No, not me, but that was what little D said to me last week.
You see, we have introduced her to the game, since her siblings play it. We thought that it would be a good CCA (co-curricular activity) for her to take when she goes to school given her medical condition - a brain game which the docs had said would be what she has to use as most sports would be a no-no for her.
But having "experienced" chess since the age of two, she doesnt seem to appreciate it. She has "sat" thru' full day tournaments, 10 day tournaments, rapids, blitzes as well as four hour games!! At one stage, whenever we went to a chess tournament, she would freak out and demand to leave the place immediately. Now she wants nothing to do with it.
I have tried explaining to her that chess would be the best choice for her when she starts school, and if she plays it well, there would be the possibility of Direct school admission for her when it is time for secondary school.
But being a little on the young side, she doesnt fully understand it, and her reply was: Nah, I dont want to take exams, and I dont want to go to 'BIG' school. I just want to stay home with you!
How? Now I do not know whether to make her continue with chess or not. Yesterday she took more than 30 mins and she only made 4 moves on the chessboard. Hmmmmm... maybe she has the makings of a Kasparov, and she saw something on the chessboard during those 4 moves that I didnt!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
The new name for Beer belly
Many men, after marriage have this big paunch. This paunch is ofter the result of overeating and a lack of exercise. It has been colloquially known as belly fat but many call it a beer belly for the fact that many men like to drink beer.
BUT - in recent times, people favour wine to beer for the benefits that wine brings to the heart. So I have coined a new term for this belly fat. I have decided to call it a human "wine barrel"!!
Cool inventions
Here are some inventions that we can sure use:
TRAVELLER'S PHRASE BOOK T-SHIRT
If you are travelling a lot and don't always know the language of the country you are visiting, then this T-shirt is for you. It has a phrase book printed on it so just point a finger at the pictogram you need and then point it twice at the question mark, which means, 'Where is it?' and in no time you have found what you were looking for.... or not.
TRANSPARENT TOASTER
You love toast, but you always burn it? Then this invention is for you. This transparent toaster allows you to see the bread while it is toasting so you just have to take it out when the color is right. No more burnt toast!!
ILLUMINATING CAR SLIPPERS
Do you get up at night to drink water, go to the toilet? Do you wish you could see in the dark? No more turning on the lights and waking up the rest of the family! Remarkably bright LED lights are triggered by your footsteps and light up the floor 30 feet in front of you.
INFANT PILLOW
The Zaky is an ergonomic infant pillow designed by a mum to mimic the size, weight, touch, and feel of her hand and forearm to help her baby with comfort, support, protection, and development. The Zaky can help calm your baby and help your baby sleep better through the night. Just the thing for BP so that her baby Kait can sleep through the night, and she can get her well-deserved and needed sleep. No more panda eyes!!
But first, to find the shop that retails it!!
TRAVELLER'S PHRASE BOOK T-SHIRT
If you are travelling a lot and don't always know the language of the country you are visiting, then this T-shirt is for you. It has a phrase book printed on it so just point a finger at the pictogram you need and then point it twice at the question mark, which means, 'Where is it?' and in no time you have found what you were looking for.... or not.
TRANSPARENT TOASTER
You love toast, but you always burn it? Then this invention is for you. This transparent toaster allows you to see the bread while it is toasting so you just have to take it out when the color is right. No more burnt toast!!
ILLUMINATING CAR SLIPPERS
Do you get up at night to drink water, go to the toilet? Do you wish you could see in the dark? No more turning on the lights and waking up the rest of the family! Remarkably bright LED lights are triggered by your footsteps and light up the floor 30 feet in front of you.
INFANT PILLOW
The Zaky is an ergonomic infant pillow designed by a mum to mimic the size, weight, touch, and feel of her hand and forearm to help her baby with comfort, support, protection, and development. The Zaky can help calm your baby and help your baby sleep better through the night. Just the thing for BP so that her baby Kait can sleep through the night, and she can get her well-deserved and needed sleep. No more panda eyes!!
But first, to find the shop that retails it!!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Parking woes no more!!
Yes, you read me right ... that is if I follow my children's great idea.
You see, recently when we were out shopping we found it so difficult to get parking. This I think is in part due to the new "relaxed" rules introduced by the government a few years ago whereby the parking ratio at shopping centres were relaxed. As a result, some malls converted parking lots to retail space. With more cars on the roads and less parking spaces - naturally parking is hard to come by nowadays!!
Last night, we brought the kids for their hair cut. But when we got there, there was not a lot in sight, yet there were many cars in the car park waiting for a lot. Why do they even allow cars to go in when the lots are all full?? (so that they can collect more parking revenue from those that go in to wait!)
Well, that is not going to happen anymore. Why? 1st my kids suggested that I park on the lot that had the words "no Parking" on it. They reasoned that if I park on it, no one can see the "no parking" sign, and thus I would not be fined. Duh!! The security personnel of the place would know where all the "no parking" spots are, I told them, and worse we may get wheel clamped! So that suggestion wouldnt work.
But their next suggestion would be worth trying out. They suggested that I carry yellow and white paints and brushes in the boot of the car. Then we can paint over the double yellow lines and park!! And If I carried white paints, I would be able to paint myself a parking lot anywhere I wanted!! Brilliant!
Guess, they must have been watching too much Mr Bean shows!
You see, recently when we were out shopping we found it so difficult to get parking. This I think is in part due to the new "relaxed" rules introduced by the government a few years ago whereby the parking ratio at shopping centres were relaxed. As a result, some malls converted parking lots to retail space. With more cars on the roads and less parking spaces - naturally parking is hard to come by nowadays!!
Last night, we brought the kids for their hair cut. But when we got there, there was not a lot in sight, yet there were many cars in the car park waiting for a lot. Why do they even allow cars to go in when the lots are all full?? (so that they can collect more parking revenue from those that go in to wait!)
Well, that is not going to happen anymore. Why? 1st my kids suggested that I park on the lot that had the words "no Parking" on it. They reasoned that if I park on it, no one can see the "no parking" sign, and thus I would not be fined. Duh!! The security personnel of the place would know where all the "no parking" spots are, I told them, and worse we may get wheel clamped! So that suggestion wouldnt work.
But their next suggestion would be worth trying out. They suggested that I carry yellow and white paints and brushes in the boot of the car. Then we can paint over the double yellow lines and park!! And If I carried white paints, I would be able to paint myself a parking lot anywhere I wanted!! Brilliant!
Guess, they must have been watching too much Mr Bean shows!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Seeking God
There is a story of about a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands .
On one trip, the boat was full of young people.
They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out,
because the day was fine and the sea was calm.
However they weren't long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to pitch violently.
The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.
But he replied, "I say my prayers when it's calm. When it's rough I attend to my ship."
Here is a lesson for us:
If we cannot seek God in quiet moments of our lives; we are not likely to find him when trouble strikes. We are more likely to panic.
But if we have learnt to seek him and trust him in quiet moments, then most certainly we will find him when the going gets rough.
On one trip, the boat was full of young people.
They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out,
because the day was fine and the sea was calm.
However they weren't long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to pitch violently.
The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.
But he replied, "I say my prayers when it's calm. When it's rough I attend to my ship."
Here is a lesson for us:
If we cannot seek God in quiet moments of our lives; we are not likely to find him when trouble strikes. We are more likely to panic.
But if we have learnt to seek him and trust him in quiet moments, then most certainly we will find him when the going gets rough.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
God's Plan
Some things are beyond planning.
And life doesn't always turn out as planned.
You don't plan for a broken heart.
You don't plan for a failed business venture.
You don't plan for an adulterous husband
or a wife who wants you out of her life.
You don't plan for an autistic child.
You don't plan for spinsterhood.
You don't plan for a lump in your breast.
You plan to be young forever.
You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful.
You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
You plan to conquer the universe.
You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.
You don't plan to be sad.
You don't plan to be hurt.
You don't plan to be broke.
You don't plan to be betrayed.
You don't plan to be alone in this world.
You plan to be happy. You don't plan to be shattered.
Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.
But MOST times, what you want and what you get are two different things.
We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens.
Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours.
Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger.
True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry, but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.
Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, God allows pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes, God allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.
Make plans, but understand that we live by God's grace.
And life doesn't always turn out as planned.
You don't plan for a broken heart.
You don't plan for a failed business venture.
You don't plan for an adulterous husband
or a wife who wants you out of her life.
You don't plan for an autistic child.
You don't plan for spinsterhood.
You don't plan for a lump in your breast.
You plan to be young forever.
You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful.
You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
You plan to conquer the universe.
You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.
You don't plan to be sad.
You don't plan to be hurt.
You don't plan to be broke.
You don't plan to be betrayed.
You don't plan to be alone in this world.
You plan to be happy. You don't plan to be shattered.
Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.
But MOST times, what you want and what you get are two different things.
We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens.
Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours.
Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger.
True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry, but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.
Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, God allows pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes, God allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.
Make plans, but understand that we live by God's grace.
Friday, March 5, 2010
We are the party people!!
Traditionally, once exams end, we usually let the children invite their friends over for a fun day at our home - with food, games and fun. As a result, I think, our children's friends think that we are the party people. Any invitation to our home must be for a PARTY!
CAs (continuous assessment) end this week for my son. These are minor exams which account for only 10% of the year-end grade.
My son broached the subject of having his friends over this weekend to work on a school science project. Naturally, we agreed, coz we like our children to bring their friends home (but actually, that's the best way of checking out his friends!!)
But when he called to invite his project group mates over - they assumed that they were going to come over for a party!! Mind you, these are new friends who have never been invited to our home before. (I guess our reputation travels fast!)
Must shed this party image - if not the kids always think that when they get invited over, its FUN time!
But of course, when they come I will provide food and snacks for them ... and if they finish their project work fast, there can be some kicking around of the football in the garden, or some tv games that they can enjoy together - BUT project work must come 1st! AND the main reason for coming is the project - and NOT fun, fun, fun!
CAs (continuous assessment) end this week for my son. These are minor exams which account for only 10% of the year-end grade.
My son broached the subject of having his friends over this weekend to work on a school science project. Naturally, we agreed, coz we like our children to bring their friends home (but actually, that's the best way of checking out his friends!!)
But when he called to invite his project group mates over - they assumed that they were going to come over for a party!! Mind you, these are new friends who have never been invited to our home before. (I guess our reputation travels fast!)
Must shed this party image - if not the kids always think that when they get invited over, its FUN time!
But of course, when they come I will provide food and snacks for them ... and if they finish their project work fast, there can be some kicking around of the football in the garden, or some tv games that they can enjoy together - BUT project work must come 1st! AND the main reason for coming is the project - and NOT fun, fun, fun!
The car you have always wanted ...
Want to impress your neighbours...? Here is just the item and not too expensive either..
Impress your neighbors with Amazing Garage Door Covers!"
A German firm called "Style Your Garage" - creates posters for garage doors that make it look as if it's actually showing the interior of your garage, and what's in it!
Prices range from $199 to $399 for the double-door! All but guaranteed to make passersby take a second look!
Your personal bi-plane in your garage, maybe?
...or a garage filled with vintage bordeaux,
... maybe you have always wanted to be an F1 driver,
...or have wanted to sail the seven seas!
And if you want a great idea to freak out the neighbours, try this:
Guess it's friday already. Have a great weekend!!
Impress your neighbors with Amazing Garage Door Covers!"
A German firm called "Style Your Garage" - creates posters for garage doors that make it look as if it's actually showing the interior of your garage, and what's in it!
Prices range from $199 to $399 for the double-door! All but guaranteed to make passersby take a second look!
Your personal bi-plane in your garage, maybe?
...or a garage filled with vintage bordeaux,
... maybe you have always wanted to be an F1 driver, 
...or have wanted to sail the seven seas!And if you want a great idea to freak out the neighbours, try this:
Guess it's friday already. Have a great weekend!!
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