the last day of the year: 2006

I don't know about you, but, for me, the past year has zipped by quicker than I could possibly imagine. It was as though God had my life on fast-forward. I've been barely able to catch my breath; or really, fully, appreciate each moment that comes by. Its been a whirlwind of year; its Rie on hyperdrive mode and all systems go-go-GO! To say its been a mad rush, is an understatement.

Yet, though this warp-time/speed hulabaloo of a year, I think i've grown the most, learnt the most, experienced the most. Its been a year of jammed-packed emotions and motions, of big decisions and life moments and of great lessons and greater blessings.

The year started on shaky terms, immense emotional distress and far too much uncertainty. But as Dickens would say, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.The will of God will never send you where the grace of God cannot keep you. Its an easy line to quote, really, but a tough one to live by. It was a time of spiritual renewal for me, of going back to God and revisiting who I was, what I stood for. It was a time where God stepped in to clean up my mess and good friends stood by me, held my hand, kept me sane.

It was a crash course in learning, in growing and in humility all rolled into one action-packed year. Someone asked me one time, "Cherie, how do you know you've finally grown up?" I didn't know the answer then, but I do now: You know you're a grown up when you can admit you don't know alot of things... and its ok.

Pre-grown up time, ( I say "pre-grown up" rather than "teenage years" cos some teens are grown ups and some adults are not), you have the impression that you know everything, can handle anything, you're invinsible. The fact is, at least in my experience, there's way too much I don't yet know; far too many things I've still to learn and its alright to say "I don't know" and ask silly questions.

Its been a time of milestones as well. A time of change and new beginnings for me, the family and friends. Rie and Ruben got married. Olivia and Honliang got married. Elaine got hitched too, amongst others. Cecilia got her driving license. Mariann graduated from primary school. Clary went off to read Law in King's, her second degree. Ethel moved away. Joan and Terence had baby Clare. Ben and Faith had a baby Anastacia. Tammy and Jr added baby Twila to the mix. Rie gave her first all-mandarin training to China/Taiwan CEOs and CFOs and pulled it off. Mariann got her ears pierced. May ran in the StandChart 10k race. Cooper joined the family. Moosey died. Rie spoke at a General Elections forum alongside actual politicians whom she studied about. She then went on to do two mandarin radio interviews. Mum signed her first painting. Kimmy went to big school then bravely stopped going. Gave the ok to my team to stand ground and tell an incorrigible client to buzz off- we did it politely of course- and learnt what intergrity, ethics and pride was all about.

Oh, the list continues... the learning continues... time moves on...

There has been much laughter, some tears; often a mix of both, really. There's been good times, some not so good ones and moments of absolute mundaneness its almost laughable. There has been personal acheivements and personal bests; and personal hurdles, grave lessons and humbled moments. Its been a time of renewal, renewed friendships and revived purposefulness; it has also been a time of questioning, farewells and the letting go of kites that have been tettered for far too long. It has been opening of chapters, closing of some and the continued writing of others. Its been a year of taking sides, closing ranks, about turns and standing ground.

Thanks to you all who have been such a blessing: I love you loads.

The clock is ticking and soon 2007 will be here and in will come a new year of much much more.

I can hardly wait.... :)

little boy grown up

Few days back I received a package in the mail from and old friend that made we smile- which, might I add, can be rather few and far between given my silly schedule that wouldn't let up. Now, I don't think I've really posted pix of half-naked men on my blog before, but I'll make an exception today.

You see, other than my own sisters, only three other people call me "Jie". (Actually, Celia calls me "chair" but that's another story for another day.) One's Joel who, in all honesty, I hardly see given he's off studying and taking over the world overseas. The second is Shasha- possibly one of the extremely vivacious, incredibly smart, totally out-of-this-world-cool chicks I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

And the third is Timmy Boy (Timothy John to be precise, he's the one who's face is splashed in the pix in this post) waterpolo extraordinaire, Cleo Eligible Bachelor nominee (he won some award or other, I can't recall which), SMU ambassador and from what I've gathered Mr Popular/Sexy all rolled into one hot, tight package.

We go back a long way, close to 10 years, and over the years I've missedd far too many of his waterpolo matches (truth be told, I've only watched one match, his team won); I've been the here-and there-sometimes available-sometimes-absent "older" sister; I've seen him wade through the murky waters of boy-dom (read: all the nonsense in school, with girls and what not) and and seen this boy grown into a strapping young lad. (How English does that sound?!) Yes, little Timmy Boy's all grown up.

So Tim, thanks for the years of friendship, for the kind thoughts and sweet note. And yes, I am incredibly proud of you: for "staying in shape", for staying the course (a few detours non-barring) and for making me smile. :) hugs my dear.

outside looking in

I'm sure you know the feeling. You know, that tiny creep at the back of your neck and in the space between your spine that speaks not about who you are, but where you are. Time. Space. Place. There's a scene happening; many scenes and many happenings all about and around. There's alot of activity and there you are plugging away- fulfilling your role and responsibility in the grand cosmic plan of "doing things." And you are busy; time flies and energy is expended. A lot of it actually. And you smile and grin and talk and plan and you can even laugh and make sense.

But you're not plugged in. Not really. Like you are set apart: part of whole deal, but not really part of it. Its like being caught in some strange Agatha Christie novel- unwantingly. And you wonder if there's even such a word. Is there? Maybe. Maybe not- but there is in your world.

You are on the outside. Staring in. Staring about. And yet strangely, people think you're part of the happening. Part of the daily maisma that pervades, partakes and perseveres. Lit students call that an alliteration. You call it your daily grind. You huff, you puff and you build and blow the houses up and down. You race, you rock and speed up and slow down all at the same time.

Nothing makes sense. Everything makes sense.

And you are on the outside looking in. At you.
Senselessly plugging away. Withering. Prentending.
Staring- sometimes blindly. Sometimes at You, staring from the outside.
Looking in.

My blinged up cooper

My Christmas stash gets smaller and smaller each year to be honest, not that I'm complaining really. Pretty much, cos, the pile I give out these days is significantly less than the lot I haul about previously. Then again, compared to my mum who used to give presents to half the known world (if you didn't get it, its cos you were part of the "unknown world"- duh!) my Christmas thingamajig is child's play. My sis and I used to get roped in to wrap tons and tons of presents for people till we pretty much puked wrapping paper and sneezed scotchtape.

But I'm all good with the "newly revised" christmas list really. Especially when the stash I pick up includes cute little toy-versions of my dog. I already have a bee-bee toy dog; my mum got it for my sillycar when Bee (my oh-so-cute-cocker-spaniel was born) and it sits on the dashboard of my car. And now Mich has added a Cooper- blinged up no less- to the mix.



The girls and I were coffee-ing and exchanging presents the other day and May and I came up with this video showcasing my dog that is... wait for it babes... DA BOMB!

Christmas wishes

Blessed Christmas everyone. :)

This is the day

This is the day
By Scott Wesley Brown

This is the day that the Lord hath made
And I’m so glad He made you
With each rising sun you are here by my side
You are more than a dream come true

Oh, to have you, to hold you, to love you, to pray
To share with, to care with, to hold hands and say

This is the day that the Lord hath made
And I will rejoice, I will rejoice
I will rejoice with you

This is the love that the Lord hath made
That you and I, we are one
Love's mystery is unfolding today
Written for us in the sun

Oh, for better, for worse, for rich or for poor
Each day that passes, I love you more

Cause this is the day that the Lord hath made
And I will rejoice, I will rejoice
I will rejoice with you
This is the day

moose

His name was Moose and he was never really ours; not for a long time anyway.

Moose was like a guest that became a friend, but always, in his own way- to me at least- remained a guest. But one that we loved and cared for a great deal; even if a great deal of it was at a distance, from afar.

Rest well dear Moosey, for even if your name is no longer so and you probably speak better mandarin than I do, we love you. In my world, all dogs go to heaven...

*ruff*

drifting

Many people have this idea that I have loads of friends. I mean, *ahem* I was a cheerleader in the cheerleader and jock club once upon a time. And this past year, I've probably met more new people this year than most of the other years- in terms of new aquaintances and new "outer circle" friends.

But the funny thing is, I'm not any closer to any of them. Instead its been a lot of renewing of old friendships; rekindling old memories and spending many a good hour reminising with old friends. My circle of friends have solidified somewhat, I have a better measure of who my close friends are: you know, those that you can call at 4 in the morning in tears and they'd patiently hear you out. Or those that can spend hours just doing nothing with, the kind you can sit with in silence and talk about nothing and everything and anything.

And I guess, some would think, the more the merrier. It just isn't the case for me. And I feel so richly blessed because of it.

rainy days...

I've always loved it when it rains.

I'm not what you call the "go run outside and stand in the rain with arms out splayed" yelling about how I'm communing with nature and stuff like that. But I love it when it rains. I love it even if my shoes and socks get wet. I love how the thunder claps and the bolts of lightning splits everything, lights up everything; especially at night. Even if it jolts me out of bed. I love seeing the puddles on the ground and if decorum permits, I'd jump in them. (If I splash my sister nearby, all the better. Don't fret, she'd do the same back.)

I love it particularly cos it makes cosying and cuddling all the sweeter and sleep all the more satisfying. I love how my mum has this incessant need to make steamboat or porridge each time it pours- as though our soul and body needs to be soothe. (I personally hate steamboat, unless its shabu shabu. And am not a particular porridge fan, but ah well...) I love how the dogs go a tad whiny and feel this instinctive need to lay at your feet and place their heads on your lap.

I love most of all, how I can not make my trip to the gym and blame it on the weather rather than my laziness.

sigh...

southernladies

Cherie.Dawn.Ruth.Ethel.Debbie.
Its been a long journey my dears.
There's still ways more to go.
Thank God you guys are around.
Miss ya. Loads.

the foreign species

A girlfriend and I were having a conversation about men the other day. Not the how-is-your-boyfriend-doing-oh-he's-fine-how-is-your-husband-doing kind of conversation. I suppose, you can say, we were having a discussion about men: a logical (as logical as two women can be after a glass of martini), fact/research based discussion about the ins and outs of men-dom and how little we actually get this other species.



8 things you'll never hear a man say:
8) Here honey, you use the remote.
7) You know, I'd like to see her again, but her breasts are just too big.
6) Ooh, Antonio Banderas AND Brad Pitt? That's one movie I gotta see!
5) While I'm up, can I get you anything?
4) Sex isn't that important, sometimes I just want to be held.
3) Aww, forget Monday night football, let's watch Grey's Anatomy
2) Hey, let me hold your purse while you try that on.
1) We never talk anymore.

8 things you'll never hear a woman say:
8) What do you mean today's our anniversary?
7) Can we not talk to each other tonight? I'd rather just watch TV.
6) Ohh, this diamond is way too big!
5) Can our relationship get a little more physical? I'm tired of being 'just friends'
4) Honey, does this outfit make my butt look too small?
3) Aww, don't stop for directions, I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to get there.
2) I don't care if it's on sale, 300 dollars is way too much for a designer dress.
1) Hey, pull my finger!

We just function differently, don't we?
NICKNAMES: If Gloria, Suzanne, Debra and Michelle go out for lunch, they will call each other Gloria, Suzanne, Debra and Michelle. But if Mike, Phil, Rob and Jack go out for a brewsky, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Useless.

EATING OUT: And when the check comes, Mike, Phil, Rob and Jack will each throw in $20 bills, even though it’s only for $22.50. None of them will have anything smaller, and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their check, out come the pocket calculators.

BATHROOMS: A man has six items in his bathroom-a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of Dial soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 437. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.

GROCERIES: A woman makes a list of things she needs and then goes out to the store and buys these things. A man waits till the only items left in his fridge are half a lime and a soda. Then he goes grocery shopping. He buys everything that looks good. By the time a man reaches the checkout counter, his cart is packed tighter than the Clampett’s car on Beverly Hillbillies. Of course, this will not stop him from going to the 10-items-or-less lane.

SHOES: When preparing for work, a woman will put on a Mondi wool suit, then slip on Reebok sneakers. She will carry her dress shoes in a plastic bag from Saks. When a woman gets to work, she will put on her dress shoes. Five minutes later, she will kick them off because her feet are under the desk. A man will wear the same pair of shoes all day.

CATS: Women love cats. Men say they love cats, but when women aren’t looking, men kick cats.

DRESSING UP: A woman will dress up to: go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, get the mail. A man will dress up for: weddings, funerals.

LAUNDRY: Women do laundry every couple of days. A man will wear every article of clothing he owns, including his surgical pants that were hip about eight years ago, before he will do his laundry. When he is finally out of clothes, he will wear a dirty sweatshirt inside out, rent a U-Haul and take his mountain of clothes to the Laundromat. Men always expect to meet beautiful women at the Laundromat. This is a myth perpetuated by re-runs of old episodes of “Love, American Style.”

OFFSPRING: Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and soccer games and romances and best friends and favorite foods and secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

not yet

I don't want a piglet. Golden or not.
Its funny how all this works.
We live vicariouly one through another.
Some more bothersome & busybodied than others.

secret agent

Agent Ninja. Agent Skeletor. Agent Cheerleader. Agent Magpie. Agent Vodka.
Agent Phoenix. Agent Freelance. Agent Mountaineer.
Agent Boy scout. Agent shotgun. Agent evergreen. Agent Mockingbird.

Those that get it, get it. Those that don't, don't.
Note to Agent Skeletor: I Love..... (you know the rest...)


Top Ten Things You NEVER Want to Hear on 'Alias'

10.Sark: "I'm really not a bad guy, I'm just misunderstood."
9. Jack: "There's something else I haven't told you."
8. Francie: "Syd, I have something to confess: I work for a place called K-Directorate."
7. Sydney: "I finished my paper early, Professor, and I did the extra credit as well."
6. Will: "That Agent Vaughn is one good-looking man."
5. Dixon: "Why are you always on Point?"
4. Sloan: "Sydney, you've earned a break. Absolutely no field work for six months."
3. Marshall: "Just take a big gun or something."
2. Irina: "Actually, I'm a Mountee. I was sent by Canada to pretend to be a KGB officer pretending to be an American housewife to steal secrets from the CIA."
1. Voice-Over-Guy: "Next week, Alias is a repeat."

step back in time

Its been along time since I left JC and of all the institutions of learning that I've been in, I think my JC time was the one that shaped and molded me the most. Primary school was well, primary school full of childish wiles and kiddish dreams. I'm still friends with a sizable portion of my primary school mates- I even once dated one of them- but it was a time of fun, games and worrying about the PSLE. Which in the grand scheme of things is rather trival though I didn't think so at that time. Secondary school was a real eye-opener. Any former SCGS girl will tell you, it is the place that gives you your identity as a woman, as a person. I did for me anyway and the chance to go back to the school recently felt good. The recent passing awat of Aunty Nancy (the unniform tailor- in my time, all uniforms were specially tailormade rather than bought off the rack) and the Mee Pok Man actually still made me sad.

Still, for all my growing up in Primary school (Rosyth) and SCGS, it was JC (Anderson JC) that really saw me coming into my own. I discovered debating for one- which I must say truly revolutionized my life and career- and met some of the best people in the world. Other than my class girls whom I dearly love and totally enjoy hanging out with until today; these guys and girls (in the two pictures here) were my other source of entertainment, support and friendship. May calls us the Cheerleader and Jock Club; till today, I beg to differ. They've been great and its good to see everyone "all grown up." One's even on the way to having a baby!

Its amazing to see how much we've been able to cramp in between the last eight years. And how we've all grown. And yet, remained the same.

slip carefully

Some people have the funniest signs.

right.

star

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

What makes boys: May's calendar part II

Did I mention that I liked May's calendar?

Types of men: May's Calendar Part I

I love May's calendar.

10 facts about this girl

Ok, this is the deal and these are the facts:

1. Yes, I have been ill for a long time. Like its my fault.
2. Yes, I do owe people alot of work and am not sorry.
3. Yes, I have been tired, unrested and cranky. Point being?
4. Yes, I have been neglecting far too many things for far too long. So?
5. Yes, I have been unreasonable, irrational and downright emotional. And?
6. No, I am not ok so quit asking stupid questions over and over again.
7. No, I do not anyone to tell me what I need or don't need.
8. No, I don't think I'm being unfair- its is my right to be totally unreasonable.
9. No, I am not ready to forgive anyone just yet- epecially you. And you two.
10. No, I don't think I'm always right- but on this, I'm sure I am.