Until now, I still cannot quite get over what I saw last week.  She’s used to be my primary school classmate and was considered a pretty girl then.  Even during varsity, she was quite a head turner.  But not anymore. 

Her dressing is still hip no doubt but she definitely look a lot haggard though I could still recognise her.  In fact, I can’t find the exact words to describe her looks right now except that she’s vastly different.  Even my husband was surprised to learn that she’s my age.

And to think that I used to dismiss comments from people I meet from my past that I look the same.  I never believe them and thought they were just patronising me.  But after what I’ve seen last week, I think I’m beginning to appreciate these comments more.  I think beyond the eyebags, the fine lines and some spots, I am still very much recognisable to people who have seen me when I was 10.

So more power to my facial care regime for sure.  I want to age gracefully.  Pleeaassee!

I did make it to his Shichida lesson last Friday and it was very interesting to sit in and observe the class.  Every second was carefully accounted for with activities conducted at lightning speed following a very structured methodology.  I can see why this program is good for the kids as it focuses on brain priming stimulations and even using wave energy to heighten their perceptions.

It’s however, not a system that can be easily duplicated or for me to share here because each lesson is supposedly different plus materials which are only exclusive to the school are also required.  On top of that, there is a prescribed home teaching process for which I had to learn through a course last Saturday. 

Can you imagine I have to learn how to flash cards at 0.35 seconds per card?   Everyday, I also have to follow up with home practice to “strengthen the weekly input and draw out the output” for him.  In addition, according to the Shichida child rearing methodology, I am supposed to harbour positive thoughts about my child all the time so as to enhance his learning capabilities. 

Well, let me say all these aren’t easy.

This is a program that requires a lot of commitment as well as persistence on my part in order for him to benefit fully. 

I am still trying to figure out some of these activities myself and if you’re a parent, you will understand my exasperation of trying to get a hyperactive 4-year-old to sit through doing all these activities.  In fact, he often tells me he doesn’t want to do them or doesn’t know how to do them.   Of course his reluctance creates a lot of resentment for me because of the effort and time I have put in.  More than often, I have to try really hard not to raise my voice at him or force him to go through all those activities.

It is therefore also a learning process for me.  Learning how to control my emotions and view my child more positively in order to help him open up his heart and mind. 

But at the least, he isn’t really adverse to going to the lessons and when we do get down to doing the activities together, he does enjoy them.  And I’m actually happy to say that he has improved tremendously in his writing, a result of my daily practice with him.  So I believe that if I am able to persist in this program with him, he will improve eventually.

In fact, something beautiful has already been happening everytime I sit down to teach him this week.  Midway through our lessons, he will always come up and plant a kiss on my cheek or on my lips for no apparent reason.  I am not going to speculate why this is suddenly happening but it definitely creates a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart. 

A very rewarding one I have to add. 

Coming home today was additionally sweet.  Because my free loot courtesy of NOVICA – Handmade Artisan Novica has arrived!  It was a case of too many to select from and in the end, I picked two simple handmade jewelries from Thailand to fit into US$100 including shipping costs.  One, a quartzite and rose quartz necklace and the other, a peridot choker. 

So yes, the entire package was free.   Real sweet.

I came home yesterday to find a letter from the traffic police department on my desk and this is what it says:

Your vehicle was reported by our patrol officer to have committed the following offence:

Date of offence: 17 April 2007, 9.36am

Place of offence: PAN ISLAND EXPRESSWAY -> TUAS ROAD

Vehicle Number: XXXX       Vehicle Type: Motor Car

Offence(s): Speeding (exceed speed limit of 80kmph road) under Sec 63…

So I thought.   Shit.  My first record of speeding offence and that probably means being served demerit points plus a fine.

As I went on to read the letter, I realised there was more to it.

The driver could have been fined $130 and be awarded 4 demerit points.

However, in this instance, no summons action will be take against you or the drive of the vehicle.  This letter serves as an advisory to the driver.  Please note that the Traffic Police will maintain a record of this advisory and we will not hesitate to take summons action against drivers who accumulate multiple advisory letters or similar warning notices for speeding.

Wa.  So kind eh?  Letting me off with an advisory.  But I couldn’t recall if I was speeding and no mention was made about my speed of driving.  It could have been 81kmph and that’s still exceeding and now I’m in THEIR records.

This is all very strange to me.  Even my hubs was puzzled because we’ve never seen an advisory notice of speeding offence.  Is this something new? 

Anyway, the letter ended off by asking me to urge all drivers to adhere to speed limits and drive safely.  So there you go.

As some of you already know, I have a man who’s obsessed with his fitness and has been exercising regularly as well as eating healthily.  Well, his efforts have paid off handsomely I tell ya.  He has been ogled at.  And that’s quite an ego booster except that he isn’t at all pleased.  As a matter of fact, he’s disgusted.

Why?

Cos the ones who are ogling at him aren’t women.  They’re the same gender as him.  They’re… g a y s! 

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…

It was so hilarious when he recounted how an angmo was eyeing his bum at the airport.  He hadn’t realised it until his supplier sounded him out.  “Hey, be careful.  That guy is checking out your behind.” 

Then just yesterday as he was walking to the mall, he said a guy who looked gayish gave him the all-over check out.  It freaked him out to say the least.  WAHAHAHAHA… 

Actually I already had a sneak suspicion cos Gavin’s Godma who hangs out with a bunch of gays had make a remark that my man has market value some months ago.  So this just confirms it.  But nothing for me to worry about too much cos he cannot even stand the idea of male hairstylists or male masseurs.

He’s going to kill me for this.  But heck, it’s funny and it’s Monday.