Hat Tip to Mr J.

Hat tip to Mr J.,
You had asked if I could stay,
"At least through wheat harvest", you say.

Rumours have swirled through the land,
Err... which is the truthful end?
Depends on the version you have heard in this fairy tale land.

Before I begin my reasoning, firstly I'll go to KFC,
Making sure it is EXTRA CRISPY,
Hands off, that bucket is for me!

Then followed by a pepperoni pizza,
Tums, right now, will be nice,
Oh throw in some ice tea, no ice.

Then find a tree,
Hopefully without alot of birdies,
At least it is not yet 130F (haha Fredie).

Mr J, I hate to say,
Many are counting down to the day,
To wheat harvest, which may begin on a Wednesday.

This fearsome face,
Without much grace,
Wont be there to ask: "Where is the other J*****n Brother?"
A joke that has found a fitting place.

Hat tip, Mr J. May you have fair weather, good prices and record yields.

A fan of the J*****n brothers.

By the way...

By the way, many thanks to the US military for the pest control on June 8, 2006.
Now that is out of the way, let the .... MOMMY roar!!

WORLD CUP IS HERE!!!

See you in a few days.

ZARQO GOT WACKO

. courtesy of 500lb hardened steel compliments of Uncle Sam & liberty loving brave men & women of the USA Military..
.Yo, Nick Berg, are we singing now??

Nah, nah, nah ,nah,

Nah, nah ,nah, nah,

Hey Hey Hey,

Good Bye.

Alright I cannot resist:

- Devil says:" Welcome OBL, table for 2? Your guest is already here waiting for you."

- Congrates Mr Z, you have just passed through the doors to martyrdom, rewards await on the other side as promised, 72 goats and harems of women for your pleasure. Oh yeah, those goats have mad cow disease. The girls, have tested positive for STD's.

- Please enter. You were heading to the beach and coconut trees? Ooops, that was the screen saver. Welcome to oblivion, okay, HELL!

I see the light!! I see the light!!

Almost there... the light at the end of the tunnel sparkles, teasing me to the allure on the otherside.
Almost there... darn paperwork, patience ( I tell myself, no need to fight).
Almost there ... like Hansel & Gretel, I have left a trail of money on the path.
Almost there ... has end sometime soon, my pockets are gettting lighter by the day.

Baby needs shoes!!

Almost there ... I don't care ... time to thank all those who had cared.
Almost there ... thanks to the BIG TALL ONE who saw my fear.
Almost there ... thanks to those who listened, far or near.
Almost there ... thanks to those who did not interfered.
Almost there ... no thanks to those who interfered.

Almost there ... er.... need a new grill and a mower? (Haha... really.)
Almost there ... er ... time for things to get slower? (NOT!)
Almost there ... er ... I have been rejected for enlistment, prove that I am older. (Really.)
Almost there ... er ... I did it on my own. (I really did.)
Almost there ... er ... I hope that my parents are finally proud of me now. (Tooo late.)

Baby needs clean shoes. I think she stepped on "special brownies". I am not washing that!

"All by myself

I don't need anyone at all

I know I'll survive

I know I'll stay alive,

I'll stand on my own

I won't need anyone this time

It will be mine

No one can take it from me

You'll see.

You think that you are strong, but you are weak

You'll see,

It takes more strength to cry, admit defeat.

I have truth on my side,

You only have deceit

You'll see,

somehow, someday"

Title: You'll See
Artist: Madonna.

These words are so fitting.

Yawns - Yeahs

Lance Armstrong innocent - yawn
Ivan Basso wins Tour of Italy - YEAH!

Journalist Injured in Iraq - yawn
Uncle Jimbo ranting at Murtha - YEAH!!

Summer heat has set in -Yeah!!
Stoooopid mowing of yard - ***** @#$!

Counting to Soccer Madness - Yeah!!
Kids watching me counting down to soccer madness - NOOOOO!!!!

PS: If you think this is hot, Fredmeister is in 103F temperatures.

"We are all entitled to our opinions,
But Not all of us are entitled to the facts."

how true.

Just in case

All the nice media portray the efforts in the middle east with America as the only foriegn presence.

Erhm .... I beg to defer.

RSS Endeavour returns from 3-month Gulf deployment.

"The RSS Endeavour had been tasked with providing logistics support for coalition vessels and helicopters, protecting the waters around key oil terminals, and conducting patrols and boarding operations." - Channel News Asia.

PS: That is a Landing Ship Tank (LST) isnt she a beauty??

Now eating: grilled cat. I mean beef curry.

A hidden message?

I wonder what this cat trying to say?

Get me out of my misery!!!

Erhh....

Checking in....
Still here...
Just busy.......
The daily battle remains.... the stooopid alarm keeps buzzing every morning.
Baby needs shoes (courtesy of Mr J., his baby needs BIG shoes now)
Er ....
Er........
There are some interesting pictures, still waiting to be downloaded. D'oh!!
The Writers block has moved in.

Will return with more excuses.

In the meantime, thanks for all the support. You, you, you, you, I'll have the lawyer send you my bill. (just kidding).

MAKE IT STOP!!!

*BREATHE BREATHE

*mental note: why does the phrase pulling hair seem sooooo inappropriate in this case?

It begins nightly at 1am.
The pounding, roaring and constant hum.
*Pointing beyond the backyard.

I guess this sacrifice is necessary so other drivers on the Interstate can remain safe.
But does it have to be this loud?
How loud?
Loud enough to drown out the snoring emitting from my walking warm and hairy carpet!

Breathe and sleep

D-Day has arrived despite many many many changes to the original plans.
Let's see..... we began with free trade negotiations, then proceeded with limited sanctions, things took a wrong turn into Shock & Awe, Operation Retraction, and the current stage, Mission Sanity with Sleep.

Peaceful tonight, no scary calls, not jumping with every tire track (try living close to the interstate), the cold metal rod will not take up half my bed tonight, I will close my eyes and relax, once I am done with this entry.


See you later Boss.
Hahaha.

Count down

The countdown is getting too difficult.
Should have known that easy is not a default.
Another day filled with anxiety passes,
Something else happens & another phone call to ease the crisis.

When does home get so hard to return to?
Or when nightfall really spooks me too.
A sidearm may be handy now.
But the villian cannot be found.

The mental hurdle, I must overcome.
Or else someone will get harmed.
Never piss off the wrong person,
Especially the one who gave up everything for your reason.

"You will reap what you sow"
The day of reckoning is in tow.
Time for you to pay up for evil deeds,
The devil has receipts.

I would like my money back,
But not blood money,
With a knife stabbed in my back,
Keep the change, especially the pennies.

**********************************************************************************
To my dear friends who are holding me up, know that my chin is still held up. My phone has been programmed for assistance. My nights are days, and my days are days. I wish I could take a cop home with me, but he is quite unnecessary (unless he has other skills). I am letting Newton's first law of motion dictate the remainder of the week. My other responsibilities cannot be disturbed, for their already fragile innocence have to be preserved. So chant, pray, voodoo, or whatever... I'll make it through.

In the words of Jimmy Bond..

In light of recent events in my life,

I am Shaken,

Not Stirred.

Shook up but still standing.

Salute and Salut!

Extreme makeover.

Jungle paradise. Not very obvious here, but the pasture is about 6 inches tall.

See all the dandelions. (EWWW)

I know he is cute, but he also deposits...

In massive amounts too.

This guy is laughing because I just stepped in a brown landmine.

Not good to run out of this.

Then you may have to use this to cut the rest of the grass.





Extreme makeover, backyard style, after many scooping, more scooping, and words that children should never hear.

See what you are missing Fred??

Note: Doggie brownies courtesy as entertainment to Mr. J.

New words for the week

Yes !! I watched C-SPAN on a Saturday night. Do I need a life? (Back off buster!)
But he was good!!! Funny, really funny and educational. I learnt a few new words too!!

"The nucear poliffferetion treaty ... at the EIEIO..... intersexual contact."

Even the Joint Chiefs of Staff were tearing.

On Dick Cheney, aka The Great White Hunter, "He is a good man with a good heart er... err ... he is a good man."

On redundancy, "... on a global scale, internationally and all around the world."

On Laura Bush, "She's HOT!"

I would really like to understudy with the author of this material, he makes the Late Night Hosts look like amateur street jugglers.

If you do have a chance, catch the rerun. Overall that was a good laugh I had in a long time, well excluding the pranks on my children, good clean humour.

Mr. President, and Mr. Pseudo President, great job at the White House Correspondance Dinner.

Now listening: to my neighbours mow and trim.

They called back.

Friday April 28th, 2006.
I was confronted by fear. Fear. Hyperventilation. Dry mouth. Uncontrollable shaking. Fear.
Somehow the inventors of the mobile phone decided to makes the buttons so inconvenient during emergencies. Instead I was pressing 6-2-1.
Step 2, activate the human GPS to lock in on the other phone, while trying to complete another important mission, INHALE. Ah-huh! Yes! The phone is charged and ready for use. Okay.... the delegation of duties begin. Fingers have to coordinate with the brain and the eyes to locate 3 numbers, PLUS the TALK button.

Where are the mental cheerleaders when you need them?

The few seconds blurred, events interlaced into each other, when images flashed, noises flared and all I heard was my breathing. Oh yes, this was what the Psycho Profession talked about in Psychology 100. Wow! Can't believe this is really happening. Damn, he was correct. Too late now, he still wont change my grade. Press TALK. Er... Only once! Not Twice! You think, DiNozo! (NCIS joke, not the real NCIS. The tv version.)

Strategy 2, what strategy? Mentally scribing onto post-it notes, "DONT PANIC". Oops, Objection! Your honour, too freaking late!!

When one is in a state of panic, time does not fly, rather you are caught in an extended reverie, everything is blurry, sounds are muffled, you do not feel any part of your body. The phone suddenly rings. "H-h-h-hello?" emerged from between my breathelessness. "Are you okay? You cannot breathe? I'll send someone out there now. Do you need EMS? Can you talk?" Wow! They called back!! They really did call back! Now I have the winning cards in my left hand, with a government agency on the line.

Brain! Coordinate with mouth! Operation CALM DOWN!

Black jack! Full house!! Royal Flush!! (winning hand?) err... Smart Chip Activated, System restored. Insurgent realized he is outsmarted/outnumbered, basically SOL if he remains in the proximity. "Yes Sir, he is leaving now, out the driveway." Exhale. My comfort in my left hand heard that sigh too. "Are you alright now?" Some reassurances and confirmation that the children will be too traumatize if an officer arrives at the house. TALK. End of call.

The mentioned event is accurate and true. I have equipped myself with a defense mechanism, courage, since my dear friend wont lend me his sidearm (just kidding). But most of all, I am surprised but glad that the law enforcement agency called back. Really f**king glad.

Out of the ashes of fear arose a raging courage that relit the fury of LIFE.

Shut it off!!!

What happens when the shut-off fails? You will have a big big big giganto mess.
At least the Air Force did.

How Do You....

I ran into an old neighbour recently, after the greetings and hugs (no kisses), the inevitable question about family surfaced. Hmmm ... what to say?
"We are fine, the girls are doing great! The pistols that they are, hopefully they will use the energy for the armed forces later, the uniform I prefer." I answered.
"And how are you treated by their father?" Shocked and awed, she knew? Apparently she knew all along.
"Well, I think he is doing fine, elsewhere." I replied with a forced smile with slight details of the rift, still in shock with the inquiry.
Next broke my jaw because it hit the ground, as well as the emergence of those used tissues all wrinkled in the pockets. My dear friend (upgraded from neighbour) "I should have done something to help you then, sorry. But I am proud that you stood up by yourself," so out poured her tears (and snort) thus I gave her my tissue. Ewww she used it.

So how do I stay sane? There are some things that are worth fighting for, Liberty and Freedom, regardless if it is fought on a global or a domestic level.

How so I hold my head up? Erh... my neck. (smart ass).

What took me so long? Traffic. (smart ass)


How am I doing now? Well therapy helps, I have not been to a buffet parlour for a while. (The sign says All You can Eat. I ate all I could for 3 hours. The kids were crying or had fallen asleep, else I could have gone for more crab legs.) Yes I still have latent fears. Fear is an emotion you cannot recreate or fabricate. There were episodes of anxiety recently, nervous enough to make me reach for the phone, close to calling the blinking lights to my driveway. For once I will be glad to see those lights maybe because I am not driving. (haha) Restructuring a life is challenging, restructuring a life with 2 dependents means I need a freaking vacation or a good stress release. In my case, physical pain, pushups or situps or scooping dog-poop. Or solving mathematically equations on Yahoo Answers, aka good mental pain.

What am I doing next? I am going to DisneyWorld, if I can afford it. The fight is not over yet. This is the calm before the storm. Saying "NO MORE" is step one in a series of 99,999.02 steps, followed by tests of patience and logic prolonged over months laid out by the judicial system and LAWYERS. Take one step at a time, breathe, finding the right person to talk to and have a phone nearby to call 911.

So ... what did I win? ( yeah yeah... smart ass. Salute! Salut!)

Hello, my name is *** and I am an abuse survivor.
Imagine facing a room of strangers while delivering that line, the face of strangers unlocked the gates of confinement or apprehension to pour the heartbreaking truth.Talking about this topic is difficult. Documenting the events is more difficult and more painful.

Born in the 1970s in modern Singapore to chinese parents, a female child was not a blessing. Granted that wealthy Singapore is the envy of the surrounding impoverished nations, however that childbearing generation still harboured the traditions of chauvanism and subsvience. 3 days after birth, I was thrusted into the arms of my maternal grandmother while my parents embarked on a vacation to England. "Why worry about a daughter, afterall, she will be married off and will not carry the family name," said my grandmother's daughter.

Amidst the glitter of modern advancement, first class education, life in Singapore has one goal - to be one of the Joneses. How much wealth marks your elite social status, which Rolex should be displayed while haggling over a 10cent discrepency while grocery shopping. The Jones' child was enrolled in 3 extra-curricular activites, I had to take up 4, in addition to hours of chores at home. Mood swings heightened the chances of flesh meeting a garden hose, a rattan stick, the back of a hand, etc etc. Society did not intervene, because "abuse" was non-existent. Looking back, those years moulded my method of parenting. To parent, not patrol.

Fast forward to late ninetes, early 2000. A difference phase of life, parent and spouse in a different environment, yet abuse is tolerated, but this time in the form of spousal abuse. The person who one swore to "cherish and honour" began to "terrify and dishonour". My previous spouse was an abuser. I was in an abusive marriage. He had problems with responsibility, as well as an addiction to media games. Punches were thrown on my back as I ran cradling my 2 month old. I was told I deserved them because I showed more attention to my infant child than to an unemployed who was caught stealing games from his employer. The struggle to stay afloat became a mental challenge for me, as I was plagued with constant lies, deceit and discovery of mysterious bills and debts with nothing to show for. How did an unemployed attain more games and movies and gas in the car to roam all over the town? Each confrontation led to more punches and bruises, even in the presence of impressionable children. To maintain some normalcy, I paid debts, the bills were kept up and the false smiles were practised. More lies were tossed in all directions, eventually, enough to pay for a house. Life continues, still plagued with the normal deceit and scoundrel acts. More years of physical abuse continued with further intensity. 2 concussions and frightened cries from my children later, my strength to grew exponentially. The source of this accelerated growth emitted from the frightened eyes of my girls as they witnessed their mother choked against the wall then thrown to the floor, because of a minor flaw with breakfast. How can I tell my girls to walk tall if I cant do that myself. Who will care for them if the next punch is lethal? My ultimatum was simple: Leave quietly or leave in handcuffs. In his favour, the handcuffs were not called in.Life under this roof is more peaceful and less vulgar since his departure, according to the 8 year old tenant. My role as mother and future counselor will be invalid if I did not take a stand. For I cannot preach anything I did not practise.

The hardest part of living with abuse is telling it. After a while, the mental strength collapses, what is obviously wrong becomes reality. Lies fall behind a frosted shield disguised as the truth. I was wrong to care for my children, to put them first in priority. The blame falls on my shoulders for the debts from his credit cards used to purchase his games and movies. As with any oppression, one day the locals will rise from the dust. Too many punches, kicks and bruises triggered the smart chip. "You are smarter than this" message slowly but surely circulates in the cranium. Maximum integration of mental and emotional strength, the coalition of the entire system erupts, seeking the end to this nightmare. The human spirit is stubborn. Very stubborn, enough to break chains. Stubborn enough to break out of the cycle. Stubborn enough to say, "NO MORE! Leave quietly or leave in handcuffs! My children will not see their mother choked up against a wall and slammed onto the floor anymore!" Stubborn enough to stand tall when I am called names while I said "No more."

The hardest part was calling for help.
I dialed the number and asked for help. It was difficult. Then you hang up the phone and put on a brave face like nothing has happened, because the smart chip has been activated.

Dude has my ....

This dude has my dream job.
I am soooooo jealous he gets to trek and write whatever he sees.
On the occasion I am also glad that I am changing diapers, cleaning chocolatey hands, detangling hair, clearing dog-piles a.k.a. backyard landmines instead of dodging bullets, eating dust and be surrounded by smelly men.

He still has my dream job:

"I do not report this because I harbor animosity for the current administration, or to magnify any mistakes it has made, but only so that the American people, and readers around the world, can be presented with at least one set of eyes and ears that are reasonably politically color-blind and tone-deaf. If the truth helps the administration, so be it. If the truth damages the administration, so be it. More important is to provide information people can use in their own decision cycles. Whether or not anyone agrees with the reasons for starting this war, we invaded Iraq, and should complete the mission, and that needs to be defined clearly as a stable and democratic Iraq, and not as a date on a calendar. We have to stop treating the truth like a work in progress or a lump of clay that we can shape into an image or icon. "

Now listening to: Maroon 5,
Now eating: A Butterfinger.

If only ..

The usual stress that arise being employed raised this question, "If only I did not need the paycheck that badly."

Financial freedom, a luxury we all yearn for.
What will I do? What to do? Travel with my children to meet other children. Rebuild innocence and compassion. Travel and write like Michael Yon and Michael J. Totten. Anyone can go to DisneyWorld for vacation, or skiing in Montana. I want to see ..... Kandahar, tackle Toro Boro (maybe I'll find an abhorred snowman), eat bryani on the streets of Mosul, once braved by LTC Kurilla and his men from Deuce Four, spit on the streets of Tiananmen, hug the survivors of Bosnia-Herzegovina, swing on future playgrounds and warm rooms in Budapest, etc etc.

Think my kids will enjoy the travel itinery?

He is alive!!

Michael Yon writing straight from Afghanistan. Curious how the world looks like over there? Go see his snapshots.

As much as I love his commentary and insight, my nerves pound whenever I visit his site. Nothing like an intellectual adrenaline rush.

PS: He mentioned Singapore. 1 point for Michael.
*****************************************************************************

In the meantime, here in the cushy spoilt world, Spring is in full force. Daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, cherry blossoms, all the signs of spring. Oh yes......ANTS! Ants everywhere!! We maybe reaching a pandemic proportion with this invasion, because the kids are asking this parent to clean the house more often. (huh? I mean killing the sweeper daily!)

For the love of the ....

Michael Yon has been mentioned here too many times. His passion for reporting the truth straight from the lion's mouth will take him to Pulitzer Status very very soon. The only journalist who funds his own way, reports his own sightings and earned the respect of his peers (even though his peers never left Hotel Baghdad). Michael successfully brought the smiles of children out of Iraq and Afghanistan. War stories, not of body count or IEDs, instead recount of valour and bravery and kindness. Stories of smiling faces, written from a street battle, etc etc.

We, his readers breathed a sigh of relief when he appeared on CNN from Seattle Washington.
Now he is back into the thick of things again.

Dear Michael,
Thank you for your courage, good eyes for pictures, and wit for writing.
Keep your head on, and the rest of your body parts too.
Stay safer so you may tell more stories.
And most of all.... DUCK!

Your avid reader.

3 thoughts that bugged me all day.

Thoughts for the day/night.

Thought Number 1: When a Gladiator Loses the faith in his armor.
Thought Number 2: When someone asks you to let them die.
Thought Number 3: When someone thank you just because.

************************************************************

What supportive message can you give to a friend who may have given up. To realize that all the blood and sweat may be in vain, that the initial pure intention has been contaminated. My dear friend, Patience. Patience the elusive virtue we cannot seem to have enough. Some things we set in motion will eventually reach fruition, however the dynamics is complicated. The distance is fixed, the velocity is steadily imposed with external forces of retardation and deceleration. Take heart, because at the rate of travel, E=mc^2 still holds true.
Salute!

***********************************************************************

What do you tell a friend that just asked you to let them go. Not to cry for them but to let them die? No more treatments because it hurts too much. No more surgeries because the risk of failure exceeds the success rate. What do you tell someone who just told you their last goodbye?

*********************************************************************

Someone thanked me today because I am there. I took my time to digest the information. I guess I have done something right after all. What did I win? What did I win?
***********************************************************************

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Score 0-0

Dirty politics.
Silvio Berlusconi ..... Romano Prodi! Italia politics has turned into Sicily spits. Who to pick? A self-coverted self-proclaimed immortal or a clean cut educated communist?

Currently the score is 0-0.

International politics will have to substitute until FIFA in June.

What a week or 2

It has been a bumpy fortnight,
Complete with phlem, vomit & fright.
Monday saw temperatures of 100F.
Tuesday registered 101F.
By Wednesday night,
I realized it will be a tough fight.

Fever at the age of many many moons,
Is insane!!
Even the bones in my feet were filled with pain!
Thursday meant an assembly line at the doctor's office.
One look at us, and his bank account rang.
A few scribbles and off we went.
To pay another piper,
To help us feel better.

2 weeks later......
The homebased pharmacy has closed.
All the medicine gone, downed the last dose.
Please keep the next virus away.
No more coughing, sneezing, wheezing or puking,
Wrestling, chasing, tugging or pinching.
Dont get paid enough to do all that.

Waiting for the Verdict

I cannot deny my excitment awaiting the verdict for Zacarias Moussaoui, if he is eligible for the death penalty.

It is my understanding that he holds responsibilty for 9/11, as he withheld the day's events. An action which costs thousands of lives and unaccountable grieve.

A painless death or a lifetime of torment at XingXing.

***************************************************************

Will update the past week at a later date. *sniffle & cough.

****************************************************************
Update (4:11PM ) ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) A federal jury finds al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui eligible to be executed for his role in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Let justice prevail. (dont ask me why I am sobbing here)

Chug Chug Chug

Chug Chug Chug
Chug Chug Chug
Chug Chug Chug
*ahhhhh.

A full bottle of Root Beer down the hatch! Mission almost accomplished.
Complete the rework of the half-bath, with 2 coats of paint. There is a 20 year old superstition I have with paint colours and labels, like the name, like the colour, ie. Portland Blue, Morrocan Desert, Soothing Sage.

Chug Chug Chug.

Catching up on the week in the blogosphere (aka my other world). Everyone is heading on vacation!! Matt is in Margaritaville, leaving Blackfive.net in capable hands. LtCdr Smash is on another "vacation" in the Far East, stay safe Sir, oooohhh, the lovely Mrs Smash is running the show. Go check her out boys!! (hehehe) Michael Yon was on AC 360 (Anderson Cooper 360) on CNN.

***********************************************
The Unit began the season with a BANG. 1 guy took out a plane filled with hijackers and hostages. 3 weeks into the series, I am yawning and disappointed.
I finished the third episode last evening, (thanks to the recording capabilities on my overpriced cable box). The Unit is beginning to wear down really fast. Really Really Fast. Just kill each other already.
The series began with explosive and action reminiscent of The Rock. Sean Connery rules, especially when vulgarity rolls off his terse tongue. The Sean Connery in this series is the Allstate Guy. The Unit was sold as covert operation plus grenade tossing plus Martha Stewart in the kitchen after hours. 3 Weeks into the series, however, the unit is really sinking fast even CPR cannot help.
Filled with boring excessive dialogue and unusual painful amounts of mumbling, where is the action as promised, and lack of continuity
haste the membership into the "Special" List of bad tv. Sorry guys at CBS. Good pitch, good pilot, but your follow up is as short-lived as a dieting food junkie working in a Fried Chicken Buffet Joint. Take the dieter off the diet or move the dieter, because my hunger is getting more attention than your show.
*************************************************************

I wonder how many times will it take to post this entry.

Now listening to: Queen, Radio.
Now Chugging: Green Tea Chai.

Been in the ...

Slacking? Forsaken? etc etc.
I have been composing some entries, mentally, however it is rather inconvenient to blog from the bathroom.

Get your minds out of the toilet. Essentially my nights have been spent in the bathroom, pulling off "cutesy" wallpaper and drywall patching. Unfortunately a pre-project picture is missing. My 2 little help have been fired for the lack of height and one had deliberately pooped her diaper at close range while on duty. Phew!! Poison gas alert, with a snicker and a devilish grin.

Cheap therapy, out with the old, itchy fingers, Tim the Toolman reincarnated.

I'll be back.... when I am not as sore or tired. (Acting my age).

2 Extreme Childhoods

Congratulations to Kevin Sites, Recipient of 2006 Daniel Pearl Award.

2 extremes of childhood. One filled with hard work and loss of childhood, the other filled with hard work and loss of childhood.


Scenerio One. Gulsoma age 12, recalling her what happened since she was 4 years old.

"But it wasn't for lack of trying. Gulsoma said when her father-in-law finally let her out of the shed, he bound her hands behind her back and beat her unconscious. She says he revived her by pouring a tea thermos filling with scalding water over her head and her back."
Read the rest here.


***************************************************************

Scenerio Two. Chew Ying Ting, age 14, recalling recalling her daily activities.

"The 14-year-old now begins her day with a 6 a.m. wake-up call and finishes it at 10 p.m. or later, after several hours of homework and extracurricular activities. What most adults would regard as a long daily slog is entirely unexceptional for Singaporean youth. "I've seen people studying till 1 a.m.," Ying Ting shrugs."
Read the rest here.

**********************************************************************

Aren't our children fortunate?

How to measure accomplishments

It has been years since Shock & Awe. The Shock from a simple bunker blaster vibrated through our tv screens and the Awe that the street lights are still on.

A human accomplishment of liberty presiding over dis-humanity. Accomplishment in the media is measured by the numbers of IEDs or the tv crews injured. Forgotten are the numbers of hospitals, schools, lives rebuilt, saved and born.

History in the modern era changed with hooligans. Brutality counterattacked with grace and humanity. May our children learn the right history, whether to turn the other way or take on the brutal with heart.

Our stars are remapped with technology, may our hearts and future be refilled with compassion, honour and humanity. Being the better person is difficult and the road to recovery is paved with landminds. Churchill did not look the other way with the holocaust and the villianious occupation of South East Asia. Years later his name is synonamous with greatness.

Time will allow the names of those who sacrificed and are still in the line of fire everywhere, to appear in history books, in the same sentence of greatness. In time, the tactics employed in Afghanistan and elsewhere will be standard in defense handbooks. In time, we will realize the Twin Towers have risen in spirit. In time, burkas are extinct, a purple finger is pride, responsibility is honour. In time, though not soon enough, honour returns.

In time, our hearts will be stronger and our minds are clearer as the big picture fades to the credits. Our patience, strength and some funny spirit some where have brought us here, one day at a time. In time, we will measure accomplishments with mutual standards.

Salute!

Almost time.....

Almost time for this freaking cold weather to lift.
I had cleared off the reminder of last fall, the leaves and wilthered plants. Revealed under the layers of slime and "good thing I am wearing gloves" mysterious cover, are shoots of tulips, hyacinth, hostas and chrysnthemums. A true indicator of Spring.

The overnight winds guts have spared us. Too bad the doggie deposits are still in my yard.

*********************************

How to explain to a 3 yr old, that Jerry Rice has ..... retired ...............again.
We'll find other programming and tell her Dancing with the Stars will follow shortly. Programming of praise:
* The Unit (so far they have not insulted any uniforms, yet.)
*Numbers (The elf from Santa Clause is a math wiz now. If an 8 year is intrigued by Mathematics, I am not writing an algorithm to analyse the possibility of failing interest.)
*CSI (er... there are times when sleep overtakes the "scientific eveidence")
*Iron Chef (Food.)

The list of shows rocks the younger one to sleep, while ignites the curiosity in the mental challenge of an 8 year old. Who did it and how will they solve it.

Oh and have to include GUNNY from MAIL CALL. HooAH!!

Reflect

Considering a few definitions: Enlightenment, patience and Closure.

"Patience is a virtue to the next level of enlightenment that will result in closure."
My reflection for today.

In case if you are complaining about your day, this guy will jostle you, in more than 1 way.
http://shepherdaway.blogspot.com/

Glad you are home safe Capt'n B.
Semper Fi.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060309/ap_on_re_as/china_human_rights

I had to laugh when I saw this headline and laughed harder when I read the article. For a better insight, China is still a communist country, oppression exists, liberty is not in their vocabulary, human rights standards are below par. China's protest to this report, thus, is hypocritcal.
*For example, to credit the largest dam in the world, hundreds and thousands were FORCED from their homes with little advance notice. Villages were simply flooded, analogous Atlantis.
*The one child per family rule remains, with the exception of a female as a first born. Afterwhich you have the option of a second child. If your firstborn is a son, you are done with childbearing. Any further reproduction will result in criminal judgement. If you bear a girl, you have the option of giving the child up or termination (aka tie a stone to the child and aim for a body of water, or any means comfortable. Trust me on that fact, I have a first hand relation.)
*etc etc etc. mumbling another language.

Just for F.

Happy bday to ****.
Happy bday to ****.

I wonder who **** could be?

In retrospect for where he is.

(no pork, porn or playboy)
This is something I think he missed.

A sun tanned bikini rear.

Okay, Fred pucker and kiss .... Here

V

Crashed, Broke, on the line.

Yawn... yawn...yawn....yawn. The Oscars. Something Crashed, Someone Broke their Backs, and someone walked the line. Yawn.
There are some issues with the Oscars, no one has seen the projects you are praising about!! Talk about rubbing an open wound with salt, let a chinese direct a movie on gay cowboys, while you let a westerner refuel a feud between the Japanese and the remainder of Asia. Brag about their high dollar door gifts for the overpaid pampered spoilt. By the way, the politically incorrect cross dressing has been overdone - Tootsie and Mrs Doubtfire.
Yawn.

********************************
Happy birthday to you,
I did not mean to send that virus to you.
Wait till I track the source down,
I'll take them to PC Downtown.
Guts will start flying,
Teach them for the crap they are writing.

Anyway.... you are another year older wiser.
Celebrate with ...er... pork chops & Playboy (hehehe) & Rogaine Hair Gel (?),
Yeah I know, payback is hell,
Especially when I'll be the target a few days later.

This opportunity is rare.
Maybe a little unfair.
But to pick on a friend on his birthday.
Is just a friendly affair.

High Five Fred!! Salute!!

Countdown

In a few more days .... a dear friend will be a year ... (er...) ....(er...)

1. Younger (Nah.. unfitting, got to be kidding me)
2. Taller (Nah.... no hope there)
3. Better groomed (Nah.... a real lost cause)
4. Better fed (Nah... I shall eat on his behalf)
5. Bulkier (Perhaps, if he does the extra pushups for me)

er ... I never expected it to be so difficult when we head into higher digits.....
ah-huh!! Finally!

In a few days, a dear friend will be a year WISER.
Dont worry, Fred, I wont disclose that you are actually 68 years old on March 32, 2006. Salute!
Yeah yeah, smart ass.
Now listening to: Three Doors Down
Now eating: er... leftover ribeye steaks, grilled red bell peppers, pork fritata, steamed sausage.

Day of the Finale

Wow! What a Day!!
The mall is run by idiots, no one knows where anything is or is too busy on their cell phones to wait on a customer. Or the aisles are so narrow, you cannnot navigate the carts provided by the store. Need I elaborate further? That's why I prefer Lowe's.

****************************************
What a farce if Jerry Rice won Dancing with the Stars. Well he came close, last of 2 couples !!! Imagine Mr San Francisco treat with the ugly mirror ball trophy? Well 2 months of anguish is over, bring back my programming! I wonder how many football fans will come out of the closets that they watched all of Jerry Rice's routines.

******************************************

The Olympics .... I finally finally finally heard my beloved Andre Bocelli. Ahhhhh.... his distinct roar and the anthem that fills the morning commute accompanied by his slightly older more grey image on the tele, .... PRICELESS, well almost, just not a Clearance sale, or a coupon thing....
*****************************************

Now that all the excitment has swelled past expectancy, maybe the tele may suffer an unexpected cardiac arrest. What would the kids do with all the extra time?? Let me find the mop and broom, if I have one.

**********************************

Now listening to: Andrea Bocelli, Somos Novias.
Now eating: leftover rotini and homemade sauce, banana bread, lemon tarts and A&W Rootbeer. Salute! Good eats Fred. (hehehe) *burp
Good Night.

Shocking Possibility.

September 11, 2001.
Freaking insane and his posse assaulted liberty and humanity. Like a child taunting a friend at a game, "tag you are it".
What if the world was not comforted by compassion and united by a word, "Resolve"?
What if the leader of the free-world just shrugged it off as if it was a minor fender bender?
No Homeland Security Department, terror attacks occur as frequently as petty crimes.
Our streets look very much like Manhattan on Sept 11, 2001, or imagine Los Angeles in "Escape from L.A." with Kurt Russel.
What if the leadership of the free world was not as resolute as George Walker Bush?
What if the terrorists took over the remainder of the world, and USA is the sole Democratic Country?
What if there was another successful terror strike here?
Who should take the blame when our children cannot play outside in summer because of bioterror or radioactive dust? The arrow points to the ones who have pinned down with bull secretion that impede the very agencies swore to protect the Liberty for all? Hmmm.....

So what if this guy is right? How disturbing.

**********************************************************************

On a different note, Thursday night, sayonara Mr Rice!
Just go home already. Not sure if we will even catch tonight's episode of Fumbling with the Stars.

**********************************************************************
Put those 2 boys in time out, Davis and Henrick. Grow up because you are examples to little eyes.

***********************************************************************
Update: After much thought, I answered myself. There are a few characters out there whom I know on a personal level, who are in agencies that swore to protect liberty and justice for all. Shhh! Let's keep this a secret... those guys won't let the terrorists win.

Jerry Rice is Cooked

Three couples remain to dazzle this week on Dancing with the Stars, well, 2 couples to be correct.
Jerry Rice has a houseful of fans here, but his performance is getting painful to witness when compared to his contemporaries. Reminder: Evander Holyfield. Holyfield did not win any bragging rights, instead he gained alot of ... of.... er....(nicely)...MOCKERY!

Dear Mr Rice, you are cooked. We love your game and your courage. But please pick up those feet,dance not stomp and smile that San Francisco treat for the next generation of admirers.

Mr Rice, You are FRIED!

*****************************************************************

By the way we are heading into another cold spell here, considering there are some who are working on their tan lines. And this is warmer than last week!

Days like these bring out the beast in me, I may have to cook up some kambing soup, a big pot of chicken rice, sota ayam or a bak kut teh. Better than chilli (not the spicy chilli peppers, rather a thick soup of ground beef, onions, tomato past, paprika, chicken broth and yukky BEANS). Will update the kitchen situation, held at the mercy of discriminating taste palates.

Now listening to: 3 Doors Down, When I'm Gone.

Something worthwhile

Finally I finally found something inspirational and rated G.

Brad Kasal is someone you should know or at least seen. He was duely recognized for his duty. I am still choked up whenever I read about his heroics. I only hope that my children appreciate his sacrifice and realize the true meaning of their own chant, Semper Fi. (sorry Fred. Fair seas and calm waters. Go ahead, correct me.)

Now listening to: A teenager making excuses about not staying home or getting a job. Parties at his college. Why he is late changing oil in his car. Sheesh.

Update: Jerry Rice continues his futile attempt at dancing for another week , however I think this is his farewell performance. Enough torture already!! This Winter Olympics lack excitment, some winners are already etched, such as Pluskenko. Yawn, realistically, no one has been flawless like Victor Pertrenko or more flamboyant than Philippe Candelora. Fortunately we can steer our overflowing excitment towards the endurance of Jerry Rice's twinkle toes. whooopeee. What should I fall asleep to? Olympics or ballroom dancing.

Ehhh....

Have I been slacking... No. Just caught up in the daily hustle and bustle and absence of motivation. (Note this entry started at 3:29am, Feb 10, 2006)

Somethings are just priceless that leave me speechless, thus I will not write about them.

Here are the topics I have been keeping tabs on:

The US Army kow-tows to Michael "the Lord of Embeded Journalists" Yon.

Jerry Rice's future in "Dancing with the Stars" is foggy. Realistically, he is not improving as fast as his competitors. He better hope a dancing genie will rise from his Superbowl Ring.

The Singapore Council of Churches condemned all pictures of the prophet Mohammend, claiming that content is insensitive.

The Olympic Games begin in a few hours in Turino Italy. Events that I'll jump for: Men's Cross Country skiing, may the rivalry persist; Andre Bocelli's performance on Feb 11th, and Ice Hockey, of cos.

Oh yeah ... it is snowing here.

Now listening to: Rolie Olie Polie!

Sour Grapes

Superbowl is over with one winner, The Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now the trash talking begins. I am in Browns territory, plenty of trash talk over morning coffee.
"Bad official call, Seahawks were robbed, One sided game., etc etc." Bunch of *******. There is a reason why those guys are playing on the field and the rest are spectators.

No need to be vulgar, just because the Browns stink!!

This Patriot fan was happy just to watch them play!

Again: Only 1 Champion: the Steelers.

SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS

STEELERS!! THE SUPERBOWL CHAMP!!!

What a game! What a game! What a game!

WOW!

Win the one for the Thumb!

GO STEELERS!!

Game analysis for Superbowl, is available elsewhere.
Bets are at your local AM Vets.

Chips and salsa are being eaten at 10:30am, hopefully we have some left by 6PM!

Just looking forward to a good game and the dynamic end to the season, much to my children's delight.

Addition: Salute to those who make the Superbowl possible. Those who sacrificed, still active and future active defenders of liberty and freedom. Salute to you for successful missions even if we dont hear about it.

Dear Paul, RIP, this one is for you.

Sir! SALUTE!! Sir!!

Now Listening to: Can't Help Fallin in Love, Amore, Andrea Bocelli.
(Yeah I coughed up the $14.00 for the CD. Freaking good listening!! Beautiful! Album details in a later entry. Thinking of deary R)

Bad Mix

Detour from the Steelers.

2006 is the Year of the Dog according to the Chinese Zodiac.
I am not an expert or remotely educated on the Chinese Zodiac, well, all the residents on my expense account are farm dwellers. Yeah sadly that is all I have to offer.

Back to the year of the dog, some bad combinations to avoid:

Pekinese + Bulldog = Peekabull: a dog that likes to play hide and seek
Cocker Spaniel + Doberman + Poodle = Cockadoodle: a dog that can be a bit chicken
Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull: not a very nice dog

The complete list. (Phew! My doggie is not on the list, I think)

My favourite: Bull Terrier + Shih-tzu = Uh, never mind....
How do they come up with this stuff??

Off the track: Havent seen Jerry Rice's fate this week on Dancing with the Stars. Although it is too cool that his good luck charm is hanging from his neck, his Superbowl ring. Yeah baby!!
Now Listening to: Steelers Fight Song.

Here We GO! Superbowl!

Pittsburgh Going to the Superbowl!!
Bring it home boys!!

Go Steelers!!
Pluck the feathers off the Seahawks.

Go Seahawks!!
er ... Good luck.

Whatever it is ... Looking forward to a good game.

To those who are not familiar with NFL Superbowl, this is the annual "World Cup" final. The big hype in this line-up:

*Seahawks have never won a Superbowl.
*The quarterbacks (the one who throws the ball) on both teams are excellent players.
*Pittsburgh's quarterback is from the town that I live in.
*Jerome "The Bus" Bettis is from Detroit, Michigan. He delayed his retirement last year, to relish in the chance to play in his hometown. 30 years of brilliance will shine this Sunday, as the Bus makes his final stop, HOME.
*etc etc.

Final notes to self: Need to replenish the snacks, find the sweeper, too bad I havent gotten that BIGGER tele. All in all, it will be loud in my house on Sunday! I even have my own cheerleaders romping around. They use Carebears for pom-poms instead.

Bittersweet, sometimes painful, exciting, adrenaline pumping. Just like any other sport only one thing matters:

For the love of the game.

Huh??

First, there was the stupid lawsuit with hot coffee. Sheesh you would complain if the coffee was cold! Why in the world did you remove the lid? And there is a disclaimer on the cup.

Now there is this stupid: IPods causes hearing loss?
There is a volume dial on the device!!

In the words of Forrest Gump's Mommy:

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES!

Nuf said.

Countdown

Here We Go!
Here We Go!
Steelers Here we go!
Pittsburgh going to the SUPERBOWL!

Countdown....

This is one game most parents are proud of.
Bettis, good career, all the way home to Detroit. Your mama is really proud!

Big Ben ...the local boy turned NFL quarterback.
The parents here are all proud of you, even if they are not fans of the Steelers.
This parent is proud of you.
"Always remember where you came from.
A lot of little Trojans are looking up to you."