Another new Singapore "Cool" thing

Now, any of you that are used to Urban living, please don't spoil my thinking that this is something "new" and really cool as I have never seen this before. Next time you have to go to the mall or airport, or somewhere where you had to park in a parking garage wouldn't it be great to know how many parking spaces are left and on what level they were located? No more wasting time circling an entire floor looking for a parking space when there isn't even one available on that floor. Avery and I went to a mall here called Plaza Singapura. When you enter the parking garage there is a digital sign that lists the levels in the parking garage and how many spaces are empty on each level. The number of spaces indicated changes as people enter a level and leave a level. I thought it was really a neat idea. Sure made parking easier. From what I can tell there are lasers that keep track of when a car passes through the beam of light. The system must know how many spaces are on each level and subtracts the available spaces when a car parks on each level. One other note too...this parking garage was so clean it looked as though the floors were moped and polished hourly.

Quiz Results

Thank y'all for taking the time to take my little quiz. I know you are all dying to know how well you did compared to everyone else, so here are the current scores.

• Robert (Hubbie) - 100%
• Avery - 90%
• Aunt Kathleen - 80%
• Byrna (mom) - 80%
• Kim - 80%
• Cristie - 80%
• Laurie - 60%
• Sharon - 50%
• Lynne - 40%

Well, Robert blew the curve for all of y'all. Maybe we should go on the "Newlywed Game" or something like that for people who aren't newlyweds. Way to go Avery - only missed my weakness when it comes to desserts which is cookies! If I make cookies, everytime I walk past them in the kitchen I have to eat one or two. Question is ... where is Blair? Daughter no. 1 didn't take my quiz. Just about everyone missed the one about desserts and my first car which was a silver VW Beetle. How could y'all forget??? I did have Firebird but that was after the bug. Lynne, good guess on the truck. Being from Texas, just about everyone has or has had a truck at some point. My middle name is Renae. I figured the spelling would have been a dead give-a-way for those that didn't know. And lastly....this is the car I want when I get back:

Isn't it beautiful?

Introducing Sugar

Let introduce the newest member of our little family: Sugar.


Those of you who know me know I love dogs. I just like having them around. Avery and I really wanted to get a dog and when we found Sugar we just knew she was perfect for our family. She will be 10 mos. old next week. She's very petite, calm and well behaved....nothing at all like Charlie the pomeranian we had back home. He was really big for a pom, very hyper (he would stand at the back door and jump up to look in the back window over and over again) and he wouldn't stay in the back yard. We loved him anyway but was afraid he would get hit by a car so a friend took him into her home so now he is a chubby happy inside dog. Anyway..back to Sugar...
So far she has been really good. We did have a run of the runs (ha!) over the weekend but she appears to be over that now. It took her a few days to get used to being with us. I don't think she moved off of her blanket the entire first day. When I take her outside to do her business she walks right along side me without a leash. So far we haven't had to venture out while it was raining but I know that day is coming. I wonder if I can train her to use a litter box? What if I planted some grass in a litter box, do you think you could get a dog to potty there? I've never had a dog while living in a condo. I'm used to being able to scoot them out the back door then let them in a short time later. Some dogs don't like to go out in the rain, I hope she's not like that. And there are some dogs that get scared when in thunders, I hope she's not like that either. Right now she's curled up in the corner behind me sleeping...she's so cute!

Took A Quick Trip

Sorry I haven't posted since last week. Avery and I took a quick trip over to Bintan in Indonesia. She had several days off from school so we headed over there for a long weekend. It was really nice and relaxing. Felt like all we did was eat & swim. Surprised my clothes still fit. The place was really nice. Very tropical with white sandy beaches and blue water. We spent our days switching back and forth from the pool to the beach. We found sea shells, small ones, built a sand castle, went snorkling (twice) and enjoyed some of the organized activities put on the the staff. They even had a trapeze there for the guests to play on so of course Avery tried that out. You have to take a ferry to get there and back. I still feel like I'm on the ferry today. It seems like I'm sitting at my desk rocking back and forth. We were really bouncing around when we docked back in Singapore last night. I'll add some pictures later today. Before we left to head home we went into the little shopping village and found a few things to bring home. I'll probably see what other resorts are available there in Bintan for the next time we get a few days off. You can even go for the day. Not much different than driving from Houston to Galveston timewise. Oh! I have to tell you one of the strangest things I think I have ever seen...this little asian kid pooped on the beach! He just dropped his drawers and went right there! His dad had to clean it up with the little shovel they were using to build a sand castle. Imagine having to follow your kid around with a pooper scooper! Another interesting thing was that everytime they made an annoucement at the resort they made it about 5 times all in different languages. Avery and I laughed saying we should walk around speaking spanish (not that we know much). That was one of the languages they DIDN'T include.

How Well Do You Know Me?

I was over checking out Laurie's blog and she had this quiz on her's. I love these quizes so let's see if you know me or if you just think you do.

Take the quiz

Is it so hazy!

Those of you who live in the southern part of Texas probably remember the summers that Mexico was burning it's fields to clear the land for use again. I remember it being slightly hazy outside for a few days every here or there. Well they have something similar going on over here. Indonesia is having it's annual burn-off to clear land for agriculture. The haze caused by smoke has been a problem for about 2 weeks now. They measure the air quality with a PSI ('Pollutant Standards" index, not Particles per Square Inch which is what I thought it was. This chart shows you the ranges:

PSI Value PSI Descriptor
0 to 50 Good
51 - 100 Moderate
101 - 200 Unhealthy
201 - 300 Very unhealthy
Above 300 Hazardous

Friday, two weeks ago when I left the office I thought there was a fire right down the road. I even called my dad to see if he had heard anything about a fire out here at the shipyards. It was just the smoke coming in from Indonesia. It actually smelled like smoke outside. That Sunday the PSI spiked to 150 then eased back down to 136 at midnight. They said that in 1997 it rose to 226. It's bad enough now, I'd hate to see it get up to that level. The haze is bad enough that it affects people with allergies and asthma related problems. You'll see people walking around outside with a face mask or bandana tied around their head. You can actually see it. It makes it appear like it is foggy outside. Take at look at the pictures below. (Pictures coming later today)

Amusing Car Names

Ok...really busy here today so this will be a short one. Here are some of the amusing car names I see as I drive around Singapore:

Nissan Sunny
Toyota Picnic
Kia Picanto
Nissan March
Nissan Sylphy
Toyota Royal Crown (I think they got the name backwards)
Hyundai Verna

I swear I saw a car today called a Cheerio! I couldn't see the name real clear but that's what it looked like to me.

Let's Talk Eggs

Ok..here is something else that seems strange to me. In the grocery stores they sell their eggs in cartons just on a regular shelf, not in the refrigerated section like we are used to. Now I wonder...it that safe? Why would our stores sell them refrigerated if they didn't need to be? The neighbor in the apartment across from ours leave their eggs out in a big bowl on the counter. It's a BIG bowl full of eggs. They have mostly brown eggs here too. Do brown eggs come from dark chickens? So, since I had no choice I had to buy eggs that were not refrigerated. I put them in the fridge as soon as we got home, of course. Maybe years ago, when people used ice boxes, before the refrigerator, we too kept eggs out on the counter. Unless you lived on a farm and you gathered them fresh everyday. Does anyone out there know? Am I risking my health, just one egg away from salmonella poisoning? For those of you who know me, you know that my oldest daughter is the perfect person to ask about this. I'll let you know what she says.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Sorry for the lapse as I am sure you were all on the edge of your seats just dying to know about the last of the holidays I am posting about. Searching the internet this is what I found about the Mid Autumn Festival celebrated by the Chinese:
The joyous Mid-Autumn Festival, the third and last festival for the living, was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon, around the time of the autumn equinox. Many referred to it simply as the "Fifteenth of the Eighth Moon". In the Western calendar, the day of the festival usually occurred sometime between the second week of September and the second week ofOctober.This day was also considered a harvest festival since fruits, vegetables and grain had been harvested by this time and food was abundant. With delinquent accounts settled prior to the festival , it was a time for relaxation and celebration. Food offerings were placed on an altar set up in the courtyard. Apples, pears, peaches, grapes, pomegranates , melons, oranges and pomelos might be seen. Special foods for the festival included moon cakes, cooked taro, edible snails from the taro patches or rice paddies cooked with sweet basil, and water caltrope, a type of water chestnut resembling black buffalo horns. Some people insisted that cooked taro be included because at the time of creation, taro was the first food discovered at night in the moonlight. Of all these foods, it could not be omitted from the Mid-Autumn Festival.The round moon cakes, measuring about three inches in diameter and one and a half inches in thickness, resembled Western fruitcakes in taste and consistency. These cakes were made with melon seeds, lotus seeds, almonds, minced meats, bean paste, orange peels and lard. A golden yolk from a salted duck egg was placed at the center of each cake, and the golden brown crust was decorated with symbols of the festival. Traditionally, thirteen moon cakes were piled in a pyramid to symbolize the thirteen moons of a "complete year," that is, twelve moons plus one intercalary moon. I tried a mooncake last week and was wondering what the orange thing in the middle was. I'm glad I didn't eat it. Mooncakes can be found everywhere right now...the gas stations, Starbucks, restaurants, etc. I tasted one at a Starbucks. It was pretty good however, it was just a small piece so I don't know if it had an egg yolk in it or not.

Another Singapore Holiday

Yesterday we learned about Hari Raya and today I'll find out what Deepavali is. I'm just curious to know about these holidays that are celebrated here. Avery gets several days out of school for these next month. I could have just looked these up for myself and not shared with y'all but I thought y'all would be interested as well. It also gave me three days of topics for my blog. Deepavali, which falls on the night of the new moon in October or November, is the Hindu Festival of Lights. It celebrates Lord Krishna's victory over the demon of darkness. In the past, oil lamps were used to decorate Singapore's streets and houses, but today electric lights are used. The Singapore visitors website states that Deepavali, the most important date of the Hindu calendar, occurs on one day during October, and in the ethnic quarter of Little India, the festivities last practically for the whole month of October. Deepavali is the Festival of Lights, and marks the defeat of the evil King Narakasura by the Lord Krishna. All round the world, Hindus celebrate this day as the triumph of light over darkness, and of good over evil. It marks the new beginning for Hindu devotees, and is a great time of rejoicing and renewal. During this time, Little India throbs with evening roadside stalls, booming music and strings of colourful lights. Shoppers throng the streets in search of the perfect sari to wear, or to fill their baskets with Indian foods and spices. Hindu homes are lighted with oil lamps , and offerings of sweetmeats and garlands of jasmine are placed at the family altar. The streets and temples of Little India are lit up with streamers and fairy lights lining the streets and forming arches and gateways to the night bazaars. The reference to Little India indicates a part of town. Singapore has very distinct districts such as Little India, Chinatown, Queenstown, etc.

September/October - Time for Festivals

Back home I know that now starts the all the fall carnivals and such, like the Scarecrow Festival in Chappel Hill, various church bazaars, etc. Well, it is Festival Time here in Singapore too. However these festivals are very deeply rooted in religion, faith and nationalities. Not knowing really what they were about I thought I would do a little research on the internet and share with you as well. The first one I looked up is called Hari Raya. Across the street from the office on Beach Rd. they have been constructing a huge tent and stage area for this fesitval. This isn't just an oridnary tent. It has metal truss-work and arches. It is about a football field in length. Then the stage setup was just as elaborate. The last few days you could hear the music and if you looked out the window you could see people rehearsing dances and their songs. This is what one website says about the celebration: Hari Raya Puasa or Hari Raya Aidilfitri, is one of the most significant celebrations for Muslims. It marks the culmination of Ramadan, a month-long fasting period and a time for abstinence, reflection and worship. This year, the streets of Kampong Gelam and Geylang Serai will be lit from 22 September to 31 October. A great time to experience and be immersed in the essence of Malay culture, visitors are in for a treat with the colourful festive bazaars and numerous food stalls offering traditional handicraft, Malay fare and invigorating music and performances. I also found that the term Hari Raya literally means the "day of celebration". During Ramadan Muslims may not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. When Ramadan is over, Muslims celebrate with feasts and gifts. In May, Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Haji, which marks the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. So know I know...and so do you too!

Did I Hear What I Thought I Heard?

I was listening to the radio today in the car. Since there isn't a country radio station here in Singapore I was listening to their version of a rock station. A rock station that played the Macarana song earlier. Anyway...the song I was listening to at the moment of surprise was Gwen Stephani's Hollaback Girl. If you arent' familiar with the song the word Sh*t is used frequently. Back in Houston the radio stations bleeped out the word however here I was very surprised to hear them play it without the bleeps. Here everything is scensored...the news on TV, the newspapers, TV shows, etc. that's why I was so surprised. Even the dj's say somethings that have surprised me as well. Maybe things have changed since I was here 3 years ago.

A Pirate-y Thing For Ye!

Lauri got me started on this priate stuff. Take the quiz and get yer own Pirate name:

My pirate name is:

Dread Pirate Kidd

Like the famous Dread Pirate Roberts, you have a keen head for how to make a profit. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

School Moms

Most of the functions dealing with getting parents of the kids together for coffees and such are scheduled during the morning or at a time when I am at work. You see it is very uncommon for the expat wives to work here. I feel like I am the only one. There may be some that teach at the school, but who knows. However last night there was an evening get together so I took advantage of the opportunity and went. Now I am not the PTA mom, let's meet for coffee and let our kids play mom or the teacher's helper-homeroom mom. Nothing against all that but I work and I love my job. So I wasn't sure if I would have anything in common with these ladies who don't work and whose kids are in school all day but they still feel the need for a live-in domestic helper. I was presently surprised. One of the ladies husband works for the same company I do. Another was from Houston and her husband works for Exxon-Mobile. There were ladies there from California and Japan too. Some had been in Singapore for 2 years and some 2 weeks. It was a nice evening and I really hated that I had to leave early. Hopefully there will be other events that I can go to and get to know some of them better. I'm sure having a network of other ladies to ask questions of and possibly answer some as well would be nice.

We Are A Part Of History

...well at least that's what the announcer said at the very first basketball game Singapore has ever had. They now have their own team called the Singapore Slingers. Looking for something fun for Avery and I to do I bought us tickets. Not just any tickets but court-side seats. No way could we have ever afforded (or least spent the amount for) those seats at a Houston Rockets game. They were about $30 each. The game was played at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. It's a nice place but they aren't set up with the food vendors like the Toyota Center or Reliant Stadium. They had two areas open that were run by 7-11 with hotdogs and chicken sandwiches. No beer or wine can be brought into the arena which takes a little bit of the fun out of it. The game was good. I was worried that the team would be a group of short Chinese guys but I was wrong. It was mostly Australian guys. They will be playing all season against other Australian teams. Their mascot is of course the Merlion. They even had a cheer squad. I think they were called the Slingers Girls. They actually did cheers however even sitting as close as we were we couldn't hear them. They need to put them over the PA system. Avery actually had to catch the ball at one point to keep from getting hit. I think we will try to go again. The Slingers won which was even better. I'll add some pictures when I get home.

Starting to Feel Like Home

Well we got some more of our furniture delivered Monday. They delivered the sofa set and the dining room table and chairs. At first I thought the chairs were not covered in the fabric that Rob and I selected but it's starting to grow on me. The pictures below show the red that I thought we picked out but in real-life they don't appear to be that bright. Anyway...not much else to write about so I won't bore you. Oh! I actually heard a contry song on the radio. Their Rock 98.0 station plays Rascal Flats! I can deal with that. I wonder if they take requests???

The Big 4-0!

Saturday was my hubbie's birthday...it wasn't just any old birthday ... it was the BIG 4-0! It was sad not being there to help him celebrate! However we have such great friends that they all took him out to dinner on his birthday Saturday night. Sherrie & Joe invited him, Blair and Cristie out for dinner. They all went to the Melting Pot. I've never been but I've heard about it. Rob and Blair said it was wonderful. They were there for about 2-1/2 hours. I'm glad that he went out and celebrated his birthday even though Avery and I couldn't be there too. We will do something for him when he gets back over here.

So sweetie...I hope this is a wonderful year for you...here is a year full of birthday wishes just for you!

HaPpy BiRtHdAy

And wonderful memories of your brother John on what would have been his birthday too. We miss you!

The Price of Wine

You know that bottle of Berringer White Zinfendel that you can get at HEB for about $5? Here that same bottle is S$26, or about $16.50US. Any form of alcohol...beer, white, liquor is a lot more expensive here. So when we had dinner and two glasses of wine for S$12.50 per person you know that is a good deal. Avery and I had dinner at the Brittish Club with Zoe and her two little ones (Liam & Katie) and another family they met there. Normally when you go out to eat you can expect to pay about $14 for a margarita, $10 for a beer and about $12 for a glass of wine. Granted being a member of the Brittish Club means that you have paid some form of membership fee and probably monthly dues as well so if you factor that in the price of the meal it might just be about the normal price if not more. However, we went as guests so I thought it was a good deal. The other really cool thing was there were monkeys sitting right outside were we where sitting. They were soooo cuuutttteeee! Avery took a picture with my cellphone but I can't figure out how to get the pictures off my phone to add to my post. There was even a baby one. Zoe said one time they were there the monkeys were "pinching" the pringles off the tables...translated to American English I believe she meant they were swiping the potato chips off the tables. Back to the subject of alcohol...anyone that comes to see us will have to visit the duty free shops in the airport to help us stock our bar.

Hair & Humidity

Well...I cut my hair. I didn't cut it...I went to a hair salon and had it cut. For those of you that know me you know that I had short hair a couple of years ago. I started growing it out so I wouldn't look like a guy when I wore my cowboy hat during rodeo (Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo). However, I haven't had a good hair day since I got here. It was depressing me. You know when your hair looks like crap, you feel like crap. At least I do anyway. The climate here is very tropical. I know back home in Houston we had hot weather and 100% humidity but it's just different here. So, anyway...now my hair is short again and rather than being flat, stuck to my head it has body. I was kinda nervous going to get it cut. I didn't know who to call. I'm one of those people that find a hairdresser they like then stick with them forever...well until you move to Singapore! So I searched around the internet and saw they had a Toni&Guy Salon. That was a name I recognized so I went there. I think she did a good job. I'm happy with it. Now let's see if I can remember how to style it in the morning.

What do you do with a Night Club during the day?

In Singapore you turn it into a flea market! Sunday Avery and I went to a place called Zouk's Free & Easy Flea Market. When we got there we could tell it was a night club. Looked pretty nice. It was free to get in so guess what that means? It means it was PACKED. After looking a what a few of the people there were selling it looked more like an indoor garage sale to me. I guess that is what a flea market is all about. I've been to Canton, TX and it wasn't like that. It was so crowded that you could hardly walk around..you had to squeeze your way through. I don't see how anyone sold anything. Anytime you stopped to look at something you were constantly being bumped by the other people trying to get by. Avery and I did manage to purchase a few things...we are girls so of course we had to buy something. We found a guy selling jewelry so be bought a few pairs of earrings to "share". I also found a cute necklace. After one trip around we left. We then headed over to Orchard Road. We went to this demo they were having in front of one of the malls and bought this thing you can plug into your computer and top-off your EzLink Card from home. Then we went over to Borders Books store and bought two books: one on the different Hawker stands and the different types of foods and one one SHOPPING in Singapore!