Feelin' Very Pampered Indeed

In and out
Of situations
I take the good with the bad
Ups and downs
Get complicated
But I don't have the right
To be sad

Every night
Before I go to sleep
I count my blessings
Instead of sheep
I say a prayer
My soul to keep
I count my blessings

I've got some money in my pocket
A hand I can hold
Somebody standing by me
When the winter gets too cold
Count My Blessings ~ NYLONS (Sung By)

Mr. Gecko A Goin' Solo!!

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Mr. Gecko's solo debut!!! Just for your pleasure.

Please enjoy La Cumparsita strung by Mr. Gecko. This is a famous Latin classic synonymous with Tango, I am sure most of us heard snatches of the riffs from somewhere before.

Mr. Gecko gave himself 5 stars!!!............ out of 10 stars lah *hehehe*

You will see two parts outta this single solo performance because I could not post the whole 2 mins of the vid due to software errors. Will try to re-post the whole vid again later. Took me half a day just to post this entry. *so tired~~*

Mrs. Matriarch Gecko Swings Into Town...

... and bombarded me with 101 tales from Mr. Gecko's and his bros' childhood for the one millionth times!!

*Grins and bears it with no choice~~*

Mr. Gecko, you are so lucky *or unlucky*?! Two ladies in your life - as sticky as a jell0fish!!! :)

Happee 21st, My Dearie Sis

From a monkeying tyke I looked after and love

To today's blossoming missy

I remember...

... I was just starting out Primary One when mommy carried you home. I was acutely glad my status in the family was being elevated to an elder sis with your entrance. All because our eldest bro was quite a bully and I needed to feel older and important too.

... how I loved it when you or Didi refused to be carried by strangers as babies and instead, clung on to me tighter.

... you burst into indignant but hurtful sobs and ran to mommy when Didi, Si Mink *my young cousin who lived with us* led by me shunted you out of our play group because you were such a little tell-tale who spoilt all our schemes.

... accompanying you to your kindergarten for two whole months and eagled-eyed all your movements. I was only twelve but acted like all other mothers present.

... how you liked to create dresses for your barbie dolls using just tissue papers and rubber bands and everyone thought you could be a potential fashion designer. Ha! Now we know, 'tis so not true.

... too, you drew eyebrows and mustache on the only doll I had with a blue pen!! And after the big scolding I gave you, proceeded with Didi to throw all my bras and panties to the ceiling fan with glee!!! *Grrrr...*

... one night I went home after a long absence from staying in uni campus and you laid beside me in bed relating all your growing up pains for nearly four hours.

... when you told me recently everyone in the family seemed to prefer Didi than you. It hit upon me that you may have carry that baggage for years and I felt somehow guilty for not realising this and assuring you that you are loved just as much.

... I regretted exploding on you and returning my birthday gift from you out of pride. Sorry.

... telling myself to learn and trust you as a young adult who is capable enough to look after herself though I am still craving you will turn to me when you need someone for advice - just like when you were just my little sister.

I am glad you have a loving boyfriend and a bunch of great friends you can count on now.

A happiest and sweetest 21st to you.

From your elder sis here.

Coffee, Tea or Teeth

My love affair with coffee started since I was eight from sipping my parents' coffee mug. Not the "atas" read: high class coffee-maker expresso kind but the coffee-powder-found-in-provision-shop kinda expresso. My mom makes a good and just-thick-enough kampung expresso brew. Not too bitter, not too sweet.

My taste has develop to either coffeshop kopi (with condensed milk) or Starbucks mocha. No ice please. My day gets a kickstart when I *hmm*~~ smell the great scent of coffee. Woh, I love that smell. Perks me up real good!

The only time I laid off coffee for a good five years was when vanity got the better of me. I decided to put on those ugly braces when I was a chubby fifteen year old. Why not? I thought I could slim down since I couldn't really bite and voila, my teeth would just be in time for me to meet boys in university.

Being fed with lotsa horror stories from my braces-sistas gang *lotsa girls wore braces in girls' school then* on yellowing teeth from drinking colored drinks while wearing braces, I decided to suppress and overhaul my physical senses. I had a girlfriend whose mom fed her with orange juice every morning while wearing braces and till today, she is still blaming her mom for her straight but terribly yellowed pearlies. Umm... from what I see, really quite yellowish leh...

So for those five years, NO colored drinks. From orange juice to coca-cola and yes, I even ended my love affair with coffee. But you see, I am quite vain and thinks it's really a worthy sacrifice. *smiles widely for all to see*

These days, embittered by my church mice corporate lifestyle, coffee once again, proves to be my antidote to stress-related wrinkles. Though I take care to maintain my only-one-cup-per-day policy, by and by, my teeth seems lightly tinge. Or am I paronoid? Mr. Gecko makes matters worse by teasing me whenever I showed him my evil sneer with "EEEE... yellow teeth"... though his own vampire-like teeth is even more stained than mine from drinking teh-si.

Oh dear... it's been on my mind for weeks to avoid the coffeeshop behind my office building.

It's time for the big crunch again. It's either coffee or my teeth. I've decided my teeth comes first, tomorrow.