Wednesday, May 24, 2006

"Open Your Mouth...

gold won't fall out of your teeth". Okay, I don't have gold filling or teeth (just to clarify that). My mother used to say that to me practically every morning (right till I left home at 17 and also when I eventually moved back later on) whenever I saw her in the morning and not greet her. I used to wonder why I had to greet her. I mean, 'good morning ma' or simply 'ma'... why would that make her day better? It was a pain and the last thing I wanted to deal with was her chirpy self since she'd been up for hours. I usually managed a short and grumpy grunt and she'd start with that very saying in Chinese. I'd sigh and roll my eyes and she'd laugh or if she's already in a bad mood, there goes my morning lol.

Well, that saying has stuck with me all this time and ROMT knows the saying well! I've learnt throughout my years away from home how important speaking up is and yes, greeting people when you see them is an important thing to being social too. I suppose I understand now :)

But my lesson today is about 'opening my mouth'. Okay, so I didn't actually have to do so. I let my fingers do the talking by sending a complain letter to Sears yesterday when the dishwasher we'd purchased two weeks ago failed to be delivered and installed this past Monday. To cut the long story short, I got a call awhile ago and because I 'spoke up', we are expecting the dishwasher at our house in a couple of weeks for FREE! Yes, a free Bosch SHE66C06 How's that for 'opening my mouth' lol! ;p

Monday, May 22, 2006

Excuse Me What Is Your NRIC Number?

In Singapore, that's a common question when filling up forms, going to the bank etc etc. Our NRIC numbers which is the same as our passport numbers, much like the US Social Security number here (that defers from the US passport number system) represents who we are, where we live, what we do, how much in taxes we claim, pay, have in medisave and... and if you're registered in the Singapore Idol official website!

I swear! Yes, of course it's free. But for the price of your NRIC number, you get to register here at your own risk! But besides that, please tell me why in the world would these fools need our NRIC numbers to register in a website like that!? Now I totally know how those bloggers got arrested in Singapore! Let's see who else needs our confidential numbers to be registered with them. Wow I'm surprised AsiaOne doesn't need it - they'd need your cell number (lol) but that's easy to make up or (lol) give someone else's. I guess Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) doesn't care since all the idiots who believe in their propaganda writings subscribe to Straits Times and Business Times and of course (DUH!) you'd need to devulge your NRIC number to them and if you're not 'local', your passport number will suffice. Insane! Can you imagine what Americans would say if they needed to throw in their social security numbers to read the newspapers online... or gawd forbid, find out more about American Idol lol!!!

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Unloading

Well, Friday was a weird day for me. I had to deal with a bunch of crying people - which I do not like to deal with as much as I do not like to hug or be hugged. Now that doesn't mean I won't hug or be hugged and that I'd get upset when it happens like Cindy's husband gets when men hug his wife lol. Truly. He claims it's a conformity to the American culture. I say he's just an insecured jealous bastard; and if hugging/conforming is bad then go back to bloody Singapore, you Chinaman - why do you insist on staying and waiting on that Green Card?!

Friday was D-day for Rosa and Cher's move to Philly so we met up for brunch and then I got them to the airport. Wow, when I left home at an tender age of almost 17, I didn't even cry - my mom did a little but that's a mom thing. But I couldn't understand why these people were crying SO hard! It just seemed funny to me especially since they were still gonna' be in this country; and it was their choice to leave Memphis and their friends. Weird. I'm not being heartless. I just don't understand people's pysche I guess. So I had to deal with all of that at the airport... the crying and having to form a circle and pray with the rest of the friends who'd come to say good bye to the family. OMG that freaked me out lol. I always used to stare at people who did that and thought it lame. Now, I KNOW it's lame lol. I'd feel sorry for those people who are put in that situation like I was but my goodness, do Christians just assume that 'coz I'm a friend of a Christian I, like them, pray for safety and a good future and stuff like that? I honestly don't know how that would make me feel better. In fact, I think I'd feel more at risk on a flight lol. But anywayz, yes, I'd miss Rosa, Cher and the kids. But they're only an email, a phone call and a plane ride away. No biggie! Plus I'm sure new friends will come along. Yes, the inevitable: life goes on.

That same afternoon, in the midst of our afternoon nap, I was abruptly woken up by the telephone ring. It was Cindy. Either she had read my blog about her (don't remember if I'd mentioned my blog to her but oh well...) or I must have really sounded upset on the phone (both in NYC when I'd last spoken to her and at that moment answering the phone reacting to her voice). Cindy (see prvious post on her) called, in tears, asking for forgiveness and not to be mad at her. She asked me to forget about all the bad pictures she'd painted about her husband 'coz they're not true at all. She told me that something had happened and she can't tell me why. She told me that I won't understand her (damn straight!) and that she would love to do more for me (no thank you I'm quite happy the way my own life is going!) but she doesn't drive and that's why she can't (excuses!). She told me she wasn't trying to take advantage of me and wasn't expecting me to go pick her up at the hotel in NYC. She told me that she really treasures my friendship (friends don't treat friends that way). She asked if I had a good trip in NYC. DUH I went to see my friend Gen and of course we had a ball. Did she think I was gonna' get upset with her and spoil my own trip? Piece of work!

After my last posting on her, it's helped me a ton to get stuff off my chest. And by then, she was already history to me and I have since gone on; of course! So when she called and kept saying 'please don't be mad at me', it just brought all the raw feelings back. I got perturbed but I kept my cool and between her sobs for 25 minutes, I unloaded big time. I figured she needs to know. I told her to have a backbone and if she wasn't happy here, go home (same for idiot husband), I told her that whether or not she means to take advantage of me, things don't work that way long term 'coz people catch on to things and I don't need her in my life 'coz she brings absolutely nothing on her plate - not even a damn good joke lol; I told her that if she's gonna' not help herself in her life, she won't meet many people who'd give her a second chance in life (and I certainly won't be the first). I told her she shouldn't let her husband control how her life goes and if she's not happy, speak the hell up 'coz she's responsible for that much; I told her how I can't understand what kind of a man her husband is to keep her at home like an abused pet and she actually stays and accepts it; I told her I wasn't the only one who was getting annoyed with her complaining about the Americans and Mexicans (and the racism her husband claims he's facing at work) and then talk about how great Christianity has been to them; I told her to chill the hell up and stop crying but she couldn't. It was annoying me and oddly enough, I felt nothing except wonder what is wrong with her (even more then before). I did ask if she was ok ('coz of the uncontrollable crying) and at first she didn't answer me. I asked if she needed help, still no answer. She eventually mastered a quiet 'yes'. But maybe she was crying out for help and again, I stress, no one can help her if she won't help herself. I told her I've lived away from home for so long and I've always understood how important friends are. Nobody had to teach me that. It all comes in the path of being away from the people you love and loves you unconditionally. I told her she may still be ignorant about that sort of thing but it is no excuse that her husband is in the dark with that having been in the US for more than seven years. I asked her why they have no knowledge of common courtesy. How two grown people in their 30s not know common social mores?! That when people invite them to their house over and over and over again, they need to take the cue and initiative to plan something as well. It's not a calculative thing. It's just common courtesy. That Rosa and Cher just stopped inviting them over altogether 'coz there was simply no reciprocation. It's not that we need them to buy us a meal... but there was never even talk from them about getting together - ever. She asked if Rosa was mad at her. Of course not - and I told her. Rosa has two kids and the last thing on her mind is 'What is Cindy up to?'. But at this point I was thinking, 'what is wrong with her? So what if we're all mad at her'. Who the hell cares!? I sure wouldn't! My first thought when she couldn't stop crying was that her husband is hitting her. I don't know why. But I'm pretty creative when I let my mind wander. Or she'd been raped and that's why this fear of being out in public alone. While it may be these things or not, I can't do anything else for her. I have been the only person here in Memphis to do anything for her - certainly a lot more than the man who is supposed to love and care for her most (NOT!) and from what I see, there are no plans from him to make her life easier or better. I say if I don't see her again for another 6 months, nothing will change in her life. She'd still be a bad cook, she'd still be friendless, she'd still be miserable. She MIGHT have her driver's license but she'd be too chicken shit to drive on her own - or he wouldn't let her have the car while he's at work. But, her stay here this time is also temporary and she's returning to Singapore in a couple of weeks. She claims she might be back towards the end of the year but I doubt it and uh-huh, I don't care.

Please, no more crybabies for the month of May.

Monday, May 15, 2006

Do You Let Your Husband Rule Your Life?

While I can safely say, "I don't!" 'coz not only have I got a nice and understanding husband who won't do so, hello, it's the 21st century and that's not what we have husbands for!

Well, I recently met someone who does. She might be the first female I've met who not only lets her husband rule her life, she thinks it's fine and normal to just absorb everything her husband says on face value and then tell people what she thinks. For example, she is petrified of a certain race. Why!? "My husband says so". IDIOT! ...I'd like to know why her family paid thousands of dollars to educate her right through university and still think like a neantherthal? Dumbass! I just don't understand it. I always thought it was a generation thing (not that the women in my mom's generation even let their husbands do so but it's not uncommon and certainly almost normal for the women in my grandmother's generation - my gramma being one of them). But this person is 30, somewhat newly married (five years), not unattractive (but not a hot mama nor can she charm anyone's socks off), educated (gives NUS a bad name) and yes, since she's from Singapore, she's bilingual in English and Mandarin. So what is her problem? It's a long list... narrow minded, stupid, air-headed, dependent, lack of opinion... I can go on for days!

It's a long story and just way too many instances to call on her stupidity. But one of them being: not doing laundry on her own. Now this person comes to Memphis to visit her husband (also another idiot from Singapore) who works here at Fedex. He's been with Fedex with five years and that's how long they have been married. Yet, she lives permanently in Singapore because she doesn't like it here in Memphis. Don't ask me, I'm just reporting the facts. She hates Memphis 'coz, her-words-not-mine, 'SO BORING!'. Ok, so Memphis isn't New York City or San Francisco. But I honestly think it's all an excuse. Shit, if all I did was sit in a one bedroom apartment all day and night waiting for the husband to get home to have some form of conversation, I'd be bored and hate Memphis too! ...so she's back after a one a half year break from Memphis (yes, they live apart constantly and I guess it seems normal) 'coz he suddenly needs her support. Don't ask me how two idiots are gonna' support one another but that's the reason she cited for being back in Memphis for these few months. Apparently he's been racially discriminated at work and needs her here. Like I said, he's no Einstein. She arrived a couple of months ago in March. She doesn't drive nor have a driver's license. She doesn't do laundry 'coz her husband wouldn't let her. Yes, LET! Why wouldn't he let her? His reason - Mexicans. Need I still try and convince you what an idiot he is? There are a lot of things her husband wouldn't LET her do. For example, take a nice 10 min walk to the grocery store from the apartment. Before I came along, she knew nothing outside the confines of sorry ass Walmart. The cheap bastard took her nowhere but Walmart to buy the necessities. He has, from day one, cautioned her against the Mexicans. Why the Mexicans, I have no idea. But yes, she is petrified of them, that's for sure. So I was a little confused as to why she doesn't do laundry while her husband's at work instead of waiting till the weekend and having her husband do it on a Saturday when they have to fight for machines (her words not mine) and waste four hours of the weekend instead of taking it slow on Saturday mornings. Why was I confused!? Well, first off, she doesn't work and does absolutely nothing but watches tv and plays on the computer. Wouldn't she have a ton of time to do at least the laundry(?) ...or wash her freakin' hair (that's a whole other story for another time lol). Why was I confused?! Well, not only was I confused I almost pulled my hair out when I realized the laundry room is directly downstairs from her two-storey, second floor apartment. Uhhh... so why doesn't she do it?! "OH(!) Clarence said cannot. He says I don't know how to operate the machines and there are Mexicans in this compound". Just recapitulating the conversations makes my blood boil.

I cannot continue typing 'coz if Ido so, my head will burst into flames.

24 hours later...

So there are a gazillion of these stories ever since I met Cindy. There is the one where her husband wouldn't let her hug men. Like when he introduces his American friends to her and they give her a friendly hug. He gets upset. The husband was tempted to give her a big ass hug when he first met her hahaha! But over and over again, I give her the benefit of the doubt or just overlook it by telling myself, not everyone's as lucky as I am... not everyone is normal and has common sense (which obviously isn't that common) nor knows how to speak up for herself.

This past weekend, I was in NYC. Coincidentally, stupid Clarence had to go to NYC for work and Cindy was to tag along since she'd never been to New York before and she's also afraid to stay in the apartment by herself. Idiot! She was ecstatic when she heard I would be in the city. I could take her around (or more so my friend, Gen, who lives there could take the both of us around) and she wouldn't have to sit in the room to wait for Clarence to return from work. Again, her words, not mine. We made arrangements to meet. I called her friday morning (a day after I'd arrived) and asked if she wanted to eat meepok tah (it's a kind of noodle we eat back home). She didn't sound too thrilled but asked where the place was. I'm like "would you know where it is if I told you?". I was annoyed but remained calm. She asked, "take MRT there ah?". Ok, MRT is the abbreviated name for our subway system in Singapore; Mass Rapid Transit. Don't ask me why I was sooooooo peeved (the husband had to calm me down that same night on the phone when I was bitching to him about the entire scenario... though telling me that I'd over-reacted from that statement didn't help AT ALL). Anyway, when I heard her say MRT, I corrected her and changed topic. I mean, WTF are you doing in NYC calling the subway MRT!?! Like Gen said, we'd love to see the eyes of the consierge if she'd asked 'how do I get to the MRT station from here?!' Idiot! Anywayz, her hotel was no more then a short walk to Grand Central Station like mine, nor was it far to cab-it over to me. Hey, I was doing her the favor. She comes to me! I asked her to meet us at the Grand Central Station. She started hesitating. "Uhh... hmmm... ummm...". Gen quickly decided that it was probably better for her to hop onto a cab to our hotel. That way, she wouldn't be lost or get pregnant on her way there by a Mexican lol. She hesitated even more. It suddenly dawned on me and asked if it was 'coz Clarence wouldn't let her out of the room on her own. Her answer, more ummms and ahhhs and uhhhs. Then she decides a "it's not that convenient". WHAT?!?! Convenient for what!? Phuck it. I said "ok, then I'd talk to you later." That was the final straw. What is wrong with this person!?! If you think all she did in NYC was sit in the hotel room and waited for her husband to come back from his meetings to take her out, you're absolutely right! OMG... can you believe it!? I'm still steamed about this entire deal. I cannot believe how a woman at her age can be SO stupid and have no bloody brain of her own. Even if it's the husband's controlling manner, surely she knows it's not normal and it's about damn time the bloody idiot gets told off. What a dumbass!! I guess it's good they're together. They deserve one another. I know it's not a Chinese / Singaporean thing 'coz my brother isn't like that. My dad... no, my mom's got more of a brain then to just be lead around by a leash.

Can't believe I managed to finish this piece (tho' I have a dozen more stories about her to tell) without literally combusting or have a brain aneurysm. Glad it's over and done with. I'm getting my DVD's back from her and she's history. She can jolly well go back to shopping at Walmart with her cheapass husband 'coz guess who's no more driving her around lol.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Cheap Sleazy Tactics

Somehow, someway, the opposition party is stopped from leaving the country. Before you know it, he'd be put behind bars, made a bankrupt, and lose everything he's worked for all his life. These are intelligent men who have opinions. But in Singapore, when you have an opinion that deviates from that of the People's Action Party, Tag You're It!

This is why the PAP gets less respect every year from the younger generation. They are the reason why I hate the country and can't imagine ever living there long term again. Democracy? Yeah, behind an iron curtain! It makes me so mad when I read articles like that.


SINGAPORE, May 8 (Reuters) - A Singapore opposition politician who stood in the general election at the weekend said on Monday he had been barred from leaving the country.

James Gomez, a Workers' Party candidate, was stopped by immigration officials at Changi airport on Sunday and told he could not leave the country. He was then detained at a police station for seven hours of questioning.

"The police are investigating me for a case of criminal intimidation," Gomez told Reuters on Monday.

"My passport has been impounded and the police have told me that I have to stay in Singapore as long as investigations are ongoing."

Gomez, 40, was on his way back to Sweden on Sunday, where he works for a political think-tank.

Police said on Sunday that the Elections Department had filed a complaint against Gomez.

Gomez came under attack from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) after he wrongly claimed that the Elections Department, which comes under the Prime Minister's Office, had lost one of his polling forms.

Gomez apologised and said he had been "distracted" during the busy campaigning period.

PAP leaders repeatedly condemned him as a "liar" during the campaign and accused him of trying to discredit the election office.

The PAP, led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, won 66.6 percent of the votes cast and 82 out of 84 seats in parliament.

As with the previous polls, Saturday's election was also overshadowed by defamation lawsuits -- a timeworn PAP tactic that has bankrupted some opposition leaders, thus disqualifying them for parliament.

A Very Special Card

Yup, Special-Ed!!!

I turn 36 today. Feels alright. Can't complain. Loving my life; no kids screaming in the background, no kids to yell at to get ready for school... just a regular quiet peaceful Monday morning with the laogong hanging out at his computer and me at mine.

I suppose I've always enjoyed my birthdays since I was a kid. After all, who doesn't like getting presents. Moreso now when I get to tell the husband what I want... and yup, I get what I want... usually, if not immediately, then soon after. Of course, some would say I have a birthday every week. Can't say they're wrong. But it's my real birthday today and I'm glad I don't feel any older. OK, I'm not the drama-queen type who cries at every birthday 'coz I'm getting older (my good friend went 'insane' when she turned 24, true!). I was never the type (like some of my friends) who'd like about my age... and though 36 is far too close to 40, I guess 40 isn't that bad either. Getting old isn't worth worrying. I mean, it's gonna' happen. I just hang out with people much older then me - that way I can never catch up with them lol. Besides, it's nice to grow old with my husband and he's eight years older then me and I think he still looks pretty darn good, so I shouldn't have to worry too much for awhile.

So anywayz, for my birthday, I've gotten a free meal at Abuelos 'coz they send you a coupon when you sign up for emails or something, lots of email wishes from friends and a couple of cards (more from vendors who give me a small gift certificates so I can go spend more money at their store SUCKER(!)). But one card stood out from everyone else's. It's from Mimi... Bruce's dad's wife. Not my mil and I don't count her as my step-mil. She's just Mimi. She's 'famous' for many things and one of them is for making her own original cards. We get one every holiday, annivasary and birthday. This year's card to me is a little odd. Maybe in the midst of their big move from huge house to huge apartment, she's lost her mind (more). I think she's decided I'm a sista' from the 'hood who gossips with her constantly. I mean, look at this card for crying out loud. The husband got a big (BIG!) laugh from it. I was just stunned and of course, rolled my eyes and said "scan it!" lol. Ok, the fact that she remembers is nice. But shit, who can't today with four gazillion reminders you can set up. Ok, not me 'coz I don't give a damn lol but sometimes I wonder what this woman who called me HUGE in my face thinks of me. Look at the front of this



And then there is the 'content' lol. Check it out:



By the way, the card was addressed to MRS Bruce Ryan...

NEED I SAY MORE!?