The chores around the house doesn't seem to end. When you are an employee in a company, the projects will end upon deadline, the management meetings will eventually stop after a few hours, the press conference, events, etc will end when everything's over and done with. Not household chores. This morning, as E is out of town for work, I had to send C to school. I think driving out in the early morning got my adrenaline running so I started on a washing spree. I washed the laundry, curtains, half of the floor of the car porch (the other half was taken up by both cars, too lazy to move them!), then I 'washed' the dog, and re-potted some plants. Tempted to wash my car but I decided it's too humongous a task. I think my adrenaline must have run out. Next, I have to think of what to do for dinner.
It's Thursday as I publish this post that I wrote yesterday:
I had meant to write about our weekend since Monday and now it's Wednesday already! It's so easy to lose track of time. As a stay-home mom, there are various things to juggle and multitasking can sometimes be no longer effective. Or is it an 'age' thing? For example, I walk upstairs with the intention to do something but along the way, my mind thinks about something else and by the time I get up there, I forget what I was there for. And the countless times I forget where I put something. And the long windedness over something trivial sometimes, like now!
The weekend, yes, that's what I'm supposed to write about. ACE had a fun weekend. On Saturday, we caught the 3D movie How To Train Your Dragon and all three of us really enjoyed it. I had spotted the book some weeks back in the bookstore and it looked like one which Caitlin would enjoy so I got it for her. Little did I know that the following week, the movie was previewing already in the cinemas. When Caitlin found out about it, she was eager to go for the show.
It turned out that everyone else in the whole of KL was too. Online bookings could only be made two days before your chosen date. I made two trips to the cinema to get the tickets. The first time, the box office had yet to release the showtimes for the weekend shows so they couldn't sell the tickets (They only release it three days ahead). So I had to go a second time. Luckily, I was early enough and was able to choose good seats.
The story line in the movie, however, is very different from the book, according to C. Despite that, she enjoyed it.
After a late lunch in the mall, we headed home. In the evening, we went over to our next-door neighbour's house for dinner. Her newly-married daughter had just returned from overseas for a visit and she took the opportunity to have a gathering among relatives and neighbours to visit her new home. C was first glued to Book 4 of How To Train Your Dragon (it's a short series of 7 books) until after dinner when she started playing with another neighbour's kids, while E and I made small talk with some guests and neighbours.
On Sunday, we got off to an early start. C skipped Sunday School to attend her cousin's birthday party in PJ. It started off with rock climbing at Camp 5, followed by pizza and pasta and the birthday cake for the kids. Then it was lunch with extended family at One World Hotel's Chinese restaurant.
I must say that Camp 5 is a pretty good place for some family fun if you are game for some adventurous physical activity. The place is pleasant with clean and spacious locker rooms with toilet, shower and locker facilities, and a cafe that serves a healthy food menu.
I had known about Camp 5 but it was our first time there last Sunday. Caitlin had fun climbing. They started with the kid's boulder cave, and progressed on to a slightly bigger and higher 'hill' before going for the real thing, a relatively high wall. The marshalls helped them put on their climbing shoes, helmets and harnesses and watched and guided each child as they climbed. I guess I'll publish some photos of C's rock climbing adventure some other time.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Eating out
Just for fun, these are some pics of food ACE have enjoyed in the recent months (Dec 2009 - Mar 2010). They are not in any particular order. Looking at all the pictures just make me salivate!
Chicken hor fun, KL
Beef balls, Seremban
Beef noodles, Seremban
Stewed pork, KL
Fried radish cake, KL
Ice cream, JB
Fish porridge, Muar
Oyster omelette, Muar
Ngoh hiong, Singapore
Fish and yam steamboat, Singapore
Har kow, KL
Assorted dim sum, KL
Fried tofu, Singapore
Salted egg yolk prawns, Singapore
Chicken chop, fish and chips, Kuantan
Curry mee, Kuantan
Mushroom soup, Kuantan
Steak, Kuantan
Stuffed crab, Chukai, Kemaman
Sashimi, KL
Grilled eel, KL
Gingered fish head, Seremban
Beef with spring onions/ginger and stir fried sweet potato leaves, Seremban
Chicken hor fun, KL
Beef balls, Seremban
Beef noodles, Seremban
Stewed pork, KL
Fried radish cake, KL
Ice cream, JB
Fish porridge, Muar
Oyster omelette, Muar
Ngoh hiong, Singapore
Fish and yam steamboat, Singapore
Har kow, KL
Assorted dim sum, KL
Fried tofu, Singapore
Salted egg yolk prawns, Singapore
Chicken chop, fish and chips, Kuantan
Curry mee, Kuantan
Mushroom soup, Kuantan
Steak, Kuantan
Stuffed crab, Chukai, Kemaman
Sashimi, KL
Grilled eel, KL
Gingered fish head, Seremban
Beef with spring onions/ginger and stir fried sweet potato leaves, Seremban
Friday, March 26, 2010
One, two and three years ago on video
Since I opened the 'time capsule' of Stories of ACE, I thought it'd be fun to open the one for my YouTube account too. As I don't post videos as often as I blog, I've chosen the clips that are circa the relevant periods. The video clips are not very clear as they were taken using my mobile phone.
About one year ago, Caitlin performing with her Yamaha JMC classmates:
About two years ago, Caitlin doing an impromptu 'dance':
And about three years ago, Caitlin dancing and singing to her then fave song:
And compare them with this rather recent one of Caitlin and her classmates performing at her school concert. She is the fourth girl from the left, in the checked mini skirt
About one year ago, Caitlin performing with her Yamaha JMC classmates:
About two years ago, Caitlin doing an impromptu 'dance':
And about three years ago, Caitlin dancing and singing to her then fave song:
And compare them with this rather recent one of Caitlin and her classmates performing at her school concert. She is the fourth girl from the left, in the checked mini skirt
One, two and three years ago
One year ago, here's what I wrote:
Post-move update (click to read)
We've moved on a bit I must say since then. Although there are still some boxes and tools lying around the house, at least the oven has been put to reasonably good use (for a non-oven owner and user like me prior to this). As for the stove, it's been very much used on a daily basis to feed the three, and sometimes more, tummies in this house.
As for C's toys and books, and A and E's books and magazines, a lot, a lot more have been added on to the now untidy and haphazardly arranged book shelves. C's bookshelves cannot hold all her books now....and it's time to tune the piano again....
Two years ago, here's what I wrote:
Watch what you eat (click to read)
The skin allergy never re-surfaced since. I've always been conscious of what we eat. However, I must say that it's hard to be disciplined in eating healthily. Much of the tastiest foods usually come with some level of unhealthiness, especially when you eat out. Being a food lover and somewhat adventurous in trying out new dishes and eateries, it's hard to avoid temptation. If I want to eat 100 per cent healthily, I'd have to really work hard at eating at home and preparing our own food all the time.
A and E recently went for a health checkup. E has to exercise, watch his diet to avoid the risk of obesity and high blood sugar (genetic predisposition) while I have to exercise and cut down on cholesterol-laden food. So the main thing is EXERCISE which we both have problems committing to. While E gets some workout playing futsal with colleagues after work twice a week, it's still not enough. I walk up and down a steep hill getting C from school every afternoon and upstairs and downstairs doing stuff around the house, it's also not enough. We wonder if getting a treadmill would help....
And three years ago, my blog was created on 20 March 2007:
A new adventure (click to read)
This blog has come quite a long way since then. I had strayed a little from its original purpose along the way as my eyes were opened to the then new, exciting world of blogging and its potential for exposure and money-making possibilities. I dabbled in it but never went far enough as I somehow lacked the drive to figure out the technicalities of it.
This year, I'm back to making Stories of ACE purely a journal, recounting events, activities and my personal thoughts. I've not posted many pictures of late compared to the earlier days when I was more gung-ho in 'beautifying' my blog. One reason is that I'm using my notebook more these days. All my photos are in our desktop and I'm just too lazy to transfer them over to the notebook.
The frequency of my posts have also reduced, averaging one a week compared to 2-3 a day during those 'exciting' blogging days. I recorded the most number of posts in 2008 with 289 posts. In 2007 and 2009, I wrote, coincidentally, the same number of 137 posts. This year, it's 25 posts to date. If I keep at this rate, I estimate about 100 posts this year.
How good or popular a blog is, is however, not dependent on the number of posts you write. It's all about who your audience is, the content and effort you put into it, to make it popular. This does not apply to my blog. As mentioned earlier and in my maiden post, this blog is for myself, some family members and friends. Even if nobody reads it, it does not matter. It's just an open journal.
Post-move update (click to read)
We've moved on a bit I must say since then. Although there are still some boxes and tools lying around the house, at least the oven has been put to reasonably good use (for a non-oven owner and user like me prior to this). As for the stove, it's been very much used on a daily basis to feed the three, and sometimes more, tummies in this house.
As for C's toys and books, and A and E's books and magazines, a lot, a lot more have been added on to the now untidy and haphazardly arranged book shelves. C's bookshelves cannot hold all her books now....and it's time to tune the piano again....
Two years ago, here's what I wrote:
Watch what you eat (click to read)
The skin allergy never re-surfaced since. I've always been conscious of what we eat. However, I must say that it's hard to be disciplined in eating healthily. Much of the tastiest foods usually come with some level of unhealthiness, especially when you eat out. Being a food lover and somewhat adventurous in trying out new dishes and eateries, it's hard to avoid temptation. If I want to eat 100 per cent healthily, I'd have to really work hard at eating at home and preparing our own food all the time.
A and E recently went for a health checkup. E has to exercise, watch his diet to avoid the risk of obesity and high blood sugar (genetic predisposition) while I have to exercise and cut down on cholesterol-laden food. So the main thing is EXERCISE which we both have problems committing to. While E gets some workout playing futsal with colleagues after work twice a week, it's still not enough. I walk up and down a steep hill getting C from school every afternoon and upstairs and downstairs doing stuff around the house, it's also not enough. We wonder if getting a treadmill would help....
And three years ago, my blog was created on 20 March 2007:
A new adventure (click to read)
This blog has come quite a long way since then. I had strayed a little from its original purpose along the way as my eyes were opened to the then new, exciting world of blogging and its potential for exposure and money-making possibilities. I dabbled in it but never went far enough as I somehow lacked the drive to figure out the technicalities of it.
This year, I'm back to making Stories of ACE purely a journal, recounting events, activities and my personal thoughts. I've not posted many pictures of late compared to the earlier days when I was more gung-ho in 'beautifying' my blog. One reason is that I'm using my notebook more these days. All my photos are in our desktop and I'm just too lazy to transfer them over to the notebook.
The frequency of my posts have also reduced, averaging one a week compared to 2-3 a day during those 'exciting' blogging days. I recorded the most number of posts in 2008 with 289 posts. In 2007 and 2009, I wrote, coincidentally, the same number of 137 posts. This year, it's 25 posts to date. If I keep at this rate, I estimate about 100 posts this year.
How good or popular a blog is, is however, not dependent on the number of posts you write. It's all about who your audience is, the content and effort you put into it, to make it popular. This does not apply to my blog. As mentioned earlier and in my maiden post, this blog is for myself, some family members and friends. Even if nobody reads it, it does not matter. It's just an open journal.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Man's best friend
Man's best friend -- the dog. A woman's best friend too I 'd say.
Throughout my lifetime with pet dogs, they've always proved to be so.
Of course, it's a two-way street.
You love them, care for them and shower them with attention
And you'll get the same in return.
You don't have to guess, I'm writing about ACE's current pet dog, Rusty.
He's part of our family and we love him dearly.
Lying beneath my chair now, he makes me feel not alone.
We both enjoy each other's quiet company.
No words need to be spoken, although he understands when I speak
And I try to understand his actions.
When I'm watching tv and he feels ignored, he'd put his chin on my lap.
When I'm enjoying Facebook, he'd put his paw on my arm or give the keyboard a tap.
He'd sit upright beside me when he first gets into the house.
If I ignore him, he slumps into a crouch.
After a while, he turns to his side and lets out a 'humph!'
Sighing,resigning to thankfulness that he's been let in.
So there he continues to lay and soon starts to nap.
REM sleep takes over at times, and you'll hear his doggie-dream yaps.
When I get up, he'd jump up in a blink
I got up to merely get a drink.
I go to the bathroom, he follows. I go to the kitchen, that's where he goes.
I go upstairs, he tries, but I say "no".
If I take too long, he'd sneak up, a stair-climbing pro.
But he knows -- if I get out the door with my car keys, he'd stay just at the door.
On the inside, for a while before he decides he must be out to know more.
The car door opens, in a flash he jumps inside, hoping for a happy joy ride.
Sadly, most times, I'd drag him out and say
"Good boy, stay".
When strangers with two feet or four pass by our door
He'd bark and say, "Come nearer and I'd bark more"
His partner in action, the neighbour's dog, would then say " I saw them first"
Together, in the dark of night, they'd sing a chorus.
Oh my, what a ruckus!
Throughout my lifetime with pet dogs, they've always proved to be so.
Of course, it's a two-way street.
You love them, care for them and shower them with attention
And you'll get the same in return.
You don't have to guess, I'm writing about ACE's current pet dog, Rusty.
He's part of our family and we love him dearly.
Lying beneath my chair now, he makes me feel not alone.
We both enjoy each other's quiet company.
No words need to be spoken, although he understands when I speak
And I try to understand his actions.
When I'm watching tv and he feels ignored, he'd put his chin on my lap.
When I'm enjoying Facebook, he'd put his paw on my arm or give the keyboard a tap.
He'd sit upright beside me when he first gets into the house.
If I ignore him, he slumps into a crouch.
After a while, he turns to his side and lets out a 'humph!'
Sighing,resigning to thankfulness that he's been let in.
So there he continues to lay and soon starts to nap.
REM sleep takes over at times, and you'll hear his doggie-dream yaps.
When I get up, he'd jump up in a blink
I got up to merely get a drink.
I go to the bathroom, he follows. I go to the kitchen, that's where he goes.
I go upstairs, he tries, but I say "no".
If I take too long, he'd sneak up, a stair-climbing pro.
But he knows -- if I get out the door with my car keys, he'd stay just at the door.
On the inside, for a while before he decides he must be out to know more.
The car door opens, in a flash he jumps inside, hoping for a happy joy ride.
Sadly, most times, I'd drag him out and say
"Good boy, stay".
When strangers with two feet or four pass by our door
He'd bark and say, "Come nearer and I'd bark more"
His partner in action, the neighbour's dog, would then say " I saw them first"
Together, in the dark of night, they'd sing a chorus.
Oh my, what a ruckus!
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