Kasut Manik

Big-Ee (Eldest Aunt) has renal kidney failure - One kidney has failed while the other is shrinking and malfunctioning at an exponential rate.

Despite being in a chronic condition, Big-Ee has insisted on ploughing to Malacca. Naturally, it was met with rejection.

When pressed to justify her somewhat whimsical request, Big-Ee's replies released a torrent of tears.

"I want to send Mother's kasut manik to tapak for Michelle."
(I want to send Mother's beaded slippers to be mended for Michelle.)
Mother was a reference to my deceased maternal grandmother who had passed away in 2001.

Some of the precious items which had been left to Mich was that of a few pairs of antique Peranakan beaded slippers. Due to wear and tear since the 1930s, a slipper or two had some cracks embedded in the heels.

Malacca is the only place where the dying art of beading Peranakan slippers still exists, albeit at an exhorbitant price. An authentic Peranakan sarong kebaya with full embroidery can easily set you back by $1000 these days. ( Mich scoffs at the mass-produced cheap fakes, sold in departmental stores and boutiques, that are an insult to our Peranakan heritage.)

On a wheelchair, with two heart bypasses, renal kidney failure and a postponed heart operation to insert a pacemaker, Mich was still on Big-Ee's mind.

Dear God, please don't take Big-Ee away.

25 Feb : Of The Rainbow Which Made Mich Smile.

A random spurt of delightful hues.

Happiness, albeit drenched in dissipated transience.

Naturally, it conjured yet another song within.

=The Rainbow Connection by Kermit=

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that
and someone believed it,
and look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing?
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell,
we know that it's probably magic..

Have you been half asleep
and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
It's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.

"May All Your Dreams Come True."

To: Daniel, Daniel K
Happy Birthday. *hugs* =)

Here's the song which I've pasted on your wall.

**Note : Mich highly recommends this song to everyone.
Why settle for the conventional Birthday Song?
Listen and allow the lovely tune to latch onto your consciousness. Enjoy!

Don't worry about that extra line
That's creeping up upon your face
It's just a part of nature's way
To say you've grown a little more
Trees have rings and thicker branches
Kids shoes get a little tighter
Every year we're getting closer to who we're gonna be
It's time to celebrate the story of how you've come to be

Happy birthday my friend
Here's to all the years we've shared together
All the fun we've had
You're such a blessing
Such a joy in my life
May the good Lord bless you
And may all your dreams come true

So light a candle on your cake
For every smile you've helped create
For every heart and every soul
You've known to grow a little more
A few more pounds, a little more grey
Don't count the years just count the way
It takes a little time to go from water into wine
Don't ever lose the wonder of the child within your eyes

Happy birthday my friend
Here's to all the years we've shared together
All the fun we've had
It's such a blessing
Such a joy in my life
May the good Lord bless you
And may all your dreams come true

Masking The Visage.

Another quiz that got me chewing on specific indentations ( read: You) . This takes the cake! 5 stars!

** Mich's "high standards" of a man have nothing to do with monetary issues. All she needs and craves is Time & Affection. Because she subscribes to the notion (albeit cliche) that Money Cannot Buy Happiness, she values these above all else.

And that's why she fell for You.
My Love Style

You desire a love that will last forever. You are quite serious about finding this type of love, and that's why you think carefully about the men that you meet before deciding whether you could really love them. You don't just develop a crush on someone overnight: you look at a person's personality and other aspects of their life before deciding to form an attachment. If a guy doesn't meet your expectations, you would rather be alone. Your love has to be perfect. Be careful though, you could be missing out on some worthy relationships because your standards are so high.

Well, What Do We Have Here?

Took a stab at this quiz which Leion had linked on his blog.

Degree of accuracy?

Let Mich's results be your benchmark!
Get To Know Yourself

Your view on yourself:
Other people find you very interesting, but you are really hiding your true self. Your friends love you because you are a good listener. They'll probably still love you if you learn to be yourself with them.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You are not looking merely for a girl/boyfriend - you are looking for your life partner. Perhaps you should be more open-minded about who you spend time with. The person you are looking for might hide their charm under their exterior.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.

The seriousness of your love:
Your have very sensible tactics when approaching the opposite sex. In many ways people find your straightforwardness attractive, so you will find yourself with plenty of dates.

Your views on education
Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:
You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:
You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.

What are you most afraid of:
You are concerned about your image and the way others see you. This means that you try very hard to be accepted by other people. It's time for you to believe in who you are, not what you wear.

Who is your true self:
You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

Two Girls On A Monday Afternoon.

Cafe Swiss @ Swissotel proved to be a good alternative to Equinox when a thunderstorm ensued and obscured the otherwise magnificent view.

Esther was good company.

I miss Simplicity.

Maybe it's time to get back to basics.

Alvin & Paul.

Alvin & Paul proliferated my mind today.

One was the partner of a very close childhood friend. He underwent a heart operation and due to complications arising thereafter, he never woke up again.

The other was a neighbour, classmate and good friend. Surrounding his death were undisclosed details till this day.

Both passed away within days of each other.

You're dearly missed, Alvin.

Paul, I wish you were here to make me laugh like you did when times were tough.

In one way or another, I've lost cherished gems.

And this cycle looks set to persist.

Sunny Settlements.

Ting and I met for a self-indulgent "Pamper Thyself" day.

The truth could not be further.

Plying our stomachs with an early dinner at Sushi Tei (6pm), we meandered the likes of Orchard Road thereafter, albeit limply - Ting with a bruised toe and Mich with skelter-high stilettos.

The loins of Miss Sixty, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren & Armani belched in the name of boredom. So did Gucci, Chanel & Ferragamo.

Preening ourselves was next on the agenda and so, I plonked $52 for two MAC eyeshadow pots.

FCUK, Miss Selfridge and Topshop dissipated any remnant quest for threads.

We found it rather appropriate to nestle at Swensen's for yet another meal at 10.30pm.

With augmented consciousness, the bow was twanged in the direction of home.

And on the particular platform of midnight, Mich's feet gleaned her abode.

*Mich's Consolidated Expenditure of the Day*
Sushi Tei $48
MAC eyeshadow $52
Swensen's $36
================
Total $136
================

Self-note : Reduce expenditure on food!

Something About You. =)

Is there a simpler way (if any) to express this? =)
And every time you look my way
I wish I had the guts to say

There's something in your eyes
Something in your smile
Something in the way you move me
You make me want to sing
Make me want to dance
Make me want to cry
I'm falling in love with you

And when we meet you'll kiss my hand
and say the words I've longed to hear

[ Something About You, Corrinne May ]

The Bill-y Black Hole

A bulk of my expenditure goes to cabs & bills.

• Cabs - $500 (down from the shocking $1000+ i was frittering monthly in 2008)
• Credit card bills - $1200 - $1600 on average
  

I've realised it is possible to save $2000 monthly, which I should be aiming for, given that my nett income is $6000 on average.

Where is Mich's money?

Mich's Economist, anyone? =x

Being Resolute.

I'm going to try and live for nobody but myself.

What I feel will not change but I will not let it get the better of me.

I should know.

"Love Thyself."

Sealed With Questions.

Shall I?
Can I?
May I?
Will I?

Tell Me?
Show Me?

The White Farmers.

Every now and then, an enigma champions a cause for the underprivileged.

A major upheaval was planned and pending execution islandwide.

"To change the landscape of that which defines us."

Or so, we thought.

Actions were stopped because a raw nerve was hit.

A largely sensitive nerve.

And so, through coercion and suppression, the powers that be have weeded the threat.

Because. They. Can.

Status quo.

Specific Indentations.

My life-changing decision will depend on an Answer.

The specific indentation in question would steer Mich towards the undertaken direction.

She needs a clear head.

And a distinct indication.

Ines & Pedro.

Ines de Castro, Surrounded By Her Two Children,
Pleads With The King Of Portugal Alfonso IV To Spare Her
Francisco Vieira Portuense (1765-1805)

Ines de Castro became a lady-in-waiting for Princess Constance of Portugal in 1340 and quickly stole the heart of her prince Pedro, the heir to the Portuguese throne.

When Constance died in 1349, Pedro tried to make Ines his lawful queen — they already had three children together — but his father the king intervened, banishing Ines and ultimately having her murdered when geographical distance couldn't keep Pedro away.

The act sparked a civil war between father and son and, when the latter claimed victory, Pedro exhumed his lover, built her a royal tomb, and had all of Portugal swear allegiance to Ines as their queen.

[ The Most Tragic Love Stories In History, Heather Whipps ]

What Mich Did On Valentine's.

The Man's overseas on a business trip so Mich had nothing to do on this particular christened day. =(

Was going to meet Daniel for dinner if he wasn't tied up with his colleagues and overseas contractors but that fizzled out in the evening. =(

Ange was sick and sounded terribly hoarse so the designated late-night karaoke belting session was cancelled. =(

On a positive note, Mich....

• finally had a day of rest. She cannot recall the last time she had an afternoon nap! =)
  
• uploaded the pics of her p6 gathering on Facebook, as 'commanded' by her p6 form teacher. *gasp* Mrs C has a Facebook account!
• watched loads of Allo Allo episodes on Youtube. (Allo Allo comes a close second after Monty Python when it comes to comedy!)
• finished the paperwork that she had been procrastinating the entire week.
  
• framed the curriculum of a particular course and prepared its worksheets.
• received three calls from The Man who said he missed Mich. =)

Happy Valentine's!

Share your activities of the day with Mich!

Am I Materialistic To You? -- The Great Misconception

Being approached by an Israeli man for the first time, I was naturally flattered to say the least. Initially wary of this stranger that riveted his attention on me, I let down my guard as the conversation flowed freely.

Much was said about Singaporeans (by him).

The Singaporean indentation did not put the nation in a flattering light -

• Materialistic
• Females were gold-diggers
• Parents with ill-disciplined children (I could not agree more!)

Because Mich displayed de rigeur tout ensemble - being "well-dressed", "holding an iPhone" and "carrying an LV bag" - he found it hard to believe that Mich was not the least bit interested in rich men, as he tried to drive home that notion.

"Look at you!" he exclaimed, heralding Mich's prime indicants of monetary fervour (and favour, no doubt).

45 minutes later, he was "impressed" that Mich was "very different from the Singaporean girls" he had dated and asked me out. (For the record, Mich declined. She's not an easy girl who goes out with strangers at the drop of a hat. Perish that thought!)

Nevertheless, it was one of the most interesting conversations Mich has had.

It sparked Mich's cogitation - Does she appear materialistic to you?

To clear the air, Mich's scheme of thought applies as follows -

• The most important thing is Love, not money. Money is important, but it does not occupy the top spot. No amount of money can conjure magical moments and sparkling eyes.
• Women should not burden men with the expectation and demands of purchasing big-ticket items items of their whim and fancy. Such girls are useless in Mich's eyes and men would be better off without them.
• Mich does not need a man to support her monetarily. It does not mean that the man is financially crippled nor incapable of raking in the cash. Mich is fully capable of earning her own dough and buying what she wants. She takes great pride in that. She's independent, but not a feminist. Which brings us to the next point...
  
• The man should take the lead in the relationship, regardless of how capable the woman is. His opinion should be sought even though the woman's decision is resolute.
  
• Respect the man in the presence of his peers and he will greatly appreciate it. (I'm quite sure most men will agree on this!)
• Learn to be understanding and not expect the world to revolve around you constantly. The less you demand, the more you'll receive.
• You could ask but not demand nor insist that the man pick you up if he's in Jurong and you're in, say, Siglap. Singapore has an efficient transport system. Take the cab, train or bus if the man is unable to fetch you.
  

That said, are you surprised?

Was that very different from your impression of Mich?

Tell me. I would love to know. =)

I Just...

Want to know Why.

Pray, would You please tell?

What's going on?

Why?

Remember.

Something to consider for my epitaph when the time comes.
Remember Me? Promise?



Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

[ Remember - Christina Rossetti ]

hush.

i know it's wrong, i know i shouldn't.
i miss you, though i know you won't.

My iPhone & You.

Mich had a long blog post but it's gone now.

As of 3 February 2009, Mich is officially a Singtel subscriber and bids her decade-long telco M1 goodbye.

Mich battled with her iphone from midnight till 6am on Tuesday.

She fought to find ways and means of importing the text messages from her M1 SIM card to her iPhone.
What she could do :

• copy / save all text messages and contacts stored in her M1 SIM card & SE k800i to her computer.
• import all contacts from the saved lists in her computer to her iPhone.
• copy /save text messages from her SE k800i phone to her SIM Card.

What she could not :

• copy / save text messages from her M1 SiM Card to her SE k800i phone.
• import all saved text messages from the saved lists in her computer to her iPhone.

What she utilized, albeit without success, in an attempt to sync her text messages with her iPhone :

• Microsoft Outlook
• MyPhoneExplorer
• MobileEdit
• Sony Ericsson PC Suite
• iTunes

Mich spent 6 hours fighting to keep the memories alive.

She was trying to salvage what little she had left of the past, for sweet syllables carved magical moments. Each text message ruminated a particular frame gone by, forging the transience of what had ebbed with time.

Of moments with You.

And that's how important You are to Mich, even if her existence should fade into yellowed memories.

She'll always love You, even though You've ceased to do so.

Because of that which was special, she waited beyond a decade, sparkled when You lavished hours of attention on her daily and struggled struggles almost 4 years till this day.

It's been more than half her lifetime.

She knows that she will never win Your affection with the magnitude of 2005 / 2006 / 2007 again.

There will never be another Gift, Song nor Word.

All she has are the remnants stored in those messages.

Abrupt Recollection By Association.

Just as Mich typed the title for the previous post mere seconds earlier, she realised it reeked of deja vu.

"One Day, It'll All Be Over."

She remembered it was what You said to her.

"And it's not that I won't miss
But one day, I will have to leave.
And when I do,
I don't want you to 'die' ( because of me )."

And Mich smiled, albeit with a heavy heart, at this abrupt recollection that came about by association with the song, High.

" One Day, It'll All Be Over. "

" When you're close to tears remember
One day, it'll all be over "

Immensely popular in the late 90s ( I reckon when it was the time of college days?), High established Lighthouse Family as a household name after which the duo vanished into near oblivion.

High is one of Mich's all-time faves when the doldrums strike.

Maybe someone out there knows the answer but why on earth does almost every shop / restaurant / department store / radio station keep playing High these days?

Meanwhile, if the song has eluded your memory, here's the vid to take you back to the glorious days of youth gone by.