Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Simply Amazing...

Check out this site...

Singapore Science Centre: Foetal Development
It's actually available at the Science Centre. Played with it before. Great for kids. :)

Not well yet

Still ON mc. Today's the last day. Effectively it's been a week since I last saw school. Today's the Sports Day, and I asked my gynae if he could cover me for today as well coz it didn't seem like a good idea to bake in the sun just after a bad case of godknowswhat. Was given this website on The Passion. Warning: It's superly long.

There's another website about an interview with God. Will view later.

The clutter around my place is driving me up the wall. Sigh. I've been trying to clear up the place, and ben also, but clutter creeps in all the time. Must be more disciplined. Any tips?

I've got about 2 weeks of school left, then it's the hols. Now, I mustn't complain that the hols are long and boring - coz I need to fill up my time before our darling comes along. Hope the nesting syndrome hits me soon, then i can PACK PACK & PACK! :D

Went for the detailed scan yesterday - an now I'm collecting wagers on the gender of the baby. Any takers? Hahahah. :)

Not so good news - doc found a 2.5mm cyst near the brain, but said that it'll go away in about 3 to 4 weeks time. Pray pray pray. He was glad that I was below 30yo, coz chances of Down Syndrome increases if I'm above that. Gosh. Baby's head was tucked in my left hip, so snuggly, and it seems like during each scan, the baby would be playing with the hands - hmm... just like Daddy. :) A hands person... I like.

Searching for useful websites about controlling clutter. Any contributions? :D

Friday, March 26, 2004

Still Sick

On mc again today. Started antibiotics - the 2nd round after the first prescription by my gynae for an infection. Had to go back to the doc today to extend mc, he's a sweet guy. Said to come back on mon if still unwell for a review. :)

Tmw got sports day rehearsal. Argh. Not going. Heh. :) I'm so bored at home. Argh. Dunno what to do. Slept enough, but think i'll go hit the sack again. Ben's OTing in the office. Financial year ending on 31st march, so he got tons of work to do. He's been so sweet. I was sick yesterday, so he took time off and sent me to the doc. This morning still unwell, so he took half-day to send me again. Though he could sleep in lah. But still, it was really sweet of him.

Thursday, March 25, 2004

Sick

Throat burning... and i missed school today. really bad day today. woke up quite late (late for ben), hurting throat, took my shower, squirted dettol shower concentrate straight into my left eye, owwwwwwed all the way, swollen eye, then fumbled through the rest of the day.

Finished Torey Hayden's Beautiful Child (finally)... though I dun really like her style of writing, the story is still good. Started with this book, Just Another Kid and opened up my world to special education. Torey's really good. She's amazing. Kudos to her. :)

Thank God It's Friday tomorrow. Sports rehearsal on Sat tmw, and i've got the green light from the PE HOD not to turn up if I want to. Heheh. :)

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Absolutely hilarious

If they showed this (edited) in Singapore, the government's policies would all go down the drain. Scary.

Monday, March 22, 2004

Simply Amazing...

This is simply amazing...

An Open Letter to Michelle... and the reply.

Finally, Karen is back. :)

Last Day of Vacation

Had my haircut today. Went for facial also. Well, as u know, after facial, certain parts of the face tend to be redder... So my uncle saw me and proclaimed that I looked like my mum (eeeeksss!!!) when she was pregnant coz the look of my nose resembled hers. I almost flew into a rage. My mum and aunt had to calm me down. I hate it when people do that. So my uncle suffered lah. *Paiseh*

Wore Ben's clothes to granny's place - his shirt and his pants. So comfy... and my relatives were like, "OMG, you're SOOOO big now!!!!" Argh. Next time must wear skimpy clothings with lotsa make-up. People see and judge quickly... not only my relatives, but colleagues and well-meaning NIE friends... :P

Well, a beloved relative of mine is not having a good time with his gf. Quite a pain actually. Gosh, how I wish I could blog here, but due to the sensitive nature of this arena, better not. All I can say is, his blog is politically correct, or rather, plain propaganda.

Asked him about the birthday thanks to his girlfren, and apparently she was with him when he blogged. Subsequently becoz of my kao-peh, then he added the new thanksgiving in. Then she asked,"Why must add your (relative) in?" Gosh. She is such a pain.

Although I know she's got her merits - tahaning my relative is one of them - she also gives us the colour of the day with her face. Sigh. Absolutely no knowledge of social protocol. And reasons for everything. Yup, she's Miss Right, alright. Miss Always Right. Sorry babe, but we seriously dun think very highly of her as the days go by. Even ben's ex knew how to behave herself, and tekaned ben only after the event. Sigh. And to think we're being constantly critiqued by her for our every action or inaction. I seriously cannot be bothered with her anymore.

Smalltalk is painful. I'll just be myself and ignore her completely... as she always advocates. ;) Good luck with ur breakin' up wif her.

It's back to school tmw. Yay. :) I dowan to go to school coz I'm not prepared. :P

Sunday, March 21, 2004

Hols over

Went to the gynae's today. :) Gosh, it was such a lovely session! :D Baby got Daddy's head... round round one. :) Also saw the kiddo rolling from side to side, and i felt the bump as he/she was doing so! :D Scheduling a detailed scan at KK soon, to check if everything's okie with the baby. :) Tried to peek at the underside today. Legs open, but doc pointed out the umbilical cord which made detecting the penis difficult. Well, seems like there ain't anything between the legs!! Doc won't confirm yet, most likely will confirm @ the next session. Yay. :) He was quite cautious, coz i think he's seen parents who have been disappointed at knowing they're carrying a girl instead of a boy.

Having a headache now. Argh... won't go away, and feeling pretty warm. Guess it's the baking weather. :P Finished item 2 and 3 for yesterday's menu, and trying to complete item 1. Finished 1 or 2 math lesson plans I think. The drama serial had a crappy ending-ending... the end of the ending. The whole crew saying 'Hao ren you hao bao!' WLE. Dunno if I'll ever chase another serial. :P Honestly, I dunno how I'll survive the 10 weeks of vacation after practicum. Maternity leave and thereafter won't be that bad coz got bb to take care. But for now, gosh. *Yawn*

Joy finally got a bath today! :D Thanks love for bathing her. She was so happy after the bath - dunno because it's the end of it, or because she's finally clean. Heh.

I'm glad I've got another pal who's expecting around the same time as me... she's due 4 wks later, around that time I think. It's strange how God allowed our paths to meet for a great reason such as this - to be the support and strength when there isn't much at times. Also, I'm glad that I've got loved ones around me - people whom I've known for a long time, and also only for awhile - who have been superly encouraging and supportive. :) Thanks. :)

Went to view Jay's friendster. He's got more pictures up, although not superly clear, he still looks pretty much the same. I won't fly in his plane though. So scary - he's not concentrating!! :P Heh. Big buddy lah, that fella. Hope to catch up wif him soon. If he ever returns. Heh.

Strange how we are thinking of going to perth for different reasons. I seriously dunno what I left behind there... tried selling quite a bit of stuff, yet I dunno if it's worth going back there for the junk I left behind - father's windbreaker, textbooks, etc. See first lah. If the place is still available. Even queenie's back liao, so how to access that place??

Had this strange inspiration this evening about landladies... haha... bombarded ben with a series of questions. Poor him - this pregnancy is taking a toll on him.

Dowanna go back to school - now that i've just barely got used to the hols. Bummer. It'll be good if we could have 12 weeks of bumming with each other!!! *hint hint!* Hehe... Seeing how ben has developed in the student care env, having intellectual debates with him about kids, he passion, motivation, mission and love makes me firmly believe that teaching is really a bonus for him. With the kind of hard work he puts into what he does to create an environment (at least material) which schools offered but are totally untapped shows me that he has beliefs similar to the system. The system isn't that bad - I think it's misunderstandings and conflict in personal and corporate beliefs that make the system look bad. I believe in the education system in singapore. Although it's radically changing, I do appreciate what it has to offer and try my best to deliver the objectives. :) That's why I enjoy teaching. It's not just about the students or grades. It's the holistical approach, that takes one hell lotta work, yet the desire is for children to benefit @ the end of the day - which is what ben is doing over at the SC side. But for him - it's OMO - one man operation. Argh. Anyway, the choice is his - although I do advocate (bo-loh-soh him, issit what that's called?) teaching. Not to everyone - coz if it's an unsuitable fit - the teacher and children suffer. I dun really care about the teacher - coz adult liao - but children may be forever scarred by the negative attitude of the teacher. I am guilty as well. Reflecting on how my first batch has suffered under me - makes me really think twice, even thrice, when I deal with them - as a group and as an individual. Well, I dun really give two hoots about what pple say/said/are saying about the way I do stuff. They can talk all they like, as long as the children are positively impacted - I believe I've done my job. Well, when ppl talk, they'll stay away from u (ideally) and as they talk behind ur back, they'll always be behind u. At least ur work is getting noticed. :) Appreciation is another thing altogether. Unless it's totally unproductive or counterproductive, or if the loss is greater than the gain, then the ways will be modified. And feedback would be from children, parents as well as well-meaning teachers, and HODs, VP and P. Willing to share, but if anyone chooses to bitch, they can go set up another department, call it the bitches club, and do what they do best - bitch. And all will bear fruit - good and not-so-good ones. Pray I dun fall into the latter category.

Okie. Enough temping at the bitches club. Back to work. :)

Friday, March 19, 2004

Menu for Today

1. Lesson plans for E, M and S for Monday (minimum)
2. Weekly lesson plan for next week (minimum)
3. Finish Chinese Drama Serial.

Priority in reverse order. :D

Monday, March 15, 2004

It's Randy's Birthday...

Actually I blogged a lil' too late. It was Ranz bdae - 14 March. He's 20 now.

Ben actually made tonite's dinner hilarious - after the dinner. Too sensitive to blog here, but just amazed at what and how he said the stuff he said. I just say, Praise the Lord.

Heh. :)

Happy birthday brudder. Hope u enjoyed urself. You better thank God we didn't put u on the table and sing HaPpI BiRtHdAe to u. :P

Saturday, March 13, 2004

Haw-Lee-Di!

Finally. The hols are here. Marking's almost done... got a few trickling in here and there. Think will go back on Monday to finish marking and plan my remaining four weeks. Must do it in such a way that will not kill myself yet isn't focused on the textbook. Read through my previous practicum observation sheet. Dunno how I was so on last semester. So many ideas. Now just follow the book lah. Heh.

As long as the kids learn, marking gets returned asap (last sem I screwed up here) and try my best to adhere to my given time, I'm happy. :) Use whatever strategy that is most appropriate to help kids learn. :)

Yay, so this hols, we'll be going Noble House and Ikea. Feel kinda stranded without alot of stickers... got enough to tide me through the 4 weeks, but the greed in me just wanna get as much as possible. I know I gotta hold my horses, coz going on maternity leave etc, so won't be able to flood the kids books. But... I WANT STICKERS!!! Boohoohoo... :p

SL has been so sweet. She msgs me like weekly to find out how I'm doing, how the baby is doing and basically just provide encouragement!! :D Never thought that I could relate to hubby's friend(s)' spouse(s). I've only been exposed to the 'oh, so-and-so is who's girlfriend' and never had an identity. Sigh. The flower vase lah.

Oh. The waterfall has been fixed. Apparently the roof guy came over for a while (dunno if the whole problem has been fixed - it's wait and see now), and found that there was this odd plant growing on top of the roof! The roots were so strong it penetrated the roof and held itself solid there. When he tried to pull it out, the roots released alot of water. Woah.

Trying to upload pictures from my phone unto the computer. Hopefully all can be transfered successfully.

Had a really odd dream last nite. Long time ago, I dreamt that Ben had to marry this china girl due to some filial piety shit, but last nite's one was really sad.

Found out that the dream ben had been romping ard with a fren, and when I asked him/them when their last session was, the mentioned '69' and 'oh joy-joy would remember when'. That was when I found out they had been home and in the bed. Argh. The dream ben was still very nice, sweet and sensitive to me like in real life, but I just couldn't take it. So I said I was leaving and going back to my mum's place. (The other girl was still hangin around and making the whole room look better b4 by packing and rearranging stuff!!) I was just thinking, "Here we just got married for a couple of months, me preggie and all and now another person appears and wants to join in the company!" Dream ben was really happy lah, coz this fren got nice figure and intelligent and all, and dussen mind him having a wife. Pui.

So as I was packing my bags, his family (extended and all) all came into the room acting busy so that I won't create a scene and want to leave. Then I woke up coz I accidentally slept on my back and had a muscle pull in my calf. Usually I'm really careful - sleep either to the left or to the right. Sleeping on my back cuts off circulation to the lower part of the body and to the baby coz the kiddo's lying on the main artery or sthg lah.

Waking up next to ben after such a bizzare dream is quite scary - momentarily u can't really tell what's reality and what fiction is. So had to calm down, report my dream to sleepy ben and go back to sleep.

Apparently bizarre dreams happen often during pregnancy - got a then-preggie fren who dreamt that she gave birth to a daschund. Gosh.

Tuesday, March 09, 2004

Waterfall at Hotel Robey

Oooh. Last nite a waterfall from the chandelier was installed complimentary from the bizzare weather. There was a mini one from the spotlight at the third level also. When we returned home, we thought my in-laws knew about it. They did. They thought it was just drip, drip, drop. Not the shower type, but the drip type. We drove our car up the porch, saw the steps wet, and I was like, wah heavy rain. (Usually the shelter keeps the steps dry.)

Then we opened the front door. The living room was soaked. (Remember the antique furniture.) The maid looked like she was feebly sweeping water from the dining area while standing next to the newly installed waterfall with buckets underneath it AND the fan capturing the water also, and if I dun remember wrongly, it was still switched ON. Subsequent reports revealed that, prior to our return, she was doing her own sweet thing without a bucket in place and just letting the water go everywhere. That I won't dwell upon. Apparently she called my MIL. My SIL returned, saw the place in a mess, saw the maid not do anything, yelled at the maid abit, shifted the fan and went up to her room with her partner coz the maid wasn't doing anything. She called my MIL, and the latter said that she knew about it (but not the extent). I thought they were the coolest people in the world. The house was soaked and we were taking our own sweet time at dinner at TSC. Heh. Ben & I didn't know about it. And we are the kan cheong spiders.

When we returned, we were shocked. (My ILs weren't back yet coz they had to send their grandson home.) We went upstairs, thinking our room was GONE. Together with the computer and the dog. (Our room is supposedly the first to kena when it storms.) So when we entered, it was as dry as a bone! :D Wah. Unbelievable. Praise the Lord. One sweep of His pinkie and we're at His mercy. God is good.

So we took a brief look at the soaked third level. The spotlight became a ceiling tap. And it was unbucketed. (No bucket to catch the water lah. Dunno what the maid was doing also.) So we got a pail and dealt with tat. It was pretty useful. Then we lamented about the parquet. Again and again. Hah. And we thought about the lil' puddle made by the a/c a couple of days back. So funny. That became totally negligible. :D

The thing about parquet is - it actually acts as a sponge. Once when Joy peed a small puddle in his room, we spent more than an hour soaking her piss up from the crack of the parquet. Damn irritating. So, the water crept into every nook and cranny of the place and we tried to sweep the water, mop the water and even used the fan to dry the third level. Not too bad, although I slipped once. Then I was banished into the room while my hero saved the day. "It's not every full moon that you get pregnant u know," he reminded me. Oops. With my tail between my legs, I almost went under the bed. Actually I went to take my shower and just was in true amazement at how he rose up to the occasion to save the day. He's one of a kind. I know many testosterone bags who wouldn't lift a finger in the face of such as situation.

The spotlight's only a small section. We haven't talked about the chandelier-water fall yet.

It was a pretty showerhead I must say. :P So it poured down. Continuously. When my PILs returned, they had a rude shock. 'Mei Mei De Jia' (beautiful home) was being attacked. The maid was truly un-understandable. She didn't explain the extent of things. My MIL never knew it was THAT bad. So the maid kena jialat jialat. I stood upstairs and prayed and tried to think of a solution. Later, both ben & i created a perfect solution! :D Great teamwork love! :D We made a tent to capture the water from the chandelier (while preventing it from storming the first level) and then channeling it via homemade plastic tubes to a bucket at the first floor which the maid has to clear every 1/2 hour I think. Or else my FIL and ben would have to get up every now and then to clear the water. Painful.

The parquet's ruined. The marble flooring also. Think it's acid rain or something?

And the STUFID roof man said he'll only come in to repair the roof when it stops raining after 14 days. Smack the fella. So we were left to our own devices.

Heh, I dreamt that a shopping centre was flooded - rain and all. And this woman wanted to take a shower with Ben. :P But he didn't. Yay. He came to me instead and was really nice to me. Awwwww.... :)

Sunday, March 07, 2004

Bozo the Dodo strikes again!

I left my bag of Mac adaptor, speedball, ultracool mouse and my CDs dunno where. Hopefully it's in school. I thought I put the bag in my haversack, but when I looked for it, tadah! It wasn't around. :P

Went for service this morning. Must say it's revelatory. Praise the Lord. There is a breakthrough in our lives. Doing couple devotion on Purpose Driven Life and it has helped us alot.



Although it is a challenge to do it everyday, nevertheless, it has drawn us closer together and is aligning our purpose and vision. :) Praise the Lord. :)

I'm glad God is revealing to me my area of ministry, and is taking us on another level. It has always been a burden to be part of a ministry to fulfill God's calling, yet it seems that something is amiss. I know the calling upon my life is as a worshiper and a prayer warrior, and I must admit that I haven't been faithful to the calling. Yet, after what happened this morning, great things are coming. :)

And you know what's interesting? Usually in my dreams I'm alone, yet when we started doing the devotion, he's now ard with me. :) No longer busy and distant. Hmm... Praise the Lord! Hahah...

Mum is coming back from overseas today. Went on missions trip. Have been having her constantly on my mind and in my prayers. :)

Oh, the division thingey was great! Did a 'pre-test' with the kids, to see their level, then taught them the division. Out of 42, 41 succeeded! One is still around somewhere, gotta go catch him. Heheh... Praise God. :) This week is going to be an interesting week. I'm going to enjoy my lessons. This is fun! :D

But I must remember to look for my adaptor when I return to school tmw. And must finish my weekly lesson plans as well as my daily ones. :)

Friday, March 05, 2004

Woah!

I really knocked out last nite. Slept before nine and woke up at 8, although with a neckache. Dunno how to prevent that. I think i need a haircut. Hair is getting too long, and I think my neck isn't getting a good time. :P

Planned my lessons for today (Wheeeee!) and need to churn out next week's plan asap. So that I'll sleep well this weekend. It's exciting! :) I mean, work is exciting! :D Well, guess what? My CT thought he had finished with teaching division (he was right in that sense) so he asked me to go over it again. Then I realised, 1/2 hr before the lesson started, that his 'division' was in a chapter that was way before the one he assigned me to teach. In other words, we skipped Multiplication in detail! But he was very gracious about it. He'll teach multiplication while I carry on with Division. Pray that it'll be successful. :)

Found an interesting way of teaching long division - Does My Sister Chew Black Rats? Actually, it's Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Check, Bring down, Remainder. Some versions leave out the remainder part - such as 'Does McDonald's Sell Cheese Burger?' Helps the children remember the format for long division. Or else they may get confused over what to do next. :) Hope it works. Apparently it does.

Dreamt of Mich & Elise last nite. Very strange dreams lah. Supposed to go swimming at Elise's friend's pool. Carina was invited also. Together with Victoria - but had to pick them up from Clementi. :P

I'm officially putting on weight. Cannot put on wedding ring anymore... sobsob. But had a pleasant surprise this morning - I could put on a skirt which I bought in Australia prior to getting pregnant! Well, it was loose, now it rides over my belly protecting the baby. But covered by the top lah. It's long... and there's no way to put on a bottom with the waistline below the belly button, coz there isn't a waistline. :P Well, baby stays snug. :)

Praise the Lord, throat is ok today. Screamed (unintentionally) at a boy yesterday. The behaviourally strange boy. :P God, help.

Well, did I mention I have my own table now??? :) Praise God! I didn't have a drawer, but a couple of days ago, the cleaning aunties pushed one over (coz my area was previously a storage space) and I asked them if it was unlocked and empty. They were glad to give me that drawer. :) God is faithful.

Oh, as I mentioned, coz my table is/was a storage area for PCCG, Art and Craft, Sports, Chinese, etc... people are STILL leaving their boxes on my table. I separated the things nicely, but there was one person (dunno staff here or not) who actually took out stuff from OTHER area and put 3 boxes on my table - the area which I keep clear in anticipation of work to come! Sigh. Perhaps she hasn't realised there's someone occupying the place. :P Well, my stuff is now neatly placed all over the table. Try me.

Oh, Jamie shares her cubicle with the common paper cutter. And people ARE also inconsiderate over there. After shredding, they leave their leftovers on the table. Sigh.

Thursday, March 04, 2004

Tired

Tired. Dead tired. Dowanna do work when I come home. Just wanna shower, dinner and bed. Tired. Will go school tomorrow to prepare for lessons. 1+1 period of math and 2 periods of english - doing playscript. Kids enjoyed themselves thoroughly today for both english and math. And I'm dead tired. Had to yell at one boy who seems to be damn strange. Sigh. Will always have one or two strangies in a good class. Behaviourally strange lah. Also dunno what to do. Tell him to get his book out three times, the rest all on task and he's walking around the class. Either I long piah or make him long piah. Hope throat doesn't go haywire tomorrow morning. Argh.

Need to find out the acronym for teaching long division. After that finish dinner and hit the sack. Amen.

Hmmm...

Had my first lesson with the P5s yesterday. Praise the Lord. CT said it was good. :) So she left half-way. From what I understand about her, I take the leave-alone as a compliment - a form of trust. :) Only problem was using the phrase, "listen up", instead of "listen". Genuine mistake... I didn't even realise. :P

My ex-CT mentioned that the VP asked about me. And another trainee, dunno who. Hazel or something from PE. Anyway, exCT said that the school is taking in 2 teachers!!! :D And I'm being considered! :D

Well, hopefully can get 6 mths maternity leave. That's being paid 1/2 a year for bearing a child and taking care of it. Great deal. :)

Well, gotta keep praying abt the business plan. Tough choices to make.

Completed today's lesson plans - 3 periods of maths and 2 for english. Should be a fun day... :) love the math stuff we're doing. We'll see how it goes. :)

Got 5 free periods until after recess - at 3.50pm. Then 5 straight periods.

Ben's meeting the boyz tonight. I need to get tomorrow's lesson plans out, as well as next week's record book lesson plan. Pray for diligence! :D

Tuesday, March 02, 2004

Today will be a GREAT day!

I reached school at 9.30am. Almost finished my tentative weekly record book lesson plans for the whole practicum - except for English. I will remember what I need to remember today.

And I WILL plan for tomorrow's lesson - poetry. And I also pray that I won't have to go in for classes today - they're having CA, and I shouldn't be going in... yay. :) I need the time to be super organised, so that I can have time to mark my stuff and help Ben with his business idea. :) We still feel it's better to invest our lives in students then babes.

Had a nice chat with Mich babe last nite. She's a gem, and the twits around her are trying to compare themselves to her and gets to smell her fart only coz they only reach her ass. Heheh... ;) She's newsworthy, so people are always watching her and talking about her. Well, if God grants her favour with her mentors, lecturers and tutors, nothing in the world will take away that FAVOUR! :D Give thanks in all circumstances, babe! :D Continue to dwell in God's presence, and more of His favour and His scent will rub off on you! :D Isn't that fantastic!?!

Bozo the Dodo

I refuse to believe that absent-mindedness is part of pregnancy. But can anyone explain why I left my bag containing my wallet and keys at my granny's place, left my weekly lesson plan (due today) plus a bagful of textbooks at home when i really needed them and why I couldn't remember whether I left my water bottle in or on the car this afternoon?

I also forgot that I parked my car infront of another teacher (it's not parallel parking, mind u) and took my own sweet time before I left the office close to 7, thus inconveniencing the trapped teacher who had to manouveur his way out of that sticky situation...

Tomorrow will be a better day. Also, exhaustion may have caused it.

Well, had a great time with my in-laws this evening. And I believe it's partially due to the TV remaining switched off for the bulk of the time throughout and after dinner. :) Praise the Lord! :)