Yellow Ribbon

Yellow Ribbon

Voluntered to sell flags for the Yellow Ribbon Projects. Yes, me can't believe it meself too, but sell we did. We as in me, Lena and Mikail. Never in my life had I faced so many rejections in one morning. Of cos, there are people who would actually approach us and put in their loose change into the Tin Can we were holding out (something like begging, if you asked me) but there were many more who either donated because they had no way out when accosted by this terrible trio with their begging machine, or donated with such a pain written all over their face for having to depart with their hard-earned coins. Then there are also those who would just ignore us, like as if we are truly invisible.

Occasionally I just offered them the stickers even though they replied that they do not have any small change (do we actually need small change to donate? We do not donate "BIG CHANGE", do we?). There was one lady who apologised and told me that she had no coins to donate, but I still gave her the sticker and told her, "Its okay Ma'am, just take the sticker, its the thought that counts".

I realised also that I can't possibly returned an empty Donation Tin Can to the administrator and tell them its full of good thoughts and well wishes.

Sigh.

I realised that I do not need more books, I need more time to read books that I have.

Urine Test +Ve!

Wasn't totally shocked since self half expected that the result would be positive. Luckily did declare at the outset prior to test that self was on medication for flu and cough (most prolly the steroid did it). However forgot to actually ask S&P, what was the positive reading for. Opiate? Heroin? Paracetamol? What? what? Well, gave them the MO note. Hopefully that'll be the end of it. Am NOT enjoying being tested again and again and beginning to feel like a Drug Addict.

On a brighter note, went to Harbour Front today to attend the Web Accessibility Seminar organised by the Disabled People's Association (DPA). Enjoyed the presentation, and the seminar was something of an eye-opener as self never really think about the disabled when designing website. Basically the idea is to push for awareness and participation for webmasters to design their website to be accessible (AND usable) by disabled people, be it due to sight, hearing or motor impairment. It seems that this will soon percolate down to other Govt agencies as well.

Was a little surprised that Harbour Front actually rekindled some fond memories of World Trade Centre of old, and how self used to spend time with friends and loved ones visiting exhibitions and eating at the hawker centre at the opposite side of the main road. *sniff sniff.

Trishaw Ride (Attack Of The Giant Butt)

Went with Lena & Miki for a trishaw ride (Singapore Explorer). It was like, more than 20 years ago since I ever rode on a trishaw? Lena was already in a good mood especially after the wonderful Ipoh Hor Fun lunch at Lee Tong Kee (was pointed out that the "Kee" part is not the name of the person...duh!) and Miki was , well, sleepy and groggy.

It was kinda fun (even nostalgic) for most part of the ride, but the scariest part would be the one which, for wanting of better terms, we called as the "Attack Of The Gigantic Butt" incident. Squeezing a very packed and narrow line of shops hawking their wares & trinkets, our trishaw got squeezed on both sides by shoppers whom threatened to compress us like how one would with an accordian. Of particular is the one on my left, one with a very gigantic butt and was like threatening to swallow our trishaw with her gigantic bum. I couldn't possibly push the looming big tushy away (that'll be molest) and all I could was look in horror. Our trishaw was stuck. Stuck between shoppers on both sides, and one particularly gigantic butt. Luckily the Butt Lady finally moved away, after giving our trishaw rider an angry glare, and freed us from possible death by her giant posterior.

The last time I ever rode on a trishaw was with Mom to market at Geylang Serai. Back then trishaw was one of the popular and cheaper mode of transport. Back then too, the trishaws were simple bicycle with carriage, and wasn't fitted with any audio equipment to assault you with musics which were entirely unnecessary for a pleasant ride.

Miki was wide awake half-way through the ride and had thousands of questions just like how a 3-years old would, some of which were, "Why are we riding this? What happened to our car?"

Somehow the trishaw ride wasn't that all nostalgic. I can't seem to get the mental connection I used to when I usually chanced upon artifacts from the past. Its more of like seeing Chinatown as how the tourist would. Perhaps its the commercialisation of the experience, or perhaps it is just me being just too jaded and cynical of the real world.

On the overall, we enjoyed the ride. We enjoyed too the guided tour at the Chinese Heritage Centre which followed. It was a simple outing and provided a fresh break from our all too routine activities.

Two pics: just before we enter the squeezy and packed alley of shoppers...