This is one of those silly conversations that goes on between TS and Tobey, on our long car ride from the West to the East yesterday evening:
TS (to Tobey): What happens if a rat accidently jumps into your mouth?
Tobey: I would drink lots of water and bathe it.
TS: Then what if a cat jumps in too to catch the rat?
Tobey: What if it eats up my organs?
TS: Get the dog to chase the cat out lah
Tobey: Then how do I get the dog out?
TS: Play fetch
Tobey: but the cat cannot see you throwing the bone!
It was funny because it was so spontaneous and trust the big guy to think of such a joke. Riddles and jokes are a part of our conversations especially during those long car rides. In Vancouver, this was what happened too, when five of us (my sis, Edwin, Ryan, TS and myself) will be thinking of riddles, some really ridiculous ones, to solve. And most of the time, we hear ourselves echoing, "So LAME!"
Friday, November 30, 2007
Finally, I can breath
Good news, finally! Yesterday, I heard from my prof that it is finally conferred, and done...my MEd (you can read the abstract here) It has been quite a journey. If I can do it all over again, I would just finish it in 1 year full time. Forget about working and doing it part time. It was crazy. In the first year, I had to juggle a 8-9pm job, attend evening classes, complete assignments to the wee hours of the morning. I almost lost my mind! Especially during the April-July period when my office is the BUSIEST. With SYF and NDP going on, and that year I was the conductor for NDP and SYF, it was a mad mad year. You should see me then, half this size and running up and down the National stadium controlling 1000 teenagers.
Although I handed in the final bound copies in August, I could not really take any long breaths because, anything can happen. So it is finally finished, end of the road. But looking back, I think I had more exciting times. Now I am just collecting fats under my tummy because I sit down for 9 hours a day.
So it is finished. What's next???
Although I handed in the final bound copies in August, I could not really take any long breaths because, anything can happen. So it is finally finished, end of the road. But looking back, I think I had more exciting times. Now I am just collecting fats under my tummy because I sit down for 9 hours a day.
So it is finished. What's next???
Thursday, November 29, 2007
The fact of Life
By now, most of you, Singaporeans would have heard and digested the news about the deaths of 5 young, potential and talented men in the dragon boating incident in Cambodia. The news has been splashed over the front pages for the past few days
here
It is very unfortunate that these lives are cut short just like that. My prof was quite affected, and having a son in competitive canoeing doesn't help. But 'death' has always been an elusive term to me. If I can avoid talking about death, I would. All this because I have seen death and have come to terms with death being a part of life. Strangely, I always bear the thought that I would not live for long, considering the genetic endowments of my family.
So, a part of me, wants to tell her that we all die one day, if not from illness, it is our jobs. There is a risk in every job in life. Funnily, I used to joke with my friends that even teaching is not safe. Look at all those old fans that spin all day in the classrooms (those days lah, not now with the 'classrooms of the future') and switched on to maximum 'turbo' speed because the students are always complaining they are hot, they can simply give way and land on you one day. And, it really did happened, to one of our uni mates, last heard he was seriously injured...
I am being cynical. You think teaching is safe, or any job for that matter? Think twice again. When it is our time to go, it is time to go. Death comes in all forms and ways.
here
It is very unfortunate that these lives are cut short just like that. My prof was quite affected, and having a son in competitive canoeing doesn't help. But 'death' has always been an elusive term to me. If I can avoid talking about death, I would. All this because I have seen death and have come to terms with death being a part of life. Strangely, I always bear the thought that I would not live for long, considering the genetic endowments of my family.
So, a part of me, wants to tell her that we all die one day, if not from illness, it is our jobs. There is a risk in every job in life. Funnily, I used to joke with my friends that even teaching is not safe. Look at all those old fans that spin all day in the classrooms (those days lah, not now with the 'classrooms of the future') and switched on to maximum 'turbo' speed because the students are always complaining they are hot, they can simply give way and land on you one day. And, it really did happened, to one of our uni mates, last heard he was seriously injured...
I am being cynical. You think teaching is safe, or any job for that matter? Think twice again. When it is our time to go, it is time to go. Death comes in all forms and ways.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrCySreR_HNWu7YTM-obU-etpN6p3PUrzxyrhyphenhyphens1D1XQSPrnPIQmMW1YAr37Wyotn7h3YEHallOb9WzAtbpfabvBVMqW2Z0tXcM7DJGKeZ4l9Uo7w4mvCVbrZhkvM0Opv_-drdg/s400/DSC00610%5B1%5D.JPG_Thumbnail1.jpg)
We have been thinking of checking out the yacht club below our place for quite some time. So yesterday, we decided to not cook at home and try out the eateries there. We went to the Wharf, which overlooks the sea, or rather, the private yachts. It was one of the quietest and private places you can dine in Singapore these days. And the prices are quite affordable, between $8-$20. However, it is not that fantastic. We had fish and chips but still, nothing can beat the ones I had at the Fisherman's Wharf in Perth.
The skies were overcast yesterday so we didn't catch the sunset but at least, we enjoyed the quiet dinner evening.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Life's an Art
Everyone says Tobey has a knack for art, so I am trying to look for a good art teacher. If anyone who has any idea about art and how art should be taught, share with me! I am quite an art idiot but I am sure I don't want to send him to those centres that ask you to draw "A day at the zoo", or "My family".
Tobey draws from inspiration, the stories he reads or shows he watches. Like in these two pictures, he was inspired by the Japanese movie, "Tales from Earthsea" and transformers. He especially likes dragons.
TS commented how good his proportions are and the details to the nuts and bolts on the transformers mask. Cannot see it clearly from the photo though. Take it from a design and technology person like TS, few teenagers can achieve this and he is your worst critic.
Maybe I am just impressed because I am one of those who cannot draw for nuts!
X-Wing
Tobey completed his Star Wars lego X wing fighter in just one day...a test of endurance because there were tiny little parts and he had to fix it part by part. He got frustrated towards the end when he got some parts wrong and had to dismantle and redo the delicate structure all over again. And now, nobody can touch the x-wing, because it is too fragile.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Bowl Over, Tobey!
We decided to have some activities to pack our Saturday. We did quite a number of accomplishments actually...and in the order of the day, we did,
1) Tennis
2) Lunch at Wan Chai, one of our fav HK food outlet
3) Marketing
4) Church
5) Dinner at in laws
6) Bowling
7) Supper at another HK food outlet
All in a day! And it officially ended at 1am.
And our Tobey (Lil Spidy, which Mich, my good old friend, decided to call him), has a ball of a time at the bowling alley, where he has managed a good starting mark of ...26 points. But it was more hilarious to watch him bowl. We had a good laugh over how his orangie bowling ball always seem to change course of direction somehow down the alley, to which he answered,
"I have special powers."
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Bangkok-Cha Am-Hua Hin-Bangkok
Monday, November 12, 2007
2 More Days to the Arrival of the Darth
It is two more days and TS will be back. In these 10 days, I think Ryan and I have accomplished quite a number of things. I totally devoted myself to teaching Ryan and pushing him a little for music. You know how these things need alittle push these days.
He has almost completed his Suzuki Book 2 and is playing quite well now. After all these 2 years of heartache, sweat and frustration, he knows what a beautiful tone sounds like and notes the slightest out pitch of the violin. And the best part was, I have finally seen this day that I am able to play a violin-piano duet with him. We did a tune together, it wasn't perfect but I am glad he is able to coordinate.
He has also fixed his star wars x-wing and learnt to cycle two wheels! Little spiderman is growing up really fast and I hope that he will always be that sweet little spiderman he is.
He has almost completed his Suzuki Book 2 and is playing quite well now. After all these 2 years of heartache, sweat and frustration, he knows what a beautiful tone sounds like and notes the slightest out pitch of the violin. And the best part was, I have finally seen this day that I am able to play a violin-piano duet with him. We did a tune together, it wasn't perfect but I am glad he is able to coordinate.
He has also fixed his star wars x-wing and learnt to cycle two wheels! Little spiderman is growing up really fast and I hope that he will always be that sweet little spiderman he is.
Friday, November 09, 2007
The Missing Link(s)
I know my past few posts are on star wars...please forgive me for imposing all these star wars mania on you, since it is also not exactly the the star wars craze now, and the trilogy is closed...over with. But I cannot help it, I am influenced.
Part of the reason for this has also got to do with my lack of inspiration given the absence of two important things in my life right now. TS is away in Shandong (wherever that is within China) with my camera...
At this exact time, I think he is climbing some mountain in Shandong called Mount Tai Shan. Never heard of this mountain in my life but according to TS, it is one of the most sacred mountain in China, and that all emperors of China pay pilgrimage to this place every year for thousands of years. Wow, I didn't know that!
[a digression] I used to think that if I have a chance to go back in time, I would want to be transported to the early English days, wearing those victorian dresses (you know, those empire lines and soft flowy chiffon-like dresses) and sipping tea with a wide picnic spread. But for TS, I think he would be probably on the opposite side of hte continent, as a general in manchurian times. By the way, he is a huge fan of Genghis Khan.
So in other words, we will probably never have met in those times. And in current times, we are like the East Meets West...in any sense of the word (from food, ways of dressing, movies, fashion sense, language preference, et cetera et cetera). We used to have arguments about almost everything. But now it is quite funny, looking at how we would approach the differences. But well, that's another story.
I hope he climbs it (Mount Tai San) safely! Jia You!
Part of the reason for this has also got to do with my lack of inspiration given the absence of two important things in my life right now. TS is away in Shandong (wherever that is within China) with my camera...
At this exact time, I think he is climbing some mountain in Shandong called Mount Tai Shan. Never heard of this mountain in my life but according to TS, it is one of the most sacred mountain in China, and that all emperors of China pay pilgrimage to this place every year for thousands of years. Wow, I didn't know that!
[a digression] I used to think that if I have a chance to go back in time, I would want to be transported to the early English days, wearing those victorian dresses (you know, those empire lines and soft flowy chiffon-like dresses) and sipping tea with a wide picnic spread. But for TS, I think he would be probably on the opposite side of hte continent, as a general in manchurian times. By the way, he is a huge fan of Genghis Khan.
So in other words, we will probably never have met in those times. And in current times, we are like the East Meets West...in any sense of the word (from food, ways of dressing, movies, fashion sense, language preference, et cetera et cetera). We used to have arguments about almost everything. But now it is quite funny, looking at how we would approach the differences. But well, that's another story.
I hope he climbs it (Mount Tai San) safely! Jia You!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
The beautiful world of music
I attended a beautiful concert yesterday and there is this particular piece that really touched me.
Blue bird.
You can access the music in my newly constructed webpage, Momo's chronicles on the right!
If you are stressed, insecure, uneasy, loaded etc, etc, listen to it...
Blue bird.
You can access the music in my newly constructed webpage, Momo's chronicles on the right!
If you are stressed, insecure, uneasy, loaded etc, etc, listen to it...
Monday, November 05, 2007
Deal or No Deal?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8m9I9NqCoO39GJwj6ra_SJ71Aour7G1s4CdJqVwnzSz0tv533Wx4mwFCUaCzwLb7Qp1Yi9Qx0q_9rp99m8Cwg8ykJx1e4J1mXWYN7m0jSGRd_z38WkRz93_NF05fKb4-nV1oYXA/s400/untitled.bmp)
It is that time of the year again...to give out presents. I seldom buy Ryan stuff. But I made a deal with him every year, that if he can meet my expectations for his exams, I will buy him something he likes. It is like setting goals for my spiderman. I must say, he has improved. Last year, he lost the deal. This year, he finally did it. I guess as Chinese, we are still very traditional in this sense. We believe in trying and trying till you reach your goals, then you will reap the rewards you sow.
So this is the value I am trying to teach my little spiderman. Of course, when he was younger, he didn't buy our idea. He would cry and demand that he have it nor matter what. But these days, he is very much grown up and realised he has to do his part for the "deal".
He has gotten his band 1 for his exams, so I have to fulfil his wish...to have a star wars lego X-Wing Fighter. And he has done his research to make sure it fits into the $90 budget.
So tonight, I got to go find this rare X-Wing...I think I know where I can get it...hopefully it is still there!!
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Two Peas in a Different Pod
TS is going on a working trip..for 10 days! He is a total neat freak. I cannot imagine how neat he can get at times...look at that packing! I would never be able to achieve that kind of standard, maybe 60% of that skill. And he went on containing his shampoo, conditioner, powder...into small bottles for a compact travelling experience. I would presume an average traveller would just throw all the toiletries in its original state into the bag (or is it not?). I would.
And this is the same man who would totally object to me ironing his clothes cos no extra seams or lines must be seen on his shirts or pants. I give up. We are simply two peas in different pods.
Look What (Who) We Brought Home!
We brought home TS's girlfriend, a.k.a Hello Kitty today. Isn't SHE the cutest thing? I went into the hello kity store today, saw these new editions and said to TS...
ME: Na, buy for me!
TS: (to the salesgirl) Ok...how much is it? (I just knew he would ask this!)
ME: $100! (Interrupting the salesgirl before she could speak, cos I already found out the price earlier on)
SG: No lah, this one very cheap, only $49! It will be snapped up very fast, and only 4 of them arrived yesterday.
TS: Ok, go choose a nice one.
Okay, I was behaving totally like a five-year-old, hugging to the hello kitty! But deep down inside, I know I am NOT going to leave this shop without her. But turns out, TS is also "in love" with her. We acted like two five year olds when we reached home.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Multi-poly Not Mono-poly
But he didn't know something...he is up against the Monopoly Queen, haha!! I used to beat my sister and father every time in this game, haha!
Where the Sun Sets
This is the route I take home everyday from work. The bus service from NTU made it very very convenient, else it would be like a 2 hours journey home with transfers from bus-mrt-bus. But with this service, it is only like a half hour journey home, in comfort.
It is nice to see the sunset on the way home everyday (well, except for the occasional rainfall). "Another day has past" and it's going home to see my family...who interestingly, peeps out of the window at 6:30pm to see, no, "spy" me walking home on this stretch with another colleague who lives just opposite.
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