 years ago but left in wardrobe as motivation to fit it again? Throw. The ornaments well meaning (or lazy gifters) people give as gifts? Throw. The magazines you have articles that are worth clipping? Throw.

As she started clearing her place, she started to realize how bogged down she was by THINGS.

The box of baby things she hid in the attic though she was never able to have a baby after the first miscarriage. The brochures of Italy which she will never visit as her husband hates going overseas.

Things aren't just things. They also represent unfulfilled dreams.

I was inspired to find out what my unfulfilled dreams were. (And a looming deadline as China relatives are coming to stay for two weeks.)

Pens, note books, paper, books, toiletries and make-up. What are my unfulfilled dreams anyone??

What Spectacle!

I was moused up in Dee's room yesterday, realising my childhood fantasy of wearing glasses - just like Ming! Of course I had outgrown that silly wish of mine soon enough, and am glad these little eyes can see good and well on their own. But boy, did I have fun with those frames last night!

The first accident and subsequent visits

Over the bottom two hollows of my mouth, hollowed because of the earlier tooth extractions, the braces' wire runs like a bridge across the gum valleys. On a Friday, the wire over the right hollow popped out from its brackets while I was having yu sheng at a work lunch. So the bridge was only secured at one end, with the other end a needle point resting on the side of my molar. After several failed attempts by me and my colleague to put the wire back in, I called the dental center for help. They asked if I was in pain, no. They asked if I would like to see the dentist, yes. They said the dentists were all out for lunch. They asked if I wanted to come immediately or wait three days until Monday. I asked if it was ok to wait three days, because honestly, it felt intimidating to have a sharp, thin metal poking around the inside my mouth. I sensed no urgency from the receptionist on the line, in fact she seemed rather peeved that I needed to make a last minute appointment. In any case I went down to the dental center right after lunch, and had to cancel an appointment for this. Because Dr Mah was not on duty, another dentist attended to me, and took all of two seconds to put the wire back in its place. Thank God the dentist was nice and so was Mabel, also Dr Mah's nurse. She warned me that the wire could poke through my finger so I should not try to manoeuvre it too much to get it back in.

Come Monday, Dr Mah called and brought forward my next appointment. He said the wire probably came out because my teeth had shifted and it was better to see him sooner as the wire would be prone to pop out again. So I saw Dr Mah three days later and this time, I got new and thicker wires. My last molars were also armoured with brackets to push them forward to fill up forty percent of the holes from the removed teeth (my front teeth will be pushed back to fill the other sixty percent). So having new brackets means new ulcers but only on my left inner cheek. Teeth and gums are hurting a little but it's all manageable now, I'm back to my eighty percent liquid diet which is going to help me lose weight further. Dr Mah also took moulds of my teeth again because he said they've moved considerably and he wanted to document them.

My teeth looks weird now. That they've moved is obvious and they probably need to get into many different positions to make way for one another somehow or other, before they can be straightened, but as of now, they look far from beautiful. The upper and lower sets of my teeth are not parallel, they part at an angle. On the right side, I see a space where my teeth should bite. I tell myself that this is all part and parcel of getting a better set of teeth - because that's the truth.

Now... I look forward to the next appointment! Of course! Every month I look forward to the next dental appointment! Superficial as it may sound, this beautifying the teeth process is rather exciting!

Spot the difference! I know the colour of the pictures can be distracting but be assured they are both me! See how strangely unimproved they look now.

little white teeth on my little white teeth

The white ceiling is made up of rectangular aluminium framed card board and fluorescent lamps, placed in a certain sequence. As I lay on the dentist chair, my eyes wide open in search of a good spot for permanent focus, it struck me that the ceiling and I were familiar friends. Dr Mah busied himself with a dozen different metalic contraptions in my mouth. Common as this sort of ceiling goes, I've only scrutinised it when I made trips to this same dentistry when I was in primary school and was registered under their student programme. I liked visiting the dentist. They were a cool bunch who gave away stickers and funkily flavoured toothpaste. Seeing the formation of card boards and lamps again here and now, intensifies my enjoyment of being here, now.

It had been two weeks since my last visit. I'd gotten accustomed to the metal rings and was really looking forward to this appointment because I was gonna get the braces on and I just couldn't wait! It was a Friday and there was a media thingy at work, but this dental appointment was scheduled beforehand so I had to leave the work to the colleagues (although I would have liked to be around).

The moment the goggles went on, things happened quickly. Two plastic dishes were inserted on the left and right of my mouth to part my lips from my teeth. The entire front teeth and lip area was blotted and blown and kept very dry. Dr Mah thought I was scared because I seemed to be grabbing on to the sides of chair, but I was not. The ceramic braces went on with little discomfort. Once they were done though, they felt really out of place. It was strange to have these little things protruding from my teeth. Andrew commented that they look like little teeth, and they kinda do. A gross question my friend once asked me came to mind: Would you rather have lots of little ears all over your head, or one huge ear inside your mouth?

I grinned so my lips didn't have to close over the braces but whenever my grin laxed, they kept my lips up like the opening of a tent. I worked my facial muscles harder to keep them out of each other's way.

I clenched my teeth but couldn't bite normally. Dr Mah had put something in to raise two of molars so my teeth couldn't touch, to prevent my upper teeth from chipping off the braces on my lower teeth. I knew that this was to be the bane of my every meal. He said that this will go on for about three months, I assume until my teeth moves and can clench nicely.

The braces were on, but I still had two teeth to remove! A most worrying procedure for me. I had a good idea what to expect but strangely, was more nervous. My hands and feet felt like cold, dead turkeys as I anticipated the long metallic anaesthetic jabs. When Andrew gave me the first jab, he tried to distract by asking if the short sharp prick or the long dull insertion was more bearable. I just wanted it over and done, so when he removed the needle, I said, "Er... I anything also can. Just faster do...". Haha! Once the jabs were all in, I was calm and everything was good again. Yippee! The two good teeth were taken out, then Dr Mah came in to insert the wires, and I was done and ready to go!

My face didn't swell so badly this time as I was given less jabs (only four). I went home, changed the blood drenched cotton gauze, took a panadol as instructed, ate porridge and made my way to Wei's place to hang out!

Now

It has been a little more than a week since I've had the braces and oh my, I already see some movement! The change is very slight, only I notice them (Ming was like, "Err... I think got a bit loh..."), but it's still exciting. I'm speaking with a lisp and even more unclearly than that. Eating is difficult. I've been taking soup and porridge. Nothing I eat can give the same gratification as before. Sigh. Brushing takes much longer and I have to wake up earlier in the mornings to make concessions for that. One of the metal rings I thought I had gotten used to began cutting up my tongue again, so I've been using the wax. Thankfully though, the ceramic braces have not been giving me ulcers. I went for facial and was careful to keep my mouth closed. It was not a problem. For my mom's birthday, we had Japanese food and I could only take chawanmushi. Bummer. But when I feel miserable about not being able to enjoy food, I remind myself that I'm losing weight.

I'd say that in all, things are going well. Next appointment is a little more than a month later... I can't wait, I can't wait!

snap!

We've been wanting to develop some pictures for years now, just some simple, family-and-friends-and-travel kind of pictures. But as with many things in life, the want surpasses the act which has been procrastinated, and our digital album continues to grow.

From day-to-day, I'm pretty unfazed by what my generation has done for photography. I suppose every generation has contribution which could be considered revolutionary. Look how far we've come from the beginning! From photography as purely a means of documentation, to artistic pursuit, to expensive hobby, to medical revolution, to this, that, that, and today, it could be anything - a representation of a lifestyle or as trivial as a thing to do while you're waiting for the bus. I only use the word 'trivial' to mean common and almost unthinking, I don't really mean to trivialise how easily we can do, what we can with a camera now. Look how far we've come in the last ten years!

I have in my possession an interesting book with lots of 19th century pictures of our country - which looked so much like London! Imagine if the colonial buildings had not been destroyed and our modern day high rise built around them. How differently would we have grown up? These old pictures, they inspire my imagination every time I look at them. It was a dream of mine to time travel.

Did you know that the first photograph of Singapore was taken in 1844 using the dagguereotype process which records the image on a metal plate? You can see this artefact at where I work.

Anyway, Ming finally sorted the pictures and I was given the task of filtering the stash before we send them to the studio. I found pictures that made me recall some good times!

The first three pictures were taken in Venice back in September 2006. It was Summer turning Autumn and the weather was great everyday we were there. The first picture I really, really like, with both Me and Ming at St Marco Square.

The second and third pictures are here to illustrate how photogenic Ming is and what a nice smile she has! Getting a ticket for the water taxi, and going down a flight of steps at Teatro La Fenice (if I didn't get the name wrong).

This one with JY was also taken in 2006, but earlier in Easter which was around April. We were at Vatican City. I don't know what we were trying to achieve with this picture... humour, I guess.

And the most recent picture of the lot, taken in Tokyo in September 2009. Ming and I were killing time at Roppongi Hills while we waited for Wei and Keina. The place has beautiful interior architecture and sunlight fell where we sat, so our reflections off the glass barricade were ethereal.

I've had two visits to the Dentist's now!

I've toyed with the idea of getting braces since I was in the UK, when I had too much time and began scrutinising myself in the mirror. Not many people thought that this was a good idea as my teeth, though not perfectly straight, seemed pretty alright, which would make me really vain if I wanted to correct them. The crookedness of my teeth was inconspicuous at most angles but it was there and it bugged me. I envied the decency of people with straight teeth. Later Ming told me that correcting one's teeth out of vanity was not unique to me and lots of people did that, for who cannot live with crooked teeth anyway? Great!

Fifteen years earlier, I had retainers meant to correct my top four front teeth. One was jutting out, another jutting in and the other two in-between. The student dentist had asked if I'd like to use retainers or braces, and I based my choice on the level of pain each procedure would give. I'd have to extract teeth if I wanted braces so I chose the retainers. The student dentist supported me and said my teeth were quite straight anyway. My sentiments exactly, until bloody UK.

So it had been four years since I've had the urge on and off. I made an appointment with the orthodontist once, only to cancel it at the last minute because braces were expensive and I was not working at that time. I also felt guilty for having only one reason to straighten my teeth - so I'd get beautiful teeth! - but several reasons not to - they cost a couple of thousand dollars, I'd be stricken with pain and the stigma of being a braces-wearing adult for two years and I will have to pull out teeth which deterred me the most. The struggle was a great one - pain versus vanity - what a cliche! As the years went by, my desire for straight teeth grew but the dissuading factors did not, so finally, I was decided. I was going to see an orthodontist and if my fears were not exceeded, I'd do it!

First visit

I took time off work and saw Dr Mah on a Wednesday, 13 Jan 2010 at 3pm. He asked me what was wrong and I brutally said "I'm vain." I told him I found my lower row of teeth jarring. So he looked and poked at my teeth, observed my chin, jaw, bite, smile and so on. He then composed himself on a chair beside me and said that the most straight forward way of going about it would be to remove four of my teeth and have me put on conventional braces. I said, "Aiyah, I have to extract four teeth ah..." then "Ok! Let's do it!" Because I really wanted to!

I knew I made the right decision. Instantly, I was happy and excited - and I had to pull out four teeth! I wanted to start and complete the process in one sitting right there and then. I wanted the braces, in it's monstrous entirety, to be fitted in now! But, no.

Dr Mah sent me to get X-rays taken. The X-ray room was like a sci-fi Hollywood movie set and made me feel like I was living in the future. The machines were pristine white and moved sleekly; they beeped and spoke and played music. I walked back to Dr Mah's room and there were the digital X-rays, ready to be viewed on his computer! From the X-rays, I verified that indeed there were corrections to be done, and despite all that scrutiny in the UK, more than I thought.

I was asked if I'd like to have the metal or ceramic braces. The metal were S$600 cheaper and I could have on coloured rubber bands but Dr Mah recommended the ceramics as he thought they worked better, so I went with his recommendation as I tend to trust the professionals. No colourful bands to play with, I guess. He said the ceramics will also let me, "Enjoy the process more," to which I asked, "How to enjoy?" and he said, "You can see the teeth moving and straightening more clearly." Ok. Pictures of my teeth and and me were taken with harsh flash (not to be tagged on Facebook). I was told I can't have coke and chocolates. But I will need to have the braces on for only a year (or a little more) which was a plus! I hope to have beautiful teeth when I turn thirty!

Dr Mah inserted eight rubber band dividers to make space for the braces and prepared me by saying, "They'll give you some grieve." I thought they were ok and left feeling confident that I'll have no grieve whatsoever. I was wrong. The dividers prevented my top and bottom molars from touching so I couldn't bite properly. I felt like I was chewing on rubber or springs and the weird sensation drove me crazy. Crazy, but bearable.

Second visit

Second appointment was a week later to pay the down payment, put in the back brackets and remove two of the four teeth. When I left from work my colleagues wished my good luck, while I waved back in enthusiasm. It was a busy day at the Dental Centre and I had to wait even though I was on time. Dr Mah was speedy when inserting the brackets. I was soon brought to Level 2 to have my teeth extracted by another dentist who is XY's long time friend, Andrew. He was nice and his nurse was super duper nice but the anaesthetic jabs at five or six different parts of my oral cavity were excruciatingly painful! I now know what to expect if ever I want to botox my lips. The left side of my face lost sensation very quickly. I was asked to rinse and the water I took in spurted out from my mouth like it would a water pistol. It was hard to sit on the dentist chair and make small talk while all three of us waited for the anaesthetic to take effect, because I could not control my pronunciation. I tried to speak clearly but sounded ineffectual. When the time came, the extraction was painless. They let me keep my teeth but Andrew said they were full of bacteria and I should throw them away - I will keep them to show XY. I headed home after the extraction and my mom totally freaked out and said that if she'd known it was gonna be so bad, she would have dissuaded me (she had been very encouraging all along). For the next 2 to 3 hours, my entire left face was swollen and numb like it had suffered a stroke. I couldn't drink from a glass without water dribbling down my chin. When I smiled or talked only the right side of my face moved. Thankfully, the size of my face is back to normal now and I'm quite proud to have survivied the extraction with just a whimper, when the needle went into my lip! The next time round I'll be heading to the office after, and for sure all these will be quite an inconvenience.

Now

With the back braces fixed for two days, I'm glad I can cross out two days from the getting-used-to-the-permanent-pain calendar. My inner cheeks have no less than four ulcers and I talk with my teeth clenched as if I am suppressing anger all the time. When I had dinner yesterday, I ouched out loud twice and brought some joy to JY!!! I'm learning to bite carefully. I also contemplate alot more before I put any food into my mouth. Wanted to proposition Ming "Let's go have Tang Yuan!" today but realised it's not gonna be an enjoyment for me, for now. Grumpy, but shall make use of this opportunity to lose weight because I'm quite sure I'll get used to all the metal soon... by which time it should be my next extraction and more brackets!

Did a search on google and found many dedicated blogs on braces-wearing journeys. I shall try to put some of my experiences here.

And I'm not sure if Wabi notices anything but she treats me no different than before.

My teeth, from one angle.

110.39.85

Two years in succession make not a tradition... I hope! I was sick again this New Year's Eve! Sore throat! The evil kind that requires antibiotics! The sort that hurt more like a bruise than a sore! The birth of a flu!

But I enjoyed the year end, nonetheless. If not for anything, that it was an end! And why not? I beamed at all the 'Happy New Year' smses! They were people filled with bright, shiny hope that comes with a new year's day! And why not!

In the first few days of the year, I finished a book that I'd been reading for a while. I'm quite happy about that. Yet morose at the same time because I quite enjoy lingering.

This will be the year... this will be the year... I kept telling my colleagues today (first day of work, met with blank stares). This will be the year you want it to be. If you want to leave the job, this will be the year. WH, if you want your driver's license, this will be the year! How... nice! So many things... This will be the year!!! Let's get going! Oh, we have...

understanding hao... in 2010

New Year Resolutions




to achieve Rising Star
to qualify for Tokyo Convention
to get driver's license


to stop taking cabs cos i'm late
to pick up Pilates/ Yoga




In the New Year, I am contemplating to


get a SLR
sponsor dad a plasma/LCD/LED TV
scrapbook more






I would like to travel to
Taiwan
Cambodia to visit Angkor Wat




And if I can still afford, also to

Hong Kong/ Bangkok for shopping trip




Books I want to read in 2010
The whole Harry Potter series again

understanding su... in 2010

New Year Resolutions

reach work place before 9:30am

keep work place and home neat and clean

be organised and focused with baking

bring my own container for take-aways

have more vegetarian meals

lose weight

In the New Year, I am contemplating to

get braces

change jobs

get an iphone

get a macbook

get a dslr

I would like to travel to

Australia

Hong Kong

And if I can still afford, also to

Taiwan

Japan

Prague

Majorca

Movies I have to watch in 2010

Secret

Up

G-Force

Sherlock Holmes

Alice in Wonderland

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Books I want to read in 2010

The two memoirs by Lee Kuan Yew

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Scoop on The Daily Scoop

I went to Sunset Way this afternoon, looking forward to my chocolate waffle cone from The Daily Scoop. Was greeted by this:



Sigh. Had to settle for a Magnum.

Starbuck in a Truck

Hi,

My name is Starbuck (no, not the coffee shop) and i am 8 months old. I love to bite and lick things. Sometimes when i forget, i will pee in the living room.

I love to go for walks and there are so many smells and things to explore. But i get tired and will sit down. (Don't you too?) Even if it's in the middle of the road.

I recently started classes as my older brothers and sisters think i'm a big enough boy to learn some manners.

Here's me on the way to class. Check out my cool ride! Love the wind in my face.

My New Ride

It has been quite some time since i've blogged. I'm sitting in front of the TV, all ready to blog on my new laptop. Finally! But NOTHING comes out. Oh dear.

After an whole hour of mental block,i've decided to start with photos. A picture speaks a thousand words after all.

Right?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


G recently bought a new second-hand (oxymoron!) truck. Once i get my license, it'll be mine.



Ask me nicely and i might just let you drive it.

Crazy Rain

On the day of the ferocious crazy rain, I was home with Wabi and I prayed that people outside were driving safely, which was rather random as they could have been running or cycling. The wind blew and the rain flew in 360 degrees! It was visible from my windows, as if they were fighting or they could have been playing.

That night, a tree fell, leaving a dark, gaping hole in the grass green garden ground. When I looked the next morning, the once erect tree lay collapsed, taking in its last breaths. Brick red soil splattered all around as if they were erupted from the mouth of the hole. The scene reminded me of biological mishaps of broken arteries and punctured flesh, gross things like that. Two days later, they brought the tree away.

This is a picture that I took from behind the safety of my glass windows during the crazy rain. Later when I checked the picture on my computer, I realise that it had not captured any of the ballistic temperaments of the weather. The trees were bent over from the wind just a moment ago but it is not discernible anymore.

Perk Me Up Kitty!

This video totally made my day! Happy in a feel-good-warm-and-tingly-need-to-pinch-something way!