June 30, 2008
Healing my soul
Now that Saintnity's fully recovered and working puurfectly fine, I have this sense of gratification whenever I listen to her 'sing'.
This most bloody expensive commodity that I've bought with my own moolah till date.
I don't know how good and impressive harman/kardon is supposed to be. Let's just say that I think they are damn good enough.
xxx
Probably a dozen years ago, there was this song by Jacky Cheung that I kept playing and playing for dozens of times just because I loved it. Loved his voice, loved the melody, loved the song. Every repeated time listening to it, I felt I was in another world altogether. Even at that time, that was an inexplicably lovely feeling. But I can't even recall the title now.
That same dozen years later, I put a lot of songs on repeat. On the permanent playlist in my mp3 player, in my mobile, in my WMP.
Always be my baby. Latest addition.
Someday, I will probably not be able to recall all these titles too. That's the order of memory. My memory, at least.
Even so, that inexplicably lovely feeling that I experience now... there's no real compromise for it.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 01:32
SBC's windows
Post-prata ...and mutton curry.
I will happily accede to all your food cravings everytime you are back. Not because I love eating, anyway.
Because you are still one of the darlings, in spite of how you have to spend 30 minutes styling your whatever, change six outfits before you decide you look fine, your confusing directions, your arrogance as a backseat driver, your insults, your lack of focus...
That's quite a list to put up with eh? *shakes head...
xxx
I think you are really happy when you come drive round, pick me up, go somewhere together and send me back. I think it's the car. Or the feeling of liberation and independence, albeit with the help of a 400bucks GPRS.
We are the two remaining here, still here in Isle Pragmatic. But it's important to me that you are here. 'Cos every now and then, I miss your blatancy and your super practical approach to life, and people, hit-and-run solutions. And your chef hubby.
xxx
Darlin, our darling... of course we will never suffice with a 10 minutes conversation with you through the miles and wait another half year before we talk about you, think about you and talk to you.
You can try to imagine how disappointed I was when you said you will only be back at the end of the year. The wait just got longer, you know. Personally, I think it's unacceptable. But, at least, I don't worry about you. The fierce one and the vain one do.
Why don't you try to type us some emails when you can?
Meanwhile, keep the
po chi yun handy.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 01:14
June 29, 2008
Apricot & Fruit Acids
are the ingredients in the new body toning/moisturizing gel that I just bought from Robinsons this evening.
I LOVE it! Now my arms and legs are baby-buttocks smooth... and the gel is so much lighter than lotion or cream!
The 2nd best thing? It was so damn cheap! 20% off all toiletries in Robinsons!
Some light retail therapy... ^^
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 21:57
Desensitised
I must have watched the wedding highlights of at least six couples in an hour. At the first anniversary of Fion's company.
*commercial break... For wedding photo/videography packages, pls visit
Coffee & Tea Dreamworkz for
Fresh Brewed Creativity Please mention my name so that I get to earn some referral fee in the form of shopping voucher. Well, there may be a little discount for you. Thanks!
The same many-ribbons-adorned gowns, the same suits, the same curls in the hair, the same strappy high heeled shoes, the same toasting ceremonies, the same multi-aged guests... the same smiles even.
As I tried to stifle a yawn, my thought drifted to... "Wonder how many of them will get a divorce in the next few years..."
hmm? Wahahaha!
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 21:26
Relativity
Sometimes, it crawls and you loathe it for so.
Sometimes, it flies and you wonder how.
Sometimes, it just passes and you remain ignorant.
Sometimes, it stops.
And the irony steps in when you remembered you were always afraid of it stopping.
We are all losers to Time.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 21:09
June 28, 2008
We'll linger on
Tell me a story.
Sing me a song.
Play me a melody.
Make time stop.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 21:01
June 22, 2008
Intuition
The best way to know what she thinks was to call her. So, I did!
And believe me, you. I heard the excitement in her voice, the smile when she spoke and basically, how glad she was to receive a call from me. Maybe it could have been anyone else too, so long as it's from home. But, believe me, you. Bet my call to her made this Sunday cheerier.
It made my Sunday too! My bblics darling! ^_^
xxx
If I have to fish anything like that out of you again, I will have to make you pay. Terrible lack of initiative. Don't find excuses.
What's that thing Perv said about you being 'softer' and me 'more like a man'?
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 23:25
June 20, 2008
Special Garbage
Sometimes, I wonder if as soon as you get a driving license and a car, and belong to the category of road users who get to sit behind the wheel in an air-conned, light reflective metal box, you forget what it's like to be a pedestrian (i.e. the category of road users who use the 'ka' - legs).
Some drivers have absolutely no discretion whatsoever in their driving. If it's green light, means they have all the right of the way and internal red light for common sense and empathy.
Funny how a piece of plastic and assembled and polished materials transforms a possibly sensible and humane being into a non-thinking robot whose only brain occupation is traffic rules and speed camera.
xxx
Because strangely, Saintnity has recovered her vocal by herself. Win MP is working absolutely fine now. At least, in the music dept.
So, Garbage is playing in the playground. And I'm falling asleep after a good yoga session just now... falling... asleep...
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 11:34
Snow's windows
Say you love me. Just say so. Say you adore me. Just say so.
Even if, and especially since, I'm almost as shameless as you, more witty than you and can do sarcasm that little bit better than you can.
On a serious (and non-sarcastic) note, you seem to be covering more earthy ground in this new blog space. The posts sound more insightful, perceptive and well, if I dare say, less crappy and vulgar.
Oh my gawd. What has happened to you? Can't believe you will do the impossible for a mere nydc meal. I will throw in a kilkenny.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 11:22
June 18, 2008
The truth is, I can't stand the thought of being inconvenienced by a machine that's supposed to support a convenient lifestyle. A machine I've showered care, attention, pride and if I may, love upon.
Not so sure: there's a conspiracy between MS, all those security softwares and everything else.
Sure: I'm so sick and tired of getting Saintnity to work, everything in order.
Very Sure: I will still resign myself to her fate and fix her up, no matter how defeated and stupid doing that makes me feel.
Shit.
xxx
I like Wednesdays. It's mid-week, and it's my mid-week break. I only have 2 sessions on Wednesdays, clocking a total of 3.5 work hours.
It used to be rock climbing sessions in the evening after tuition with my cutest and one of my favourite kids. But, since Annie's knee injury has relapsed, I've been missing the walls.
But still, I like Wednesdays. It feels lazy and relaxed. Which are both good feelings to have in the mid of a week.
I try to make it home in time to watch CSI at 10. But even if I failed to, I watch it on Sunday, CSI Supreme.
There's a new season of CSI:NY, every Tuesday. And House is on every Monday.
ooohh... I love Wednesdays and AXN.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 12:43
June 15, 2008
Happily everafter... after after...
Saintnity's been euthanasia-zed. Then, resurrected.
Now, she's singing like Little Mermaid.
We just have to get the Office working and she can be fully discharged!
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 23:24
Hall-mates
My mum started commenting that it feels like we are all tenants living in the same house. 'Cos every morning, each of us brings out our own washing basin and face towel and line up to go to the toilet.
My sis, Janet, started this thing about naming our rooms by the different hall names in NUS.
So, we now refer to one another by hall names. Janet's Kent Ridge, Jasmine's PGP and I'm Sheares.
jas: Hey, Kent Ridge, can you help me to off the lights?
jt: Wait...
me: No need. Later I'm going to PGP to print some stuff.
jt: Sheares will off for you later.
jas: Sheares, you quickly finish and go out, off the lights for me.
me: Kent Ridge needs to iron her clothes...
and so on and so forth...
It's quite funny actually.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 23:14
oxy-eclectic
When a friend has seen the state of your bedroom and uses the word 'eclectic' to describe it, you know for sure that this is a friend for keep.
Thanks Wifey Trud! keke
xxx
A blog is being resurrected! He could only come up with crude and lewd blog addresses. I pointed him to the direction of oxymorons. Yet, he still ends up with a blog add that lacks punch. Anyway, check out
www.faithbutnohope.blogspot.com for Snow aka Shameless aka Perv's reborn blog of a stale teenager trapped in a freshly minted 31 yr old's body.
p.s. Actually, 'cy_cy' is nowhere near oxymoronic. But this blog was started at a time when I thought 'oxymoron' was some kind of pimple cream.
xxx
Boon Lay is half an hour cab ride to PIE Kallang. That would cost you about $18 already. It's too damn far. Seriously.
Let's have my daughter's convoc-cum-birthday party somewhere more central, not the last housing estate of Jurong. Terrible...
But we really adored the dining table in waiyin's house. So... eclectic.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 22:44
7 years later
Was Yixian's 21st birthday party yesterday.
I had a pretty impressive party for my 21st birthday. There was buffet catering for 70 pax as well as a bbq-cum-karaoke. We made full use of the RC's facilities near my house. That was, in fact, the last real birthday party I had. And frankly, I'm not looking forward to change the state of birthday parties for myself.
But attending the xiao gua's birthday party just reminded me of the years that have since passed; the many things, occurences, twists of life, forks of path that have been anticipated, lived and now, almost forgotten.
Eventually, all will be forgotten. Because remembering takes so much effort and tends to evoke unwelcomed nostalgia.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 22:21
June 09, 2008
Waltzing
I think everyone ought to have a friend like Ee Ping. 'Cos he makes me laugh at the most unexpected of times. There was this time, when I was in the midst of a really, really boring workshop, and I smsed him during my break. He replied quite promptly. But for me, break was over. So, when I read his sms, I had to try very hard to keep a straight face lest the facilitator thought I was being really rude.
Well, let's just say it was a very crude but apt and hilarious reply.
I've lost count of the times he made me roll my eyes like the jackpot in Genting's casino since we've known each other 5 years ago. He's very good at that. And for that, I actually enjoy his company, his shameless remarks and loss of speech when he's verbally abused by me.
Aside from these, and thinking that everyone really needs a friend like him, there's nothing and never has been anything between us. We really have better taste than each other.
xxx
I may not, like you, remember the details much. I do, however, have a disorganised recollection of what transpired. I do, definitely, remember the company. The very comfortable feeling of just being in the moment.
So, good enough. Good enough.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 00:11
Classic Jancy
me: What? I can take an argument. (pause) Just let me win in the end.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 00:05
June 07, 2008
Kidz talk
I was practising oral conversation with one of my favourite students. The picture was depicting a scene from a bank. There was an old lady who appeared angry and raising her hand; it seemed like she was scolding the bank teller who was serving her.
student: The old woman is mad. She is angry.
me: Yes. What do you think the lady should do?
student: I don't know.
me: Ok... you can say that, "maybe the lady should be patient with the lady... because... sometimes, old people...."
student: Ya. The lady must be patient because sometimes, old people forget how to behave themselves. They don't know how to behave properly.
me: (laughs)
Later...
student: I think the old lady should not make noise. The baby also (there's a lady carrying a crying baby in the picture). The policeman should catch them and ask them to get out.
me: Oh...
student: I think the policeman should take the gun and shoot them. Shoot the baby. He's making too much noise.
me: (laughs) You are very violent, you know...
student: (laughs)
I hope she's just kidding... it's kinda scary... She's only in Pri 2.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 02:04
missing darling...
It started with 'Collide'. I really miss her.
The days that I wake up knowing the day is gonna be a slow one. Tiring, perhaps. Or sometimes, just in a stoned and dazed mood.
'My name is Luka... we just don't argue anymore...'
I got her reply. Quite a surprise, more because it was a prompt reply. Do you realise how good being missed by the person you miss feels?
Suddenly... how about we just sit somewhere under the same big sky and listen to these songs? These songs we might be able to hum a tune or two along with, the songs that take us places while we sit together, back-to-back.
We've made it through half the time. Isn't it just two more months to go?
All the time you're gone. Yet, when we meet again, it'll be like you've never left.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 01:59
June 02, 2008
No sensible education in this city, too!
Of course, that's not true. We have the Ministry of Education. And ostensibly, a very sought-after education syllabus and structure. So much so that many other countries are emulating us.
Indeed, if you just bother (ya, I know... why would you, ever! but I said 'IF') to read what the M of E has on their website on the Singapore education system, you might be thinking... "ahh... the perfect place for my child to be educated". After all, they did pay someone who can write well enough to write up that fable. That's how sincere we are in partaking in this competitive education industry. We have ISO standard schools. This city would die to impress.
But despite being a 100% pure product of this system (I've never deviated from the MOE mainstream), and having worked with primary school kids for the past 10 years, I must say part of my fatigue comes from the belief in the almost non-existent good in this system. At least, I have something to believe in... OK!
1. The thing about creative thinking?
Creativity is always welcomed. But, how creative can it get when you institutionalise creativity? If you look into some of the Maths questions in school workbooks, exam papers and assessment books, you may think that 'creative' is synonymous with 'IQ 140 and above'. Honestly, I don't believe in pushing children to think out of the box. Mainly because they are not even in the box yet! Children are creative, no matter how you look at it. The difference lies in whether they translate that creativity into getting the correct answers to impossibly demanding questions or into surprising responses to some of adults' daily dilemma.
However, the way I see it (and a couple of my students' mothers agree too), the system wants to sculpt creative academic genuises out of every child without first giving them a solid groundwork to stand firm on. This is particularly evident as children these days struggle with grammar and sentence structures in English and see the whole galaxy of stars (I meant figuratively, just in case...) when trying to figure out Maths problems.
If you equipped Da Vinci with P***lar brand art materials, is it fair to expect him to produce a Mona Lisa? Ok, maybe 'yes'. But that's because he
is a genius, already. But, let's face it - there are more Jane and John among us than Leonardo.
So, can we give the little Janes and little Johns more structure so that they can perhaps build a box first before they attempt to think out of that box? Can we teach them
properly why we need to learn common factors and multiples and how to find those first before we hand over the calculator to them, hoping they can solve a complicated fraction-cum-ratio-cum-decimals story sum? Can we make them memorise that some verbs do not change forms even in the past tense before we make them write poems on saving our earth? Can we teach them when to use which pronoun first before we get them to act out a story and write their thoughts on that?
... unfinished...
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 17:01
No sex in the city
She's really, really pissed and disgusted. The object of loathness is MDA.
Well, I can't and have no reason to want to defend MDA. I mean, seriously! If something's too 'explicit' for those aged under 18, then, just don't let them watch it
lah~ Just, you know, let them watch something like SuperHero or Scary Movie (so damn scary anyway!) or Meet the Spartans. So that the rest of us born 1987 and earlier can watch a show that's about well, sex in the city. And not Sex in the City, sans sex.
Take heart, karen. "Love, actually" - the actual one - actually made it through the barricade after someone really intelligent realised they can make a 2nd killing in box office by screening the actual one after the not so actual version, right?
This is a pragmatic place to live in. Just keep your hopes high... What else is there, really?
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 16:40
June 01, 2008
finding a title...
Do you realise that I actually do NOT care about when the world will end? And definitely not about how I would be judged then. When the world ends, like it will, my only hope is that I will already be dead by then.
And you... if you really care, how much are you doing so that you will be judged favourably?
xxx
Some marriage fail not because they did not expect their spouse to change; but because they didn't expect themselves to change. The latter can turn someone's heart to stone and never, ever look back.
We want to believe in forever so much that we conveniently forgot that change is the only constant in life.
Do you want to be ready for forever or for changes? Whose price can you afford?
xxx
I just really, honestly, seriously can't stand it when people take my time for granted and waste it and yet, feel that they just did me a great service.
I can waste my own time well enough. Thank you very much.
xxx
Cards, music, alcohol and some really good boys and girls. On a Saturday night.
Actually, it's really quite charming.
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 22:56
Think again.
Dear neighbours,
stop making snide remarks about our dogs whenever you walk past our corridor with your kids. Our dogs may be naughty but what value is there in repeating that to your kids everytime you walk past our door?
Teach your kids that dogs bark. They bark as a way of indicating their wants, their interests, their fears and yes, their friendliness too. There's nothing wrong with that. It's as normal as babies cry when they want milk, when they wet themselves and when they simply feel like it sometimes. It's called communication. That's the only language they have.
If our dogs are worthlessly naughty just because they bark, what do you say about kids who scream their heads off in shopping centres, brats who scold their maids on the trains, and teenagers who swear and curse for the littlest of inconvenience caused to them?
We are equipped with language, yet... how many of us actually behave better than dogs?
So, please. Don't contribute to the narrow-mindedness of the children nowadays.
Yours,
neighbour with the 'naughty' dogs
Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 22:43