(Warning: Gross story ahead..)
SF gave birth only six weeks ago and she looked like she never did. On the other hand, Mother once commented that 19-year-old mf looked pregnant *.*
Anyway, the ladies met for lunch recently. With a new mother among us and four experienced mothers (and three of them pregnant) around the table, there could only be one main topic - childbirth and etc.
I must admit I was quite interested! All the talk about epidural, watching the doctor do a caesarean on your through a mirror (!), breastfeeding, types of breast pumps etc. I must say it was very enlightening and fun when they were recalling their experiences.
BUT someone mentioned cutting, sewing, tearing for not caesarean but natural birth...
My burning question: what and where do they cut? And why?!
Of course I have a rough idea given the context but when LY explained, I was like o_O (not going to go into details here but you may like to google for episiotomy if you feel up to it..)
(My next burning question: can you still have good sex after that?! TO said it would depend on the birth itself, if it was well sewn up and healed, confounded by the possibility of incontinence etc..)
I couldn't help it and did some googling just now, stopping short at actual photos and videos. I don't think I have the stomach for those after reading about the process. It is true that many women have gone through it. And, our mothers' generation didn't even have epidural! But SF is right - it would have to be caesarean comes my turn! Now I shall reconsider my ideal of having four children :p
On a lighter less scary note, I had something funny (and gross) the other day - I called it "poop of my dream" :p
It was a gloomy day. Two strangers sat down at a roadside tavern and helped themselves to some morsels of food. Sebotino was heavy-built and moved about steadily, carrying with him an aura of seriousness. Baloda, on the other hand, appeared nervous and restless, and kept looking around him for unseen danger.
Sebotino had walked a long way and yearned for companionship. He didn't think Baloda would be a likely friend - they seemed too different. "Well, at least he looks like an unlikely foe," he though wryly to himself, recalling the nightmare that he had just escaped from.
"Hey!"
Startled from his thoughts, Sebotino looked up and found himself staring into a pair of shifty eyes. It was Baloda.
"You, you are not from around here," Baloda said cautiously.
Sebotino nodded wearily, "That's right. I just came from the Blue Isle."
"The Blue Isle? My people have lived here in the Marble Plains for more than a hundred generations but I have never heard of the Blue Isle."
"Oh, it was a wonderful place, bright and sunny in the day, and quiet and peaceful at night. There was no need for my people to venture here. We had a good life there, we did..."
A couple just arrived and sat near the unlikely friends. Sebotino noticed their shifty eyes and figured that he was in a strange land of strange suspicious people.
"But you are here," Baloda was now looking more curious than uneasy, if that was actually possible.
Sebotino leaned forward a little and paused. He was not sure if he could confide in this stranger but he decided that the truth must be told.
"Disaster struck the Blue Isle yesterday. I believe I am the only survivor of my kind. There was no sight of my people after the disaster."
Baloda turned pale. The big guy didn't look like he was lying.
"What could it be that wiped out an entire population?"
"It was a monster! An atrocious witch she was! If I hadn't hid under a drain, she would have found me and killed me like she did the rest! I saw her do it - with poison! So many of them, all dead on the streets!" The terror of the recollection was showing in Sebotino's eyes and reflected in Baloda's.
"I was trying to run home to safety and just as I was reaching, I saw her killing more of my people right outside my door. I had to wait until nightfall before I could reach home. But the door was locked and I couldn't pry it open. No one came to my help - I supposed they were all dead."
Baloda gave Sebotino a shaky pat. "You are a very lucky man to have escaped alive," he said, and after a pause, "If you do not mind, I can introduce you to my people, find you a home."
Sebotino was surprised at this offer. He did not expect this kindness coming from a shifty little fellow. As he stretched out his hands to thank Baloda, he saw Baloda's eyes widening in fear. Suddenly, a great shadow fell over them.
"The, the witch..?" Baloda could barely whisper now. Sebotino turned around...
"Ahhh!"
His scream trailed off as the witch flattened him with a piece of tissue paper. Baloda and the couple, always on their feet, had taken the chance to run away.
The legend of the witch would continue among the people of the Marble Plains...
PS: Yesterday, I found ants crawling in and out of a hole in the bathroom wall, and Baygon-ed them all. This morning, I sealed the damn hole. Stupid ants were still crawling about the sealed hole looking for a way in after that. I picked them up and flushed them away. I hope all these ants have vacated the Blue Isle. My Blue Isle :p
Haven't felt like this for a long time.. This morning, I woke up fresh, and stayed fresh the whole day!
It must be the long hours of sleep last weekend, and what a leisurely weekend it was! Made spaghetti bolognese for three although there were only two of us :p We ate the whole lot *very proud of ourselves* and threw in dessert, which was Japanese pancake topped with flakes of Ben & Jerry's chocolate chip cookie dough - flaky cos it was too darn frozen to scoop *.*
A very simple and stress free weekend, I like and so, I am happy :)
My colleague sent me a link to a clip from Oprah on Randy Pausch's last lecture.
I like it.
I guess what really strikes a chord with me are all the positive vibes from a dying man. Btw he is still alive as of today.
What would you do if you know you have only a few months to live?
Some may see me as a positive person now. But I did - still do - have negative and even morbid moments, especially when I was a kid. I remember trying to suffocate myself in a pillow when I was a kid cos I felt so abandoned when upon coming home from a cousin's place, I heard that my father had brought my siblings to the pool. Yes I couldn't swim at all and to this day still cannot claim that I can swim but I loved going to the pool!
Other instances, I just wasn't happy about my family, my friends in secondary school, the way I looked, the behaviour of some people, repetitive homework, the weather, the smell of the air etc... And because of these, I was grouchy a lot of the time. Although, to the credit of my genes or a forgetful mind, I cheered up pretty easily too.
Over the years, especially the last ten years or so, I have let go a great deal. I realise how there is no point being bothered by all these trivialities, especially when these are things I have no control over; what I can control is how I react. If I can better things, I will try, otherwise, I live with it or walk away for more able people to deal with it. There is really no point dwelling on unhappiness if that makes me even more unhappy.
Back to the question, if my body gives up on me, I wish my spirit doesn't so that I could still have a positive impact on my loved ones. I mean, I don't need to change the world, make it a better place. If I can effect something positive on people around me, I think that is enough.
Thinking about the lecture, I think we should live life such that we can answer to ourselves and not shortchange ourselves - that sounds weird in English.. 做人要对得起自己! 前阵子听到一句 “活在当下”，意思应该是不要活在不愉快－ 甚至是愉快－ 的过去，也不要太幻想着未来而疏忽了现在、错过了眼前的一切。但我想加一句 “明天会更好”，因为没理由活在不愉快的当下啊！应该开朗一些，带着过去的人生经历、抱着积极的态度展望未来，不是吗？
Sure, cynics roll their eyes but well, it doesn't matter cos I'm happy the way I am! :)
So, am I Tigger or Eeyore? :) I prefer to be a cheerful Tigger but who sometimes likes to curl up - and not necessarily in a corner - to play with her (this one's a she!) tail and reflect on things..
But I think I am actually more of a Pooh.. You know, all the digging into honey and stuff :p
Links to the lecture:
1) Full version - in six parts including an introduction and ending speeches but you can just watch parts 1-4 (90min or so)
2) Single version of the lecture sans intro and ending (76min)
3) Condensed version on Oprah (11min) - this is what led me to google for the original lecture
Happy holiday :)
Two Saturdays ago, we took off to KL on Aeroline - quite a comfortable ride. They had movies - watched Transformers and a bit of Tokyo Drift - and served food and hot drinks. Took us just under five hours to get to KL via Tuas. But we almost lost our bags cos we didn't realise we were supposed to take them with us at the customs!!
Anyway, we found our way to Shangri-La, checked in and went to the ballroom to check out the floor. It was big! But we didn't practise until we got ourselves some food at TGIF across the road and even then, we practised in street shoes, just walking through our routine really.
Had a grand eight-hour sleep before we went down for a quick breakfast at a cafe. When we tried to get our number, we realised that we were supposed to get that at 8am - it was past 9am already!! But luckily, Aleena got it for us already.. We were quite blur :p
Did more routine in the room and changed for some real practice in our shoes. My hair took 25 minutes to set! But it was good; not a strand came off for either tango or quickstep :p
The morning segment just ended and the floor was free. We did a few rounds to try the floor for all four dances. Spent some time swirling outside until it was time for the afternoon segment - our segment..
OUR SECOND COMPETITION!!! :p
Nerves.. The chill.. Even hunger started to creep in..
Then it was our turn.. Waltz, quickstep, tango and foxtrot, with some rest in between.. We didn't do great for any of them =( Especially tango =(
Prepared for the worst, we were surprised to see we were brought back for finals for the first three dances! Must give our best shot! Foxtrot was apparently a direct finals though there were quite a number of couples, which meant we might not be placed..
Finals for waltz and quickstep went better than the heats, but not tango, unfortunately.. And not lest cos it was right after the quickstep, which left us out of breath - I blamed the music cos I could not "feel the tango".. But anyway, we tried :) We were placed 4th for waltz, 5th for quickstep and foxtrot, and 6th for tango eventually. A fellow dancer told us that he had seen us do way better in the studio, sighs.. And of course, Shifu was like, "It could have been better!"
Anyway, time to relax! I like this picture :)
We bought standing tickets for the evening events cos the sit-down was really expensive.. Went to TGIF (again!) for a quick dinner before returning to the ballroom - in casual clothes and nice hair :p
As the evening passes, my nose turned from bad to worse and we returned to the room to rest a couple of times while the judges were tabulating scores.. But it was fun and very motivating to see the professionals dance! So beautiful - we must work harder! :)
Woke really late the next day. Nose was still bad, and I'd developed a sore throat as well..
Sito was very hardworking ok.. He was working his brain cells..
.. While I slept :p
Then I got hungry..
So we went to Shang Palace for some dim sum. That helped my throat a bit but the soreness returned to haunt me for the rest of the day whenever I had no food going down *.*
Spent a lazy afternoon just reading his Jap text while he carried on working... Still not feeling well and so cancelled dinner with Jo in case I passed the germs to little Lucian.. But we decided we should go out and headed off to this Restoran Oversea - yes, not Overseas - for what was supposedly the world's best char siew. And it was indeed good! And that coming from someone who doesn't really eat char siew, I suppose it's really good? :p
Wandered off a bit and found a shopping mall next to a monorail station. It was somewhat surreal.. And we found a couple of those old weighing machines that used to dot the old Emporium!
I got tired very soon and we went back to watch TV. Rather, I watched TV while Sito continued to work! I refused to think about my work. In fact, my head was too full with mucous to think *.*
*repeat the hotel photos here*
And the very next morning, we left. Not quite sure what to make of this trip. The competition results were a bit disappointing no doubt but it was a good experience, which I think we need. The rest of the holiday... Well, I was ill and Sito was working. A pseudo holiday then, like he said.. Time to plan for the next one! :)
There's no doubt about this - by the time I'm 50, I'm going to be flatter than pancake *.*
Read this article for why..
Separately, hope to put up some pictures later - from our weekend trip to KL..
Just finished the last one - yummy :)
I always like tu tu kueh. Sometimes I think I like the flour more than the filling - I asked for one without filling! Looks like I won't survive on any carbs-free diet...
Haven't had it for years.. Good feelings came back while eating it.. Not about anything or anyone in particular; just the simple pleasure of having a simple snack :)
Moving on to Yakult, another childhood delight :)
Really, cos the fourth generation is coming!! :) Hui is the youngest of our generation and she is already 10 this year. It is timely for more babies :) We'll have two this year - so exciting! :p Think my dear Grams must be even happier.. WT had his ROM last month too - without cutting his afro hair of course! And YQ brought his gf this year - first time after dating for some five years.
Spent the first day like last year. The cousins were chatting in the room with WT taking random pictures with his manual camera when Grams poked her head in and was forced to take a picture with me holding her arm to keep her still =D She was so shy, and felt very very soft, hee! I love this Grams of mine though she had become quite deaf since I saw her a couple of weeks ago.. I had to greet her by almost speaking into her ear. Then she did the same to me and said in my ear, "Geen ni geh zeh ho ang!" Kek?!
This year, we missed Yan - but she called from the UK in the late afternoon and spoke to us. Think I never once called back during CNY when I was away.. Oops.. Anyway.. Dear cousin, shall see you in a few months' time, and yes, with Lim Chee Guan bah kwa!!
Spent the next day very leisurely with Sito. We swam, we went grocery shopping, we cooked, we watched TV, I watched him play Final Fantasy XII. Simple yet strangely fulfilling :)
Although people didn't like to 拜年 on the third day, CY and I did anyway! JT joined us at CY's place. We snapped some pictures of ourselves before I dashed off for tea with KLK. Kok shyly shared his good news :p And credit to him, he didn't 中色轻友 and sent me to PS's house! Brownie points for you la =)
It was like last year again, but this year, ALL the kids could walk and run and laugh and play with one another! TO's daughter finally smiled at me and LH's boy hugged me (cos I gave him yummy stuff; yes, I resorted to bribery :p) - I was happy :) Had a lot of sashimi too on behalf of the three pregnant women.. We were talking baby talk etc (occupational hazard? :p) when attention turned to me..
Mrs PS: So, when is it your turn?
mf: Kek?! Not getting pregnant now lor..
The ladies: No need to get married, just have a baby! :p
Mrs PS: O_O mf: o_O
PS from across the room: What are you all trying to do to her?!
The CNY saga continued one week later when a lot more of us and a few more kids went to RQ's place, which was almost like a trip back to some 50 years ago. His place reminded me of the old clan association where my paternal grandmother was a housekeeper.. Some younger kids were especially fascinated by a vacuum cleaner robot. It looked quite fun and we were imagining WY's cat taking a free ride on it :p
Next was Sito's place. Found him playing FF so I read a magazine and fell asleep :p Slept only four hours the previous night due to work.. Went out for dinner with his family and the food was good! But poor me just couldn't eat much - I have honestly never seen such a big amount of rice left in my bowl =( Think I had only taken two mouthfuls =( I realised that I couldn't eat as much as before this year.. Didn't even snack much - must be age catching up on me ~.~
By right, I should be happy I'm not eating too much but I'm actually worried that I cannot eat much! Not to mention sad cos I love to eat *.* Yes, 女人(可以)是矛盾的 :p
So, end of CNY today.. I like CNY but it is going to be a long wait for the next one man.. But I'm also sure this year will pass very quickly, like last year, as time flies when things are busy.. Think I'll shifting into something worthy of an entry on its own... When I'm next free!
Have a great year ahead! :)
Has mf gone cuckoo?
No.. Not yet anyway :p
You see, without Skype, I won't be able to apply four different lotions on my face at night while chatting with Sito; I won't be able to apply hand lotion with one hand holding the phone (using my head and shoulder is out of the question cos of the four lotions on my face); we won't be able to play Scramble together (two hands are more efficient) etc...
And most significantly, I won't be now seeing Sito keeping a mouthful of water in his mouth for a full 20 seconds before swallowing it..! かわいいね :)
I was just thinking that I couldn't feel much CNY vibes this year when a chance presented itself this evening - I became Mother's coolie *.*
She bought a few bags of CNY goodies! And a box of mandarin oranges. For some reason, she also picked up an empty cardboard box..
"To put things!"
Hmm, o..k...
Saw pretty flowers when we passed through the wet market. So many people seem to like buying flowers for CNY but we have never done so. We only have a bouquet of fake flowers, which I made a decade or more ago..
During CNY, the supermarket had a extension outside the shop to carry all the goodies - all red and cheery!
I like 八宝豆! Actually I like only certain types of 豆 so we don't buy this; we buy big packets of specific nuts! :p
I couldn't find anything that said what all these ingots were but I guess, chocolate..?
Not far away, I found chocolate wrapped in gold foil but in the shape of 招财猫..
These are preserved squid - so gross and yet so cool at the same time! :p
(Oh, can you see my toe? :p)
年糕! (Oops, my Chinese sucks - almost typed 年高)
While I was standing at the 年糕 area waiting for Mother, I saw this kid carrying a huge box of packet drinks, looking like he was going to fall over anytime. When his mother told him to put the drinks into the shopping basket on the floor, he practically dropped the whole slab onto two cabbages.. And the mother tried to fit the drinks under the basket handles, further pushing down on the cabbages.. Pls correct me if I'm wrong but, don't fresh vegetables rot under all that weight??!
As Mother continued shopping and I continued standing there guarding our basket, the shop decided to change its CD. And I heard CNY songs in English - it was worse than the cheesiest Mandarin ones!! Well, I thought, I finally felt CNY in the air...!
We discussed about reunion dinner. Cos we no longer had an altar, Mother would not need to buy too much food to 拜拜 this year. But she said she would still buy a whole chicken since it was cheaper than to buy separate parts. Since the neighbourhood shops would not resume business until some after CNY and she would not be venturing into town where most shops would re-open by the second day, she said she would also buy lots of other food stuff to last the CNY. Guess the fridge will still be full like last time..
Sito's sister read out my 运辰 the other day - in short, I must watch my diet... But, I just had my first binge of this CNY season - Mother's pineapple tarts :p Will be eating more... Reunion dinner, lunch and dinner with Grams, a few more rounds of visiting, office lunch, and worst of all, Mother will be displaying snacks in the living room..
Man, I really need to do some aerobics now!!
It has stopped raining. Sito said it felt like an autumn day. I thought it was just, well, nice.
I have not felt like this for a while. Cool day, just bright enough with the sun peeking through the rain clouds, music from the radio drowning out the noise from outside my room. And I am relaxed; I've decided that for today, work can wait. This is too lazy an afternoon to think too much..
Suddenly remember that I need to iron my clothes. But I'm feeling so lazy today!! Maybe tonight...
In the meantime, I should really finish my book.. And perhaps, if I feel up to some walking, I'll go catch 27 Dresses :)
Really, I'm just ゴロゴロ around today...
Update: In the end, I felt too lazy to go for the movie :p
