Red Fish in Red Pail

Red fish in red pail.

(insert picture of red pail)

I'm quite sure you've seen this red pail before. Heck, I'm doubly ass sure that all of you have it somewhere IN your house. It's synonymous with the typical Singaporean household. My mum uses it, my aunts uses it, my neighbors uses it and last of all, my grandma uses one too(no wait, half a dozen actually). And that's where the problem lies.

Last night, while I was taking my bath after coming home weary from work, I didn't realize there was someone (if you could call it so), together with me in the shower.

I was holding the shower-head at the top of my head, almost done washing the shampoo off my hair (and yes, contrary to belief, I do use shampoo. BECAUSE I HAVE HAIR NOW!) and ready to chuck it back into the red pail which holds the bath water when a ripple that splashed across the surface of the water caught my eye. At first I did not think much of it; it could perhaps be nothing more than just the hose connected to the shower head knocking against the pail, thus disturbing the water.

However, when I turned towards the pail, ready to chuck the shower-head into it, I nearly wet myself, (aha! A pun!) and I cried, "WTF!" Oh and what-the-fish indeed, for there was indeed a fish in pail. A red goldfish of some-sort in a red pail. How nice.

Now, WHO IN THE RIGHT MIND WOULD PUT A F__KING FISH (aha! An alliteration! Including this very sentence!) in a pail meant for holding water to use for bathing?! My mind immediately thought of my grandmother. Having been living in my grandmother's household for almost 2 years now, it should hardly come as a surprise that such a thing has occurred really. She's been known to have many "queer" (maybe it wasn't half a century ago?) habits. She works part time as a karang-guni woman, likes cleaning the walls when Chinese new year draws near as part of the annual big cleaning event (who does that?), and finally, one which I cannot stand: She uses the same pail for everything else.

For that one pail, she could use it to: rinse the mop with when mopping the house, soak our laundry in it before putting it into the washing machine, collect the water that comes out from the washing machine during a wash, and a few times I've caught her using it to soak her vegetables or whatever foul looking Chinese food (I shudder to think that it is edible) in it too! So I suppose, using it to house a goldfish should not be a big hoo-ha huh? Oh and speaking of the fish, I think I nearly killed it at the start of my shower. For some reason, whenever the heater is on, and right at the start when you turn on the tap to the shower, water close to boiling point (yes I'm sure, you can see steam rising from the shower-head) gushes out. I'm well aware of that therefore I always put it in the pail for the first few seconds until the water temperature returns to normal. So could you imagine, if not for the pail being already half filled with cool water, how could the fish have survived?! I'm glad I did not have to find one boiled fish with soup on my conscience.

Anyway, my grandmother is incredible. Don't you think so? And so are her fried crispy eggs. (Crispy cause of the shells.) Or it could be my brother's doing for I'm sure that my grandmother did not buy the fish. If that's the case, I would acknowledge him as incredible like my grandmother, incredibly stupid that is.

The fish lives on in the pail as we speak.

Oh and it was my incredibly stupid brother who did that.

Heard Around The House

Nick: Okay I'll go get the tickets later.
Don: Got tit pits?
Nick: WTF ARE TIT PITS?!
Don: Bits.
Nick: OMG SO EPIC. Err alright I'll go get it later.
Don: Gotta have those titpits.

Catch-Up

Wow, things at work sure is getting exciting.

As y'all know, I'm working at an IT shop, House of Mouse for the past month, (been working there right before enlisting too) and it's a pretty alright place to be working at if you're interested in IT related things. Plenty of things to learn about too. Get to handle working with customers and get to admire the one or two hot chicks that come by once in a while. And of course, the people that I'm working with are... Alright I suppose.

There used to be a really nice lady who apparently got fired (rumours, hearsay) by the boss on the grounds that she started walking all over his head. It is hard to believe that because she really is one of the nicest people I've met. Besides working with us, she is a part timer as an instructor with St John (The Red Cross or something) and often goes on camping trips with schools. Working with her is never boring; she has plenty of stories to share, horror ones I might add. I even used to look forward to going to work the next day! Alas, she was fired by my boss, even though they were the same age. (It all sounded quite childish to me when I heard it from my other colleague.) Anyway, my boss is nice enough, only until recently he started being quite anal.

The first incident where he started getting all naggy (like a woman) on me was when I took out my phone while waiting for the hard disks to format. He whipped his head around upon hearing me click-clacking away on my phone. "You, what are you doing? No smsing or using phone during office hours. Only boss can use. Next time I see I will confiscate it." The way he spoke to me, you would have thought that I was some primary school kid or something. Then after that he went on some rampage by dragging my cousin (who also works there) in and mass sending out texts to us warning us that "repeat offenders will be severely dealt with" and if we so happen to dare try it again, we will "not be needed at work tomorrow". He wasn't like that before.

The second one happened just recently. IMHO, I find it really childish. I was working my shift over at the other branch (there's 2 branches: Suntec and Textile Centre being the main branch) when the lady working at the shop opposite ours (some tour agency) came over and asked whether I could shift the disco laser lights away from their shop cause it was hurting her eyes. I apologised and I turned the thing away from their shop and had it aiming its lasers on the floor near a rival shop (according to our Boss cause they sell similar items). I knew they wouldn't mind cause Hausan (my cousin) told me that they actually wanted it to be shone upon their shop. Somehow this didn't bode well with my Boss who sent me this sms after I left work:

"Who keep turning away my disco laser to point at (shop's name)? How many times must I repeat? We are displaying and selling the product using our electricity or providing free publicity for (shop's name)? Who? Own up."

My god. What was all the big fuss about?? I did not understand his reason. Did it really matter that much? I mean c'mon! So us shining our laser at our rival's shop will somehow inadvertently bolster their sales? Could our sales-boosting-profit-driving-publicity-earning laser beams really do so much damage?

IT'S JUST A FRIGGING PIECE OF MACHINE DISPLAYING DISCO LIGHTS LAR.

Must flip out like a woman meh? Seriously, it's like he's going to have his period (picture those bits and pieces of blood coming outta his d**k or ass. That's guys having their periods) or something.

My day didn't end off any better than that. I bought Subway (best fast food in the world) home only to spill my cup of drink in the bus. I blame the driver, he stepped on the brakes with a little too much gusto. Playing basketball didn't improve my mood either cause the people I played with was crap. I'm the best player in town people. The only thing that calmed me down was when I start playing on my guitar. Can't quite play a song yet, but slowly! It's fun. Wished my parents sent me for lessons when I was younger.

Oh and I signed up for a course did I mention? Certificate in Digital Journalism (comes with a free iPad2!) A little costly but nevertheless, it's all for a good cause. I am sure it will come in handy when I start school in August. The first lesson of the course begins tomorrow night. Every Tuesday and Thursday. I'm quite pumped up about it. (I would have shot myself if I heard me saying that 3 years ago.) Maybe it's cause after 2 years of doing nothing particularly mind boggling, you'd start looking forward to it again. And I hope it stays that way. For once, I am eager and looking forward to learning new things in life. I feel like I have finally found out what I want to do in life and I'm willing to put aside my discomforts and go all out for it. (Finally Nick!)

Haha so wish me the best. I don't want to live my life the way I did before; being comfortable with just doing what is sufficient. Nuh uh, not anymore I won't. I see what it is that I want, and grab it I will.

Oh and while I'm going on about this, I must mention someone.

My dad.

He's never been the vocal one in showing his love for his children, but what he lacks in this, he makes it up more than ever in his action alone. (And I guess that's one of the reasons why my mother fell in love with him!) You know how when you're young, whatever your friends have, you must have it too? And you'll go home and beg your parents to get it for you. Yeah same here. I'd come home and whine and beg and whine first to my mum (who'll always tell me off for wanting unpractical things) then to my dad. He'll always tell us no, that he's not going to get it. But eventually, somehow or rather, he'll eat his own words and still get it for us. (Like my digimon!)

And he has never failed to do so up till today.

I was texting him on Viber a few weeks ago and we were talking about my job and school when this is what he told me:

"Hope this part time is not very tough job. Remember I'll support you in whatever way to help you to accomplish your degree. If cannot cope must tell me in future."

"Any difficulty you face in life, your mum and I will be there for you."

Uh, I was pretty surprised to hear that. Like I said before, he has never been the vocal one. It took me a good half an hour of re-reading that particular message before I made myself believe that it was all real. I suppose no one can really appreciate their parents until they grow up. Some people are able to do so earlier in life, while others take a little longer. But whatever the case, parents will always look out for their flesh and blood. They always care. But in different ways that's all.

We just need to open our eyes and hearts a little more.

With that said, I leave you with pictures (only 2 actually) of me when I was in Kukup, Malaysia. I had a really awesome time, if you are a friend of mine on facebook (sounds really sad doesn't it, "facebook friend") you could check out the pictures and videos I posted.

My short lived cowboy days.




She kindly agreed to be the punching bag for my pent-up frustrations.

500 Days of Summer

I was watching this movie, "500 Days of Summer" in the wee hours of the morning and I really feel that I could watch it a thousand more times and still not get sick of it. Somehow it reminds me of my life and myself. I was really connecting with it, especially so with Tom. You should watch it if you already haven't.

These here are a few quotes from the movies which I felt held some sort of meaning to me:

Tom: I love how she makes me feel, like anything's possible, or like life is worth it.

Summer: You weren't wrong, Tom. You were just wrong about me.

Rachel Hansen: Quit being a pussy.

Summer: I woke up one morning and I just knew.
Tom: Knew what?
Summer: What I was never sure of with you. (Ouch... I know how THAT feels.)

Tom: Look, we don't have to put a label on it. That's fine. I get it. But, you know, I just... I need some consistency.
Summer: I know.
Tom: I need to know that you're not gonna wake up in the morning and feel differently.
Summer: And I can't give you that. Nobody can.

Tom: Did you ever do this, you think back on all the times you've had with someone and you just replay it in your head over and over again and you look for those first signs of trouble?

Summer: There's no such thing as love, it's fantasy...

Summer: We're just friends.
Tom: No! Don't pull that with me! Kissing in the copy room? Holding hands in IKEA? Shower sex? Come on! Friends my balls!

Fried Nuggets of Wisdom

There's good in everyone. It's just covered by the icky stuff. And when you do get past the muck and to the good, there will be one person waiting in your life, who will be able to see the greatness in you and tell you how awesome you are everyday.

Nick

Toilet-A-Hunting.

Stayed over at Terry's place cause we wanted to go swimming the next day. Messed around with his computer playing the now free-to-play TF2. (So glad that I didn't spend a cent on it!) Then as usual we had prata in the middle of the night. I believe there's something special about eating prata with your friends and family in the middle of the night. Something almost magical and very memorable. Something you'll only be able to do in Singapore. Makes us bond together more don't you think?

I "woke up in the morning..."(Cue: Kesha's, "Tick Tock")



...And had trouble getting up cause we slept so late! Kept mumbling, "snooze, snooze 5 minutes Terry." And he somehow was already wide awake. After snoozing for about an hour, (bet my underwear that anyone reading this that you do that all the time too) we finally headed over to the swimming pool at Yio Chu Kang. And did I mention, I was like all dressed and ready with my things and stuff, only to realise that the pool was closed for maintenance!?

What a total bummer!

With our plan for the day foiled, stranded in YCK with no backup plan, and I, who had not had my bath since yesterday afternoon, Terry brought me to NYP (his poly) to take a shower. I was kinda surprised at how easy it was to enter. There were no security guards at all, nothing. Then Terry explained that it was an open campus, people were allowed in. Still... With terrorism so rampant in this day and age, one can't help but be a little paranoid. (What if a suicidal Sikh student tried to blow up the school with a bomb hidden in his turban? No offense to them though, not trying to be racist here.) Anyway, I was really intrigued by poly life. It was my second time here, but somehow you see things differently after going through NS. (Or maybe cause we've all grown and wised up.) It felt kinda familiar yet new at the same time. Reminds me of my secondary school life 'cept that no one was in uniform anymore. Man, poly lifesure looks fun and exciting. Feeling a tinge of regret now...

The showers weren't too shabby actually. However I don't know how often the cleaners maitain the place. I saw a bunch of hair all balled up at the drain in the corner. Makes me kinda naseuous when I started wondering what it could be made up of.

A ball of pubes most likely.

Then it has to be HELLUVA large ball of pubes indeed. Thank god I did not step on it. Felt refreshed and ready to be off. Showering in a public school made me wish there were public bath houses in Singapore, just like Japan! Now wouldn't that be convenient? Headed over to Nihon Mura for or brunch. Here's a video:




(Wow my teeth look especially white in the video. Yes? And pardon my mumbling, I was trying to say how it turned out to be a funny morning because it seemed like we came all the way down to YCK to take a morning shower in NYP.)

Went to Orchard after that to hunt for Terry's "Chic and Geek" attire for his school camp. Oh and it was my first time using the toilet in ION Orchard. I had no idea how "attas" it was. (Aha! Singlish word I just learnt. Means posh! Right?) Full length mirrors lined the linoleum walls and the urinals were all so sparkly clean and nice to pee in without any visible pubes hanging from it. Woowee. I am impressed. I took longer than I needed in there just to soak in the view. Can't imagine how some hawker centers actually have 5 star toilet ratings...

Shall go toilet-hunting one day.

Oh and this will be my new hairstyle! (I'm talking about the braided hair coming down on his right shoulder.) Just waiting for my hair to grow. Obi Wan Kenobi...



It starts growing from the behind the ear, near the tips. How long do you think it'll take to grow that long? I'm really looking forward to it!

Heard Around The House

"Before 上厕所, 去 toilet."
- Teng Hauwei

"Kill 2 stone with 1 bird."
"Kill 1 bird with 2 stone."
- Mother

"You wanna hear about my post prelim study plans? You will be 吓到."
- Don Oh