what clouds are made of

I am moved...

2007-05-01T23:56:00.001+08:00

Watch this before it vanishes...

WP in Parliament (11 April 2007) - Sylvia Lim

Narrow-minded Nincompoops

2007-05-01T22:30:00.000+08:00

I am blogging after a long time cos I am pissed. I haven't been this angry in a couple of years.

Among the North Indians, there has always been a small Hindu Uttar Pradesi community in Singapore that comes together for festivals, events and prayer. The kinsmenship is alive, and so is the gossip. Typical Indian-society style issues- I dont need to say more.

Recently, there was a wedding. About 60 guests from the UP community were invited- only 12 turned up. Why? Because the woman, RN, married a muslim man and converted to Islam.

I'm so shocked.

This is taking immaturity and narrow-mindednes to a new level. In this day and age, and in a such modern city where inter-racial and inter-religious marriages are common- I'm disgusted from my community can have such lowly thinking...

Is this some village in India? There is a reason why these people are in Singapore and not in rural corners-- Have they forgotten this? It is laudable to preserve traditions and heritage in a 'foreign' and modern land--- but when you have a choice about what to leave intact, why preserve the evil with the good???

Also, you'll hear many people in the UP community lamenting about how God is one, and we all have different ways of reaching Him. If this is not hypocrisy, I dont know what is! The best part is this--- the children of most of these Uncles and Aunties have married (or will marry) non-Uttar Pradesis, Non-indians, Christians and Buddhists! The only difference here, is that N has chosen to adopt Islam.

And why is that a problem? If they have a personal issue with Muslims, and think its difficult or inconvenient to convert to Islam-- they can keep their prejudice in their own hearts. No one is telling THEM to marry a muslim and convert! We do not attend weddings to make a philosophical or religious statement- we join the families to share in their joy and wish the couple a happy married life!!! It is RNs full right to make a bold decision about her life. Whether this is simple or difficult, she has agreed to a lifestyle change-- and that's none of the community's business.

My parents told the bride's family that they couldnt make it for the wedding because we had a family function ourselves. When my mum later went to congratulate the bride's mum, she teared and confided how upset she was that people could do this to her. How SAD the bride's parents must have felt! Its like ostracizing and punishing the family...and its EVIL. Its insensitive, immature, backward, disgusting...

Mum, Mahesh and I feel terrible. If I had known about this, I'd have taken all my friends along to the wedding!

No wonder younger Uttar Pradesis in Singapore dont seem to want to acknowledge this community. Has India itself has moved lightyears ahead and left its lowly and unthinking deposits in the form of the UP community in Singapore?

My loyalties to my own (country, school, religion etc) are always reasonable and fair: I acknowledge the negative attributes, and I'm proud of the positive parts... However, I see no excuse for this behaviour... I am truly ashamed.

Penn Masala & Aditya Pathak

2007-03-22T12:50:00.000+08:00

LOL...Despite the fact that it SEEMS like all I do at work is watch funny videos on youtube---it IS part of my job (i.e. my few hundred responsibilities) to look up ideas for videos. I am an idea-generating machine it seems... In the process, I stumble upon the most interesting things, which I share:)

The following is a video by a hindi a capella group in the University of Pennsylvania. All you Frienster fans--- this is what CREEPINESS means. Watch The Face Book Stalker Skit.

The second one is : A must watch Aditya Pathak video- Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina

Child tabla-playing prodigy, with one my favourite old hindi songs. I think he is 3 or 4 yrs old in this video. I remember learning some of this in Hindustani vocals. FYI, Roopak taal is the name of the tabla beat- one of the simpler ones. Except I can't play like this kid! His parents have a website with info about him, and lotsa videos showing how he discovered the tabla ....I wish I had THAT kind of talent. Sigh.

And he is so heartbreakingly adorable, I need to kidnap him. NOW this is what I call cute (not that loser with the shag and caterpillar eyebrows hahaha)

Oh ya, the older one... Heeheehee... the one who actually knows the lyrics, he isnt bad either. Nice voice ;)

You know you're Singaporean when...

2007-03-22T10:04:00.000+08:00

I once had a post entitled "You know you're Indian when..."
That tickled me quite a bit. Look what I found online while researching a concept at work hehehehe...all of them are freaking funny n so TRUE! We're nuts.

41 signs to tell you're Singaporean

1. Thanks to SMS, you have an extra large thumb.
2. Tks 2 SMS, u oso dun no how 2 spel n e mor.
3. You pat MRT and bus seats to cool them before you sit down.
4. At lunch, you start discussing what to eat for dinner.
5. When speaking to foreigners, you somehow feel a need to adopt an accent. (If you're a DJ, this happens even when you're not speaking to foreigners.)
6. You won't raise your voice to protest policies, but you'll raise your fists to whack someone over Hello Kitty.
7. You're forever talking about businesses you want to set up but will probably never get around to starting.
8. You don't know ¾ of the people attending your wedding.
9 You marry for the real estate breaks.
10 You have kids for the tax advantages.
12. You move to where you want your child to go to school.
13. You feel you can't walk around naked in your own flat. (HAHAHAHAHA! Yeah, you cant!)
14. You force your children to take Speech & Drama classes, but pray they won't wind up in Arts later on.
15. You suddenly realise you're very interested in biotech. Before that it was e-commerce, engineering, and before that, medicine and law.
16. You think being an entrepreneur is setting up a bubble tea, Portuguese egg tart, a chestnut stall - right next to an existing bubble tea, Portuguese egg tart or chestnut shop.
17. You think people are inconsiderate when they don't leave their table immediately after eating at the food court but think you have every right to take your own sweet time with your ice kachang.
18. If you're a guy meeting other guys, you invariably trade army stories.
19. If you're a girl with other girls, you must talk about your 'stupid' guy friends who're forever trading army stories.
20. You somehow feel that food tastes better when eaten next to a longkang (drain).
21. It actually makes a difference to you being called an 'NSMan' rather than a 'Reservist'.
22. You've eaten more times at the Esplanade than you've actually seen shows there.
23. You need campaigns to tell you how to be courteous, to flush toilets, have sex, etc.
24. You feel the urge to add the suffix '-polis' to everything, viz. Biopolis, Airtropolis, Fusionopolis, Entrepolis, etc.
25. You meet in hotels a lot.
26. Your children have a rudimentary knowledge of Tagalog or Bahasa Indonesia.
27. You work at McDonald's when you're old rather than young.
28. You'll gladly spend $50,000 on a car, but will go to great lengths to save a few bucks on ERP charges or even a few cents on a parking coupon.
29. If you're pregnant, you have the magic to make people on the MRT train fall asleep instantly.
30. You've started referring to foreign employees as 'talent' instead of 'expatriates'.
31. You copy down number plates of cars involved in accidents. Then you go buy lottery tickets.
32. You think your boyfriend doesn't really love you unless he gives you part of his liver.
32. You pronounce the letter 'R' as 'ah-rer' and the letter 'H' as 'haytch'.
34. You believe that you can generate 'creativity' through rules and committees.
35. You 'chope' a seat by placing a packet of tissues on the chair.
36. You're very forthright with your criticisms of the "Gahmen" (government), unless there's a chance they might actually hear you.
37. Your mother probably can't speak your 'mother tongue'.
38. You secretly find that the best part of the Speak Good English Movement is hearing the Singlish bits in their ads.
39. You think we're living in a modern, sophisticated country even when our leaders still insist on wearing white school uniforms.
40. You wish your constituency is in a walkover, otherwise it's damn 'leceh'. (troublesome to vote)
41. During elections, you decide that there is no credible opposition even though you don't know the name of the opposition candidate in your constituency.

I have to come up with an idea for a national day video clip for the National Heritage Board...Like the Petronas Deepavali video- if you guys remember... (Man that was hilarious!

TO MY LOVE ON HER 25th B'DAY!!!!

2007-03-21T19:58:00.000+08:00

Your Mysterious Gift will reach you soon, Jalpa Shah:)

Can't wait for u to see it!

Madhuisms

2007-03-13T18:25:00.000+08:00

Bimbotic, witty and dadima-type of things I've let slip from my head or stolen or always say...

(Lali’s migraine is making her pukish and she is fighting it) Are u feeling better? You need to be distracted. Shall I sing to you?

The light at the end of the tunnel…might be an on-coming train.

Can I make you into a ball and carry you in my pocket wherever I go?

If anything can go wrong, it will, expect it….this is my life we’re talking about.

There is something to learn from everyone. Even your 3 year old neighbor. Even if you’re the chairman of Mensa. The only smart people are the ones who understand this.

Don’t bother arguing with know-it-all self-centered men. Shut up, smile, and leave them for the bimbos.

Fishah: Don’t worry Mad, there are many fish in the pond.
M: But there is only one goldfish!

To my brother: Humans are flawed. But if you use that excuse to cut your principles some slack- you’re flawed before you even tried. I am idealistic, and knowing full well that it’s unrealistic, I’d like to stay that way to be the best I can.

The delight is in the discovery.

The only reason you’re talking to me is cos you like my hair.

Guess what? I think.

Dips I know I whine cos things keep going wrong and never do look up, but I never stop trying again and again and again.

I’m your best friend, if I don’t understand then who will?

All my life I wanted to be someone. Now I realize I should’ve been more specific.

Before yelling at someone, think about whether their intentions were in the right place.

I want to get out of this country...But I know no place will sing to me the way home does.

You cant go to the loo until you tell me the password.

Feb 07: After 25, it’s all downhill. I am not going to get quicker, prettier, thinner, or more energetic. Life is now now now.

It’s not the waitress’s fault the cook takes a long time to make your dish. You have a right to complain, but no one needs your attitude.

Say, hail priceline?

If you go out with the cute guy who yells at the waiter—you deserve him.

Vig, if only you’d marry me dowry-less, I wouldn’t have to date such ridiculous men…Can I have a discount?

If he likes you, he will call. Everything else is an excuse.

Vig, those who matter wont leave yr life and those who leave dont matter.

At work: They pretend to that you’re overworked or underpaid until you open your mouth and say it. And say it loud.

At least 10% of clients and projects are from hell. Always.

Your strengths are so easy you think everyone can do them. They can’t!

Delegate your weaknesses. If you can’t, ask for advice and help!

Only promise something you’re 200% sure of….100% surety isn’t enough.

The secretary is not your slave. You’re not the only busy one. Book your own family holidays, redeem your own coffee coupons.

I do not want to be the prize in some competition for your ego.

Spare me the “let’s be friends” bit. It’s all or nothing.

Who says Singapore’s concrete creativity, cleanliness and man-made gardens don’t count as beauty. I think they’re beautiful in the fact that they have been labored over by several people. Someone planned this, someone implemented it, and someone maintains it. Nature has been granted to us, but what the human mind and hands can create is beautiful too.

If I was bald, would you still talk to me?

In case you kick the bucket soon, note this number...

2007-03-11T22:12:00.000+08:00

so.

We had this crazy dancing night night and dipti dropped one of her lenses. While we were doing the whole loser-squinting-at-the-floor routine, I had (yet another) epiphanic moment. It struck me what a long way we've come from being the self-conscious teenagers. For example- now when we fall down (nothing changed there) we laugh, get up and smile dazzlingly at everyone like "there. Your freak show for the day. Now move on with yr lives."

Its not a big talent, and of course I'd just prefer not to be clumsy, but I like me better now. Now that I am done with the self-congratulatory trip, let's move on....

SOUP SPOON MURDER

I spent the night at dips place, and in the morning her sister was reading the papers and she burst out laughing. You all probably remember the murder at the Soup Spoon (how scary is that, I eat there all the time.) and the sunday paper had a photo of the covered body being taken away, by four men in dark t-shirts.

The part that struck us---was not the poor family of the deceased, not the fact that two customers in a corner had cluelessly continued having their soup (hahaha that was hilarious), and not even that N the meano pointed out that one of the undertakers was so old he looked like he needed to be carried himself...it was the t-shirts of the undertakers.

"Ah Kow (cant rem the exact name) Undertakers

Telephone No: 9876543"

!!!!

There it was. So plain you could take their number down from the photo in the newspaper. The t-shirt seemed to comically jump out at me, complete with imagined jingle. (you know, Ally McBeal style hallucinations of dancing objects? sigh. Me and my mind)

Besides the fact that its degrading to wear a phone number printed on yr shirt (or am I too much of the Little Miss Pride?)- does the undertaker company seriously think people are gonna take the number down just in case someone in their family kicks the bucket? And even if they did know someone who had a terminal illness, isnt this whole procedure a tad crass and completely irreverent?

How many times in a lifetime does one call undertakers anyway? If plumbers or electricians were wearing the shirt, it might make some sense.

I am willing to bet money on the fact that the same msg is printed on the back of the shirt, in Mandarin.

I love the fact that there are so many different types of people in this world. But some of them have a thought process (or lack of one) that I can never fathom.

gd grief

2007-03-01T12:37:00.000+08:00

Stranger tried sooo hard to pick me up last night. Happened many times, but I don't think anyone has ever tried so hard before. Fact is, stranger wasnt exactly interested in getting to know me as a person.

I think its my skin. I THINK...In a country of chinese people, Madhu has "If you're an African stranger, I might just sleep with you" slogan stamped on her forehead.

Around my workplace, we're starting to see many Africans. No one can miss this- as they're a rare sight in this part of the world... For me its a welcome change- the more diversity the better. However, my brief encounters with all of them in Singapore wouldnt exactly be called pleasant. (which is weird cos many I met while traveling were wonderful people)

After work, I am walking to the bus stop all dog-tired, and I pass by this group of black men playing pool.

50metres later, someone taps my shoulder. One of the guys had run after me...

Oh no Madhu, not again...And then I laughed. Entirely on accident. Before he even said anything.

Note: Something you should never ever ever do in these situations cos then the guy thinks he is cute or witty and that you like him. And then he will NEVER leave. Unless, of course, you make up an imaginary boyfriend.

yes. Another one.

Why? He had these roaming eyes. Some men, sadly, do not realise they do not have peripheral vision.

You're very intelligent. My name is Edward. (handshake)
My name is Madhu and I have a boyfriend. (smile)

The impromptu story this time: Imaginary boyfriend is Indian, born in the US. And I’ve known him since I was a toddler, but didn’t like him until 2 years ago... And he is "very very possessive" (strategically placed comment, delivered with the psycho look) ...yup I cooked up a whole story to put even Bollywood to shame.

He bought it. No kidding. If only fibbing was a career.

Even that didn’t put that guy off! He was so damn insistent!

And then he asks me if I am Hindu, and starts questioning Hinduism!Some parts of the dialogue...

How many Gods do you believe in?
One.
Can you explain to me why you have so many Gods then?
I can. But do you really want to go into philosophy at the bus-stop? And are you sure you Want to understand?

And then

How do you know I am trying to hit on you? And I dont just want to be friends?
Would you run after and try to be friends with a guy like this?
ummm....no ....hahaha, you caught me there...You're very smart.
I know

And then
You're very pretty...(leer) Your boyf is very lucky
He knows.
(laugh)Can I ask you for your number again?
No. sorry. My bus is here.

The highlight was this. "You dont look local, or indian...you look European"

Must be my gray eyes and blond hair.

My Favourite Place in the world...

2007-02-28T20:26:00.000+08:00

Botanical Gardens with the family. Was missing mahesh quite a bit that day.

The people who gave us everything they had...and more.

Dad was being bitten by invisible thingies so mum suggested he fling is shirt. Then she is finds it so funny she yells for us to look, your daddy is mad!!!It was much prettier in reality...And esp so when it does not RAIN!

I love this one:):):) When I was young, my kid mind imagined my parents looked like Amitabh Bachan and Jaya Bahduri when they were together...cos of their height difference...How silly.
They didnt know I was snapping. They were waiting for us to stop being amazed with...um...ourselves...The Gazebo. A million memories here. Bet you didnt know it was built in the 1800s, for musicians to play in:)
As we were leaving. This one is to frame one day.

Took it with my cell phone.

Thank you PB:)

2007-02-28T19:10:00.000+08:00

got birthday presents from vig last night...I promised him pics.

Wonder how I found him. He's like my sunshine even when he's so far away. (I am quite sweet too I must say.) Good taste. He chooses things for Lali and I that we never have the guts to buy for ourselves- and everyone compliments us on them. (except never ask vig to choose you a sari--ugh! )

Thanks Amy and Celia for partaking in this:) I love the gifts, I was a little sad and they really brightened my day. Lali took pics so now u can see my reaction.

Walked to Lali's place after gym, was completely beat & cldnt wait to shower. Looking a little less than perfect:P

I once told him that Cadbury Eden are the best dark chocolates I've EVER had! Mmmmm I cant even describe how good they are. Told arch to keep half away from me...Thank God they dont sell them in Sg.

Very J-LO, vig... Mad the gleeful housefly...Wonder how I manage such moronic expressions sometimes;)
the outfit!

Happy Vig???

Random artistic shot I took at lunch time today. See my milo? Thought there was smthg abt the shot composition n colours.

I am so full of crap.

holiday highlights

2007-02-25T12:59:00.000+08:00

Ok Sonia, this is dedicated to you cos you asked and were v.patient :):):) Took me a whole week to put this together bit by bit-- Been crazy busy, but it's finally done!

1. Photos connected to specific memories.
2. Shots I knew would turn out beautiful.

In no order...To enlarge a pic, just click on it

Photo Highlights of our N.America trip (& post trip)...in no order

OTTAWA

Meeting a whole bunch of people at the church in Ottawa on the EVE of Xmas eve. Random people just came up to talk, conversation was so easy...
All the aunties had cooked n contributed yummy food...

Debbie attacking every baby there:)

I had no idea Subin was related to Debbie...until he said so...
then I had to be wary with my ragging :)...Umm I triedThe Ottawa canal that was supposed to be frozen so we cld skate on the longest skating rink in the world! No such luck. But it was beautiful anyway...Debbie's mum was really funny n cute...and debbie is right, our mums are alike in some ways! The perfect Christmas with Shoba and Sunils family in Ottawa. I didnt feel like a stranger for a second. Storybook-like...Everyone was so warm n chatty... And on Xmas night, it snowed for the first time. Was perfect. I ran and stood outside while everyone laughed...Tamara has a photo of this i think hehehe

hahahahaha:) Loved the simplicity of Shoba's place. And their tree was magical.Opening the gifts below the tree, on Xmas morning!!!!

Debbie reading my Christmas love letter to her, which she had to do in private cos I was shy...Can u believe the ONE Christmas I was there, they didn't have snow for the 1st time in 8 years!...look over debbie's shoulder, its GREEN!
(and then it snowed late that night:))

I got presents too!!! How unexpected..and how sweet!After opening up all the gifts we laid the table for an Xmas breakfast!

MONTREAL

Emar getting us all drunk with his silly memory game...I already cant remember things when SOBER...lol Debbies house party was fun, we were in pj's and played taboo hahaha

hmmmmm

I have no words for this place...(oops I already spoke...)

we were actually celebrating Xmas in Ottawa...but Debbie and Zed made a mini-Xmas tree JUST for ME in Debbies place (Mtrl)...So I had one for myself, which made me smile every morning...took this shot just before leaving Canada...sorrowful goodbye at the bus station followed... Do not ask if my butt was cold...I got my snow, so I'm not complaining!

Can you see the falling flakes against my jacket? I was so so amused!

Was great not having to wake up to go to work! Debs speaking to Imar Portugese chicken near dips old place....its been years and she still dreams about it...and now I dream about it too...

Pretty:) Madhu's photo-taking skills rock!

Bought the earrings, shoes and top separately n then realised they all matched.

Zed found that so bizarre.. Debbie's Double Whammy (you do not need to know what that means) Clubbing during Xmas in mtrl...was great dancing...Met shy Spanish person danced a safe distance behind me for a whole hour but was too scared to speak until Debbie made him, much to my protests...He refused to believe I wasnt S.American n insisted I met him the next day for a lunch date... I didnt...but I did take his number cos gentlemen in clubs need to be encouraged.

They thought I'd gone mad ("except you're always a little nuts")
but look:) I told you it would be nice!

NEW YORK CITY

Central Park...many fantasies...I can only dream how this place would be in summer!

Our friendly tour guide:) Who suddenly mentioned tt the only stuff he knows about Singapore was from a National Geo prog called "Megastructures"....I gasped..."My company made that...and we got awards for that one" I tell him...Damn it, work is following me across the world!

Jal and I were on the carriage and I spotted the moon...
wherever, whenever, I always know where it is... Posters at Ground Zero....spent a long time gazing at some of these...

This is just a nice shot of Jal and I cos the day was great:)

All you need is some green, good temp and the sun to brighten the entire day...I have a thing for ferry rides...not just a thing, a mammoth liking...

Took this shot of a fluttering flag on liberty Island...There are flags at literally every corner in New York.... You know, just in case people forget they're in America? Sex & the city group pic....except we're all bundled up:)

Ferry ride back....sunset....bliss:)

Everyone was snapping away. Was hauntingly gorgeous.

Very Titanic...So i took the shot and Dorota didnt even know!

Sonja and I....Was so damn good to see her again...

NYC is exactly the way I imagined it to be. Like Robinson road times infinity...

You know whose apartment this is hehehe....
loved the fire escape thing u always see in American sitcoms....
(some of MAY LAUGH, but when u come to Sg u'll be snapping the HDB apartments away ok)

Gotham City-like shot

Always wanted to take the bull shot...finally

Had to take the kind of photo they sell on the streets at crazy prices..

Jalpa & Moushmi sobbing away suddenly on the phone lol :)
She cries EVERY New Year, I so knew this would happen…
Everyone looks at me questioningly in shock & I grin n tell them to relax…

The Rockefeller Xmas tree was very very pretty! Love my shot of the flags in the wind...We met Dorotas friend, and his friends after this.
Bumped into them again on New Yrs...and the drama ensued... After Victoria Secrets...

NEW YEAR IN NEW YORK!

Partying does not get any better:) We had SO MUCH FUN dancing- drinking- talking with one another and new people. I, being me, made friends with the lesbian drummer...Just had to tell her she was good, n she stopped frowning long enough to flash a super huge grin....Were out till 6am, n spent the next day too tired to live...
Sonja was making me laugh with her faces! United Colours of Benetton :)...Pictures of globalisation.

Jal and I :) Kept declaring how much we love each other and
how glad we were to meet on New Yrs on the other side of the globe, after sooo long.

WASHINGTON

Capitol Building

there were GAZILLIONS of birds circling the lake...and it was an Absolutely gorgeous day!

BALTIMORE

The sheesha place at Baltimore...Tired fun...Mad= 48 hours without sleep

Jal and Senal the druggies....smoking sheesha in Baltimore

Salsa with Jalpa hahahaha...even though I felt like a corpse being sick n sleepy...

BACK HOME!

Just some of the gifts:)
What debbie chose for me!

Earrings and a blouse for Dips...and a pretty t-shirt for my sister (no pic)...
not to mention the stuff I bought jal hahaha

For Mahesh hahahah who's busy having too much fun in Utrecht...

Dipti with the blouse and earrings I got her...

Pearl & crystal earrings look really good on mum...

Made french toast breakfast for the family with Maple Syrup:)

THEN Vig and I went frolicking in sunny east coast and yakked our stories away...sigh I miss him to bits...We took some AMazing shots, and of course I have to show off....Its my blog...

Brightened the image and added lens flare to this one...Vig and his model looks!

trying on vig mammoth sunnies..black & white:)

One of vig's melancholic shots..

he's good with the camera:) Love the way this tree spreads out..

Like the reflection of the world in our eyes...

OK zoo and night safari shots to be uploaded later...gotta run!

V-Expiry

2007-02-15T01:46:00.000+08:00

Darlings, some of you recognise this. The rest of you dont really need to know what it is about. Let's just say it made Kanchu and I hang on to the wall while we laughed our guts out...

After popcorn at the movies, Karen spotted a price-tag-like sticker stuck to me...dont ask where...It had an expiry date on Valentines Day.

Vday was over 2 hrs ago, (as expected) no expiration happened ok.

Spent the entire day and night in the office. My shoulders hurt like bricks were thrown at me...In some ways, I am actually glad I was completely shielded from the city crowds, jams, overpriced dinners etc u know what i mean exactly...

I cant help but remember last Valentines Day...

How I Feel Now

2007-02-14T20:23:00.001+08:00

Am in the office...Its late and all I want to do is go home, est n sleep... Fat wishing...And then I found these while looking for images for my concept...which made me laugh a little... Very tempted to put this on the desktop of the Monster (i.e. my 17inch, 5kg laptop) hahaha...would crack the clients up, some of them need that desperately I think!

Straightening the Hair...

2007-02-14T18:16:00.000+08:00

What happens when Madhu has a compelling need to straighten the locks... even tho she is completely exhausted at 5 AM... (when she just got back from philandering about with her harmless friends, she just has to find out what she looks like with straight hair...after a whole childhood of wondering)...AND try out a new mega-sexciting-camera she knows nothing about..

AFTER...disappointment. It does NOT become straight. Wavy is the best it gets...all feathery-fly-away-fine...
And then it became curlier again...

And more curly...I know what it is...its the S'porean humidity...

geez what did I spend one hr for?

Well here is the difference...took one whole hour to get the left side "straightened" couldnt be bothered to do the right side...Now u can see the "big" difference...hehe

SO now we know !..straight and me...just doesnt happen

Hmmm...Curiousity solved with nothing to crow about...and then I fell into the deepest slumber possible... in the morning I woke up and tadaaaa!!!!

My hair was curly...Again...Just like it always has been...I shall do a v.brave thing by uploading a shot of me in the morning...my evil sister got trigger happy...

Now that I look at it again, it did look a little different...but is it worth the trouble. A whole hour??? I'll stick to curly simply cos nothing beats being able to wake up and go out without doing anything to the hair right?

Armpit Man Episode 2

2007-02-12T01:32:00.000+08:00

On Tuesday, I went to the gym alone cos Karen, Lali and Ibby were sick. (8 of my friends were slayed by the January flu bug! Apparently there is such a thing)... Having finally caught me alone and within chatting distance, Armpit Man Episode 2 ensues....

For those who need background: I've been going to the gym about 3 years. It doesn't show, but at least I dont huff & puff after 2 flights of stairs... Despite the fact that I'm not unfriendly, and talk hell of a lot- I do not like talking at the gym. Due to long work hours I hardly get to the gym. And when a tired Mad does drag her battered self there at 8 or 9pm, she'd like to do her thing and get outta there, go home, shower and sleep ASAP...

My friends & I think the muscle men who're always at the gym lack a personal/ social/ family life...and to be fair, I'm pretty sure all the regular Indian Male gym frequenters (Armpit Man included), mock me for being the fat one who doest loose the weight, and who is also, to top it all off, snotty because I do not meet their eyes or talk to them...I'm not exactly heartbroken over that :)

Admit it, us non-musclely people are intimidated by the musclely gym regulars. I have, indeed, asked myself if I'm amused by them cos I'm internally scared of them... After some inner-searching I concluded that if you're at the gym every single night, or 5 times a week, permanently--- there are issues... and my calculations cant be wrong as all of us are given 24hours a day.

Then again, if gymming makes them happy, who am I to judge? To each his own.

Well...Armpit Man amuses me in a different way...

Armpit Man is in his 30's, Indian, my height and with muscles so huge you wonder why he doesn't topple over. Seriously. He's fond of skimpy, tight singlets...He's been going to the gym ever since...hmm... forever, I think...

In Episode one.... he randomly came over and tried to teach Karen and me how to use the ab machine- I blogged about it previously...He was traumatizing poor Karen abt pulling her tummy in and she wanted to smack him... Our friends had a gd laugh hearing about this and Karen says its my fault cos I attract weird attention (?)...

My friends wonder why I cant just tell him to F Off...but he's just trying to help and Madhuism Rule 597 is never be mean to someone with good intentions... (and if he is trying to hit on me, which he probably is, a few nicely dropped hints will let him know its a lost cause...but then he helps other ppl at the gym too, and I am not Ms Universe, esp not at the gym...get it?)

So anyway, having caught me alone, in Episode 2, the following takes place...

A: Where are your friends?
Me: They're sick.
Armpit: all except you?
M: Yes...
A: I'll use the ab machine later, you want to join me
M: (Pained and half-amused expression) You'll do it very scarily.
A: Don't worry, will do it slowly

So he teaches me to use the Ab machine correctly, and he tells me how he himself exercised wrongly for 5 yrs before going for some fitness course. He tells me he sees me all the time but i am "very very shy".. I wanted to laugh and I said "I am not shy I just cont like talking at the gym"... don't think he bought that...I guess for someone with a social life at the gym, this is something incomprehensible...

A: (watching me use the machine) Your name is Madhu?
M: Yes, why?
A: you're Indian then?
M: Haha yeah, what did u think I was?
A: I don't know, I couldnt tell...Do you go clubbing
M: *Nods"
A: Do you go to INDIAN clubs?
M: (stifle laugh, risking permanent ab damage) nope
A: (Like this is smthg prestigious) I go to NORTH-Indian clubs...
M: (Laughed. Couldnt help it) Oh...
A: Whats yr mother tongue?
M: I speak Hindi
A: You're North indian then?
M: Yes
Armpit man goes deep into contemplation....

So I decided I am finally gonna find out if it is true that musclely-gym-regulars dont have a social or family life ...or is this a myth constructed in my head...After a few questions asked:

He is 35, and drives tourists around in his van, lives with his parents (and hates it), is not married. He has been to almost ALL the community gyms in Singapore ("Gym regulars in Toa Payoh are puny, no one is bigger than me there"). He loves working out ("When you look at a man, whats the first thing u see? His physique right?") ... when I asked what does he do besides work and gym, he thinks for a long time before saying with a smile, "I play pool....You know what pool is?"

Last I checked, gym solitude did not exactly translate to stupidity? I laughed and said yes i know what pool is...So I was right about the lack of a social life part...But he seems happy exercising all the time.

He INSISTS on driving me home from the gym...in the ladies, I dialled Viks number...

M: Vik!!! CallMeInFiveMinutesAndPretendYou'reMyBoyfriend!!!
V: Huh?
(Vik calls me 30mins later to pretend to be my boyf. When I was home and done with dinner. sigh.)

Its a 3min drive, but he stopped halfway and parks. I was quite puzzled and in my head I already had the image of me lying tied, kidnapped and dead and my family having to collect my body. He was on his cellphone so I figured he wanted to pick something up. But he came over to my side of the van and said "lets go for milo."

Found it a tad bit annoying that he assumed I'd want to sit & have milo with him- he might have thought of asking me first. Anyway mum had made dinner, and so I politely him that and he took the milo away for us...While he was gone I thought, "Its ok if he wants to teach me at the gym and drive me home, if he is doing it just to help, but if he is indeed hitting on me, I have to somehow not lead him on..."

So in the conversation I dropped the phrase "my boyfriend"...Big mistake. Interrogation process after that. "So how old is he?" "SO what does he do?" "When are you guys getting married?" "What does he look like?" etc etc... I knew why he was asking...One lie led to many many lies. I was alarmed but pretty good at faking it on the spot:) ...

While teaching me to use the Preacher curl, he looks at my arms and then goes "Now i know where yr problem is" He points to his thighs and hips....Oh gee...rocket science...And he tells me how he thinks I can do well at the gym but I just need some guidance with motivation...I actually agree with him. It sucks to wonder if you're putting in effort in all the wrong things and wasting precious time n effort...

Zehara the great wants me to invite him for Bhangra night. I refuse to bring him there to be made a spectacle of the poor guy...and I also dont want to dance with him ok zee.

On another note: Armpit Man actually did go easy on me, and told me to stop lifting the weight when it hurts...Masochistic Madhu, on the other hand, thinking she's some superwoman, went on and on lifting the damn thing cos it did not hurt that much...

Its been 5 days and I still cant straighten my arms! There are tiny, super-hard painful bulges, and my friends are also quite surprised to feel it. After just One session? ...ouch!

I am pretty amused that I keep accidentally doing ridiculous things to myself...

This is why I respect those who teach...

2007-02-07T11:15:00.000+08:00

And I mean anyone who has ever taught someone anything...big or small

Watch the Teacher Movie....esp if you're a teacher disillusioned by the S'pore system:) A little sappy but well done anyway...

I am no expert educator, and will never equal myself to those who've dedicated their lives to teaching. My little experience lies in years of tutoring, brief classroom stints, Sunday classes for little kids for years, assisting in lesssons for kids with special needs, and an educational expedition to villages...

What I do know is that we're foolish to think teachers are the only ones giving in these relationships. This conviction has been reinforced again and again for me: whoever our students are, and however brilliant we are, they have as much to teach us as we can teach them...

OK back to work...yawn...

Rent A Husband Ladies?

2007-01-28T03:39:00.000+08:00

So I know I've had a blogging drought and I wonder if I am just getting older. There is NO lack of things/ experiences/ funny stories to blog about- but there are always more pressing matters, or I'd rather go out with friends.

So why am I sitting at home on a Sat night blogging NOW, you ask... its the eternal problem inflicting most of the world.

Poverty.

Well ok, more like post-holiday bankruptcy...frankly I actually dont mind being home for a weekend once in awhile...On to the impending point I intend to make....I am looking up jobs and rentals in Ottawa, just to get an idea. I found something you people are going to find seriously amusing. No kidding... click on this link...

RENT-A-HUSBAND

I read through the ad convinced that it was a prank....

Its not that I do not know that westerners put up all sorts of ads (which I love reading, being a sucker for good rubbish) but THIS one makes husbands sound like Mr Functional-Useful-Fix-It-Slave...and the pictures are even more classic!

That's not what husbands are meant to be... ummm...right?

I mean, for all my jokes about how men are only needed to open our jars and lift heavy things, I do not actually mean it (you're not allowed to repeat that:P)...whatever happened to love, and support, friendship, the way they hold you and their sense of humour and the stupid things they do that we love anyway (because guess what, we might actually be more stupid!)

Ok there ARE women who treat their other halves like that, but if these guys like women like that, then that's their problem. I'm not commenting..

So would it be naive of me to assume favours do not come FOC with this deal? I guess you'd say yes huh.

Who am I talking to?

hmmm...

It's called middle-of-the-night-&-all-yr-friends-are-asleep-syndrome. You talk to yrself in yr head and the more you do it, the more u think its normal.

Writing well...hahaha

2007-01-19T09:20:00.000+08:00

By Victor Urbach, a copywriter and sales trainer. Writing tips for serious writing, that will crack you up too...

(yayaya Ok I am skiving from blogging and this is a poor excuse of a post, but I'm bogged down, and perhaps not inspired enough to blog. Maybe I am loosing the rambling habit. hmmmmmm...that would actually be good news.)

How to Write Good

Always avoid alliteration.
Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
Avoid clichés like the plague—they're old hat.
Employ the vernacular.
Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
Parenthetical words however must be enclosed in commas.
It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
Contractions aren't necessary.
Do not use a foreign word when there is an adequate English quid pro quo.
One should never generalize.
Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
Comparisons are as bad as clichés.
Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
It behooves you to avoid archaic expressions.
Avoid archaeic spellings too.
Understatement is always best.
Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
One-word sentences? Eliminate. Always!
Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
The passive voice should not be used.
Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
Don't repeat yourself, or say again what you have said before.
Who needs rhetorical questions?
Don't use commas, that, are not, necessary.
Do not use hyperbole; not one in a million can do it effectively.
Never use a big word when a diminutive alternative would suffice.
Subject and verb always has to agree.
Be more or less specific.
Placing a comma between subject and predicate, is not correct.
Use youre spell chekker to avoid mispeling and to catch typograhpical errers.
Don't repeat yourself, or say again what you have said before.
Don't be redundant.
Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.
Don't never use no double negatives.
Poofread carefully to see if you any words out.
Hopefully, you will use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
Eschew obfuscation.
No sentence fragments.
Don't indulge in sesquipedalian lexicological constructions.
A writer must not shift your point of view.
Don't overuse exclamation marks!!!
Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10or more words, to their antecedents.
Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns intheir writing.
Always pick on the correct idiom.
The adverb always follows the verb.
Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be by rereading and editing.
And always be sure to finish what

Muttons in the Morning & their Love Message for Bimbo

2006-11-21T12:06:00.001+08:00

Those of you who know me, if you're reading this at all, (you sneaky humans), know that I have a few silly habits. If you put all my idiosyncracies together, some square personalities might conclude they need to run 5000 miles and not look back... Ok, admittedly, this is a rare ocassion where I exaggerate- but what is life without masala? :) All my friends do is laugh, and some of you pat my head (which I dont appreciate but whatever) and you're used to it...

The only idiosyncracy I dont mind sharing:::::: The first thing I do in the morning is switch on the radio (987) and groove a little while brushing my teeth, making/ having breakfast in the morning, just before my shower. I would not like to be caught doing this. 'Tis an immensely private habit- especially given that I wear hot pink pj's with pigs on them (that amuse me tremendously)... so anyway something got me thinking this morning...

Muttons in the Morning (i.e. Deejays Vernan and Justin, a.ka. the crazies) have this new segment in their show on the radio. If you dont dare tell someone something (whether they have BO or you stole their eraser when you were 8), the Muttons will call the person up and tell them for you.

So X calls the Muttons up and says he likes this woman (Y) in his office, cos she is "beautiful, intelligent, and dresses well"...He cant tell Y he likes her cos he is afraid of rejection... Muttons, being men who've been-there-done-that, are sympathetic.

Muttons call Y up and introduce themselves as 987 deejays and ask her what she thinks about X. Y is a little confused, she realises she is on air...and she says "He is a colleague....ummm he is nice...fun to be with..."...and then they tell Y that X likes her, and got them to do this. Y is silent for a bit....and when persuaded for an answer, she says "NO." vehemently....

Muttons are stumped, "But you just said he is fun to be with! Then why did u say no?"

"Cos he is ...Ugly!"

... And no I did not imagine this.

1. I might say this woman is halfway brainless (maybe sometime in her life she will realise she has grown old, all she has left is her rotten personality, her once "hot" husband is a paunch on stilts...n puts her to sleep everytime he opens his mouth)....but I'd classify her under 'Completely Brainless' for saying this on national radio.

2. But who is more foolish? Y for her cruel stupidity? or X for liking this woman?

A quoi ca sert l'Amour

2006-11-13T13:02:00.000+08:00

Ok so I am back to posting...Been busy...and lazy to post:)

This is a beautiful little animation by the French animation studio Cube. It follows the rocky relationship of a stick figure couple set against a wonderfully, jazzy song... A quoi ca sert l'Amour... Cant stop humming it!

In English...

TS:Ah, what use is love?
You always hear silly stories,
What good is being in love?

EP:Love cannot be expained,
It’s not like that,
It comes out of nowhere
And hits you all at once.

TS:As for me, I’ve heard
That love brings suffering,
That love makss you cry,
What good is being in love?

EP:What good is love?
It brings you joy
With tears in your eyes…
It’s sad and wonderful!

TS:However people always say
That love is deceiving
That one of the two
Is never happy…

EP:But even when one has lost it,
A love that one has known

TS:All this is very pretty,
But when all is said and done,
You’re left with nothing
But an immense sorrow…

EP:But all that seems to be
Tearing you apart right now
Will become a
Joyful memory tomorrow.

TS:So essentially, if I understand correctly,
Without love in your live,
Without its joys and its sorrows,
There is nothing to live for?

EP:Of course! Look at me!
I’ve believed it it every time!
And I will believe in it forever…
That’s what love is for!
As for you, you are the last!
As for you, you are the first!
Before I had you, I had nothing,
With you I am complete.
You’re what I want!
You’re what I need!
You’re the one I will always love..That’s what love is for!

The song "A quoi ca sert l'Amour" was sung by Edith Piaf and her second (& much younger) husband Theo Serapo... Their duet is here...I love her expressions. She was a cute little 4'8 woman hahaha...

And in Jaane Kyu Log Pyar Karte Hai....Its a duet about the same thing....Man says Love isnt worth it (tsk tsk such pessimism)...and Woman says Yes it is.... (did I also mention its shot in Sydney? hehehe)

Oldies Goldies!

2006-11-13T00:21:00.001+08:00

There are a few classic Hindi oldies I am completely smitten by…Like every teenager I used to find oldies boring in my teens…but now I find some of them so damned cute…and yes, even though every desi auntie and uncle says the SAME old thing--- it IS true that they don’t make songs this heartwarming anymore. sigh

Guess what I found them! ( I LOVE you tube for this!)

And so I am inspired to blog after 2 months...(been super busy)... check the videos out if you dig this. Once you get over the super-power charcoal eyebrows and highest pitch voices…note the lyrics, simplicity of everything and the sincere romance…

Abhi Na Jao Chodkar

Mohd Rafi and his eternally touching voice. Dev Anand looking the intoxicated (i.e. drunk) lover as usual. But what I love is the repartee and playfulness of the lyrics, and Sadhana’s excellent expressions esp towards the end. Check this out

The video

Lyrics

Sindhu from NUS once walked up to me and suddenly requested me to sing this song to her cos she loved it v.much (she doesnt know Hindi, and i didnt even know her!) She had stars in her eyes :)

Aaja Piya Tohe Pyaar Doon

Those of you who know me know that I’ve never stopped humming this one. (And a couple of you know about my secret wishes hehehe…yes yes I know I am a monkey.)

As I was saying to some friends…Its simple and heart wrenching, nothing happens and yet a lot does. If you listened to the song without the visuals- it’s a cheeky, happy sounding tune. The balance of worry and light-heartedness is skilful- not easy to get away with. And yet this clip smoothes over you effortlessly.

The video

Lyrics

Ok so you notice how the little girl Asha Parekh acts all shy just cos the boy laughs!…Good grief (major eye roll inserted here)…In case no one notice, kids are not THAT self-conscious with the opposite sex. Flirting is a disease that descends when you’re older! (Bollywood tsk tsk)

ooo no wonder everyone was crazy about Rajesh Khanna, he was so cute!

And don’t ask me stupid questions like why all the clips have trees in them:):) They just do…ok?

Kabhie Kabhie

Would this blog be complete without everyone's favourite? This song is painfully bittersweet and tear-inducing. (Think I have an affinity for bittersweet songs)

For the benefit of those who dont know, if i remember correctly----In this scene: Rakhi (ie. over-decorated actress, super pretty hair) & Shashi Kappoor (sweet adoring husband with itchy undressing fingers) are having their wedding night...Before this, Rakhi was actually in love with Amitabh (almost famous poet) who wrote this poem for her and sang it to her. But her parents insistance she had to marry Shashi Kapoor, and thus, being the good indian girl she had no choice.... On the wedding night, just before this song, the oblivious (n v.excited) Shashi requests his dear wife to sing his fav poem to him. No money for guessing which poem it is! Amitabhs book of poems had just been published.. I cant even imagine Rakhi's pain as she sings the song...Shashi probably think she is weeping cos she is overwhelmed with love for her new husband- never mind that she hasnt seen him before that day...

And if you ask why this song is every persons fav--- its all in the lyrics darling!

The video

The superb lyrics

Yeh Mera Prem Patra

I love the song a lot…Don’t find the video anything special…

The Video

Baho Mei Chale Aao

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay!

One of my favorites of all time- even when I was young and hated oldies heeeheee…This one takes naughtiness to new levels :P …The newer versions are highly salicious.

Jaya Bachan is so very adorable, I love her :)

The video

Lyrics

Jaane Kahan Gaye Voh Din, Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan

Sad, touching..love this movie. Remember crying like mad as a kid:) Even if you're a sworn Bollywood-hater (and I can understand the sentiment though I dont share it hehe) this is ONE must-watch!!!!! Raj kapoor and Mukesh rock...

Jaane kahan video

Jeena Yahan Video

O Saathi Re

For all romantics:) Great lyrics...Its the fav of someone I know~

The video

The lyrics

Teri Bindiya Re

This is what you Public Display of Affection- without touching.

The video

MORE...

In Ankhon Ki Masti

Ghar Se Nikalte Hi (Ok I know its not an oldie but whatever this is MY blog hehe) I must say the video is a disappointment, so I am sticking to the picture in my head.

Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina... bittersweet

Anything less than a yes...

2006-11-10T23:40:00.000+08:00

So this particular person at my office (henceforth called HR) is bisexual and in love with some guy who keeps playing hot and cold with him. You know, leading him on and then leaving him hanging... We've all been there, done that, right?...(In Madhuism, it is called "to yo-yo someone"...but, I digress)

So anyway, I dont know HR well, but he kind of mentioned the story to me. A little hard not to notice anyway cos he's been quiet and moppy. He asked me what he should do (oh-oh he had no idea what was coming his way:) ) and because he is a nice person and still in his teens, and I am a grandmother, I basically told him...

1. Never be with someone who cannot respect and treasure you and all you have to give from the start. Its is diff to tear yrself away, but at the end of the day thats the best thing you can do for yourself...otherwise he's just gonna keep making use of you.
2. Anything less than a yes is a no.
3. Those who matter dont care, and those who care dont matter.
4. As long as you're plotting to make him regret, take revenge or make him jealous- you're not over the whole issue. You're over it when you simply don't care, can smile at him in the street and walk on not feeling anything.
5. You have to get sad, and then angry and reach the bottom of the well before you can start climbing up... and no one listens to advice anyway:)

He was pretty silent.

Guess what his MSN nick is this morning? "Anything less than a yes is a no"

hahahaha I am very tickled.

The worst part is that everyone else in the office (that was a private conversation w HR!) finds the line SO useful, they're using it at WORK. "If Kids Central is being doubtful about their commitment to pay, anything less than a 'yes' is a 'no'." ...And then they turn and wink at me. Its just smthg I made up during a conversation, cos its a theory I subscribe to in some situations!

HR wants to put "Those who matter dont care and those who care dont matter" on a t-shirt!

SHEESH!

Media Peeps

2006-11-09T23:58:00.000+08:00

Characteristics of those in the media industry...What I notice in my office (and by now way representive of all media people- I am not that myopic dont worry)...

1. One has "liberal" values. Westernised with sprinklings of Asian culture.

2. Marriage? Whats that?

3. One is 50% more likely to swing the other way, and not be secretive about it (way to go!). And I met my first bisexual person (YES! Now I can ask all the ques I ever wanted to ask someone who swings both ways!!!)

4. If one is gay, one is almost perpetually heartbroken and sad. But once gets support from colleagues (they dont see anyone else throughout the day anyway) and bounce back quick...And no matter how heterosexual someone seems, never assume their "partner" is someone of the opposite sex...tip: Switch on careful listening skills.

5. 80% smoke. Men and women. (cancer alert!) "Wanna go for a breathe?"

6. One is more likely to co-habitate than the general population here...Never mind that one stays with partner for one's whole life- no labels are stamped on relationships.

7. One is incapable of waking up in the morning... Work hours are all over the place, are irregular as hell (weekend? What weekend??) One basically doesnt have a life. (One secretly loves it)

8. One is usually underpaid, but doesnt leave the industry.

9. "Beer is God's way of showing he loves us." hahahah

10. One is loud....The office even converted our demure, soft spoken 66yr old secretary!!!

11. If one is a lesbian, one might love wearing masculine clothes....In fact, one dresses better and smell better than most men. (yeps!)

12. One is usually a freelancer and works with teams, so one is more likely to be extroverted and more casual.

13. Swearing and cigarettes are two things that protect one's sanity. Seriously.

14. One's race is sometimes undeterminable. One doesnt care.

Of course, as usual there are stark exceptions....

I am a new entry so I dont qualify yet...If I stay long enoug....? Dont know if I will stay in the indus...The wind is strong sometimes, and sometimes non-existent:_

When Kids were asked, "What is love?"

2006-10-18T15:50:00.000+08:00

The answers they gave were broader and dearer than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy- age 7

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"
Emily - age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.
He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine-age 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
Karen - age 7

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
Mark - age 6

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said,
"Nothing, I just helped him cry"

Blogskin. Help Needed.

2006-08-29T15:49:00.000+08:00

After taking forever to find a new blogskin I halfway like (with feedback from Kiran hehe he said it had to be gutsy/ strong yet vulnerable...hmmm) I kinda like this one....

EXCEPT ! I cant seem to figure out how to get the comments link to work!!! All the previous comments have vanished! Can anyone help??? :(

Bear with me while I figure this out...

Otherwise I'll just go back to the old skin.

Images from Work

2006-08-24T13:40:00.000+08:00

To help explain my ideas for videos- I sometimes take a few pics and make a picture. (its really difficult to explain otherwise.) No time to post, & I'm sure u dont want to see even MORE pics of me...Thought these would add colour...

Its amateurish, yes...but I've never done this before. Took forever, but I had fun:) The first two are for the Presidents' Design Award. The brown one is for the Min of Manpower. And the last for the Behringer product video...

And no, sadly, this is not the only thing I do.

Hmmm I seem to be influencing more n more people in this office. Most skipped lunch today. Welcome to the media industry...

2006-08-23T18:00:00.000+08:00

If you hear...

2006-08-21T22:01:00.000+08:00

Mitwa

(jaaniye heeriye
jaaniye heeriye)

mere mann ye bata de tu
kis orr chala hai tu
kya paya nahi tune
kya dhundh raha hai tu
jo hai ankahee jo hai ansuni
woh baat kya hai bata...
Mitwa... kahein dharkanein tujhse kya
mitwa... yeh khudse toh na tu chhupa

mere mann ye bata de tu
kis or chala hai tu
kya paya nahi tune
kya dhundh raha hai tu
jo hai ankahee jo hai ansuni
woh baat kya hai bata
Mitwa kahein dharkanein tujhse kya
mitwa yeh khudse toh na tu chhupa

jeevan dagar mein prem nagar mein - 2
aaya nazar mein jab se koi hain
tu sochta hain tu puchata hain
jiski kami thi kya yeh wohi hain
haa yeh wohi hain - 2
tu ek pyasa aur yeh nadi hain
kaahe nahi isko tu khulke bataye
jo hai ankahee jo hai ansuni
woh baat kya hai bata
Mitwa kahein dharkanein tujhse kya
mitwa yeh khudse toh na tu chhupa

teri nigaahen, paa gayi rahein
par tu yeh soche jaaun na jaaun
yeh zindagi jo hai naachti toh
kyon bediyon mein hai tere paanv
preet ki dhun par naach le paagal
udta agar hai udne de aanchal
kaahe koi apne ko aaise tarsaaye
jo hai ankahee jo hai ansuni
woh baat kya hai bata
Mitwa kahein dharkanein tujhse kya
mitwa yeh khudse toh na tu chhupa
mere mann ye bata de tu
kis or chala hai tu
kya paya nahi tune
kya dhundh raha hai tu
mitwa...

saturday

2006-08-20T13:30:00.001+08:00

I dont normally blog about my weekends...but well today I feel like a long one so here goes...Saturday...The plan was salsa class, practice a little w Naga, go for Gurmit's kirtan with Dips and then meet some friends for dinner, and drinks later...

After Salsa class, Naga and I and a couple of our classmates stayed a little to practice the second variation of the Suzy Q (this annoying step where your feet move all over the place REALLY quickly. At the moment none of us get it hahaha so I'm not the only idiot)...All of a sudden our instructor, Luv, takes my hand and decides she wants to polish my moves (i.e. I get free extra coaching. Who's complaining?)...

She sent me twirling about, and because her lead is excellent, I was dancing decent salsa! That was so thrilling:)... More importantly, she corrected the things that I habitually do wrong... In Salsa everything is dependant on the lead of the male...and Naga said Luv made me look good heheh...

And then because of some confusion about the bus route (Naga forgot 130 doesnt stop at Little India) I had to walk for 30mins in the blistering heat in uncomfy shoes, took another and THEN I missed the bus stop (cos I was busy giving directions to the esplanade to ketki on the phone) by 3 stops and walked another 20mins backwards. Needless to say, by the time I reached Gurmits home, I was all sticky and irritable and really felt like going up to seema's house (she lived in the same neighbourhood) to shower. But I washed up at Gurmits and felt alot better.

It was a good feeling at the kirtan (Sikh prayers). Except that Dipti n I were served small pieces of cake and 2 really gd samosas and Dips was on a diet hahahah. Its seva so there is no such thing as refusing. The look on her face was really funny cos she was v.unhappy about blowing her diet...I thought of offering to eat her portion- but then I thought why shd I gain even more fats cos dips is dieting hehehe...Gurmits daughter was very cute and her husband looked very much like Harry...that part was strange...

Then Dips n I took the bus to Esplanade and we had dinner outdoors at Thai Express. Ketki, Dipti, Vik, Fishah, me and Seema n her boyf, Kamlesh joined us later. Poor mustan had come down with a headache and was sleeping at home instead. He wouldve loved this.

It was a lovely night, the food was good and the view was fantastic, as always. Ketki scolded me for not telling her to bring her camera. What made it more perfect was the outdoor performance. The singer from Boys with Toys (I know. What a name for a band:)) sang good songs really well... we ate and talked and ate and talked. Even though some of them were meeting for the first time- my guess was right- these people could gel pretty well and there was a surreal comfortable and serene feeling about the entire night.

One of the highlights of the evening was when we went closer to the outdoor performance and saw that an old Chinese man had gotten up to dance to the band!!! He was completely doing these 60's disco style moves to songs like Dancing Queen, Cant fight the Moonlight, and the finale I will Survive. This uncle was adorable n he really made us laugh. An Ah Beng behind me went yelling "You rock Uncle!!!" hehehe...About 300 people were swaying, clapping to the music and had big grins on their faces. Such a change in your face, Singapore, even in the last decade. We're nowhere near perfect, but there are many changes in my nation that I love.

Then I had a classic, painfully-cliched epiphanic moment under the open sky. I had had food and conversation with wonderful loving friends, the music was good, the view was heavenly, there were boats sliding on a glittering satin river, without ocassion there was goodwill and happy faces all around, and the jiving uncle who, despite all the cares in the world, tthough nothing of dancing non-stop infront of a hundred ppl... just because he felt like...How happy must he be from within? I asked myself what is it that is bothering me again? What is it that I am cynical about? Suddenly I cant remember. Suddenly everything I'd been thinking about seemed so minute... Life is indeed good. And I had no reason not to be smiling...No reason that was good enough anyhow.

I know that, at the end of the day, despite the little worries and confusion and cluelessness, I will deal with it all. And I will be fine....Whatever comes my way.

Ketki, Dipti and Fish wanted to catch the train home and Seema and Kamlesh had a party to attend, so the group hugged and broke up.

Vik and I headed to The Courtyard at the Fullerton Hotel at my suggestion. He loved the hotel setting, music, quiet and couches, so we slumped happily on one of the couches. Knowing we couldnt hold our drinks to save our lives, we had to-die-for South African Roibosh Vanilla Tea (without question my fav tea in the world now) and a cheesecake, and talked for abt two hours abt many things. I suddenly missed Mythili for a good two minutes. She wldve enjoyed the tea and ambience too...

The waitress was really nice, and when I said thank you I wanted to say "Thank you Maria" (her name tag says that)-- but I felt a little shy so I didnt...I just said "Thank you." (n smiled alot) I know I should've said Maria if i wanted to and I wish I did cos there is absolutely nothing to be shy about. But I never know when the shyness comes and when it does...well it does...

Vik tells me that men have good hearts when they get attached to a girl. When Vig (aka PB) called from Brisbane today I told him that Vik said that, fully expecting Vig to contest the statement with indignation. Surprisingly, he agreed, that men become better people because of their other halves. I have more thoughts on this (when do I not. Right? yawn.)...but maybe that might be another post...who am I kidding? I am too lazy...

He told me I am ever-ready with rebuttals...By implication, he meant most men dont like that in women...Those types of men, I find excruciatingly boring...haha isnt that a pretty nice arrangement?...

We talked about how my friends we had dinner with were genuinely nice people and I said yes he had now met the 5 friends that made up my world. I told him, "Now you know why I used to tell u in Sydney that your perception of the world is a sum of your experiences and relationships with people. I am idealistic because I'm surrounded by fantastic people"...he thought the world is superficial, uncompromising, competitive, selfish and materialistic because of the people he hung around with. During our many long walks around Sydney, that was one of our big debates about the world.. Not that either of us r right or wrong-- but I always felt we needed a middle ground between both our views... He said he knew what I was talking about and he had the choice to be with his oldest friends that night- but chose to meet me and my friends, even when he didnt know some of them...

Later that night they msged me to say nice things about one another (hahaha) and that they had a great time. I was really glad about that. The one thing better than having fun is making others have fun with you...Its refreshing to be able to enjoy yrself without actually doing a whole lot... Its the company that matters.

Ok I have to stop rambling now. Dipti just called and insists I sing Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna to her. I dont even know the song!!!! (I didnt even like the movie)...and now I have to go learn it for her...oh bother...

I hate mondays!

The Invitation

2006-08-15T18:54:00.000+08:00

Fish sent this poem via email. I was silenced for good ten minutes.

I do wish I was this person. That unafraid of life...Alas but some characteristics I may never have...

The Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

© Oriah Mountain Dreamer, from the book The Invitation
published by HarperSanFrancisco, 1999

Miss Independent lyrics

2006-08-13T14:39:00.000+08:00

Miss independent, miss self-sufficiant
Miss keep-your-distant
Miss unafraid, miss out-my-way
Miss don’t let a man interfere, no
Miss on her own, miss almost grown miss
Miss never let a man help her off her throne
So, by keeping her heart protected
She’d never ever feel rejected
Little miss apprehensive
I said ooo, she fell in love

What is this feeling taking over
Thinking no one could open the door
Surprise it’s time to feel what’s real
What happened to Miss independent
No longer need to be defensive
Goodbye old you when love is true

Miss guarded heart
Miss play it smart
Miss if you want to use that line you better not start, no
But she miscalculated
She didn’t want to end up jaded
And this Miss decided not to miss out on true love
So, by changing her misconceptions
She went in a new direction
And found inside she felt a connection
She fell in love

What is this feeling taking over
Thinking no one could open the door
Surprise it’s time to feel what’s real
What happened to Miss independent
No longer need to be defensive
Goodbye old you when love is true

When Miss independent walked away
No time for love that came her way
She looked in the mirror and thought today
What happened to Miss no longer afraid
It took some time for her to see

How beautiful love could truly be
No more talk of why can’t that be me
I’m so glad I finally see…

What is this feeling taking over
Thinking no one could open the door
Surprise it’s time to feel what’s real
What happened to Miss independent
No longer need to be defensive
Goodbye old you when love is true …miss independent…

Tamasha AAAAH~

2006-08-06T09:01:00.000+08:00

I am wake at 9am on a freaking Sunday because some morons have decided that 8am on a Sunday is the perfect time to have a massive and atrociously loud National Day celebration in the neighbourhood.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a boiling volcano.

They dont have to be THIS loud!!! I have to talk loudly to my parents to make myself heard...Its like they're super determined to be irritating.

I dont get it. I just dont get it...People stay out late on Saturdays. Sunday is the day human beings SLEEP IN. Those who dont are such a small number that we might as well pretend they dont exist!!!! Sunday is the only time i can sleep in for HEAVENS SAKE!...And what about people with babies? poor them! (yes yes ok my sympathy is always with babies yadayadayada)

Whoever in the world has heard of a party in the morning???? Its so much cooler in the evening....like about 7pm...and would look so much nicer with the lights! But does anyone here have a brain?

Its like a family day thing, and the emcees are so enthusiastic I fear they might fall off the stage. They passed these huge balls around so the crowd can pass them back- but the ppl are too busy playing with them among themselves hahah...the kids must be having a ball with all the cheesy song n dance routines...chinese, malay and bhangra hahahah...its pretty cute cos they're all so serious about it.

I remember the days when we were kids and National Day was a huge thing...There'd be red n white everywhere, we'd have school concerts and competitions for everything under the sun. We would sing all the patriotic songs, and say the plegde just for fun with our friends...and we'd stand up when we sang Stand Up for Singapore..."There was a time when people thought that S'pore wont make it but we did" (and boy we did!) lol! And we had these small ridiculous plastic flags we'd take n run around everywhere, it had sweets in the stem....The highlight was of course the NDP parade on TV....for those of u who dont know...National Day Parade tickets are so hot- ppl will queue for DAYS, rain or shine, to get them.(now they have some strange balloting system to be fair to everyone) Ambiance n show is supposed to be fabulous...nostalgia...

Now I am old. And National Day is a another (albeit MUCH appreciated) holiday...

I am playing music louder than theirs.

Perci is falling asleep with his head on my foot. Unperturbed.

This is so irritating...I've had 3.5 hours of sleep. I'll be yawning the whole damn day now.....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Great Name Debate

2006-07-29T14:33:00.000+08:00

At least two Indian families I know are having the Great Name Debate for their babies...I started looking up names out of curiousity, and had a riot with some of the weirder names...some of them were really funny...like Chandakini...hehehehe

I think the meaning of a name is v.important. So it puzzles me why anyone would want to name their kid Alpa (meaning "little")...So she'll grow up to be small? Or she'd have little of everything?

...And Alka means "lock of curly hair" (!!!!) No, not one of the Alka's I know have curly hair...What were their parents thinking? That her hair isnt curly now, but might curl up when she gets older? ...strange...

Anyway, i'm posting a list of the names I though were nice. As is obvious, I personally like short meaningful names...and I'd keep away from the fad of stereotypical Bollywood names. Every other kid nowadays is a Raj, Rahul or Aryan.

My favourites are the ones in white...

Boys

Anish- supreme

Aseem- limitless, boundless

Pavan- Wind (unisex)

Sameer- Wind

Harshal- Happy

Karan

Manish- Lord of the mind

Nikhil- whole, entire...a common name

Sachin- pure...common

Praveen- Expert (unisex)

Ishan- Sun

Akhil- whole and complete
Shaan- glory
Kabir

Girls

Jyoti- Light

Sachita- consciousness

Shreya- Auspicious

Smita- Smile...so cute! Imagine having a little girl called Smile:)

Sonia- golden

Manisha- Goddess of mind/Desire

Tejal- Brilliant

Upasna- Meditation

Ekta- unity

Anisha- continuous

Anusha- beautiful morning, a star

Niyati- Fate, fortune, supreme power

Bday Colour Crap

2006-07-27T17:45:00.000+08:00

Jalpa just checked my birthday colour, and says this sounds "exactly" like me... I would've been outraged at being PINK when I was 16...Amazing how being an adult (yes folks, I know reality, I just prefer to escapism) changes you hehe... I dont understand why we like reading crap like this. We KNOW its crap, but still...

*PINK* You are always trying your best in everything, and like to help and care for other people. But you are not easily satisfied. You have negative thoughts, and you look for romantic love like in a fairytale.

hmm...the cynic in me

2006-07-27T00:26:00.000+08:00

The ranking of the National Uni of Singapore in the world...

We're good at Social Sciences...since when?

Oh well that spells good news for me...even though I dont believe it hehehehe....Uni of Sydney doing not so bad either...

2006-07-21T17:03:00.000+08:00

Shair...:)

2006-07-16T22:47:00.000+08:00

Shayad aapki nazar mei kuch nahi hai hum,

Zara unse poochiye, jinhe hasil nahi hai hum.

The SiZe of Superman's Suit...

2006-07-10T01:04:00.001+08:00

I have to share Suresh's joke (that naga told me) that actually made me laugh...

Why is Superman's suit so tight?

Guess guess...

Because....

He wears a size S!

Hahahaha...This boy is so full of these kinda jokes...This one is sooooo stupid, and yet I find it SO amusing!

I am gonna sleep for an hour before the match starts... Am backing the underdog:) As usual!

Empower Memories...

2006-07-08T12:16:00.000+08:00

This is an email I send to my fellow expedition mates (Project Empower 2003- Aids Awareness and English Language for youth) two years ago...I had the time of my life. Work and laughter. And crazy, noisy people who were incapable of being quiet- just like me....

3 of them fell really sick and Jalpa and I were appointed 'nurses'...the AWARDS and QUOTES were drawn up one lazy afternoon at the hospital...And we had a "Good shit board"- each time someone said something funny/stupid/'flirtatious' someone would run and record it on the board...Some really funny stuff is on that "board" I wonder where it is (?)

Those were the DAYS!!!! Sigh sigh sigh...the email...

Ok Darlings!!!
> >
> > Here it is...Mythili u asked for the awards n quotes... Never typed
> > the word "award" so many times in my life hehe...I'm taking time
> > off from my busy social life to type all this so pls do feel free
> > to laugh a bit thank you very much! This was drawn up when we were
> > bumming with our ex-sickies:)
> >
> > still missing u guys;
> > Madhu
> >
> > AWARDS
> >
> > Queen of Chirpers Award- Mythili
> > King of Chirpers Award- Vignesh
> > Makcik Modern Award- Zee
> > Cheif Snorer Award- Naga
> > The most Oorex Duplex Award- Kuchex
> > The Red Red Rose Award- Sheela
> > Matrimonial.com Most Eligible Bachelor Award- Vignesh
> > Mother Theresa Vannabe (MTV) Award- Sweetheart Malini
> > Booker Prize Award- Prashanth
> > Casper the Friendly Hafiz Award- Hafiz
> > DreamCatcher Award- Kelly
> > Do not fear Naresh is here Award- Naresh
> > The Mr V Lineage Award- Saras
> > Bride of the Year Award- Shalu
> > Chairperson of Shopaholic Anonymous Award- Pramz
> > The Daintiest Fall Award- Madhu
> > Ms Girly Twirly Award- Madhu
> > Ms Independant Award- Chee Geok
> > Popiah Queen Award- Geetha
> > Kollywood Star Award- Rathi
> > Ms Health n Fitness Award- Van
> > Bathroom Singer Award- Ambi
> > The Chicago Award- Kanchana
> > Ms Phone is Free Award- Kanniga
> > Hutch Posterboy Award- Hafiz
> > Vidal Sassoon Haircut Award- Prashu
> > Ms Cutie Pie Award- Zee
> > Ms Sexy Wink Award- Jalpa
> > PCK Award- Ambi
> > Ex- Mangama/ True Blue Mangama Award- Vai
> > Newly Crowned Mangama Award- Pramz
> > 'Koyak" Taste in Guys Awards...
> > Malu- President
> > My- Vice Pres
> > Hema- Hon Sec
> > Kanchana- Liaisons officer
> >
> >
> > QUOTES (that everyone said ALL the time)
> >
> > (Vai said this while eating something in the plane. Everyone used it thereafter) ...This is GOOD SHIT!
> >
> > (catching on the Indian lingo) ...Take it ya!
> >
> > Salicious
> >
> > (Father Jacob's most ferocious dog tt was let out at night. We had to run up n lock our room door, or he'd tear us into pieces. Bobby's name= utmost fear) ...Is Bobby out???
> >
> > (always. In the middle of the night, when we couldnt go to the loo cos Bobby was outside) ...I need to pee....
> >
> > (Jal, Vig n I were in the Food committee, our mantra) ...The food comm will ...deliver!
> >
> > (when serving food we painstakingly cooked, however crappy it was) ...With LOVE!
> >
> > Food comm head lingo- To die for
> > You know what...
> >
> > This is going on the board! **run*run**
> >
> > (we only drank mineral water, which ran out all the time) ...Is there anymore Bisleri?
> >
> > (terrorist risk, we were assigned partners, never to be anywhere alone) ...Where's my partner?
> >
> > (door doesnt close) ...Please gaurd the loo for me
> >
> > (all the students we taught, all the time) ...Yes, Miss!
> >
> > (2 bathrooms. 20 people) ...Who's bathing next?
> >
> > (hahah I cant explain this in one line, but its hilarious. "Jasmine of Mysore" or smthg)... Mysore Malligai
> >
> > (Rathi, our Kollywood star, someone smitten by her made her sign on a 5 rupee note) ...Kollegal Kollei
> >
> > (everytime we went shopping. Asking Mythili for permission. Frooti is a to-die-for mango drink)...Can we have some Frooti?
> >
> >(hospital quotes for Chwee Geok, Vanessa and Vai, when the poor things were feeling real crappy)
Emergency Lines- repeat after me, I vill not vomit!
> > Have you vet your anus??
> > Five minutes, five minutes...
>

Pics of weekend!

2006-07-07T16:59:00.000+08:00

Friday night. I had to work late (on a fri night!!!! sigh). Naga had dinner with me and we practiced salsa a little and then he sat around until i finished work. And then we went home to sleeeeeeeeeeeep....eating at lau pa sat....crap food. Naga knotted the cherry stem with his tongue. I could never do that!

Naga making my office chair look tiny...

Saturday....There were so many NUS people at Janaki's wedding. And yours truly of course forgot most names. Now that would not have been a huge problem if everyone had forgotten mine. But well, am I ever that lucky??? After calling one person by the wrong name, I decided to talk less and smile more...

Inthrani, and Kanniga...too bad I didnt remember to take pics with the rest...

Then mum n dad picked me up and we visited Jal's parents. Uncle thought we must take final shots before I changed...Not really the best of shots, cos i was so soooo warm...!

the parents talking about their precious Beti's

Mum on the phone. In her green kameez i like!

Then mum n dad went to someone else place and Jals parents and I went over to Dipti's...We tried to help in the kitchen....ok well we were getting in the way. I got the gorgeous Aunties to pose for me:) heheh

I ate like three times that day... heheh I dont know what got into my head and appetite...Was just hungry all day.

Dipti's hamster "april"...whom her family calls Chuhi (mouse hehehehe)...Auntie playing with her...

Tired but smiling...dips and i. I and dips.

Uncle said he wasnt gorssed out by Chuhi...so she decided to bury herself in his arm:)

Discussing alternative medicine. I was happy so long as the conversation stayed clear of the "M" word....

About to drop dead in bed. The Gdnight shot.

Monday at work....yan posing for me!

Maddies desk at TRA

Yan at work!

My beloved Axe! The interns made this for me before i left ...its supposed to be my magic wand...to grip when clients test my patience...i.e. every day.

Anne sitting pretty on my chair. Kevin going home... See what I mean by romantic lighting? Ppl in TRA think like pretending they work in a restaurant.

Whats written on my Axe:P

To every member of the female species…

2006-07-06T20:23:00.000+08:00

Stop making excuses. There are no ‘if’s and ‘but’s

If he likes you, he will call you. If he likes you, he will never be too busy to make a 2 minute call or send a 4 four-lined email. If he likes you, he will not promise to meet up/ call and forget. If he likes you, he will say “Let’s work the barriers out.”

If he doesn’t, he’s just not that into you. And if he’s just not that into you, he’s not worth your time and excuses.

That’s the end of that.

yet Another bad habit

2006-07-06T18:46:00.001+08:00

I need to fix this somehow…

I have a really bad habit of worrying when complexities come up at work. I carry these thoughts in my head and bring them home. And sometimes I want to talk about it to someone. Sometimes I do talk about it, but I also don’t want to hear myself crib about work when I am not at home. And why should anyone have to listen to this? All workplaces suck right?

They're not even big problems. I need to learn to block things out.

Haven’t had the chance to eat at all today. I wonder how I am sitting upright. So much for gym.

Why I am typing this here? silly me

When God decided...

2006-07-01T10:47:00.000+08:00

I promised myself my 3rd session at the gym this week wld be this morning. I was too sleepy. Sigh! I have to do the laundry, go for salsa, accompany Naga to Toys R Us (he's finally realised we're kids hehe) then get some stuff from Little India, n sleep early for Jan's wedding tomorrow. But all of a sudden I thought of these two poems (see I told my mind is full of random things) and decided to put them down here. Its called 'sharing'...Blogworld still confuses me. Its been 2yrs (?) n I am still not sure exactly what I am doing here.

But can u imagine how MUCH more I'd talk if I didnt blog???

Just two of my favourite poems (I seem to have many favourites haha)...I love the candid and wry honesty in both of them. And their simplicity. I am an adamant advocate of simplicity and economy of words in Literature. At least in the few poems n prose I write.

The one by Seth, is a thought I always had, and when I came across the poem in the library I was pleasantly surprised. For me, there are tiny bitter feelings.

The one by E.E.Cummings is more special to me cos Dips and I discovered it together. For some reason she decided to look at poems with me that day- perhaps cos we both like Cummings. His style is somewhat unconventional, but the words always sound just right... This poem is one of those that everyone derive their own meaning from. Those of you who love dissection of everything under the sun (u know who you are!) it would be really interesting to hear your thoughts!

God loves us all, I'm pleased to say-
or those who love him anyway-
or those who love him and are good
or so they say. Or so he should.

-- Vikram Seth, Collected Poems

when god decided to invent
everything he took one
breath bigger than a circustent
and everything began

when man determined to destroy
himself he picked the was
of shall and finding only why
smashed it into because

-- E.E.Cummings

Mads Flirting

2006-06-30T19:10:00.000+08:00

I am at work, finishing up my concept and firming up the Friday night plans. Its 7pm and I am still here on a Fri! I dont like this.

I just had a conversation with Praveen online. We're just having a random mock flirtatious conversation and I was finding me pretty funny (he told me not to bring gd ol'd Buddha into the conversation lol)...I told him how lucky he is cos he and Vig are the only guys I flirt with. And then he went "really???" like its some big surprise.

Ok people who met me either think I am Mother Maddie (more often than not), or Wild Flirtatious Chick...I think thats funny...When i ask they say its the wild n unique hair, but since when does hair determine your character? ...Anyway to correct misconceptions --- I am neither. I am just me:)

Maddie the Great.

Anyway, here are the cartoons:) Kamz, Vig, Pravz, and Karen...wearing the stuff meant for Vig's niece's bday party. I loved those dorky things lol..

So with Praveens question I started wondering why I dont flirt with other guys. To the quesiton 'why only Prav and Vig' I answered...

1. They're both very sweet huggable people, n are gd friends, I'm very very very comfortable with them.
2. I know both of them are not going to freak out and think I really am in love with them.
3. They're not boring flirts, and are not likely to cross limits or gross me out completely.
4. I really wont do the eyelash fluttering, hair twirling, bust expanding, you get the idea- thing.

So then I guess this isnt REAL flirting right? Cos I'm interested in them in that way...Oh Shucks! I'm not even a real flirt!

Someone just told me I'm the only person who says 'Shucks' like its perfectly normal. Apparently ppl said that in 1959.

Oh shucks!

;)

Ben&Jerry's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-06-25T21:55:00.000+08:00

Last Friday was the interns' last day and 5 of us went out after work. We had a Ben&Jerry's Monster-- 20 scoops of ice-cream for 80bucks...Yes, TWENTY scoops of ice-cream for 5 of us. The friendly counter guy thought it was too much for us. He kept giving us disbelieving looks.

We wiped it out.

No wonder I love these people:)

Felt kinda sick after that but it was heavenly when we started it...Really...heaven probably tastes like B&J ice cream...Then we were given the box which we all liked. Wen Ling was holding it a certain way that really made her look like a bear (we call her Pudgy Paw cos her hands are so fleshy u cant see the knuckles- like a baby's- its bloody cute!)-- we we whipped out the camera phones n snapped away. Needless to say we didnt care that ppl around were staring at the overgrown toddlers with sweet TEETH amusing themslves with a bucket!

Then we all had to pose (rule of thumb- one person does something stupid. We all must do it too)...It was all very incidental and impromptu...

Wen Ling- a.ka. Dollypuff...I told u she is resident cutie. And she SO doesnt know it...Tell her that and she'll threatened to stick her pudgy paw in your tummy...Cheryl a.k.a Boobsie...being her dorky self and grinning about it.
She was recovering from a cold, but who cares when it comes to ice-cream right?Christine doing a Romeo:)
Kang Min a.k.a Meatbar...We should've named her Shredder in instead (remember Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles?...AWESOME!!!) or hamster...LOL!
Yours Truly a.k.a Cotton Candy :( ...I dont know where this pose came from. I held it up, they told me to HOLD IT, and lo and behold...Mads the Arabian Princess Flirt. Not that I could ever manage that in real life!

If everyday had simple pleasures like this....

Shakira's Bday

2006-06-24T11:30:00.000+08:00

I just found out Shakira and I share the same birthday...2 feb...and she was born 5 years before I was...If u are thinking of resemblances you wont find any:) ...besides the hair and bigger than proportionate hips...She is one who knows how to use that to her advantage!

Was annoyed with her Hips Don't Lie but now I love it!

What I need to shout off the rooftops...

2006-06-23T11:23:00.000+08:00

1. I am not South Indian. I am not pretending to be an anglophile- I REALLY do not know Tamil…so quit giving me disgusted looks.

2. I am not South American (brazilian, columbian, mexican), so there is not point in speaking to me in Spanish either.

3. The hair is REAL. It is not a wig, so pls don’t try to yank at it. Yes, its called "corkscrew curls" (I am not being dirty) and no, I do not how much it costs to get it done at the saloon.... I do not use any out-of-this-world hair products, there is no secret involved.. And yes I do comb it- when it’s wet…and yes it is naturally black…sigh.

4. Eyelashes are real too. I am Indian…(and you are Chinese so u’ve clearer skin. God is fair.)

5. I do not have a tan right now. I am just naturally brown...I can get much more brown…and no, I don’t want to be fair. I am happy with me.

6. I mean it when I say I am bad at dancing. Don’t feign disbelief and don't make me demonstrate.

7. Just because I am walking with a guy friend doesn’t mean I am going to marry him. (Oh God please….) And no we were NOT holding hands- that’s just your gossip-starved-skewed imagination!

You know you're Indian when...

2006-06-19T21:51:00.000+08:00

Didnt go to work today. My nose is all blocked, and my throat feels like saw-dust. The boss was shocked at my voice when I called her in the morning haha...

Doctor insists on rest and a lot of water. On MC today and tomorrow....

Worked a bit from home. I might go to work for a while tomorrow to get some stuff done....I never thought I'd say this, but I'd rather go to work than face the crap-pile on Wednesday...oh well...I dont want to pass this virus around cos it sure is nasty...Plus the office is maddeningly cold..

Spent some time replying to emails I should have replied to a long time ago...Then I was in need of some entertainment, so had a grin over this bit about being Indian....haha

Maddie the Freak Magnet

2006-06-18T23:40:00.000+08:00

I am the freak magnet. It is a wonder (at least to me) that i have never blogged about this before.

If there was one Indian weirdo in the room/ cafe/ club/ gym, he'll find his way to me. I am not paranoid. Even my friends have noticed. This has happened several times. This post is only about the gym instances...If I added the rest it would most definitely be a book!

Karen calls the first guy the Armpit Man. Everytime she says that I crack up...That is a totally gross name, but I cant think of anything other than "Inverted Hair Ball", so "Armpit Man" works as well..."Inverted" cos he has muscles so big i am baffled why he doesnt double over his tiny waist and fall down.

I am not kidding.

Armpit Man is always at the gym. Yes one of those types. His life revolves around his muscles. The second one is Brahmin Man. He just exudes "I want a pretty, homely, vegetarian Brahmin wife" kind of Brahmin-ness...dont ask!

I have always prided myself on my quiet gym sessions. Its my thinking time, I tie my hair n wear over-sized ugly shirts, i.e. I allow myself to look like complete shit and dont give a damn about it...It is most definitely the last place on the planet I expect to get hit on...

Encounter One....(Armpit Man)
I am using the ab machine. I've used it a dozen times n I know I am using it right cos the diagram says so. Armpit Man steps infront of me suddenly, and I nearly scream in fright. He is Indian, hairy n scary.

"Excuse me, you're not using the machine correctly."

Is he trying to pick me up? I contemplate ignoring him. But wait minute- he could be one of the instructors- so i decide to give him the benefit of the doubt. Then gives his instructions. Before leaving me alone, he tells me I have "such small hands." Even though I know they are small-ish relative to my frame, it was unsettling for a stranger to be telling me that...

After that incident, he says hi, or "where have u been" when we pass each other. I give the shortest answers possible, and never stop to talk. I am neither rude nor inviting.

Encounter Two...(Armpit Man)
Karen and I using the ab machine. I finish and its her turn. Next thing i know he is beside me. "Is this how u let your friend use the machine?" I look at him. Karen eyes go all wide as he steps closer to her. I prepare to kick him if he lays a finger on her...

All he does is adjust a lever. And he shows her how to do it, "Tuck your tummy in...Come on! TUCK your tummy in."

Now we are all staring at poor traumatised Karen's tummy. She looked like she was going to punch his face and scream, "It IS tucked in. That's fat, something you probably havent heard about, you insensitive ASSHOLE!" I really felt for her...

And then, as if it could get worse, he decides to do a demo. He is wearing one of those skimpy singlets people really proud of their idiotic muscles normally wear... Even before he lifts his arms above his head to grip the handles there is a huge neon "Oh NO" sign in my head. As I recall it now, everything is in slow-mo...there it is. Tufts of curly dark hair... oh man... I really didnt need that sight.

"You do this, and after a month, you'll see....but wait, what do u have for dinner???" ...I know there is a correct answer.... But me being painfully honest as usual, I say, "Ummm dhal and roti?"

"Aaaah that is why...you should eat fruits...and salads...Then in a month u will see..!" I dont bother telling him I had a fruits for lunch just that day- but why extend this conversation? Thoroughly amused, I nod and bite my lip so I dont laugh....And then he walks off.

Karen n I glance at each other. 3 seconds of silence n then we burst out laughing. I try to use the machine but we are laughing too hard and we stop cos we might injure ourselves. Then Karen tells me this "Never" happens when she is alone, and its my "baby curls n innocent face" that invites attention...I tell her she's talking nonsence.

Karen only didnt sock him cos she thought he was my friend. She asked why didnt I tell him to F off. I said cos he thinks he is helping us.

Encounter Three...(Brahmin Man)
Karen and I are particularly proud of ourselves for keeping to our gym routines. I decide i want to try one of the machines for the first time. Problem was, I didnt know what to do with the bar infront of my legs...

"Excuse me, if you dont mind can I show you how to use the machine." Indian man with a kum kum tika in a white singlet. (I cant remember if he had a moustache or not- this is how much i pay attention to men at the gym)....The minute I saw him, I thought, "This is it. This is Brahmin Man!"

And because this time I obviously didnt know how to use this complicated machine- I smiled at him n said "Yes please." Its called humility ok, when u dont know something- LEARN! Then he stares at me. I think "what?" before I realise oh, he wants to demonstrate. (Ok yes we are all granted our bimbo moments. Get over it)

So as he is demonstrating I couldve sworn he was staring at Karen (at which point Suresh's theory about how guys talk to the ugly friend to hit on the pretty one. Its a theory he denies now. How convenient.)

We thanked him...I am not as annoyed with Brahmin Man, cos all he does is demonstrate on the machine n then he goes away, without giving weird unsolicited advice. So his Freak Factor wasnt much...But as he goes away Karen shakes her head at me..."At least n ow we know how to use this damn thing! Come on, we wld never have figured it out ourselves!"

It just keeps happening...I wonder if I have "damsel in distress" written all over my face? That sucks. I've never really relied on anyone to get things done in my life. To think I was the one who taught a guy friend how to change a tyre! hmmmphhh

the Lego peeps

2006-06-18T06:04:00.000+08:00

I've been awake the whole night. I am nuts. My nose is runny n my throat feels strange n that sucks cos I have so much work on Monday that an MC is close to impossible...Chronic responsibility syndrome. I've been told I have it.

So I thought I'd share this pic:)

My friends at work and I went for the Lego exhibition during lunch hour one day and it was AMAZING....they used thousands of lego blocks to make people, scenarios, a whole stadium with a soccer match going on, a pirate scenarios, houses etc etc....We were scampering around in wonder like kids!!!

And then Kang Min and Wenling bought some of us a lego person that reminds them of us....They're really cute...We got excited and started arranging them to take shots with hilda's camera...They kept toppling over, so this pic was quite a FEAT!

top row--- Cheryl (detective), Wen Ling (D.R.), Tim (Pizza Chef), Yuki (construction guy)
bottom row--Kang Min (Santa), Hilda (Prisoner), Madhu (Surfer)

Was pretty amused...Crap entertainment like this makes us laugh in the office...A relief from the stress...

I am the surfer dude cos i love the Australian beaches...Hilda is just perplexed that she reminds them of a criminal hahaha

Quotables

2006-06-14T17:28:00.000+08:00

“We cannot get happy smiling Singaporeans from anywhere, they have to be shot.” ---Meatbar explaining that we cant obtain pics of smiling faces for a video so we have to shoot it, i.e. film it, ourselves...came out sounding like a VERY loaded political statement.

“It’s like I say I’m sorry then I take my scooter and clobber you to death.” ---Wantan

“I am matching the watch at the pub tonight.” ---Donald.

Boobsie spills her drink on her lap at the “fav eating place of the crazies”, Dudu (yuck!) and the stall owner goes, “Come I switch on the fan. Come open your legs…”…we try not to choke on our drinks.

“You look like a ladoo.” ---Some random Indian-mama passer-by in Little India. To yours truly. (laddoo- round, orange Indian sweet) Fish was with me and she had a laughing fit.

“Don’t be mad, Mad!”—N.

“Follow these steps and people will follow YOU!”--- Tagline on N’s latest read, some book on Leadership. How can I resist giving him a hard time abt that line?

Last but not least, coat of arms…I love this one!

SONEB= School of Not Enough Budget... You guessed it people. Interns came up with this cos we undercharge and clients always want the moon, but only pay for sand.

Crazy Sunday Night Part 2

2006-06-13T18:17:00.000+08:00

We watched the movie. I never saw the original Omen. Was disappointed at the abrupt ending. And I wonder what parent would allow their child to act in movies like these. (the girl in Exorcist- what the hell were her parents thinking???)…that said, I am a wimp, and easily frightened in horror movies- yes even lousy ones. So I had my eyes n ears covered, n my face buried on Kamz/ Zee’s shoulders at some parts. Psycho Zee giggled at the scary bits- n she had her hair let down…After a bit, Zee was scaring me more than the movie.

Then Kamini was to be surprised at midnight cos it was her bday. Karen n Praveen pretend to go get the car while we waited for a very late Suchi to arrive, and Zee acted like she was really hungry….Of course, I do not (Karen said she told me, maybe I wasn’t paying attention) know what’s going on cos no one remembered to brief me on the plans. But because Karen n Pravz vanished 4 some time….I, very intelligently mind, deduced Kamini was gonna be surprised. So Zee pretends she has forgotten Kamz bday and I go on and on about how I am the only one who remembered despite only having known Kamz for not too long. Kamz scolds Zee and Zee acts all sorry…Karen msgs me, “Make noise when u are approaching us.”

Make noise.. Hmmm…Kamini and Zee and I are having a normal conversation, and it would bizarre if I suddenly started laughing or speaking very loudly. So what do I do? I stomp my sandals as I walk, praying Kamz doesn’t notice and the bday surprise gang can hear me. Tick tock tick tock… In retrospect, I was walking like a complete noisy elephant and I wonder why kamini didn’t ask what my sudden problem was. So the usual happens. They pop out with a cute little cake, we sing happy bday, Kamz accidentally blew out half her candles before she made a wish so she got only half a wish, and we were fed cake. She seemed all happy n surprised! Then we piled into the car. Despite my protests, we were going to the old Changi Hospital. Before that, we stop at whats-its-name-hotel cos Zee needs the washroom. Zee waltzes into the hotel acting all “atas” and glamourous with her shawl.

And then it happens again. AGAIN!.... Zee gets stuck in the washroom cubicle. The latch wasn’t giving way. LOL! So much for the glamour…She panics for a bit, and then comes out somehow.

So we went past the Changi area where the transvestites display themselves. We ogle- because we are imbeciles. And so would you cos some of them look like real hot girls. And then one of them makes a “blow-job for 30bucks” hand signal !!!! I was in shock for a few seconds. Well, maybe I was the only one, cos the rest were SO amused....Anyway I felt really bad tt we were staring, cos these girls are just doing their job, and everyone has a right to make a living without feeling like an animal at the zoo right?

So we proceed to the Old Changi Hospital, an abandoned hospital. The hospital is believed to be very haunted n stories abound- I am not sure if I believe in the supernatural but this crazy gang love freaking themselves out and inviting trouble….but to our amusement, it seems a lot of other ppl had the same idea. It was like a zoo, so many aunties, uncles, mats and minahs armed with their torchlights!

Our first stage was to walk through this fly infested area- and we couldn’t even do that. We were more afraid of the flies that anything supernatural hahahah.

Initially, I was going into the hospital with them, Praveen and I were behind (eeks) n clinging to each other. But I had a horrible horrible feeling about the place… It was super wet and super slimy with algae. We were standing near an old elevator deciding whether to go ahead- while they were talking I looked at the elevator door n imagined it opening suddenly- eeeeps!….and what if my friends had gotten stuck in THAT elevator instead??? It sure wouldn’t have been funny at all…that did it.... I wanted to be out of there ASAP. Three of us chickened out n waited in the car hehehehe…I may complain but I think my life is too precious for me to go muck it up for nothing! Just in case…

While the braver ones were inside the old hospital freaking themselves out, Suchi capriciously threw her shoe on Karens head and she and Kamz thought the ceiling was falling!!! Hahahahahahhaa cartoons.

If you are wondering, we made it home safe and sound. Kamz enjoyed her bday. We have not been eaten alive by anything…

Crazy Sunday Night Part 1

2006-06-13T18:14:00.000+08:00

just got called a sweet little child with an hour glass figure. Hmmm… I think Praveen doesn’t realise I am older than him! I am neither sweet, nor little (hello????!!!!!)… And I swear it will be less of an hour glass figure by the end of this year ok!

This musing is at Praveen’s request…I was actually too lazy to blog…

So this group is jinxed. Each time we try to do something completely normal, things muck up until we are a half-hysterical, laughing, traumatised bunch. Like we are not loud enough… I know you need examples…

Not too long ago we had a holiday in KL for the long weekend. Karen, Zee, Naga, Suresh, Prabhu, Hani and me….We were so late, we backpacked across the causeway to beat the jam, needed racing cabs, missed our bus, and called to halt it en-route. (drama mama) We did reach KL in the end, but not without a lot of fanfare n stress. It was Straight out of Amazing Race….And then on our way back to Singapore, we backpacked across the causeway AGAIN, thinking the jam would be long n laborious. But guess what? There was NO JAM….We felt like geniuses walking on the causeway, when there were hardly any cars in sight… :)

So. Story of this time….

Pravz books tickets for Omen 060606 on Sunday. We finished dinner at Café Carte, Plaza Singapore mall, and poor Zee goes to the washroom to puke, while Praveen n Karen announce that they’ll get the car (since its parked on the 7th floor) n meet Kamini, Zee and I outside to be on time for the movie at 9.30pm. Kamini n I were talking to each other when her phone rings. The minute she says “OH NO!”- and her eyes are all incredulous, I knew the drama for the week would ensue.

Praveen and Karen were stuck in the elevator.
O-Kay.
Then I laugh. Hahahahahaha I cant believe this! Must it always happen to us? How now? We have to get them out. And in time for the movie!....Zee comes back form the loo and she too burst out laughing.

So anyway, there I was imagining the worst. Praveen collapsing of dehydration n heat and Kanchu having to fan him, a pregnant woman going into labour (incidentally there really was a pregnant woman- who was the calmest among all of them), one of them needing the loo, a serial killer stuck with them, my friends perspiring in dark suffocation. Once my imagination starts, there is no end to my nonsense….

Meanwhile, (they told us all this later) Praveen and Karen were pretty calm n giggly given the circumstances in the elevator. The lights were making them feel really warm in there. And they too (being our friends) were more concerned about the movie we had to watch. Who cares if they never got out…When they called us from the elevator, they too were laughing about their luck…one of the guys stuck with them panicked and called the police AND fire brigade. He started the call with utmost seriousness, “Pls don’t laugh, this is NOT a joke…” I wonder how Karen and Praveen didn’t die laughing…hilarious… Mention of firemen of course evoked Kanchana’s fantasies of a hot-blooded fireman pulling her out of her catastrophe. She wasn’t the only one in that lift dreaming that!

So we went up to the 7th floor (where they said they were stuck) expecting to find some sort of rescue team at the lobby. There was no one. I went to the lift door, knocked and like an idiot and said, “hello? Pravz? Karen???”… I didn’t actually expect to hear anything…But then we heard Pravz n Karen jumping n shouting like wild monkeys (hehe they’ll slap me for this)...Zee and Kamz were yelling to them like they hadn’t seen them for years…Zee, with her morbid humour, finds this uncontrollably funny and she roars with laughter... I decided that we must do something about this, how can we just sit outside the lift and wait for something to happen? Anyway, we were gonna miss our movie!!!! (of course the fact tt those two might suffocate in there, is besides the point)… So I left Kamini with Zee, and took the lift (I know, brave brave madhu) down to customer service, shoved the queue of people aside, grabbed her by the collar and yelled DO SOMETHING. WE BOOKED MOVIE TICKETS!

Well ok, that is what I felt like doing.

Unfortunately, I have manners….this is more like what happened… I took the lift down, apologised to the people in the queue, “It’s an emergency”, and told the customer svs woman that my friends have been stuck in the lift for 20mins, is help on the way? She looks at me blankly, n then behaves like people get trapped in a lift everyday in Plaza Sing. “Oh I heard the alarm bell and I thought a bunch of kids were playing with the lift”, she giggles. I wanted to ask if kids were playing in the lift for a good 20mins in a crowded shopping mall, don’t u think some of the public would’ve socked them by now? I tell myself Mad remain calm and try very hard not to kick Ms Bimbo... She makes a few calls. Then she tells me that someone has already alerted them and the technician and security guards are somewhere in the building and are on their way. I very nicely asked her why is it taking them more than 20 mins to get to the lobby, when they are already in the same building? She blinked at me. (u know the I’m-a-damsel-myself-how-can-i-help-anyone type of look) Then I thanked her- and Karen suddenly calls to say they are out.

Laughing and lamenting about why this must always happen to us, we rush to the car. Of COURSE we are in the only car park in the world that u have to go across the each storey to get out. It’s like its architects were forcing a grand tour of the car park on us. It takes us a good ten mins to get out of the car park. Praveen looks like the Tau Key with a bunch of giggling girls in his Merc. He was only missing the blingbling:)

So as we are driving out of the carpark, making a mad dash for the theatre, who do we see? The firemen and their truck AND the police. WAY after the lift got UN-stuck…if they had called the bomb squad, they would have been there as well…”The firemen were supposed to rescue me, and who did it? Some mat!!!” Karen whines! …This is what the “home team” does, rescue those who have already been rescued….seeing the fire brigade and police, people were looking around, wondering where the catastrophic situation was (and were 4D numbers involved?)...except that there was none. The ones to be rescued were zooming out of the building....

Part two follows....

Happy Bday to Archu!

2006-05-28T00:01:00.000+08:00

Poor Daddy fell asleep while waiting for the Prima Donnas to get ready !!!!!! (not before folding the laundry though!)

Krishna, Mdm Sarita Rai and Crusty the Clown.

Rare display of sudden affection for King Kong

while he tries to message one of his equally cocky friends!

That cake, despite appearances, was delicious! Giant. Bakery section. Almonds something...

Dad, when admonished for hic classic deadpan look, obliges with his clown smile hehehe

Tired kids from school/ work. Doesnt seem like it huh... And no, I am NOT adopted! Humph! (can u see my French Manicure? Wasnt a gd job but whatever!)

Poor Archu!!!!!!

My sister the Psycho Clown.

Mum was looking nice. Courtesy of who? Maddie the great of course.
(don't my earrings look gd heehee)

ok random shots of me, going I-cant-remember-where. I figured I might as well. Since I am the one who gets most things done in my life. And I crack me up the most;)

Dorky look no 1
Dorky look 2 ...even the camera couldnt take it n had to split my pic up haha (wats up with that really?)
Told u I crack me up.
Am NOT as short as I look. I am sick of repeating that, I ought to make a t-shirt to proclaim, "Yes the hair is real, you CANNOT pull it out. And NO i am NOT short."

Favourite Cities in Oz

2006-05-06T14:39:00.000+08:00

I keep planning to go to Melacca to visit Fishah (thats in Malaysia for the benefit of those who do not know. The country spoilt Singaporeans like to think of as their playground. Which makes us a royal pain in the ass to the Malaysians) but each weekend something happens to foil my plans!

And because I am dumb enough to believe that things happen for a reason, I tell my disappointed self that its ok, I can catch up on the things I have been planning for a long time.

Its too hot and humid to go out. I have taken to sleeping really late at night on weekends, and waking up early (habit, cant sleep much once the sun triumphantly lights up my room until its almost neon!) and then I'll bum around until late noon, reading, talking on the phone, writing, and I get out of the house to meet friends when its cool enough to go out without feeling all yucky. So circumstances have made me a lady of the night. That's pretty sad, cos I love it when everything is bright and sunny, but the humidity and having to squint your eyeballs out really bugs everyone.

Which makes me miss Australia. Because however sunny it gets, you still dont sweat cos the air is dry. And u can troop out, with your super dark sunnies and are ready to drink in the green and the blues of the world. And the mega-tans we all have:) Having said that, I now miss Sydney a lot. Shucks.

Two things I got really excited about. Two of the Bollywood movies I actually LIKE were filmed in my favourite cities.

Dil Chahta Hai, in Sydney, before I went there. I have many great memories in most of the places in this clip and the song Jane Kyon... Jalpa and I used to walk down the long paths in NUS, swinging our clasped hands and singing Jane Kyon in the most ridiculous matter...ok yes, the stress got to our heads very often...

Salaam Namaste, was shot in Melbourne, and released when I was in Aus. My favourite song in the movie- My Dil Goes MMMMM...(Dil = heart) How exciting it was to see all those places I had JUST been to!...Preity Zinta, the copycat, emerges wearing her pink hat- just after I bought my brown one!!! Fashionistas are spying on me...Tu Jahan..another bittersweet favourite. I have plans for this one:)

A friend sent me this link about Aquarians, and she said it sounds pretty much like me. I wouldnt disagree, though I am mostly alarmed at the accuracy of some parts. I have some very un-Aquarian traits as well. Dont we all?

This friend also sent a link on seducing aquarians that really cracked me up. Nopes, not discussing that here....

1st World? Go figure...

2006-05-03T23:50:00.000+08:00

The Singapore Constitution is based on the British system and does not contain any explicit right to privacy.^[2237] The High Court has ruled that personal information may be protected from disclosure under a duty of confidences.^[2238]

There is no general data protection or privacy law in Singapore.^[2239] The government has been aggressive in using surveillance to promote social control and limit domestic opposition.^[2240] In 1986, then-Prime Minister and founder of modern Singapore Lee Kwan Yew proudly described his stance on privacy:

I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yet, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn't be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn't be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters - who your neighbor is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right, never mind what the people think. That's another problem.^[2241]

CONTINUED here.

The Holi Hungama Pics Uploaded

2006-04-29T22:16:00.000+08:00

Before the tirade of colours ensued...

Archu doing her "cutie" thing....We were getting ready at home...

What I spend a quarter of my life doing...
Person on the phone (???) obviously makes me pretty happy! hehehe

Glen Ong and FD were saying on the radio that according to research done by doctors in Melbourne, the usage of mobile phones make you react slower, but improves your memory. (!!!) Now, the question is, would you like to be a fast forgetful fool, or a slow wealth of learning?

Trying not to get colour into our food... a futile attempt.
Well, we're still alive - so that speaks volumes!My father's daughter:) (and Dad has the whole world in his pockets!!! sigh)

Dips and her Mum! She's gonna kill me for putting this up-
but heck you cant even tell us apart, we're all a colour factory each hehehe...

The classic sibling shot. Yes, yes I dont look like either of them...
they aren't that fortunate ;)...

I needed a moustache to make me look like a REAL Netaji.
Whatever Mad does, it has to be to perfection;)

One of the other Hindi School teachers (the place was swarming with them!)
D's mum and my mum:) The Aunties are finally having some fun!!!
Mahesh, Dad and Me.

I think I'd make a very attractive Indian politician, will complete my moustache and hat with dhoti and slippers. I bet Dips would marry me then.

Dips, Sheela and I.

From an Email...Because I am dying of boredom.

2006-04-26T21:38:00.000+08:00

Place an X by all the things you’ve done, or remove the x from the ones you have not:

( ) Smoked a cigarette

(x) Drank so much you threw up

( ) Crashed a friend’s car

( ) Stolen a car

(x) Been in love

( ) Shoplifted

(x) Quit your job

( ) Been in a fist fight

( ) Snuck out of your parent’s house (more than once)

(x) Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back

( ) Been arrested

(x) Gone on a blind date

(x) Lied to a friend just to protect them from the pain

(x) Skipped school

( ) Seen someone die

( ) Been to Canada

( ) Been to Mexico

(x) Been on a plane

(x) Been lost

( ) Been on the opposite side of the world

( ) Gone to Washington,DC

(x) Swam in the ocean

(x) Felt like dying

(x) Cried yourself to sleep

(x) Played cops and robbers

(x) Recently coloured with crayons

(x ) Sang karaoke

(x) Paid for a meal with only coins

(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t

( ) Dined and dashed

(x) Made prank phone calls

( ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose. (oh Thank God. That's ONE clumsy thing that's never happened!)

( ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue (sigh...how i wish!)

(x) Danced in the rain

(x ) Written a letter to Santa Claus

( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe

(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about

(x) Blown bubbles

(x) Made a bonfire on the beach

( ) Crashed a party

( ) Gone roller-skating

( ) Ice-skating

Any nicknames? a whole lotta dumn ones...Maddie, Madsie, Mads, Mad-who, Mad, Princess, Baby (puke!), Blonde pas de Glam, Cotton Candy, Laddoo, Jilebi, Lal-Mirch (red chilli), Mottormouth, Curly....and of course, my personal favourite, Mad the Magnificent.

Mother’s name? The river.

What is your favourite drink? Honey and Dates milkshake from Annalakshmi. Completely diabetic...

Body piercing(s) Ears, nose

How much do you love your job (1-10): sometimes -10 and sometimes 7.5...sometimes i dont even want to acknowledge my job.

Favourite vacation spot? Every other place in the world. Provided I get my ass there one day.

Ever been to Africa? I wish!

Ever steal any traffic signs?haha i wonder why not...

Ever been in a car accident? Yup

A, B, C, D, DD cup size? One tiny detail the blog-world doesnt need to know...:) yes yes i am boring. whatever.

2 Door or 4 Door? 4

Salad Dressing? Hehe southwest if it was on my sub!

Favourite Pie? Chicken

Favourite number? 2

Favourite movie? NOBODY has one fav movie or song. Seesh, what an unfair question. "Black" I guess. Ask me tomorrow and the answer will be different.

Favourite holiday? Indiiiiaaaaa...land of colours, blahblahblah...

Favourite food: Butter chicken, gourmet pizza with ricotta cheese and spinach, tahu sambal, mee goreng, laksa, chinese rojak, chicken rice, BK chicken sandwhich, tuna sub w/o olives, matter paneer, green chicken from Jaggis, Haldiram soan papdi, gulab jamuns, Cube caramel cheesecake, choc creme brulee, Ben&Jerry's ice cream...ok!!! i better stop.

Favourite song: aaaaah!

Favourite day of the week? FRIDAY. duh

Favourite brand of body soap? Passionfruit, Mango, Strawberry body wash from the best store on the world, Bodyshop...I'm shower gel snob.

TV show? Friends, Sex n the City, Gray's Anatomy, Tru Calling, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa

Toothpaste? White colgate. nothing else will do...

Favourite smell? Happy (Clinique, all time fav) Pleasures (Estee Lauder) Oceanus/ Moonflower (Bodyshop), Issey Miyake, the new Escada scent.... on men---Davidoff Kistna from Bodyshop .... irresistable hehehehe *blush*

What do you do to relax? Sleep. Long walks. Beach. Read.

Message to your friends reading this? Oh man are you bored ;)

How do you see yourself in 10 years? what I once thought I would be doing now.

When you are bored? get VERY VERY bored, tear from boredom, tell everyone ard me I am bored...get my bum up and do something...anything...sometimes utter rubbish like THIS!

What do you enjoy receiving? Love heeheeeheeehee, sincere bear hugs, smiles, great companionship, trust, respect, a good conversation, gifts/ compliments (who doesnt), little surprises

Furthest place you will send this message? Micronesia.

Least likely to respond? ok shuttup already...

Do you always do what you say you will? Nope...Sometimes I bite ;)

Quotes from The Place with the "Romantic Lighting"

2006-04-24T14:59:00.000+08:00

*** Best appreciated by the ppl who work there.

The S: "Who is free?"
"You want to do my work?"
"Want some?"...

About how a certain someone's nickname came about in the lift, "Same difference!"

"Just did it"... Mor Ma Tribe woman with a satisfied smirk.

!Pilay: He has a click in his name!

Comingyorshky to Mad: "Congrats. You're neurotically responsible. Welcome to the club."

"Hold the lift hold the lift!!!"

!Pilay: My concept just got raped.

"Come let me teach you how to smoke."

Comingyorshky: V is such a bitch!
Mad: Bitch
Boobsie: Bitch
!Pilay: Bitch

Yuki: Fire them.

"They are.... ARRIVING!"

Boobsie: "Everytime someone says something stupid, all of us in the office should stand up and sing a coordinated theme song."

A certain client choosing VO, to Dolly- "Is that the VO we're looking at?"

"Ly, O pregnant woman, pls stay away." While unloading equipment.

Boobsie: She is drinking that dietary stuff again.
Mor Ma: (taking a sip) yuck!
Mad: Just stop drinking the beer, you dont need to diet.
Mor Ma: (all important air) Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
Mad: Whoa did you just make that up?
Mor Ma: Nope, Benjamin Franklin said that.
Mad: (Silence.)

"I had a dream that Queen Elizabeth was in the office. She was standing near one of the tables and one of us was applying make-up on her face." M, corporate meeting.

"You're quiting? *blink blink* ...oh... Can I have your noticeboard?"

Boobsie about Comingyorshky and Dollypuffisimo: "Dont talk about them, they're slaves."

Mad, "Not Dodo again. Please."

"Go home."

At 6pm, in the middle of work, "Happy hour downstairs!!!"

Comingyorshky to Mad: "Don't say you're eating a sandwhich again- I'll slap you."

Boobsie: (all of us in our winter clothes in ths freezing place) "The air-con in this office is, indeed, free."

(like our lives depend on it, in stage whisper) "TEA. NOW!"

(ok you crazy people, add whatever you want:))

MORE:) ADDED ON 4th MAY

Clients are stupid, they deserve my pudgy paw.

Boobsie: You should cater to the general audience
Mad: Yes not everyone is as smart as mad.

Harry showing everyone pics of the 30kg pregnant stingray he caught.
Mad: So you threw the baby back into the water and ate up the mother?
Harry: Yes.
Mad: Murderer.

Dolly: It's like a helicopter is waiting in my garage.

Mor Ma: She wants to shoot from a crane? She might as well get a helicopter too.

Yuki: C, I like you but I am sorry I have to do this to you. Have you asked Amaran?

Boobsie: If we all gathered at the lobby and screamed at her to come for lunch what would she do?
Mad: She will come.
(The juveniles collapse with laughter while mad rolls her eyes.)

Boobsie poking mad's side: Hey you're soft. Like cotton candy.
Mad: And you STILL dont let me eat sandwhiches.
Boobsie: (blink blink) I let you eat soup?

Harsha's Sangeet and Wedding...

2006-04-24T01:17:00.000+08:00

3 of us poor souls had just travelled from work on a Wednesday night...But the beach was beautiful, and arrangements were pretty- even tho it doesnt really show in my pics...There were fish in the bowls with stands flanking the red carpet!!!

Amal, Kabs, Mads, Dips.
Those tandoori chicken pieces were to die for. We just went on and on eating hehehe...
Criteria to be my friend- Love food!Tired and trying to smile... Flower was to make me feel not-so-underdressed! ;)

Semut looking all gorgeous. Couple of them were eating their hearts out! After this Seema gave her brilliant performances, while we clapped away. The sari that was incredibly difficult to put on for the wedding.

After this, I got wet in the rain waiting for Dips and Kabitha!
I was just relieved with the great jilebis at the wedding...other photos werent washed properly:(

hmmm...

2006-04-17T23:16:00.000+08:00

MG is right...

It's not about knowing what you want in a partner.

It's about knowing what you don't want. The truth of this rings true- the more I think about it.

Will explain later. No time now....

I should stop thinking random things in the train and just read my book! Shopgirl by Steve Martin. Didnt watch the movie, book is supposed to be fantastic.

and not let the cattle stand in your way...

2006-04-16T18:25:00.000+08:00

"Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow. Never expect to outgrow loneliness. Never hope to find people who will understand you, someone to fill that space. An intelligent, sensitive person is the exception, the very great exception. If you expect to find people who will understand you, you will grow murderous with disappointment. The best you’ll ever do is to understand yourself, know what it is that you want, and not let the cattle stand in your way."

~White Oleander” by Janet Fitch

The doors to heaven

2006-04-15T10:12:00.000+08:00

11.11pm. 10.10am. 2.22pm. 5.55pm. 10.01pm...

I keep seeing this! Almost everytime I look at the clock, the numerals are the same. Its like some clock ghost has decided to sit in my head and grin idiotically... Somewhat like the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. Clock ghost watches in amusement as Mad gets really confused.

Once, I looked at the clock at 10.01am, then the next time I checked it was 10.10am, then 1.01pm, and then 1.11pm! At 11.11pm I entered the elevator, and pressed the button for my office floor-- the 11th floor!

This peculiar phenomenon started four weeks ago. Initially, I thought it was kind of interesting- what does it mean?

Happens to one of my friends too and she says seeing 11.11 all the time means the doors to heaven are open for you. (yeah right. If this is heaven I'm the Incredible Hulk)... So I've started googling dumb things like "clock numberals" and "time numerology"...

I'll see a doctor if I start dreaming about giant 11 numbers...

The way I dream about work...

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

Since I am awake at an ungodly hr considering that this is a weekend, I decided to take a look at my previous posts, something I normally never do. Exactly a year ago, on the 23rd of April, I blogged about arguably the most discussed topic in the world. Relationships. Even I get shocked at my grandmother factor :)

I also have a problem. I signed up for salsa classes (!!!) starting next Sat, but I promised Fish I'd visit her Melacca. I cant make salsa on another day. Now this wouldnt be a problem if God suddenly waved His magic whatever and made each day 48hrs long. I wonder why He isnt taking my advice...

I think I need to sleep some more. I'm groggy and my legs feel like lead...Margaritas normally put me to sleep, but it obviously didnt work enough last night!...everyone else is snoring away...why why why am I awake!

OK so Zee, I blogged. Now I wont get kicked right?

The Indian AIDS Issue & Proj Empower '03

2006-04-14T14:15:00.000+08:00

Jalps, Vig, Naga, Zee and all those who participated in Project Empower 2003 (who’re still reading this blog for strange reasons)—this might just be of interest to you:)

The Indian AIDS Issue.

In a small village of Rajasthan, a group of decorated men arrive beating their drums while an inquisitive crowd gathers. With their dholak drums and shiny costumes, these people are not just there to entertain with their little skits and enactments. This is an educational program conducted by AIDS Walk for Life, a village to village tour by volunteers who are walking more than 6,720 kilometers around India. They do this to raise awareness about a disease that has already made India the country with the second-highest number of people living with HIV.

AIDS Walk for Life is just one effort that communities and agencies in India are making to combat the advent of AIDS, an epidemic that has spread through unsafe sex, unhygienic practices, and illicit drug use. There are recent encouraging signs that awareness and educational programs like the AIDS Walk are some of the most effective methods for stopping the spread of AIDS and the HIV virus.

5 million AIDS cases were added worldwide last year, while the virus continues to spread in Eastern Europe, Central and East Asia, and southern Africa. However, there have been noticeable declines in infection levels in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya. UN officials attribute this to greater awareness and changes in behavior. HIV prevention efforts in these areas are working.

In India, as with several diseases, AIDS is a problem that is still difficult to quantify. Unlike many nations of the world and of Africa - India does not test pregnant women during prenatal healthcare visits. Thus, the Indian government counts only the most explicit cases of HIV. The official number is 5.13 million, leaving. How many millions are left unacknowledged?

AIDS is most definitely a growing problem in India. India’s official tsunami death toll stands at 10,744. The number of people affected STD’s grew by over half a million last year. That's like having a tsunami each week.

Given the conservatism of some Indian villages, the AIDS interventionists have to structure a careful message in schools. To adolescents and teenagers, they teach abstinence and the dangers of premarital sex. During our AIDS Awareness expedition to Indian villages in 2003, we encountered the full implication of this.

The public has always wondered if sex education encourages intercourse among those not mature enough to handle it, i.e. adolescents and teenagers. I believe sexual maturity is also dependant on one’s culture and the environment of living.

Reducing Risky Sexual Behavior in Adolescents.

In a social sciences seminar, Dr. John B. Jemmott III demonstrated that HIV risk-associated sexual behavior can be reduced among inner-city African American male adolescents -- and that the intervention did not encourage sexual intercourse, but instead decreased it.  This means, Jalpie, that during the expedition our sex education lessons (most likely) did not encourage those kids to go experiment. Also, those who were experimenting, would have tried harder to be safe….

Adolescents tend to feel invulnerable and never think they are at risk of contracting the deadly disease. They may also be skeptical about safer sex practices -- for example, that condoms decrease sexual enjoyment. What is most striking is Jemmott’s statement that negotiating safer sex practices with partners requires confidence and skills that adolescents often do not have. (I agree) In addition, he says is difficult to persuade adolescents to practice abstinence if they have decided to be sexually active. Heck, it’s difficult to persuade anyone to abstain once they’re sexually active.

No one can disagree that adolescence is a critical and necessary period to intervene to reduce the number of people contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in villages.
They taught us in NUS that the key determinant of intended behaviour are specific intentions. Jemmott agrees that people perform a behavior when they believe that…
a) there would be favourable results,
b) significant others think they should perform it,
c) and that they have the skills and resources to perform the behaviour.

Are these interventions effective when implemented by facilitators who do not share the ethnic group membership or gender of the participants? "Our research has shown that the effects of the HIV intervention were about the same irrespective of the race of the facilitator, the gender of the facilitator, the gender of the participants, and the gender composition of the intervention group," stated Jemmott. However, he cautioned that differences may have emerged had the intervention contained inappropriate materials and less structured training for the facilitators. Thus, if the content of awareness programme is appropriate for the audience and if the facilitators are well trained- matching the characteristics of the facilitators and youth are not of paramount importance to the effective delivery of messages. We felt this during our own project, as the villages teenagers were reasonably comfortable in classroom discussions (chatting, and games) with us, even though our background, age, lifestyle, and even language were nowhere similar.

Jemmott also tested the effectiveness of peer educators. His research found that interventions utilizing peer and adult facilitators were equally effective, although adolescents said that they enjoyed the interventions more when counseled by their peers. "This finding has implications for multiple-session interventions," he said. "Using peer co-facilitators might increase attendance and the degree of involvement in activities when adolescents are asked to attend several sessions." (SEE Dips n Jal! What did I tell you? I’m so glad someone smart thinks like me hehe…next time round Jal, this is what will happen.)

So should we tell them to abstain from sex completely, or preach safe sex. (You guys remember what Mythili blurted when principal was there??? “If you have to do it, be safe.” Conservatives, mind you…Heheheh) Jemmott found only the safer sex intervention reduced unprotected sexual intercourse -- the outcome that is most closely linked to risk of sexually experienced adolescents. Also, adolescents who received AIDS risk-reduction interventions were less likely to engage in sexual activity, and those who did were more likely to engage in safe sexual activity.

:)

Easter Long Weekend!!!

2006-04-11T20:11:00.000+08:00

Thank God for easter holiday. I'm about to drop dead already.

Idealism Rocks

2006-04-10T23:57:00.000+08:00

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.

Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman (1903) "Maxims for Revolutionists"

MG's Engagement

2006-04-09T15:41:00.000+08:00

Dr M is getting engaged today. (While I go Barbeque!)

Congratulations Mr Boring!!!!!!

I REALLY wish I was there to give you the hugest hug possible, see you smile all day and tease the hell out of you.

But because you're miles away, this blog will have to suffice.

Here's to the two of you. And here's to happiness:)

Too Many?

2006-04-09T13:14:00.000+08:00

Can there be too many life changing experiences??
Or is there a stipulated number for one lifetime??

This post is answer to J.Amin's musing in his email.

There is no recommended number for anything. You can be brankrupt, fall in love, win the lottery, bungee jump, be heartbroken dozens of times. A hundred times. Look past your shoulder and no one will be there to tell you "Hey but you've exceeded your quota!"

Coming to the real question. Each experience, however small, contributes, consciously, sub-consciously or unconsciously to one's personality and the decisions that one makes. Each experience alters your world vision. It could be suffering you witnessed, one slap in your childhood, the mountain you climbed, that tree you planted, the life you saved, the smile of a stranger.

We're a canvass. Every drop of paint, however tiny and seemingly insignificant, makes a mark on that canvass. This especially applies to our childhood. Is there a limit to the number of marks? No. They come in whatever amounts... synchronised, contradicting, dancing, overlapping, raining, ferociously, gently...

In other words, a life changing experience can occur every single day (what makes you think it isn't happening? Right now, right here)

There are few things that happen only once in a lifetime(n some people even contest them). Birth. And death.

Happy Bday DJ!

2006-04-09T02:15:00.000+08:00

Donald's Bday was on the fourth. We had a party today:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!!!!

Ok we should stop taking such boring shots...hmmm except that THAT one is censored;)

Foolproof Way to be Happy...

2006-04-07T22:03:00.000+08:00

Be someone else's happiness.

It works. Everytime.

(But because I'm Madhu, and this is my blog, I must add...Smell nice all the time. Sing in the shower. Make excitement happen. Read Archie comics~! Dress up/ down just because. Feed the ducks. Watch hilarious movies. Sleep. Hum. Go dancing. Do things you're wonderful at. Dont be afraid to ask for a hug. Have HUGE tubs of choc fudge caramel ice cream. Go for a long windy drive and sing to blaring music. And cry it all out.)

HEY!

2006-03-27T23:05:00.000+08:00

SONIA!!!

I am finding this out from my BLOG? How long has it been! You better be mailing soon Dr Gupta, or I'll have to come down to N.Carolina personally to kick you...I am putting this here so u'll definitely see it!

The rest of you silent readers better own up as well:) I know, form the occassional emails that there are more of u using my blog as a voyeuristic medium- and you're not bothering to update me about yourselves.

So if I move this blog, which I am seriously considering, I wouldnt know who to inform!

(Hint- it IS interesting to read your comments, you spies!!!)

Am I scary enough?

Can I meet other kinds too?

2006-03-27T22:50:00.000+08:00

Ten of my friends are doctors... Or more.

God Almighty.

Maddie's Angels

2006-03-24T07:08:00.000+08:00

God keeps sending angels my way...

For all my complaining, I also know how to appreciate what is good in the world. And there are many people in my life who deserve angel wings.

Fish, Dipti, Jalpa, Mayur, Seema, Vignesh, Sandeep, Naga, Vicknesh, Mythili, Chintan, Ketki, Sonia, Mustan and more people have, without hint or request, unhesitatingly offered/helped/hugged/listened in small or big (but nonetheless significant ways), not even thinking of anything in return. They didnt have to. And I certainly did not ask.

They've great hearts. And I must've done something right in my life to have met them, and their love.

(Dips is taking forever to meet me!:()

nose stud

2006-03-23T09:49:00.000+08:00

2337=:94=<37=xroqdf>232379;729762ot1lsi.jpg">

OK for those who have been asking for pictures…(it is a nose stud like every other?)this is what it looked like when I got it last yr…it’s the same this time round.

Its healing ok :) Touch wood pls!

Back to work!

?

2006-03-22T14:48:00.000+08:00

(This post has been altered because I prefer not to be sued for defamation.)

:)

I like being of help...But for some reason, I get more than my share of questions about how a relationship should work out or what someone should do in a BGR problem.
Like in the new place I am working in. I started two days ago, and already, "what do you think, Madhu?"

I know I am the Personification of Perfection (;)) but from which obscure angle is Madhu Rai the untainted example of a shining relationship?

Seriously.

Why do they keep asking me?

I only know the idealistic theory stuff! I’ll know for sure when the practicals kick in…hehehe

Until then, hold your horses, cos (pssst) I don’t actually know what I am talking about.

No surprises there :)

yeah yeah

2006-03-19T20:50:00.000+08:00

ok yes...I know what you're thinking.

Here goes maddie trying to change the world again...

Aquarians can't help it!

I may sound angry... bewilderment is more like it...

I should shut up i know :):):)

Fishah's leaving... Missing her already!!!! :(

Sensitivity 1101

2006-03-19T20:21:00.000+08:00

OK complainers...Time to blog:)

Extremely Intelligent Conversation in the Office (the one I most graciously left)

The scene: In the makeshift pantry, where four of us are having our packed lunches. A conversation ensues about the homophobia and, subsequently, Public Display of Affection (that which we learned beings affectionately call PDA)

AAA: So somegays are really having a go at it all over the place...the buses, the trains...

RRR: OMG! It's ok if they're good looking...(Nose scrunched up in disgust) What I cannot stand is when the guys are ugly...

Surprised silence. Some laugh uncomfortably. Did she just say that?

MAD: That's interesting...So you are not okay with it if you think the guys who're smooching are ugly.

JJJ: RRR!!!

RRR: Really. I just get sooo grossed out looking at ugly people do it!

MAD: (straight faced) Yes well, I have an idea. Next time, why dont you go up to them, tap them on their shoulders, and say "Hi, my name is RRR. I work in XYZ company. I have a request. Could you pls stop gropping each other, because, seriously, you're just too ugly to being doing this???"

Big laughs in makeshift pantry. RRR, whether or not she gets the hint, laughs too.

Conversation moves on to how they should join dating agencies to make fun of the 'ugly' guys. Now wouldn't that be fun?

Mad continues eating her teriyaki sub.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Initially, I thought RRR was halfway intelligent. I've heard these kind of comments uncountable times these days. Different people, different backgrounds, different places.

What's going on? Do so many people really think this way? Do I hang out with my own friends too much and hence believe everyone is like my friends? Is my blindness worse than RRR's then?

If you're this immature, do yourself and the rest of the world a very big favour. Don't trumpet your myopia to everyone...Go for a course called "Sensitivity 1101"...if you cant pass that course, there's still hope... Move on to the simpler "Political Correctness 1101" course.

If all fails, please be silent.

Mad's Marvelous Super Cool Waterfall

2006-02-25T20:36:00.000+08:00

I have to drag myself to shower sometimes(that doesn't mean I dont shower everyday) but once I'm in there, you'd have to drag me out, cos I have too much fun humming to myself and playing with water...and I dont come out until I know I'm superbly clean...When I was a kid (i.e. not too long ago) I used to turn the shower head upside down and watch Mad's Marvelous Super Cool Waterfall I'd created. And, what's more, I could adjust the height and intensity of the waterfall with a knob!!! I'd watch the colours in the droplets while mum yelled from the door...

Dont you sometimes wish that you could dump yourself in the washing machine instead of having to take showers on a lazy day?

I'd put myself into a laundry bag- cos I'm fragile and all haha

Of course, you may emerge discoloured, or shrunk (yay!)

24th Birthday Pics (1)

2006-02-21T15:06:00.000+08:00

Dips and Jal met me for lunch at food paradise Lau Pa Sat:)

Rojak (mixed vegetables with black sauce and peanuts- a very terrible description buts its yummy trust me) is substantial lunch ok!!! Dont know why everyone made such a deal. I was FULL...
Attracted alot of attention that day, and I am sure its cos of my gorgeous sweater...(ok since I am a also a fair person, Vig made me try it even tho I was reluctant at the store)

Glam Shot!

I took this shot when they entered my house, they created such a racket I couldnt help laughing I was made to wear the playboy bunny balls. They amused the hell out of me.

My dad's been calling us 'The Musketeers' since we were 12....

Doing my bossy thing...Making mum smile...hehe:)

Bday pics (2)

2006-02-21T00:15:00.000+08:00

Pictionary madness...

The gathering at my place...We're off to meet another group for dinner...

What Mum does in her classes... ;)

My balloon that was waiting for me at the restaurant...courtesy of D n J!

A kiss from my schoolgirl-days-friend!

Jalpie. Semut. Mussy.

That was one heck of a cake!

Semut and I

Mussy's idea of a unique shot!

My Sydney best friend...

Mad teaching Kanz how to dance...rofl!

Ok yes so we cant get enough of ourselves...So?

I came only with a tiny handbag. I had to take a cab home:)

faceless...

2006-02-20T14:53:00.000+08:00

You know one of those faceless people you see by the hundreds getting to work on “auto” mode, running up the escalators with tick tocking heels, blood pumping on caffeine, breezing past the tunnels like they have a country to run, all the while mentally listing what has to be done as soon as they reach work?

Somehow I never thought this would ever be the case, but I am one of them now.

Something I found interesting in my horoscope today… (Stumbled across it while combing publications for work)

AQUARIUS
JAN 21-FEB 18
A new beginning is definitely in the works and you may be introduced to a new circle of friends. A right time to revise your objectives and priorities, but don't expect life to be easy. Your patience may be tested, but don't lose your temper. Plan more carefully and act cautiously

Points noted.

I know my priorities, life aint easy of course, and I am amazed at my own patience… so far!

“Don’t lose yr temper.” I guess this means no smarty pants one-liners anytime soon. Darn!



Work:)

2006-02-19T21:26:00.000+08:00

hahah Zeeeee...I was hoping no one noticed I didnt blog...but some of u did;)

Work started at a PR firm...Havent had less than a 10hr day...And so blogging isnt a priority at the moment... If i am not working I am spending precious time (and money) shopping for sophisticated clothes that fit well enough- or the crazy lady boss goes berserk...

A few things, among many others, that I have realised...

1. I am stupid and idealistic. I insist on living in a world of principles surrounding mutual respect, dignity, security with your body, unselfishness and consideration for others. And I expect the same from others... I know the real world is way less than perfect- but guess what, I'm not settling for superficiality and myopia.

2. I'm not afraid of hard work. As long as its not meaningless to me.

3. I've realised the only reason why I am sure of who and what I am is because the firm support I have from my friends and family. These people have loved em so much that I know no one can make me feel less of myself. Nothing is worth yr self-respect.

4. There ARE people who allow themselves to be treated like lesser human beings. It is a pity.

5. I'm the picture of politeness. But I fear I'll open my mouth one day and deliver one of my famous one-liners.

6. The total cost of a tailored powersuit is $400 (!!!)

7. I need two darts (not the normal one) on a tailored jacket cos the difference between my waist and hips is "too big"...

8. The tailors love my hair (humph!) and they want to beat up my boss for advising me to straighten it cos of the "image" required for PR.

I was completely honest with the male boss and he persuaded me to stay and see for at least a month before making a decision abt whether or not I want to work there. Makes sense.

Psycho lady boss is going on a holiday...that translates to office-wide peace for a few days:)yay

Ok it sounds like i am having a terrible time, but besides the ludicrous menopausal behaviour, the nitpicking, the absolutely bimbotic conversations among my colleagues and the horrible shoe blisters, the projects are actually pretty exciting:):):).....One about a Film Festival, a new plant of a pharmaceutical company, the International Furniture Fair (v.big event), and (beat this) the launch of a condom with the Jamu herb sprinkled on it...it seems it does wonders medically and ...ahem!..I glared at my boss when he jokingly told us to try it home, since we might do the PR for it.

And its satisfying to see your hardwork materialising all over the press.

Jal is leaving for a year and half tonight. To work in UK. I'll miss her like mad. Not going to the airport. I've sent off much loved friends too many times.

No Vig, the sisters refuse to cry! :)

happy bday to me:)

2006-02-03T10:44:00.000+08:00

I am sneaking this post in the office. Hopefully no one does a surprise attack on me, as they are fond of doing...

I just wanted to say I feel so damn loved. I cant tell this to anyone at the moment, but the feeling is overwhelming. And therefore it is here.

Thank you to those who made the effort to call, email, sms, meet me yesterday...I know some of you went through some trouble... Thanks for Remembering:) I'm very very touched. And I'm super lucky...I cant wait for tomorrow!!! Did I also mention I've the best friends in the world?

Have alot to blog about, but cant find the time. Anyway you're not meant to write about life as much as you're meant to live it!

OK the pics were added when I got home:) hehe my interim cake and rose were waiting for me. Till the weekend party!!!

Ibaidahs Bday

2006-02-01T00:02:00.000+08:00

***Saved this post as a draft and I am only releasing it after getting the pics***

Last night a bunch of us were at O Bar celebrating Ibaidahs birthday. The most important part- is that Ibaidah was really happy...and very very drunk. I like happy drunks:)

Photos courtesy of Zee's blog hehe, I'm a thief...Thx zeeeee

Doesnt she look lovely!!!

Anyway. These girls are nuts and I love it! They did their chereographed Hung Up dance when the song played. YES! Of course there was no space on the dancefloor, but they made space. I, as usual, grabbed a seat right in front of them and laughed my head off. Everyone else there was amused as well....Unfortunately, no pics were taken. We were too busy dancing or laughing at those dancing :)

before all the dancing started and the club was relatively quiet we sang singing along to all the songs, going lalalala to most of the song cos we didnt know the lyrics. Did we care that ppl stared? I told Such that in ten mins the table next to us will be empty... We werent even drunk yet....and yes I'm still useless (when is it going to stop?) two drinks and I was wobbly...I kept out of trouble. One guy was staring the entire night. He didnt send off bad vibes, but I think big grps of girls scare Singaporean guys hehehe...Intended effect!

Lali and I acting drunk...except that I couldnt help smiling as soon as the camera took the pic...Lali looks hilarious tho...we weren't supposed to be dead!

(with- ahem!- adjustments) Attacking Zee for no rhyme or reason. Just like the way its so easy to hug her:)

Ibby and her darling Jacob and I dunno who..
Ok look Miyuki your face is NOT big! Mine is bigger but do I look like I care? We're all perfect the way we are!
Bootilicious Kanchu does her thing:) The girl who's too good for a certain fool...

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!

MAYDAY! Hot babes under siege by big giant cake!

Attacking big giant cake back!

Dont ask what we are doing, I'm not sure...loooooovvvvveee

The guys who were a little strange...I'm not saying anything else.

Such, who hopped on a plane after the club closed.

The Sistas!

LOL! :)

I had fun:) We stayed till the Ugly Lights came on at 3.30am (i think). Sonia coined this term in Sydney. Ugly Lights are switched on in clubs at closing time...Get it? You're all tired n sweaty n everyone looks terrible heheh... And then we brought a drunk Zee for food. The poor girl was in much discomfort... and I only reached home at 5am! And then I woke up at 10am and went shopping with Fish, cos I promised I would. We walked for 6 hours...My legs still hurt from all that dancing and walking:(

Had to shampoo and condition twice until I was satisfied that the smoke was outta my hair. Yuck. Now I remember why I dont go clubbing much...

With all the hugging, kissing, jiving, confiding, protecting one another from sleazebags (and a little puking haha) that was going on one thing hit home again at O Bar...That life isnt worth it without girl friends. There is love and care and affection and unconditional support and a whole lotta hugs when you need it- everyone, even guys, needs good girl friends!!!

Oh God I am beat...I hope I make it to the bed...

My Darlings

2006-01-21T03:16:00.000+08:00

I have a knife at my throat as I put this up. Cos Someone insists I post nice pics of him/her. I wonder why I am obliging when I post even worse (and even s/he cant contest that) pics of myself! ...and wait a min...this is My blog.

Oh well... Dont they look great? Note that yours truly is taking this pic and all that radiance comes from the fact that they're smiling at me with love;)

I'm going to find a way to blow this one up...

To You

2006-01-21T01:53:00.000+08:00

To (Mythili's, Sydney, Kupusamy) Vicknesh, in memory of the crazy WalkingTalking sessions:
"How the time when you's doin' all the talking."
--Harvey Fiersten, Torch Song Trilogy

To Vig a.k.a PB, whose dream will come true:
That which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong
in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to
yield."
--Lord Alfred Tennyson, Ulysses

To Me:
"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train."
--Oscar Wilde (Who else?) The Importance of being Earnest.

To my blog, that I wonder why I bother with:
"I've decided to keep a full blog. In the hope that my life will perhaps seem more interesting when it is written down."
--Sue Townsend, Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years.

To Kumari and her precious Princi, who sleep alot, bite their nails, and are both stubborn as mules:
"My dog! what remedy remains,
Since, teach you all I can,
I see you, after all my pains,
So much resemble man!"
William Cowper, On a Spaniel called Beau

To Perci Beta, who thinks he is human:
"The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too."
--Samuel Butler, Notebooks.

To Kets, who is an angel:
"But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am."
--Shakespeare, Othello

To poor Donald, who is clocking 16 hours a day. Life will get better darling!:
"It was Einstein who made the real trouble. He announced in 1905 that there was no such thing as absolute rest. After that, there never was."
--Stephen Leacock, The Boy I Left Behind Me.

To Mythili and Varsha, who diagnose people on the street, and to whom ER is a religion:
"There is at bottom only one genuine scientific treatment for all diseases, and that is to stimulate the phagocytes."
--George Benard Shaw, the Doctors' Dilemma.

To Daddy:
"She's as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile"
--Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Rivals.

To the Neuroscience Dept, NUH, and wards 57 and 44:
"I cant stand whispering. Everytime a doctor whispers in the hospital, next day there's a funeral."
--Neil Simon, The Gingerbread Lady.

To Semut, heck them! (And to my two Sydney housemates who, I am ashamed to admit, opened my pasta sauce jars):
"There is, of course, no reason for the existence of the male sex except that sometimes one needs help with moving the piano."
--Rebecca West.

To Us!
"I want to be something so much worthier than the doll in the doll's house."
--Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend.

To Fish, the only one with views on capitalism;
"The world is too much with us, late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers."
--William Wordsworth.

To the Yet-To-be-Employed (Sniff!):
"Without work, all life goes rotten,
but when work is soulless, life stifles and dies."
--Albert Camus.

To Ma, who worries WAY too much about everything and everyone:
"What's the use of worrying?
It never was worth while,
So, pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,
And smile, smile, smile."
--George Asaf, Pack Up Your Troubles (1915 song)

To Kumari, for obvious reasons:
"I'm not (biting my fingernails). I'm biting my knuckles. I finished the fingernails months ago."
--Joseph L. Mankiewicz, while directing Cleopatra.

To Dr G, who I'm sure will agree, and cannot beat me up from so far away anyway;) :
"Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures."
--Samuel Johnson, Rasselas.

To My Sister, who is growing too fast:
"In examinations the foolish ask questions the wise cannot answer."
--Oscar Wilde, Phrases and Philosophies for the use of the Young

That was my favourite. I so wanted a shirt with that saying, to walk around NUS in!

75% for Dancing!

2006-01-21T00:02:00.000+08:00

You scored as Journalism. You are an aspiring journalist, and you should major in journalism! Like me, you are passionate about writing and expressing yourself, and you want the world to understand your beliefs through writing.

Linguistics

100%

Biology

100%

Art

100%

Journalism

100%

Sociology

92%

Philosophy

92%

Theater

92%

Anthropology

92%

Psychology

92%

English

83%

Dance

75%

Mathematics

75%

Engineering

67%

Chemistry

58%

What is your Perfect Major? (PLEASE RATE ME!!<3)
created with QuizFarm.com

This is so freaky. Everyone, my secondary school teacher, friends, even a tarot card reader keeps saying I'll be a journalist.

Everything else seems fairly accurate in terms of my interests...except (hahahaha) Dancing. Even I am sniggering...and hey my chem wasnt that bad!

OK well I WISH I could. It just doesnt come out right.

Fly Here

2006-01-20T01:08:00.000+08:00

I realise I might just have more friends out of Singapore than in this country. This dawned on me when Dr Garg (when trying emotional blackmail) made me count the total number of people I consider friends.

Its a small number. I am not revealing it. Nopes:)

That's strange. And it means I send ALOT of emails. Somehow I knew this was going to happen. In couple of months, even more of them would have flown away.

What would be truly fantastic is if all of them collected here.. Now that would be (I should stop saying 'amazing' so much) wonderful.

Cos the world revolves around me huh. People have nothing better to do than hop onto a plane to the whim and fancy of Mad the Magnificent.

The Poppies and the Fork Moment

2006-01-17T11:45:00.000+08:00

Vig has a talent. And because I am responsible for every good thing that happens in the world, I like to think I discovered it. He draws very well. Give him crayons and a big piece of the whitest paper and he'll fill it with srokes of colour.

I remember Dec 2004, when I dragged him to the beach cos he was v.v.depressed, and both of us sat down and drew the scenery infront of us. It was just layers of blue, he drew the bench infront of us, I didnt want any depressing gray benches spoiling my drawing. The wind was perfect and my hair kept flying on my face, and the two of us were just sitting quietly with our legs dangling (ok only my legs were dangling cos I'm the shorty, but you get the general idea)- and drawing like it was the most important thing ever...His drawing was better. And the snob didnt hesitate in telling me so. Humph!

How wonderful huh. To discover a hidden talent when you're like 25. And to have friends like me to cheer you on like its the first time you're walking.

Well he promised me a gd drawing and he finally passed it to me at the airport before flying off. I told him a long time ago to do one for my room, so I can boast about my talented friend. Its one red poppy flower flanked by two white ones- something he drew from the poster I had in my room in Sydney when he came to stay. Its pretty. But the problem is (there is always some problem) what do I do with it???

I dont want to put it up, cos then I'll be reminded of him even more. And I already miss him sooooo much! There is no tummy to poke and he isnt bugging me with his annoying cemetary morning calls anymore, and...Ok I am not going to whine. Overly whiny people are annoying.

Which reminds me. He had this horribly evil dream where the two of us were having lunch and I was talking so much (Wah LAU! He is not so quiet himself ok!) that he got annoyed and so he took his fork and stabbed my hand. There was alot of blood. I clutched my hand and said, "Vig! You could've just told me to shut up." I went to the hospital...

Now everytime I irritate or tease him he says "Mad, a fork moment is coming." And when he lifts his fork at the dinner table I keep quiet.

Remind me again why we're friends???

PS: I'm blogging too much I know. Stayed home cos my sister is sick. Bored bored bored...

Say hello to the Smug Marrieds, Mad.

2006-01-17T01:14:00.000+08:00

I was talking to Semut awhile ago about someone's wedding and something dawned on me.

It has started. The string of weddings of people you know. People who (you thought) are around your age. A few days ago they were running around trying to catch you at the downstairs playground. A few minutes ago they were sitting beside you in uni lectures. You remember the pigtails they wore, and the big plastic glasses that were so 'in'.

Now they are ready to share their life with someone and start a family...wow

When I was 19 or 20, I knew this day would come, and I wondered how it would make me feel. Would I be pressurized? Or would I not care? Would I feel glad I'm single and free or insecure because everyone else has someone to love? If I was with someone, would I feel the need to know if he was the One? Would my parents get on my case, citing my friends' love stories as examples of bliss? Would our friendships change just cos they're married? Like all chapters in life, marriage induces some alterations in a person. Its inevitable, and not necessarily undesirable... Right?

So its crept up on me and I havent even noticed. I've even attended a couple of the weddings in the last couple of years. More to come I know...There is something about wedding receptions that make me stock take my life- where am I right now, and how much more do I have to accomplish?? (Besides fantasizing romantic nonsence like every girl) Does anyone know what I am talking about, or am I the only one?

How do the Smug Marrieds make me feel? Let's not go there.

(but pssst...sometimes (sometimes!) I'm really glad I'm single doing exactly what I please!)

ok to change the subject...

Some things I wish people would stop saying...

1. That my birthday is coming soon. Yikes.--- But I only turned 23 yesterday! Why are the days racing??? Can we pretend I'm turning 21 this year please? Yup? Cool!

2. That my hair is so thick and nice and baby fine-- Its Not thick. It WAS thick and then it started falling when I was a teenager, about the same time ppl started saying it was thick. I know u think I'm some paranoid freak but pls just knock wood to satisfy me ok.

3. That I'm 'motherly' and 'sweet'--- I get this picure of a round, matronly woman with an apron who spends all her free time baking cookies for everyone in the world. And if THAT reminds you of me- screw you:)

4. That I have alot of friends--- I dont! My mum thinks I have too many friends, n I'm always on the phone. There is no such thing as having too many. I kinda believe in the 'evil eye'- or at least I believe in taking precautions- what if one day I wake up and my friends are all gone? I'll get severely depressed and Mum would be sorry she complained.

PS: Seems!!!! I just realised this means some girls will turn up in bikinis, since the Sangeet is at the beach. Now I HAVE to be there to see how the aunties react!

tired.

2006-01-17T00:03:00.000+08:00

Do people really have no taste nowadays?

For once I went to the gym in the evening today. I got followed (almost all the way home) by a beefy indian man with a gold earring. I wasnt even looking NICE! The gym is nowhere near my list of places to dress up. I know many women strut some stuff there, but I'm the sort to go in, do what I have to and get out as soon as I can. In my huge green shirt, navy trackpants, hot pink shoes, tortoisely huge backpack and kiddy ponytail, I looked like every fashionista's nightmare. Ok, everyBODY's nightmare. (Yup today I broke the precious three-colour rule) I didnt even look like a girl. I was a giant grape. (There is a separate joy in looking like shit, I shall blog about that sometime)

Initially I didnt realise he was following me. But, like most Singaporean Indian girls, I'm sorta used to this, and shook him off with a bit of trouble.

I'm sick sick sick of this. Of perverts who stare like they have x-ray vision. When I was in Sydney, I forgot ALL about the Little India Mamas. (Can u believe it!) When I came home and once again felt like I was porn display in certain parts of Singapore, I remembered something I SOOOO did not miss about home...

They're mostly foreign employees from Bangladesh, a smaller number from India. They do everything from construction to cleaning...Why? Because Singaporeans are too educated, too sophisticated, too hoity toity to build our own houses and clear our own garbage... Especially on weekends, the foreign workers collect in thousands and loiter around Little India (Indian version of Chinatown), catching up and talking and doing what they do best...At the first sight everything looks warm and merry and friendly, and I have often marvelled at their kinship and affection, united only by their common plight and homesickness-- until I step out of the car/bus/cab....Some of these workers are much more educated than most ignorant S'poreans thinks, some have wives and kids at home...They call one another 'brother'. But most of them dont see us as "sisters" for sure.

Its not that other men dont oogle. All men do, in one way or the other. Discreet appreciation is one thing. Staring at body parts unceasingly is another. That's leering in the most unmentionable primitive and disgusting manner...And I'm not even going to talk about following women home and accidentally-on-purpose bumping into them.

When I went to the airport to send Vig off, there was an unexplainable sea of about 500 Indian men (probably going home) in the terminal. The Little India scene had migrated to the best airport in the world. When I saw them I said a prayer!!! I was walking alone and they just refused to part to let me pass, I had to almost push to move. I was very close to boxing one asshole who looked down and leered all over. Yuck...But then I remembered Vincent told me I punch like a sissy...how unfortunate.

You notice them when you're about 14, which is when they start noticing you (or they notice you before u're 14 but you're too dumb to notice)...And the more you grow up the worse it gets. All of a sudden your mum wont let u go to some places "Let your brother go." These men are defiant, they KNOW we cant do anything at all about the leering. And they love the fact that you're helpless.

For all the things I can do as a woman in this country, it irritates the hell out of me that I cant put a stop to something as base as this.

On the other hand, I've actually met a couple of these men who are the sweetest, best hearted, least perverted people ever. But the majority dont have behaving eyes, and they completely spoil the rep of the others.

When I was a teenager, with MUCH less patience than now, I gave them killer dirty looks- that amused them even more. "Look at the fiesty one." I remember being shocked that their stares didnt stop even when I was with my father or 6 foot tall brother. (The useless boy thinks its damn funny.) Slowly, I learnt to un-see them. This means sometimes in a train cabin I cant look left or right, because their numbers are ever-increasing. I've developed the ability to see through people in Little India. My eyes rest on no one. What's the point of hyperventilating and roaring with anger?

My 14 yr old sister one day was SO angry with one man who was staring at me (I didnt notice him much cos of the unseeing talent I mentioned above) that she turned around and yelled, "Have you never seen a girl before?!!!"

I didnt know whether to laugh or scold her or run. I remember getting this angry when I was her age. Hating myself for being such a dadi and killing her spunk, I told her to be cautious, and learn to be quiet and ignore this. What if she was alone one day and yelled at one of them and they attacked her? What could my skinny little sister do? Shudder!!! My poor mother. She must've been this anxious for me too.

Most of the time they dont actually do anything. Laws here are strict, most wouldnt dare. But there are some cases.

I want to go to Little India and meet my friends and eat dosa and buy salwar kameezes and drink tea and go to the temple, without feeling like I'm being visually raped a hundred times over. I dont want to wonder if what I'm wearing is to much for them to handle. (or too little, you get the idea) I dont want to feel like murdering them when they start leering at my sister...I dont want to have to look behind all the time to check if I'm being followed, which has become an unconscious habit.

And I want to be able to be nice, not suspicious, everytime a dark skinned man talks to me. I hate myself for this distrust.

From the bottom of the bottom of my heart, I just really really want to be left alone.

But that's obviously too much to ask.

Dipti's wisdom

2006-01-15T17:45:00.000+08:00

Donald said two bloggable things today....

No 1--- "Mad do you realise we've been friends for fourteen years?"

Silence...Gasp! wow. Fourteen? Really? Can 14 yrs even fit in my lifespan?

No 2--- "Its so strange that some people find it so difficult to love, here is the easiest emotion in the world!"

Ditto darling. I couldnt have said it better.

She is working on a case, and I am too bored and have too much energy so I'm skipping/ jumping around the house to entertain myself. Literally.

Perci's Kiss

2006-01-14T14:59:00.000+08:00

For years we've had family prayer sessions at home on Thursday evenings. Now we are older, and (taking God for granted, yes dont pretend you're not guilty of that) we join our parents only if we r at home on a Thursday evening.

Everytime we prostrate on the floor, Perci beta (our miniature pinscher. For those who dont know, that's a dog) sniffs at our cheeks and gives us a kiss. That is when we are all at his level and finally at his mercy. I dont mind, its just v.v.ticklish, but mum shoos him away sometimes. One day, I told mum, "Ma how do u know its not God who's sent Perci to kiss you?" She paused for awhile and said, "Haan beta, you might just be right."

Duh. When am I ever wrong? (This is my blog, i.e. I can say anything I want)

And so my mother is in deep contemplation for half an hour.

There was this other time when I was working on the computer and with childlike excitement she came up to me and said, "Madhu, did you know when you turn the word 'God', around you get 'dog'???"...I paused, wondering if I should burst her bubble or feign surprise that I never noticed it before.

I decided on the truth. Yes mum we all know that. She went away a tad disappointed. It wasnt her discovery.

She's so adorable, I want to hug her and not let go.

Behen

2006-01-12T01:27:00.000+08:00

I am a nutcase (but u already know that) for posting 3 times a day when I have not blogged for a long time. But I just spoke to Varsha, and I dont know why but I'm thinking about the drinks we had on Varsha's birthday last yr, her birthday is coming in March again! Was last year so far away? I remember it so clearly! Mostly cos a friend was laughing cos I was flushed and pink after one drink. And cos Varsh looked very happy sitting with her friends at the Loft (the most gorgeous lounge in Aus)...We'd converse in village hindi together ("Are behen!") and pretend we were meeting at the village well, with our matka pots and would ask one another how the 'voh' and 'beche', husband and children, are hahaha. Varsh I hope this year and the following ones just get better and better for you...Here's to gd memories Behen:)

Here's the birthday babe on the right...

Sydney's most happening gang...which of course isnt as happening with Mads missing:P

Magnificent Mad and Marvelous My!

This was taken at the Loft. The place somehow always makes me sleepy. I insisted on this shot, but Jal refused to take it cos she thought it wouldnt come out. Its gorg isnt it?! Even without the absolutely stunning person in the middle;)

Cant catch balls

2006-01-12T00:51:00.000+08:00

Globglob, my friend for the past 10 years of my (very short young and un-insane) life, thinks I need to go to Julia Gabriels (this school for toddlers) for learning purposes because…(in her words)

A) I’m a klutz.
B) I cant catch balls. (no puns intended you dirty minded frogs)
C) I have bad hand-eye coordination (doesn’t that mean the same thing as (A)???)

I need to do a review of my friends list.

I need more faith in Me.

2006-01-12T00:13:00.000+08:00

I went for the Mediacorp voice test for the broadcast journalist position on Monday, dressed like what my less-than-fashionista brain thought a journalist should look like. White turtleneck, skirt (sorry to give in this horrendous real-world, but in interviews, only skirts talk) and heels. Only thing missing was my nerd glasses;) Was just relieved to be out of collars and sleeves.

They made 15 of us wait for an hour and a half in a torturously quiet corridor. You couldn’t even squeak in that place, much less talk to the person beside you. Some geniuses brought smthg to read. Other stupid people like me just stared into one anothers' shoes, being polite. By the time they started, half of us were blissfully sleeping (not even dozing mind you)…one man had his mouth open. Poor sod:)

But wait. I'm even poorer than that. I glorified myself in Bimbo-dom forever and foever with my infamous mouth. Yours truly the great goes into the recording studio and follows instructions- I had to put on the earphones and speak into the mike. Like the hugest bimbo that ever walked the face of this earth, I went “Oh I can hear myself!” (I meant I can hear myself too clearly and too loudly- a pretty unsettling feeling indeed, but do things ever come out the way you mean them to? No.)

The technician smiled at me, "Yes you can hear yourself in these things". Oh no Madhu you stupid stupid idiot, what an idiotic thing to say, just shutup now, shut up! DON’T say anything!

So yes, I read the news passage with my important low voice, cos otherwise I normally sound like a bird. And if they ever taught me anything in Sydney, it was that listeners prefer listening to lower voices and that they sound more credible. Armed with that knowledge, even I was surprised. I’m not that bad. Not heart achingly good. Nor tearfully terrible. I didn't stumble. They wanted me to read an extra paragraph...Four 'judges' were watching n listening. And then came this surprise list of words. Damn the French, why cant they just keep their language in France? No22 was difficult, so I just said I cant pronounce this one and went on. I did terribly. Or so I thought.

Congrats. You’ve a gd voice. You passed the test
You’re kidding (there I go again. With my talk-before-thinking mouth, no one in their right mind will ever give me a job…ok touch wood.)

Out of 15, five of us passed the voice test. I thought that was a pretty strict test, many of them looked very Channel News Asia- like they could create a slammin’ intellectual, brain spanking party in the sound room. Oh well.

We had to wait 2 hrs for the written cum current affairs test. What was I doing there? I’ve been away for a year, I didn’t have a clue about what happened locally, plus I don’t read the papers much. I never remember the things I do read because my memory is like a goldfish's (panic!!!) And everyone else who was selected seemed smarter and more informed. …When stressed out, Madhu talks to herself. Oh well Mad at least you’re trying…

The affectionately termed “test” was a full-blown 2 hour exam in which we were scribbling away furiously! With 5 pages of questions. Paragraphs n news stories to write and a 22 page speech and survey results. What does UWC stand for? Whats the capital of East Timor, and what has the Singapore govt done the past year to combat bird flu and terrorism? We had to read a 12pg speech and write a 100word radio news story. I cant think on paper anymore, give me a computer damn it! I had a strong urge to walk to Charmaine, and tell her gdbye I'm sorry I cant do this.

I tried.

And guess what. I nailed it. When she told me on the phone I went “You’re kidding” again (some people just never learn).

How the hell did THAT happen??? Did my tooth fairy decide to reward me all of a sudden for faithfully donating all my childhood teeth to her?

PS: The last interview is next Friday- there are 3 or 4 of us, competing for One position. Eeeeeeks!

If there was a purple heaven...

2006-01-08T22:29:00.000+08:00

Can you believe this beauty? Its a jaqueranda (dont know how to spell this) tree in Sydney University, and in its totally purple in spring! My classes are just behind the tree and I couldnt help smiling everytime I saw it! No matter how bad my day was...

These trees are all over Australia. It's like an invitation to magic land.

I literally dragged Kets by the hand to come see it and we went nuts, cos she is my flower kaki!...Such saccharine girliness huh...She used to drag me for the funnest things all over Australia, and we'd giggle, and cry, and crib about everything you can think of and she'd tell me I'm nuts and I'd make her ruin her careful naturopathic diet and make her eat so much crap. Like caramel cheesecake at Town Hall and fried mars bars at Bondi...I miss you Kets!!!

OK here's one Ketki took of me. There are more but they are too girly, n u'd barf. I was just sitting n laughing at smthg I said (u know, my irresistable sense of humour) If u were there u'd be rolling around as well!

I really really want to add one of Kets lying down but I know Ms Shy will chop me into pieces! Humph:(:(:(...this one will suffice (cant seem to make it upright tho)...very Indian Matrimonial Do-You-Want-To-Marry-My-Homely-Daughter Picture..Imagine the profile stats below the picture. Oh God I'm so very tempted...

Zee just taught me how to post pictures, cos I'm a bimbo haha:) Thanks alot dear! N thanks for not laughing at me. Out loud on MSN that is!...

My Wedding

2006-01-06T23:22:00.000+08:00

I'm having a wedding. Sometime in my life. I know which of my friends is in charge of what (assigned according to strength) I even have a speech roughly planned, and venue, colours and theme picked out for the reception- all this thought up during a boring bus ride. I have a thing for butterflies.

Who is the groom, you may ask.

He doesn’t exist.
Things are simpler that way. Less complicated. With or without a groom (and right now things are titillating towards the absence of one), I want the whole romance of the celebration. And I want to dress up.

So if u get an invite, don’t bother inquiring who that crazy Madhu is finally marrying. Just come with a nice gift...I might just let you tag along my honeymoon in Italy;)

Marvelous (Mis)deeds of Mad the Magnificent

2006-01-05T00:45:00.000+08:00

Have blogged about this before but because I perform a new one everyday, I had to add some more...

The clumsiest things i have done. Though stuff like these happen every couple of days, (the Crown of DORKINESS should really be on my head) these are the ones i can remember now...Completely sober kids...

1. Swung and fell onto the lap of big Chinese man in a jerking bus. Man stares at me blankly. Dont think he cared.

2. Fell off a swing mid air, while trying to adjust my bum position. OW! Vig (my so-called-friend) went screaming for a camera.

3. Spilled parts of a three course meal onto my blouse...In all the WrongPlaces!

4. Dipped half my college tie in laksa gravy.

5. Walked into a window while smiling at village kids in India. Vig jumped to rub my forehead thinking it wld help, covering my entire face so i couldnt see even more!

6. Slid and land on my bum on sandy steps while making a conscious attempt to walk "daintily" (after announcing that loudly to everyone too).

7. Walked into a lampost.

8. Fell into a tiny drain the minute a friend let go of my hand.

9. Sent food flying into someone else's hair. (She didnt notice, THANKYOUGOD!)

10. Got onto a bus, and then realise i forgot to check which bus it was.

11. In primary 6, I put on my school pinafore, without my blouse, and almost left the house...Intellectual kids dont have space in their minds for such mundane considerations.

12. In college, told Jason I'd screw him "upside down" if he again forgot to bring his scary costume for our Haunted House station of the college carnival. The whole class happened to hear, there was shocked silence..and then a roar...sob

13. Addressed someone I've been introduced to many times with the wrong name.

14. Dropped my mobile phone into a sink full of water. Premature death.

15. My bright orange dress (that's just for HOME wear! Its too comfy to part with) n... ummm.. undergarments flew out of my bag while i was crossing a crowded main road. They remained there for 30 mins till i discovered their absence and went looking for them. Brightly n Beautifully displayed for the viewing of all. Aint that sexy.

16. Wore flared flowy white skirt on a ferry to Manly, Sydney. Once the ferry moved, my skirt does a Marilyn Monroe on me. All my friends laugh, being of no help. One nice stranger, who is now a friend, Chirag, offered me a seat. He ended up spending the weekened with us. (see? clumsiness has its advantages)

17. Big grp of us playing monopoly. Forgot the chair didnt have a back, and leaned backwards. Head went slamming against the tiled floor. I started laughing even before I landed on the floor. "how can it be happening again? Will i ever stop?" Everyone thought I was dead. Or that I'd be dead the next morning.

My friends panic every time I go hiking in steep places or stand at the edge of a cliff...Even I am surprised I'm not dead...I'm like a mosquito. I keep coming back.

Ibaidahs Bday

2006-01-01T00:02:00.001+08:00

Last night a bunch of us were at O Bar celebrating Ibaidahs birthday. The most important part- is that Ibaidah was really happy...and very very drunk. I like happy drunks:) Photos courtesy of Zee's blog hehe, I'm a thief...Thx zeeeee

Doesnt she look lovely!!!

Anyway. These girls are nuts and I love it! They did their chereographed Hung Up dance when the song played. YES! Of course there was no space on the dancefloor, but they made space. I, as usual, grabbed a seat right in front of them and laughed my head off. Everyone else there was amused as well....Unfortunately, no pics were taken. We were too busy dancing or laughing at those dancing :)

before all the dancing started and the club was relatively quiet we sang singing along to all the songs, going lalalala to most of the song cos we didnt know the lyrics. Did we care that ppl stared? I told Such that in ten mins the table next to us will be empty... We werent even drunk yet....and yes I'm still useless (when is it going to stop?) two drinks and I was wobbly...I kept out of trouble. One guy was staring the entire night. He didnt send off bad vibes, but I think big grps of girls scare Singaporean guys hehehe...Intended effect!

Lali and I acting drunk...except that I couldnt help smiling as soon as the camera took the pic...Lali looks hilarious tho...we weren't supposed to be dead!

(with- ahem!- adjustments) Attacking Zee for no rhyme or reason. Just like the way its so easy to hug her:)

Ibby and her darling Jacob and I dunno who..
Ok look Miyuki your face is NOT big! Mine is bigger but do I look like I care? We're all perfect the way we are!
Bootilicious Kanchu does her thing:) The girl who's too good for a certain fool...

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!

MAYDAY! Hot babes under siege by big giant cake!

Attacking big giant cake back!

Dont ask what we are doing, I'm not sure...loooooovvvvveee

The guys who were a little strange...I'm not saying anything else.

Such, who hopped on a plane after the club closed.

The Sistas!

LOL! :)

I had fun:) We stayed till the Ugly Lights came on at 3.30am (i think). Sonia coined this term in Sydney. Ugly Lights are switched on in clubs at closing time...Get it? You're all tired n sweaty n everyone looks terrible heheh... And then we brought a drunk Zee for food. The poor girl was in much discomfort... and I only reached home at 5am! And then I woke up at 10am and went shopping with Fish, cos I promised I would. We walked for 6 hours...My legs still hurt from all that dancing and walking:(

Had to shampoo and condition twice until I was satisfied that the smoke was outta my hair. Yuck. Now I remember why I dont go clubbing much...

With all the hugging, kissing, jiving, confiding, protecting one another from sleazebags (and a little puking haha) that was going on one thing hit home again at O Bar...That life isnt worth it without girl friends. There is love and care and affection and unconditional support and a whole lotta hugs when you need it- everyone, even guys, needs good girl friends!!!

Oh God I am beat...I hope I make it to the bed...