Weekly Dating Lessons

Thursdays are Mao's FREE DAY.

We termed it as a day whereby Mao can do whatever he wants without his parents. He can dribble his basketball non stop till the sun rises again; he can watch that senseless 9pm chinese drama with Grandma; he can eat ice cream on the sofa with ribena and end it with milk for the night. He does absolutely anything that Grandma says Okay. It's his FREE day!

We congratulate one another for our bright idea, we salivate at the thought of us on the bed without needing to watch another episode of BBC cartoon channel at night but tuning in to our ADULT SANITY programs! We think of how we need not rush through our dinner, go through the distance and fantasize on our HIGH night.

But each week, thursday come - we would be thinking what to do. Should we go Bugis to shop, go for a swim, dinner or a movie. We wonder why the excitement in reality was very much reduced. We try to talk non-maoster, we try to relax while we eat. Somehow the hours seems to double, time is taking its time each Thursday. Aung would always say, its OUR TIME, We can do anything we want. Somehow all my "if we are alone now hor we would be etc "ideas simply vanishes into thin air.

We end the night each thursday with a call to Serangoon to ask how the Maoster is doing. Our heart dipped if we heard he cried for us; our hearts gladdens when we hear him laughing at the background playing with his cousins.

It is exactly that since we are not doing exactly well in our weekly dating lessons, we cannot afford to miss even one.

I mean, is it that complicated? I mean, does anyone out there go for weekly dating lessons?

Thursdays are fun day for me - Come on Get a life!

Vows made...

Today at MSN, XM asked me if I am ready to be her MC for her wedding dinner on Sat.
I asked her if she is ready to be a bride. She says she doesn't know. She says she doesn't know what to do with her new status.
Without much thinking, I told her to read the wedding vows that she is going to exchange - that is what she has to do with her new status.
Suddenly, with the whole ideas of roles and responsibilities and vows made and exchanged and to keep and status, I went and googled the following.

The Baptismal Covenant

Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the
prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?

People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?
People I will, with God’s help.

***
Prayers for the Candidates

The Celebrant then says to the congregation

Let us now pray for these persons who are to receive the
Sacrament of new birth [and for those (this person) who
have renewed their commitment to Christ.]

A Person appointed leads the following petitions

Leader Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and
death.
People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Open their hearts to your grace and truth.
People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Fill them with your holy and life‑giving Spirit.
People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Keep them in the faith and communion of your holy
Church.
People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit.
People Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader Send them into the world in witness to your love.
People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory.
People Lord, hear our prayer.

The Celebrant says

Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death
of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his
resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who
lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen.

Do you remember the vows you made in your life or the promises you made?

PS: "诸葛亮" - disappear from my body please! You are not much fun!

中马票！

每天下班，相公和我就奔驰回家。心里满有期待；今天毛儿有乖吗？又学了那些古怪！

到了门口，心里的兴奋是莫名的- 每天都一样，说来也真怪，但就是兴奋！

忽然，毛儿发现我们回家了，丢下手里的玩具，脸上光彩无限，露出了好大的笑容，大声喊起，：“妈咪！爹地！” 就扑了过来，仿佛失散多年，又拥抱又亲嘴！

那种感觉，真如中马票！还是头奖！

面临经济的风暴，一切的不安， 神明白我们的力量有限，每天都让我们有中马票的感觉！喜乐和希望就从家开始从家出发！

想中马票？就快回家吧！

偶尔还有“安慰奖”-娱乐表演！

PS: Gee,you can stop laughing at my chinese liao, toldyou I am better at writing in English! 博君一笑？Did I get that wrong? Ha ha ha...

It takes 2...

It takes 2 weddings in a row + a hectic Sunday to make me realised that age is indeed catching up.

From friday practice in church for sunday worship to saturday JL's holy matrimony to the wedding dinner with Mao in tow with us - he slept at midnight on friday and saturday, it is wise of us to not bring him along to Kelvin's wedding on sunday. Plus I had to wake up super early to rush to church as I am on duty on Sunday... by the end of Sunday, Aung and myself are basically dead meat. I still have parental duties of waking up early to cook for my son who simply loves homecooked food more than the food outside.



It takes 2 weddings in a row to make me reflect once again How GOOD our Lord is.

Seeing JL and SK walk down the aisle and exchanging their wedding vows before God and men reminded me again that God is good that he knows that 2 is better than one and that with all things so uncertain and fragile, God is the cornerstone of our lives. Being able to meet up once again with my NTU friends makes me thankful that God gave me friends I love that regardless of where we left each other at, we could pick it up and talk endlessly.



It also takes 2 weddings in a row + a hectic sunday to realise the importance of a supportive husband. Aung fully supportive of my ministry took care of that running imp in church till 10pm and was in spirit to LA KOPI with the gang back at the coffeeshop (now a luxury to us both) with Maoster in tow (who drank 100plus since ermm there was no yakult or milk there, nevermind lah hor a bit only :P, share with me mah). Aung fully supportive of me doing the translation work, woke up early to dice the vegetables ( that my MIL did already yeah!) while I do some last minute look at the verses and at the end of the day tells me that the English version makes more sense than the chinese one ( ha ha ha, he always says the best thing about me). He had to manage his son alone on sunday morning as I have chiong to church while he combat changing his son's clothes, poo and vomit and that miserable 15 mins walk under the sun as I took the car.



It also took 2 weddings in a row and a hectic sunday to wanna shout WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU GEE? I would be dumping some of that extra work load, and we would be taking endless of photographs and having a party!



At the end of the 2 weddings + hectic Sunday - I am much thankful that I am STILL ALIVE AND KICKING. Wake me up if you find me sleeping the whole of this week please!

My medal winning Aung entertaining his son on Sunday Noon - while I lay dead beside refusing to lift a finger, pretending I don't exist!

Bye Bye, Singlehood?

Strange things are happening here

In the morning, Maoster wakes up with double eye lids

Seems to be gone by mid day.

Last night it was strangely there.

Hopefully this is just a passing phase as I like his nice single eyelids ALOT.

I hope they will go away soon.

Stay Single.

Calling Drastic Measures....

Because I haven't been doing translated work for like 2 plus 3 years

( last one was for Eve's wedding)

Because I think that I may have given all my linguistic capabilities to my son

Because I think that this time I would be pairing up with a new pastor

Because this time the new pastor seemed shock that I am doing the translator work

(it's mutual)

Because this time, well, I won't have the faintest idea what the sermon would be

(how exciting!!!)

Because for the love of my sister, I decided to brave the storm and may end up looking rather...

(ermmmmm spastic)

Because at the end of the day, I might really be needing the mask that HL and I discussed

(hello kitty cos it has no mouth!)

Because there will be videocameras, families and friends and oh so many guests.

Because unlike last time, at least I can be still considered a chic up there

(now I hope I can find something that is non black to wear)

Because unlike last time, this time I am expecting the least expected.

(Don't ask me what it means)

Therefore Drastic Times require Drastice Measures.

Red is auspicious right?

And maybe if all things turned up to be oops so wrong- I can be mistaken as Ronald the Clown.

I had a shock that it turned out so RED! But blame it on me, I just told my stylist NO GREEN HOR!

PRAY WITH ME WOULD YOU?

COS I AM FREAKING OUT!!!

Sharpest Pencil In the Box

Bunster: You know Mao is still not talking yet but he is so cute!

Aung: Yups, he still can't count to 10!

Bunster: Yar, I think Tej counts to 30 and Meryl counts to 20 or something like that! And that seems like a few weeks or months back.

Aung: Hmmmmmmmmmm.... Then Mao how?

Bunster: Dunno... he is still funny lor with his counting 1, 2 and then 1, 2 then 7 8 and hurray!

Aung: He knows one lah... he is just not telling us....

Bunster: ha ha ha.... whatever lah, as long as he is happy can liao lor... You know you just want him to be happy for now before we start getting calls from his teachers.

Aung: Yups ,he is one happy boy. You know we don't really need him to be the sharpest pencil in the box...

Bunster: Sharpest pencil?

Aung: Yups... just don't be a highlighter can liao.

I think that's rather amusing... I've not heard about that before... but sounds quite cool.... That's why I love talking to my Aung. He always say things with colours, layers, punch and so flavoursome....he makes me laugh all the time and to think I am the one with the funny bones.

But... then... what's wrong with a highlighter? I like leh! Hmmmm... Why huh? Anyone knows?

不凡的爱 = 2nd Baby?

watching TV can be suicidal sometimes

I managed to watch 2 episodes of 不凡的爱 with my husband. It is a program on promoting AIDS AWARENESS but however my Aung seems to be reading into the wrong message.

Twice we watched the program, there were scenes of brotherly love showed between the victim and his brother.

The first time it happened, Aung said: " Mao needs a sibling, they can take care of one another"...

The 2nd time he saw it yesterday, Aung said, " that's why Mao needs a brother or a sister, you see ah, your sister takes care of you, your brother....er wrong example but the point is, Mao can have someone u know if anything happens to us.. Do you get it or not rabbit?"

Hmmmmmm..... I seriously should write to MEDIACORP to get MCYS to co-sponsor the program along with the health board since well it did promote baby making on my Aung's end.

Well, I'm not too excited about baby 2 as yet... I mean being able to get pregnant itself is a miracle, to successful give birth to one healthy baby is yet another and of cos not forgetting that I am one who puts on 20kg and retains half to myself although I seriously eat normally and I promise I didn't eat 3 cows, 2 chickens and 5 pigs for a meal every single day of my pregnancy.... I can tell you 1000 things that can stop me from wanting a 2nd one and a smile from Maoster to tell me its all worth it... I haven't quite decided so in the meantime, I shall avoid watching 不凡的爱 with Aung again. Reading before one sleeps is better than watching TV! Oh, HOW TRUE!

Why you loses yourself when you are a mom....

Julia Gabriel is having a party next week to celebrate "graduation" & Christmas ( i know its ridiculously early!) and there is a food list pinned up at the end of the class whereby you are to choose what you want to bring next week.

I ran to the list ( c'mon, I need to choose the easiest food to bring!) and I wrote MY NAME beside the food - mini pastries.

Lucky for me - I took a quick glanced at the list and find it strangely prompting.... something is WRONG... but what is it... ..I worked down the list... so beside the item "pop-corn", Ryan's name was beside it... oh hey, Kiran is bringing the cakes and etc... and DAMN, luckily it hit me!

I should have written MYLES name instead of my own.

I quickly cancelled BECKY and wrote MYLES and hopped back my to join my son to let the queue behind me continue.

Darn! I am the ONLY MOTHER WHO WROTE HER NAME! I am a total idiot! Sigh, I mean don't other mothers make that kinda of mistakes? If Maoster knew, he would have dug a hole and made me jump into the rabbit hole, even maybe together with me.

At the end of the class, i sheepishly went back to the list - SIGH, my column is the only one with the CANCELLED BECKY!

I am not a natural mother....

Abandon yourself Rabbit!

3 Things That I miss...for today

1: BEING YOUNG, PRETTY, THIN (mostly) and SO FULL OF ENERGY! I can't blame you if you cannot recognise me just don't ask me what happened?!!!

One of my favourite shots with some of my favourite people in this world and one of my favourite occassion!

2. Being on holiday with Aung or Gee or whoever when we are oh so young and free from the " you mean you went without your kid" question being asked making us feel slightly guilty and somewhat of "balls and chains"

Yup, that used to be my favourite shorts. Unfortunately now it fit only half my butt!

3. I missed having someone that I really think I can look upon and guide me....

Father Thong "forced" to dance with Limei at my wedding - Pastor do dance but just not well!

Made the Cut, Finally!

After 2 failed attempts at the hair saloon last week.
After the 2000 times I convinced myself I am not going to pay $20 bucks for my son's hair at some kiddy specialised shop becos Aung only cuts his hair at QB at $10.
After telling him 10 millions times everyday that he is really looking more like a girl with his moon shaped eyes, long lashes and his LONG HAIR. We can really only control his hair.
After telling him that we are going to cut his hair and it won't hurt making him nod his head every evening last and this week.
Finally, after whispering a short prayer ( I really did!) before we walked heavy heartedly to the hair saloon down at mom's place and VIOLA, we finally made the CUT!

Not without the usual buckets of tears and reluctance from Maoster but at least, he was less of an objection and his cries were mostly translated as, OH MOMMY, WHEN WILL THIS PASS? OH GOD, DO YOU NOT SEE MY MISERY? LET MY HAIR NOT GROW SO FAST NEXT TIME TO GO THROUGH THIS ORDEAL! type of pleas and whines and cries.

I am not spared as I was carrying him and I had hair all over my face, clothes, skirt and eyes and mouth. No one told me that was part of the deal of being a mother. I don't quite like it either. I was the unsung hero....

After the cut was done, all the cousins and Grandma came to the saloon to cheer that little fella, congratulating him as if he like Barack won a fight yesterday!

Hopefully the next time round, it would be much better!

Maoster, feeling quite suave with his new cut!

Now, aren't we glad it's all over?

FOR THE CHANGE WE NEED....

Congratulations President Barack Obama - United States of America!

Charming guy isn't he? But the road is long, all eyes will be on him as he sits on the World's giant's back and hopefully the view up there will be great for him.

Gee was in her usual thinking mode and me who is always in my usual clowning mode led us to our MSN Conversation:

Gee says:
do you think it is an indication of a step forward
Becky says:
?
Gee says:
for the tradition of racism, that a Black is elected as US president
Gee says:
people are indeed more colour blind
Becky says:
we are even more forwarding than them
Becky says:
u forget our PRESIDENT is it?

I always kill my best friend profound mood don't I? Maybe that's why she's in Canada where I can never be close enough to destroy it.... but she never gives up, she always talks deep with me while I give her answers close to that of "chilis & onions!"

US TALK

Aung: Don't take away my pillow, I like to cover my ears when I sleep.
Bunster: I like to cover my eyes when I sleep
Aung: Just don't cover your nose.

Aung: My mother has a tragic character.
Bunster: Tragic? I thought u normally use the word complicated.
Aung: Tragic for me.
Bunster: I see.

Aung: Do you know that your son was sniffing at night cos the wind from the fan was too strong.
Bunster: Oic, I didn't realise that
Aung: Oh, because as usual, both of us were well tucked in our blankets and we forget about him again.
Bunster: I see.

Bunster: Do you know that its a pain to be famous.
Aung: What happened?
Bunster: Well, the vegetable seller downstairs actually told me that I put on ALOT OF WEIGHT and that I used to be thinner long time ago. I mean, I only buy vegetable from the market like once or twice a month leh!!! GEK SIM! Is it his marketing strategy?
Aung: Next week you show him how you really look 10 years ago and tell him that its an improvement liao.
Bunster: Arghhhh, I am already on my cereal lunch diet liao... AND IT IS STILL NOT WORKING!
Aung: Try not wearing your maternity top when you go down marketing- maybe it works better?

Bunster: My maoster is so cute
Aung: yar, if we see him everyday and he is still cute then he must be damn cute!

Bunster: Why are you turning into the petrol station where we just topped up gas ytd night?
Aung: Oh becos we are talking about prices of petrol dropping and my mind is full of gas now.
Bunster: that's your brain all right! Gasey!

Aung: Are you still tired, rabbit?
Bunster: Ok lah, we are getting old.
Aung: yesss.. we need a break
Bunster: HOW?
Aung: Let's pretend to work, dump mao at your mom's and go to play
Bunster: Genius!

A LA CARTE BUFFET

8pm Order: Ma-mee mee, "NEH NEH"
Bunster: U sure okay then
Waiter Aung: Here you go big boy - 240ml.
Maoster: Yeah, Neh Neh!


10pm Order: Ma- mee mee, "NEH NEH"!
Bunster: Are you sure you want to drink it again?
(okay writes down invisible order with that invisible look to waiter Aung)
Waiter Aung sigh and returned: Okay nah, 180ml okay, you drink liao just now.


2am Order: Ma- mee mee, "Neh Neh"!
Bunster: Huh? At this time?
Waiter Aung: WHAT!!!
Aung returned, with 180ml of milk.


3am Order: Ma-mee mee, "Neh, Neh"!
Bunster: Don't be crazy and go to sleep!
Waiter Aung: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Maoster: "Neh, Neh!"
Take order Bunster: Can u don't act crazy and go to sleep. You drink many times liao lah!
Waiter Aung: Neh Neh?
Returned with 120ml of milk....


I'll never work as a staff at a ALA-CARTE BUFFET restaurant or 7 eleven. Now I know how irritated the waiters are when I say ermmm one more plate of the stir fry teriyaki ribeye and the hmmmm how about the sambal kang kong. Yar, some more please! Repeat process say 200 times.


Note to Maoster: Give it up Son, No matter how much milk you gorged down your tummy, you will NOT become MIGHTY MAO - you have your dad's genes. Just go to sleep next time if you have any weird ideas again.

A nasty customer who orders milk round the clock!