For the first time, I blushed all the way to the roots of my hair. With much ‘funfair’ and to my (delightful) embarrassment, my colleagues came and surrounded me, asking this and that, giving all sorts of theories (none of which is correct). With my red face, I dodged them all, albeit unsuccessfully.

Why?

Earlier, at about 3.30pm, a delivery man from Far East Flora came and hand delivered a 10-red roses and a 10-pink tulips bouquet, all fenced up by a soft, velvety mini feather boa.

Oh Hubs!

After I managed to send my colleagues off to heir desks and back to work, I called Ibu Ros and told her what happened.

She went Huh? for at least 10 times.

Ha ha .. well, me too actually.

This morning, while getting Imin ready to school, we had this conversation:-

‘Ibu, I want to tell you what I dream last night.’

‘Hmm..ok, tell me..’

‘I dream about numbers. I dream about number 18, 19 and 25. The 5 is like the Channel 5 like that..’

‘Oh! You dreamt about the Numberlies? In the Numberlies Town?’

Later, around noon, I called Imin up at Mak’s house.

‘Ibu, you remember what I say about my dream?’

‘Yes, I do. You said you dreamt about numbers right? Number 18, 19 and 25.’

‘Yes, the 5 is like the Channel 5 like that. Then 18 and 19 are at the shop…’

‘You mean, the shop near Cik Mimah’s house?’

‘No.. 18 is near, but 19 is far far away.’

‘Do you have to take a bus to 19 or you just walk?’

‘You have to take taxi. The number 5 is like the Channel 5 like that…’

‘Take a taxi? You got money or not?’

‘No, I don’t need to pay. If children take taxi, they don’t need to pay. If adult take, then they pay..’

Sometimes, conversations with the little genius can spark ideas for short fictions in my head. Now if only I can find the time …

A local writer-friend dropped me a message today. Excerpt:-

I realised Encik Peter Augustine Goh commented on your cerpen again in BH remaja page this week, yes your oldie. He seems to have run out of idea about pointing out flaws in others writing...

http://cyberita.asia1.com.sg/rencana/story/0,3617,113019-1203371940,00.html?

i know u dah jawab his earlier critique.

Here we go again.

I do not know if PAG realized that he had commented on the exact same theory way back in February 2003. He criticized on my metamorphoric use in Dilema Muslimah, one of my short fictions published in the early 2000s. I wrote back and my reply was published in March 2003.

May I ask PAG to go back to the archives and look out for the 02 March 2003 article?

I told Hubs about it and he replied: Jangan layan.

I told Ibu Ros about it and she replied: Balas lah. Cakap, bukankah perkara ini sudah dihuraikan dahulu?

I told myself and I thought, heck, I’ll borrow a title from one of Madam Blossom’s blog – I’ve ‘lost steam’.

Maybe, one of these days, I’ll pick my pen up and begin writing again. Already, many people are encouraging me and waiting for my next fiction.

Maybe, one of these days… Watch out, PAG!

As early as 6.45am, I received my first (probably only) V-day present. From (you would not believe this, as I too have difficulty in believing it) Hubs.

Sigh

Last Monday, on his birthday, we went window shopping at Marks & Spenser. I came across a perfume that I liked very much, and almost bought for Ibu Ros’ birthday. But the steep price stopped me. I showed to Hubs and he agreed that the perfume was nice and yes, the price steep for such a tiny bottle.

But what do you know? I got it as a V-day present!

Sigh

The day Imin turned 5, we took out the two wheelies on his red bike.

And now, he is learning how to ride his bicycle properly.

Oh boy, what a whole lot of work.

Any tips on how to teach a 5-year old to cycle?

These were Imin's first lesson, at Pasir Ris Park.

  

Then, we tried again during the long CNY break.

While still on Rambo, are you aware that the supposedly cool (AND cold) Horatio Caine in CSI:MIAMI was also in FIRST BLOOD (RAMBO 1)? He was Mitch, a young geeky-looking officer at the police station where John Rambo was held up.

From 1982 to 2002.
What a transformation!

The other day, Hubs and I watched Rambo 4.

With full cinematic experience.

Of course, I wanted to catch this after it opened on 24 January earlier this year. But I always thought that yeah, where to find the time, with the boys and all, and this kinda story, we will definitely get a true DVD copy of it anyway. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I collect Rambo stories.

Prior to watching, of course, I have read the reviews of the movie in the papers here and there. Generally, to most critics, the movie was a failure, a sad testament to Stallone’s failed efforts in reviving his movie career; especially after the latest Rocky (I do not recall what number is the recent one now).  

But any true-blue Rambo follower would disagree.

I totally enjoyed Rambo 4, though I have to admit, at times, I watched the movie through the tiny slits of my fingers as I covered my eyes. Some scenes are very gory, and to think that the background of this movie is based on what’s been truly happening to the Karen people right now, well, it truly pained me.

True, Rambo looks every inch of an old, fatigued, fat ex-war machine (but I have to tell you, he looks very well-fed among those skinny actors who played the locals), and his stunts were not as many as those in previous Rambo films (even though Stallone used a stuntman). In fact, he did not do much physical fighting, aside from standing upright and firing non-stop from machine guns and shooting arrows.

The movie’s pretty short too – less than 2 hours, with the flimsiest plot you can ever imagine. But then again, nobody watches Rambo movies for the fighting or war scenes or for intricate plots.

IMPORTANT You watch Rambo 4 because, well, you have watched First Blood, Rambo 2, Rambo 3 and now, no matter what, you have to come full circle and get to Rambo 4.

End of story.

I was not disappointed, except for the duration (movie’s too short to satisfy a Rambo fan’s craving).

Things to note here:-

1. This is the only film that Rambo goes out (and win) something NOT on his own.

2. This is the only film that Rambo does the war scenes with his (t-)shirt on.

3. This is the only film that Rambo's hunting knife does not make an appearance.

4. This film has more blood and gory than all 3 (Rambo) films put together.

Now, I’m waiting for the original DVD to add on to my collection.

I just devoured this delicious book, Ready or Not? by Chris Manby.

It’s very wonderful that I have to talk about it TWICE in my cyberspace. Read up the review at my TRUiZm blogspot (http://truizm.blogspot.com)

I can identify very much with this Heidi Savage character. She is such a hilarious and witty character that I wish I could bring her home and ask her to be my friend and get her to tell me her story all over again.

I can relate to Heidi’s fears on starting a family and having children. Or to be more precise, on her fears and uncertainty to handle a baby on her own. I had the same fears too. And I suspect, almost every other woman about to step on the threshold of motherhood.

Oh what a book! So yummy, I burped contentedly. I laughed at some parts, smiled at others and cried at the conclusion.

Why? Because I truly hate it when a good story has to end.