The Hair Bands

Something came over me suddenly one day and incited me to put together a playlist which reads something like this:

1. Something To Believe In - Poison
2. Love Of A Lifetime - Firehouse
3. I'll Be There For You - Bon Jovi
4. Without You - Mötley Crüe
5. I Saw Red - Warrant
6. I Remember You - Skid Row
7. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
8. Home Sweet Home - Mötley Crüe
9. Where You Goin' Now - Damn Yankees
10. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad - Def Leppard
11. In These Arms - Bon Jovi

After which I just had to youtube these videos for nostalgia's sake. And there was no turning back. I was at it for hours!!!

Men with long mane are undeniably sexy. No matter if it's blonde teased-up tresses or black straight locks, these flamboyant glam rockers ooze sex appeal from every single pore. Most importantly, they coo love ballads in their signature badass fashion which sent millions of chicks (and chickadees alike) weak at the knees. Not forgetting of course, the teasing of their family jewels (whether intentional or not) in their super skin tight jeans.

And then there are the words of the songs:

When love went blind and you would make me see,
I'd stare a lifetime into your eyes.

Without you in my life,
I'd slowly wilt and die.
But with you by my side,
You're the reason I'm alive.

You say you're cried a thousand rivers,
And now you're swimming for the shore.
You left me drowning in my tears,
And you won't save me anymore.

I crack up whenever I listen to the words. Such cliché! And yet I can't stop listening to them. What's more, the playback of these songs goes on and on in my head all day long. This is easily one of my most overplayed playlists at the moment.

My all time favourite then when I was 16 and now? Mötley Crüe, Skid Row and Poison win hands down. Always.

Oh yeah, I am a closet minah rock.

Do you cheena?

The MIL was dressing up to get ready for the reunion dinner at ours. She had her jeans on. The FIL took a look at her and immediately said she should wear something more appropriate. To which she asked why. His reply was, Chinese New Year is a special occassion for Hoonie, therefore, it's only right they should wear something smart to mark this festival together with her. He himself had a pair of trousers on instead of his usual shirt and jeans.

A man of few words but certainly very kind and considerate.

This year's reunion dinner was not much different from 2008's. I slaved in the kitchen for amost 2 days just so we could use this festival as an excuse to pig out. We indulged in the binge that was:

Braised Duck

Meat Balls (instead of Ngoh Hiang upon the man's request)

Roast Pork

Stir-fried Prawns

Not forgetting Bak Ku Teh and Stir-fried Snow Peas. Okay, it's very similar to what we had last year. Either I am rather unimaginative in terms of menu-planning or I am simply too traditional when it comes to the practices or customs in the Chinese New Year sense.

An ex-colleague from many jobs ago who is now living in a foreign land observes that being away from home helps you find out who you really are. I couldn't agree with her more.

I may be educated in English, speak and write the language much better than my mother tongue and may be very much influenced by the western cuture, but I discovered that I can be quite old-fashioned when it comes to Chinese New Year.

Someone said the practice of Chinese New Year is shallow. I beg to differ.

Yesterday was my first time giving out hong baos properly. And you know what? It feels extremely good seeing the joy on the kids' faces when those red packets were placed in their tiny little hands. Suddenly, I was 5 years old once more, feeling the same joy too.

No, the practice of Chinese New Year is so not shallow. And I am only too glad to be part of it.

In coma

The long holiday season was great for doing catching up. Not exactly in the sense of catching up with friends but more like making time for myself to slumber away.

For many days in a row, I finally had the chance to sleep to my heart's content again. What with the cold winter weather, it's just wonderful to snuggle under the covers and snooze. An average of 12 hours spent in slumberland was not uncommon. When I eventually woke, it's just pure bliss.

Forget about the throbbings and the cobwebs in my head thereafter. As long as I got my hundreds winks, it's all good.

All good things must come to an end however. Tomorrow I'll have to join the rat race again.

With the long slumbering in the past days and with a temperature dropping to a frigid -12 degrees in the nights, I am looking forward to waken my sluggish self at 5:30 tomorrow morning.

Oh, I am sooo depressed...

The Quest for The Incredible Indian Biryani

I've been pining for the biryani from this particular place for the longest time. The dishes whipped up by the chef are authentic. Besides, it recently got the nod of approval from my Indian friend. So you certainly can't go wrong with this eatery.

However, the few times I tried going there to appease my craving, there seemed to be a lingering dark force preventing me from satisfying my fix. I never made it to the restaurant.

The last time I checked, it was a year ago since I visited it.

The dark force had certainly denied me of my poison for a long enough time now.

Today I selfishly convinced the man to shop in the vicinity as it's high time I should get my fix of those fragrant spicy basmati rice.

The dark force was however there with me in the form of falling snow and snow-laden highway with not a single snow plow in sight.

Very unusual indeed!

The man casually remarked it wouldn't be a good idea to hit home in such conditions after dark. With the terrible conditions right in front of my eyes, I had to but grudgingly agree.

Bloody hell!!! Not again! I was this close.

Even so I did not give up.

As we were in the car leaving the city, he asked for dinner suggestions. I had of course no desire for any other cuisine except for youknowwhat. He suggested another Indian place closer to ours but I dismissed it as it was either the best or nothing for me!

The man must have noticed my long face for he suddenly exited from the highway. My heart jumped.

He's driving us there!!!! He is such a dear.

To compromise, I suggested we could tabao the food instead so he wouldn't have to stress himself out with the long difficult drive.

At home, my face lit up brightly when we finally sat down for the yummylicious biryani.

Oh, nevermind I have a sore throat. A pig can't change its snout.

Feeling the Love

The Bestie very sweetly got this for me for christmas. She secretly hijacked my order and paid for it herself. Just because she wants to be sure she's getting a gift which I truly fancy. Very naughty and yet very thoughtful of her! How can I not love her?


And then girlfriend, S lovingly knitted a scarf for my birthday. Behind each handmade gift is, I find, a warm-hearted effort to bring smiles of delight to the receiver's face. Which was exactly what happened last night when the pretty scarf was presented to me.

I've always admired those with nimble hands because I, on the contrary, am very awkward with mine. Yes, even simple tasks like wrapping a gift can be quite strenuous for me. Hence, close ones in the know will not expect a handmade gift from me.

The self-knitted scarf is, thus, something which I sincerely appreciate.

I heart my two gifts.

I feel loved and blessed.