Dentist Chair!

Help! Save me! I'm on the dentist chair again! My annual checkups always scares me due to flashbacks of having to pull out at least 1 tooth whenever the dental nurses calls for us in Primary School. I would LOVED to have some comforting words from my friends at this point in time. Wished I could share this moment with the world!



Live Life Online Anywhere with SingTel BroadBand on Mobile Youth Plan!

Tea Anyone?

Date: 12th June 2009
Time: 2000hrs
Venue: Orchard Road - Royal Thai Embassy (Bus Stop number 09179)

Can someone please tell me HOW does the math work out here?

SBS Bus 07 Arr + 24mins??
It feels much longer than 10-14mins offered on the board!

Gotta wait for 22mins for the next 36? Isn't it supposed to be 15mins MAXED?


I'm actually hoping to hop onto SMRT's 106 actually... it'll take 32mins for their next bus! *faint*

What happened to their 10-15mins??

Tea Anyone?

Wished I can broadcast this right-away on the spot!

Live Life Online Anywhere with SingTel BroadBand on Mobile Youth Plan!

IT Fair!

Won't it just be easier to just shop at the Wheelock place EpiCenter itself instead of being packed like sardines here in Suntec City? They'll have the same promotion as well! I would so loved to share this pic with those who were planning to squeeze themselves through this thick crowd to reconsider their choices...

Live Life Online Anywhere with SingTel BroadBand on Mobile Youth Plan!

Can we really change?

Had a dream last night about a strong argument with a stranger on change. This person is in his 50s or 60s, carried a backpack and was insistent that he cannot change himself to be a happier person. That all his ways are set.

While me on the other hand, was trying to convince him that he CAN change his mindset, his perspectives to seek a happier outlook of life.

Can we really change?

Must we really face some serious, major catastrophic events before we will come to a realization that one can continuously evolve to combat the ever-changing world?

Paradigm shift. How can we achieve that?

I wish for more of my friends out there to be more adventurous, to try new experiences to enrich their lives. I wish for more of my friends to be more open-minded and not draw that thick boundary for themselves, limiting their thoughts, actions, defining their lives.

I do not mean for people to start flirting away (only OK if u r still single hee) nor get entangled romantically with 3rd or 4th or 5th parties.

Instead, try a new experience each day and embrace life with more positivity. Learn to let go of things/events/situations that you cannot change. Learn to appreciate people for their strengths. Be civic.

I used to have a pretty tunnel vision about the world and life. Christ has really enlightened me that I can be happier if I learn to let things go, learn to see life from His angle, learn to live life from His angle. I get frustrate at times. I get annoyed mostly. Only because I care so much to want the best for each person.

10years ago, Jen was a fiesty, hot-headed person. No real friends around but lots of party folks. People gathered around for the company, but hardly anyone would ask you "how's your day". Things started to change when a series of events happened at home to the point where I was not only physically strained, but also emotionally drained. I started to attend RCIA classes and found solace in the pain that I was seeking. Then MORE things happened at home, till I was so drained, that I dropped out of my weekly RCIA classes. And naturally, I got into a bigger mess! In the following year, I was determined not to drop out of my classes and making that commitment was a huge step towards building a new Jen.

I have completely mellowed down. Ha ha... yah, mellow is the word that my friends describe me with now. For those who have witness how I was before. And these are the folks who has worked hard towards maintaining our friendships through the years. And these are the folks whom I will miss dearly when I'm not around anymore.

So, if I can change, so can YOU hee.

Think of areas in your life that you are unhappy with, especially those for a really long time. Ask yourself if its because of your own stubbornness, or upbringing or other factors that cause this recurring unhappy situation. Look at ways to overcome this unhappiness and do it!

It takes alot of courage to shed off your old self to move into your new untested self. Be sure that you'll be happier once you step out of it.

We need to evolve in mindset too people!

Getting Ready In the Morning

Lessons learnt from conversations with elderly folks

I used to have alot of perceptions about the elderly folks. They seems very set in their ways and full of criticism for the world. For the many that I've met, nothing seems to please them. Their world just seems dark, gloomy, unhappy, sad.... They are full of fears, afraid of letting the tap run while they are out. Afraid of the gas being turned on. Afraid of robbers on the street. Afraid of falling down. Afraid that one day their kids will disown them and throw them out of the house. Afraid of how they will die. They have just sooo much fears!

As time goes by, I noticed that these elderly folks do not have other more exciting things or events to focus their energy on. Not like us, younger generations with a bright future ahead of us. We've got lots of to dos, lots of plans, lots of places to go visit etc. For them, energy is short-lived. If they get a good night's rest, they get alot of energy in the morning to perhaps go marketing, chat up with a friend or even take a walk. If they dun sleep well, the whole day is fuzzy and there's very high inertia to overcome in order to do anything for the rest of the day.

Now, isnt that kind of life pretty depressing?

THEN, they have tonnes of their friends around their age with horrifying stories of how they get "kicked out of the house" after they helped raised their grandchildren. Or how a fall became fatal. Or how two unrelated persons came together and caused each other "bad luck". Stories fly, more exciting details are added with each version and it becomes real life horror stories that accompanied them to bed each night.

How to get a good night's rest with such frightening images running in their minds?

Lessons learnt:

1. Always be financial independent from any other sources. Remove potential threats of dependence on others.

2. Surround yourself with positive friends/family. Nothing is more damaging to our minds than negative thoughts.

3. Be healthy, exercise and keep exercising to keep joints & limbs alive. Losing one's mobility = losing freedom = alot of sadness

4. Even if mobility is limited, one can get a motorized "tractor-like vehicle", very cool on the roads!

5. Travel often, the more worldly you are, the less likely you are going to think badly of yourself. Even a simple trip to bintan or JB is enough to distract the mind and infuse it with some positivity.

6. Take things easy, by 60yrs old, you would have seen alot of shit already. So dun let any event that occurs shake your nerves too much. Relax lah.

7. Plan ahead with your assets, learn how to manage them when you are younger so that you can lead a care free life later.

8. Laugh everyday. Be it a light breeze on your face. Be it a clear blue sky. Be it a pretty butterfly. Be it an adorable face. Be it a cute advertisement. Laughter will chase away alot of blues.

9. Go out to someplace new every week (if you cannot tahan going out everyday). There will always be something new and interesting on the streets. Be it a new poster, a new gadget, a new store. There are so many creative, inventive people out there, if we do not get out of our house, it'll be tough to explore the world! (Dun forget there's always retail therapy!)

10. Think about how you want your funeral to be. What to do with your body/ashes. Let your family/close friends know of your preference and it will be easier for them too. No need for surprises for them. No need for them to argue over colors or flowers etc. Because you would have planned everything ahead. Do not be afraid to think about your death. It will happen, whether you like it or not. Its better to plan ahead than to leave things as a mystery.

Okay, now someone remind me of this piece of information when I'm 60yrs old. Because I get the feeling that I wont remember a word that I wrote here! hahahahaha :P

Me & True Yoga Trial

I was offered a 4 weeks pass at True Yoga by a friend who has signed up for their classes. She was super hooked on to them, till the point where she only feel shiok with either their hot yoga or bikram. Out of curiosity, I wanted to test for myself if these classes do make a difference.

Initially I was skeptical about having to share changing rooms, showers with tonnes of other ladies. Looking at their locker rooms, showers & toilet facilities, it kinda reminded me of boarding school or hostels with endless rows of lockers, showers & toilets. I'm not a fan of public shower facilities, but for those who dun mind, they do have quite abit of space around the lockers and shower for chit chats and changes. Not posh like country clubs for sure but definitely decent facilities.

Week 1:
Only managed to attend 2 classes, I was invited to take the basic, therapy classes as a beginner. So I went for Therapy Yoga and Basic Yoga. My friend also stressed that one must feel the strain, push my limits to get maximum benefit for each session. Pain is normal. So I cheong lor! Every position I also stretch and stretch, push and push. It doesn't help that I did my first jog in 15yrs the night before and with a whole body that is aching, I invited MORE aches & pains to my body.

With the aching body, it felt good that I had a workout heehee.... *happy* & looking forward to next week's sessions.

Only pity is that their schedules is only released on each Monday morning, so one would not be able to plan in advance. :(

Week 2:
After 1 session of therapy yoga, I found that the first instructor Adi was really good! He was clear with his instructions, precise with his timings, encouraging with his words. He tries to push our limits a little more with each repetition and that was pretty good.

So I decided that I was ready for pilates! Yeah! WAH, it was super tough! Especially when the instructor told us that the tough posture we did was 1 out of 3 sets! I want to faint! But since everyone in the class seems to be very PRO & ON, I kept a straight face and kept pushing lor. After the completion of each set, it is usually accompanied by a huge SIGH hahaha... (thankfully, I was not alone ;-D )

Week 3:
I had some time before my next appointment, so I decided to go for Yin yoga which lasts 1.5hrs instead of the usual 1hr. When I entered the studio, there were something different about it. Besides the usual mats all set up in the studio, the other participants went to one corner of the room to get cushions & ropes and walked over to the other end of the studio to get blankets! Wah, it looks like a pretty serious class... so much gadgets! Then instructor came in and started lighting a row of candles on the platform and also encouraged us to go forward to get some aromatherapy oil on our wrists.

Turns out that this "super long workout" session in my mind is meant for connective tissues! Not muscle toning! We did simple stuff like sitting on our feet like in a jap posture. But dun look down on that simple posture wor! After 2.5mins, I want to give up already! Tough leh!! And we had to tahan there for 5 full mins!! I can feel the sweat peeling off my forehead... just from sitting down... impressive eh?

For the 2nd session, I decided to get creative, took the Hatha yoga. But I did not take note of its difficulty level, it was M for multi-levels! Which means TOUGH again! Wah piang eh.... got hand stand wan leh! But the instructor noted that its my virgin hatha class, she came over when I was strangling to put my knees on my inverted arms... and told me that's enough for me! hahahaha I almost wanted to thank her for getting me out of this tricky situation! How in the world would I be able to lift my legs up using my non-existence abdominal muscles? I dunno. Just very glad that she ended the class then. Ha Ha Ha

Week 4:
Looks like my body is getting used to the stretching and postures, its not aching that much anymore! Could it be just me, the lazier version who dun seems to be pushing as hard? *Bleah*

We'll know tomorrow if the aches starts....

OK, tomorrow came and I'm bloody aching alot today!!! I went for core yoga which emphasized on building core muscles around the abdomen. It was some twisting and turnings, leg lifts and boat positions. I struggled for some bits of it of course but I did not expect the extent of the aches! I never knew that I have "muscles" just outside my rib cage! hahaha I think it was that release all the air in the lungs pose, combined with contracting the stomach towards the spine that gave me this ACHE!

Okay, dilemma now, should I go for morning sessions today which has siong-sounding dynamic pilates? Or take it easier with afternoon sessions?? Hmm....

New Home Improvement Toy!

Okay, at this point you may be wondering WHY is there a "hole" in the middle of these two rubbery arms. This is to facilitate removing individual pieces of the clothing without having to unclip the hanger. To remove any clothing, hold it across lengthwise of the "arms" towards the middle section where the hole is, give it a tug and your tee will come out! We tried it at home and it worked! The rest of the pieces remained held up by the hanger!! Super cool lor!







Its 3 for $10, comes in dark navy blue & black. Super worth it! I'm so going to look out for more! Heard from the sales guy that its their last day at their booth today :( I am guessing that I'll see them at pasar malams or at the Chinatown CNY Bazaar for sure!

Super cool home improvement gadget, for those running out of wardrobe space... try it!

New Toys!

Yeah.... saw this online and cannot resist them. Also because I'm getting too many peripherals off my machine, would be easier to plug in 1 USB hub then to multiple devices. Hence the hunt for a cute hub.



While searching for this, something else came up.... So What the Heck!



hee hee hee hee hee.....

Shopping season has started!!

3yrs On

Its been 3 years since that faithful night that turned my world upside down. Right about this time 3 yrs ago, I was possibly scanning my passport, birth cert, trying to stuff some clothes into my bag while printing out the maps around GZ. Yep, you might have recalled my previous entries about the last night that my dad was alive.

On retrospect, I regretted not having that dinner with him & mum the day before he left for his trip. I regretted about not making that phone call to the hotel after numerous urging by the Holy Spirit.

There are still many loose ends left to be tied up. Interestingly, this was also the start of my stronger relationships with some of my relatives. Its through their sharing of stories, their lives, what makes them cry that brought us closer. Helps me to understand them better too!

Papa, I miss you. I miss calling out your name when you get home from work each evening. I miss bargaining with you for a movie treat (that always end with a grin on your face). I miss your voice. Wished you were still around to see how your little grandchildren are growing up as cheeky monkies. Wished you were around to share another good meal together. Wished you were around to share your thoughts about the political climates. Wished you were around to just sit around to chat with. Wished I can watch you play table soccer again, to see that child-like grin out of a 70yr old... is simply priceless.

These were the strong mental images left of papa and I hope that they'll always stay with me.

A Thoroughly Satisfying Phone Conversation with IBS Telemarketer!

This is so much joy hahaha....

Phone rings, Jen picks up

Jen: Hello?

IBS TM: Hello good morning, madam, may I speak to J?

Jen: Yes speaking.

IBS TM: Hi, I'm A calling from B company representing IBS Bank. Today, we want to offer you our credit card that comes with free subscription for life. And also our credit line services.

Jen: What makes you think that I need a credit line?

IBS TM: Oh mdm, you can enjoy our credit card that is has no subscription charges for life time then. (And she went on for 1min telling me how good this credit card is....)

I listened and really got interested in this all round wonderful card that she described it to be. She even got to the part where she'll send a courier down for me to sign on the forms... this is where it got interesting hehe

Jen: Oh, I really like to sign up for the card, now that you mentioned all these privileges! What do I need to give to the courier?

IBS TM: Oh mdm, it is really easy, I can fill up the application forms for you, you just need to sign on it. By the way mdm, how long have you been working in your current job?

Jen: I'm not working currently.

IBS TM: Oh sorry mdm, the first criteria of owning this card is that you must be working.

Jen: No, you did not ask me if I was working before offering me this card. You told me that you wanted to give me this card with all this special interest rates, privileges and now you asked me about my job? Why dun you ask me if I'm working first before offering me the card? I'm so disappointed you know? I really WANT the card now!

IBS TM: I'm sorry mdm, you need to be working, maybe you can ask your husband to apply for it?

Jen: Why ask someone else to apply for it? You called me right? Don't you want me anymore?

ISB TM: Yes I called. Maybe your husband can get the card instead?

Jen: What makes you think I'm married? Can't I be single?

ISB TM: Oh sorry mdm.

Jen: Or worse, what if I'm going through a divorce? Won't your constant reminder of my "husband" make me really upset?

ISB TM: hangs up!

hahahahhaa..... I love it!

I think the next one... I'll sob at the mention of a job....

PC Show 11-14th June 2009

Its time for Singaporeans to show off how much they can spend again!

I'm always amused at how much electronics, gadgets that Singaporeans can swallow every quarter at the PC Show or PC Fair. So what's on your shopping list this June?

Dun forget to check out all the prices before going for the PC Show. The prices may dip a little at the show, but sure ASK for FREE GIFTS! Plus, the deals usually get GREATER on the last day if you are prepared to face the SEA of people trying to grab the best deals as well. But its always fun to go soak in the RICH atmosphere of watching others make a great bargain. Keeps our minds away from the brutal reality of the poor economy (or what's left of it)



Click here for more details

If you dun wish to squeeze with the thousands at the PC Show, then head down to Sim Lim Sq or Funan Center, they'll match the fair prices & offers as well. Found this trick to be useful as these normally very crowded places, will be empty and deserted!

Enjoy!