self-amusing

I found this hilarious.

I was at Vivocity checking out PageOne with Carol.
Shirl has this notebook from PageOne that is designed to look like a Chinese secret kung fu manual, and it says "武林秘集" (Manual of Martial Arts Secrets).
So I went hunting for it, whilst Carol wandered off.
I picked up a book, and ... true to shachew fashion, I fumbled.
It dropped to the floor, but not before crashing against the bookshelf and other books, resulting in a bing-bong-piang din.
I went "Oops!" and badly wanted to giggle ... but PageOne was soooo quiet!
Then I looked up and caught Carol's eye ... and we couldn't help but start laughing.
In her words, "When I heard the crash, i tot: Oh man, I think that's Sharon again...."

Talk about a reputation. :P

Then, guess what, I went to accidentally BLOCK Jae from my MSN list!
And I kept wondering why there was a "no entry" sign on his icon...
And every time I MSN-ed him, it wouldn't go through.
It doesn't explain on Adium, you see.
It was only when I used my colleague's MSN program that MSN tot to tell me oh-so-politely that I have blocked his person and would I like to unblock him?
Duh.

Don't take life too seriously.
Ha. :)

dong dong qiang

My dad and I spent half a day cooking all these...















(Okei, he's the real chef, I just follow orders and do menial tasks like make gravy, wrap ngoh hiang, peel quail eggs, julienne carrots etc.)

But anyway, the story is....we spent half a day cooking all these, and then after we had taken 2 mouthfuls, we kinda lost our appetite! Even my mum was like "Should we move on to dessert?" !!! After only about 3 mouthfuls!

Naturally, my bro turned Ah Beng and went "You'd better stop taking pictures and come finish the food, I tell you..."
And you can see my dad frantically trying to wolf down his rice in the background.


















I don't get it...What is it about cooking that makes you lose your appetite?!
I mean, if I am the one cooking, I can understand why my family would lose their appetite...
From time to time, I do produce some brilliant dishes, but most of the time, they end up kinda different from what they are supposed to look like.
When I was still in Melbourne, I tried cooking Mango Wrapped in Chicken, and when Michael popped by, he took one look, sniffed a little and asked me why I was cooking Fish Stuffed with Banana...

Okei, so I'm not a great cook...but going back to my reunion dinner...
We were all baffled because my dad actually cooks quite well, and the food was yummy!
We figured it was because we were all too tired...and so then, we came to a unanimous decision...

NEXT YEAR WE'LL ORDER KFC DELIVERY FOR OUR REUNION DINNER.

Letter to an unknown person

Dear __________,

Thanks for the flowers.
It was really flattering to come into the office and see a lovely bouquet sitting on my table.



















I must say, it created quite a stir in my department and resulted in a major surge of creativity amongst my colleagues.
MSN was bombarded with what KK thought to be a virus.
Here's a shot of my screen at the apex of all the action.
















I realised that telling you this could very well ensure that you never reveal your identity, but just tot I'd share that the bouquet led to a whole day of fun for me and my department.

So, thanks. :)

Cheers,
Sharon

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On the other hand, thanks to A.T. for the other pretty bouquet.




















Actually, it's more like thanks for being so sweet to your sis, cos if not, I wouldn't have tan dio by association. Hahaha....
But it was really sweet of u to remember me while buying flowers for her.
And even though she bought me the CD, I know u spread the word.
So, thanks again for that, and for being such a pirate on my behalf. :P

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It's always great to end off V-day with good friends. :)

calendar wisdom

My bro bought me a page-a-day calendar in Canada, titled "Women Who Do Too Much," which I found hilarious...
I do too much?!

Anyway, yesterday's entry said "Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends."-Czech proverb.
How true and how nice.
Everyone likes to feel protected, but surely not by fortresses we build around ourselves.

Today's entry is "Failure is just the process we have to give our inner beings a way to tell us that we have reached a place of awareness and strength, where we are ready to move to a new level of our growth and our development."

Which ties in with what Yah Lan was sharing at zone prayer meeting, "Everything's supposed to fall apart, if you want to go to another level."

Woo hoo!
A bit late considering it's already the second month of the year, but here's to a year of breakthroughs, everyone!
Cheers! :)

murphy's law?

My mum took leave for today and booked me in advance to go shopping with her.
I am her shopping catalyst, 'cos somehow I ignite the fire and manage to find good buys no matter where we are.

But today was bizarre!
She was not feeling too well, so she nuah-ed the first half of the day, whilst I took the opportunity to do some work.
By the time we reached Vivocity, it was about 5pm.
We had an early dinner so we would work it off shopping....then we set off purposefully to find mum some New Year clothes.

But the strange thing is, by 8pm, we were zonked out!!
After 2 hrs of shopping.
This is not normal -- I am a shopaholic.
I can shop for HOURS on an adrenaline rush, alone or with someone else.
But I was completely wiped out and my shoulders were aching, and my eyelids were down to my chin.
I nearly fell asleep standing in line at the taxi stand.

And guess what, part of the tiredness was because both of us were frustrated that there was nothing much for Mum to buy.
Bored in Vivocity!!
Isn't it supposed to be like twice the size of Ngee Ann City?!

Of course, stuff caught MY eye everywhere we went, but because today's shopping trip was for her...I kept restraining myself.
No wonder I am tired.
And yet, in the end, I succumbed and got myself ANOTHER chinese new year outfit (dress and shoes), and mum got ONE MISERABLE TOP.

Which reminds me of something I said very recently...

When you don't have money to splash around, or you are trying to save up and NOT buy anything, you'll spot something that you like around every corner you turn.
When you have money and you badly want to spend it, or when you really need to shop and buy something, chances are you will not find anything you really like.

tribute to C.T.

My idea of a good friend is someone who:

1. Has seen you at your stupidest and doesn't think any lesser of you.
2. Drives you from your home in Marine Parade to some remote area of Lim Chu Kang, and waits in the car for you as you attend a wake, just to make the most of a day together.
3. Picks up the tab at Hong Kong Cafe or Xin Wang on days when you are running low but still die-die wanna meet up for supper.
4. Packs you off on a holiday when you are emotionally drained and physically tired out and desperately in need of a break.
5. Can sing up a storm with you in Kbox anytime and doesn't mind when you screech wildly or attempt the most aiyoyo songs.
6. Obliges you when you feel like getting a piece of Siloso beach, or Popeyes, or Rochester.
7. Keeps quiet and lets you have your way when you are just being stubborn, knowing that you'll realise it much later.
8. Tries to be there for you even when you are studying in Melbourne, and listens patiently when you call back with the occasional breakdown, and then extravagantly encouraging you until you bounce back.
9. Is honest with you.
10. Offers opinion but gives you space to make your own decisions.
11. Inspires you.
12. Shares your taste of movies.
13. Keeps your secrets.
14. Accepts that you are a klutz and a scatterbrain, and assures you that somewhere, somehow, someone will learn to love you.
15. Is loyal and stands by you in times of need.

Thanks my fren.

Where are you going?

In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor.

Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you." So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.

The conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it." Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

The conductor rushed back and said, "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one."

Einstein looked at him and said, "Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'"

Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion.

You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this:

I not only know who I am .. I also know where I'm going."

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May your troubles be less, your blessings more,
And may nothing but happiness, come through your door.