I love numbers!

I have always enjoyed working with numbers. I learnt the 9 times table when I was only about 8 (then that was considered advanced). My dad had taught how to do it using my fingers so there were no need for memory work.

Do you know that any number times 9 will give you a result, where when you sum up numbers it reults in, it will always add up to 9?

eg 4 x 9 = 36 where 3+6 =9
or 356 x 9 = 3204 where 3+2+0+4 = 9
or 421 x 9 = 3789 where 3+7+8+9 = 27 and 2+7 = 9
So when checking any multiple of 9, you know you are wrong if it does not finally add up to 9.

Here are more interesting things you can do with numbers:

Take a look:


1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?

And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111= 12345678987654321

Now you know why I enjoy numbers??

Attitude is Important

I have always told my children that their attitude towards work was very important. Look at this - it proves it!!


If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%!!

Moving on:

Take a look at how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

Praise the Lord!

Is it a matter of Interpretation?

Went with m-i-l to the docs last week to collect the results of her blood test. As we entered, the doc, who is a family friend said: Hey! Your test results are so good. You can go out and celebrate!

Wow! I was envious. M-i-l and I have almost the same diet. We have most of our meals together, and usually eat the same things ... except that I have oatmeal most mornings, and she doesn't. How come her blood test results are so good and mine needs me to change my diet? Then I whipped out my last blood test results (the one that has shown a slight improvement in cholesterol levels) for the doc. Doc looked at it and said: Well, your numbers are very similar. Good cholesterol levels (hdl) are high, bad cholesterol levels (ldl) are borderline high but looking at the overall ratios, cholesterol levels are good!!

I broke into a big grin. Does that mean that I can go off my oatmeal diet and go out and celebrate too? Anyway, we went out for lunch on saturday, and I enjoyed my maryland crab cakes!! The doc did say that I could have all the crabs and prawns I wanted, just keep away from the roe.

But I still have a question: Why did the cardiologist tell me I still had to keep to my oatmeal diet and to reduce my cholesterol levels? Is it a matter of interpretation of the results, or that the cardiologists is more "kiasu" (cautious), or she wants to keep me going to her clinic to keep her business going?? I really don't know!

Nice Matters Award

Received this from bp.



Boy! She sure made my day! Thanks!

According to the originator of the Nice Matters award, it is intended for:
“those that are just nice people, good blog friends, and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others, that are there to lend support, or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world!”

Well, there are a couple of people who I truly believe deserves this award. Nevermind that they have received it earlier, it is just my way of telling them, they deserve it. And they are:
Fatty Poh of Fatty Poh's Kopitiam
Judy of Grandmother Stories

These 2 wonderful ladies have shown time and again their love, care and concern for others, either through their own blogs, or when taking time to make sure they "visit" bloggers whom they feel need some support.
Ladies, I salute you!

Why is the wedding ring worn on the 4th finger?

Many believe that it is because there is an artery in that finger that runs straight and is nearest to the heart.

There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese.....

(ps - dont just read, try it out)

Thumb represents your Parents
Second (Index) finger represents your Siblings
Middle finger represents your-Self
Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner
& the Last (Little) finger represents your children

Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together - back to back

Secondly, open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb - tip to tip

(As shown in the illustration below):


Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)..., they will open, because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong, and have to leave you sooner or later.

Please join your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers (representing siblings)...., they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.

Now join the Index fingers and separate your Little fingers (representing your children)...., they will open too, because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day.

Finally, join your Little fingers, and try to separate your Ring fingers (representing your spouse).
You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT....., because Husband & Wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick and thin!! (can only separate for a small distance right? - that means must give each other some breathing space!)

ISN'T THIS A LOVELY THEORY?

A tribute

A humble postal clerk, who married at 19, wanted the best for his young family. Struggled through night school, working for his accountancy degree part-time whilst his wife stayed home to care for their 4 children. Finally quits his job to do his final year full-time. Later, started his own shipping and logistics firm. Working 18 to 20 hours a day, every day of the week, every week of the month and every month of the year. No rest days, except for the first day of Lunar New Year. Hardly spent any time with his children. Toiled long and hard, determined to do his best in order to provide only the best for his children.

Now grandfather to 7, still works a gruelling 12 to 14 hours a day, 6 and a half days a week, with no plans to retire just yet. Travels on business one week every month, personally taking care of his business interests. His rest days are spent on the golf course or in his garden. Tries to spend time with his grandchildren, having missed out on his own children's childhood. Most willingly sits through concerts which his grandchildren perform in. Picked up piano-playing at age 62, at the same time as his favourite grandson. A doting grandfather with a kind heart. Most willing to help those in need, as well as anyone who turns to him for advice.

This man with the Midas touch celebrates his birthday today - my father-in-law. Happy Birthday Dad! May you have many more good years!

100!

Well, this is my 100th post. How time flies. I started only in January 2007. Struggled along the way but have enjoyed this journey of writing, sharing, visiting and commenting.

Thank you to all who have accompanied me on this road and helped me along the way. I have learnt much from you all, especially from your experiences. I am glad to have made your acquaintance, and I look forward to many more posts. Do continue this journey with me.

Left Handed?

Left handers are those who use that left hand for everyday purposes more than their right, such as to write, throw, point, cut, kick, etc. One in every ten people is left handed, and it is believed that males are one and a half times more likely to be left handed than females.

In the past, societies had no sympathy for left handers as it was seen as a curse. Children caught using their left hands were often scolded and forced to use their right.

But do you know that some of history's most creative minds were left handed? These include: Beethoven, Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Albert Einstein. As a result, most people tend to associate left-handers with those that are creative. But for every creative left hander, there are probably as many wonderful creators that are right-handed. So I dont think there is any actual co-relation between left-handedness and creativity.

Why this sudden interest in left-handers? Well, everyone in the family is right handed but I have noticed that Little D's predominant hand is left. The world we live in is a right-handed world. Most things are made for right-handers (though there are now shops that cater specially to left handed people). I am just trying to imagine the task ahead for me!

How old is old?

My daughter S, who is 11, thinks being 20 is old.

I was once relating a story to my Dad, about this "old" man that I had met. At the end of the story, my dad asked me - "So, how old is this old man?"
I answered - "I dont know. Probably about 60."
Dad: "That's not old!!"
That was when I realised that my dad was about the same age as that man, and to him 60 was definitely NOT old.

When my dad travelled to the US on vacation 20 years ago(he had just turned 55, and that was the retirement age in Singapore at that time), he related to me that there were lots of places that offered senior citizen discounts there. As he had just received his "senior citizen card", he was only too happy to be able to enjoy the discount. He told me that whenever he asked for the discount, the counter staff always told him that he was too young to get it. On one occassion, he whipped out his card for the counter girl, and looking at his age, she told him: "Here in the US, our people are only entering university at that age!" However, since he had his card, they graciously gave him the discount.

I guess it is all relative. I remember when I was young, I thought 30+ was old. Now that I am in my 40s, hey, 50 is still young! My daughter is amazed that my dad can live till such an "Old" age - 76. But to him - he is not OLD!

Age is after all just a number!

September

Months come and go.
Time flies.
Dates and Events to remember.
September is a month that brings back lots of memories.
In 1982, my nephew - the first grandchild in my family - was born.
In 1985, on my convocation day, my sister delivered her second child, a girl.
In 1991, on the day before my nephew's birthday, my paternal grandmother returned to the Lord at the age of 91.
September also sees us celebrating my Father-in-laws birthday.
It is also the month of the Mid-Autumn festival, a day which my children look forward to.
September 11 is also the day of the worst terrorist attack the world had seen. I especially remember the Twin Towers, as that was the place I frequented on a regular basis when I was living in New York. I have yet to return to Ground Zero.

Good times, bad times, we remember them all.

Paintjam Dan Dunn

Watch to the end. This painter is amazing!

Pasar Malam At the National Museum

The National History Musuem had a pasar malam night on its grounds from 7 to 9 sept 2007. So we decided to bring the kids on Saturday night as we thought it would be interesting for them. Before we left, the kids asked: "Will we be allowed to buy things?" So we said yes, and they happily took some of their savings along. Except for little D, who does not have an allowance. So hubby gave her $2 which she kept in the back pocket of her jeans.

There were lots of food stalls selling tit bits (Some of which I felt should not be there!) Those that interested the children were the kacang puteh stall and the candy floss stall. There were also stalls featuring games from days yonder like five stones, gasing, sepak takraw, snap, old maid, and the hula hoop. There was also a caricaturist who drew with two hands! He was really amazing finishing each caricature in under two minutes!! And the best part - it was for free. Wait time was more than half an hour, though.

When we were there, S, bought a handphone strap. N bought a dough figurine mouse, just like Remy from Ratatouille. Little D wanted a piece of the action too! She walked up to the uncle manning the dough figurine stall and said she wanted a dog. The kind man picked up all the different types of dogs that he had and displayed them all in front of her. She looked carefully and chose one. Confidently, she pulled out the $2 from her back pocket and paid it to the Uncle. Uncle was stunned. He did not know what to do. He did not want to spoil the experience for her, I think.(Isn't he such a dear!). The dough figurine costs $5, not $2. He actually let her walk away with it. (I was observing all this from a distance). I then went and paid him the difference, and thanked him for allowing my daughter her first experience of buying something on her own.

When we got home, Little D came up to me and said: "Mummy, I had a fun time just now." I guess that sums up our Saturday night out!

Tag - 35 Questions

Tagged by Nomadic-mom with 35 questions. So here goes:

Where is your cell phone? In my pocket
Relationship? Yes, with my hubby
Your hair? Still on top of my head
Work? Yes, with my kids
Your sister/s? One
Your favorite thing? SLEEP!!!!!
Your dream last night? Hubby left for dinner without me!!
Your favorite drink? Fermented Grape juice
Your dream car? Ferrari, Aston Martin - anything that can go fast even without my heavy foot
The room you’re in? Study
Your shoes? Not on my feet at the moment.
Your fears? Too many.
What do you want to be in 10 years? Still alive, slim and sexy
Who did you hang out with this weekend? My kids and hubby, who else?
What are you not good at? Putting on weight
Muffin? Love them, both making and eating
One of your wish list items? Vacation without the kids
Where you grew up? Singapore
Last thing you did? Checked my email
What are you wearing? Pink capri and a beige T
What aren’t you wearing? Make up, girdle (dont need them!)
Your pet? None...I have 3 kids, how to have pets??
Your computer? Acer
Your life? Heart still pumping, so must be good
Your mood? Swings
Missing? Shopping in NYC
What are you thinking about right now? How to complete this thing quickly before my kids shout "Mum!"
Your car? Saab - cant drive aeroplane, so something from the same maker will do.
Your kitchen? Clean
Last time you laughed? When my little one sang a song she composed
Last time you cried? Cant remember!
School? Still go there to do volunteer work once a week

Not bad, managed it with only one "Mum!" interupption.

Will not tag anyone, but if you are in the mood to do a tag, please go on right ahead!

I remember Pavarotti

A friday, Winter 1992, New York City.

Hubby: We are having dinner in an Italian Restaurant followed by an Opera at Lincoln Centre

Me: Can I pass?
(I dont particularly enjoy Italian food, nor operas, and it was a very cold winter day)

Hubby: I already said you would come. Be ready by 6pm.

6pm - Black Limo pulls up at our doorstep to pick hubby and me. Traffic was heavy, as always on friday evenings in NYC. We were deposited at the front of an Italian restaurant just across the street from Lincoln Centre

Food was heavy, service was slow, portions were enormous, like in all American eateries, and I was struggling to finish the food. Finally managed to finish our meal before 8pm. Crossed the road, and got into our seats just as the lights were being dimmed and the curtains raised. No time to read the programme. Dont even know the name of the Opera we were watching.

After about half an hour, I still did not know what was going on. The opera was in Italian, the dinner was getting to my stomach, my eyelids were getting heavy. Rummaged through my purse for those toothpicks. There were none. How am I going to prop my eyelids open??

I struggled. Must not embarrass hubby. Here we were in the best box seats, and we were being entertained by hubby's business associate. My eyes were struggling to keep open. Not sure how long they were closed for, but I was awaken by this thunderous applause and the lights came on.

It was the intermission. I hurriedly excused myself. Rushed to the Ladies to freshen up. Came back to my seat and read the synopsis of the Opera. Oh! we were watching Tosca, and this was the only performance that Pavarotti the Great, was performing the lead. Must put in all efforts not to doze off again. After the break, noticed that there were subtitles!! On the wall at the side. So, I can now understand what's going on. Maybe that will help me keep awake.

Fortunately, I managed to enjoy what was left of the performance. Audience came prepared. At the end, roses were thrown on stage for the Great tenor. There was a standing ovation. 3 curtain calls. It was a Great Performance. That was my only chance to watch this outstanding performer, and I slept thru half of it.

Yesterday he returned to his Maker. May his soul rest in peace.

She Loves My blog

Fatty Poh loves my blog!!



Thank you! Kam Siah! Terima Kasih! Xie Xie! Aligato!

I guess awards like this makes me want to blog more. So if you dont like my blog, so sorry, ah! I have to continue blogging for people like Fatty Poh.

Now to share this joy. There are a few other blogs which I really enjoy which have yet to receive this award. They are:
peppermint energy by iml
bkworm
sasha
back to basics by bp

After the storm, a rainbow

Last month was the summer vacation month for those from the US and UK. I managed to meet up with quite a few friends who were visiting “home” from those countries. But I missed meeting up with one particular friend, SB, from London – I just did not know she was back.

SB and I worked in the same office some 22 years ago. We worked together on a couple of assignments and I remember her as the girl with the big eyes and a bright smile. She was also a fun loving girl. Being in her company never failed to bring a smile to anyone's face. I had lost touch with her for quite a long time (20 years?)– after she left the company we worked for. One of our friends told me about her condition only in June this year, and gave me her email. SB had breast cancer and was undergoing treatment. She was feeling down. I felt compelled to get in touch with her, and have been communicating with her via e-mail since.

She e-mailed me just today to let me know that she had been home for one and a half weeks in august, but was too pre-occupied with things here to get in touch with me. Her mum had passed away the day before she arrived here. I really felt for her, as she only managed to return to Singapore after her last chemo session in London. It is really so sad. She had mentioned to me (in an earlier email) that her mum had a stroke not so long ago, but due to the medical treatment she was undergoing, she was not in a position to travel home to see her mum. And her mum passed on a day before she got home! What could be a bigger blow?

Like they say – it never rains but it pours. For her, it must have been a terrible thunderstorm! But I pray that the worst is over for her. For after every storm, a rainbow will appear.

Lord, please watch over her and her family. May she feel your hand upon her, renewing her body and refreshing her soul. Give her the strength to trust you and put the present and future in your hands. Amen.

SB - I am sure the worst is over for you. Be strong, I want to see the "old" you the next time I get to meet up with you. Take good care of yourself. God Bless!

More on friends....

When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,



and then I started to become a woman.

And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.



One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.

Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.

Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say, "Let's cry together,"
another, "Let's fight together,"
another, "Let's walk away together."




One friend will meet your spiritual need,
another your shoe fetish,
another your love for movies,
another will be with you in your season of confusion,
another will be your clarifier,
another the wind beneath your wings.



But whatever their assignment in your life,
on whatever the occasion,
on whatever the day,
or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ...
those are your best friends.



It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
but for many,
it's wrapped up in several...
one from 7th grade,
one from high school,
several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
on some days your mother,
on some days your neighbour,
on others, your sisters,
and on some days, your daughters.



So whether they've been there 20 minutes or 20 years,
There is a friend that God has placed in your life
to make a difference.

Enjoy them, celebrate with them!


Note: this was taken off an email I received.

Little D's 1st Movie

Yes! Movies will be on our list of weekend activities more often now!


Brought the children to Ratatouille last saturday, and Little D managed to sit through the whole movie. Whoooeee!! This is a first for her. When we brought her to Disney on Ice in March, she just could not sit still. Hubby and her spent most of the time in front of the popcorn stall - which meant 2 tickets wasted! Now, that she can enjoy movies, we can do lots more of it without having to send her to school (whilst the rest of us sneak off to the movies) or leaving her home with Grandma. We can do more things together as a family now!! Yippee!

The next movie we will go to - Hairspray!

To laugh or to cry?

Sometimes I dont know whether I should be laughing or crying? Some of my friends think it is funny, but I dont think so.

My son, N, who will be turning 8 next month, has been driving me up the wall and round the bend. I just cant get him to do anything. There will be excuses all the time. There will always a reason. I have hiccups, I am thirsty, I need to poo, I am tired, I am itching, I need a snack, I need to check my e-mail, I need to tell Grandma something. The list is endless. All this just to delay doing homework - even if it will only take him 10 minutes to finish his homework. He would rather fight with me over the doing of homework for more than an hour when it can be done in less than half the time. I keep telling him to just finish it and then you are free to do whatever you want. But - irritating and fighting with mum is more fun, I guess. Including getting a stroke of the cane.

Recently, he has picked up this disgusting habit of burping intentionally. No amount of reasoning and explaining will keep him from doing it. He thinks it is funny. He even keeps count of the number of burps, and the record so far is two hundred and something in a day. He even asks me what song I like, he can burp to that tune!! The worst part is, Little D, who finds it so amusing, is trying to pick it up! AND, I have to put up with it.

Another thing which my friends find SO funny is the songs that he teaches Little D. He mangles the song up, or makes up his own words and teaches them to Little D. Poor Girl, in all her innocence, is learning them and singing them so proudly, whilst I cringe. When I tell her Big Brother has taught her the wrong words, she says: "NO! It is correct." One such song is: Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes. The version he has taught her is : "Head and Shoulders, Dig your nose". And Little D does it with all the actions too!

Would you be laughing if you were in my shoes? Tell me: Should I laugh or cry??