The Leap Year

29 February.

After today, this date will not be seen until 4 years later. So here’s a post just to clock in today, a very special day!

Happy Leap Year!

29 Feb 2008 (4.00pm)

Life’s contradictions

Often, we hear one thing but get hammered when we follow. So when will we ever do the right thing? The answer is….not very likely. Whatever we do, there are counter reactions. These can come from people from the opposite camp, but it can also come from the very same people who tell you one thing but practice another. These are properly the schizophrenics!

Here’s a list which I have encountered, observed or heard from others.

1. We are told to be understanding and accommodating to other’s needs. But when we do this, another school of thought categorizes us as not assertive and we should stand by what we want.

2. We have been advised not to pamper kids, but when we get stern with them, we are blamed or even criticized for beating or scolding them.

3. We are told not to give immediate attention to babies when they cry but when we leave them crying, we are being criticized for being unconcerned parents.

4. The corporate world wants people who multitask, but we have been reminded to be focused on tasks.

5. We are taught not to be afraid to make mistakes. But we are penalized when we make one.

6. Parents complain that the whole street is full of degree holders and the uselessness of having degrees nowadays. But they pressurize their kids to have one.

7. People complain about miserable payouts by government, but they queue for hours to collect theirs.

8. In a doctor-patient setting, doctors educate patients on stress-induced symptoms and illnesses. In work setting, doctors give you stress like hell.

9. We are taught to save but when we avoid costly stuff, we are criticized for being a miser/thrift.

If we take these very seriously, we will turn nuts in no time, and many times over.

(If you have others to contribute, please do so)

25 Feb 08 (4.05pm)

Conclusion to Chinese New Year 2008

No feel. No feel. Absolutely no feel. What do you mean it’s over?!

16 Feb 2008 (7.57pm)

Goodbye, Ah Meng!

She was a national icon. She was a well-known figure to Singaporeans for more than 30 years. It is indeed sad to hear that Ah Meng has left us. Though she has retired, her name is still closely associated with the zoo. The first thing that comes into my mind when I think of the zoo is Ah Meng.

Ah Meng's burial ground. Behind it is the Seletar reservoir - a nice view and a breezy location.

"May god be with your soul". May you rest in peace.

A kid's note to Ah Meng.

Ah Meng's grand-daughter (left-most). Likely to take over Ah Meng.

Departed: 8 Feb 2008
Goodbye Ah Meng. You will be missed.

10 Feb 2008 (6.30pm)

今日笑一笑

嫖客：万水千山情，不给小费行不行？

妓：天涯何处无芳草，小费一分不能少。

嫖客：人间自有真情在，能省一块是一块。

妓：我拿青春赌明天，不给小费算强奸！


9 Feb 2008 (10.20am)

Happy Year of the Rat!

To one and all:

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR to my family and friends....May you have a happy, prosperous and healthy Year of the Rat.

7 Jan 2008 (7.58am)

鼠年发大财，身体健康

在这鼠年来临的前夕，祝贺我所有的亲戚朋友们新年快乐，身体健康，开开心心。

Happy Lunar New Year!

6 Feb 2008 (9.18pm)

Amazing Game – Try it

Got this from an email and found it amazing. Give it a shot, if you have not tried it before.


This is kinda interesting.

At the end of this message, you are asked a question.

Answer it immediately. Don’t stop and think about it.

Just say the first thing that pops into your mind.


This is a fun ‘test’…AND kind of spooky at the same time! Give it a try. Now – just follow the instructions as quickly as possible.

Do not go to the next calculation before you have finished the previous one.


You do not ever need to write or remember the answers, just do it using your mind. You’ll be surprised.


START:


How much is:
15+6

89+2









12+53

75+26








25+52










63+32










I know! Calculations are hard work, but it’s nearly over…



Come on, one more……







123+5






Quick! Think about a color and a tool!!







Scroll further to the bottom…








A bit more……










You just thought about a red hammer, didn’t you/


If this is not your answer, you are among 2% of people who have a different, if not abnormal, mind.

98% of the folks would answer a red hammer while doing this exercise.


If you do not believe this, pass it around and you’ll see.


Let me know what you have thought of!


2 Feb 2008 (9.05am)

Dad’s struggle with Xiaohei

Isn't this cute? Playing with something on the floor. That's outside my house.









I like this picture. I think this is the only time Xiaohei has 'posed' so nicely for me! :D







I think Xiaohei has started to identify our house already! He (still cannot identify he or she, anyway, just use ‘he’ as a generic term lah) appears very frequently at our doorstep nowadays.

For those who have forgotten or do not know who Xiaohei is, he is our neighbourhood pet cat. He moves around at the void deck of my block and is loved by all, er….perhaps more correct to say, loved by a lot of people at our block. People play with him, feed him, etc, etc. Xiaohei is the name given by Ms Maomie. I think he has another name called Chantek (beautiful, in Malay).

He sure has an attitude. If he is just fed, he will probably ignore your calls for him. He won’t want you to touch or caress him. But when he is in a playful mood, hahaha, one whistle can send him flying to you out of nowhere. That’s my lovely Chantek Xiaohei.

Occasionally, we will find Xiaohei outside our door (it’s 12 storey high, mind you). A few times, he flew into the lift with us before we noticed it. And refuses to get out until the door shut and opened at another floor. Anyway, usually when we see him outside, we (or rather, I) will play with him, and when we are going out, he will follow us to the lift and again fly into the lift with us, to get down.

But nowadays, his trip up to our house is more frequent, and seems like routine! We (Or rather I, haha) would not mind him up here if not for the fact that I have Mao Mao at home. (For the benefit of those who forgot or do not know, Mao Mao is my house pet hamster) Mao Mao runs about or sleeps on the floor cordoned off with a card box. We worry that Xiaohei may dash into the house and ‘play’ with Mao Mao who will probably have a tragic end! (For your info, Xiaohei sneaked in once while dad was watering the plants. We didn’t realize until dad came in and actually saw Xiaohei walking out from his room! Thank goodness he didn’t notice my Mao Mao!)

Xiaohei used to just sit ‘guai guai’ (obediently) at the door, but lately he has been trying to find ways to come into the house. Nothing I do can trick him away (and once, he even scratched me accidently while I was carrying him away to let dad step out of the door). Dad is most affected, unfortunately. Every morning, he needs to move in and out of the house to water the plants, pray pray so with Xiaohei loitering outside he finds it very difficult and most inconvenient to move in and out.

One morning at 5plus in the morning, I was still sleeping, I heard some commotion outside. Judging from the noise I heard, I was sure dad is having some problem with the cattie again so I woke up. Hahaha, it was so funny (but dad sure didn’t find it funny at that point, he was irritated to the core!) seeing dad standing inside the house but unable to get out because Xiaohei was guarding just outside and seemed to be charging into the house any moment. So dad was stuck from inside and Xiaohei stuck outside. So funny! So I tried to lure that cattie away lor, and that’s when I got scratched! There was another day I heard someone knocking at the door (nowadays we keep our door closed for fear Xiaohei may come in without us noticing). I opened the door and guess whose at the door – Xiaohei! Aiyoh, now he actually comes up and ‘knocks’ our door. We believe that's when he is really hungry!

And he is so intelligent that he knows when we try to trick him back downstairs, he simply refuses to get into the lift with us!

Sweat!

27 Jan 2008 (8.43am)

Blogging is really the way to go these days

Creating, posting, reading. That much I know about blogging at the moment.

I visited the National Library last week and was actually looking for books on money, investments, visual basics, UFOs when I stumbled upon books on blogging.

Pardon my ignorance, but I really did not realize that blogging is such a serious affair that so many books are written on it! So I browse through some of them and got two for myself. In fact, I was very happy and excited as I can now have a ‘proper education’ on blogging. I can now try to improve my own blog or perhaps have another one for a different subject.

One of the books I have borrowed in about learning how to use Blogger. It seems like that version is not an updated version.

The one which I am reading now, which I find more interesting after hitting two chapters, is titled Clear Blogging: How people are changing the world and how you can join them (by Bob Walsh), published in 2007.

The book starts by commenting how blogging has changed both the business world personal world. The first chapter has recommended the blog of General Motors Number 2 guy, Bob Lunz, which I am trying to read.

The book shares other information on, how to search for blogs of specific topics that interest you, how to build your blog (both personally and professionally), successful blogging, adding podcasting to your blog, blogging for fun and profit, building readership and blogging in the future. It has mentioned that ‘blogging is still in its early days and will continue to grow explosively’.

Well, here’s so much I want to share with you about this book. I am going to continue to read it. Hope to get more tips to improve my own blog!

27 Jan 2008 (8.09am)

I badly need to SCREAM!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

17 Jan 2008 (8.56pm)

So I am not adaptive

I am not as adaptive as I thought I am. But most of the time, it is the mind that does not want to yield.

17 Jan 2008 (8.54pm)

I don't want uniqueness

I have gone through almost 107 weeks of 'unique' Wednesdays and Thursdays. They are still very 'unique' to me now. Something must be terribly wrong (with me) if, one day, I no longer have any emotions toward this 'uniqueness'. But, having to live through this isn't making life any easier, either. I must really thank god for almost always trying to make my life so 'unique' and so 'different' until I feel like choosing 'game over'. THANK YOU!!!!

17 Jan 2008 (8.30am)

Happy Birthday to Daddy!

Today is the third day of the new year. It's one day after my birthday. And it's my father's birthday!

I have always joked that I am always a day ahead of my father. Heehee.....

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY and I wish you happiness and good health in the years to come!

3 Jan 2008 (7.32am)

Thank you for the birthday wishes

I wish to thank my colleagues for the well-wishes, the cakes (a slice of wolfberry & mandarin cheesecake and a cookies & cream cake), the gifts (a cute tortoise soft toy, which I am gonna named Quan Quan for a reason and a very nice doggie soft toy w hich I am going to cuddle every night), a very nice card and a great McDonalds lunch with my great buddies! Thanks folks!

In addition, I wish to thank all other friends who have sent their best wishes via SMSes which I would like to acknowledge and remember for a long time to come:

Good morning! Have a Beautiful Birthday!
Li

Happy Birthday 2 u (with a nice birthday song recording from my niece, Manda)
Bess

Happy Birthday! Many happy rtns!
Irin

Halo, gd morning bday girl. Wishg u a happy happy n wonderful bday.
Joey

Hi, Happy Birthday & may all your wishes come true (more babies )
B Lee

Happy birthday
Beh

May this new year bring many opportunities your way, turn all your dreams into reality and all your efforts into great achievements. Wish you a very Happy B’DAY and a prosperous NEW YEAR!!
Kelly

Hi, Happy Birthday to you. Hope all your wish will come true. Love always fr all of us.
Jenner

Hi, happy birthday 2 u. Have a great day.
Cheryl

Happy new year and happy birthday!
Lian

Hello, Happy Birthday to you.
Pris

Happy birthday! May all your wish come true.
Cheng

Thank you all for a memorable birthday!

2 Jan 2008 (9.00pm)

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's the second day of the new year. It's the day I was born 34 years ago. And it was almost always, and still is, the first day of school! Can you imagine that I had to start school on my birthday every year?!

I love this date, anyway. Because it is my day!

My birthday wishes are similar to my new year resolutions and of course, in addition, wishing myself and all my loved ones happiness and great health.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAOMIE!

2 Jan 2008 (8.55am)

Resolutions for 2008

I think I have not made any new year resolutions for the last 2 years. Time to give my life some directions again, hopefully.

1. Definitely got to make more time for exercises, possibly swimming over running. Climbing stairs would be a good alternation/complement.

2. Make time to ‘nourish’ friendships and relationships. Can be done through more informal interactions.

3. Appreciate love ones and not to take them for granted. Treasure the time with them. Life is short

4. Be more magnanimous. Have a big heart. Generally I think I have. This is targeted at particular issues.

5. Learn to manage the jinx of impatience, anger, frustrations, anxieties, stresses and depression in all aspects of my life. We only live once and I have only so much left in my time account.

6. Accept that I can’t have things the way I want ALL the time! Wake up and get real!

7. Nourish myself and my life. Learn to relax and have a peaceful mind. Learn to laugh at myself and things that happen around me.

8. Search, recognise, treasure opportunities whatever this refers to.

9. *** * *** *** (restricted)


Gambatte, Gambatte, Gambatte!

1 Jan 2008 (6.00pm)

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE & ALL

Here comes 2008! Finally gotten rid of the '7', a number which I do not like since long long time ago but which I couldn't seem to get rid of. :)

Anyway, I wish everyone of you a good year in 2008, with abundance with everything you wish for (but don't waste it ah)!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1 Jan 2008 (5.58pm)

Interesting aspects of Warren Buffett

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffett, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity. Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:

1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!

2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world’s largest private jet company.

6. His company, Bershire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEOs only two rules. Rule number 1: Do not lose any of your shareholder’s money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

7. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch television.

8. Bill Gates, the world’s richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffett. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

(Hard to believe eh? I have heard this before and I happen to see this in one of the western food menu. So I thought I can reproduce it here. Perhaps reading about Warren Buffett on the internet will provide more insight!)

PS: Upon reading some of the links, I came across this article which seemed to suggest one of the points above 'not very true' leh. Know which one?)

30 Dec 2007 (10.05pm)

End of year mood

This is usually the period of the year where one would feel really joyous and most relaxed. And this was usually the case for me. But this year, I felt somewhat different. On one hand, I am happy because of the holidays we get to enjoy. This is definitely a good break from work! But really, there is no feeling of any joyful festive mood as I used to have. Is it age or is it the reality of living has finally set in? There is also a fear of this period passing and the arrival of a whole new cycle again.

No matter what, the holidays are real and I keep reminding myself to treasure every moment and enjoy! It only comes once a year. No point worrying and wasting this precious moment!

So....YIPPIE!!!

30 Dec 2007 (10.25am)