All American Girl

One of my favourite sitcoms in the 90s.

B.D. Wong (1995): funny; (2005): too serious.

I Am The One That I Want

I was running late yesterday for a dinner that was scheduled to start at 7.30pm, so I tied up my hair in a bun hoping to look neater. Well, as expected ... I always hoped that I could look like the cherubic Devon Aoki but it turned out under the harsh light I looked like Amy Hill, the lady who played the wise, zany GRANDMA in the mid-90s sitcom: "All American Girl".

Sigh, nevermind ... If I can't change how I look, at least I can change the way I look at myself ;-)

Could you believe it!? - I had a crazy crush on B.D. Wong, who played Margaret Cho's medical student brother, when I followed the sitcom.

Not Good To Eat

Too cute to eat. I'd rather starve!

One Fine Day

One day I will own a cafe that sells all kinds of pancakes, and this will be the mug design that you will see in my cafe! Wow, I am such a productive dreamer hehe ...

Gender Equality

Being single, the value-added cost is men would assume you are hitting on them when you are friendly (even when you are not necessarily very friendly).

Caution: for the record, just in case if some of you are doubtful, the s.t.u.p.i.d. guy mentioned in today's posting is not the economics-maths craz guy (read: Demi-Kutcher Influence).

When I am friendly to a woman friend, they usually will like me more and a few times in my case, the younger female friends even grow to idolise me. Not even once in my case that those female friends would think I am hitting on them or doubt my good intentions.

When I am friendly to a man friend (as I said, not over friendly), I always seem to invite wrong responses. Recently, a friend that I've known for about 2 years is keeping a distance. It's not that I am upset over him, I am just disturbed by the thought that he told our mutual friends I am probably interested in him when he is not ready of reciprocating my feelings or any commitment. Yet.

Geez ... I felt like my tongue has been bee stung at the moment when I heard about the "avoidance" from a third person. The guy concerned could have told me himself if he suspected I was taking a derail in our friendship. For goodness sake, I would have thought I am more 'Renée Zellweger' than 'Paris Hilton'! I should revise my friendly behaviour. Wait a minute ... is he dillusionising that he is Jien or Thorpedo. Immature man.

Even Smurf Will Laugh At This!

Below story was adapted from a comic strip that I recently read.

The mechanic knocked on the door and called out: Mr. Thornnapple

Mr Thornapple: Yes, coming!

Mr Thornapple: Is my car ready?

Mechanic: Yup.

Mr Thornapple: We've made it just like new for you, as you requested!

Mr Thornapple: WONDERFUL! You were able to fix that knocking in the engine and the squeak in the brakes and that thumping noise in the suspension??

Mechanic: No, I'm sorry. But we weren't able to repair any of those things.

Mr Thornapple looked puzzle: Then how did you make it just like new?

Mechanic smiled: We have turned back your odometer!

More Baby Talk

I am in writing mood these few days. Probably it's because the weather is good, my mood is good and it's the first time in many years that clerk knows how to file without me guiding her much and younger colleagues are finishing respective reports on time if not submitting earlier.

God is answering my work prayer!

***************
Here's a comic strip to make you laugh and to kick away Monday's blues:

Subject: Baby Blues (adapted from "Write From Karen" website)

Good News to share: Baby K is due in 17 days time according to gynae's calculation! Can't wait to be Auntie!! I will be Ta-Ku-Ma (direct translation from Mandarin: Eldest Aunt aka addressing father's eldest sister).

Quotable: The Pursuit Of Life

"To transform the Earth, we need to transform our inner world and free ourselves from the prison of our own mind and thoughts"

Bhikkhuni Tenzin Palmo writes for Bangkok Post Outlook

Quotable: Learning

"Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous." - Confucius (551 - 479 BC), Chinese Philosopher

Post Script: Actually, I believe if Confucius was still alive, he would have said - thought without "real thinking" is even more perilous (for example, anti-terrorism is more terrorising than helping - to name only one: burdensome airport security check!)

I Am A Sunny Person

Like Mr. Bean's movies, Nancy has never failed to make me laugh!

Check also my posting on 25th November 2006.

Monster Theme

Missing Teddy Monster Report

Exactly 11 years ago today ie. 3rd November 1996 22:45, I received this interesting e-mail from DL.

Reward Offer

Last seen two weeks ago, Teddy Monster was last seen near the Brunei International Airport.

Since that day, there has been no traces of this Monster, even though some rumour indicating sighting near Singapore. There were also traces of Monster aspiration for U Education in Australia ... This bear is also known as YoYo or J, depending the particular mood of day.

If your assistance can lead to the successful re-capture of Teddy Monster ALIVE, you will be flown (full expense paid) to Cyber Zoo.

Write back if interested.

DL, Chief Teddy Monster Detective

The Origin Of Teddy Monster

Woofhams and I used to have probably more than 100 Teddy Bears in our room.

Woofhams gave away some after she got married. I packed many of mine in boxes because I don't have time to clean them. These are a few that still stand tall in our house:

Gift from Woofhams (received 1997): Mr Pilot & His Cutey Girlfriend

Woofham's McDonald Collection (adopted 1999): Puppy Love

Gift from Dato K (received 2004): Graduation Bear aka Nerdy Bear

Walkers Bear (collected 1997): Teddy Bear that had made me put on 1 kilo (I ate 5 packets of crisps to exchange for it back in 1997 Keele days)

Guaranteed Interesting Cake

1. This is the most interesting cake I'VE EVER SEEN in my life.

2. Are those grounded peanuts or grounded biscuits at the base of the cake? Yummy!

De-stressing Tips 101

Would be good to have a beach vacation now!

Candles Burning At Both Ends

Pancake: I am going to call and complain to whoever inviting me to the conference. How could they fax me the invitation on 31st October when the conference was held on 29th October?

Clerk: Sorry, don't mean to annoy you more but actually the conference will be held on 29th November not 29th October.

***************

Once in a while I believe we need to learn to relax, or find ways to relax otherwise we will be burning candles at both ends. Ultimately, it won't do good to our health and might jeopardise our career.

I found some of these strategies help to stop burning the candles too fast:

1. Blogging: You blog all your thoughts when you can't find reliable friends to confide in. I love to give ugly nicks to those whom I don't like when I gossip ;-~

2. Shopping: I found it extremely relaxing to shop in different aisles looking at new brands of shower foam or a new toothpaste. If I am not too stressed, I would like to wander around electrical department - very enriching experience and very satisfying when you discovered new gadgets that none of your peers heard of.

3. Cappuccino-ing time with friends of similar interests: Nothing beat gossiping (ok, or simply chatting) with a group of friends with similar interests. When I was very stressed with my studies peviously, I dragged along my then best friend Vanessa with me to have chai-latte and extra-sugar coated donuts.

4. Manicuring and Pedicuring: Ok Ok there might be no English words such as manu-curing, but it's extremely relaxing once in a month to pamper yourself with good, reliable manicure & pedicure - not only you get some simple hand and foot massage, you get neater-looking fingers and feet.

5. Hairwashing: I can skimp on many things but not my hair. When my hair looks good, I feel extremely confident and stress-free for the entire day.

6. Crystal Charming: I knew I have written on my craze over crystal beads few months ago. But if they help to destress me, what is the harm to own a charm. I wear different crystals for different occasions, and I wear different crystals on different days (supposed to be). These days I seem to fall in love and get a bit clingy to my blue tiger eye crystals which suppose to calm my nerves (for me with quick temper) and stimulate my intellectual capacity (no scientific research proven yet). I feel "in control" and relax whenever I look at the crystal bracelets on my left wrist.

7. Singing: I sing in the car a little when familiar songs play on the radio, I sing in the shower, I sing (more like humming or mumbling) even when I run in the gym. When I am down, I feel an invisible power on my right soulders will play me a childhood song: You are a bird, fly fly high up in the sky, not afraid of big waves, not afraid of big winds. The sea is vast and the sky is blue. I want to be like that bird, such strong and determined.

8. Reading Janet Evanovich: I started to like Evanovich's books when I found out Stephanie Plum's life is 1000 times harder than mine, and yet she could still laugh and munch on donuts after everything fails on her.

Last but not least, eating is crucial too. When I am stressed, I will always like to order my fail-proof meal- fried rice and nescafe - always perks me up. It's good to know that at the end of the day - we are in the rat race because we don't want to starve ourselves and when we are well-fed, creative ideas and solutions will become more apparent.

If you have good destressing tips to share, please drop your suggestions in Pancakeism's comment box. Cheers!

Sense & Sensibility

Take the Quiz here!

Before & After

Before grooming ...

After grooming ...

Pumpkin Season Part 2

Many kids turned up at 6.45pm. I saw butterfly face, I saw angels, I saw Magician, I saw Spiderman. They didn't perform magic trick but they sang me a nice X'mas song ... Thanks God I've bought enough fun size chocolate bars for them. I will prepare more chocolate bars next Halloween!

In Between Work

During my recent trip to Bangkok, I took some photos .....

I always associate orchids with Thailand. I recalled we had a family trip to Thailand in 1991 - memories of lots of Buddhas, lots of temples, lots of good food and lots of orchids around the neck.

I found the shape of this toilet bowl very interesting!

The table decor (read: fish) is very unique, don't you think so?

Pondering Moment: Demi-Kutcher Influence

Question 1: If a perfect man appears at your very eyes with similar economics-maths craze, should you say yes?

Answer 1: Yes, why not as long as he is not having Einstein's hair!

Question 2: If you are not Demi Moore and a perfect man appears at your very eyes with similar economics-maths craze but he is a decade younger, could you say yes?

Answer 2: Forget it. Cost will be greater than benefit in this case.

Thyroid Disorders

My mother suffered another wave of palpitations two weeks ago, and her doctor suspects the cause is thyroid disorders. The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland, which wraps around the front part of the windpipe just below the Adam's Apple.

I read from the net that nowadays thyroid disorders are very common. The influence of the thyroid gland is absolutely necessary for normal function of the body. The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine found in many foods and convert it into thyroid hormones.

Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism which affect heart beat, cholesterol level, body weight, energy level, muscle strength, skin condition, vision, menstrual regularity, mental state and a host of other conditions of the individual. The most common thyroid disorder is called hypothyroidism. It happens when the thyroid fails to produce adequate hormones. Less frequently, an overactive thyroid condition called hyperthyroidism (ie. my mother's current condition) occurs when the thyroid produces more thyroid hormone than needed. Few people suffer from enlargement of the gland.

Some signs of Thyroid Disorders:

Fatigue and exhaustion. Unexplained or excessive weight gain. Dry coarse skin and thinning of hair. Sluggish, depression and mood swings. Menstrual problems and infertility. Intolerance to cold. Slow or could be fast pulse.

Important message from my mother's doctor is: Avoid iodised salt if you have overactive thyroid glands.

Pumpkin Season Part 1

I've agreed to a friend's suggestion that tomorrow when her children knocked on my front door at 6pm, I have to pretend that their mother has never pre-arranged the Halloween Trick-Or-Treat with me. Not to disappoint her children having only one house to visit, I've arranged with my good trustworthy neighbours this morning that their children would gather at 5.45pm, and they would walk around with their maids and/or babysitters behind them (concern of stray dogs and strangers), and all the 5 houses would pretend to be surprised with them knocking on doors and we would distribute sweets to these kids.

I am going to prepare goodie bags for them after work today. Fun size chocolates. Candy bars. Funny hats and may be I will decor my front gate and Bobby needs a new hairdo too!

I am so happy and so looking forward to Halloween tomorrow!

Who Is Chubby?

Last week I've experienced one of the scary "Odd One Out" moments for myself. After a meeting, all members were asked by the Chairperson to take a group photo. Either I have to blame today's digital technology or I am simply not photogenic at all, everyone rushed to the photographer to have a quick look at the group photo after the photographer counted 1-2-3!

I didn't need more than 2 seconds to identify myself in the small panel of the digital camera - because I was the fattest woman in the picture. Or to be politically correct, I was the Chubbiest. All other female participants probably might have a waist of not more than 23 inches.

One of the familiar faces called out to me: Hey, you look strong in the picture!

Pancake: Thank you (annoying face gradually showing).

Another participant said: You are energetic every time I see you. But increasingly you are very healthy too.

Pancake: It's good to be healthy. I don't have to miss deadlines to submit report on time and no sick leaves needed (sarcastic tone eventually showing).

There are many types of fat. Fat-Fat implies I deserve to be fat because I simply do not bother to stay healthy and I do not exercise. The ironic part is I am Exercise-Fat: I exercise more than before, and yet I am heavier than before. In fact, I am back to my chubby weight 7 years ago.

Ok, may be I am just big bone (excuse). Ok Ok, may be I just happen to look more atheletic than most women my age (definitely, excuse).

If people are welcoming the thought of Chubby Nano, why are they so sarcastic on my chubbiness. Afterall, I am definitely the cutest late 30s woman around! Post Script: Cute - Ugly but ok, adorable.

The Other Sun Of My Life

A friend recently commented that I am an interesting but highly complicated woman. At work, I am like an iron lady. Outside work, I am 37 going on 17.

Whatever others said, I still like to think that I am an optimistic Sagittarian with fire elements in my star sign and places high hope on numerology and tarot readings to solve mazes .....

When I wake up in the morning, I love to see the sun shining bright as if to greet me
Good Morning with a high 5!

I love to wake up in the morning knowing everyone in my family is healthy and happy!

I love the feeling to walk into my office when everyone looks energetic and positive.

Am I asking too much for my life?

Baby Talk

According to the date approximated by gynae, my sis-in-law's delivery date should be around this time next month. We are so excited at home, and keep checking the list whether we have left out any important things for the baby. Drypers ... I need to remind my sis-in-law to get Drypers for newborns. Soooo exciting to be an auntie!

Same Habit Or No Improvement

It's interesting to keep a blog, because with a click of the mouse you found out what you did last year this day.

What I couldn't believe is: last year exactly this time of the year I also wrote a posting on "I miss Brisbane".

Geez, is this called consistency in organising my life, or basically I have no improvement in the quality of my life?

ps: Don't laugh. HeHe ...

Note: I didn't draw the enclosed figure, I took it from www.medhorizons.com/quality.html.

Bridge

I am amazed with the construction of bridges since young. And I am particularly impressed with sunset view of bridges.

I found it most de-stressing to come home and relaxing in the balcony admiring at the bridge with sunset at the background.

While I was in Brisbane, I could see a bridge from my apartment's kitchen. Sorry to disappoint, not the well-known Story Bridge (that you can see from picture on the right). I love that feeling of looking at that bridge while preparing my dinner. Those stress-free days.

Give And Take

I don't know who was the painter for the painting above. I like the skyscrapers, but I found the biggest flaw of the painting is why did the woman pulled the curtain. It's the man's responsibilities to handle the heavier task.

I dislike it when I heard lines such as:

"Well, if you women want gender equality, then prove to us you can move this by yourself"
- To me they are just a bunch of manipulative men when they said this line to my friends.

"Hey we can move this ourselves, we are the superwomen of the new generation"
- To me an important skill that every superwoman of the new generation should equip is how to delegate work to their men counterparts and ensure the men accepted those work willingly without expecting anything in return.

I would be ashamed of myself if I were the man in the painting, expecting a weaker woman to pull the curtain for him while he just stood there like a block admiring the skyscrapers view.

I belonged to the generation where the school system taught us to give but never take. I began to realise it is incorrect (at least in my principle) when at work, my subordinates took my kindness for granted. In relationship, I have forgotten to "take". Eventually I realised my love has been taken for granted, but it was already too late to salvage the situation.

Now, I have learnt. I have to be kind. I have to be kind to those who love me. I have to be kind to myself too.

Listen To Who And Who

My maid told me this morning our pet dog Bobby wanted to bite her. This is strange, I thought to myself. Bobby lied down quietly beside my chair having his nap when I was having my breakfast. My father told me he hit Bobby with a broken umbrella because Bobby bitten his left hand.

I believe the truth is: the maid locked Bobby in a cage yesterday because she found Bobby hairs lying around the kitchen floor. I don't think that's a good idea, because Bobby shouldn't be punished for he dropped his hair. To begin with, if he could hold a broom, he would sweep the floor himself. He is such a clever dog, and I don't understand why should my maid lock him up. So I reminded her this morning not to lock Bobby again. I knew Bobby still hold against the maid for locking him up. So, when my father asked the maid to hold Bobby's fore-legs because he wanted to trim Bobby's hair, Bobby threatened to bite her. Bobby barked more and he bitten my father's left hand. My father, probably was panicked, and beaten Bobby with a broken umbrella that was about to be trashed.

I knew I am very protective of my dog. My heart broken seeing Bobby licking his wound on his leg this morning. He didn't respond to me and my mother calling him. I believe he was very upset - not knowing why he was locked up, not knowing why he was beaten. Now I really understand why people say "What a dog's life!".

Re-Run

I used to run religiously like a rat on treadmill when I was in Brisbane four years ago. I got slacking the last couple of years, and my weight has creeped beyond my ideal weight these days. SO, I go back running again. It was tough in the beginning when I couldn't run beyond 3 laps without much resting in between. Endurance and pace got better after my sister Woofhams's encouraging words when she was home. Now I could run 12 laps and beyond when I am in good mood and not overload with too much work. Besides, 6 laps are normal to my routine now. I am proud of myself that in the gym, I could beat all the younger women and even all other gym goers. I must say three cheers to my endurance level these days.

You will be wondering why that photo for today's posting. One day during our trip home from the gym, my make-up words ability beaten my speech-speed and I kept referring Marathoner as Maratonist until my sister corrected me. HeHe ... I am always such creative!!!