Emo and too much of it

I remember many years back, my colleague and friend Karen Ho even told me that I am very 'emo'. As much as I did not admit to it back then, I know indeed, I am very much a 'feeler' rather than a thinker especially these days. Since young, my grandma labelled me as crybaby. I never like that labelling, as I feel like a weakling. I always wonder why, was my mum an emo queen (unfortunately I never have a chance to find out), certainly my dad does not appear to be like one. That curiousity actually had me examining my tear ducts closely at the mirror, and my conclusion after looking at those ducts, they are quite huge. Thats two huge assets I have owned so far - big mouth and big tear ducts. God is somehow not very fair, isn't it? My consolation is that somehow when all my face features come together, they make quite a friendly face whom people find it easy to talk to. Well, if that still apply these days, with my ever sunking cheeks.

Until these days, that crybaby in me never quite go away. Recently, I became very affected by the earthquake followed by Tsunami that struck Japan. We were planning to tour Japan in April, and I was looking forward to it, and wanted very badly to get out of my work. Almost every other nights, I had to work till 1 am after the kids dozed off at 10pm. Some nights, I had to just work and Boon Heng looked after the kids. It is very frustrating as I treasure every moments spent with my kids. Being around at home, but not around with them. Last Friday, Yvonne smsed me the bad news when we were out catching a movie. We didn't know it was that devastating. Still, I glued myself to the TV trying to catch every news clips. It was horrifying watching the news, and I could not control my tears. Gosh. Japan is such a beautiful country and I could not imagine living if the people I know were all gone. Somehow, I had the compelling need to share my sadness with Oliver. At bedtime, I explained to Oliver why I was sad.

Me - Oliver, I feel very sad.
Oliver - Why?
Me - We cannot go Japan, because there is tsunami and many people died.
Oliver - Is it died like Snow White?
Me - No, Snow White fainted. She did not die.
Oliver - What is died?
Me - When someone dies, they go to another place and never come back.
Oliver - Where is the place?
Me - I don't know where is the place, because I have not been to that place.
Oliver - Is the place 'Japan'?
Me - speechless... (oh dear, I should certainly take stock of my emo and not confuse Oliver).

At Marina Bay Promenade

Saw this video at a friend's blog. We hardly get any good ads like this from local TV.

My favourite brunch place is...

Riders Cafe... winning hands down.

Chingay

We were at Chingay for both parades. First night we were working, but we brought Heidi and Oliver there on the 2nd night. This was behind the F1 Pit where there were many booths, performers, exhibits etc as part of the pre-show.

Some cosplay characters posing. Oliver and Heidi didn't want to go near, as they were quite shell-shocked by the colours and commotion around them.
As we were heading to the entrance I saw a troop of scout troopers and stormtroopers marching hurriedly behind us towards the start of the parade. I turned around and recognised the first one in the pack.

It was Edvan hamming it up as Emperor Palpatine's army.
Heidi just woke up from her quick nap as the parade was about to begin. The man behind us is kinda funny.

We hanged around with some of the contingents at the waiting area awaiting for the start of the parade. Baby Hee was also there to cover the event. He seemed to be wearing the same headdress as Edvan... is he a stormtrooper too?

Lion Dance

A couple of years ago Oliver was pretty scared of the lion dance performance put up by his older schoolmates. But now he is the lion head and thoroughly enjoyed the dance.
Claire, another of the 3 lions.

After that there were even healthy yusheng made of carrot and apple and biscuit fish. Tasted yucky though.

Our Town

That is one of Oliver's favourite song from the Cars movie.

Whenever the song came on during the later part of the show, he would listen attentively. Sometimes he would ask why the song is so sad.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Our+Town/2ycuK?src=5

It tells of a town that used to flourish, but has been bypassed due to development.

Until Lightning McQueen came and saved it from extinction of course.

Lightning McQueen

It reminds me of Queenstown, or more specifically Margaret Drive, near where I grew up. It used to be quite a happening place, with 3 cinemas, a polyclinic, a library, and a Tai Chung Emporium. Lots of schools there too, including mine, which has since defunct.

Of course the nexus of the place is the hawker centre, which has survived until now. Lots of good food there like the chicken rice and guotie on the 2nd level, the char kway teow and dessert store on the 1st.

Sadly all of them are either gone or will be gone in a few weeks' time, if not days.

We were there a couple of times recently. Oliver and Heidi quite like the place and will run round the drain gratings.

Oliver and Classmates at Pinnacles@Duxton

CNY Visitation to Oliver's new classmate Calissa's house