24 August 2007, Friday, 4.41pm

License to wed

I was just telling Mich that I haven't had such a good genuine laugh at the movies for ages, and frankly, I can't even remember when was my last comedy. I like the innocent and pureness about Ben, and the bimboness in Sadie. Both, if you ask me, are quite an item actually. I like the fairytale ending too, with Ben's vow all crafted on the sandy fine beach at Bahamas or was it the Caribbeans? I give it two thumbs up plus my two index fingers too. Oops, I was just doing that gesture and I realised that looks like a 'W', connoted as 'Whatever'? ehhhhh, I prefer to say 'Witty' instead.

So all these marriage counsellings are quite happening now, evidently. Lihui's in and SY's planning too. Understand that it's mandatory for the Catholics too. Well, Minmin thinks it's not necessary. But for me, I think it can be quite fun and risky too, especially so when one finds out that there are or will be so many differences to iron out at the end of the day. Scary, isn't it? That's when communication plays the crucial role by resolving the differences. Minmin added that life is too unpredictable nowadays to even to think about 10 years from now. Agree and disagree. Will poor planning for future then lead to suffering? Likely. Woah, sensitive subject. Let's pass this.

*yawn* since it's Friday, I shall go for a tea break now.... oops.

24 August 2007, Friday, 11.36am

A tribute to Professor Morrie.

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." - Henry Adams

23 August 2007, Thursday, 12.12pm

The Chew Empire

What the heck, my neighbour is chatting on the phone about her life with her friend, so I thought I can get "time off" to pen my journal too.

Mom teared two nights ago when Stanley called to say Bryant had to be admitted to KK. My poor nephew has low platelets, ie, low blood count after having the fever, and now with the rashes too. So, it's understood that his platelet readings showed 50, lower than the threshold of 80. Doc says it's dangerous for babies and registered Bryant as a patient; taking precaution to rule out dengue fever. So upon hearing that, Mom cried. We had to assure her that boy boy will be ok.

Not sure if Carissa could feel that her grandma is upset, but she was rather obedient the past couple of nights. Not much tantrums. Maybe she felt quite lonely too. I rocked her to sleep last night and she was rather quiet. Sigh, wonder how's Bryant doing now? Stanley said boy boy has to go through a few rounds of blood test to ensure his organs are functioning. Sounds scary, isnt it? And his fever is intermittent too.

If you know by now, my family moves like a tribe, and we are all damn family orientated. Sunday dinner is an unspoken event which if you don't turn up, you'd probably expect your liver to be grinded when you appear. My sister-in-laws, for all we know, don't talk, don't communicate and no eye contacts. I don't really know what caused the friction, or maybe I know, over trivial and petty issues? No fire no smoke is all I know.

Here's a peek at the La Maison de Chew:

Dean, Sir Roberto Chew - Someone who lives the day by a bottle of beer, and whose mother tongue is kanninah. Someone who doesn't believe in God and who believes fishball noodles should not be more than a dollar, since the ingredients of forming a bowl of the fishball noodles are relatively FOC to his knowledge.

Disciplinary Head Mistress, Mdm Rebecca Tan - A motherly figure whom expresses herself emotionally (and I inherit the trait too). A mom-cum-grandma who worries for her sons who are adults and way passed their puberty; panics when her grandchildren behaves abnormally due to mood swings or rising temperature. Ultra sensitive, but she's our supermom whom we all adore.

Prince I Leong - A dude who puffs and smokes like he owns the poppy field. Never seen him so devoted in life till the arrival of the twins.

Prince II Hoe - A man of few words, but rather a family and filial son. Meticulous and an all rounder guy, who possesses extreme deep knowledge on electrical and mechanical chores.

Prince III Beng - A wanderer and manboy who wishes to be a farmer in New Zealand one day. An alternative ideal job is probably a sous chef or porter. One who daydreams 78% of his time and is satiable with his current status.

Princess Lily - The ultimate Queen of TV, who dedicates her leisure hours on TV programmes.

Princess Eleanor - A lady of chop-chop. Does her thing in a quick manner.

Duke Bryant - The boy whom has a weak immunity, and whom falls sick often. He moves like jack russell, never sit still. One who never believes in cages I guess. His busy mouth which can't stop eating when food is made available too, with his accent of "mam-mam", he gets to eat when he wants.

Duchess Carissa - The obedient girl who listens to you and who loves reading. I would like to say she's a prodigy in poems. She utters in her own baby language whenever she flips her books or magazines, in a rather chickadee tone and adorable speech. Her tantrums though, is something to watch for, she smashes things and shrills thru her diaphragm like a broken musical instrument when she's upset. Now, that can be quite deafening when she strikes the chord in the wee hours.

Duchess Chloe - The luckiest amongst the three little ones, whose parents and grandparents (maternal) dote on her dearly. But mind you, she has somehow adopted Duke Bryant's mannerism; her sleeping position, her impatience, her aggressiveness, all mirrored after her cousin Bryant. How conveniently.

Voila, there you have it, the Monarchy of Chew. Each with a distinctive character. And of course, we have to present to you the Palace du Chews, which at day is a nursery centre and night, a YMCA.

19 August 2007, Sunday, 11.41am

Running thoughts

This week had been hectic for me. The LEAP paper, the wake, the funeral, the follow-ups of LEAP, the Bryant-vomitted-on-me-in-the-middle-of-the-night-but-slept-on-it, the inhale of Bryant's stench... all these played a part to my illness. Now, I'm feeling wobbly and nauseous. Feel like a preggie, whom may just throw up if I'm ask to make a drastic movement or motion.

Haven't had tennis session for a while. A real while. So it seems like we have been booted out of Mandarin Garden now that Daylea's uncle has collected back the resident card. This, plus the declining interests from the lovey doveys, explain the dormant and infrequent tennis game. Then again, as I always believe in how things evolve by itself for a reason, Olivier whom I had always been asking to exchange a few blows of tennis game but never materialised, texted me and requested for a regular twice a weekly sessions with him. How timely, and coincidental. I can't explain my passion for tennis, but I'm simply loving every joule of energy hitting the ball across the court, with my 9 to 5 swing! Supposed to start this week, but since my schedule have been shortcircuit, we agreed to commence our twice a week session the coming week. Yeah!!

Got to get going... ...

12 August 2007, Sunday, 12.28am

Uncle Soon

Hmm... was about to log off after checking my yahoo emails when I remembered that I have not written in my journal for ages. Have been busy at work. Terribly busy at work in fact. Doing sickening papers and powerpoint slides for presentation on coming Monday. And I haven't been this busy for a while. I'm just feeling so lost and and helpless at work, never felt this before in my entire stinct in STB, till lately. Richard was able to provide me with solutions, now, Empress Yan, she gives me no directions and she loses me most of the time. *shake head*. I'm so dead.

Uncle Soon passed away on Friday's evening. Never had good impression of this man since young, all I knew was his thirst for fame, power and money, and that explained the folded business of Hua Soon Carpentry Pte Ltd. And of course, his feud with my dad and late grandpa too. But my dad was generous enough to bury the past and move on. Perhaps this is what we call kinship, and blood is certainly thicker than water. Ritual on Monday and Tuesday's the funeral. And this triggers my blood to rise its mercury level to 123% immediately.

What the hell? I am merely, for God's knowledge, for the whole world's understanding, a support staff in STB. Why am I, the hell, then being asked to do a manager's project and presentation on the coming Monday? Totally unfair. While those suckers draw more salary than I do, all they know is to tai-chi and evaporate quickly. Complete losers.

Inhale... exhale. I shall save my comments, I'm quite beat now actually. Came back from Uncle Soon's wake, and I kind of feeling sleepy at this hour too. Besides, I still have to wake up early tomorrow morning to prepare for the presentation on Monday morning, and my speech too.

KAN NI NAH BEH CHAO CHEE BYE ... YOU CHEE BYE lousy leader!! (sigh of relief...... much better now).