New friend

Shirokuma from Sumikko Gurashi collection.

Happy puppy

My Lunch

I'm probably the uncoolest person around

I don't get music videos these days... I just watched the Whistle music video by Flo Rida and I think it's ridiculous. (And I'm not even talking about what a ridiculous name Flo Rida is).  Am I the only one who thinks he looks ridiculous swaying on some rocks thinking he's super cool and good looking?  And he looks like a total pervert taking pictures of girls.. but I guess that's the message he's trying to send.  The thick gold chain he's wearing is also super funny. Who wears a thick gold chain to the beach?? Maybe he found it after digging up a treasure box?  *Arrr, found treasure while swaying around the beach in tight white pants* (piratey voice)

Ah... my friends posted that video on Facebook so I guess I don't get pop culture. And I'm not even ranting about how that video sexualizes women.  Video is too offensive (although still very funny) for me to repost.  I think a pirate hat and a talking parrot will make the video funnier.

Strawberry umbrella

Purin at desk

Another work doodle

Obviously too many Purins

Snapper and Snapple

I eat too much cake

Words from tea

My tea bag tells me that greatest is measured by your gifts, not your possessions.

I feel upset because I have more possessions than gifts. And also because I can't think of any gifts. I'm good at being not great at everything.

Purin's bath tub

Udon lunch

Blooms

Never knew a blooming flower could make me so happy.

Random doodles

When I'm supposed to be doing work.

My new purchase

My life feels complete!!

Singapore Day 3: Lunch conversations

Things I learn:
- My grandma came to Singapore when she was 4.
- She has a younger brother who is 5 years younger. He used to sell ice cream. Now, he is retired and taking care of his grandkids.
- My grandma did not attend school, she learned to write when her brother went to school.  She never worked before marriage and took care of her children afterwards.
- My grandpa drove a taxi for 8 years before deciding to sell cloth.
- He bought cloth with a friend but they each went their separate ways to sell cloth.
- He owned one of those 'market stores', which he then returned to the government after retiring to take care of my brother.  He sold cloth for 30+ years.
- They did not make any money from returning the store to the government... unlike the store owners after them.

Singapore Day 2: Lunch conversations

Me:  你每天下午做什么?
Grandma: 看电视, 睡觉。
Me: 你不会闷? 

Grandma: 都没地方去。去那里?

Me: 什么是你最好吃的饭?
Grandma: (stopped washing dishes and looked puzzled)

Me: 什么是你最好吃的菜? 什么是你最厉害煮的菜?

Grandma: 别人喜欢吃什么, 我就煮什么 。

Me: 你最喜欢吃什么?

Grandma: 我没有最喜欢吃的东西 。(ponders) 咖喱鸡。可是天气太热, 不好吃咖喱鸡。

The conversation went on about cooking bak kut teh and pig intestines for me.  My limited Chinese typing (aka google translate) does not allow me to write more.

I also had some 杨梅 or myrica rubra that costs $12 / kg.

Singapore is very tropical

Random mushroom nails

Making Pandan Cake (from mix)

Obviously too many cameras

But not all are mine (yet)!

Too many shoes

I was packing my shoe closet when I noticed this pile of shoe boxes. Urgh. This is only a subset of my collection...

Happy potato

On Goodbyes

My maternal grandfather passed away when I was 12, in Primary 6.  It was my first experience with death.  I remembered not crying at all.  This was rather odd since I sobbed rather easily (watching crappy tv shows, reading chicken soup for the soul).  The adults around me were much more upset.  I recalled playing cards with my cousins while everyone else busied themselves with the HDB style void deck funeral.

When he was about to die, my mom asked me whether I wanted to go see/say goodbye (i.e. walked down a few flight of stairs to my grandfather's place).  I didn't go because I said I was afraid.  I wasn't really afraid.  Perhaps I was somewhat hesitant to confront death.  I don't know.  Sometimes, I wished I went although I didn't think it would have mattered to my grandfather.  I saw him a couple of hours before his death and a few minutes after his death.  Just not at that very moment of death.  I'm so curious (I know, it is so inappropriate) about death.

When I was younger, my grandfather used to show me cats around the neighbourhood.  And he used to fold his cigarette boxes into little containers.  I was fond of the smell and texture of the cigarette boxes.  Yar, the cigarettes probably killed him before his time.  I remembered that my grandfather once made some contraption with some rubber bands and plastic (maybe a rubber band around the tires of a truck / bicycle) to entertain me and my brother.  I tried to do it myself but never got it to work.

I sometimes wished I was religious so I could reassure myself that there is life after death.  For now, I have the certainty of ambiguity.  Blah!  I have so many questions for my grandfather (and also my paternal grandparents + great grandparents) but I don't think the questions would matter once I'm not alive.  If souls exist, do they have existential crises?  That's a rather funny thought.

Kuey Lapis

Found this in a New York supermarket. Insanely good. Going back for more next weekend.

17pounds of fruits

Bought ~8kg of apples and pears. Win.