My ........ Cyber ........ Cerebral ..... Matrix ........

To be on my Tombstone

2009-09-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

From Psalms 139

I will praise thee;

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are they works;

and that my soul knoweth right well.

How precious also

are thy thoughts unto me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them,

they are more in number than the sand:

when I awake, I am still with thee.

Three generations of being called - I Grandma's Story

2008-08-06T00:21:00.000-07:00

This is a precious photo. It was taken in April 1997 - a gift for my mother's birthday.

My mother is my grandmother's only daughter. And the three of us are all the daughters that my mother have - all represented, none absent, the three generations of the line of womenfolk; surnames not important. All bearing the blood of Jesus, heirs of his glorious riches in heaven, whatever we may or may not have in this temporary life on earth.

My grandmother has passed on from this life in June 2006. She had a sea burial. I could not go to Jakarta for her funeral because I was in USA and could not afford to travel the long journey physically (since i had two very young kids to consider the journey's impact) and financially too. But there are no regrets because I will meet her again in heaven.

My grandmother had a true faith in God the Father, redemption by the blood of Jesus and revelation from the Holy Spirit. These in spite of having a language barrier with mainstream English-speaking, Mandarin-speaking and Bahasa Indonesian-speaking churches which she attended. She became a Christian in her old age despite her traditional cultures and superstitious practices that surrounded her.

She had the kindest and most considerate heart - apparent even till the time of her death wishes on how she desired her funeral to be held.

A little about her life: she was probably from a poor family. She married my grandfather through an arranged marriage. Was spurned by my grandfather as being 'ugly', lived to serve him and his brother's family when they were very poor and later on would have to tolerate his many mistresses when he became well-to-do.

She had a mean young life, but she lived better in her old age as a grandmother due to the successes of her sons. She took care of the down trodden within the family but often this was not appreciated. She was not rich on her own, but she was truly blessed.

I believe that if there is one person in this world that you have been able to touch, to bless, it does not matter even if you do not have a niche nor ashes in an urn to remind the living of your existence. You will be remembered and forever cherished in their hearts.

My Family - May 2008 Destin Florida

2008-07-12T02:10:00.000-07:00

" The best inheritance to give to your children is a few minutes of your time a day. "

Reminiscing a decade of great change

2008-07-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

Its been a little more than a decade since I knew Collins and so much has happened. Being the sentimental me, perhaps recording our milestones would bring back to you memories of when you had been part of our lives. Whichever part you have played, whether we still keep close contact or not, do know that you are important to us - you were often fondly remembered whenever we recollect about our experiences, our friends and our family.

1996 We met while working at an event organising company

1997 We went for holiday to Taiwan and Malaysia. I went to work in Bintain island and Collins started to work in the aerospace industry.

1998 Thinking about settling down.

1999 Registering our marriage on January 30. Buying our home in September.

2000 Taking it easy before the crazy!

2001 I joined the teaching profession for a life-less-travelled. We celebrated our wedding in September. I found my old wedding albums - my how they have deteriorated. So, I took out my D40 and took pictures of the wedding album and here it is for you: 16Sep01

2002 Emma was born and my life was changed!

2003 Evans was conceived unplanned. A blessing indeed but the schedule turned from crazy to mad.

2004 Adjusting to two babies and heavy work commitment.

2005 Moving to America. A new and challenging job for Collins and for me - becoming a full time homemaker.

2006 Back to the life-worth-travelling.

2007 Starting to relax a little as the nucleus family settles.

2008 Picking up a new skill and trying to kick start another phase ... ...

With the permission of my friends, I hope to put your pictures up on my web too!

Moon Pix

2008-05-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

I hope you like this picture. I failed terribly last month to take the full moon because I did not have a macro lens. It is very important to have one to get a reasonably decent picture of the moon. I took this picture with a regular kit lens 55-200 mm refurbished Nikkor that I bought recently. It was taken at 200 mm focal length with my humble D40.

Dear D40, I wish I had a better camera, now that I am totally into photography. But I will still press on with you ... ...

Latest Photo Albums

2008-05-18T15:13:00.001-07:00

Since my mother-in-law left us here in late April, I have been half sinking while threading water, lugging two kids afloat on the river of life!

Emma graduated from final year Preschool (american system).

We visited a wonderful Partridge Farm.

I completed 4 sessions of photography class with a wonderful teacher Vincent Lawson - I will have to upload this album later cos its not done yet.

Collins spent a bomb going to watch an NBA game in New Orleans - I will have to upload this album later too - come back and visit again to see these.

This is GOOD - I went on a Photographic Walking Tour of Downtown Mobile and took great pictures. And I learnt how to use my MacBook Pro to create a photo album website! Hmmmm .... .... I might not be needing this blogspot anymore. Anyway, I will think about this later.

What I am doing right now? Trying to complete the final line edit of the book Sunrise Fire which is due to publish really sooooooonnnnnnnnnn.

ttul.

French Quarter Festival

2008-04-15T15:17:00.001-07:00

I've got great pictures of the New Orleans French Quarter Festival.

It was an enjoyable and eventful day. All over at the French Quarter, there were 16 stages set up. People brought their own outdoor chairs and set these down in front of the stages to listen to bands play jazz. I know nothing about jazz but its easy to have a good time. Try to spot us in the picture on the front page ... ... not too difficult as we were the few Chinese amongst the Americans.

I will be bringing home this part of American when I come back ... ... inside of me ... ... no one could be the same after having experienced southern America.

Inside the album, is also our visit to Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie near New Orleans. A very sad story behind the property. I should write about it one day ... ... my interpretation of its love story. Remind me about this ok ... ...

French Quarter Festival and Oak Alley Plantation Pictures

Fairhope in Spring

2008-04-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

Spring began beautifully in the south of the USA albeit the fact that it will grow too hot too soon. We are enjoying it while it last. And I am busy practicing my outdoor photography while the good weather last.

This term, I am taking one class at the moment - Adobe Photoshop Elements. I am amazed at the capability of this software. It is a must have for ALL photographers. I have started to do some magic with Photoshop on my pictures and it has really made up for my personal imperfections. My only worry - I will not be able to improve my photography skills.

Let you in on a new equipment I had acquired - a 17 inch absolutely high RAM MacBook Pro.

See our pictures of a Beautiful Sunday at Fairhope.

Footprints

2008-04-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been thinking a lot about how I have lived my life this far. It has been a depressing week thinking about this topic. There are so many negatives that have been brought up to my memory. I thought about my parents and their influence on me, I thought about the major decisions that I've made for myself at those crucial milestones. Admist that wretchedness which brought me to repentance I still concluded that how blessed I had been - to God be all the glory.

There are many wrongs that I still have to struggle to right. I am aware of how my personal strengths and effort will not be enough to make right those wrongs. Yet His grace will be sufficient for me, for His strength is made perfect in my weaknesses.

I hope that you've had had a meaningful Easter.

--------------------------------------------

Romans 8

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Cemetery Photography

2008-03-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

Today, I helped a friend of mine who is a volunteer for cemetery photography. He receives the requests through the volunteer organization. The photographer's role is to look for the graves and tombstones of deceased family members for people who are staying really far away in other states and cannot come to visit their family graves. Many requests are also for the purpose of establishing family lineage and genealogy.

I helped him today. We is old and his eyesight is not too good. It was my first experience walking around in a graveyard. We just walked over the land that coffins lie below because this is an old crowded grave. I was very afraid for a few reasons: (1) my personal safety of visiting old graveyards - but my friend carried his personal shotgun, as if that was supposed to make me feel safer - in fact, I felt even more afraid!!! (2) my spiritual safety having to walk over dead people and (3) the time it would take to accomplish this task.

The work was interesting and educational. I learnt about how graves were arranged - family clutters, older tombs to newer tombs etc. This particular graveyard had no management office because it was too old and sort of unkept. Newer graves apparently had management office, but then again, they might not be helpful to volunteer cemetery photographers. It took one hour to look for two tombstones in this small cemetery. My friend told me that he would have taken longer without me, given his eyesight and short memory. I believed him.

Here are my photos.

I won't be joining him anymore. You probably know the my reasons.

Flat Praveena

2008-03-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

Emma and Evans had an unexpected visitor this weekend. Her name is Flat Praveena.
Read more about Flat Praveena here:

Flat Praveena's Adventure Journal.

Photography is hard

2008-03-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

It is hard and I have to press on.

Equipment as important as your eye for art. And not forgetting ... ... Photoshop is important too.

At this moment, I have my camera, the D40 with only the 18mm to 55mm lens, coupled with some cheap investments: a monopod and a tripod from Walmart, and a 5-in-1 reflector. So I am a little under-equiped. Yet, I am stubbornly persisting. I need to master my D40 first. I need to be able to set my camera properly: 4 main areas: ISO, White Balance, then f-stop and shutter speed. So far, my main problem area is the White Balance. And I stop short of going out to buy that costly Expo disc. Duh ... ... No point if I don't remember that I got to set it by taking picture of something white first. So go and take a picture of something white before you take the real pictures at every setting! I got to remember that.

My eye - look into the viewfinder! See from the viewfinder. Compose in the viewfinder. If you get what I mean ... ... and well ... ... beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.

So far I have absolutely not resort to Photoshop to make any of my photos better. I shoot in FINE jpeg mode. Let's delay the RAW material management in Photoshop to later. It takes too much time because I love to take a lot of photos. I have not yet purchased the software. I will. Its coming. But first, learn the camera and compose the picture ... ...

Recent albums: Photography Trip to Destin; Sunset at Destin; Gulfarium.

Studio Lighting and Portrait Photography

2008-03-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Studio Lighting and Portrait Photography

Carlos Prieto

I enjoy Carlos class very much. I appreciate Carlos even more than I enjoy his class.

This instructor is clear in his instruction and he diligently brings different equipment to class for us to try out each lesson. I have learnt a lot from him.

My classmates are really fun. There is one gentleman with paparazzi lens. He tells me he shoots sports. There are at least three ladies who are already running their own photography business. And there is a really nice teacher, Ms Gail, who uses the same camera as me. We compare pictures and help each other out on our camera settings.

I am not that great at portrait photography. A few down sides: (1) This is my VERY first in studio lighting and photography; (2) I have not done anything beyond children photography!; and (3) I am a short Asian. I am taking pictures of the subjects either at eye level - thank God so far they've not been very tall either. If any one of them had been taller, I think I would have had great difficulty - I need to pull a chair.

My classes have not ended. I am enjoying this very much. Here are my assignments:

#1 Window and Outdoor Light Assignment

#2 Studio Photography Using Hot Lights and at ISO400

#3 Studio Photography Using Electronic Lights and at ISO200

#4 Assignment Using Reflectors

Look out for more updates on what I did in this class.

Exploring Photographic Styles

2008-03-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

Exploring Photographic Styles

Joy Blaylock

I've completed the six lessons on exploring photographic styles. The instructor gave us assignments to take various types of pictures in order for us to discover our individual photographic styles.

I've yet to determine my personal photographic style ... ... at least not for portraiture.

I know that my photography purposes are for recording events in my personal life, and for documenting my children's growth stages.

Here are my submissions for this class:

#1 Property Photography

#2 Portraiture

#3 Self Portrait

#4a Understanding and communicating with subject in Portraiture - Kelly Harrell

#4b Miniatures

#5 Water Feature

#6 Personal Style - Personal Favourite Pictures

Enjoy.

A Million Dollar Picture

2008-03-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

Camera, Light, Film or Digital I

Instructor: Walter Bower

I've completed 7 classes and I've learnt a lot from this instructor. He has given me specific comments on my pictures and I am glad I've not bought any accessories before I attended his class because now I know what to look out for.

The greatest benefit I've received from this class is familiarisation with my own camera the D40. In addition, as I had mentioned, I received comments for my improvement. Which led to me taking this picture of my daughter.

At the Calagaz tour, colleagues commented that the picture I had taken of Emma is a Million Dollar Picture. Americans can be very encouraging. Nevertheless, I've come a long way since I first started.

Below is the list of assignments I had done with Walter. They are a record of my learning. The are definitely not a record of my accomplishments. I intend to keep a record of these pictures so that in future, when I look back - I will laugh at how badly I had taken and how much I have improved.

Indulge me:

#1 Introduction to Light Lighting

#2 Studio Tour

#3 Calagaz Tour and My Million Dollar Picture

Stay tuned.

Yum yum pineapple tarts

2008-02-27T13:08:00.000-08:00

We would like to thank all our friends from all over who have bought our pineapple tarts. They are located in Mobile, Daphne, Gulf Shores, San Hosea, Milpitas, Littleton - places far and near. Not forgetting all our old customers in Singapore. We will be bringing back Iris Pastries back real soon ... ...

Check out my pineapple tart photos uploaded to http://www.flickr.com/photos/irispastries.

Of busy-ness with Pineapple Tarts and Nikon Photography

2008-02-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

Hello friends who are trying to keep up with what's been going on in my life and find many empty gaps of silent days ... ...

Its been wretched busy for me.

OK first its because I started a small business with my mother-in-law for fun. We started selling pineapple tarts to Singaporeans staying in the United States. If you are residing in North America and would like to order them, go to the temporary website for our business: Iris Pastries.

Then of course there's the growing love relationship with my Nikon. This love affair is definitely NOT one which is a love at first sight. Handling the digital SLR is a technical challenge. I am learning a lot of things that I wish I could share in this blog but I think that task will be very difficult. I will be putting up my portfolio in pdf - my favorite media - because it allows you to view a lot of pictures with very fast download. I will also include lessons learnt with each assignment that I had submitted. The learning road is long and tedious. Frankly there were moments that I felt that maybe I should give up ... ... but press on I will. Learning my camera is eating into the time that I should be allocating to my curtain crochet deadline but I hope it is well worth it and will reap its benefits in future.

Stay in touch with me to see my not-so-good photography portfolios coming up. I am hoping that over the years I will see how my photos have improved through archiving them on this blogsite.

Love ya'all friends.

Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama

2008-02-04T18:41:00.001-08:00

Mardi Gras began in Mobile, Alabama in the United States. No doubt New Orleans made it big, but in Mobile is where you will find great fun for families.

This is my third Mardi Gras. Can't believe I've stayed that long in the United States. I hope this time next year, I will be back in Singapore for good.

Nevertheless, enjoy Mardi Gras taken by my D40. The previous year's pictures were taken by my Panasonix Lumix F8.

Mardi Gras 2008
Mardi Gras 2007

My new hobby

2008-01-14T18:02:00.000-08:00

My new equipment has been causing me a lot of heartache. There are good photos and there are many bad photos. And I am still learning about my new lover, my Nikon D40 - a very modest equipment. An entry level equipment yet so much in such a small camera ... ...

There are already times when I tell myself that if i fail in this, I should just go back to the PHD cameras. PHD - "press here dummy!"

I will be starting the following classes soon:

I. Camera, Light, Film or Digital I

II. Exploring Photography Style

III. Studio Lighting and Portrait Photography

Wish me luck.

2008 New Year Resolutions

2008-01-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

1. Press on with my homeschooling program for my children. I vow to be more purposeful and driven. (Notice my language!)

2. Improve on my photography skills. A few courses that I have enrolled in are scheduled to start next week! I am so excited.

3. Complete my project to create a family heirloom: crochet the curtains of my Singapore home. Yea i know what's in your mind - darn ambitious! I know. But I am certain I could do this. I am already 1/3 done. I plan to complete this by first week April. Wish me luck.

4. Lose weight. (This has been on my list for at least 10 years.)

Tell me yours!

Stone Mountain Georgia

2007-12-28T13:47:00.000-08:00

We just came back from a memorable holiday to the Stone Mountain, near Atlanta Georgia. The picture above is of the Stone Mountain Lake.

See our photos with Adobe Reader at 2007_12_StoneMountain.pdf

Regards,

A Winter Psalm for Emma

2007-12-20T21:44:00.000-08:00

Psalm 147

1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;
11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,
13 for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.
14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.

Christmas in my neighbourhood

2007-12-17T20:58:00.001-08:00

This is my neighbourhood during Christmas. Cool right? Better than Orchard Road lights in December!

Neighbourhood Christmas Lights

You might be wondering if my house' photo is not in the album ... ... sad to say, I did not do much decorations. Because it takes a lot of investment to buy all the lights and deco and I can't re-use it for too many years since our stay here is only for a few years. Can't bring them lights back to Singapore too because of different voltage.

Merry Christmas 2007

2007-12-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

Dear family and friends,

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas with blessings to receive and give for the whole year through.

Love,

Judy

Halloween 2007

2007-11-01T23:32:00.000-07:00

Evans the Fire Fighter

OK friends, finally I've completed the three albums on our Halloween this year. It had been so eventful. Too eventful!!!

Click on the links at the end of each of the following below to see the album. I hope you enjoy the photos.

1) 30 Oct 07 - It started with a parade held in Emma's preschool: Preschool Parade

2) 31 Oct 07 - Halloween Gathering at Auntie Justine's House: Halloween Gathering

3) 31 Oct 07 - Halloween Trunk and Treat: Trunk and Treating

Enjoy the photos!

With Love ... ...

Its been a long long time ... ...

2007-10-31T06:35:00.000-07:00

Halloween Preview: Emma as Hello Kitty Cowgirl.

Hi, its been sometime since I've added to my blog - more than a month!

Today is Halloween, and I hope to upload my PDF album of halloween as well as other albums since September onto my website http://www.judyemily.com/ soon ... ... hopefully. Because since September's mooncake festival, I've had so much happening to me:

1) My friends Ngin Hoon and Theresa came to visit me in Mobile! Fancy travelling all 33 hours just to come and bless me. It was truly a wonderful and amazing time of fellowship. I have already created a photo album of their visit. You can access it here: The Adventures of Sisters Theresa Yong and Beh Ngin Hoon (6-12 Oct 07)

2) We visited a cornfield maze. You must see the pictures. It was: "An a-maizing adventure".

There were other events too like tai-tai lunches, children's birthday gatherings etc etc.

Not to mention a lot of housekeeping. Somehow the month of October was a major cleaning month for me. I don't think you want any details of this ... ... before and after pictures? Nah .... ..... too gross.

Ok, I'll keep you posted ... ... especially on Halloween ... ... I am so excited.

Orientation to Lantern & Mooncake Festival

2007-09-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

Today during tea time, I served my children red bean mooncake. They both loved it very much.

Emma and Evans each has two lanterns. The battery operated noisy Hello Kitty and Helicopter; and the cellophane bird and fish. For safety reasons, I let them put flash lights in place of candles in the cellophane lanterns. Click here to see: our Indoor Pajamas Party Lantern Fun pictures.

Outside, a tropical depression has been brewing for two days at the Gulfport area to the east of us. It developed outside the coastline yesterday and I was afraid that it might become a hurricane. I've been following the hourly weather reports on TV. Nothing to worry about now. The tropical storm warning has been stepped down. The depression which was at 35 mph, has reduced to 30 mph when it hit land between Destin and Pensacola. Tonight, it will pass Mobile around midnight. We are expecting heavy rains that will provide a good night's sleep. I trust that our much anticipated Lantern Festival Gathering tomorrow will not be affected.

As the weather outside anticipates rain, inside the house our lights are out. The kids are playing with their lanterns. Click here to view our VERY DARK VIDEOS at my youtube.

Community Helpers

2007-09-09T21:05:00.000-07:00

First things first. Why have I been so quiet? We went to Houston for the Labour Day long weekend. The kids were down with the flu virus for more than a week. They probably caught it at the Houston Space Center.

On 2 October, Emma has to choose either to be doctor or nurse on the day when their teacher will be teaching about doctors and nurses. She chose to dress up as a nurse for that day.

I bought the two sets of Fire Fighter and Nurse outfits from Toys R Us. They were by Imaginarium. The size says it will fit children from age 3 to 7. Looks like its just fitting for my two kids ... ... and I was hoping the costumes would be big enough to go a long way ... ...

Evans says he wants to wear the Fire Fighter outfit for Halloween ... ... Nearly every young American boy wants to grow up to be a fire fighter - to them, it is an admirable job. Fire fighters are heroes. They risk their lives to save others. Evans and Emma are not exempt from having such an opinion. Partly its because I've been playing so many children's documentaries on fire fighters to them. I found these good quality, educational and interesting videos at the local library and rental is free.

In general, I've also heard that young Singaporeans echo their parents' aspirations for them - they want to grow up to be doctors or lawyers or businessmen. Make your own conclusions.

We've yet to decide on Emma's Halloween costume ... ... I will update soon.

More photos of them in these costumes are in this link: Community Helpers.

New pest - spiders

2007-08-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

There seems to be spiders appearing frequently enough in my home - especially the master bedroom.

I don't know why but I am getting a wee bit tired of running after and keeping pests away from my home.

Research on the internet recommends frequent vacuuming, especially of dark corners and turning over clothes in the wardrobe frequently - particularly those out of season clothes so that spiders don't get comfortable there.

In addition to the above - which has left me really weary today with all the cleaning and dusting (which I do frequently anyway!!!) I have bought the PEST OFFense . Will let you know if it works ... ... when it arrives from Amazon and after I've tried it out:

First Week at School

2007-08-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it. I've been so busy. Emma started her first week of school last week. The week was packed with ferrying activities by mommy dearest. Twice a week of preschool plus two hours of dance class, plus one hour of Chinese class, plus one hour of music. I am fast reverting back to the 'kia-su' Singaporean mother ... ... sigh ... ...

Emma continues two other days of homeschooling with me, Evans does not go to school but is homeschooled. He attends Chinese class and music with Emma.

Soup Stock Recipe for Nutritional Food for Young Children

2007-08-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

I must share this.

Previously, as Singaporean caught up in the rat race - a person who works spends about 10 hours a day in the office - I barely got time to cook. And I don't have to because hawker centres and food outlets, restaurants basically satisfied my needs for delicious food. Furthermore, I've got two amazing mothers (mother and mother-in-law) who reign in the kitchen and who happily provided the food for every gathering that I would organise leaving me to look into the other details of entertainment.

To cut the long story short - I can't cook.

I know many of you ladies and gentlemen out there CAN cook and probably LOVES to cook. But I am sharing this recipe for those of you who are like me. People who have no clue at all what they can do to survive a week without help and truly have a desire to prepare nutritional food for their children.

I learnt how to make soup for my children from my mother-in-law and this recipe is a combination of that learning and reading various recipes online. It is also the result of trying out something that my children like.

Here it is: Making Nutritional Soup Stock

Eulogy to my Third Uncle

2007-08-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

My mother’s elder brother, the third in the family of six children
My childhood fond memories of him and his wife, my Third Auntie

He was just here: full of life, his tall big stature has always been his remarkable physical trait
Yet in a flash, he left us … … leaving with us with merely memories … …

Oh the pain, oh the loss, to know that I’ve missed the opportunity to tell him what he meant to me.

As a young and timid child, I was fascinated with Uncle Kok’s stories
He always tried to entertain me and my sisters with his story-telling
He and his family – his wife and children – would stay in my parents’ humble home every time they visited us in Singapore
I remembered also the fancy restaurants that we would all go to eat in while they were here.

In my teenage years my family stayed in his uptown apartment along Orchard Road
My Third Uncle took care of us when my parents were going through difficulties
Although as a teen I had no direct communication with my Uncle
I knew that he cared by giving us a protective shield to our lives.

The last time I met him was in my parents’ home at Merlimau
Once again, he told us stories – interesting ones of his adventures with his business partners and with the authorities
All I did was laugh meekly, what could I add to these conversations with my limited life experiences.

It is not common in Chinese families for the younger generation to express what they feel to the older generation.

Though I could not now know
If I would ever have the courage to tell him how I feel if he were still here … …

I know one thing for sure. He lived his life not just for himself and his own family.
He lived his life for his extended family too.
Indeed he had lived a meaningful life while he was here.

He had a part to play in whatever I am today.

I am proud that I had an uncle like him.

Damn ... ... the neck-and-shoulder ache!

2007-08-04T17:39:00.000-07:00

Hi, I had been missing from blogging because of a bad recurring neck-and-shoulder ache.
So I tried to keep the pain away by spending less time on the computer and the internet.

During the last three weeks of my pain, I had ... ...

(1) Gone to an excellent massage therapist once .... .... it cost me a bomb and I am unlikely to return until my pocket recovers from the damages. You see, now I am an incomeless stay-home mummy and spending US60 on a massage, nomatter how good it is, is not a sustainable healing method.

(2) Gone to the library to borrow a DVD titled "Healing Yoga for Aches and Pains" produced and directed by Andrea Ambandos. This video is excellent. It helped a lot.

(3) Borrowed and used a hook-shaped stick - made in Taiwan. This item is also VERY GOOD. I use the end to put pressure on the painful muscle. Whilst placing pressure on the painful area, I also do some light shoulder rotating exercise. Viola! it works wonders. Maybe I should buy one for myself ... ... if they sell it on eBay hehehe

(4) Corrected my sleeping posture by using a u-shaped travel pillow. I think i tend to heighten my shoulders towards my face as I curl up to sleep on my side. The muscle fixation could have caused the shoulder-and-neck ache. The u-shaped pillow helped a lot. I know this because now when I wake up in the morning, there is no longer a sharp stinging pain when I try to get upright from the lying down position.

(5) Made sure I used the kitchen table to work on my computer rather than the children's table ... ... hehehe yes I had been doing that. And made sure that I don't spend more than one hour at a stretch, on the computer.

Exercise and change of lifestyle habits are the best to overcome chronic shoulder and neck aches. But I still have it ... ... slightly ... ... it comes with the job of being a stay-home mum because I carry the kids often and lug the heavy vacuum cleaner all around the home as I try to maintain it at livable standards.

By the way ... ... I found out that most adults between the age of 20 to 40 suffer from neck and shoulder aches ... ... we are not alone!

Thomas The Tank Engine

2007-07-24T17:35:00.000-07:00

Evans spends many hours of fun with his Thomas the Train set. He loves the moving battery operated locomotives but the other wooden engines are fun too. He just moves them around with his fingers.

I invested a little time to source for an economical ensemble for him. The carpet was a mere USD30 (when the ideal type that i wanted would have cost me USD150!). This cheaper one would do for temporary play. It won't last very long because of its make but it will do.

Items which I bought new: a basic wooden rail set from IKEA (cheap) but it comprised enough tracks just to make a figure 8; Thomas & his coaches Annie and Clarabel; Neville and Emily. Walmart seems to have the best price for these battery operated plastic train engines. I will be adding Bertie the bus - a must - real soon ... ... perhaps by the end of this week. Checked out prices already - best price from Toys R Us.

The train station, the fire station and most of the tracks that you see in the video are bought from a second hand children's outlet. The used set is in really good condition costing me a mere USD84 when an entirely new set would be a damage of at least USD200.

Buying good quality second hand items is a virtue, that I lament, absent in Singapore. Just look at the ensemble created for Evans. Enough to give him hours of imagination and fun without requiring it to be in mint condition.

Train sets are good for children as they spend hours at it, talking to their engines and imagining engines in races, accidents and doing really useful work.

Weblinks: See Evans' album of "Thomas and Friends" as well as videos of his engines at Youtube and Multiply.

You'll be a Man, my son!

2007-07-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

If
Written by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings -- nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run --
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!

Managing our children's interest in computer and the internet

2007-07-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Recently, I read with interest on my friend's blog about computer games addiction in children.

Yes I had encountered such situations before while I was teaching at the polytechnic. Students who would spend hours on the computer playing games.

To go straight to the point without long discourse about the merits and demerits of allowing children to play computer/lan/internet games. It is a reality of the 21st century - computers, internet and related technologies - we just have to face it and manage it.

I would recommend as follows:

1. Regard computer gaming as you would with piano practice. The child has timetabled minutes per day where he or she can engage in computer games or computer/internet related activities.
This ensures that your child does not grow up ignorant of technology and its advances. A timetable also ensures that your child has a balance of indoor and outdoor activities, is sporty and active and able to socialise and interact with others.

2. Place the computer in a public place at home. I cannot emphasize this more. Most parents give their children a notebook and the child is in his room playing games for hours at end without parents or care-givers realising it.
There are a few advantages of placing the desktop - preferably - in a public place. Firstly, the parents and caregivers are aware of the length of time the child spends on the computer. Secondly, parents and caregivers are also able to check that the child is engaged in proper family friendly websites.

3. Talk to your children about the advantages and disadvantages of the computer games and the internet. There are also certain ettiquette one should maintain on the internet eg not revealling too much about oneself and to be wary of persons who are out to do harm to others.

OK ... ... i am still thinking about this issue. Will blog more about it later ... ..

Why I blog?

2007-07-16T22:02:00.001-07:00

Dear friends, you probably are visiting my blog because I sent you a personal email to invite you here.

The purpose of me blogging is firstly to keep family and close friends in Singapore updated about what's been happening in my life in the USA.

I do not blog about everything but I do try to blog about things that happen that matter in my life.

After much thought and consideration about blogging, and having personally done it ... ... I have come to the conclusion that, for me blogging on this particular blogspot is similar to keeping albums.

My father used to keep albums for me and my sisters, charting our growth, capturing moments of us growing up, especially happy ones. He used to share those albums with close friends and family that came by our home. Today, being retired, he flips through them often ... ... he flips through them most. I love those old albums - really old you know; covered with dust and you may find one or two silver fishes in some of them. I do look into them to recover memories of my childhood - some of which are fond, and some of which i wish he had taken better pictures of me!

I think this blogspot of mine will accumulate to become like those old albums. The old albums about me are stored in boxes in the storeroom of my parents' abode. This blogspot of mine will be stored in cyberspace in the cyber-storeroom of my cyber-abode: truly "My Cyber Cerebral Matrix": in cyberspace, my memories that make up the matrix of my mind.

I named my blogspot "My Cyber Cerebral Matrix" in May 07 but only today, after two months of blogging and considering its merits ... ..., I've come to realize the prophetic meaning of my own naming of the site.

So friends, I'd love to have you visit and browse my blog, even comment on its contents. At the end of the day, it will be me in my golden years who will be found enjoying reminiscing in it ... ...

Emma enjoys her dance class!

2007-07-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

Last i wondered "to dance or not to dance".

After witnessing for myself the results of 8 lessons (4 weeks) of summer preschool dance class, i think i should let Emma continue in tumbling and dance this fall. The reason is simple - she absolutely enjoys it!

I am going to try to upload more of videos on www.youtube.com/user/judyemily - videos that i took from the one-way mirror at the dance school.

Get Rid of Those Flies! [ III ]

2007-07-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sigh ... flies come into your home with a vengence when your home is warm and has water source.

Being the tightwad that I am in home management, I have found out that it is not a good idea to consolidate in one room with a single unit air-conditioner to save electricity. Because that is exactly what I have been doing - contain my small family of me and two toddlers in the master bedroom where we play and learn together all day long since the beginning of summer.

A friend of mine told me today that there are flies in my home because my house is too warm, and therefore attractive to flies. How true.

I knew this was true because just in the last weekend, I had kept the entire house air-conditioned over the weekend because the weather was too warm and we need the house cool for some visiting friends. And viola! Indeed the house was miraculously cleared of flies. Yes, there were still flies here and there, but not in the dozens, as was the case before.

So gone is my plan to save energy for the summer by NOT air-conditioning the house 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

It looks like I would have to switch on the central air-conditioning despite the fact that most of it would be wasted as we do not occupy all the spaces in our home.

To dance or not to dance ... ... that is the question.

2007-06-29T23:01:00.000-07:00

Emma began preschool summer dance class. She loves it.

I did not take dance as a child so I am still uncertain about its benefits for the overall development of a child.

I am fully convinced of the program that I was put into as a child - classical piano and competitive swimming. Although I did not grow up to be a pianist performer nor swimming champion, the training, discipline and creative aspirations that came along with those lessons have helped develop an all round education for me for a good 10 years of my childhood.

But I am not closed to the idea of dance. Afterall, it combines music and physical challenge. Not baring the fact that Emma will still choose an instrument to learn ... ... though I am not really keen on swimming (seems to do more harm to girls in the area of skin and hair) for her.

I will read some books about this and we will talk about it ... ... later ... ... until then will I make up my mind for her to dance or not to dance ... ... seriously. For now, its just for fun and she loves it.

Pest? Wild Backyard Rabbits

2007-06-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

Flies are not the only uninvited guests in my home.

These photos were take of wild rabbits who came to play ... ... or stay? in my backyard this summer.

We neither tried to get rid of them nor specially welcome them by offering food other than grass in abundance in our backyard.

Read more about wild backyard rabbits at http://www.backyardnature.net/rabbits.htm.

Why Volunteer?

2007-06-28T20:45:00.000-07:00

I find it very interesting that in this material, go-getting world, many people really no longer consider volunteering a virtue.

Someone actually asked me, why do I copyedit for free? To this person, perhaps one would volunteer when one does not need money anymore.

To be frank, I am still in need of money. Money is never enough. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth and I am still learning to be a wise steward of whatever I have in order that I may support my parents, provide for my children and their future (yea – I am the sandwiched generation) and at the same time, I may be able to enjoy my worldly hobbies, not forgetting hopefully there will be some money left for retirement. Money is always not enough. Yet I volunteer.

My first reaction to the question was “am I stupid?”; or is it I am just plain useless and could not effectively market my talent and skills for repayment?

After much self searching, I am convinced that stupidity is not the reason why I incline towards volunteering. Perhaps I have a bit of the latter – I did not spend enough time to establish a plan where my talents and skills can be offered in exchange for cash.

I have a natural inclination to offer my help or any assistance that I may render to others without asking for repayment. Wait a minute… … don’t be put off. Please just bear with me and not think that I am bragging. If you look at the other side of the coin, the reality is that it does not come to me easily to discuss about money and how much I should be paid or what could be done in return for me if I were to do something for another.

However, all things being said, a sincere and nice “thank you” would be much appreciated.

Back to why I volunteer … … I find it a joy to be able to contribute to what others are doing, to encourage them in their good works and to see their result made fuller or better just by that little help that they received from me.

In all due respect, the authors whom I volunteer to copyedit for, are the real stars. Their books and the manner of story telling are their own individual talent.

In my experience of copyediting, I’ve acquired knowledge in new areas; I’ve met writers seeking to realize their aspirations; I’ve encountered many other people like me, who are willing to copyedit for free. It gives me some confidence that there are still many nice people around. I am encouraged to strive towards realizing my own aspirations. There are people who are willing to help.

While I volunteer receiving no monetary reward in return, I must admit that with all the organizations I’ve worked with, recognition is never lacking. This is much appreciated.

Do volunteer. Even if professionally you charge a client a lot for the talent or skill you have for their use, it works well for your soul, your character and your person to allow someone in need to benefit from that talent or skill of yours for free.

Copyediting The Firefighter Story

2007-06-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

I’ve been copyediting 'The Firefighter Story' on and off for several months now. Until recently, I had only assisted to edit four chapters but I committed to assist to read through the entire book once through and give my comments about it.

Today, I just want to say that the writing and production of 'The Firefighter Story' is an amazing process. This is an entire PR case study at hand: the editing process for the book is a PR exercise; a publicity channel and an educational platform. Why do I say so … …

Copyeditors are all volunteers. We are not paid at all for the work that we do for giving comments and making improvements to 'The Firefighter Story'. Why we do it is another story to be blogged about on another day … … Yet the fact is that we do it, and are bought over by the entire objective of 'The Firefighter Story' – that is the amazing aspect I want to think aloud today.

I for one have been totally won over by the central theme of 'The Firefighter Story'. Essentially the purpose of the book is to show the importance of preserving the environment. The story tells us that everyone of us can contribute to environmental conservation by becoming involved either very actively if we are inclined in that manner, or we may volunteer often enough, for example annually through a tree planting day. Whichever way it is, it does not matter because the book is non-judgmental about it. It is a wonderfully written story that describes the Pine Barrens in NY – it is clear that the authors are familiar with preserving the Pine Barrens … … but it does not matter the specific location because the reader can relate to it in a universal way – through the eyes of a group of teenagers in their context of active community involvement and their own web of relationships.

Back to the copyediting exercise: There are over fifty volunteer editors to the book. All these fifty editors would become the first evangelists of the central theme that this book would be selling. And since it is indeed the purpose of the authors, and Quality Parks (the non-profit organization that the book idea spawned from), to “spread” their goal for environmental conservation, then at the stage of book creation, they have achieved it. Imagine the wide net they have cast from this pool of editors to promote their idea.

And if this group of fifty editors would each undertake to buy over some copies of the book – as they are being acknowledged and recognized in the book – either to keep, to give away as gifts or to re-sell them at a profit … … whatever it is, it has spurned a group of highly potential first group of customers. What an effective and creative way for a non-profit organization to undertake a project, underwrite a small percentage of its production, and hopefully (this is not yet guaranteed) the book can sell well enough to become a money generating project for the organization to be able to invest in the real environmental conservation project, which in this case is the conservation of the NY Pine Barrens.

I have no objections to this and just as long as there are people out there who are willing to volunteer, the production process of this book can see positive results.

Why are people willing to volunteer, to put in time and effort to assist in editing a book without being paid, and who may end up having to come up with the money to buy at least one copy of the book that they have assisted to produce? My thoughts coming up later … … on this … … when I find the time to write down what I think after I have done my real work – which is to attend to my two young children … …

The Firefighter Story

2007-06-19T22:52:00.001-07:00

In March this year, I came across Quality Parks (QP) while I was registering myself for volunteering opportunities at http://www.volunteersmatch.org/. I was actually looking through VolunteersMatch for opportunities to assist in copyediting.

Since becoming involved with QPs’ The Firefighter Story, I have come to love the book which I had been assisting to edit. It is an extremely positive book. With its target readership being teens from aged eleven, the book has a lot to offer in terms of role modeling, leadership and learning about environmental protection.

Briefly, the book is about five youths, Sandy, Tina, Kim, Jim and Billy and their interest in fire fighting. It’s a story about how they became fire fighters. The book is an interesting read with the various plots and sub-plots in the book covering friendship, love and challenges as they live their happy youthful lives, deal with relational issues and learn professional fire fighting skills. They are each maturing to find their individual identities.

I am looking forward to the book being published to see the litmus test of the public’s response towards the book.

Get Rid of Those Flies! [ II ]

2007-06-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

Verdict:

1. Fly swat works the best to get to the resting fly. Full 5 stars! *****

2. Fly sticky paper is an all winner. Cheap and good. Just hang it up for a few days and flies will unknowingly fly into it. Each can trap about 50 flies in 2 nights - if there are that many flies in your home. Hang them up against a window because flies will fly towards the light. Full 5 stars! *****

3. Electric fly swat that looks like a racket: well, you got to be able to swing it towards the fly to get it. The zap sounds creates a sense of satisfaction tho. 3 out of 5 stars ***

4. Disposable fly trap: excellent for the outdoors but it did not trap as many flies as I had expected even tho i placed it above the garbage bin. 3 out of 5 stars ***

5. Removing source of problem is the key. After the waste company removed our week long garbage yesterday (containing the one bag of decomposed waste), the fly population has greated reduced: less than a handful of new flies in my home.

6. Maintaining a high quality of hygiene level during the hot summer months is the key to preventing a fly problem. So line those garbage bags with newspapers to absorb moisture to ensure that waste materials do not rot in a week ... ...

That's the end to my fly discourse! Ha ha ha ... ...

Get Rid of Those Flies! [ I ]

2007-06-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

Its hot here! Hurricane season, hot and humid summer in Mobile. Since yesterday, out of no-where, my house became infested with flies. Tens of them flying around the kitchen and the living room. I have been paranoid especially when I prepare food for my children. We managed to successfully only swat a few of them dead with the fly swatter ... ...

This morning, I found the source of the problem - maggots on decaying food in my junk bin inside my garage! I immediately treated that bag of junk and placed it in the garbage bin which is outside my house. This weekend, I would have to get my husband to clean the garbage bin... ... yikes!

But still, the problem of those flies already in my house exist. My three year old son had some good wacking exercise. He swatted about ten flies total today. I swatted about ten flies too. Still there are more flies in the house. I called Home Depot and they confirmed that they had some sticky fly tape. I quickly went out to buy a few rolls of it.

So here I am, at 3pm and the status after one-and-a-half days of fly swatting ... ...

1) Ensure hygenic handling of garbage. Here in USA, they only take your garbage once a week ... ... this is one of the things that we take for granted in Singapore when the garbage collector comes everyday.

2) The old fashioned hand swatter works ... ... after the flies are too tired of flying around ... ... my swatter broker from too much swatting so now i have turned to using a towel - works just fine like a swatter. But this method would not work if the flies are still energetic and fly fast and furious. [20 flies dead] I will be going out to get a few replacements tomorrow. They cost less than $1 each at the Dollar Tree.

3) The "Victor Fly Catcher" ($1.29 for 4 rolls) that I got from Home Depot leaves much to be desired. I've got four tubes hanging since 1030 this morning and it has only managed to trap 1 fly. [only one fly stuck] Maybe I should go and return the other un-opened pack of 4 to Home Depot.

4) "Sterling Rescue Disposable Fly Trap" ($4.98 per trap) has also been hanging in my garage outside the kitchen door since this morning with zero flies trapped in it. I was told to hang this outside the door that we usually open to trap flies before it can enter my home. [zero flies trapped] I will give this a few more days to work and update later on its effectiveness.

5) Due to my frustration last night, I ordered the electronic bug zapper (the cheapest one on ebay at $9.99 & free shipment) that looks like a racket. I hope this would compliment the hand swat and effectively remove more flies from my home. I will also update later on its effectiveness. Tomorrow, I better remember to get those D batteries ready to be used when my bug zapper arrives.

6) Just as I was writing this blog, I went to check and seal thin openings at the corner ends of the window netting edges just to make sure that no new flies enter my home.

Yes I am that paranoid! How can you not be when you are home, in the kitchen preparing food for your toddlers three times a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner. You really would worry about contamination from flies... ... deadly.

We'll catch up again soon on those fly traps ... ...

Pirates of the Caribbean 3 - At World's End

2007-05-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

2 hours 45 mins of pure entertainment: story was full of treachery! And the creativity of the visual effects as well as little details to fill the movie! totally wonderful! humour in every corner. i would have loved to be an Elizabeth Swan ... ... and would love Will Turner ... ... but no, i am more drawn to Jack Sparrow! Jack Sparrow indeed... ... how did he do it?

The story is the true winner: (1) Jack Sparrow caught in the world in-between the living and the dead, which is Davy Jones’ locker; (2) Jack Sparrow with split/multiple personalities …. ha ha ha that is a good one; (3) the turning of the vessel to escape Davy Jones’ locker; (4) Davy Jones love story with Calypso; (5) the meeting of the Brethren of the Coast with the various caricatures of pirates – Sao Feng (Elizabeth Swan), Jack Sparrow, Barbossa, Mistress Ching, five other captains, ; (6) Cutler Beckett possessing the heart of Davy Jones thus controlling the pirate for his ends; (7) the Flying Dutchman must have a captain whose heart will be removed from him, and not only that the Flying Dutchman must do its work of ferrying the dead from the world of the living into the dead and this captain can only meet with his lover once in every ten years … … the hint of an upcoming sequel … …

The visual scenes are amazing. Some of the memorable ones include (1) multitude of white crabs rolling the Black Pearl into the sea; (2) the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman, warring within the cyclical spin of the typhoon, (3) the steep waterfall into Davy Jones’ locker, and much more

The A+++ script full of humor, intelligence and quotable quotes.

The Pirates of the Caribbean put Singapore into the map of movie goers everywhere in the world. Hey, Singapore is NOT somewhere in China ok. It is a tiny little island in Southeast Asia!

Sao Feng, you are the man.

Past, Present and Future

2007-05-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

Gail Lumet Buckley

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future.

Global Warming Is Real

2007-05-21T22:31:00.001-07:00

We are about half a century away from being ecologically and economically bankrupt because of global warming

-Andrew Simms, quoted in "Demand for 'Kyoto tax' on the US," BBC News, 6 Dec 03

I never used to think much about global warming but now I do. I think that it is the responsibility of every person living on earth to do whatever he or she can in order to stop global warming. The following are some actions I am going to take:

· Turn off lights and appliances when they are not needed;

· Have a shower instead of a bath;

· Use fluorescent light;

· Try to drive less … … (This is going to be tough for me because its really hard here in Mobile Alabama.)

· Prevent wastage and recycle whatever I can;

· Use less hot water;

· Adjust my thermostat to 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer;

· Plant plants and trees;

· Stay informed. The Earth 911 Web site is a good reference and start.

Just try it.

I finally bought a digital piano

2007-05-20T22:26:00.001-07:00

Yea ... ... after months of deliberation ... ... we finally got a Yamaha P140 Digital Piano. Actually I did not buy it. My husband bought it for me! Wonderful! It has been fun trying out today. My skills are very rusty with years of not playing the piano. Thank God I still have some basics. I enjoy playing by ear and am pleased that this piano can transpose for me. WOW since I can play most songs in the C major, I can play any song now on the right pitch! But I think there may be some problems as the music produced would not sound like the music that is in my mind - I hope I did not lose my perfect pitch with all these years of separation from my instrument. Career and motherhood are the two evils of a dedicated musician's life. Sigh ... .... but that is the way it is for most workaholic, career rat race Singaporeans. I hope my reunion with my old buddy, the piano, will begin an exciting new chapter in our lives.

Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.

Emma's Card

2007-05-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Emma is always very excited to create her own book … … but at 4 and a half, her writing is not perfect so mummy has to pen her cover page and interview her on her version of the Cinderella story.

The entire project was initiated by her. Details right down to the stickers used; the choice of colours; and the words she had used to express her feelings were her own.

This book/card was written and completed on Monday, 14 May. But it was put into the mail box only on Friday, 18 May … … with sincere apologies from the ever procrastinating mummy.

And so the story and card goes this way … …

Page 1: The Story of Cinderella according to Emma. Penned by mummy, except for Emma's name, which she wrote herself.

Page 2: (dictated by Emma) "Once upon a time, there is a girl name Cinderella. She has a bad step mother and very bad step sisters. She has a good fairy god mother with a wand. Cinderella went to a party to dance with a prince. When the clock struck twelve, Cinderella rush home. She left her glass slipper behind." [Notice the slipper sticker.]

Page 3: See book/card. The exclamation mark is Emma's favourite punctuation!

Page 4: Emma's colouring. [Notice again, the slipper sticker.]

Page 5: Emma's colouring. [Notice the heart drawn by Emma to represent Cinderella falling in love with the Prince.]

Page 6: See book/card. Hehe ... ... it was the first time that Emma wrote the Chinese words gong-gong. Mummy wrote on a separate piece of paper for her to copy it onto her "book". Since mummy verbally spelt Emma's words for her, it was decided by mummy that po-po in Chinese may not be manageable by her at this stage. And mummy was annoyed that Emma had left too much space between po-po. The girl exclaimed that "its ok mummy" and she added dots in-between ... ... I think she mentally noted my preference for adding dots when I write ... ...

Page 7: Emma is specially "circled" with a heart shape ... ... mummy is not aware of the reason why she did that ... ...

Page 8: [Its been one-and-a-half hours since we've been at this book/card and mummy is getting impatient.] Emma signs off her name and her brother's name [notice the mirrored letter 'a' - a common writing mistake Emma makes]. The impatient mum pens the date and the word "From" to complete the entire project.

Family Day

2007-05-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Today Chelsea won the FA Cup Finals against MU!

Photo taken at the Greater Gulf States Fairgrounds during MAE's Family Day.