Watched an ad for Singapore's Brainiest Kid. Was completely disgusted when the camera focused on parents sitting in the audience and punching their fists in jubilation when their kids got the right answer. It's disgusting. Singaporean parents are so pathetically kiasu they want their kids to be the smartest in everything. Because it reflects well on them. Insecurity, I tell you. It's like the poor kid is a racehorse that you train up and he/she comes in first in the race, giving you glory and prestige. It's friggin pathetic. PLEASE. And it's so sad to see all those tiny bespectacled kids stressing themselves out, furrowing their brows, trying to get the right answer because SOOOO much depends on it. Like if they didn't get the right answer, the world would stop spinning and it would ALL be their fault. And their parents would be disgraced. And the minute they reached home, they would be disciplined for not completing enough assessment books. And not having enough tuition. And the parents would lament that they didn't get a good enough tuition teacher, that they shouldn't have hired that incompetent high school grad, that they should have bought the assessment book certified by MOE instead of that dodgy Australian one (I mean, only people who can't make it in Singapore go to Australian universities right?). Bloody pathetic.

If you haven't already noticed. That was a rant. I haven't had a good rant in a while. Thought today was as good a day as any.

But, in all seriousness, I'm worried about the types of people that we are producing. We, the up and coming generation of future leaders (as all good politicians, nay, as all good political speechwriters cum spin doctors would put it), are the next batch of parents. Some of us are already parents. I don't think we realise it enough but we have an incredible impact on the young 'uns we will be bringing to this world. In my local context, I know that my kids will be growing up in a world of I'm-so-smart-I-can-whoop-your-ass-in-algebra-and-quantum-physics-and-I'm-not-even-in-secondary-school-so-there.

Sigh, maybe I'll just get a dog.

The LBD

I would like an LBD. Don't ask me why the sudden desire. I just want an LBD. No woman's wardrobe is complete without this essential item. BUT, I daresay the LBD is the single hardest thing to find. And once you find the perfect one, price ceases to become an issue. Like finding the perfect pair of jeans. Who cares if it costs $200? If it flatters your physique in the best way possible, it's $200 well spent.

But the LBD, ohhh the LBD... it's like looking for the perfect sphere. Not really. But I have yet to come across one that is dressy enough without being OTT, that fits you perfectly, that is the correct length, that shouts, "THIS IS THE PERFECT LBD!!!"

My quest has been halted temporarily. For a variety of reasons. Firstly, I do not have the money to finance the acquisition of this certain piece of garment. Secondly, I have not the faintest idea where to wear it to. I suppose I could wear it to concerts and the like. Thirdly, there are more important things on my wish list. Like:

1) A 12-string guitar
2) A guitar tuner
3) The SK-II Facial Treatment Mask (just cos it looks good and I've heard so much about it. Oh ok, I've been swayed by the constant SK-II features in our magazine)
4) A new mobile phone
5) A digital camera

I really really need a new phone. My phone is so cracked it's barely holding together. And my screen either goes blank or does the Matrix scrolling thing. Ugh. I reeeeally need a new phone. That pushes the LBD way down to the bottom of my list.

But I really would like an LBD.

*The author just realised that the less-informed male species might not understand certain terminology used. LBD refers to "little black dress" while OTT is "over-the-top". She apologises for any sense of discrimination that the lesser sex might have felt. Oops, she means the other sex. Grin*

i iS siCk

I am sick. Physically. Last night, I went to the Silver Cross clinic and spent a whopping $49!!! All on Mom's credit card of course. And I topped up petrol with her card as well. Gosh, it feels good :)

But yes, back to the main thing. I am sick. I am now on a course of antibiotics (purely because I want to get better for a job interview on Friday). My throat feels like there's this giant char siew pau stuck in it and my mind goes blank every 30 seconds.



Now where was I?

Right. I am sick.

Veggie Tales

You know those ready-made salads they sell at the supermarkets? The ones that come with a packet of dressing and another packet of croutons? Bro and I were having a bowl of salad each over dinner and I was watching TV when I heard him make a noise (it wasn't a grunt and it wasn't a 'tsk'. it was more of an 'argh' but not). Thought nothing of it and proceeded to pour the dressing over my salad. I took one bite of a leaf and realised that I had left the packet of croutons in the salad and now the dressing was all over it. Looked up at Bro and said, "you did it too, didn't you?" To which he nodded. And to which I said, "we're definitely from the same family".

Had an alright day at work but got majorly car-sick in the cab when I went from Collyer Quay to Bukit Timah to Waterloo Street and back to Collyer Quay. Did my cab expenses today and realised that I had chalked up a cool $146!!! (over 3 months).

So I have 2 photo shoots to go to tomorrow. Am looking forward to getting out of the office. The days are getting monotonous.

Mooncakes and Lanterns and... well, other stuff...

So the mooncake festival came and went. We had a nice little celebration at West Coast park, complete with lanterns and all.


This is my friend Audrey. We used to work together at the InterContinental.


This is me and the Mambo Kings.

It was a fun albeit tiring night... had to go to work the next day too so that was a bummer.

Last thing - Happy Birthday Andrew! Hope you enjoyed your birthday celebrations and that the year ahead will hold much more in store for you, with the goodness of the Lord's blessings.

That's it from me for today. *subliminal message*BUY THE OCTOBER SINGAPORE WOMEN'S WEEKLY*end of subliminal message*

Ok, so here we go. It's been a helluva week. But before I proceed, congratulations to Cheryl for getting a groovy job!!! I'm really happy for you :) And jealous too ;) But yeah, I think it's a great job for you and you deserve it. So go out there and change the world!!! At least the world of media anyway.

Next, lovely pic you got there Lil. Are we gonna get to see more pix of Lombok? You lucky girl, what I'd give to get out of the country now!

Ok, so SARS is back. It's a good thing we're not running around like headless chooks. And somebody tell me the 2nd anniversary of 9/11 went by relatively unnoticed on our side of the world. The other day, my editor was asking me if I read the papers everyday and I nodded an "uh-huh" (translation: I LIED). Eeep. I haven't lied outrightly in ages!! I mean, that was such a lie I swear she saw right through me. Anyway, she wants me to pitch 4 story ideas to her by Monday. 2 for I-S and 2 for The Edge. Problem - I have no idea what The Edge is and where to get it. And the last time I saw copies of I-S, they were at Coffee Club, HV. Where does one get her hands on an elusive free magazine? And I just found out that I-S stands for "In Singapore". Wow. I'm a certified idiot.

I need a tuition kid. I'm running low in resources. It breaks my heart to see my account balance everytime I withdraw money. And that's the problem. The only transactions I make are withdrawals. Nothing's going in!! I need a tuition kid. Anyone has a tuition kid to spare?

I bought this intensive conditioning thing for my hair. It's orange and lime. And it's intense alright. I ended up smelling like a fruit tree. I have a feeling I'll still be smelling like a fruit tree tomorrow. Well at least it's orange and lime and not durian. Hmm... durian shampoo... ugh.

Anyway, my horrible week has to do with arranging a photo shoot with 3 men, 2 of whom are very uncooperative. It's hell I tell ya. And one of them had the nerve to ask us to postpone the article. I mean, hello?? Who's running the magazine here? Anyway, had to cancel the photographer and makeup artist at the last minute. And I went to so much trouble to get permission from the Keppel Club to shoot on their premises too. Sigh. AND THEN, after that fiasco, I had to arrange ANOTHER photo shoot. This time for 3 ladies. I nearly fainted when I found out. BUT, I've learnt to be forceful. No more, "Would it be possible for you to make it on Thursday for the shoot? Could you try please? Saturday? Well, I'd rather not Saturday. Could you try Thursday? You'll get back to me? Thanks." NO MORE OF THAT. Now it's, "I'm sorry, we can't do the shoot on Saturday. It'll have to be Thursday. You'll take half day leave? Great." It's amazing how cooperative people can be when you assert yourself. It's never been something that I do well but I'm learning now and boy does it feel great to be in control! I figured, these people are probably dying to have their picture in the magazine. So basically, if I tell them we can't make it on their day of choice and it has to be on OUR day, they will do anything to change their schedules for us. That's the way it is. Because people are vain.

And since we're on the subject of magazines.... THE OCTOBER ISSUE IS OUT! Go buy it! I've got a feature article and a few box stories in it *beam* Cheap thrill but *beam* anyway :)

Alright mates, gotta go. Gonna watch a movie. I highly HIGHLY recommend S.W.A.T and Pirates of the Caribbean. HIGHLY recommended. They are the BEST movies I've watched this year. If you only have money to watch one, go watch Pirates. It's excellent. And it has more eye candy than S.W.A.T does ;) Ok, so Colin Farrell is drop dead gorgeous (I think he is anyway) but Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom in the same movie is TOO HOT TO HANDLE!! Go watch it. Today, I'm gonna watch Turn Left, Turn Right with the Takeshi fella. Jin Cheng Wu. I am cheenafying myself. It's more fun to learn chinese through movies, no?

Alright alright, I'm going.. byebye!

Ah yes, I realise I've been neglecting this blog :) Sorry 'bout that folks. I missed you all too :)

Well, the current situation is that my parents are taking a grand tour of Great Britain (ie. England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland) and have left bro and I home alone. Which is perfectly fine by me ;)

I'm still working with the magazine although I took a day off today.

There have been interesting developments in my life, which I will elaborate on another day.

Have to go now. Will update soon. Promise ;)

Love lots,
Me