Begin The Year With Thanks and Appreciation of Oneself

1 January, 2009, first day of year 2009.

8.30: Alarm sounded
8:45: Alarm continued
9:15: Amidst the annoying alarm, Kel tapping rapidly on my arms (getting irritated)
9:30: Reminders of the alarm, Kel... and my appointment with the salon forced me out of the bed
9:50: Running late for appointment
9:55: Kel starting the engine
10:00: Start of Hair appointment
10:15: Arrived at salon (sigh... shouldn't have started the year with a late record .. :S)
-------start..reading.. chatting... continue--------
13:01: Call from Kel and I cancelled the call
......
13:02: Texted, "Can't use ears no. Why?"
-------- No reply --------
13:07: Missed call from Dad
13:08: Returned call to Dad but only hearing noisy background, a familiar voice of.... my nephew?
13:08: "Hello? Hello?"
13:08: "Hello?"
13:08: "Hello Ba Ba, did you call me?"
13:08: "No, Yang Hong la... Ya Hong, call Ah Yi... " almost sizzling sounds again before hearing "Ah.. " fading and gone..... "Hello? He is too shy, nothing la, he is just playing with the phone".
-------- Call Duration: 00:38 --------
13:11: "Cannot use ear can call ur father o_0" ..... "
-------- Opps! >_<" --------

14:15: Finally out of Salon... Another four hours! If only some salonS in Singapore can start putting up some laptop zones or facilities for customers like us to plug in our laptop while we have our hair done and do something more useful at the same time. Really drag going to salon and only able to do some reading at most.. and sometimes, it's also not convenient to read cos of the degree we need to position our head. Hmm... I'm positive.. the salon who has this service, will be very popular with the working class.

-------- Back from dreamland--------

14:35: Took some time off to window shop again and glad that the only thing that caught my eye was out of stock (I had already unconsciously shopped non-stop from 11am til 7pm the day before, first with my 2nd sis, then continuing with my former secondary school pals). I always told my friends, how I don't like shopping and my husband, Kel, always disagree. Cos the moment I really get an opportunity to shop, the instinct..... just starts without my conscious thoughts :P Nonetheless, I still... don't think I am a shopaholic, and still won't class it under my hobby. It's just that it's rare when I get to shop with my sister coupled with a SGD$200 worth of free Robinsons vouchers to use up! And even more rare to have more than half a day to shop with my secondary school pals!
14:35: Miss call to Kel
14:36: Fortunately bro answered and confirmed that I was only needed to buy back a pack of coffee.
14:38: A drop of rain onto my new hairdo *Sweat*
14:39: Few more drops, I quickened my pace, reminded myself that safety was more important (even if one is following the traffic rules and waiting at the traffic junctions, one has to be on alert especially if there are unexpected accidents. Again, don't sms and be on alert (don't be distracted by the hair!!" )
14:40: Phew! Only few drops and I'm safely back at my mum's home.
14:50: Patiently dealing with my toddler nephew who wanted to tag along as I left to pack something for my lunch.
15:20: Perspiring, and hungrily finishing my chicken rice (finally!)
16:30: Took over for mum for the game
19:00: Hmmm.... happily gorging myself with the home cook food from mum, while holding my pace so that I don't touch the "merging" ulcers on my lip.. *Sweat*
19:30: Continued 2nd round
20:45: "Has the show, Xiao Niang Re, started?" dad asked.
21:00: TV switched on to catch the latest channel 8 drama serial, finally one that's so popular. Despite the hot holiday seasons where friends and relatives are taking time to catch up, I have friends who told me they have to reach home early to catch this show!
22:31: Finally switched on my laptop, hoping to catch up with some work after the long week of break.

Unfortunately, got a message from friend and checked out facebook. I'm really still clumsy with this tool. There are so many pending requests and I still don't know how to accept everything real quick without having to be brought through so many links.

However, something is slowly happening.... and this caught my eye......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu9FPb-TZuk&eurl=http://fb.rockyou.com/facebook_apps/rywall/mediaplayer.php?width=428&height=346&tag=fb-wall-video-view&vurl=ht&feature=player_embedded

Watching it halfway through, I had to hold back the warm tears that were welling up. I shared this with Kel and Carol.

Carol asked "So, how did you spend your New Year?" As I recounted to her, I ended up blogging this and spending an hour without starting on my work. :(

Year 2008 has been such a tiring year. This one week break seemed so short compared to the one I had last year. For some reason, I still haven't had time to complete my spring cleaning, do my reading, or have a decent time to sort out all my emotions and resolutions.

However, this always seemed the case. We always don't have enough time although we can always make time. As time past, another year had ended, I start to wonder (not sure if you do as well) if next year will be a more fruitful year.

With the gloomy news on the economics, some people comforting themselves that less bonus is better than no bonus, some comforting themselves that no bonus is better than no job while some, getting retrenchment benefits, better than no money at all, I can't help but only feel gloomy...

Today, I think I have started the day well. I gave myself time to sleep in more. Time to do something for myself (my usually curly and stubborn hair, which, still curls despite the re-bonding and needed to be re-processed), time with my family, and surprisingly, time with my colleague, kel and friends online.

The video from the youtube has been very encouraging. Despite all the bad news, if we reflect, many of us are already so fortunate. If we make a list of what we can do, are capable of doing, I'm sure, I can be more appreciative of myself.

Now, this reminds me of the article that I manage to read (and finally having the time to read this though I had bought it years back) while having my hair done.

"Happy To Be Me" by Emme, Bergen County of New Jersey.

In summary, it was an article sharing about Emme, a full figured model, The more attention grabbing part, was where this photographer whom, after seeing her, commented "I'm not shooting that fatty!" and stomped out. Emme did not allow this negative remark to ruin her attitude. Instead, Emme turned out to be the first full figured model to appear on a billboard in Times Square!

I had visited a dentist at NDC on Monday and was really excited to have a first consultation for my braces. However, the dentist was asking me, what's your concerns? I told her, nothing much, I just hope to have a beautiful smile. After telling me how many teeths of mine have to be extracted, she proceeded to share with me that my lower jaw is too in, and needed a surgery. After waiting another 1.5 hr to see the next dentist (or surgeon), the surgeon continued with another check and also explained about all the details. She also shared with me about the risks, and I began to wonder, if I really needed a surgery. I was really, just prepared, to have my braces done. After my question on why I needed the surgery and if it's really a problem? (after all, I don't have much problem biting or chewing), the dentist (or surgeon) said that the alignment was only slightly off..... I told her I was not prepared at all. Well, since they said that the braces would be done different with or without the surgery, I was asked to return to see the surgeon... three (3) months later!

Goodness! What on earth is happening? I only wanted to align my teeth and how did it turn out this way. Maybe, this is why the elderly doesn't like the hospital. Sometimes, ignorance is really bliss!

Oh yes, and the news that I was really anticipating for, the cost of the braces. Well, the dentist confirmed that for my teeth, I needed both top and bottom teeth to be corrected. And if I am willing to be put on waiting list, the cost will be around 3000 plus. For that, I will need to wait for about 3 years. And, if I want to do it fast, I can go through the faster channel, and that will cost me about 4000 plus. 1000 plus difference (maybe more, since she mentioned that dental cost will only appreciate) and I had to wait for 3 more years. Why doesn't money always have to affect life decision like this?

Anway, my pal was totally frightened off by the risks and discouraged me from going for it (while encouraging me that I'm already pretty enough. Hahahah.. thanks for being so encouraging). As for Kel, he said that hospital needs to do that, all the disclaimer text has to be in placed and definitely... not all risks will happen (I think, he was comforting me as he knows, I really wanted to go for braces and nice teeth for a long time). She also mentioned that her younger sis, only paid 3000 plus for her teeth (she has both upper and lower sets of teeth corrected too) and her dentist is at Ang Mo Kio, near Anderson Secondary. 3000 plus?!!! Well, didn't the earlier dentist estimated the cost (if I want to be put on the waiting list) at around the same price? Hmm... I'm going to try this out, but, definitely not opting for the surgey, not with the risks (after all... as YY puts it, I'm already married :P )

Otherwise, I will only remind myself of the article on Emme, "Accept Yourself", "What's Your Gift" (what's mine?), to believe in myself and my own gifts and when all else fails, laugh (at yourself, mostly), and the video of Nick Vujicic, I'm glad, my family and friends love me the way I am. And though, I hate to (remembering my ex-schoolmate especially that xxx who nicknamed me Bugs), I will only laugh at myself.

Happy New Year everyone!

P.S.
01:59 AM, 2nd January, 2009, Failed attempt to insert a gif of the alarm clock. Entire blog message was truncated with long spaces and repeated images of the alarm clock. After spending I guess, 40 minutes, I hope this works (keeping my fingers cross).
*Sweat* I have only worked on opening up the excel template and the powerpoint slide for my report :S