One Step Ahead

28 Apr

Image

I have been crushing candies on the sly. Heheheh… In between battling zoo animals and getting frustrated by the horrid raccoon and annoying rabbit in Farm Heroes, Candy Crush has provided some comfort.

Three weeks ago, I completed the Jelly Wagon chapter in Facebook on the laptop and had to wait for tickets. Thankfully, one week later, the game updated for the iPad. But I am one step ahead of it—like the previous update—I had completed the chapter before the update came around for the iPad.

So what basically happens on the iPad is just my avatar leapfrogging to the end of the chapter without any candies being crushed. I could back-track to earn more stars or just continue on the laptop.

Forever 38

27 Apr

A break from the pattern, I don’t usually post on Sundays but today’s special. It’s my birthday and I thought I’d share this…

For the pass several birthdays, I have been getting birthday presents relating to my other passion, golf. From a gorilla cover for my driver and Hello Kitty for the putter to golf shoes, it’s all about golf. I even received a Snoopy golf-theme birthday card once.

Every now and then, M1 will tell me, “Mummy, you are 38 years old and will forever be 38 in our eyes!”

“You know, whenever my teacher asks how old my Mummy is, I tell them you’re 38!” M2 added. Chuckle, mind you this would go on for years!

They feel age is not necessary and is just a number, like the house unit. How my heart would flutter and I would break into a silly grin whenever this topic of conversation comes around.

There was one year I did not receive any golf related presents; instead each made me a card. I am still 38 years old in their eyes but the details in which both inked down on their designs, highlighting all my favorite things brought sniffles and tears. It’s so sweet. I basked in their creative efforts for me. Sniffle (again)…

Image

The home-made cards by M1 & M2.

Somehow this year’s birthday, things are a bit different. No golf presents but a three-day celebration with my favorite things! A day before, I had a tremendously good time with all my golfing lady friends at the golf club, followed with drinks and merry-making thereafter; the big day itself precious quiet time with some friends and then with the family and a sumptuous crab dinner; and the day after, a little treat to myself at the spa with a massage and a facial. This is on top of the necessary iPhone5S from hubby dearest.

Image

The salted egg crab dinner!

Image

A red velvet birthday cake.

 

Thank you from your forever 38 significant other half for the wonderful gift; thank you my M1 and M2 for being wonderful girls that you are and giving me lots of inspiration to write and thank you to all who wished me in one way or another via phone & Facebook, and thank you to all my friends and family for being part of the now good memories forever held in the heart.

I look forward to the year ahead with zest but will stay forever 38!

Halted March

25 Apr

Right after I trumpeted my victory over Rancid the Raccoon at Level 173, I progressed on without much problems. Then I hit a snag at Level 181. It’s one tough challenge but patience and strategy resulted in victory albeit shortlived! Boo hoo…

I now face the dastardly annoying rabbit again at Level 182. It would sneak up and snatch the carrots before I could attempt to accumulate the 24 carrots required! Ugh… looks like I am facing a halted march. Maybe I should pray for tickets to come for my Candy Crush and get back to crushing some candies for a change.

Will Grandma Disown Us?

24 Apr

It was during the family’s triple birthday celebration dinner at a Thai restaurant in early April when Grandma, my mom, commented to my girls about a patron with blue hair.

“Look at that!” she hissed forcefully to get my girls’ attention. Both girls looked.

“How frightening. Almost ghoulish!” Mom shook her head and dramatically shivered to emphasize her point.

It was pretty obvious mom did not think too highly of a blue-headed fashion statement. Later that night, my girls were sharing this with me and we all agreed Grandma was just very opinionated about certain things in life, hair color being one of them. Two weeks passed by and for us, it was quickly forgotten until last week.

I was due for my haircut. Every 6 or 7 weeks, I’d go for a haircut with alternate visits highlighting my hair. So the night before my appointment, I was just mentioning to the girls.

“I’m off to cut my hair tomorrow! And what color should I highlight my hair this time?” I asked.

“Blue!” suggested M1 playfully.

“Orange!” was M2’s choice.

“Blue! Are you sure? Grandma would disown me! But I don’t think I should go orange either,” I chuckled as we all remembered the triple birthday celebration incident.

M1 asked, “If Grandma disowned you, does this mean she disowns us too?”

Gosh. That’s deep and profound.

“Let’s not have it come to this. Let’s stick to the usual safe brown, ok?” I reassured her in the end.

So no funny colors, just the usual cut and rich mahogany highlights.

Rancid the Raccoon Reeks!

22 Apr

Image

Yes, Rancid the raccoon in Farm Heroes Saga reeks. It took me the longest thus far to overcome Level 173. Even with magic beans, I could not do it but patiently, with some strategizing and wit, I finally beat the nasty raccoon! Onwards I march in my farming quest.

I Officially Migrated

21 Apr

Image

Like a child giddy with excitement over a new toy, I could not tame the butterflies in my tummy as I fiddled with my spanking new Apple iPhone5S. Yes, last Friday I officially migrated to the new device, opening the present ten days before my birthday.

Goodbye iPhone4, I loved you and you served me well but you chose your destiny and I didn’t have a choice; and hello iPhone5S, this is the beginning of a new love. I hope we will have many wonderful moments, build lots of memories and fun together despite my short fingers needing to stretch to reach the top row of apps and the home button on the half inch longer phone.

It’s Deciding for Me

18 Apr

Image

I thought all was fine with my iPhone4 after the last few scares; maybe it could last and I don’t have to give it up so soon. But I guess I spoke too soon! Last week, it blacked out on me again at a critical Kodak-moment! I was right about to capture the amazing birthday cake presented at an uncle’s birthday dinner when the phone froze and the Apple icon appeared before a black screen! Aaaargghhhh…. the cake was cut and I do not have a picture of the amazing cake intact. Hrmph…

I was annoyed to say the least. Hubby was sympathetic and suggested that night I should just have the new iPhone5S charged up, ready to be used instead of having to wait until my birthday to open the box.

My dear iPhone4, I love you but you chose your destiny.

One and Two Ones

17 Apr

M1 has never ceased to amaze me as far as school is concerned. I just don’t know where she inherits her brains. As expected, my firstborn achieved pole position in her class! But as I have said before, my two girls are both different in their own way, therefore hubby and I cannot be comparing their ability. So, while M1 may have achieved number one and being a tough act to follow, M2 achieving the double digit of 11, I termed M2’s achievement as two ones to boost her morale in comparison to her sibling.

In a twisted way, two ones can be looked at as better than a single one! We had a little dinner celebration to commemorate both their achievements and also to spur M2 especially to do better, for M1 cannot do any better than what she has already done.

Keep it up, girls!

Top 20! Top 15?! Top 10??

15 Apr

Last week was Report Card time and M2 was nervous. Several nights before we were due to school to see the teacher, we had a little chat.

“Top 20?” I asked.

“Maybe…” came the nervous reply.

“What about Top 15? Can?” I queried next.

“I dunno… Top 27?” she countered.

“Huh?! Top 27?! How can? Isn’t that the number of students in your class?” I asked gently.

“Yes.” Another nervous respond.

“I think you can do better than that.” And we left it at that.

One day before Report Card day, upon reaching home from school, M2 called me while I was still in the office.

“Mummy, guess what? I know where I stand in class!” she said excitedly.

“Top 20?” I asked.

“Better.”

“Top 15?”

“Better!”

Wow, I am impressed, so I posted another, “Top 10?”

“Almost but not quite…”

“Lemme guess. Eleven?”

“How did you know? Yes, I am number 11 in class!” announced my proud M2.

I am proud of her too. Well done!

M1 has yet to report on her status at this point in time.

Hubby Insisted

14 Apr

As you know, my beloved iPhone4 has not been very nice to me lately, being cranky and acting up for no reason. Getting old or tired of serving me, I have learnt to deal with it. But I complain. To hubby, to the girls and to no one in particular.

Maybe the hubby is tired of me complaining or he can’t stand the crankiness in me when the phone pulls a fast one, so he insisted to just buy the iPhone5S champagne model for me. While in my heart, the spirits soared with this new toy, much desired in one way, I feel it shouldn’t end this way with my cranky iPhone4. Sniff…

So I am holding on to my cranky phone until it acts up again or at least until my birthday comes along in two weeks, then I open the box to the new phone and feign surprise to receive the present. After all, if the hubby insists, how could I refuse?