OH!

Hongbao harvest was relatively low this year... Looks like the little children suffer too in these bearish times ): Well at least we still have the goodies from gift hampers for rations. Hahah, as if anyone could survive on bottles of diluted "birds' nest with American ginseng". How much of it is the real deal and how much is tung hoon (noodle), may I ask?

(FYI if you look carefully at the blue can of Super brand's "birds' nest drink", you'll see something like "BIRDS' NEST FLAVOUR DRINK with jelly bits"......)

Yesterday was horrible. My poor stomach suffered the aftermath of too much sour food (pineapples, oranges and all that citrusy acidity, plum sauce in the lou hei etc.) and it still feels rather odd. ._.

Comforting thoughts: Ahhhhhhh Mrs Ee's kids are THIS adorable. *stretches arms really wide apart* And very photogenic (though shy to strangers). And very tech-savvy. And slightly vain (haha). We want pictures of Nicholas and Julian (erh, not Banana)!!!

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My dogs have been especially clean these days, considering how rowdy they are... ._. Sigh I miss the puppy days ): I had 9 dogs in my house at that time, 3 adult and 6 puppies. Puppies are so much fun and ooze with love. I MISS THE SMELL OF MILK AND WET FUR D:

This is why I can't get work done. "I reject reality and substitute it with my own."

Sports are good for you!

Exercising for 27 hours every day make you
healthy and mildly muscular
fit and anti-obese
exhausted and unappetized
sleepy and sleep-loving
a healthy sleeper
organic
meat.

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As I've said before, one pineapple tart = 90 calories = 1/2 hour on the treadmill OR 4 rounds of the track.

Two love letters contain as much oil as one bowl of noodles you'd buy from the food court.

But then again, sitting on your chair burns 60% as many calories as running...

Life is painful.

Dear Mr Bush,

Obama the Loved will be taking over your role in two days. You will be sorely missed as a leader -- The Great One, His Majesty thy Wonderful. But time and tide wait for no man (or woman), and the day that you settle your feud with the Dixie Chicks with a catfight must come.

Sure, you made many mistakes along the way. You attempted to create freedom with war, and regretted hanging a banner. But you are human too, yeah? Presidents make boo-boos too. Well, at least you have time to make amends and gain respect from the people again. Oh wait. Your term ends in two days. Whoops, my bad. (But since I'm not the President of a country of 303.8 million people, my mistakes aren't that important...)

Point is, since we're bidding you farewell for good (I hope), I'd like to point out all the excellent qualities in you. You are an excellent athlete with lightning-quick reflexes that help you dodge flying shoes. Your fashion sense has been commented on fewer times than Victoria Beckham's has. You haven't been caught buying gold taps with charity funds. Heck, you're the President (for the next two days, at least). You can do whatever you want. You can wear almost-translucent white singlets, denim shorts, clown-red Crocs and sip your kopi-o without anyone having the power to stop you.

Until Obama the Loved came along. People all over the world who can't even vote love him. Some sleepy fishing village in Japan shares his name. Perhaps you could take consolation in the fact that Tina Fey's parents made their child look more like Sarah Palin, rather than Hilary Clinton.

Well, all good (or bad) things come to an end. Have fun in Texas. Send me a cactus.

Thank you, and good bye.

Yours,
Ellie "Chanshine"

Ruth, Yeujia and I brought the visitors from Shandong on a trip round Singapore (sort of) today. They didn't seem very enthusiastic about the National Library, Bugis Junction, Esplanade and our transport system. Not the most successful trip and was very tiring, but I'm super satisfied after visiting the exhibitions (M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2009) at Esplanade. Tomorrow's the last day to catch these exhibitions!

1) Museum of Broken Relationships (Croatia)
http://www.brokenships.com/

Venue: Jendela (Visual Arts Space), Esplanade
Free admission

What to expect: People who go through break-ups with their romantic partners want to get rid of everything that remind them of the other party. But throwing these items away also deletes the once-beautiful memories they've had. So they donate these items to the Museum of Broken Relationships and contribute to a collective emotional history by letting their ex-belongings travel the world as a piece of art. Every item comes with a story behind it. Inspired and inspiring.

2) Days with My Father (England)
http://www.dayswithmyfather.com/

Venue: Esplanade Tunnel (near the basement, on the way to the MRT)
Free Admission

What to expect: Beautiful series of photographs. As close to the theme of "Art and Family" as you can get. The website is a good substitute if you can't go view it in person.

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Doesn't anyone realise that there's no more time?
Where is the broader perspective?

):

I had never felt nauseous at the mention of McCain before.

Sometimes I wonder how people would react if I introduced myself as Ellie Elephant. The corporate world would be so much fun... (8

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I decided to compensate the absence of New Year resolutions with CNY ones instead.

My Chinese New Year Resolutions:

1) Be in HCJC next year (or HCI, whatever you call it. Tomayto tomahto.)
2) Put effort into most things, if not everything
3) Audition for an arts school, even though I know I won't get in
4) Wear a dress
5) Use lots of candles (in a glass pot) until they melt to form one of those big colourful candles-in-a-pot
6) Decide on a career that I'm unlikely to change my mind about
7) Eat an unusual fruit. Kemquat not counted.
8) Pay for/Earn my own tickets if I want to watch any show
9) Eat healthily (this one is pretty unlikely to survive...)
10) Carpe diem! (HAHA)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please accept this letter as my notice of resignation from my position as toilet unclogger and cleaner.

This was not an easy choice. I am extremely grateful for the immense work experience your company has provided me in the expertise of waste-handling. However, I have developed a rare medical condition, an allergy to faecal coliforms, and cannot handle any more waste. After much consideration, I have decided to accept a position with another company as a soap tester.

Sincerely,
Winnie the Pooh

P.S. I could reconsider if you buy me a new car and apartment, preferably near an NTUC for the convenience of grocery shopping.
P.S.S. Please stop making fun of my name. There is no pun.

A happy new year
A happy new classroom
A new pet fish
A cup of tea
A brand new hobby
A messy desk
A new resolution
A decided career
A pineapple

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I am especially proud of my Advanced Literature term paper, simply because 1) I went through many pains for research, albeit willingly and gladly; 2) I have spent possibly over 200 hours on it; 3) the final product is 25 pages long; and 4) it is probably the individual project I have had most fun doing.

So come what may, give me a zero, I strut proudly and carry 25 pages in my arms like a newborn child.