| Tuesday, November 28, 2006 |
| Separation Anxiety |
In three and a half hours, I will be on a flight to Hong Kong - a working (cum shopping in the middle) trip. Will only return on Sunday afternoon. Wonder how I will take it? This is will the the longest time I am away from the kid since her birth six months and 5 days (according to the ticker about) ago. The kid will be fine. She propbably will not even know I am away. Wil will take note of signs of missing me, if any :P
Will blog when I get a chance to let you know the extend of the anxiety.
The ipod is full (with 688 songs and 131 pictures of the kid) in preparation of the trip.Labels: motherhood |
posted by Chris @ 1:39 pm  |
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| Sunday, November 19, 2006 |
| Two Apples A Day |
For today only, the Sunday papers told us, the iOne shop was selling iPods at a reduced price of thirty percent (first hundred set – any model). The shop would open at eleven! OMG! We have to be there!
At ten forty, with the kid in toil, Wil and I stood in a line so that we could pick up a couple of those highly-desired babies at those irresistible prices. We were probably the twentieth people in the queue. We made it.
I wanted one because I have misplaced mine a couple of weeks ago (see here). Being in line forced me to make quick decisions and I made up my mind about what I wanted real easily. Initially, I toyed with the notion of getting back the authentic Snow White model. I pushed that thought aside and opted for longer battery life (means less charging times) and the more user-friendly “search” option (means less frustration). I wanted the pink one and that came only in 4GB. Wil who did not plan to get another iPod (because he already owes and loves to bits a 30GB Snow White set) felt that offer was hard to resist. In the end, he got one himself an 8GB set and that came only in black. He would use it when he went cycling. See our newest gadgets below. What can I say, Apples are really cute right?
Well, the euphoria was short-lived. 2 hours later and half a grand poorer, I concluded that The Sunday papers is a dangerous breeding ground for companies to get careless consumers, like muah, to spend and spend. I wonder how much we might not spend if we do not subscribe to the papers. Last decision of the day - must make by money’s worth this time. That pink aluminium player has got to work it!Labels: buying |
| posted by Chris @ 11:01 pm |
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| What is in your name, Tara-Jade Sim? |
Sumiko Tan’s article on parents who gave their kids creative names was featured in the papers today (The Sunday Times, 19 November 2006). Parents are getting really good at conjuring up names for their offspring. Coming real-soon in a play-group near you is a Mango, Garyl (a stitched-up version of Gary and Cheryl – a male, female or unisex name?) and Verneesa (a mis-spelt Vanessa?).
In the USA, a “name is an indicator – not a cause of his (name’s owner) outcome”. There are “white (people)” names and “black” names (Katherine versus Kayla). There are names that hint the parents’ socio-economic status. “Marc” is seemingly more suave and interesting than “Mark”. Oh! Oh! Having a hyphen in a name adds to it “a gloss of class”. Well, well… At least, the kid has got a pretty good head-start.
Before the kid’s gender could be confirmed, she was simply “The Kid” – The Kid is active today, Kid has got hiccups from noon till five. We then moved on to “Tyler” (Hamilton) whom Wil respected as a great cyclist. Around her fifth gestation month, her gender (with an accuracy of 73%) was disclosed. We decided to switch from “Tyler” (which in our opinions is a predominating male name) to “Tara”.
Her second name is derived from her Chinese name which (for those in her generation) must contain the character for the green, translucent precious stone. The Kid became Tara Jade. The hyphen was added later because Wil wanted her to be “Tara-Jade”, not “Tara” or “Jade”. Hence, seven days after her birth, her legally registered name is “Tara-Jade Sim”. Like the parents mentioned in Sumiko Tan’s article, Wil and I stroked our own egos for coming up with that name.
However her name is just her name, we and our families are responsible to bring her up right.Labels: family, name |
| posted by Chris @ 6:06 pm |
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| Tuesday, November 14, 2006 |
| Fairy Godmother - Sign on the dotted line please! |
 
Reason for the headband - Something for her ears. The kid's maternal granddad calls her "Mickey Mouse".
Laurene has came forward and volunteered to be the kid’s godmother. So I asked her what a godmother’s job scope is. In the past when the median age of people was lower, I guess godmothers took over the care of the kid. I know Catholics have godparents of some sort to guide younglings in a religious sort of way. Honestly, we are clueless about the significance of godmothers.
I gathered that the kid will get presents from god-mother in the form of toys, dresses and shoes. I get to share the joys and tribulations of parenting with someone besides the both of us.
Dear Godmother,
Will be the adorer of our kid - shower her with the love and affection so needed by children these days? Shall you be her support – a guide along her journey to strength and sensibility? Will you also take up the role of authority – you assert the rights and wrongs? How about a mediator – for us and the kid when we don’t meet eye to eye? And most of her, will you be her beacon? Be with us to inspire, encourage and steer our little kid to a person of greatness.
Sincerely,
The Kid's Dad & Mom
The kid is lucky - it is fantastic that someone with no blood-relation dotes on her.
Laurene – no regrets right? Labels: godmother, Laurene, letter, motherhood |
| posted by Chris @ 9:46 pm |
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| Thursday, November 09, 2006 |
| Looney Tunes... |
It's true. The office is a crazy place. Laurene and I wrote a poem about assignment of tasks.
Goddess of Sway sashaying down the aisle,
She darts arrows at unsuspecting victims like us.
Sharpens tips grace from her golden bow,
She makes delegation her top most role,
Try as we might to hide from her prowess of aimless bombardment,
Skip, hop, slid, slide we hide without avail
Leaden arrows penetrate our broken skins,
Sending lethal drugs that spread through our entire being.
Two letters are our antidote,
Her supremacy is reduced when we learn to say “NO”!
We are the fortunate ones who are free,
Choose courage to speak up.
Labels: letter |
| posted by Chris @ 3:22 pm |
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| Sunday, November 05, 2006 |
| No Snow White |
Boo! It's official. My six-month old, sleek, slim, zen (pun linking to the competitor's MP3 player not intended), 2GB, white iPod nano is MIA!
As part of my grieving therapy, I have been telling everyone I met. Manu, my office's IT-support guy, said I do not look as if I was in grief. In fact, he said, I looked happy… : ( Must tears roll down this girl's face to show her misery?)
This gadget was more than a tune-player. I had carefully stored songs to reflect the type of woman I wanted to portray (modern, alternative). It contained "Rainbow Relaxation", which I listened to religiously to help with my pregnancy and birth. It was there during each "milking" session – looking at the kid’s photos helped increase milk production by 25%. Office (noise) pollutants were blocked out by that those ultra cool-looking ear-phones of the purest white.
I am suddenly without my Apple. And I felt no kiss by a prince.
The Snow White design language was an industrial design language developed by Frog Design. It was used by Apple Computer during 1984-1990. It is characterised by vertical and horizontal stripes acting as decoration and occasionally ventilation, as well as creating the illusion of the computer enclosure being smaller than it actually is. As the name suggests, it introduced a pure white color on the Apple IIc computer (the very first Snow White design) and various peripherals and accessories designed for it, but later moved to the "platinum" color lighter than previous "putty" colored models. To add to my loss, the model has been displaced by some
aluminium tin foil (of multi colours too). The original nano has been discontinued! Oh my breaking heart! The $250 was a great-buy. However with only 6 months of usage, I feel like BLAH! Note to self. Decide on (a) to get or (b) forget about it. If the decision is (a), to decide (c) get back same model or (d) new model. If the decision is (c), what colour, (e) white or (f) black. Oh decisions, decisions…Labels: buying |
| posted by Chris @ 9:48 pm |
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| Thursday, November 02, 2006 |
| Long Long Time Ago |
According to Blogthings, I have changed alot in ten years (see insert). It also mentioned that I am very happy with my life. I would like to think that Blogthings is right. I was 20 then and was along many life's cross-roads - I was dependent then independent. I was a student and I became a professional. I enjoyed life as a single and now I am a mother. Truly, I have changed.
At 20, I was dating & enjoying life as an undergraduate.
At 21, the true liberation of being an adult sans all the responsibilities.
At 22, I graduated with a job (one I wanted since I was 16).
At 23, starting-off career challenges that molded me.
At 24, the joys of earning and spending.
At 25, getting good at what I do and enjoying it.
At 26, made the greatest purchase of my life - our home (owed the bank almost half a million).
At 27, made the greatest commitment in my life - tied the knot.
At 29, shifted to a place of our own.
At 29+, natural and drug-free, I birthed the kid.
At 30, today - I am considering my career move. I am blessed to be given opportunities.
| You've Changed 72% in 10 Years | 
Compared to who you were ten years ago, you've changed a great deal.
In fact, you're probably in a completely different phase of your life - and very happy about it! |
From 20 to 30, those were exciting time. Beyond 30, I know that Wil is there to accompany me through the sick and sins. I am not alone.
Labels: blogthings, list, motherhood |
| posted by Chris @ 9:49 pm |
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