Americans in Singapore

Geeky Tai-Tai's Great Road Trip Oh-Eight, La Troisième Partie

2008-12-20T23:35:00.002+08:00

Where was I? Oh, let's see, yeah, da boyz and I were headed to Carlinville. We arrived there around 5:30 (Central) Saturday. We were greeted by by Buckner, Skip and Beth's dog (a Great Pyrenees). None of the dogs really knew how to react to the other. Hunter and Clyde mostly tried to hide behind me.

We drank a few beers, watched the dogs play, and then decided to head uptown to Angus Bailey's for some dinner. I forget now what I had, but I can assure you it was teh yummeh! I love that place because they have such a varied menu, and the portions on huge.

Buckner, Beth, and Hunter

We spent Sunday getting the garage ready for the big Thanksgiving feast. Skip vacuumed the big rug (which terrified Hunter for the longest time), set up the tables, and then he and I had the best time decorating the "Thanksgiving" tree. It turned out really cool.

In the afternoon, Skip took da boyz and me to visit my mother-in-law, Gloria, at the nursing home. She's had Alzheimer's for years now, but the illness has progressed very quickly of late, and it's heartbreaking.

When we arrived, Skip said, "Hi, Mom, do you know who I am?" and she very politely replied, "No, I don't believe I do."

Skip led us down the hall so that I could see her room and we could get her jacket. Skip and Beth have seen to it that she has all of her special things -- photos, her favorite chair, things like that. She told me that everyone there is very nice and she likes it there.

After we'd retrieved her jacket, we went back down the hallway to head outside when I discovered a "deposit" on the sparkling floor left by one of mah boyz! One of the aides cleaned it up for me since I didn't have any of my plastic bags with me. Doh!

We went outside to sit on the bench she likes to sit on. We didn't have a conversation really, but it was nice to sit with her and she seemed to enjoy petting Hunter. He loved it! After about 15 minutes, Gloria was ready to go back inside. A young lady was there doing manicures. Skip helped Gloria select a new color besides the bright pink she'd had on.

While Skip went to back to set Glo's TV to FOX so that she could watch football later that afternoon, I stayed in the commons area with Clyde and Hunter. They were perfectly behaved! One resident in particular, really loved petting them. I was so proud of mah boyz, and it made me feel good that they brightened the day for so many people. This is what I hope we can do on a regular basis in the future.

My niece, Jessica, came over later in the afternoon along with her puppy, Reilly. Take a look...

We had the best time just watching those three little fellas!

Sunday evening, I took the boys out to potty around 10:30 and had a smoke. It was so cold and Hunter is still scared of the stairs. I got he and Clyde up on the deck and decided I couldn't put that cig out on the deck because it would leave

a nasty black spot. I spied the planter nearby and thought, "Aw, well, I can just put it out in there and then head upstairs with the boys."

Around 3:30 a.m. I heard commotion downstairs -- Beth calling very loudly for Skip. I went back to sleep, but wondered why she was getting up so early for work. We woke up around 8:30, I threw on some clothes so that I could take the pups out to potty. Skip came in and said, "Good morning", but not in his usual jovial tone.

"Well, good morning, Skip, how are you today?"

He had an odd look on his face, and he hesitated before speaking.

"Skip, are you OK? Is something wrong?" I'm getting scared now because he's a pretty laid back guy most of the time.

Skip finally said, "Uh, yes mostly, but we've had a bit of a problem." He put his arm around me, helped me with getting the leashes on the pups, and led me out onto the deck. What I saw -- well, it just sent me into a state of shock. It took a few seconds for the sight to sink in before I realized that I HAD SET THEIR HOUSE ON FIRE! OMG! I started bawling!

He was kind enough to let me cry on his shoulder, held me, and then he said,

"We need some coffee. I can't figure out how to work that new coffee maker, so I'm going to take Buckner in the truck to get us some."

Hunter was so upset about me crying and being upset, he couldn't stop shaking. I couldn't stop shaking and eventually felt like I was going to be very ill. The damage is rather minimal when I think what it could've been, but that's when I get nauseous -- again! I am so grateful that Beth decided to go through the kitchen to get to the bathroom at 3:30 a.m. I still can't believe that it happened. GAH

Buckner letting me know that I'm an idiot!

To be continued... at my NEW blog: The Real Life of a Geeky Tai-Tai

Geeky Tai-Tai's Great Road Trip Oh-Eight, La Deuxième Partie

2008-12-12T22:37:00.007+08:00

After breakfast with Laci_Loo and Sodap oplv at Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville, we took off for Carlinville on I-64. There is hardly ever any traffic on that interstate, and very few gas stations. We were getting close to 1/4 tank of gas and rather than risk running empty, I decided to stop at a little gas station that looked like it was right out of Mayberry, NC. There was only one pump with one type of gasoline. (Later I would realize that it was not the good kind!)

Shortly after I filled up, I got back on the highway and was getting ready to set the cruise-control to 79 mph when I noticed a vehicle pull up right next to me, then I saw the flashing lights. I turned to see an Indiana State Trooper motioning for me to follow him, and then he pulled over a truck that was ahead of me. OOPS!

Once to the side of the road behind the trooper's car (it should be noted here that this was one HOT-looking Indiana State Trooper) the Hot State Trooper walked back and asked, "Where are you from?"

Me: "Uh, uh, I'm from Alpharetta, Georgia."

Hot State Trooper: "Where are you headed?"

Me: "Uh-uh, C-C-Carlinville, Illinois."

Hot State Trooper: "Why are you going there?"

Me: "I-I-I've got family there."

Hot State Trooper: "OK, I need your drivers license and registration please."

"Oh, yes sir, just a moment." All the while I'm smiling like a doofus I lean over to attempt to open the glove compartment. My front seat was full of plastic bags (to pick up puppy poo), my handbag (that is literally a black hole), and a cooler with water for us sitting on the floorboard. I could see that Hot State Trooper was checking out my very well-behaved boys buckled up safely in their little car seats.

I finally got the glove compartment open to discover that it was full of all of the "new car" books, but I couldn't find the registration. I pulled everything out and rummaged through the mess in a nervous frenzy. I finally found the little piece of paper that was the registration. I went through "The Black Hole" and managed to get my license. I handed them to him (still smiling like an idiot).

Hot State Trooper then said, "Now, Miss, I want you to very carefully pull ahead of the truck so that people can see the lights on my car."

I did as instructed, then proceeded to Twitter about being pulled over, and took a picture for my Twittering friends.

When he came back, Hot State Trooper said, "You were going 81 mph, 11 mph above the speed limit. The registration that you gave me was expired. I checked it and saw that it was renewed and good until September of 2009. The truck in front of you was going even faster. I'm just going to give you a warning, but I want you to slow down when driving through our state."

I was nodding, still smiling like a doofus, "Yes sir, yes sir, thank you very much!" I watched him walk back to the speeding-truck-dude in my rear-view mirror, then slowly drove off to continue our journey to Carlinville without further incident. WHEW!

Geeky Tai-Tai's Great Road Trip Oh-Eight, Première Partie

2008-12-07T06:16:00.005+08:00

I think the most difficult thing about living in Singapore for us was not being able to be with our family and friends during American holidays. Oh my, please don't misunderstand! We have always had fun with our friends (chosen family) wherever we've lived because, really, how can one not appreciate the special people that we've been so fortunate to meet?

Now that we're back stateside, we still struggle with the logistics of being with our families. Most of WHH's family is in Carlinville, IL, most of mine in Indianapolis, and we're in Atlanta. Jim was busy with OTR truck-driving school and was unable to leave Indy. Patrick is going to school and working in Atlanta. We couldn't be with one son and not the other. It's just not right.

The more we talked about it we realized that it would be simplest for me to take a road trip to Carlinville and Indy, and visit my friends along the way. I love road trips!

I put Clyde and Hunter in their car seats on Friday, November 28, for the first leg of our trip to Louisville, KY. I hadn't seen my friend, Junebug, in 4 1/2 years.

Junebug and Me

We spent the evening talking, laughing, drinking lots of beer, before I went to bed at 2 a.m. I set the alarm on my phone for 8:00 a.m. because I was going to meet-up with Sodapop and LaciLoo at Lynn's Paradise Cafe for breakfast at 9:00. Uhm, guess what... I didn't wake up until 8:40! I jumped up, threw on some clothes, called Laci to apologize and tell her I would be on my way as soon as I could feed and walk mah boys.

I hurriedly said my goodbyes to my friends and loaded up my things and the dogs to head over to the restaurant.

As I was driving into Louisville, Laci SMSed to say that they were seated at the very rear of the restaurant. When I arrived, I was an hour late! I was terribly embarrassed, but they both made me laugh when they told me that they were both jittery from drinking so much coffee!

Sodapop and Me

LaciLoo and Me

We spent the next hour and a half getting to know each other better and enjoying the delicious breakfast. Oh, and we also talked about the awesomeness of other bloggers I've met at TequilaCon '08 and Avitable's Halloween party (Dave2, Adam, Miss Britt, Hilly, Karl ). There are more, but we didn't have that much time because I needed to get on the road to Carlinville and they were going to see Twilight.

You can bet that the next time I'm in Louisville, I will definitely meet-up with Sodapop and LaciLoo again. These gals know how to have fun and they make me laugh! Thank you for spending your morning with me.

To be continued...

A New Life in America

2008-11-04T05:58:00.006+08:00

This past summer has been hectic and downright overwhelming at times. Hence, no posts from me. I've missed blogging, but the whole "Oh cool, this will be a great thing to write about" completely disappeared for me.

Every time we move it seems I have to reinvent myself to adapt to the new environment. It didn't take me long to adapt to Singapore, except for the heat. I fell in love with living there. Living as an expat in another country has a lot of drawbacks, but living in Singapore was almost like a vacation for me the entire time I was there. Of course, that was not the case for WHH, but he loved his work and we made a lot of wonderful new friends.

Repatriation has not been as easy for me as my transition to Singapore. I was used to apartment living, no stairs, a pool we could use year-round for exercise or just relaxing and visiting with our friends and neighbors. We walked or took a short cab ride to where ever we needed to go so there was no need for a car. Groceries were delivered to our apartment. I had help with house-cleaning and ironing. We essentially had no bills to pay because our rent was already deducted from WHH's salary. It was too easy for me, and I got spoiled.

Upon our return, it was back to "real" life for me -- a much too-big house without my sons or my Woofie (my 14-year old Terrier mix) this time. I've felt a little lost as to what my purpose in life is supposed to be now that I'm back. I enjoy taking pictures and making my silly videos, I love the internet and have made so many new friends via blogging, Facebook, and Twitter. It's amazing the connections and reconnections one can make.

I've missed my Woofie so much the last four years. We've always had pets, but I wasn't sure if I was ready for the obligations of pet parenthood. Adopting a pet is a decision that one cannot make on impulse.

It wasn't until my friend, Mary, posted pictures and videos of all of her precious puppies online that I realized I needed to get another dog. Not just any dog, but a very special breed -- a Havanese. Mary lives in Connecticut (we've known each other now for about 20 years), but she told me that her friend had a litter of Havanese pups that would soon be ready for adoption. I was so excited until she told me the cost of one of those beautiful puppies. I wanted to cry!

Then Mary suggested that I check out the Havanese Rescue, Inc. website because she's a volunteer with them. I did, and immediately my heart went out to little Isabella. HRI contacted me the same day that I sent my application to adopt. It was explained to me very clearly that it's not me who chooses the puppy. HRI makes the decision by committee as to who is most suitable for the puppy. So, I tried very hard not to get my hopes up. Eventually, the foster mama called to tell me that she felt Isabella needed a home with other dogs. She suggested I check the site for other dogs available for adoption and I did.

That's when I discovered Clyde and Hunter, 3-year old brothers who needed a new home because their previous family ran into financial difficulties. I applied to adopt them both because of what Isabella's foster mama had told me, and I also said that I would drive down to Florida to get them. HRI required four references (and they did call and speak with them) and a home inspection. It is a very intensive process, but its all for the safety and happiness of the dogs.

I am very pleased to tell you that we were approved for the adoption of the newest members of our family, Clyde and Hunter. When I arrived at the foster mom's home in Florida, I heard all kinds of barking behind the door. I knew that she had four of her own Havanese. She led me into her home and had me sit in a big comfy chair. Immediately, Clyde was in my lap licking my face. Hunter went hiding behind her chair. She brought him around to meet me, and I fell madly in love with these two black and white balls of fur!

Soon after bringing mah boys home, I realized that I needed to do whatever I can to help protect this precious breed. I'm very happy to announce that last week, I was officially approved as a Havanese Rescue, Inc. volunteer. The purpose I was searching for found me. Life is good.

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Clearly I Won't Be Invited...

2008-07-12T13:23:00.000+08:00

to Hollywood, Cannes or Oslo for awards, but I feel compelled to share this with you, my loyal blog-readers...

Or you can view the video here.

I said in the video that I would continue filming the next day, but the stump grinder dude showed up at the same time the mover dudes brought our stuff from storage. The stump grinder was a remote-controlled SP7015TRX. He was finished with the job in about an hour. Yes, yes, I know you're disappointed you can't see video of it in action, especially of the cute guy operating it. I'm disappointed too!

Gimme One Reason To Stay Here...

2008-07-07T11:54:00.004+08:00

And we'll turn right back around...

Living in Singapore was a wonderful experience for both of us. It's hard for me to put into words how special it was for my WHH (Way-Hot Husband = Michael). He was able to work with a team of exceptional talent that had been without leadership for several months. It didn't take long for him to learn about each of his team members' talents and their willingness to work toward the unusual goals that his team had set.

Honestly?? I was almost sick of hearing the acronym for the new platform that his team had developed! He was on the phone most nights with Europe or the U.S. along with the Singaporean team members for the last 2+ years. The coolest part is that the entire project has been successful and nothing like this has ever been done before.

I have always been proud of my husband. He is loving, honorable, trustworthy, sincere, and a loving father -- qualities that aren't always so easy to find. What an adventure the last 30 years has been. It sure doesn't seem like it's been that long to me.

I think this video sums up what I'm trying to say, but in pictures instead. I would prefer to say, "We'll see you again soon!" rather than "Farewell".

Back in the USA Part 2

2008-07-05T21:20:00.002+08:00

Even more compelling video for your viewing pleasure...

Back in the USA

2008-07-05T11:02:00.002+08:00

This video is unedited, and NSFW. That means "not safe for work"OR Mom, young nephews, and anyone else easily offended by stupidity.

Happy birthday America!

In Memoriam

2008-06-21T21:29:00.003+08:00

Some Good News

2008-04-21T18:50:00.000+08:00

Good news! Miss Ann's raffle has raised almost $5,000 -- enough money to send Lisa and her family to Disney World, plus a little extra for her to use however she wishes. Honestly, it is just awesome that so many people came together to help a friend realize her dream before she starts chemo treatments.

Lisa plans to attend TequilaCon '08, too since she lives in the area. I'll actually get to meet her after reading and commenting for a year! There will be much squeeee-ing, hugging, and kissing going on at the Lounge 'n Lanes in Philly that night. Especially, when we'll have the likes of Dustin wearing the very special outfit his mom sent him. ROFLMAO!

The other good news is that our niece, Alex, and her boyfriend, Adam, are out of the hospital. Adam was fortunate in that his injuries were not too extensive because his seatbelt did not break. He had two broken ribs and the right side of his body was bruised.

Alex was not so fortunate. She was driving. Probably too fast, but do you know any 19-year old who doesn't? It was raining, and she hit a bad pothole that she couldn't see. I'm fairly certain that she was driving her dad's big Chevy truck and the seat-belt broke. The truck flipped numerous times (I think 5), she was ejected, the truck rolled over her left shoulder and her arm was completely severed. She also sustained a broken eye-socket, broken jaw, a laceration on her face, and significant blood-loss (there could be more, but this is all I can recall).

A passerby helped them, found her arm, and called for help. They were transported to Methodist Hospital, the trauma center in Indianapolis. However, none of the surgeons there wanted to attempt to reattach her arm because her shoulder was so damaged. I think it was her big brother, Matt, who made the decision to find another doctor willing to attempt the surgery. Her parents were in Florida at the time of the accident (they're moving there), so a lot of the decision-making was on his shoulders. He just turned 24 April 13, but has served two times in Iraq. He told his mom and dad, "This was the hardest thing I've had to do in my life." I guess you do what you've got to do, and he did a fine job!

The doctor willing to attempt to reattach Alex's arm was at St. Vincent's Hospital. She underwent numerous surgeries to remove dead tissue and bone, transfusions, as well as litres and litres of fluids. By the end of the weekend her little body weighed 50 pounds more than when she was admitted.

The doctors decided to allow her eye-socket to heal without surgery, but they repaired her jaw with a titanium plate rather than wiring it shut because of nutritional concerns. We actually got to speak with her last Sunday on the phone. She'd only had the tube removed from her throat hours before, and her voice was remarkably strong.

So far, she's stable and healing well. She was released from the hospital Saturday, and even posted a short note on Facebook saying that she won't be on the computer much for a while. She's got a long row to hoe, but I know she can do it!

Thank you all so much for your good thoughts and kind words for both Lisa and Alex. They mean a lot to all of us.

This is a tough post for me to write

2008-04-05T15:09:00.004+08:00

A lot has happened in the last 24-hours and I need to let you know the latest. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for going to Lisa's and Miss Ann's blogs to offer your kind and generous support. If you haven't yet, I hope that you will take a bit of time to go to Lisa's blog, click on the "comment" button, and leave her some words of encouragement -- yes, even though you don't know her.

Here's what she says in the comments section of her blog...

"I want to reply to each and every one of you. I mean that in all sincerity because your comments mean so much. I have been printing them and so far have 43 pages!!! They will keep me strong and remind me what to be grateful for on the days I feel weak and feel like I can’t fight.
I’m grateful for all of you! "

She's an amazing woman who is such an inspiration to all of us.

Here's an update from Lisa:

"... It turns out that I have tumors on my liver and abdomen. This is an aggressive cancer that seems to be spreading fast. I’m inoperable although my only hope may be that Johns Hopkins is the only hospital on the East Coast that may be willing to try surgery to “debulk” the tumor in my abdomen but it’s very risky.
Using chemotherapy at this stage in the game may or may not produce good results..."

An update from Miss Ann (she's hosting the raffle):

"...We’ve reached $3000+! Since people don’t like to insure two time cancer survivors, and since the raffle is still running and even MORE stuff has been donated, which I will post tomorrow, I’m asking for the donations to continue to help with medical expenses and such. As I said yesterday, the raffle might end early depending on what goes on with her at her next doctor appointment sometime next week. I have to pull it abruptly if she needs to go NOW. You guys are the greatest. Seriously. Your thoughtfulness and caring are amazing. Thank you so much..."

Another blog friend, whom I haven't met yet has made the following video. It is beautiful and makes me very proud to be a part of the blogging community.

Now, I need to ask for your love, support, good vibes, and prayers. Our niece, Alex and her boyfriend, Adam, were in a terrible auto accident yesterday in Indiana. It was raining, the country road was slick, and they hit a pothole. I don't know many more details except the truck flipped 7 times. My niece was thrown from the truck and her arm was severed. Adam found her arm, and called for help.

They were both airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Alex was assessed there and the doctors determined that she could withstand the surgery to reattach her arm. She was then transported to St. Vincent's Hospital. She made it through surgery and her arm's circulation is good, but she has started running a fever and is in critical condition. She also has significant facial injuries, but the swelling has to go down before the doctors can do anything.

It's my understanding that Adam is still at Methodist Hospital in critical condition suffering from internal injuries and hemorrhaging. Unfortunately, I don't know anymore than that at his time.

It is very hard for us to be so far away when something as devastating as this happens. The movers arrived here this morning to begin packing our household goods. Michael packed up a lot of things today and took them to the service apartment. I still have a bunch of forms to fill out, but I'm getting there -- slowly, but surely. I promised Lisa last night that I would stop procrastinating the shitty stuff that I hate to do.

I'm so thankful for technology, the internets, and the beautiful people behind those computer screens. I'm pretty sure I'd be a total basket case right now if I didn't have them. It felt good to talk to Jimmy and my Mom on Skype this morning and to be able to see them. They had been to see Alex, and it was terribly difficult for them to see her little body so battered and broken. So, once again, I thank you for your love and support. It means a lot to me.

Sometimes We Need A Little Help from Friends

2008-04-03T09:11:00.006+08:00

I was going to write about our anniversary evening, but something more important has come up and I need to ask for your help.

I know many of you don't understand this blogging business or the friendships that I've made over the last couple of years. After I started reading blogs, I began to know these people -- probably even better than some of my In Real Life (IRL) friends.

We interact with comments on each other's blogs, Flickr, Twitters, chats, etc. My circle of blogging friends are talented writers, smart as hell, and almost always very funny. I'm always drawn to people who have a sense of humor. When a fellow blogger has a crisis and shares it with us, the blogging community rallies in support. These friendships are real. Connecting with other bloggers all over the world has helped me tremendously while living in Singapore. I'm not so sure I would've adjusted as well as I have without knowing these wonderful people were out there and willing to lend a hand if I needed it.

One of my favorite blog friends is, Lisa, a 41-year old wife and mother of two beautiful daughters. I've been reading her since the beginning of last year. She spent a lot of last year in a coma as well as suffering amnesia resulting from surgery for ovarian cancer. Even though she was in the hospital or at home recovering from March to September, she still managed to graduate from college in October. She went back to work and started working on her Master's degree. She is an amazing woman, honest and forthright.

The following is a quote from Lisa's Promises, Promises post from last November:

Changed jobs
Battled depression
Seen my father on a ventilator after having two heart attacks
Turned 40 and had a mid-life crisis
Battled depression
Had cancer
Survived six surgeries
Was in a coma
Had amnesia
Battled depression
Couldn’t walk
Had numerous other medical complications
Battled depression
My dad had a heart transplant
My mother was diagnosed with cancer
Battled depression
Graduated from school
Started Graduate school
Battled depression
Lost 60 pounds
Battled depression

Yesterday, Lisa wrote that she has cancer again, and it has spread. As I said, when a friend is going through rough times, the blogging community rallies. In this case, Miss Ann Thrope, decided to host a raffle of one of her beautiful afghans to earn enough money for Lisa and her family to go to Disneyworld. Since then, a lot of other bloggers have donated prizes to the raffle too. Check out Miss Ann's post for the additional prizes. All of them are very generous and given from the heart.

This is a cause very near and dear to my heart. I hope you'll consider a donation.
Lisa and her family went through hell last year (that is an understatement if there ever was one). They deserve to have some fun times together without worrying about finances.

A couple of other things I ask of you... go over to Lisa's place and leave a supportive comment. Yes, even if you don't know her. Bloggers love comments and feedback. At a time like this, it is even more important.

If you believe in the power of prayer, I would ask you to keep Lisa and her family in yours. If you don't believe in prayer, please just think good thoughts for them and donate as much money as you can afford.

Thank you, my friends.

High Anxiety

2008-03-27T19:05:00.004+08:00

I started this post last Thursday. I think I might need some Xanax!

I woke up too early this morning... 4:30. I laid in bed for 30 minutes, and decided to get up. No sense lying there with lists running through my head. Lists, lists, lists! You want lists? I'll give you a list of the lists:

List from Big Corporation
List from Moving Company
List from the housing agent
List from the landlord's agent

Then, of course, there are the lists that I make for myself -- several times a day. Just so that I don't get confused. Now, I must say that I'm not as particular about my lists as SJ or KG. They are the Primadonnas of the Listmakers in the Blogiverse! My lists are sloppy, but they work for me, sort of, unless I get distracted by:

My new Macbook that is just so cool and has lots of cool free apps I can download
Google Reader with about 350 blogs that I follow
Jester's BlogTalk radio show (I used to listen to Mr. Fab live, but can't because of the stupid time change), or Hilly's show.
The ever-present Twitter... so much fun to chat with my blog friends.
Crackbook's Scrabulous and Staries games... um, yeah, I'm addicted.

Today's list:

Finish photos and inventory of our possessions
Utilities refund spreadsheet
Start moving us to the service apartment
Wire $$$ to U.S.
Cancel our club membership
Cancel newspaper (again -- he forgot and delivered one today)
Cancel phones
Cancel utilities
Find my glasses! I've looked everywhere, but I can't find them. Sheesh!
Take my husband to dinner at his favorite restaurant for black-pepper crab and celebrate our 30th anniversary.

I'm worn out just looking at that list. My desk is an absolute mess. I straighten things out every evening, but then in the morning it gets completely out of control. No, I need to clarify that -- I am completely out of control!

Things Are Looking UP!

2008-03-24T14:55:00.004+08:00

It pretty much sucks getting older... we fight the battle of the bulge, we fight the cholesterol and the triglycerides, and we lose our hair -- all over! Damnit, that really does a number on the ego. Seriously.

Asians tend to have very sparse or almost non-existent eyebrows and their eyelashes are rather short. Caucasians on the other hand, mostly have eyebrows and eyelashes, but we lose them as we get older.

My friend Jing and I went to get our eyebrows tattooed last month, and I was very pleased with the results. Jimbo and I were talking on Skype the other day, and he said he thought I looked younger. WOO-HOO! Such a good son he is.

I went for a touch-up this past Friday because the tattoos fade after a bit. They're only semi-permanent, unlike regular tattoos. The eyebrows don't hurt that much, but the eyeliner did -- especially the lower lids even though she applied a numbing gel. My eye was twitching so much that Emily (the artist) had to press on my eyes to keep them from twitching! Owww! By the time I left the place, both eyes were completely numb and my vision was blurry. The price we pay, right?

Yeah, well, I'm happy with the results and also happy not to have to draw eyebrows everyday to keep from looking sick. I hate that. They're a bit dark now, but they'll lighten and look more natural in a few days. They also will "do" lips, but since I'm addicted to lipgloss there's really not much reason for me to have mine done.

Everyone at the center is friendly and helpful. The facility is spotlessly clean, the treatment rooms have "spa" music playing. and are quite comfortable. and it smells really nice, too. If you're interested in finding out more...

Derma-Aesthetics Centre
3 Killiney Road #01-03 Winsland House
6836-8388
www.erabelle.com

Saturday evening we met up with Nabil and Shyanne at Pete's Place for dinner, but the first order of the evening was my purchase of a brand new Macbook from Shyanne. Yeah! I'm so pumped. After we gabbed about how much I'm going to love my Mac, we ate dinner which was definitely not on my diet (spaghetti and meatballs), but damn it was yummeh! I ate every bit of it! We went upstairs to mezza9 for drinks and had the best time chatting and laughing. They definitely know how to make a great martini, and Shyanne and Nabil are so nice to hang out with a couple of old people.

My Macbook is simple to use, it's incredible! We just took it out of the box and turned it on. I plugged my mouse in, and it worked without having some pop-up saying that it "Found New Hardware". I.LOVE.IT!

The plans for our repatriation are starting to come together. We're going to move into a service apartment April 1. The packers will start packing our stuff April 5 and we'll hand over this apartment on the 15th. We will take the direct flight from Singapore to Newark April 30 (we leave 4/30 and arrive 4/30 cool, huh?). Then we'll rent a car and drive down to Philadelphia for TequilaCon '08! I've booked a room for us at the Holiday Inn in the Historic District, for May 2 and 3. Unfortunately, we'll have to leave early on the 4th because of our flight to Atlanta. We don't feel like arriving late at night. It's an hour's drive from the airport to the hotel where we'll be staying until our "stuff" arrives.

I am so excited about getting to meet Dave (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!), Jenny, Mr. Fabulous, Shelli, Lisa, Karl, Avitable, Miss Britt, plus a whole bunch of other bloggers I haven't read yet, and with the help and generosity of Avi and Miss Britt.....

Hilly!

If you've got a Paypal account, it would be so nice of you to give 1, 5, or $10. All of us bloggers would appreciate it because it wouldn't be a good TequilaCon without her (as you can see from this photo)

(Photo courtesy Hilly's camera)

I've been reading all of these bloggers for over a year now, and they are friends to me. I am so grateful that my WHH is willing to do this for me. Our 30th wedding anniversary is April 1... his gift to me is to fly us home in Business Class (rather than the back of the bus deal as we're accustomed) and attending TequilaCon '08 in Philly.

With all of the travel I've done over the years, I've never been to Philadelphia before! This trip is going to be a great incentive for me to do the inventory, move to the service apartment, box up all of our important documents and bills, give away appliances we can't use in the U.S., etc. Moving is always a huge disruption in our lives, but moving overseas is even more complicated. It's worth it, but it still takes a toll.

I'm glad that I'll get to meet everyone at TequilaCon AND get to see our family and friends. That's what life is all about!

The Simple Life -- A Guest Post by An Expat

2008-03-17T15:13:00.004+08:00

The Simple Life

Not long ago I was asked to articulate on the easy life of being an expatriate in Singapore. This seemed like a simple enough request. What’s not to like for heaven sakes?:

o Free room and board during my expatriation

o All utilities paid by my company

o My house in the US fully under the management of a third party provider, including but not limited to, house payment, real estate taxes, lawn service, etc.

o Salary adjusted to the region, i.e. US gross pay, net of all taxes, car payments, house payments, utilities, and then adjusted to the local currency.

o Club Dues to be equal to the Dutch Club. This is not a country club kind of place, but a club for expatriates of the various countries to be with people from their same region of the world. Being a Dutch company, the rate at the Dutch club is the lowest one can get. If you want to join the British Club or the American Club one must ante up for the difference at your own expense.

o 1 set of round trip tickets back to the US on an annual basis to say hello to loved ones. (coach class) Flight time is 25+ hours from door to door.

I mean really, what more could a couple ask for? “Piece of cake” as my father used to say. Living the High Life!

What often slips through the corporate crack are a few of the “intangibles” of being overseas:

o Medical bills are paid by cash only, with reimbursement only coming after painstaking attention to detail and the patience of Job as one waits to see if the Insurance Company actually accepts and pays according to the rules. Nothing like having $15k owed one for almost 9 months.

o A 65-page Federal Income tax submission that only happens 2 years after the filing date.

o The inability to communicate “live” with anyone in the US during a normal business day. At best, one is 12-13 hours ahead based on Daylight Savings Time. “Our office hours are from 9am to 7pm Eastern Standard Time.” That effectively equates to 10pm to 8am Singapore time to deal with the US.

o An expat agreement does not, by its sheer nature, guarantee one a job upon the end of the assignment. “We will do our very best to place you in a similar position as you have today, but if we are unsuccessful, then we promise to get you and your belongings back to the US.” Whoa Fucking Nellie -- thanks for asking me to go abroad and looking after my best interests at the end of the day!

o Having family and friends tell you how much they will enjoy coming to Singapore often to visit. (plan 1 visit per year from no more than 1 person)

o As the dollar goes south faster than a swarm of ducks in the fall, one’s “take-home pay” goes down equally fast. Almost 2-1 when you arrive, almost 1-1 when you leave.

o “We will be moving our corporate office shortly after your return, so please be prepared to move within 1 year of your relocation.”

Would I change a single decision or a single minute of my agreement to accept this expat assignment.. Hell No…!!!!!

o I am emotionally richer for the experience. My wife and I operate on the simple philosophy that we will never wonder “what if we had tried this or that.” We do it with the full knowledge that if we don’t like it, we will just do something else.

o The people we have met and the friends we have made here are both “life-long and everlasting.” Who would ever imagine that you would meet up with someone who grew up but 40 miles from your own small home town in Illinois. I recently asked this person where they were from. Response was pretty standard, “I grew up near Chicago.” I say “Oh really, whereabouts?” “Well, actually I grew up in a small town in southern Illinois but no one would recognize the place so I just say Chicago.” I say, “And that place would be?” Lo and behold, this person, half a world away, grew up just 40 miles from my own very small town of 4500 people in Illinois. Small world indeed.

o The cultural diversity of Singapore has truly taught me the meaning that “all men are created equal.” Everybody, regardless of race or religion, worries about paying their bills, global warming, Iraq, Iran, terrorism, and the perils of global unrest.

o We have been truly blessed (and I am not a real religious guy at the end of the day) to have had the opportunity to experience life in a different place and time.

So, my simple advice to those pondering an opportunity to explore the world, at what is effectively your company’s expense, is to “just do it.” You will be far richer for the experience than money can ever buy..!

Yours Truly,

An Expat

News Flash!!!

2008-03-10T22:43:00.006+08:00

I've been a very bad blogger the last couple of weeks. I just wasn't in much of a mood to write. That doesn't mean that nothing interesting has happened though.

1. This guy, Mas Selamat, is a very "wily" character, as Minister Mentor Lee Kwan Yew referred to him, escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Center almost two weeks ago. He is the leader of of the notorious Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group. Although the government has conducted extensive searches, he remains at large.

Photo from Interpol website

2. In January the Singapore goverment announced the detention of 13 terrorist suspects for suspicious activity under the Internal Security Act. The Straits Times also reported that many suspects are "self-radicalised" even though the government does their best to block terrorist websites.

3. I believe that the government's efforts to keep Singapore secure has also caused the blocking of several non-terrorist websites which would include Stickam. They don't need jihadists chatting online and conspiring to blow something up. Therefore, I've removed my Stickam from this blog. I'll put it back up when I start my new blog.

4. The jack-hammering of Ardmore Point has still not resumed. I hear workers, but no jack-hammering and that makes me very happy. I hope it remains this way until we move out of this place.

5. I just talked to the mover guy, and he will have people here to begin packing April 5. After everything is packed, I'll "hand-over" the keys to the agent. Then, we'll move into a serviced apartment until April 30.

6. Next, the plan is to take the direct flight to Newark stay the night, and then go to Philadelphia for TequilaCon2008! at the North Bowl Lounge 'n Lanes. My WHH has agreed to attend too! Yippeeee! I'm so excited!

7. After our fun-filled adventures meeting a whole bunch of really cool and famous blogger friends, we'll fly to Atlanta and move back into our house.

My Name is Happy

2008-02-24T16:55:00.004+08:00

After running across Geeky Tai-Tai's blog a week ago, and after an exchange of emails, she asked me if I would guest blog on my latest experience with Americans.

Little did I know, one fateful evening a couple of weeks ago, that I was about to encounter a pair of true USA small town Midwestern boys. Okay, perhaps “boys” is an inappropriate description of two brothers 54 and 56 years old, but heavens, I swear those men were as shy as a pair of 15-year old school boys fondling their first Playboy.

Our karaoke business would be described as a “typical” Asian business experience. Businessmen in Asia Pacific work terribly long and hard during the day, and need to relax in the evenings, complete with a level of “de-coupling” of one’s personal life versus one’s business life. Entertaining business associates is a fundamental requirement to doing business in Asia. In the US, they talk about working hard and playing hard. In my line of work, playing hard takes on a brand new meaning for our gentlemen customers.

When I walked into the karaoke room that evening with my fellow associates, I saw in front of me 10 men, each looking for a “partner” for the next couple of hours. My Madam then matched us up with the business man that she felt would be the best match. I would never have guessed that inside the comfort of our plush room were two Americans ripe for the picking. My friend, Jana and I were chosen to sit next to Ray and Al. Jana had only arrived in Singapore one month earlier. She showed Ray her green card and said she was here to learn English. Yea right…! But hey, it’s a great lead in line and the men suck it up big time.

The evening with my assigned karaoke partner Al, (we will call him Al to protect all involved) started out innocently enough. His brother, Ray, has been stationed in Singapore for 3+ years to date, and was planning to head back to the US later this year. Al had decided to visit him prior to his final departure. Ray had taken him earlier in the evening for a Chinese New Year dinner sponsored by one of Ray’s suppliers. There were about 10 of Ray’s colleagues at the dinner plus 4 people from the supplier. The supplier had also arranged the after-dinner entertainment at our establishment.

Al went on to describe for me his visits to Fort Siloso, the Underwater Aquarium, the Monkey Death March, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, and certainly last but not least, the Four Floors of Whores. In our line of business, we find this title to be less than flattering, but history does not allow us to change perceptional thinking as easily as one might think.

It would probably be good to describe our karaoke room. Al’s version, as explained to me later, was the Holiday Inn off Interstate 55, in the bar, with a microphone and small television on a roll away cart, with drunk people singing nasty country songs.

Our room is 20 x 30 square feet. We have deep plush couches instead of bar stools. Our television is an overhead LCD projector that lights up a 6 ft screen, conveniently tucked into a wall unit with 2 - 32” LCD’s on either side. Sound is pumped throughout the room with studio quality. Let’s be clear, this is no shit-hole, it’s our office and we keep it nice and tidy.

So here we are, sitting with our appointed dates and beginning to settle in for the pre-ordered 2 hours of entertainment. One of the ladies cranked up the karaoke machine and we had our first volunteer belting away at a local favorite.

Al seemed a bit nervous, making small talk with me as stated above, smiling, but clearly unsure what this was all about. His brother Ray was equally coming to grips with this new style of karaoke. Jana and I passed a glancing eye as we both tried to size up our prey.

After 10 minutes Al looks over at Ray and says “I need to talk to you”. Ray says “Okay, can do.” Two minutes pass and Al again looks over at Ray, voice now slightly raised and says “No, I really need to talk to you!”

In a flash the brothers are up off the couch and headed outside for a conversation. Jana and I just looked at each other and thought maybe the brothers were plotting their next moves on us, hoping to start with this, move to that, and end up with something else. We like it when the men take charge as opposed to sit there like wimps with puppy dog faces.

I can only imagine the discussion they were having, but I suspect that it went something like this:

Al: “Ray, what’s going on here?”

Ray: “Shit I don’t know, I’ve never done this before either. Let’s just relax and when our host gets here I can check with him and get the scoop.”

There was probably a moment where Al thought that his brother had set him up for this.

Al: “No really, Jesus, this is freaking me out. All I can see is my wife’s face in my head!”

Ray: “Okay, okay, as soon as our host gets here I’ll explain to him that we need to shorten the evening considerably and we’ll catch a cab back to my place.”

Poor Ray was struggling with a weird stomach virus he picked up on a recent trip to Bangalore, so this whole conversation is taking place while he’s on the crapper doing courtesy flushes to keep from really sending his brother over the edge.

The boys finally returned from their discussion to take their assigned seats next to Jana and me. We settled in with a couple of beers along with a whiskey and water. It is customary for us to sit close to our companions, lock arms with them, and gently pat their legs to reassure them that they are in good and capable hands. Ray was wearing jeans and Al was wearing shorts. This gave Al the advantage over his brother, as Al was allowed to feel the painstaking work we ladies go through to have smooth and silky legs. His were manly legs with the right amount of leg hair to tickle my outer thigh as we chatted. I could sense a good time was on the horizon.

Al turns to his left and has a brief discussion with one of Ray’s work colleagues sitting on the other side of him. I’m not sure exactly the gist of the conversation, but I did hear Ray’s colleague turn to look at Al with a smile on his face and say, “What happens in Singapore, stays in Singapore.”

It was at that very moment that I began to explore the titillating area just under the end of Al’s beige shorts. As if being shot out of a cannon, he quickly looked over at Ray and said, “I gotta go!”

Ray, trying to reassure his brother that all would be cool when the host arrived, responded with “Okay, okay.”

Apparently Al was not sure that Ray heard him, so he repeated himself, only this time a bit louder, “No you don’t understand, I need to go and I need to go, right now!”

With that Al stands up and tells Ray “Look, I can catch a cab and you can stay, but I gotta go.”

Ray, sensing the urgency of the situation and the sheer panic in his brother’s voice, extracts himself from Jana’s body press and gets up off the couch to say to his brother. “Clear, let’s go, it’s no big deal.” With that, Ray turns to his fellow colleagues and apologizes that he and Al must go now, please continue with your evening, enjoy yourselves and he would see them tomorrow at work.

If there were a world record for sitting comfortably beside a companion one minute and actually crossing a 30ft room and out the door the next, then Al would have shattered that sucker. Jana and I were almost sucked out of the room by the vacuum created by the two brothers’ exit. Poor Ray didn’t even get to finish his beer. Side-note: One of his work colleagues told Jana and I later that this was paramount to a mortal sin, punishable by spending time with his wife while she got a pedicure and manicure. Ray did not strike me as a pedicure kind of guy, so this truly must have been a devastating moment for him.

What happened next is only hearsay from a brief encounter with one of Ray’s colleagues about 2 weeks later. Story has it that when Ray and Al got back to Ray’s place, Ray’s wife, Lynn, took one look at Al and said, “Are you okay?” It seems that Lynn has seen this look before on Ray, and can always tell when something’s not right.

Anyway, the first words out of Al’s mouth were “where’s the #@$^ing Vodka, I need a drink and I need it now!” After quickly downing a vodka on the rocks, lots of olives, with a splash of ice, Al spilled his guts. It was only after 3-4 of these babies did the blood begin to flow back into Al’s face. In the end, Al made it safely home to his lovely wife with a whole slew of stories to tell his golfing buddies.

The moral of this story is as follows: If anyone comes to Singapore and is asked to go to a Karaoke Bar for a few drinks and some laughs, please call Al before you say yes. This quick phone call (1-800-dorfwad) will save you from being traumatized by the subtle differences between a Singapore karaoke bar and an Illinois karaoke bar….and will allow Jana and me to make a living.

My name is Happy, and my friend’s name is Jana. Next time one of you boys comes to town, call us -- we'll show you a fun time at a real karaoke bar!

MacRitchie Reservoir and a Monkey Death March

2008-02-20T21:23:00.007+08:00

MacRitchie Reservoir

So, let's see... where'd I leave off? Oh yeah, the ever so sultry sounds of a Geeky's saxy serenade?

Let's move on... shall we?

I suggested that we go to MacRitchie Reservoir since I still hadn't been there after living here 3 years. I promised the guys that Mom, Dad, and Mary had seen LOTS of monkeys on their trek around the reservoir. I made certain that we had plenty of cold water and our cellphones to call for a taxi just in case we couldn't hail one.

The reservoir is beautiful, and jungle-y after the entrance. I was really excited about the prospect of seeing monkeys in the wild. Especially, since I had the WHH and the WH-BIL (Way-Hot Husband and Way-Hot Brother-in-Law) to protect me from the gangs of notoriously bad monkeys -- made bad by very stupid people who feed them!

The government has raised the fine from $250 to $500, yet STUPID people continue to feed the monkeys.

When we first entered the park, we saw people resting on the park benches. A couple asked us about the Presidential election and our feelings about GWB. We said, essentially, that he's an ass, and they most heartily agreed. Then, I think WH-BIL asked about the monkeys, and they replied, "Oh, well, you're too late. They only come out at feeding times in the mornings and evenings."

Oops! I got "the look", but I remained optimistic. We were going to see monkeys and we were going to have fun, dammit! (Didn't your parents say that to you on family outings?)

We walked along the water's edge for an interminable amount of time. I had to stop to wipe the perspiration from my eyes -- they burned! We all had some water to drink and we enjoyed the breeze wafting off the water. It was about then, that I thought to check to see what my pedometer reading was (you know, for my Virtual Walk), and it only showed 1.25km -- this most definitely did not sync with the signs posted! That's when I realized that my pedometer was a POS and I've been cheated for the last 3 weeks -- whatever.

We started back on our trek, and the guys were coming up with a new game-plan to get the hell out of the park. There weren't any damn monkeys, and they'd had enough exercise for the day. It was time for some cold beer.

Suddenly Skip noticed movement and turned back to tell us to be still...

Click to enlarge and be sure to look closely as monkeys are very good at camouflage

Did you see the monkeys?

We Had a Very SPECIAL Visitor!

2008-02-18T19:12:00.004+08:00

Skip & Cheese Lobster at River Quay Seafood in Boat Quay

Remember those big-ass storms in the Midwest the week before last? Well, those stupid storms kept my favorite brother-in-law, Skip, from making his flight to Newark! Stupid storms. He was able to make it the next day, cutting his visit short by one day.

There's something you need to know... no matter how much my BIL is like his dad, he was not born a travellin' man! This is a big trip for anyone, but for someone who's not a "travellin' man"? Ummm, it's a very scary proposition!

However, he arrived safely from Singapore Airlines (he was impressed with the "care" bestowed upon passengers). Once he got to our place, we proceeded to ply him with several Stella Artois' and he ate the snacks that he 'stole' from SIA (HAH!)

He slept a while and then we took him out for a walk along Orchard Road. I'm not sure (I wasn't keeping notes -- he was), but I think we all needed a shower after that. GAH! It's humid here, but it's so good for the skin!

Mike & Skip at Ngee Ann City

We decided on dinner at our fav place, River Quay Seafood, in Boat Quay. As we were walking "The Gauntlet", we could hear drummers up ahead...

We watched and listened, and then we ate...

There's more to come, because I'm pretty sure I serenaded WHH and BIL for several hours one night with my broken saxophone! Yeah, we had quite a good time!

No, I Did Not Get the T-Shirt Dammit!

2008-02-09T22:33:00.000+08:00

I haven't posted all week because I've been BUSY, so I'm just going to tell you now. Monday night we went to see The Police, and OMG they were amazing! Even though we were sitting at the side of the stage the seats were pretty damn close, close enough that Sting could see me gazing at his HOTNESS and smiled at ME because you know I'm cool and all.

OK, the quality of my video sucks, but it's better than nothing especially since I didn't get the damn t-shirt this time. Oh yeah, the dork in front of me drove me batty with his stupid hands in the air most of the concert! The nerve of some people, I tell ya!

OMG! I've Got Stuff to Write About!

2008-02-05T07:33:00.000+08:00

First off, I must apologize to my fellow bloggers for my belatedness in reading your blogs. There are thousands of posts in my Google Reader! Some people do the "Mark all as read" thing, but I just can't bring myself to do it. To me, it feels as if I'm killing someone. If someone felt strongly enough to write, then should I really destroy it? Yeah, I'm goofy that way.

It's been very quiet around here since last Wednesday, but not in a good way. I should have blogged about it then, but I was too lazy or whatever. Around 6 in the evening, I heard a big boom, but that's not unusual with demolition. After the big boom, there was a lot of screaming and shouting. A few minutes later, I heard SIRENS!

Singapore is quiet as far as emergency vehicles are concerned, unlike the U.S. In the 3 years I've lived here, I've heard two vehicles with sirens and it was when Bush was here for a visit. It only happened once while he was here, and I'm not sure why (I'd like to say something snarky here, but it wouldn't be prudent at this juncture).

The siren caught my attention and I went to the kitchen window to see what was happening. I saw a big red vehicle (not like our fire trucks) marked "Civil Defence" and it stopped just past our building. I really thought that maybe someone had been run over by a taxi or something and decided I didn't want to pursue it further since emergency personnel were on the scene (and I don't need to see another dead body).

By Friday, it was still quiet next door. As I was perusing the morning paper, I saw a headline "3 deaths at demolition worksites in past 6 months". I scanned it at first, but then I saw Ardmore Point condo, and I had to go back to the beginning. I was planning to link this, but The Straits Times is being stubborn about "free" articles online. In a nutshell, a "49-year old foreman was crushed to death by a 30kg concrete slab". A stop-work order was issued until a complete investigation can be completed. Wednesday is Chinese New Year's Eve, so I don't see much demolition going on until after the 16th when the New Year's celebration is completed.

Chinese New Year is akin to our Christmahanukwanzakaakah, so this man's family will not be having a "happy new year". All of the men who work for that company will not be earning $$$ for their families either. It is deadly quiet next door, and I feel terrible about it.

Neil's "The Great Interview Experiment" Part II

2008-02-03T00:20:00.000+08:00

Curiosity Killer was the commenter before me on Neil's blog. According to Neil's rules, she interviewed me. I hope my answers to bore you to death!

1. How long have you been blogging?

I started blogging just after we moved to Singapore in 2004. I'd only read about it before, but I thought it would be a good way to keep our family and friends filled in on our life here.

2. How do you feel blogging has added to your life?

It has made me take the time to document our life here. If I hadn't started blogging I know that we would forget a lot of our experiences, and that would be a shame

3. Do you find yourself connecting more or less with others?

I read quite a number of blogs and have "met" a lot of bloggers -- virtually, and I consider them as friends. When others share so much of themselves on their blog, it is impossible for me not to feel connected. I've cried many times when a blogging friend is hurting. The first time it happened, my husband looked at me with such a concerned look on his face, that I'm pretty sure he worried about my sanity! Now he knows these blogging friends because I share stories with him, or I'll have him read something I find hilarious.

4. Where are places you've lived in besides Singapore?

I was born in Indianapolis and lived there until I was 18, when I moved to Carlinville, IL (July 4th 1976). I'd fallen madly in love with my husband my senior year in high school when he was attending ITT Tech to become a TV repairman. Once he graduated, he moved back to Carlinville. We would visit each other every other month or so. On one visit, his brother said, "Why don't you just move here and get a job? Then you can decide if you're really in love." It wasn't long before I packed up all of my earthly possessions into my 1969 VW Beetle and settled into "The Valley" apartment owned by Michael's parents. My rent was $60 a month! We married April 1, 1978 and started Brooks TV Sales & Service not long after.

Eventually, my husband's talent and charm came to the attention of the corporate world, and he was offered a job in Skokie, IL. We moved there in 1981 and then our oldest son, Jim, was born in 1982, then Patrick in 1985. Just after Patrick was born a new opportunity arose for my husband's career, and we moved to Orange County, CA. Life was tough because we'd decided that I would be a stay-at-home mom. OMG! We were poor, but we had some really good times there and met life-long friends.

Four years later, the company that Michael worked for before wanted him back. This gave us the opportunity to move a bit closer to our families in the Midwest. In 1989 we moved to Morristown, TN. We lived there (and the boys grew up there) until 1998 when Michael was promoted and we moved to Mahopac, NY.

We loved New York and even went to watch the ball drop in Times Square New Year's Eve. We didn't make it the entire night because it was freezing and we all had to pee! I honestly do not know how all of those people relieve themselves because the restaurants and businesses make their toilets off-limits.

Corporate changes brought another move into our lives. For almost 2 years Michael "commuted" from Knoxville TN to New York, and then from Knoxville to Atlanta where the boys and I had moved in August of 2000. The opportunity for us to live in Singapore arose in 2004. I was reluctant at first, but once I visited I was sure that I would love living here, and I do!

5. Which one of these places do you enjoy living most?

That is a very good question, and one that has been asked of us many times. Each place I've lived has had plenty to enjoy, but there are drawbacks too. I tend to prefer city-living and Michael wants to live on a lake somewhere so that he can fish the way he could in Morristown, TN. I love the peace and quiet of living in a small-ish town, but I love all of the entertainment/restaurant/cultural options of living in a city. How's that for not really answering your question?

6. What is your favorite thing about Singapore? (feel free to name up to 3 things... weather... shopping... buildings... etc.)

How about "all of the above"? It is hot and humid here and the rainy season can be tiresome, but I like the warm weather. I'm not much of a shopper really. It is more of a chore for me, but I do love Takashimaya! Even though Singapore has only been a "country" for 47 years, there's a lot of history here. I love history! It's too bad that so many of the old buildings have been razed over the years.

My very favorite place is the Botanic Gardens. They lie in the very heart of the city, but it is beautiful and relatively quiet. Yes, there are usually a lot of tourists, but there are quiet areas and I love to walk there. I can barely hear the jack-hammers!

7. You mentioned you may not stay in Singapore anymore... why is that?

Michael's initial expat assignment ended December 2007, but it was extended to the end of 2008. Then, there were corporate changes and so now we will be repatriating probably in April, the where is still uncertain.

8. If you can be anywhere in this world, where would you be?

Walking on a sandy beach with my husband.

9. What are the most memorable things for you last year in Singapore 2007?

Probably, when our niece visited and then we flew up to Berjaya Resort in Langkawi. That was awesome!

10. What is the happiest moment that you would carry with you always?

This is a tough one. I'm lucky enough to have several... the day I married my husband and when our sons were born. While we've been in Singapore, our "boys" have become men. They've become responsible and independent of us. That is the most important thing we could ever accomplish in our life.

EDIT: CK asked an additional question in the comments. She suggested that I add it to the interview...

11. If you move away (back to U.S. or elsewhere), would you be changing your blog address too?

Yes, I think I'd like to start a new blog. My friend, Cristina, suggested "A Geeky Tai-Tai in America". I think that's a perfect title. I just don't know which platform I'd use -- WordPress, Expression Engine, TypePad? I'd really like it if one of my blogging friends could design a new template for me. Maybe I should have a contest or something!

I'm beginning to look forward to repatriating, but I know it's not going to be an easy transition. I think blogging will help me get through the tough times.

Thank you Curiosity Killer for your great questions!

Neil's "The Great Interview Experiment"

2008-01-25T20:21:00.000+08:00

Neil has the coolest ideas... the Annual Arts & Crafts Fair, the Holiday Concert, and now, his The Great Interview Experiment.

I hadn't met Tatiana before and since her blog is so new, I decided to go back to the beginning and read it in its entirety. I wanted to get a "feel" for her personality and writing style. After reading just a few posts, I realized she has a great sense of humor.

Without further ado, I bring you my interview with Tatiana...

1. Your good friend has been blogging for a number of years. What is it that inspired you to start your blog just this past October?

Yes, Karel initially got me into the idea that I could blog. I actually had two blogs before this- one while I studied abroad in Australia and one during my senior year of college. But they were more of the 'this is what I had for lunch today' kind of blog. Though, to be fair, I did have kangaroo in Australia, which is much more exciting that pb&j!

2. I like the way you mix-it up with your fun sense of humor. Yet, you also talk about the challenges you face -- both as a graduate student and personally. Do you regret that your blog is no longer anonymous?

Sometimes. I do like the fact that many of my friends and family read my blog (hello, friends and family!). We talk about it in the 'real world'. A lot of the things that I post about are things that happen to me or that I talk about with friends, so even if the blog didn't have my name on it, they would be able to figure things out.

But I also don't talk about a lot of personal things that I would like to write about. Moving back home for school shifted a lot of things in my life but since I know a lot of my readers and my name is all over the place, I don't share those things online. I am lucky to have good friends to talk to about recent life events, but I have been contemplating a personal site where I could just spew out all the other thoughts running through my mind. I've never been terribly good about keeping a journal but if I don't hold myself to writing in it everyday, I may pick that up again. Besides, I think that I've set the tone for my site and it is usually pretty upbeat.

3. You've titled this particular blog "Rizado". Where did that come from?

Rizado means curly in Spanish. I have curly hair and am half Colombian.

4. Your studies have taken you from private Catholic school in Maryland, to England, Australia, and Boston. What was the most important thing you learned from each place?

Oh man- well, Catholic high school was also all girls, so I feel that contributed a great deal to my outspokenness. As far as being from Maryland, I have a LOT of state pride. I learned how to open a crab, take the metro, roll my kilt, and hate humidity.

I was in England for seventh grade, where I learned a lot about Henry VIII's wives- seriously, they were my obsession for awhile. I loved just the sheer amount of built history in England. Coming from the US where things over 100 years old are considered very historic, I was blown away, walking through old churches and cemeteries that dated back hundreds of years.

Australia was an amazing experience. I would go back in a heartbeat, if someone could guarantee no turbulence. There, I was more flexible about my time and not so rigid about my scheduling- something that I've defiantly fallen back into now.

As for Boston, I learned the importance of layers and layers of cold weather gear.

5. You mentioned that even though you were raised Catholic, if you had your choice you would become a Quaker. Yet, in another entry you say that you feel you're agnostic. Do you feel that you're in a state of flux at this point in your life?

Yes, totally. I said I would become Quaker if I had to raise my children in some sort of religion, if my husband didn't feel strongly about his own. I do feel that there is a g/God, I'm just not sure which organized religion I can get behind.

6. Once you've completed your studies, what is your dream job?

Oh... dream job. I would love to work for an exhibition consulting firm that works with various museums to help them research, write, and put up exhibits. That way, I could work with a variety of different museums, since I enjoy so many. There aren't too many of these firms floating around, so I will probably end up doing in house exhibits for a larger museum- also, totally cool with me.

7. You seem to be a traditional-values type of woman. Let's say you've landed that dream job and you're loving it. Then one day, you realize that you've met the love of your life who must move to Abu Dhabi (or some other remote locale). Would you give up the career that you've worked so long and hard to achieve for someone else's aspirations?

Whoa. This is a total cop out, but I don't know. Part of me wants to think that after all the time I put into getting my degree and landing my ideal job would make me want to stay put. But, I know myself and am a total romantic and sucker for love, so I would probably go. Though if I did go, I would want to work once I got out there. But again, I don't know until I'm in the situation. And the location probably matters as much as the man!

8. You've mentioned that you would love to have children. How many would be ideal for you and would you want to be a stay-at-home mom or stay on your career path?

Children are so far away in my mind, but yes, I do want them. I am a huge wimp, so I may be only able to have one. I think I would like 2-4. I would most likely stay at home while they are tiny babies and then work part time until they go to school. Though, like #7, I just don't know. I may want to be with them all the time or I might go crazy without serious and daily adult interaction.

9. I think it's very cool that you've at least stopped in Singapore on your way to Australia, and I'm currently living here (not much longer, though *sigh*). Let's pretend that money is plentiful and you can travel anywhere. What are your dream destinations?

So many! Well, I defiantly want to go back to Australia and New Zealand. Ireland because my father's family is from there. I've always wanted to go to Vienna because John Irving writes about it in so many of his books. Prague. Greece. Back to Italy and Spain. Egypt. Madagascar. Canada (I've never gone!). All the 50 states. Colombia, specifically Cartagena. Brazil. France. Sweden. India and China, though I would have to avoid major cities due to my intense dislike of being jostled. Virgin Islands. Cayman Islands. Pretty much any balmy island.

10. You've chosen not to you capitalizations on your blog. I am "kinda old". Would you reconsider using them in the future?

I do capitalize in my correspondence and all formal writing. I do capitalize when I write with a pen. But I don't on my blog out of habit. I tend to have a lot to say- A LOT- and ever since I started using AIM to talk to my friends, I have left capital letters in the dust. I just can't be slowed down by the shift key! It is something I've transfered to my blog. I also think it makes the blog, overall, more lax and less formal. The funny thing is I am a HUGE stickler for correct grammar.

This entire exercise was fun for me because you're just getting started and we're on the "downside" of the bell curve, but we take that to mean that we're in the enjoyment phase. We don't have to prove ourselves anymore, we can do whatever the hell it is we want (to a certain extent).

Oh, one more question please.... How did you find Neil's blog?

I can't remember! I know it was through a link from someone else's blog but I can't for the life of me recall.

Thank you, Neil, for sharing your creative ideas; this has been a lot of fun for me! And, thank you to Tatiana for answering my questions.

Not Afraid of the Drill... or I'm a Big Girl Now!.. or One or the Other!

2008-01-23T18:57:00.000+08:00

Friday evening the Way-Hot Husband invited me to join him and his colleague for drinks, but I just wasn't in the mood. So, I stayed home, fixed myself some minestrone soup, and did some blog-reading. I was reading Kentucky Girl's when, suddenly there was a "crunch" in my non-"crunchy" soup. I extracted the offending crunch bit and upon examination realized that it was a bit of one of my teeth! OMG!!!

Now, I'm not a wienie-whiner when it comes to grossness (that's the "Dead Man on the Highway story)... and then there was that time that Jimmy's achilles tendon was sliced to the bone in the bathroom, and then there was that time Patrick got his big toe caught between the cog and chain of an old exercise bicycle at my in-laws, or the time Jimmy went down a flight of stairs and was catapulted out of his "walker". It's just not feasible to have a queasy stomach when you have kids.

Parenthetical aside here: They lived through our ineptness as parents! YAY!

That being said, my sister and I have had similar nightmares over the years about our teeth breaking off/falling out. I had cavities as a kid, and the dentist never got my tooth numb (idiot dentist!). My sister never had cavities until she was pregnant with her oldest son. Yet, we still had the same nightmares. We're both creeped out by teeth breaking off. The other thing that creeps me out is nail injuries. GAH! Please, never show me a nasty nail-bed injury or in-grown toenail. Please!

The thing about the tooth-breakage Friday was that it didn't hurt and that there were no jagged edges. I waited until Monday to call the dentist, but couldn't get in until today. No big whoop.

For those Americans who are new to this blog, please allow me to explain. When you go to the doctor or dentist in Singapore, you are going to see the doctor or dentist -- not, LPN's, RN's, PA's, or hygienists. You see the doctor! The actual doctor takes your vitals, draws blood, gives injections, cleans your teeth! I still find this amazing, and it is so much better than in the U.S.! The doctors and staff remember their patients names, or if not that, they at least recognize your face.

Today, when I sat down in the dentist's chair, he said, "Didn't I just see you?" I replied, "No, I think it's been a while, but I'm here because my tooth broke."

He gets busy looking around in my mouth, but it was a molar on the "dark side". He spots it, and says, "Oh, that's from a crown. No worries, I'll just smooth off the rough edges. You'll still be able to use your night guard when you sleep. There's no need to replace this unless something happens to the tooth in front of it."

I asked him, "Isn't it time I get my teeth cleaned? It seems like it's been a long time."

He checks my chart and says, "Oh, yes, you haven't had them cleaned since December 2006." He promptly begins cleaning my teeth. No cavities, by the way. (Our mail has been screwed up for the last 2 months, so I didn't get the reminder notice -- nor did we get our Christmas present from my parents. It is stuck in Chicago).

Dr. Tan then tells me the same as he did last year, "I'll need to see you in 6 to 9 months. No need to return before that unless you're having difficulties."

The total bill for today was:

S$25.00 Consultation
S$90.00 Scale and Prophylaxis

That is it! Do you realize how many $$ this man saved us because he said the crown didn't need to be replaced? Oh, and the most important thing is that my gums weren't bleeding (I floss regularly) from that power-washer thingy that he used on my teeth. He didn't hurt me or gouge my mouth as some hygienists have "back home". Honestly, I'd much rather have any sort of medical/dental procedures done here than back in the U.S.

Our dentist is:

Dr. Benjamin T.K. Tan (B.D.S Singapore, M.Sc. (Periodontics), London, M. Clin. Dent. (Periodontics) London)
Tanglin Shopping Centre
#05-21/22
19 Tanglin Road
Singapore 247909
65-63383623

Bleh!

2008-01-20T07:10:00.000+08:00

I was going to post my Virtual Walk map, but I can't get the dang thing to work! So, I'm walking with Shelli from Minneapolis to Malibu. I only logged 7.8 miles last week. I've been averaging just over 2.5 miles per workout which is good for me. I bought a a new battery for my pedometer, and WHH programmed it, but then I got sick with sinus/ear infections. I managed to log 8.5 miles this past week on the elliptical. The rest of the time I've been a lazy slug, hence no blog updates. Maybe this week I'll get a life! :D

I'm a Show-Off Workin'- Out Fat Face

2008-01-10T19:48:00.000+08:00

Bwahhahaha!!

Don't hate! Thanks, Miss Ann!

Shelli and Fantastagirl have started a virtual walk from Minneapolis to Malibu. Initially, I thought it would be cool to join them on their walk, but as I was working out today, I thought maybe I need to do my own map. Since, really, I'm headed in the opposite direction of them. A couple of days ago I started logging the strides and calories burned. You would think that there would be a button for me to press to get the miles equivalence, but I sure couldn't find one. I went to the Precor website and found the FAQ's for my Cross-trainer, and they're making me do math! Gah! I decided right there and then I was going to do a spreadsheet to calculate that shit! Maybe I've missed something, but it just doesn't seem right that the display doesn't show me how many miles/kilometers I've walked.

I tried plotting a path to the U.S. just to see if it would send me into the ocean, but Google couldn't calculate it. I'm going to try to plot my mileage on Saturdays just for a bit of friendly competition. Anything to keep me interested in exercising. Thank you, Shelli, it's a fun idea!

A new clothing shop opened this week at Tanglin Mall, FatFace. I don't know who the hell thought that was a good name for a store. Honestly, it is insulting -- to me anyway. However, the clothes will fit Caucasians up to UK size 18. The clothing line is very casual, but not inexpensive. When I was there today, mostly winter clothing was on the racks (stores need to carry winter stuff for expats heading home during the winter months). The salespeople were very helpful and friendly. One salesperson told me today that they'll be stocking the warm-weather clothing by the end of next week. I just read online that the FatFace franchise is owned by Robinson's (who also own the Marks & Spencer and John Little franchises). I did buy a pair of shorts, a top, and a sundress. I am so tired of my other clothes! Never in my life, have I been so tired of my wardrobe. So, I'm hoping that if I can continue working out consistently, I'll lose my fat face.

Don't Feed the Monkeys!

2008-01-06T19:25:00.000+08:00

Monkeys have been in the news a lot lately, mostly because foolish people continue to flout the law against feeding them. Just last week a pregnant woman was attacked by monkeys at a nature reserve. Monkeys have also started to invade housing estates bordering the nature reserves looking for food. The other interesting news is that male macaque monkeys "pay" for sex. I guess prostitution really is the oldest profession.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been tagged by MetalMom and here are the rules:

Link to the person that tagged you: MetalMom

Post the rules on your blog.

Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Alrighty then, here we go...

1. My mom says that rather than crying after I was born, I sneezed.

2. I sucked my left index finger (curled up) until I was 12. I also had a moggie (blanket) that had very soft silky binding. I liked the silky and rubbed it against my thumbnail while sucking my finger. I had my moggie until its demise when I was around 5 years old. I was playing "gypsy" and had placed it over a small lamp in my room (I liked the way it gave the room an eerie look). It didn't take long before my moggie was in flames and I was screaming. My mom came to the rescue and tried to save my moggie, but I didn't like it anymore because it was all crispy.

3. I have to wear a specially-made plastic blob at night so that I don't grind my teeth to bits. I also snore.

4. In 4th grade, we were introduced to the song-flute in music class. My parents bought me a red one (which is my favorite color in case you didn't know) and I would wake up bright and early and start playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb". I did the same thing with my clarinet. Mom had to have a chat with me.

5. I have dyscalculia, tinnitus, and auditory processing disorder (APD). This means that I do not do math, have a constant ringing in both ears, and I don't like low-talkers although I'm pretty good at lip-reading.

6. An art teacher submitted a batik and a drawing that I did to a couple of art contests. I didn't win anything, but it was cool that she submitted them.

7. When we move back to the U.S., I want to get a red MINI Cooper convertible.

Now, I'm tagging... NYC Watchdog, Kentucky Girl, T-Shirt, Hilly, SJ, Karl, and Roy

A "Screw" is Loose, but it isn't mine for a change!

2008-01-05T01:40:00.000+08:00

This is really more of an update on my last post The Times They Are A-changin', but I wanted to give you an idea as to why we have some trouble sleeping. I've been saying I'm going to bed for the last 2 hours. No can do. Still, it's kind of funny, even though the jack-hammer dudes will be at work promptly at 9 a.m. this morning.

The Shangri-La Hotel is very good about keeping their neighbors happy. Just as I typed the previous paragraph, I realized that the noise is gone. They must've gotten the part they needed. Thank you Shangri-La Hotel! I can get some sleep now; as long as I don't go Facebooking and Scrabulizing. Those would be completely different issues.

The direct link is here

The Times They Are A-changin'...

2008-01-04T21:23:00.000+08:00

The WHH came to Singapore to work temporarily back in September 2004. By December, the MNC decided that he was the man for the job and offered him a 3-year contract starting January 1, 2005. To be honest, I freaked out at first. It was one thing for him to travel over here every 6 months or so, but live in Singapore? Then, there was the issue of our "stuff" and the house. There was no time to have a big garage sale and then sell the house. We gave a lot of stuff away, sold the cars to CarMax, put stuff in storage, and brought the rest with us (bad idea).

The original contract ended December 31, 2007, but it was extended until the end of 2008. The guy who'd hired him for this assignment retired earlier last year, so there was a new boss and a lot of changes. Then about a month ago, we learned that there were even more changes... BIG changes -- we will be repatriating in April (or thereabouts). He's fairly certain of his new position, but we don't know where that will be. A lot of things still need to be ironed out. Mainly the "where and when" of it all, but that will come in time.

I am ambivalent, yet again. I miss our boys and our family and friends terribly, and it'll be nice to at least be on the same continent (even though air travel in the U.S. sucks ASS and I cannot say enough bad things about it, really!).

Beyond being closer to family and friends... the only thing I'm looking forward to is the possibility of me going to TequilaCon '08! Yes kids, if Geeky Tai-Tai is going to be on U.S. soil, she is going to get herself to TequilaCon '08 come hell or high water! This year it is going to be in Philadelphia. I've never been to Philly, so this is another "learning opportunity" for me. Another cool thing? You don't even have to be a blogger to attend! So, my sisters and my BFF's can join me there for a fun-filled weekend in Philly. I have every confidence that they will do their very best to do that because they've missed their Geeky Tai-Tai so much! (heh).

A lot of other bloggers have decided that they will have a theme for the year. I've decided that I will focus more on what new American expats can expect (not that I know very much, but I have actually lived here). I've also been working on a couple of lists: the good and the bad things for Americans living in Singapore. I may wait to publish it until after I've repatriated :D

I also want to get input from my blogging friends about what to do with this blog once I've repatriated. I'm not a writer (where my blogging friends are), so the freebiness of Blogger is a good thing to me, and it's been mucho improved in the last year. I can link to my pics on Flickr; I'm not a photographer, either, although I did pay for the pro account because I wanted a second back-up for them. They are priceless memories to us.

So, "the times they are-a changin'" and I'm in a state of flux. Not that that's bad or anything.

PEE-ESS -- The Shangri-La's aircon system has lost another bearing or something. That sucker has been yelping and squealing all day long. I could tell that they tried to fix it, but the bearing probably needs to be replaced. I'll be hearing that all night long, only to wake up (if I can actually sleep) to more stupid-ass jack-hammers in the morning. Nighty-night! ;-)

Happy Twenty-Oh-Eight!

2007-12-31T22:38:00.000+08:00

The sun has been shining in Singapore for the last few days and it has been WONDERFUL, and I'm over my pity-party. Yes, I miss my boys and my family, but I'm telling you, that sunshine does me a world of good! I just can't do 3 weeks of constant pouring down rain.

Remember Neil's, Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair? I couldn't talk about this before because I would've given away the surprise for Mom and Dad's Christmas. Anyway, I bought this painting from Kyra...

Isn't she beautiful? I just fell in love with her, and thought Mom and Dad would too since they have 6 beautiful daughters. Now, they're trying to figure the perfect spot to hang the painting and they want to get a light to highlight it. Thank you Neil and Kyra for the wonderful gift to my parents!

I got my WHH an iTouch for Christmas. He happened to have a $100 American Express gift card from last year. So, he used it to buy a bunch of tunes and of course the Umbrella video. He can't seem to get enough Rihanna (heh). He used up the money on the card and needed to register for iTunes again. Guess what? We have a Singapore address and there are no iTunes available for download here! WTH? If I'd known that, I think I would've held off buying this particular gift for him.

It's nice that he can copy our cd collection, though, so we won't have to mess with changing them all the time. Last night he connected it to our sound system in the living room and we got the dust off the speakers! Good times! I don't think we have neighbors above or below us and nobody complained that it was too loud.

We're listening to it now, and there seems to be a problem with the volume control. One song will be very loud, we turn it down, then the next song is too low. I guess I'll be calling Apple about it tomorrow.

For New Year's Eve we went to River Quay Seafood and had our usual favorites. Madam Irene is always so good to us. She gave us a bottle of Chardonnay too. How nice is that? We came home after dinner, listened to music, and I turned on the Stickam then kissed my WHH on camera at midnight and drank some champagne. What is it about champagne that seems to make me get goofier than usual? Still, it was a fun evening and a perfect start for 2008!

Happy New Year everyone!

Lists

2007-12-28T19:43:00.000+08:00

Several of my favorite bloggers, Kentucky Girl, NYC Watchdog, and Pseudotherapy are fond of lists. I didn't intend this post to be composed of short lists, but that's how it worked out. Here you go....

So, I haven't blogged in 10+ days. I've been lazy, sad, and depressed, and have just not cared about blogging or doing anything else. Having the stupid jack-hammers of death going 6 days a week (oh, that doesn't mean they're not using the digger trucks on the 7th day!) just outside our bedroom, it being the rainy season, and most importantly, not having our "boys" with us, has triggered this malaise.

When we were preparing for our move to Singapore from the U.S., I decided not to bring our Christmas decorations because:

We would travel "back home" for the holidays.
I knew that our 12-foot tall pre-wired fake tree wouldn't work over here because of the difference in voltage.
I didn't want to risk losing/breaking the precious ornaments that were given to us over the years, especially those made by our sons.

The only Christmas things that made it were the wreath from our front door, the IU Santa hat Mom and Dad gave to my WHH, and Christmas CD's.

Christmas 2005 saw us making the rounds of three different cities in about 10 days' time. After that trip we considered the following:

There are just too many stupid people traveling at this time of year.
Dealing with the TSA and U.S. Customs queues just plain sucks.
The jet-lag is killer.

Don't get me wrong. We had a wonderful time, but it was exhausting and we felt like we didn't get to spend enough time with anyone.

So, last year we decided to stay put in Singapore. I booked us a great package deal, the "Romanic Indulgence" at the Mandarin Oriental that included a couple's massage and Christmas dinner along with plenty of other amenities. It was sexy, delightful, and restful. Decorating our home was a non-issue.

I checked out other hotels for this year, but the Mandarin Oriental is the only place that seems to offer a special deal over Christmas. We decided we would just go back for another "Romantic Indulgence" deal until I found out that there was a humongous project that required overtime from everyone. It just wouldn't have been "prudent at this juncture" to squander $$$ for me to be alone in a hotel room while my WHH was working.

I was really sad then (aka big ol' crying jag because I miss our family and friends), but then Alex and Cristina invited us to their place for Christmas dinner. Alex was amongst those working overtime, but he and Cristina prepared all of the favorites including a turkey! Catarina wasn't feeling well, but she would smile if she was sitting in her Mama's lap.

What I learned this Christmas:

A young child's smile will always make me feel good
There are always good friends who care
My husband is the most wonderful man in the world -- think "Gift of the Magi" by O.Henry because of the irony of one of his gifts. It still makes me cry.

I hope that you had a very Merry Christmas with family and friends. I wish you all a very happy, healthy 2008!

I Wanna Go Home... Kinda...Maybe After The Police & Santana's Concert?

2007-12-18T17:02:00.000+08:00

Preface: I am not a construction engineer. This means that I really do not care if I ever learn the correct terminology for the equipment used at construction sites. I prefer the terminology that my sons used when they were little. These terms would be "digger trucks" and "jack-hammer trucks". Their terminology is simpler and you get the idea.

Big-ass Crane

Construction Equipment

Another Angle

A few nights ago, as we were walking to get some dinner we saw that heavy equipment brought a huge-ass crane to the demolition site next door. For about the last month, we've heard stuff being thrown out windows, as well as clanging and banging of the "pipes" that were used to erect a shield around the building. This crane then raised a "jack-hammer truck" to the roof of the building next door. By the time we returned home from dinner, the jack-hammers had already been placed atop the building. There could be two of them up there. There were on the Habitat I building. Habitat II is currently being jack-hammered to death. I think you might be able to see a bit of it in this short video I made this afternoon.

All of this construction/demolition is taking place directly across the street from the Shangri-La Hotel and Shangri-La Serviced Apartments. Dave2 recently did a post about his hotel room being so noisy that he took all of his bedding into the bathroom and tried to sleep in the tub! He will never stay at that hotel again (he hopes).

As is most often the case, when one arrives in Singapore, they've been on at least a 12-hour flight and have bad jet-lag. This means that when a businessperson or tourist arrives, they need to sleep at least a few hours.

The WHH figured out a game plan early on:

Arrive at Changi Airport (one of the best airports in the world). Then stop at the Duty-Free booze joint there (because you'll be sorry if you don't). Booze, beer, and wine are very costly here.
Take a taxi to destination.
Eat another light meal because even though Sing Air excels at almost everything, that "breakfast" just before arrival in Singapore sucks ass! Nothing about it is good -- ever, because I've tried it several times!
Singapore Airlines tends to time their flights to alleviate jet-lag as much as possible. I promise you, Singapore Airlines has all of this down to a science (except for that "breakfast" whateverthef*ck that's supposed to be).
After eating a sandwich, some chips, and several alcoholic beverages (if that's you're thing), then it's time for a nap (or other entertainment -- my favorite part).
Upon awaking around 2 or 3 in the afternoon -- go for a walk. It's always warm here, and the sunlight lasts until 7 pm. This does not mean that there won't be a big-ass thunderstorm. Be prepared with your umbrella.
Singapore is a beautifully clean and safe city. Go with your umbrella and enjoy!

Now, if one has paid as much money as it costs to stay in the Valley Wing or the Serviced Apartments, Then, I would scour the city for the quietest hotel I could find!

How much longer do I have to live here? They're down to the 24th floor already! Someone please calculate the approximate date that they will have made it down 20 more floors. I don't do math either (only when absolutely necessary). Kthnx?

I'm in a Mood... but not the right kind!

2007-12-12T23:22:00.000+08:00

I should probably be bullet'n, but I just don't feel like getting out my Geeky gun and shootin' the shit. So, please, just hang in there for a very disjointed post.

I just discovered two comments that had not been published from last week's Another Blonde Moment post! I'm very sorry Cristina and Curiosity Killer. WTH? Google is supposed to send me an email when I have comments! I don't understand how this could've happened. Maybe Google's gettin' too big for their britches (again)?

SJ invited me to join the "This Is Today" group on Flickr. I did ok for... what??? three days? Such is life, but then again, my life has been the picture below for the last couple of weeks!

As much as I love living in Singapore, I also HATE these dreary, rainy days. The mold is starting to make me sick (sinusitis), just the same as I would have bad allergy attacks in the early fall in TN, NY, and GA. When we lived in SoCal, the only time the boys and I ever got sick was during the Santa Ana winds. I'd put the boys down for a nap, and Jimbo would wake up 2 hours later with his eyes swollen shut! This isn't that bad, but I can feel some nastiness coming on.

So, tonight, I was out in the "maid's room" (no, I don't have one, but most people do) reading and smoking (no commentary is needed on that bad habit, kthnx!). So, anyway, I'm out there and then I hear this stupid horn beeping "beep----beep-beep-beep-----beep----beep-beep-beep!" This was happening every 15 minutes. I wanted to shout out my "window" (there is no actual glass) like the guy in "Network", "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!" Actually, I wanted to shout much worse obscenities, but I refrained because, uh, you know, I'm 50 and all. I'm supposed to be a nice lady. Anyway, this went on for what seemed like forfu&*ingever (see, I'm being ladylikekinda?), then it stopped.

That's when I heard...

The Singapore mice in the rubbish bin!!!!

I couldn't believe that I could hear them over the usual outdoor noises that go with living in this area. The Shangri-La has humongous aircons directly across from our building that run continuously in addition to the beeping buses and the garbage trucks.

Before this building sold en-bloc, the rubbish chute was washed weekly, and the water tank was cleaned regularly. The new management may still be doing those things, but maybe the mice needed to relocate?

OK, that's part of city living, and country living too. The problem is that these mice here are big, scary, and loud! Same as the gecko who lives in the crack of our bedroom window. He's getting bigger and fatter. I only know that because of his regular "deposits" on the window ledge.

Another Blonde Moment

2007-12-06T11:13:00.000+08:00

A few months ago, I was over at Blonde Blogger's, and she was having a contest for the coolest aprons and cookbooks from Another Blonde Moment. I didn't win anything, so I decided to order myself the apron in the picture. I didn't get a confirmation about the order, so after a few weeks I emailed. I got an email response from Debbie, one of the owners, that yes, she'd received my order and would be shipping it soon.

A bit more time went by, and I still didn't have my apron. I decided to give Debbie a call. She has the most delightful Southern accent! She told me that she'd suffered a serious blonde moment. She was cutting up some foods and also sliced up her hand. She had to have surgery to repair it because she'd also sliced some nerves. I wasn't in a big rush for my apron and told her to wait until she was feeling better.

A couple of days ago I got a notice from SingPost that there was a parcel I needed to collect. When I got there, the queue was so long I almost had to stand outside. There were only 3 people working the counter. I spent a full hour just to collect my parcel!

Message to SingPost... Hire some more people to work those counters!

After I collected the box, I saw "Another Blonde Moment" on the return address, and I couldn't wait to open the package! I love getting packages in the mail, don't you?

Once I got the box open, I saw that she'd not only sent me the "Will Cook For Highlights" apron that I ordered, she also sent me a copy of each of her cookbooks: "Any Blonde Can Cook: Two Hundred 69 Ways To a Man's Heart", "How to MEAT a Blonde, Brunette or Redhead: A Dating & Cooking Guide", and "Any Blonde Can Do It!". These are the cleverest cookbooks I've ever seen! Oh! and she included some catalogs, and now I want to order some of the Blonde Floozies.
I just checked my order and saw that I only paid $7 for shipping and Debbie paid $37 to send all of these goodies to me! I owe you big time Debbie! Thank you so much.

I was going to put a picture up of me wearing my new apron, but something's wrong with my USB port again. It's either Windows (which wouldn't surprise me a bit) or a hardware issue. I've got some investigating to do. This has also messed up my "This is Today" thing on Flickr. Stupid USB port!

Geeky's Shootin' Real Bullet'ns -- Again!

2007-12-01T14:09:00.000+08:00

Did you notice the new widget at the top of my sidebar? It seems to make the page load slowly, but I wanna' show off a little bit! My "Chez Patrick" photo in Brussels was included in the newly released fourth edition of the Schmap Brussels Guide. No, I don't win any prizes or money, but that's OK. I get to put the widget on my blog and you get to go over there and click until you see my photo. heh!

This pool is on the property next to our building (that's going to be jack-hammered to death very soon). The green nastiness just got me to thinking that jillions of mosquitoes could be breeding in there. I saw a sign on a bus with the Dengue Hotline phone number (1800-333-7777) and decided to report it. Dengue is a big problem here, and the government is very serious about minimizing the risks. A really nice guy answered my phone call and said that someone would call me to follow-up. One man called me and I couldn't understand a word he said. I asked him to please repeat himself more slowly, and still I couldn't understand him. Finally, I understood the words "how long symptoms, lah?" I started to tell him, "I'm not sick. I just wanted to rep..or.." and CLICK. He hung up on me! Later though, another man called me from the Ministry of Environment to tell me that they had checked out the pool, and confirmed that there is insecticide in the water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there. He also asked if I'd seen any in this area (I haven't). I feel better now.

We had a wing-ding to attend this evening, and whilst we were preparing, the WHH put on the "Best of U2". He had that BOSE-a-blastin', I'm tellin' ya. It's always good to get the dust off the speakers. So, we're all cleaned up. He calls a cab, and he tells him where we need to go. As we're riding along, my WHH says, "Hey, there's going to be a U2 tribute band playing at Molly Malone's in Boat Quay next week." I said, "Hey, that's cool. Maybe we should go check them out." Silence... except for the cab driver's radio and then... Bono's wail, "In the name of love. In the name of lo--o---ove". That's just really strange, don't you think?

Just an FYI... we saw U2 at the 2002 Super Bowl in New Orleans at the SuperDome along with Paul McCartney who performed that suck-ass song that I wish someone would've had the balls to tell him that it actually sucked. (Whew! Sorry for the run-on sentence, but not really). Honestly, I've loved The Beatles since I was a little girl. Paul was "cute", but really, George was my favorite, Ringo was cool, but John was the best singer/songwriter, IMO. My Mom bought their first album and I kissed George's picture so much that his face ended up being just a smudgy mess on the back of the album cover. Still, I was excited to actually be in the same arena as a Beatle, but OMG, that song was just awful! Whaddya' gonna do, uh?

Now a question, is the SuperDome all cleaned up now? What about the rest of New Orleans? Just wondering. Please leave a comment, just not something hateful because I'll delete it... because I can. Thank you!

I'm likin' these bullet-thingies.

International American Thanksgiving

2007-11-27T19:35:00.000+08:00

WHH carving Tommy under the watchful eye of Joerg

My scarcity around here has been due to planning and preparing for our International American Thanksgiving party and my compulsive Scrabulous-playing with friends and family online: Alex, Curisoity Killer, Jeremy, Kentucky Gurl, NYC Watchdog, Patrick (who had a damn good blog going and deleted it), Shelli, and Shyanne. I love that game, even though I mostly suck at it -- especially playing against KG and Jeremy! Damn, those two never cut me any slack, and it's making my stats look really bad.

We had our International American Thanksgiving Saturday. We called it that because we had African, American, Dutch, Filipino, German, and Romanian friends with us to share some Tommy Turkey and we're in Singapore. Some of our friends had never eaten a turkey fresh from the oven (bag), and I think most everyone liked it. You just can't go wrong using an oven bag for roasting a turkey. They cook in half the time -- even over-stuffed the way I do mine.

Cristina said that my dressing was the best I've made in the last three years. I thought it was good, but that's just me. The secret is: the sausage and my MIL's recipe (mother-in-law for all of you non-geeks). I got me some fresh spicy Italian from a Brazilian (there we go with the international thing, see?) butchery in Great World City, Espirito Santo. It's a small shop, but they were so nice and very helpful. The sausage was perfect -- spicy, but not so much so that it would do any gastrointestinal damage, if you know what I mean. I will definitely go back there again.

While my MIL is not renown for her culinary skills, she is the first person to actually show me how to roast a turkey. My mom will cook some meats, but there's no way she's going to even touch a raw turkey, let alone stuff that bad boy! LOL! If you're interested in trying the stuffing, you can get a 4 x 6 recipe card here (I must have my recipes on 4 x 6 card(s) and alphabetized in my special recipe box).

Seeing as how I grew up in a family of 8 and the fact that we have two sons, I've never really learned how to cook small amounts of anything. We had a lot of left-overs and sent some home with anybody who wanted some. I gave the guards some cherry tarts and an apple pie too. We packed a cooler full of food for the family of the drowning victim. The guards told me that the husband and the adult children were spending the entire day with her in the hospital -- not coming home until very late. I know I get tired of eating out or getting take-away. It was the only thing I could think of that might be of help to them.

We had a great time with everyone, but there wasn't much time to take pictures because we were hosting the party. Alex took this one of me and the one of my WHH and Joerg above.

We are very thankful for our family and friends... who are our chosen family!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got a call this morning from the husband of the woman who drowned thanking me for the food. He said that a lot of people are coming and going from his place, and it really helped out. I felt good about that. Then, after a pause, he told me that she passed away Sunday, two weeks after the accident. May she rest in peace and bless her family and friends who loved her so much.

Asean Symposium

2007-11-21T21:17:00.000+08:00

Last week the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Symposium was held here at a few different venues, but the Shangri-La was where most of the action was. The security was even tighter than when President Bush was here last year.

As I was walking to the grocery store one day to get large quantities of food and alcohol for our International American Thanksgiving on Saturday, police and scary dudes with even scarier guns were stationed every few meters along the way. When I reached the corner of Orange Grove and Orchard Road I saw a "crowd" dressed in red t-shirts . It is highly unusual to see a large number of people congregating here because groups must get prior approval for peaceful demonstrations.

The demonstrators were Myanmar activists attempting to deliver a petition (the large card in the 2nd bad camera phone picture) directly to the ASEAN leaders asking that they pressure the junta to free the Burmese people. The police stopped them before they got to the Shangri-La, but then they arranged for Mr. Lee to come and receive it.

I believe that the demonstrators were breaking the law because the police took down the their particulars and were planning an investigation of possible offences.

Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?

2007-11-19T20:40:00.000+08:00

Saturday evening our friend, Bogdan, took Alex, Cristina, Catarina, the WHH, and me out for a Japanese dinner at Yakiniku Daidomon. Bogdan knows the place very well, but asked us before he ordered anything if we liked "everything". Meaning, did we like beef, fish, chicken, and seafood? We answered with a resounding, "Yes!"

This restaurant is one of those cook-it-yourself places. There's a small circular grill in the center of the table. Both the WHH and I were reminded of The Melting Pot in Alpharetta. Yes, of course, completely different cuisine, but you still get lots of raw food and cook it at your own table. I thought it was cool that we both thought of the same thing at the same time, OK?

A literal feast was gradually brought to the table. There was so much food we had to tell them to stop bringing it. Most was absolutely delicious, but there were a few "delicacies" I'd never tried before. Saturday evening, for the first time ever... you're just not going to believe this, well, maybe you will because most of you know that I'm a doofus, but damnit if I didn't eat me some steak tartare, kim chee, and RAW BEEF LIVER and I did not get sick or even make nasty faces (I don't think I did anyway).

I can honestly say that the steak tartare was a succulent treat, especially with the rice. The kim chee was hot and spicy, and I enjoyed it. I couldn't eat it every day as Koreans do, but it was nice. The marinated raw beef liver... while it did not taste or smell like beef liver, I didn't like the texture at all. It was just too slimey. I can say that I tried it, and "no thank you" in the future.

Now, if Alex offers me some of the delectable chicken liver pate that he makes, then I will say, "Please sir, can I have some more?" (that's for RW)

Speaking of food... my favorite New York City Watchdog has snacked over here at Geeky Tai-Tai's place a second time for his Sunday Smorgasbord! You really must go over to check out his personal blog as well as his fun Cerealwednesday.com website. NYCWD reviews every kind of cereal that General Mills, Kellogg's, Post, Kashi, or even obscure company's make (have you done a Kashi thing yet Dawg?) Anyway, last week The Queen Bee made two appearances for Honey Nut Cheerios. Yeah, yeah, yeah you don't need to remind me that I'm a 50-year old woman. I'm not blind yet and I know hawt, hawt, hawt when I see it. I don't think you'll want to miss The Queen Bee.

Get on outta hee-uh! Go on over to check Dawg's Cerealwednesday.com videos. They're fun, and he does make them instructional because he analyzes the labels (Jimmy and PeeDub, remember when I used to drag your sorry butts to the store and read labels? Buahahaha!)

Bullet'n

2007-11-15T23:24:00.000+08:00

Jim, Michael, Patrick (my "boys)

My WHH sent me all of the pics he took last weekend when he visited his family and our "bouncing baby boys" in Carlinville, IL. I miss everyone so-so much, especially my sons. No, they're not boys anymore, but still, they'll always be our "boys".
The lady who drowned Sunday is still in a coma at Singapore General Hospital.
I met some very nice people tonight at the Obama teleconference. There was a technical glitch, but it was still nice to meet everyone, eat, drink, and and talk a bit about politics -- or talk about how Americans don't talk politics. I think that will have to be another blog post (I promise no preaching about either side, though).
My WHH will finally be home tomorrow. His flight arrives at 6:45 a.m.
I have bowling at 9:30.
I want to call Valerie and tell her that something has "come up", but I'm not a very good liar. That reminds me, you should check out Hilly's post from November 7. She's one of my "deep-thinker" friends. Actually, I have quite a few of them. I just let them deep-think for me ;-)
I still might call Valerie to tell her I "can't" bowl this week.
I am pretty sure that I hurt my Filipina friend's feelings this morning. She asked me about when our trouble sleeping started. Sheesh! It's been years. She was trying to be helpful, but when she told me that I needed to move my dressing mirror a few inches, I burst out laughing. I couldn't help it, but I think I really hurt her. I will apologize to her in person. Sometimes, I'm such a blurter-outer-of-things, when I should really be a deep-thinker-of-things.
I'm still thinking I might have to call in sick tomorrow though.
I miss my boys.

Obama '08 Venue Change

2007-11-14T17:19:00.000+08:00

The venue has been changed for the Michelle Obama teleconference tomorrow evening to The Pines on Stevens Road. Anybody want to join me?

Americans Abroad in Asia Teleconference

with

MICHELLE OBAMA

benefiting Obama for America

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Reception @ 8:00PM – Teleconference @ 9:30PM

The Pines Club

30 Stevens Road

Singapore 357840

Tel: 6735-2220

Chair: Raise/Write $2,300

Co-Chair: Raise/Write $1,000

Sponsor: Raise/Write $250.00

Guest: $88/person

RSVP Required

RSVP Online: http://my.barackobama.com/Nov15

If you have questions, please contact Daniel Dozier at

001 312 819 2545 or via email at ddozier@barackobama.com

**Please note: Only US Citizens and Permanent US Residents may contribute to US political campaigns**

Obama for America does not accept contributions from currently registered federal lobbyists, registered foreign agents,

political action committees, or minors under the age of 16.

Contributions to Obama for America are not tax deductible.

Federal law prohibits the acceptance of corporate contributions

Paid for by Obama for

America

UPDATED Life Kicks Me In The Ass Again (and again, but that's life)

2007-11-12T22:01:00.000+08:00

Sometimes life just kicks you in the ass, but somehow one still tries to make the best of it.

After posting about my neighbor's death yesterday, I felt a little better. Michael (WHH=Way-Hot Husband) called me about 30 minutes after I posted, but he hadn't seen it yet. It's amazing to me that he called then. I love him for it even though he didn't know why I was sad until I told him. When I began to tell him what had happened, I wanted to cry, but it just wouldn't happen. I don't know why I'm like that.

An hour or two later though, I became nauseous and my heart pounded, and it wouldn't stop. I knew that it was anxiety, but knowing doesn't make that shit stop. I remembered that there were some Xanax in one of our medicine drawers and scrounged around to find them. I found them and broke one in half. It helped, a lot by alleviating the nausea, but most of all, the relentless pounding in my chest.

I Twittered, played Scrabulous, read blogs, but none of those things could make me feel better about myself -- the inadequacy that I felt and still feel. Each time I'm in our kitchen and dining room, I glance over to the pool and "see" what I saw yesterday, but this time I see myself doing what I should've done as soon as my instincts told me something wasn't right.

Why do we second-guess ourselves when our instincts say, "Get the fuck off your sorry ass and DO something?" Why is that?

The other thing that continued to do "summer re-runs" in my geeky brain was "Dead Man On The Highway".

That story begins with attending Alpha Primary's (Morristown, TN) Open House. Mrs. E was Patrick's 4th grade teacher. Patrick and Tony P. were the "best" boys in the class, so she let them do computer stuff most of the day, for the entire school year. Mrs. E. was his favorite teacher EVER... I digress, a lot. My brain is in overdrive.

After we left the school, we had to turn right onto 11E just west of the old Ingles. It was a beautiful early autumn evening in East Tennessee and the sun was a huge orange globe in the west. I turned right onto the highway and into the left lane because we would need to turn left onto Panther Creek Road at the stoplight (I think there was a stoplight then).

After I turned onto the highway there was a tan Nissan pickup truck, now you can't quote me on this because I don't do math OR measurements... but a "ways" in front of us. The boys were in the back seats of my stupid mom-van (gawd, I HATED driving a fucking "mom-van", and that one was just plain bad luck for us too because there's a whole 'nother story before this one!)

Anyway...I'm getting up to speed because its a 55 mph zone. It could be 45, but do you really know? I'm toolin' down the road, and that Nissan is WAY in front of me, but then it slows... slows.... way down and then I see...

A MAN stumbling and bumbling in the bed of that little tan Nissan pickup truck. The boys are in the back seat of this new bad-luck-Mom-van, and are actually not trying to kill each other when I scream, "Jeezuschrist!" (I never say that because, I just do not say that... except for that one time ((ok maybe a couple of other times, but please don't hold that against me)), and the boys immediately come to attention because that is a bad thing to say and only Dad says that!

And then we watch as the man in the back of that pick-up truck stumbles and bumbles himself head-first onto the pavement of 11E just in front of our "Bad-Luck-Mom-Van". That Bad-Luck van was so new I didn't know where the emergency flashers were. I stopped wayyyy behind the dead man on the highway. (I've already told you I don't do MATH so you'll have to picture it, kthx?)

I said a very quick prayer that mostly consisted of "Please, don't let my boys put this 'Bad-Luck-Mom-Van' into DRIVE?"

I found the flashers, put them on, and told my sons in the most scare-the-shit-out-of-your-kids kinda-voice I could muster "DO NOT get out of your seats. DO NOT try to touch anything up here. DO NOT LEAVE this vehicle. I mean it!"

Our sons tried just about everything over the years (between the two of them) that can be attempted by kids. I'm not exaggerating. They were a handful! That early autumn evening? They were perfect! I think that they saw the terror in my eyes when I stopped in the middle of the highway and ran up to try to help the "Dead Man On The Highway". They stayed in the "Bad-Luck-Mom-Van" just as I'd instructed them.

I don't know what I'm trying to say here, precisely. I suppose that I'm not as "special" as I think I am? I can't save people. I'm not an EMT, and really, if I were, I wouldn't have had the equipment to "save" either of these people.

This brings the tears on again, but ok, whaddya' gonna do, uh? (My fav Tony Soprano quote). Life can just suck sometimes. I can't "save" anyone no matter how prepared I try to be.

The lessons I learned from yesterday are that:

My husband WILL NOT swim alone again -- at least when I'm around. I know that I wouldn't be able to pull him from the pool, but I sure as hell could get his head above water and scream for some fucking help! Yes! That's the biggest one, and it really tears me up -- badly.

I also think it's a very good idea to make sure your "particulars" (that's what they're called here) are written down so that if you're all alone people trying to help can know who to call.

If you see another lesson in there, please let me know because my ass has been kicked hard AGAIN, and maybe I'm missing something.

Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts. It means a lot to me.

UPDATE: The drowning victim was revived and is currently comatose in ICU at Singapore General Hospital. Word is that she had a stroke as well as having blood clots in her leg. I can't imagine that the prognosis would be good because of the blood clot pressing on her brain and then drowning. I know she was without oxygen for at least 15 minutes.

I sometimes feel that the "miracles" of modern medicine aren't all their cracked up to be. I'll just tell the whole world right here and now, I do NOT want to be a Terry Schiavo. We both have Living Wills, do you have yours?

A Dreadful Day

2007-11-11T10:25:00.000+08:00

I woke up around 8 -- too early because I didn't go to sleep until after 1 this morning and that was with the help of a sleeping pill. I just don't sleep well when the WHH is gone.

So, I drag my ass out of the bed and wander into the kitchen to start my coffee. As I stood near the coffee-maker looking out the window at the Shangri-La, I started thinking about that stupid Mr. Masturbator guy. Even though I was alone, I laughed out loud at the thought of the pervy creep.

My eyes wandered down toward the pool as usual because it's just nice to look down there, but then something caught my eye. I looked more closely, and I saw someone floating at the shallow end of the pool. I thought, "Whoever that is must be timing how long he can hold his breath." Our boys always loved to play that game. I peered around the corner to see if there was someone else down there, but I couldn't see anyone.

I walked into the dining room to get a better look, and to see if the person had come up for air yet... I watched the person for a few more seconds... NO! I ran into my office to get my cell phone to call the guard house. I was telling myself the whole time, "It doesn't matter if they think you're a nosey bitch for calling them." I watched as the guard ran across the pool deck to see the person in the pool. I could see him yelling at the person, and then he ran frantically to get the pole to pull the person out.

As soon as I saw him trying to recover the person with the pole, I realized he was going to need help. The guard couldn't weigh but more than 90 pounds, and he's probably only about 5' 3"? I already had my cellphone in my pocket, so I grabbed my handbag because my keys are hooked onto the zipper. I got off the lift and ran toward the pool area, but by the time I got there the guard was GONE, but the body was still in the pool!

I could see that it was a woman, but she was fully submerged in the water at the bottom of the pool. Even if I jumped into the water, I wouldn't be able to lift her out. I ran back into the building and yelled after the guard, but there was no answer. "FUCK!" My brain was screaming, "I NEED HELP I have to get her out of the water!"

I started crying because I couldn't think of anyone to call to help me. Then, I saw a couple get out of the lift and run toward the pool. I ran after them, and the husband got the woman out of the water. The wife began administering CPR, but there was no response.

The other security guard came onto the scene and told us that the police and ambulance were on their way, but it was too late. The woman was gone. I saw her belongings at one of the tables, and got her towel to cover her up.

The guard left again, and appeared a few minutes later to say that the victim's husband was upstairs in their apartment (he'd thought he was out of town, but then noticed his car in the garage).

This poor man is going to have to live the rest of his life knowing that while he slept, his wife died alone in a swimming pool.

It is dreadfully and horribly sad, and I am so sorry that I was too slow to help that poor woman. I have no more words.

My Saturday

2007-11-10T19:24:00.000+08:00

So, I got my new elliptical cross-trainer this morning. OMG! It is the Rolls-Royce of cross-trainers -- so smooth, and it's going to kick my ass!.

After the delivery, assembly, and very short educational tour, it was time for my hair appointment with Esther at Casey's. This was our first meeting, and I told her I wanted to have my hair "lightened-up" and "trimmed". I even demonstrated the technique used by my previous stylist, Arthur. He would take some of my hair, twirl it around, and then scrape the scissors blade over it to thin it out. When it's styled, it's "phfoofier" (yes, that is a word because I said so). Esther did a great job! (Picture taken with camera phone because WHH has our good camera so that he can get lots of pics of my "bouncing baby boys" in the U.S.)

I went to an Italian restaurant for a calzone, glass of wine, and to read my new book, "A Tragic Legacy" by Glenn Greenwald. I was so absorbed with the book that I didn't hear the waiter approach. When I saw him next to the table, I looked up at him quizzically. He said, "Madame are you a doctor?" "No", I replied. "Well, ma'am, what is your occupation then?"

I just looked at him because I couldn't understand why he was so interested in my occupation. I finally said with a smile, "Tai-tai". He laughed at that and then said, "I've never seen you here before. Are you studying because you just read, read, read?"

"Oh, my husband and I come in here all of the time (I made sure that he saw my wedding ring). I know you've seen me before because I've seen you. I'm just reading this because I'm want to." I showed him the book, and he thought about it a bit before saying, "where are you from?"

"I'm American, and no I did not vote for President Bush either time."

He looked around a bit to be sure there weren't any other customers that needed attention before asking, "Ma'am can you tell me why America wants to make the rest of the world do what they want?"

"I hope that you understand that Americans are not bad people."

He smiled, "I know all Americans are not bad, but your country is pushing their ways on us. Why must we always listen to your country? Where did you get that book?"

"That's a very good question that I don't think I can answer. The nice thing about being an American, though, is that people can still write scathing commentary on our political leaders and I can still choose to buy and read it." I told him that I bought the book from Borders and showed him the sticker. He said, "Oh, that is too much for me."

"When I'm finished reading it, I will give it to you."

"Ma'am, only if it is a gift from your heart."

"Yes, it will be a gift from this American's heart."

Shopping (again)

2007-11-09T20:38:00.000+08:00

I've had to do some shopping over the last couple of weeks. It is not one of my favorite activities, but if there's no getting out of it, by gawd, I take on my mission with a zeal and spend the $$$!

My first stop was my favorite department store here, Takashimaya (you all know how I feel about Isetan's lack-o-customer service). However, there are a few things that I wonder about every time I go to the department stores here (as far as I can tell, they're all set-up this way):

I go to the department to select the goods I would like to purchase.
Once I've selected the item I want, the sales clerk peels-off a sticker and plasters it onto a form, handwrites some stuff on the form, and then points me in the direction of the cashier.
The sales clerk keeps the item at that counter.
The other day, I wandered around to several counters before finding one that didn't have 20 people in the queue.
I pay for the item at said cashier counter.
After I pay, the cashier gives me 2 receipts. I do not understand why every merchant in Singapore must give a customer 2 paper receipts. I spend more time shredding those suckers and it just seems like a huge waste! Why do we need 2 receipts?

Anyway, on with the process of buying something at a department store in Singapore...

I am then required to walk back to the department where the coveted item awaits.
I hand over the receipts to the salesperson.
Salesperson carefully wraps my purchase and makes it look all pretty. I'm not joking here. Singaporeans are amazing gift-wrappers! I always enjoy standing in the gift-wrap queue at Christmas-time in Takashimaya. It's a "watch and learn" kind of thing, except I never have learned. Anyway, your gift is wrapped in a few short minutes and it will be beautiful! It's all about the measuring, folding, and double-stick tape. They even do pleats!

Maybe somebody can answer my questions. These are still "issues" for me after all of this time living here. Why is a customer inconvenienced so much? I would think that a department store would want to get the customer to buy something as quickly as possible before they have a chance to change their mind. I mean, I might have decided that I didn't really need to buy those frames while wandering the store looking for a short queue.

On to other news... I broke my elliptical. It started last year, when it became rather "wonky" while I was trying to exercise. The WHH did his best to adjust it... because he's good at adjustments with his "diddle-stick" (hey, that's what he's always told me it was called!).
(EDIT 11/10/2007: I forgot to link to SJ when I wrote this last night. Hmm... could it be that the wine I was drinking affected my thought-process???)

He ordered a new part for my machine because the original was rusted out (mold, mildew, and rust are big problems in a tropical climate). Problem was, when he tried to install the new part, the old one wouldn't come out. He did some more adjusting (gawd, he's good at that) and I was able to use it until last week, as I was doing my best to finish "Lawrence of Arabia" (I'm telling you, those desert scenes wore my ass out!). Suddenly, I heard a strange whirring sound, and then I was thrust forward! Holy shi...! I didn't hurt myself, but the Pro-Form 880S was pronounced DOA by the WHH who was sick and tired of "adjusting" it for me.

This meant yet another shopping trip for a new elliptical. I found one, and it will be delivered tomorrow. They even promised to remove and dispose of my good ol' Pro-Form. Honestly, I've had that for almost 4 years now, and I've used it consistently. For $800 it was well worth the money. The only reason this one crapped out is because of the humidity here. The apartments here have a separate aircon for each room. The only time I turn the aircon on in that room is when I'm exercising. Hence, lots of moisture in the air.

I am excited about my new cross-trainer. I even bought some new movies today (because I only mailed back the others from Hollywood Clicks today). I haven't worked out all week and I'm feeling bloopy. The WHH is in the U.S. this week, so I figure I might as well watch some movies and work out on my new machine. Yipee! I'm such an interesting person. Maybe I'll take a picture of myself tomorrow. (heh)

That just reminds me, I'm also getting my highlights done tomorrow by a new person. My regular guy, Casey, is booked up for 2 weeks. I think that my hair will start looking rather awful by then, so I agreed to have one of his underlings who has worked with him for 15+ years do my hair. I made that appointment yesterday only a few hours before I read this entry by Miss Britt.

Obama '08

2007-11-05T14:48:00.000+08:00

Since I've lived here in Singapore (almost 3 years), I've felt out of touch with the politics back home. In the past three years, no politician has bothered to listen to Americans living in Singapore -- if they did, they sure didn't call me!

Barack Obama is different though, I received the following invitation and thought I would share it with my fellow American ex-pats living in Singapore. If you're interested in attending (I will be), then be sure to RSVP by Saturday, November 10.

Please join

Sponsors

Mike Dardzinski (Beijing), Erin and Chris Keogh (Beijing), Robert Roche (Shanghai), Jehan Chu (Hong Kong), Benjamin Brown (Singapore) Ravin Gupta (Singapore), Arian Ardie (Jakarta), Harry Hill (Nagoya), and Brent O’Leary (Tokyo), Lauren Shannon (Tokyo)

Chairs

Monica Lynn Debiak, Kaiser Kuo, Anne Wilbur and Jim Morrison, Scott Palmer, Christopher Ruggles, Ada Shen, Auria Styles, Julie Kohn and Dan Swift, Robert Edwards (Singapore)

Hosts

John Holden, Jonnel Latham, Gabriel Lopez, Alexandra Robinton, Anne Stevenson-Yang, Joseph Moody (Singapore), William Helman (Singapore)

for an

Americans Abroad in Asia Teleconference

with

MICHELLE OBAMA

benefiting Obama for America

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Reception @ 7:30PM – Teleconference @ 9:30PM

The Dubliner Singapore

www.dublinersingapore.com

Winsland Conservation House
165 Penang Rd
Singapore 238461
Tel: +65 6735 2220

Sponsor: Raise/Write $2,300

Chair: Raise/Write $1,000

Co-Chair: Raise/Write $500

Host: Bring 5 people OR Donate US$250.0

RSVP Online: http://my.barackobama.com/Nov15

If you have questions, please contact Erin Keogh at ekeogh@mac.com (China) B. Brown bbrown@qam.com.sg (Singapore)

Call 001 312 819 2545 to speak with Daniel Dozier ( Official Obama Campaign Contact for the event)

**Please note: Only US Citizens and Permanent US Residents may contribute to US political campaigns**

Obama for America does not accept contributions from currently registered federal lobbyists, registered foreign agents,

political action committees, or minors under the age of 16.

Contributions to Obama for America are not tax deductible.

Federal law prohibits the acceptance of corporate contributions

Paid for by Obama for

America

Bucaresti and Iasi, Romania

2007-11-01T10:24:00.000+08:00

We arrived on time in Bucharest Saturday afternoon (that would be 10/13, yeah, I know I've been a real tai-tai after this trip) Alex's parents, Ana and Constantine, were waiting for us beyond the cordon. I saw Ana right off and we walked as quickly as we could to greet each other. She and I met 2+ years ago after Catarina was born. I don't speak a bit of Romanian, but she knows a few words in English. I did remember "Bunica" which means "Grandmother".

Ana greeted us with kisses and gave me a beautiful rose, a lovely porcelain rose covered dish and a hand-beaded egg. So pretty! She and Constantin were our guides at the Bucharest airport. They took us to the ticket counter where we needed to buy our ticket for Iasi, but it was closed. Our innate GPS systems took us to the bar where Constantin and Ana proceeded to purchase many Peroni beers for us. We "chatted" for over 2 hours -- neither couple actually able to speak the other's language.

Ana had pen and paper that she used to give us some lessons in the Romanian language. The most difficult word in that lesson was "multsumesc" (thank you). That "t" has one of those squiggly "s's" under it which means that it sounds like a double "z" for us in American English or like the "tse" in tse-tse fly.

The flight from Bucharest to Iasi is just about an hour long on one of those puddle-jumpers. The WHH took a pic out of the window of the countryside.

Cristina's mother, Claudia, Cristina, and Alex were waiting for us at the Iasi airport. Somehow we managed to pile all of our luggage and ourselves into Claudia's car. Fortunately, it was only a short drive to our hotel... you're not going to believe this, but it's called "Little Texas"! Some Texan decided he loved Iasi so much that he built a hotel. It's a really nice place, with clean, sparkling rooms. We had a small terrace too. We were very happy with our accommodations. Oh, and we got a full breakfast every morning as part of the deal.

Our first day in Iasi, the weather was crisp and quite windy... autumn! I'm glad I took my old fleece jacket with the hood. Cold wind always gives me an earache! It was such a beautiful change from Singapore though.

As it turns out, we were visiting Iasi at a very special time. People come to Iasi from all around the country for the St. Parascheva Celebration. We went to the central market area to shop for handmade Romanian things. The streets were lined with tents selling all kinds of handmade items, barbequed foods (where I saw my first gypsies), but it was so crowded that it was difficult to even get close to some of the displays. I found a website, Romania Through OUR Eyes, that has more pictures of the festival.

We had lunch at Bo lta Rece, a restaurant built in 1864 that has arched ceilings and lots of ambience. I had pork, sausage, polenta with a fried egg and cheese. I don't remember what everyone else had, but I know there was a lot of food, and it was delicious. We needed a nap after that because later that evening we were going to Cristina's grandparents' for dinner, and then back out to watch the fireworks.

Let me tell you, Cristina's Bunica (everyone calls her Mama), is a tiny little thing, but can she cook! She had a table set up that was so large that it completely filled their living room. I regret that I didn't take my camera to get pictures. Alex's parents had taken the train that day from Bucharest along with Alex's two older children, Alexandra and Stefan, and they were there for dinner too. Mama, Claudia, and Cristina brought out dish after dish laden with food! Then Gabriel, Cristina's dad, brought out the wine. In Iasi, the favored wines are white wines. I can't remember the name of this one, but it was light and not too sweet. It went very nicely with all of the foods that Mama had prepared. I'm not sure if Mama ever actually ate anything because she was up and down so much. It was a delightful evening.

I think this is a good place for me to stop for now, but I'll finish it later because I don't want to forget anything.

Jet-lag and Other Stuff

2007-10-24T20:53:00.000+08:00

When we first arrived in Iasi, Romania last week, I started a post, but I was too jet-lagged to finish it. Then, of course, we got busy visiting our friends and sight-seeing, and I was too tired. Now, we're back home, but I'm too tired and sleepy to try to back-track our holiday happenings.
I did, however, manage to buy groceries and replenish the beer supply with many flavors. I made us a pot roast, potatoes, and salad tonight, and it was while dining on this fine meal (hehe) that we talked... about all kinds of things because I have the attention-span of a... well, I can't think of it because I have a short attention-span.

ME: How's the meat? Is it tough? Because I cooked it slowly. Is it OK?

WHH: Yeah, it's good.

ME: Yeah? But you ate your salad faster than you ate the meat. That's a bad sign. Are you sure it's ok?

WHH: [Chuckle] Yes, it's good. It just tastes different.

ME: Oh, then it's the cut of the meat. It's not like it's a rib-roast. What did you eat for lunch today, something with green in it? At least your getting green veggies tonight.

WHH: I had chicken with mushroom soup, tuna sandwich, and some chips.

ME: Don't you get tired of eating the same thing every day?

WHH: They change the soups, so I get something different every day, and the ladies always fix me a special bag of chips.

ME: Oh, well, OK, so long as you get some veggies. So, I finally emailed myself the pictures that I took at the Goethe-diner in Frankfurt.

WHH: Hmmm.... hey, I heard a new Riahanna song today.

ME: Really? Girl-crush, girl-crush! Whoever the artistic director was of her "Umbrella" video should get an award.

WHH: [Smile] So, did you notice the guy with the Bad Monkey t-shirt when we were in the Frankfurt airport?

ME: Bad Monkey!!! and you didn't tell me? Was it Dave's Bad Monkey?

WHH: I don't know.

ME: Whaddya' mean you don't know! (I get my Bad Monkey t-shirt from the closet for him to double-check). Well, was it a Dave Bad Monkey?

WHH: Aw, hell, if you hadn't been ogling and secret-squirreling pictures of the waiter-dude you thought was so hot, this wouldn't be an issue.

ME: Uh, yeah, I guess you're right.

Here are the pictures of the hot waiter-dude at the Goethe-diner in Frankfurt Airport for your viewing pleasure...

PEE-ESS: Our sleep and poop-cycles are OFF, and that "cut" of beef is going through the WHH like "Grant took Richmond". Shit! Shit! Shit! (My grandmother's favorite expression, and mine too).

You Know Me and My Maps

2007-10-10T21:32:00.000+08:00

We're going on a holiday and we leave Friday night! You already know how much I love maps, and this time we're going to cities we've never been before because Alex and Cristina are getting married in Iasi, Romania. Iasi (sounds like "yosh" in "American") is Cristina's hometown, and from the pictures and information I've found online it looks beautiful! Alex's hometown is Bucharest, and we'll fly there from Frankfurt, Germany. We won't be there long though. Most of our time will be spent in Iasi.

Our Goddaughters, Andrea and Liliana, were both born in Romania, and we've always been curious about where they were born. I hope that I can find their Christmas gifts there this year.

Since Friday, I've been on a mission to find something suitable to wear to the ceremony and trying on the few non-summer clothes that I've brought here. One of the nicest things about living in Singapore is that you can have your clothes custom-made. They'll actually FIT and look nice. I've only had one dress made since moving here because, while it's not as expensive as in the U.S., it's still extravagant.

Friday, after going to the osteopath (my right thumb and index finger are numb most of the time because of the neck issue), I decided to stop by a dress-makers shop in the same building. They always display gorgeous gowns. I asked a few questions, and when she told me she could have a suit ready for me by this Friday, I decided to go for it.

I decided on a very simple dress and jacket with a stand-up collar in a heavy "khaki-green" silk to match my eyes.

The dressmaker started taking my measurements, and after she measured the length from my neck to my waist she said, "None of your clothes fit you, do they?" Nope, they don't! I have long arms and legs, but my torso keeps getting shorter and shorter. It's hereditary, but now it's getting to the point that even petite sizes don't fit me very well on top.

I went back for a fitting yesterday, and decided on some details. I'll go for another fitting tomorrow.

Today though, FUN FUN FUN! I went SHOPPING for my FAVORITE things in the world (besides books and computer stuff)... shoes, handbag, earrings, etc. You know, the fun stuff -- girly stuff that I love.

Beyond the suit and accessories for the ceremony, it's slim pickin's wardrobe-wise, and that would not be due to any "slimness" on my part! I'll manage though, I usually do.

I'm looking forward to meeting all of Alex and Cristina's family and friends and having the opportunity to see and learn about someplace new. This is going to be so cool!

Moms and Dads

2007-10-04T08:56:00.000+08:00

(h/t) Deej --You can also watch the video here.

(h/t) Jenny --You can also watch the video here.

The Great Geeky Tai-Tai Meet-Up

2007-10-01T22:36:00.000+08:00

All the cool bloggers have been doing it, and dadjimit (that's East Tennessee-speak fer y'all not in "the club"), it was about damn time I did it too! Just to list a few of the cool bloggers who've done it in alphabetical order, ya' know because I worked in a library and all (no, I do not call it a li-BARE-y as is customary in East Tennessee)... Asia, Avi, Dave2, Hilly, Jenny, Kevin, Karl, Mr. Fab, Mrs. RW, Neil, RW, and Sizzle.

What is "it", you ask? "It" would be a blogger meet-up (Tequilacon, Davecago, etc.). We didn't have cool lanyards, buttons, and stickers because, to be honest, I was the only blogger there. I guess if I lived in Hawaii or something, maybe I could make it to one or two of them. This morning I found out that I'm going to miss Avi's big Halloween bash! Hell, he's invited the entire internets. That's going to be a wild party and I'm going to miss it!

Alright, I think I've got the *whine* out of my system so I'll tell you about the Great Geeky Tai-Tai's Meet-Up! Back in August after I posted the Lumpy Breasts and Vagina Power post. I got an email from a guy, (whom I'll call "S") who'd searched "Americans in Singapore" and clicked on the link to my blog. We exchanged a bit of information, and he explained that he would be moving here for work. I didn't hear from him for a while after that, but I thought it was cool that somebody actually liked my blog besides Mom and my sisters! heh

S moved here two weeks ago and the WHH and I invited him for burgers and beer at The American Club. We only spent a couple of hours together, but it was a lot of fun meeting him. I introduced him to my buds, Thamo, Henry, Mugilan, and Michael in the Union Bar.

S is one brave guy -- moving here alone to start up a sales operation. A very different experience from ours having an MNC sponsor us. S is well-traveled, but had never visited Singapore. He spent quite a bit of time just trying to get a cell-phone (it's called a handphone here). Not only do they want your FIN number, but I think it's even more involved than when we got ours. DNA testing perhaps?

After dinner we headed out to the taxi stand. We were there for a few minutes, when the WHH said, "Hey, I've got one more thing I want to show you." We walked down the street to Orchard Towers (aka Four Floors of Whores).

As we were walking down past Jason's Deli and around the corner, WHH said, "See that taxi stand?"

S, "Yeah."

WHH, "You'll never have trouble getting a taxi there. On Friday and Saturday nights, they're lined up to Claymore Hill Road. Even if you have to wait a while, it's always fun to people-watch. Just watch out for the he/shes!"

S walked down to the MRT and we walked home from there.

The next day I got an SMS from S, "Our little walk down to 'four floors of whores' turned into a bit of prophecy - I was approached by five girls just walking down to the MRT. What a crazy place!"

Me, "They especially like the handsome Caucasian men."

S, "But they chose me instead! hehe"

Funny guy that S!

Friday Morning Ladies' Bowling League

2007-09-28T18:43:00.000+08:00

Today was our first day of bowling. We decided that today's scores wouldn't count so that the new gals could learn about etiquette and generally understand how things work in a league. This year we have 8 teams! Lots of new ladies, and I think it's going to be even more fun than before (if that's possible because we had fun then too).

Val, Sung, and I have a new bowling buddy this year, Trish. I told her today that I will not be introducing her to the Way-Hot Husband because, uh, she looks like OMG... I am so NOT making this up!

The ONLY celebrity WHH gets all hot 'n bothered over! (OK, she's the only one he's told ME about)!

Problem is, she joined a bunch of us for lunch in the Union Bar and she's NICE too! Sonofa...! If that don't beat all. So, maybe I will introduce her to him some time after all. :D

Oh yeah, Thamo and Henry took very good care of all of us gals after we raided the Union Bar this afternoon. The Union Bar has the best service with a smile! OK, yeah, I'm partial because they're really great to look at too (heh)! *

The only thing wrong today was that our bowling buddy, Diane, was not there with her coffee and banana bread. She and her husband, Mike, repatriated recently. She's gonna be pissed at me for linking to her picture, but that's what she gets for getting away without letting us buy her lunch and stuff! That's just not right! So, Diane, you'd better email me to let me know where you're staying until that big-ass new house is finished! I've got a little gift for you that's been in my tote-bag in the dining room for 3 weeks. I think you should have it before Christmas!

*Some people may consider me old, but that doesn't mean I'm BLIND, dammit! ;0)

How To Make a Geeky Tai-Tai

2007-09-23T22:30:00.000+08:00

How to make a Geeky Tai-Tai

Ingredients:

3 parts success

5 parts arrogance

5 parts beauty

Method:
Blend at a low speed for 30 seconds. Add a little curiosity if desired!

;0) heh!

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

Out With The Old... In With The New???

2007-09-21T20:46:00.000+08:00

Yesterday we got a "Memo From Management"

To all Residents

Dear Sir/Mdm

SMELL PROBLEM AT BASEMENT LOBBY 1

For the past couple of weeks, there had been a smell problem at Lobby 1 basement lift lobby. Upon investigation, we have spotted rodents activities on top of the false ceiling. Active measures had since been in place to eradicate all rodents and the number and frequency of rodents captured has decreased. Visual inspection of the area above the false ceiling had also yielded no sightings of dead rodents.

Nevertheless, the smell problem still persisted. The next steps that we are going to take are to remove parts of the false ceilings to check thoroughly the areas that are not easily visible and to check the arcon ducting itself.

At the same time, we will also need the help of all residents to bag up any food refuse before throwing them down the refuse chute. This will in turn reduce the food source for the rodents.

We will like to reassure all residents that while no efforts will be spared in solving this problem, we nevertheless need the co-operation of all residents to do their part.

Yours faithfully,
Management of your building

Earlier this year, we had a BBQ down by the pool, and as the evening wore on, we noticed a bunch of mice scavenging for food -- while we were still sitting there! They weren't the least bit scared of us. They're big too! Not like a rat, but they're a whole lot bigger than field mice. We speculated that they were "relocating" because their homes were being torn down.

The building next to ours is being gutted now to get it ready for the jack-hammers that will be brought in to tear it down. Where will those mice relocate? This is gonna' get ugly and loud. I am not looking forward to it!

(Buildings with red X will be razed)

This video can also be viewed here

A WAY-Hot Husband's Birthday

2007-09-18T21:38:00.000+08:00

Friday was my Way-Hot Husband's 54th birthday. I'd asked him earlier in the week what he'd like for dinner knowing full well what he'd want. For those not in the know, he LIVES for black-pepper crab from River Quay Seafood in Boat Quay.

We met at Penny Black's to have a beer and to meet our friends, Dirk and Jarek, then walked "the gauntlet" to River Quay Seafood. I've posted more pictures on Flickr. We enjoyed black-pepper crab, cheese lobster, lemon chicken, bok choy, and seafood fried rice. Of course there was a generous flow of wine and beer with our meal, lots of toasts, and fun conversation.

I think that WHH must've said something that made me laugh (he does that to me a lot) just as I had taken a bite of the rice. I proceeded to inhale said bite of seafood fried rice! I managed to rid my lung of a green pea, but it still felt like there was something in my lung... a grain of rice or squid leg??? I partied on because I'm really cool that way.

It was a wonderful evening, but the next morning sucked. I was gasping and wheezing because, really, you're not supposed to actually inhale food. Fortunately, Dr. T's office is open Saturday mornings so I walked over there to get checked out. He gave me a breathing treatment and sent me home with two antibiotics, an inhaler, and kick-ass cough medicine. I think I'm slowly getting better.

Another Meme That I Copied From "The Inimitable Avitable"!

2007-09-12T19:49:00.000+08:00

As I post this meme that I've copied, again, from the Inimitable Avitable, whom my nephew, "E", should check out because he has a few things in common with Avi. Oh wait, I only mean about the cartoon collectibles, not about Avi's other "collectibles". GAH!

BTW, there are some big-ass earthquakes happening in Indonesia that are also being felt here in Singapore. So far, we haven't felt a thing, but whaddo we know?

So, the meme is... feature your home using Google Maps. Our place is below -- the brown building labeled "Geeky Tai-Tai's Place". :D

Before we had to move to the "Floor of Death" (4th floor), we were fortunate enough to live on the 24th floor of this same building where I witnessed all sorts of "goofiness". Namely, "Mr. Masturbator" on the 6th Floor of the Shangri-La Valley Wing "entertaining" himself. He "entertained" two Sundays in a row. I watched with partially covered eyes, all the while yelling, "WHH, you've gotta check this guy out! Is he doing what I think he's doing?" Yeah, I guess I'm pervy too in that I even noticed him from my kitchen window?

Living here has been an eye-opening experience for us. It's too bad they're going to raze the building next year.

Can I Reformat My Colon Too?

2007-09-11T09:40:00.000+08:00

Since the WHH returned home early Sunday morning, he volunteered to hit the enter button to reformat my hard drive. As it was deleting everything, I remembered that when he bought this laptop for me it had Windows 98 on it. I went through hell upgrading to Windows XP. I started to panic.

Fortunately, reformatting didn't effect the OS. Hallelujah! I'm still reinstalling my favorite programs and configuring them the way I want them. Can I uninstall Internet Explorer? I hate it, and Norton 360 is only monitoring it, rather than Firefox which is my default browser. I downloaded the IE Tab as SJ suggested, but haven't had time to figure it out yet.

I've looked through all of the settings for Norton 360, and still can't figure out how to get it to monitor Firefox. The other thing that's pissing me off about Norton is that I had all of my bookmarks backed-up, I tried to restore them. It says it did, but I sure as hell don't see them anywhere. Now I'm forced to Google everything and trying to remember to bookmark the pages.

By Sunday evening I was tired of working on the computer. We ate dinner and then went to bed around 10. At 3 am, I was awakened by the most horrendous abdominal pain. I didn't want to risk a shart in bed, so I quietly made haste to the toilet. Nothing happened, just severe pain. I went into "Lamaze-mode" taking deep breaths and massaging my abdomen. It only helped a little. The pain was so bad that I was trembling and dripping sweat. I got up and walked around a bit, got a cool washcloth to wipe my face, and then the pain would begin again. The next 9 hours hurt like the pain of a thousand swords, seriously.

Around noon, I started to feel human again and made my way to the pharmacy to buy more Immodium. It's only S$3.60 for 6 pills. Why is it so much more expensive in the U.S.? Anyway, the pharmacist told me that I should also take a charcoal tablet to absorb the toxins. Hmmm...? I'd never heard of that before, but it makes sense. I bought them and took one two hours after the Immodium. It really seemed to help, but I was warned that my poop's going to be black. Since my poop-cycle is completely off, I'm not sure when the next *ahem* movement will be, but I am much better today.

Maybe the stress of having my computer reformatted caused the IBS to flare up suddenly? I hate IBS and I want to STAB.IT.TO.DEATH!

All of this crap made me miss calling Dad for his 72nd birthday. I hope you had a very happy birthday, Dad, and I'm sorry to have missed talking to you. I love you!

A Kentucky Girl's 24-Hour Tour of Singapore**

2007-09-08T19:52:00.000+08:00

The other day, Kentucky Girl posed this question, "Where you would take a person if they were only going to visit your city for one day?"

I've pondered this for a few days, actually and have come up with the following itinerary:

Since you live in CA, the time change won't be as hard as it would be if you were flying out of Newark. You can fly to "How-a-ya" and spend a few days there to have a bit of sun and fun and get lei-ed. Then you'll stop in Taiwan or Tokyo. It doesn't really matter because you'll be in the rich-bitch section of the plane (I've never been up there dammit) because you're cool that way.

So, I'll be waiting at Changi Airport for your flight to arrive --anxiously so, because I know you're "hostess gift" will be the requisite Big-Ass Bottle of Absolut that you had to stop to buy at one of the duty-free shops before you left the terminal! What? You thought you were staying here for free??

Once we have the Big-Ass Bottle and your luggage safely in hand, we'll get into the taxi queue, load your one empty suitcase and the overstuffed one into the taxi. We'll venture on over to our place. After our arrival, I'll show you your room and then show you where the shower is because, you know, it's been more than a day since you showered! Whew!

After you've taken care of your personal hygiene, we will sit down to one of my husband's famous meals. It depends on what kinds of foods you like,but you can count on bacon being on the menu. I'll also be sure to have plenty of sweet or unsweet tea, booze, and beer.

Once we're all thoroughly over-sated... you're going to need to sleep about 3 hours, not much longer though because you've got to get into this time zone.

Now the fun begins. We only have to walk around the corner to get to Orchard Road. Singapore is about shopping, and Orchard Road is where it's happening!

We'll stop at Ngee Ann City because I love Takashimaya, then we'll go across the street to check out Paragon.

By this time our feet are going to be killing us, and we're going to need some refreshments. We'll queue up for a cab at Paragon to go to the Raffles Hotel Long Bar where the famous Singapore Sling was invented. Ooh! They're yummy, and the hotel is gorgeous!

Since we're in the neighborhood, we'll wander over to Little India because you really must get a beautiful henna tattoo. It's an exciting place, bustling with activity.

Next, we need to go to Arab Street so that you can buy loads of silk to take back with you in the empty suitcase.

It's dark now and we're whooped from the heat and all of this walking. We're going to need more food and drink, and I think we should go to Clarke Quay and Boat Quay for that. Clarke Quay underwent a complete tranformation last year. It's all rather glittery, but fun to see and there are some very nice restaurants there. We'll take a bumboat ride to see the Merlion, and then we'll go to Boat Quay to our favorite restaurant, River Quay Seafood. If you like seafood, then you must try chili or black pepper crab. Singapore is famous for both. My favorite meal there is cheese lobster, bok choy, and fried rice. If you don't like seafood, no worries, Madame Irene and her crew will accommodate you. They treat us like royalty. So nice!

We're running out of time! There're a lot more places I'd like to take you, but we need to head in the direction of our condo. You simply must check out the infamous Orchard Towers. There are some interesting clubs, to say the least, but at least two clubs feature exceptional bands and musicians. I have a big band crush on Tania. They've been together since the 70's. Zul and the WHH are the same age. I hadn't been in to see them for quite a while, and on my birthday we went in to Harry's and Zul had buzzed his hair!

It's time for us to go back to our place. We'll get into the taxi queue -- it looks like it will take us forever to get a taxi, but that queue moves quickly and the taxis are lined up quite a ways... almost to Claymore Hill. Oh yeah, and there's the "he/she" who likes to hang around that taxi queue. "She's" the sorriest-looking gal, but she always has on nice clothes and shoes. Somebody's keeping her busy.

Our 24-hours is over. There's a Mercedes-Benz taxi waiting outside the lobby. The taxi driver will help us load your two over-stuffed suitcases into the boot, and then you're off to Changi Airport and your next destination. Hmmm... Let's see, I think you should visit Hong Kong on your way back home. Hey, Curiosity Killer lives there, I'm sure she'd show you a great time!

Thanks for visiting. WHH and I always love to have visitors!

**After spending most of the afternoon backing-up stuff that I'm going to need after reformatting, I decided I needed to finish this for KG. PLUS, WHH doesn't get home until the morning... reformatting can wait until he's sleeping-off the jet-lag.

I Cannot Compute

2007-09-08T13:29:00.000+08:00

My computer started acting weird last week, just after I told Kentucky Girl that I hadn't had a bit of trouble with this thing for almost 3 years! The first thing was that it no longer "saw" the DVD/CD-RW drive. I rebooted... not there. I attempted to do a "System Restore", nope.

Last night, I was chatting with my sister on Stickam, when things started getting even stranger. The computer is no longer seeing the USB that I use for my extra keyboard. I rebooted, it's still not there. Then, I noticed this morning that Norton 360 didn't start up. I have always used a virus scanner, and I never open spam emails or suspicious attachments, but I think my laptop has been hit by a virus or worm. I don't know. I just ran a complete scan for viruses, but nothing turned up.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm just going to have to reformat the hard drive. I hate reformatting hard drives. I'll be MIA for a while, just thought you should know. That is all. Thanks.

A SlingBox Is A Very Good "Thingy"

2007-09-04T21:17:00.000+08:00

So, the WHH has been out of town since my birthday... the 26th of August in case you forgot to make note of it on your calendar (heh). I haven't accomplished a whole helluva lot since he's been gone. Some women clean out their libraries and closets, I watch my SlingBox, chat with my sons on the phone or Stickam, make up recipe cards, and work out while watching movies. Oh yeah, I take pictures of my messy office too. Hey, it's more fun than actually cleaning! Why would I want to do that, me being a tai-tai and all?

Last night, I finished watching "Big Love" on my SlingBox. (For those not in the know, a SlingBox is a device that is connected to a cable box and the internet. In this case, my son in Atlanta has a separate cable box rented specifically for my SlingBox. I control it with my computer here in Singapore.) OMG! I love that show, albeit in a different way from the "Sopranos". Gawd, I miss my "Tone and Carm". I think I might just go back and watch the entire series again.

That reminds me... Last month, The American Club magazine had a coupon for Hollywood Clicks for one month free rentals. It's the same kind of deal as Netflix. I've watched and worked out to both Elizabeth movies with Helen Mirren, the Beatrix Potter movie (thumbs down), "What Women Want", "The Weatherman", and damn, I can't remember them all now. I hate when that happens.

They really don't have a lot of new releases, I guess because they're slow to be released in Asia and also probably because the censors must review them first. I'm not sure. In any event, I decided to queue up for all of the Academy Award-winning films I've never seen before. So, today is "Alfie". I will finish it tomorrow, but I've got a feeling it's going to rip my heart out.

Do you know how hard it is to continue working out while either laughing your head off or crying your eyes out? I usually end up going in slow-motion, but I guess it's better than me lying on the couch. Last week, I was in between movies, so I decided I'd watch "They Call Me Tater Salad" for the 5th time. Well, sonofa... that guy still had me laughing so hard I think I might've peed a little or it could've been sweat, I don't know!

Can you recommend a movie that you think I shouldn't miss?

Desktritus

2007-08-31T17:36:00.001+08:00

Avi, ~~stole~~ paid homage to Sheila, and posted pictures of his messy office. If you've read my blog for any time at all, you'll know that I drank the blue Kool-Aid and am obligated to emulate him.

To that end, I have posted pictures of our office. Take note, that the WHH's little corner is quite tidy. My stuff takes up the rest of this room. I am not tidy. I must have my things available at all times.

This phenomenon is only applicable to my office area (and if I'm employed, I am very tidy). If you look into my kitchen cabinets, I keep my cans lined up and in categories, my spices are alphabetized. My books? Since my first job was as a page in a library, all of my books must be alphabetized by author, unless that is, they're non-fiction. No, I don't do the Dewey Decimal System for non-fiction, but I separate them from my fictional books.

I have our medicines sorted according to category: stomach, skin, respiratory illnesses. Hey, it works for me!

Yeah, I'm a slob in my office, but I can usually tell you where everything is, kinda. Kinda -- only because we moved 6 months ago and I didn't unpack everything. A lot of things are MIA, and I'm not going to search for them now.

So, what does your desk look like?

You can click the images to enlarge them.

I Get A Little Verklempt Every Now and Then

2007-08-29T00:46:00.000+08:00

So, I installed this Stickam doomaflotchie last week. I turn it on, and... I get engrossed with whatever it is I'm trying to do (i.e., fix my dang computer so that it sees my dvd drive) or read, and I forget that it's on.

As I was reading one blogger's post last night, I started crying. Tears just kept streaming down my face. The blogger is going through a very hard time, and it breaks my heart. I've never met this blogger in person. (Actually, I haven't met any bloggers from my Blogroll -- unlike Karla who is an international blogging star with fans who recognize her and everything!)

Really, though, it doesn't matter that I've not met my blog buddies in person. Many of them use their blogs to vent their anger, pain, and sadness. They pour their hearts and souls into it, and I can't help but care.

Just thinking about it, and writing it here, I'm verklempt again. Talk amongst yourselves will you? I need a minute or two to collect myself.

OK, thank you very much.

Anyway, as I was dabbing the tears from my eyes last night, I got an email from my sister, "It looks like you're crying. Are you crying? What's wrong?"

"I'm fine, I'm crying about a blog buddy who is going through some very painful times."

"Oh, alright then, as long as you're OK."

I'm OK. It's just that I cry sometimes when I read blogs. Sometimes, I laugh out loud at their funny stories. Sometimes, I forget that I have the camera on.

50th Year, Day 2

2007-08-27T20:31:00.000+08:00

My computer is still giving me fits! Why doesn't it see my CD-ROM/DVD drive all of a sudden? Last week, I "removed" a bunch of programs that I haven't used in a while after backing everything up on the 160GB external hard-drive and on Norton. Do you think I removed a driver or something? I need help!!!

I have a cordless keyboard, and it's worked perfectly until two days ago. Now, it goes in spurts. I changed the batteries last night, and still I'm dealing with it sometimes working and sometimes not. I'm a fast typist (100 wpm when the keyboard isn't being stupid) and this is slowing me down and pissing me off!

My camera is working fine now, but why was the memory card empty Sunday? Saturday evening, it showed that the memory was full, but we'd only taken a few pictures. It's an Olympus SP-350 and we've never had any trouble... until now. Stupid camera!

One of our cordless phones with the answering machine has decided it doesn't want to work anymore too. WTF? Everything decides to break during my birthday month/week/weekend? We now have two phones that work. Of course, the cordless phones won't work if I wander too far from the base because of the concrete and steel walls. I hate when that happens. Stupid phones!

So, Ludo, with the kick-ass camera sent me this picture of us (excluding him), but he's not going to send anymore via email because the files are too large. The WHH is out of the country for two weeks, so it will be a while before I can upload anything to Flickr. Trust that we had GOOD TIMES! :D

On This Date...

2007-08-26T20:02:00.000+08:00

50 years ago... [insert baby picture that I was planning to upload, but my computer is completely screwed] on this date, August 26, 1957 this HAWT Geeky Tai-Tai was born!

I had a lovely birthday, and I am happy to be 50!. We spent the evening with good friends, had a delicious meal at Flutes, and then fun times at Ballymoon's and Harry's @ Orchard.

I was planning to blog all about my birthday weekend, but nothing seems to be working properly. I am counting on Ludo with the kick-ass camera to bail me out with pics. My camera had nothing for me this morning. I am not happy about that.

Please stay tuned...

R.I.P. Charlie

2007-08-21T22:38:00.000+08:00

Our son lost his cat, Charlie the King Kong Kitty, to diabetes this week. We'll miss you Charlie.

Lumpy Breasts and Vagina Power

2007-08-20T12:22:00.000+08:00

I've got another complaint... this time about Singaporean women. This has nothing to do with their natural beauty, or the fact that they manage to walk 5K in 4-inch heels on Orchard Road, their petiteness, or even that they have fewer and smaller sweat glands than Caucasians and so never look flushed even in 35 degree C heat with 100% humidity.

No, it would be none of those things. My complaint is that I've seen too many women of late wearing lacy bras underneath thin knit tops. These are not the smooth-type lace bras. The lace bras these women are wearing end up making these beautiful women look like skanky lace-bra hos! Honestly, this is not attractive nor sexy in the least.

Let me just say this... you're not just getting looks from men, but women too because we're trying to figure out why you think a woman with a multitude of big lumps in all the wrong places on your breasts would be sexy! Honestly, we are. So, please, ladies, stop wearing nasty cheap-looking skank bras! You're doing yourself a major disservice. kthx! **

**One of these days I will get a secret squirrel pic the way I did of nasty-ass thong lady. Sheesh!

I saw this video over at So a Blonde Walks Into a Blog, and I decided that I have to post it here too because I was LOL'ing so much I think I peed my pants just a little bit. Although Alexyss K. Tylor doesn't use any profanities, she uses a lot of the words vagina, penis, sperm, and rectum. This is a legit program that airs in the ATL area on a public access channel. You know, like "Wayne's World" and their schwings! :D

(Most likely NSFW)

Hurry!

2007-08-19T23:55:00.000+08:00

So, I took the plunge the other day and installed "Stickam" here and in Facebook. Somehow, I've got to figure out how to block horny young pervs. My gawd, they're younger than our sons! Why on earth would they want to see women like me? I don't get it, but I guess that's nothing new. It still seems cool to have a chat room on my blog, but we'll see.

When I was in ATL in June, my friend had me over for lunch, shopping, and of course, I ended up staying overnight. Anyway... I loved the salad that she made. It was a curried chicken on baby greens, or something like that. It was colorful and flavorful, and quite filling. When I emailed her later to thank her, I asked her about the salad. It turns out it was a Rachael Ray recipe, but my friend didn't have time to send me the direct link.

This morning, she sent me a scanned copy of the page she printed from the Food Network. My big plan for this afternoon? Go get all of the ingredients to make this savory salad in addition to other unusual stuff! I didn't take my trolley this time because I needed to buy a new mop too. The old one died. I also needed to get peanut butter, mayo, and mango chutney. After that, I had to stop at the doctor's to get muscle-relaxers for my neck. OMG! I think I slept on my left side the entire night! My neck cannot do that. Not all night, anyway.

After spending an hour and a half in the store with people stocking shelves and not getting out of my way so that I can look for the Mango Chutney I needed, screaming babies in almost every aisle, and not knowing where everything is now that they're in the process of expanding the store, I was finally on my way to the doctor's to pick up my medicine. Half-way there, I realized that I'd forgotten the chicken I needed for this new recipe! GAH!!! I went back to get the chicken. I really had to rush home because Mr. Nice Deliveryguy always stops at our condo first!

One of my gripes about Singaporeans is that they do not give way on the sidewalks. They'll be ambling with their friends, maybe three or four abreast, and even though they'll see you coming toward them, they will not budge an inch! It's like they're playing "chicken" with other pedestrians. Pisses me off! The only nice thing about me rushing home with my new mop was that people got out of my way! I'm a bad-ass-mop-wielding-bitch! Clear the way cause I'm in a hurry!!!

Just as I was entering our condo's front gate, my cell phone rang. It was Mr. Nice Deliveryguy wondering where I was. Oops! I apologized for my tardiness. He was cool about it.

Later, I made the Curry-in-a-Hurry chicken salad. It took me a lot longer than 20 minutes prep time, because I'm a slow-chopper in addition to being a bad-ass-mop-wielding-bitch! It was delicious. If you like chicken and curry, then you'll probably like this salad. I will definitely make this one again. You can download a 4x6 recipe card here.

Chef Monkeys' Meat Crust Pasta Pie

2007-08-14T22:00:00.000+08:00

The other day I watched Bob's vlog, and he had the cutest kids on, Chace and Kindal. They've got their own website, Chef Monkeys, with some of their favorite recipes.

When Kindal and Chace were talking with Bob, Chace said his favorite recipe is Bacon-wrapped Breadsticks. That had me intrigued because you know I always love the goodness that is BACON!

However, after perusing their recipes, I decided to try making Meat Crust Pasta Pie just because the whole idea of a meat "crust" sounded fun. I made this Sunday afternoon, and thoroughly enjoyed myself in the kitchen. I enjoy cooking as long as I know that someone will be willing to give my efforts a try without complaint. The WHH is always happy to try something new.

This recipe will serve a lot of people, and it's comfort food presented in a new way! It would be great for a potluck or family gathering! Even if you don't like the "crunchy" part of the pasta from the top, there's still LOTS of smooth, creamy, cheesy pasta in the middle.

I'm impressed with the creativity and talent that goes into the Chef Monkeys website. I think it's wonderful that some fun grown-ups are actually taking time to teach young kids how to cook -- inspiring creativity in them, and encouraging them to provide for others. We need those things more than ever these days!

You know I'm compulsive about my recipe cards, as well as a lot of other things, but never mind... I emailed to ask permission, and the Chef Monkeys were very happy to share. You can download 4 x 6 recipe cards here, or you can go to their website and print out the page here. I think you'll be very impressed!

My Sister's Recipe -- Cluck-cluck!

2007-08-13T22:00:00.000+08:00

A couple of weeks ago, my sister emailed her fav recipe that she thought I should try. You need to understand that the only meat my sister eats is CHICKEN. That is all. So, every recipe is adjusted for the "chicken factor".

I had to use 98% Fat-free Cream of Chicken because there is no such thing as Cream of Broccoli here -- at least in the stores where I shop in Singapore.

That being said, it was still an easy-to-make meal and quite yummy. I think it would've been more flavorful with Cream of Broccoli, but if you don't have that, then Cream of Chicken is good. I think I would use some garlic, onion, and a bit of chili to spice it up a bit. What does Emeril say, "Kick it up a notch"? Yeah, it needs to be kicked up a notch or two.

Lust

2007-08-11T16:16:00.000+08:00

This afternoon we went to Jason's to do get some groceries. I know I said that I avoid the stores on weekends, but we were out of beer! So, we load up my shopping trolley with 4 different flavors of beer, bacon, tomatoes, English muffins, etc. That baby was packed with scrumptious stuff. As we were leaving the building, I was attempting to get the trolley down the stairs when it suddenly collapsed! WHH was embarrassed to be seen with me pulling that thing along in the first place. Now, I knew all he wanted to do was pretend he didn't know me, but there were four different flavors of beer in that trolley!

He was able to fix it enough that he could drag it behind him. I carried the other bags of food that didn't fit in the trolley and we headed directly for the taxi queue. Once we got home and put the beer in the fridge (first things first) he picked it up to see exactly what broke. Pretty much the entire thing! I was so pissed that I'd broken my cool trolley. So, WHH did what he's so good at doing, he fixed it! Well, it's not as good as new and will never be used to load 4 flavors of beer, but I can still use it.

While he was fixing my trolley, I heard him humming Rihanna's "Umbrella". Just last night, he'd told our friend Andy that he really should watch her video because it's "PURE SEX"! My WHH is in awestruck-jaw-dropping, lust!

The following are for WHH and Andy, and anyone else who lusts for Rihanna -- I've got a girl-crush on her myself! Maybe now he'll forgive me for the whole shopping-trolley-breakage thing and forgetting to buy chocolate pudding when we were at Jason's. Oops! ;0)

A Meme

2007-08-10T21:37:00.000+08:00

Here's a meme I stole from HolyGirl427...

Simply bold the things you have done and give us a total count at the end...

Bought everyone in the pub/bar a drink -- Well, actually, WHH did, but I was with him!
Climbed a mountain
Held a tarantula
Taken a candlelit bath with someone -- Why do you suppose I call him Way-Hot Husband?
Been in love -- For the past 30+ years!
Broken someone’s heart
Had my heart broken
Done a striptease -- I can be a tart that way
Bungee jumped
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Stayed up all night long, and watched the sun rise
Seen the Northern Lights
Gone to a huge sports game -- Many, but Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans 2002 was the biggest and most exciting for me. New England 20 St. Louis 17. Paul McCartney performed pre-game and U2 was half-time.
Grown and eaten my own vegetables -- One summer we had so many tomatoes that we were sick to death of them. Jim and Patrick had a big food fight in the yard with tomatoes. It was so much fun to watch them having fun together.
Slept under the stars -- After a hayride one crisp October night, WHH and I slept next to the camp fire. It was so romantic, but we woke up in the early morning chilled to the bone! Changed a baby’s diaper -- I'm a MOM!
Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
Watched a meteor shower -- I've seen a shooting star a few times, but never a shower of them.
Gotten drunk on champagne -- Every year on our anniversary for the first few years. That stopped when I got pregnant with Jimbo, and we never really did that again because champagne hangovers are painful!
Given money to charity -- Our favorite charities are Alzheimer's Association, Habitat for Humanity, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and NAMI
Looked up at the night sky through a telescope -- Saw the Hale-Bopp Comet in 1995 with my friend, Peg, at the Walters State Community College Observatory
Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment -- When I was in junior high my friend, Brenda, and I giggled throughout church services for probably an entire year. I'm very ashamed of that, but we did have fun.
Had a food fight
Bet on a winning horse
Taken a sick day when I wasn’t ill -- Usually because one or both of the boys was sick. Had a snowball fight
Photocopied my butt or any other intimate body part -- only my face
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping -- WHH and I climbed the fence of the Carlinville Country Club pool more than a few times to go skinny dipping.
Taken an ice cold shower
Seen a total eclipse -- of the moon
Ridden a roller coaster -- When I was in high school, my friends and I loved going to King's Island near Cincinnati to ride "The Racer" roller coaster. We would ride it, then get right back in line to ride again trying different seats each time. GOOD TIMES! I think that's probably when I screwed up my neck!
Hit a home run -- Never in a million years, I'm such a klutz!
Been arrested
Visited all 50 states
Taken care of someone who was shit faced
Stolen a street/highway sign
Backpacked in Europe
Taken a road-trip -- Many
Taken a midnight walk on the beach -- Many, and I love those walks
Gone sky diving
Milked a cow
Alphabetized my records/CDs -- I also like to alphabetize my spices. Hey, my first job was in a library shelving books. It gets in your blood, that alphabetizing thing does!
Sung karaoke -- With my sisters. We always love singing together!
Lounged around in bed all day -- I love to do that on rainy days, watch movies, or read, or something even more entertaining
Gone scuba diving -- in the deep-end of a swimming pool
Danced in the rain -- I love dancing anytime, a little bit of rain isn't going to stop me!
Gone to a drive-in theater -- I LOVE the drive-in!
Started a business -- Brooks TV Sales & Service, I was a "financial backer" :-)
Gotten married -- April 1, 1978
Been in a movie
Crashed a party
Gotten divorced
Had sex at the office
Made cookies from scratch -- I make an excellent chocolate-chip cookie!
Gotten a tattoo
Been on television -- I spoke up at a school board meeting (or something like that) to protest the deplorable conditions of the Alpha Elementary School in Morristown, TN. A Knoxville news camera showed me for 3 or 4 seconds. Morristown finally built some new schools.
Had sex in a public place
Got so drunk I don’t remember anything
Recorded music -- High school band and jazz band
Had a one-night stand
Bought a house
Shaved or waxed off my pubic hair
Been on a cruise ship
Spoken more than one language fluently
Bounced a check
Called or written my Congressperson and Senators -- Many times! I've also signed so many petitions in the last 7 years, I've lost count.
Picked up and moved to another city to just start over -- When I was 18, I moved to Carlinville, IL
Sung loudly by myself in the car
Written articles for a large publication
Piloted an airplane
Helped an animal give birth
Been fired or laid off from a job -- Laid off from Brunswick Corporation in Skokie because some nasty guy was attempting hostile take-over in 1982. They called me back to work, but I couldn't go because I'd just given birth to Jimmy. Apparently, they forgot that I was 5 months pregnant when they laid me off.
Won money on a TV game show
Broken a bone
Ridden a motorcycle
Had a body part below the neck pierced
Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
Ridden a horse
Had major surgery
Had sex on a moving train
Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
Visited all seven continents
Eaten sushi -- Jimbo brought some home and said, "Mom, you've gotta try some. Put a little Wasabi on it, you're gonna' love it!" Yes, indeed, I did love it!
Had my picture in the newspaper -- Band stuff and I got engaged and married
Parasailed
Changed my name -- Only my last name, I have always loved my given names. My Mom is cool that way!
Dyed my hair -- If you count highlights
Been a DJ

I've got 55 out of 90, am I cool or a dork??? You tell me!

A bit of Nostalgia

2007-08-09T17:21:00.000+08:00

The other day whilst filling out insurance forms for all of the doctors visits, my mind wandered. It got me to thinking about when we were newlyweds. WHH's parents loaned us money to start our own business, Brooks TV Sales & Service. (If my scanner worked, I'd show you pictures of our little store.) I worked at the bank in the loan department, a job that I loved because I got to know a lot of people in Carlinville. I earned a regular paycheck and had medical insurance for both of us.

I think it was about a year after starting our business, that WHH woke up in the middle of the night in pain. He was hot too, but not in the fun way I like. He was having trouble breathing and when the aspirin wore off, his fever would get dangerously high, and he would become delirious. He went to the doctor, and he ran all sorts of tests on him, but couldn't determine exactly what was wrong with him. He sent him home, but I had to work and worried about him becoming delirious and not able to care for himself. I asked to have him admitted to the local hospital.

He was there for more than a week, and yet the doctor still couldn't come up with a diagnosis. He knew it was some sort of viral infection of his lungs, but not what type. One of his lungs would fill up with fluid in the pleural sac. It was scary for him and terrifying for me. Eventually, I asked to have him transferred to Springfield's Memorial Hospital. Our family doctor was able to get the Chief of Infectious Diseases to take his case.

Springfield is an hour's drive from Carlinville. I would go to work, and then at 3;30 when I got out (it was a great job), I'd drive up to see him. He was worrying about his shop and the TV's that he hadn't repaired because he was sick. I ended up calling a guy with whom he'd worked at his first job as a TV technician (or butt-crack TV repairman, as he says). We'd become friends with Ed and his wife, Pat, and if we had some extra money, we'd drive up to visit them for BBQ's at their house or if somebody had paid cash for a job we'd go to a restaurant with them.

Ed and Pat took me out for dinner a couple of times while Michael was in the hospital in Springfield. It was nice to know that we had friends there. Then, on the weekend, they drove down to Carlinville and Ed repaired the TV's for us. It was such a load off our minds not to have to worry about customers being without their TV. Pat was a nurse at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. Her father was an osteopath. I'd never heard of that and she explained that he was a doctor who healed by manipulating the body. She was into classical music and turned me onto Shostakovich. Both of them were very intelligent and entertaining, and always fun to be with.

After about three and a half weeks in the hospital, Michael was discharged. He was not well, but he was better. We only found out a few weeks after his discharge that the doctor had finally made a diagnosis of histoplasmosis, an air-borne virus (usually carried in pigeon feces). We do not like pigeons EVER. Michael's case had baffled them because his symptoms weren't typical of histoplasmosis. We were told that the doctor wrote up his case in a journal. My WHH is famous! ;0)

We had our business until 1981. We decided to sell our inventory and equipment to another generous TV guy in Girard, Mr. Weller, when WHH was asked to move to Chicago to work directly for the manufacturer as a Technical Advisor. That job description was to take phone calls all day and tell "butt-crack TV repairmen" how to fix problem sets.

Back then, there were no internets and email. Only long-distance (which we couldn't afford) and the U.S. Post Office. We eventually lost touch with Ed and Pat. We've moved so many times after that it'd be tough for anyone to keep up with us.

After all of this reminiscing, I Googled Ed. Their last name is unusual, if any Eds turned up, it'd most likely be him. The second listing had their names. I found them! I clicked on the "American Girl" link and soon realized that it was not going to be one of those cases where we could reconnect with old friends.

Sadly, Pat died last year after a long battle against breast cancer. I'm shocked and very sad, she was a remarkable woman and her story is truly inspiring. I hope you'll take a bit of time to read the article. I'm glad that we were friends even though it was only for a brief time of her too-short life.

Once again, though, I'm baffled as to why this great country of ours can't seem to care for its citizens. Our friends in Romania have health care for all at no charge. Romania for goodness sakes, a country with a turbulent history almost since the beginning of time!

Thirty years ago, I had insurance through my employer. We were poor, my husband was in the hospital for a month, but I was able to pay our hospital bills without declaring bankruptcy. That would never happen today.

A Fun Contest

2007-08-08T10:11:00.000+08:00

I discovered So A Blonde Walks Into a Blog today via NYC Watchdog's Smorgasboard Sunday (I'm a bit behind on reading blogs). The Blonde is a 35-year old mother of three, a freelance writer, and correspondent for an online news service. The first post on her blog is a contest for "Another Blonde Moment" prizes. I need to win those cookbooks and the apron. I love the apron!

Debbie Thornton is the owner of Another Blonde Moment featuring her cookbooks "Any Blonde Can Cook", "Any Blonde Can Do It", and "How to Meat a Blonde" along with some of the most fun and creative accessories I've ever run across!

Here are the titles of sections in "Any Blonde Can Cook"...

Four Play, A.M. Spirits, Souper Nooners, Cream of the Crop, Enter Courses, and Happy Endings

I just ordered the "Will Cook For Highlights" apron! Go on over to Another Blonde Moment and order some fun gifts or treat yourself! Be sure to check out So A Blonde Walks Into a Blog too. Yes, she's blonde, but she doesn't fit the stereotype at all -- she's an excellent writer.

Cocktails are Fun, but Insurance Companies Suck!

2007-08-07T18:34:00.000+08:00

Last week, I took a cocktail-mixology class at this new place (at least it's new to me) called Palate Sensations with our friend, Alex. It's just across the street from the Col-Bar. Anyway, we learned how to make Mojitos, Margaritas, "James Bond" martinis, B52's, and Singapore Slings. By the time the class was finished 3 1/2 hours later, I had a bit of a buzz. Not too much of one because I'm not into sweet drinks much. I did learn a lot, and I plan to take more classes starting with the Basic Cooking Skills. I need to learn more wok-rocking skills. Mmmm-hmmm!

So, the start of my week was fun and interesting. It went downhill fast after Tuesday. I realized after doing my usual work-out on the elliptical that I still wasn't better. I went back to the doctor, and he decided that I needed a complete physical with all of the usual blood tests, etc. He also had me go for an ultra-sound and a series of x-rays to be sure that my kidneys were ok.

Hence, no real blog material for the week. I just felt like crap and couldn't think of anything fun to write. I am on the mend now, and actually worked out today with no problems afterward. All of my tests came back OK.

After all of these doctor visits, tests, x-rays, it came time for me to work on the insurance claims. I went online to our insurer (United HealthCare) to see if any of our previous claims had been paid. That was stupid of me... of course, they hadn't been paid! In May we were finally reimbursed for claims with dates of service back to November 2006.

My WHH emailed an advocate who helped us get the money due us last year (even though it took 6 months) to tell her we needed her help again. I'd faxed claims in May and July, but still nothing was on their website. The advocate, who has been extremely helpful and quite patient, came back with UHC's statement that they had NEVER received my faxes.

I.HATE.INSURANCE.COMPANIES!

I think I'll leave it at that for today.

Cool T-Shirts and a Fiery Crotch(ular area)

2007-07-28T18:42:00.000+08:00

The highlights of my week arrived Thursday from Dave at Blogography and Karl at Secondhand Tryptophan!! When I saw the packages in our mailbox, I was elated!! Yes, I think elated is the right word. See the look on my face?-------->

"I feel pissy, oh so pissy.
I feel pissy and witty and WAYyyy... bad!"

Question: Why do I always have Broadway musicals running through my head?

Tuesday, after posting in my blog, I went shopping with my little trolley, and bought the requisite beer, wine, bread, milk, and chocolate pudding. Once home, I puttered, checked Google Reader for blog updates and comments, and read another story from Bukowski's "Tales of Ordinary Madness" (OMG! What a guy! and RW was published in some of the same magazines!!! I "know" a famous person -- DON'T!HATE!).

I'd procrastinated long enough, it was time to work-out and finish the movie I'd started the day before, "Keeping the Faith". It was a cute movie, but I had problems with the pace of the film -- it was too slow for me. There were several scenes that I would've cut completely. Still, I was completely distracted from my work-out, and that's the most important thing for me. I don't want to focus on the time or the discomfort of working out.

I worked out almost until the end of the movie, and then I walked around the living room in the a/c to cool down and I finished the movie. It was about 30 minutes later that I felt "the twinge", and it wasn't a good kind of twinge. No, it wasn't good at all. I recognized that twinge from about 10 years ago. Sonofa.... I cannot believe this is happening to me again, damnit! Another UTI, OMG! I knew that I would be in excruciating pain within an hour or so.

The WHH has been working on a humongous project and was running late. By about 7 p.m. the twinge had turned into a burning sensation. I called the doctor (I think that's part of a 70's song). The doctor kept telling me not to panic. That was easy for him to say because as he was telling me how he thought I could wait to see him until morning, my "crotchular" area was going up in flames! Yes, it was on FIRE and it is a crotchular area. WHH arrived home just in time to have a conversation with the doctor, and then headed to the A & E (Accident & Emergency) at Gleneagles Hospital to collect some first-aid medicine to tide me over until morning.

I'm feeling much better now, but it has been rainy and dreary here for over a week. I actually enjoy a couple of rainy days, but beyond that it starts to affect my mood. That is, until I wear my Bad Monkey t-shirt or my EYE HEART KAR L shirt. They'll always make me smile!

Shepherds Pie and a Big Hickey On My Neck

2007-07-24T10:53:00.000+08:00

Curiosity Killer posted her recipe for Shepherds Pie the other day, and it sounded so good that I thought I'd give it a try. I'm so glad I did! It is delicious and WHH says, "It's a keeper!"

I made a couple of mistakes like forgetting to put in the thyme and I didn't get my sauce thick enough. Still, it tasted great and it's nice to have something different to serve for dinner. I made quite a bit, so I portioned the left-overs and put them in the freezer.

Here's a picture of my somewhat runny Shepherds Pie:

You know how I'm compulsive with my recipe cards so you can download a 4 x 6 card here for Curiosity Killer's yummy recipe. If you try it, be sure to let CK know how you liked it.

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Do you have any habits that you do, completely unaware, whilst engrossed in a book, movie, or writing? Apparently, I have several one of them being scratching my neck until I give myself a hickey! It wasn't until last night as I was reading blogs that I realized my neck was itching like crazy!

I asked WHH, "Do I have a rash or something on my neck?"

WHH, "Uh, no, but you do have a hickey! What the hell you been doin'?"

"Well, I just realized that my neck is really itchy and I've been scratching at it all day long without knowing it."

He caught me at it again this morning before he left for work.

WHH, "Get.your.hands.away.from.your.neck! Jeez! You already have a hickey so big you're gonna look like a slut! I'm gonna fix that right now."

He proceeded to put one of those silicone healing patches over it. Now it sort of looks like I had some kind of bad tracheotomy or something.

I'm beginning to wonder if this could be some sort of blogger phenomenon??

I Got Snacked On... and I Ate a Double Deuce!

2007-07-23T10:25:00.000+08:00

I've been Snacked On by NYCWatchdog in his Sunday Smorgasboard! Every Sunday NYCWD reviews some of the 250+ blogs he reads every day. I am honored that he thought my post about my handy-dandy shopping trolley was worthy of mention in his Smorgasboard! Thank you very much Dawg.

NYCWD Vlogs about cereal too, check it out because they're always entertaining and fun to watch. Leave a comment for him too because it's always nice to get to know the people who stop by.

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I had fully intended to post this Vlog (video) yesterday, but first my computer crashed (stupid Windows!) and I had to start over. Then, I forgot to change the format and it took all night to upload to Google. It finally made it, and so here you go... I hope you like it ;0) Oh yeah, leave a comment for me too, will ya?

You can also see the video here

Phoofy, but Serious

2007-07-21T10:21:00.000+08:00

Last week, I went to my new hair stylist, Casey at Palais Renaissance, to get highlights and a haircut. He actually just highlighted the roots. I was a bit skeptical as to how well he'd match the colors that Cabie used the last time, but he did a great job! He also complimented Cabie for being a meticulous colorist.

Since this was a technical process, they gave me a voucher for a free conditioning within 10 days. I went back the other day for my conditioning treatment. The woman who styled my hair afterwards was just a tad overzealous with the styling products. This is a picture WHH took of me after I'd just taken my hair out of a ponytail. Big hair!

Casey's is an excellent salon and I'd recommend them to anyone. Just be prepared to pay high prices.

My friend's daughter, Kate, will be walking 60 MILES in November in a 3-day event in the fight against breast cancer. The group will stay in tents at night and will trek 20 miles per day. Amazing!

Do me a favor, will you? Please click on this link and then give what you can to help fight breast cancer. The proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust. Thanks for your help.

Shopping

2007-07-18T10:43:00.000+08:00

Whenever I have a grocery shopping expedition, I have some considerations. Yesterday, since I wasn't making the usual beer/wine run and we didn't need too many things, I decided to walk to Jason's nearby. Now that builders have taken away our shortcut affectionately dubbed "Ho Chi Min Trail", the walk is a bit longer albeit less treacherous. This means a longer time with plastic bags slashing my wrists as I walk home with our groceries.

Well, NO.MORE.SLASHED.WRISTS because a few weeks ago I bought one of these ------>

I took it along with me yesterday for my shopping at Jason's. As I shopped, I just put my things in this handy-dandy trolley. When I was at the cashier, she started to put everything into plastic bags. I stopped her. She looked at me incredulously, but I took my things out of the bags and re-loaded my trolley. I did my part to protect the environment yesterday. YAY me! Ever since I read this article, the plastic issue has really bothered me.

The problem with this handy-dandy trolley? My WHH will not be seen with me toting that thing along behind me! Last week, he was going to the store for a few things and I offered to go along with him, and he declined my offer. I know it's because he thinks I look like a doofus and he doesn't want to look like a doofus too -- especially walking down Orchard Road! ;0)

I'm Such a Sap!

2007-07-16T10:34:00.000+08:00

Miss Ann took the The Brutally Honest Personality Test because Sheila took it, and so I had to take it too...

Your Score: Sap- ESFJ

70% Extraversion, 40% Intuition, 46% Thinking, 56% Judging

Aww...you know that sensitive mamsy-pansy sap I was talking about earlier? Yeah. Well, someone had to get it and you pulled the short straw. Now pull yourself together, crybaby.

You are quite possible one of the most sensitive people I know and I don't even know you! You care what each and every single person thinks about you. You're the kind of person who sends around a txt to everyone they know saying "i thnk ur prtty. wat do u thnk abt me? rate me frm 1-5."

That's 1 meaning "I hate you" and 5 meaning "You make me vomit when I look at you." You're still crying, aren't you?

Sure. All you want is for someone to appreciate you once in a while. Aww... Boohoo. Hold a pity party sometime. The garden's free. Lots of worms down there. Big ones. Small ones. Squishy ones.

My guess is you don't understand this test one bit. You can't imagine how anyone could be so insulting or why anyone could find it even remotely amusing...STOP THE DAMN WATERWORKS, WOMAN!

Naive is a word that needs to be branded on your forehead... Alright, now I feel bad. Sure, you do have some redeeming factors, just not many. Sorry.

Miss Ann says, "According to Keirsey, ESFJ people are Provider Guardians.”