Go crazy

Image from WWW

There really aren't many things that I could go crazy about nowadays.  I'm sure when I was young I was the opposite but that's what makes for moments when our soul smiles quietly in remembering.

I lead a rather boring life as compared to those around me.  I don't do anything out of the ordinary.  But when I feel like doing something crazy, there's nothing to stop me.  In fact, there's no one either.  

Like last night I watched 15 episodes of a TV series and finished at nearly 5 am this morning.  I wasn't sleepy and it was such an interesting show.  I woke up at 8.30 am and then went back to sleep almost immediately until noon.  Mild crazy but crazy all the same.

It's nice to be able to do stuff like this without having to weigh the consequences.  Stephen applauded me when I told him why I was so sleepy.  He's my best cheerleader!

And just one moment of craziness has left me with a glow in my heart and a skip in my step.

To make things even better, the universe rewards me with an unexpected surprise this evening.  Life is so gooooooooooood!

57 years today

Image from Twitter

It was a lovely surprise that the children conspired, with Stephen, to appear suddenly at nearly 2 am on Saturday morning.  There was a flurry of messages going on between them without my knowledge. Certainly a well-kept secret because I was totally taken aback when they arrived.  

I was not at all in a celebratory mood.  I hardly ever make a fuss over my birthday.  It's just another day for me.  This year I did find my thoughts drifting to my dad who died at the age of 57.  And now I'm his age!  He seemed so much older than I feel now.

But the kids always bring a buzz with them.  Their youth and zest for life is catching.  For this reason alone, I did feel thankful and blessed that they came.  As I commented to a friend, "money cannot buy" the presence of my nearest and dearest. It's a present in and of itself.  

As the day comes to an end, it's wonderful to just breathe in the moment and remember that life is to be lived.  

I will go to bed tonight thinking of this bible verse as I begin my 57th year around the sun!

Image from Pinterest

Baking

When I was in my teens, I remember we baked some cakes, made biscuits and all sorts of other stuff with mom's supervision.

While it was fun then, I don't remember that anything we made was mind-blowing or exceptional but we, my siblings and I, ate whatever came out of the oven with such gusto. Those were the days when we weren't fussy and hadn't yet learnt that there were cakes and there were cakes.

Since then I've mostly bought cakes from friends or ordered them from stores or hotels.  I never really gave a thought to baking. I figure that there are so many people out there who can do such a good job and who, obviously, enjoy it so much that they excel in their craft.  

Anyway, a very good friend of mine (PG) was willing to share her recipes with me.  Since I'd moved to Singapore, she'd given me some of her cake recipes because I asked for it.  She makes absolutely delicious ones and it made sense to want to reproduce what she does, effortlessly, I assume.

First I should mention that she's one of those rare, kind and generous people who share recipes without a second thought.  I know that some guard their secrets and take them to the grave!!

Her willing spirit and encouraging words prompted me to just give it a go.

I have to say that PG was right.  It's not rocket science.  If you have the right ingredients and you have the heart, it'll come out nice.  

The banana cake smelled divine and tasted heavenly. The texture wasn't what I expected it to be but it was my first attempt.  My chocolate cake came out better and, as my friend promised, it was delicious.

Stephen was surprised that I had made it from scratch because I am more of a buy ready-made cakes kind of person.  He liked both of the cakes!!!  What's important is that I also liked them very much.

My next attempt might be a fruit cake!  Hah!

I need to wish myself luck!

Albus Dumbledore

Image from FB

I don't know when or even why it started but somewhere along the journey I took with EP, he began to call me Hermione and I used to call him Dumbledore.  I guess it might have been at the height of the Harry Potter series.

Our lives are marked by some events and no matter what happens, our memories are etched there forever.

I wasn't a true blue fan of Harry Potter but I got caught up in it because of the children.  I have to say that I did watch some of the movies.  I can't remember if I read the books.  Probably not.  Spare time was a luxury then.

Anyway, when EP went back to his home country, we wrote to each other with the occasional wishes or greetings.  

Some time ago, EP wrote to me saying that it's time I called him Albus.  He said we should be on a first name basis. That made me chuckle and I didn't forget.

EP's birthday is just before mine so I sent a wish to Albus from Hermione and this was his reply.  

It was the best and most interesting wish of 2014.

Dear Hermione:

Thanks for your kind message. My birthday was a normal day joined with my family.

Now is my turn to tell you...on 21 march

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.........

All my wishes as a wizard go to you, my friend

I hope to see you soon in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or when you buy your list of supplies (spell books, uniform, etc) in Diagon Alley. Remember that you are allowed to bring a cat, rat, toad or owl..... 

Don´t forget your wand, its important for the Defense Againts the Dark Arts classes.

Don´t worry about your pewter cauldron, I got it...

With all my best 

I miss youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, Lita, he he 

Albus

I absobloominglutely loved it.

Let me give...

Pic from FB

Last year, before I moved to Singapore, I had a lunch date with Jared.  We talked about life as we usually do.  We talked about all that we'd been through together.  We talked about the future and how our lives would once again evolve to start a new chapter. 

Even when I thought I knew everything about my son, he surprised me when he revealed that he had registered to be an organ donor.  I didn't know when or why or how.  I think I was speechless.  He found it fun to watch me squirm when he said, "I am an organ donor for everything, even my skin".  

It wasn't something I had expected to hear and as the shock wore off, it began to sink in that I had not expected this.  We always think we know our children but we never really know them.  

Here was a young man, in his mid-twenties, thinking of helping others, beyond his life.  I have to admit that I felt a strong sense of pride.

No one needs to tell me.  Where Jared is concerned, I know I have done well.

"S" for SMILE

Pic from Pinterest

Last year, my DC (Daily Challenge) Buddy, Darrell challenged me to put this on my FB wall:

I was given the letter "S". Please describe me using one word that starts with "S" and I will give you a letter in return! :) No naughty words please! I am friends with young peeps as well!!!

Being a spoilsport (also starts with 'S'), I didn't want to do it but he called me a coward!  Usually I don't bite that kind of bait but I decided to give in to the temptation.

Imagine my surprise when I saw all these adjectives!  I have removed all the names to maintain the privacy of all those who commented.   If they read this, they will know who they are!

Special

Sincere!

STRONG

Supercalifrailisticexpialidocious ... you all things rolled into one

smart

Superlicious!!!

sweet~

Sexy!

I wanted to say Super Sweet but that's 2 words. So take your pick.

Smile.....

Sensation, Simple, Solemn

Strong! And I don't mean, physically.

Wanted to put SKINNY! HEHEHE!

Stephen ! that's your other half too, right ?

Sympathetic!

'Sunshine' the sunshine of my life...Stevie Wonder.

Seductive and Selfless.

Swee+ness ....

the list of your traits which I collected from the writings of Joseph Conrad...Seductive, Selfless, Self-Aware, Self-Confident, Self-Disciplined, Sensitive, Serene, Sexy, Sharp, Simple, Sincere, Sizzling, Skilled, Smart, Smooth, Soft, Special, Spectacular, Spiritual, Splendid, Spontaneous, Stable, Steadfast, Strategic, Stunning, Strong, Strongwilled, Stylish, Successful, Supportive, Supreme and Sympathetic.

Steadfast

Simply spectacular!

Sedap!

Sassy!

Sensational....serene.

Sweetheart

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Supreme

Sensational

Sophisticated... and of course, Sage.
(Couldn't resist, had to provide 2 words )

sweet??? heheh

40 comments and more than 50 descriptive adjectives and all of them have missed this one that is so obvious ... I can't believe it ... "Sensitive" as in empathic. 

What did I learn from this fun exercise?  I learnt that I am surrounded by such good people who take time out to make someone smile.  These are the people who fill my Facebook days with love and laughter.  I feel very blessed and any time that I feel down, I'm going to look at this again.  It's a great pick-me-up. 

Plus, it makes me SMILE!!!!!

What Would You Do?

Pic from FB

$10,000

For the longest time, I had always thought that I would give $10,000 to one of my friends if I ever won the lottery.  She doesn't know this and I never told her.  I just thought that it would be such a surprise for her to know that I had felt this way since the mid 80s and that I didn't ever mention it because I didn't want her to think that she would have to reciprocate.  It was just a silent wish in my heart.

Recently, I felt that maybe giving one person $10,000 isn't as good an idea as, maybe, giving 10 people $1,000.  I don't know.

If you won the lottery, what would your preference be?  Surprise one person or help ten of them.  

In today's world $1,000 isn't much but it would be a windfall by any standards.

Now that I am not working, these are some of the things that Stephen and  I talk about.  It turned out to be a lively conversation and one that hasn't yet ended.  

PS  
I'm not revealing who the friend is!  What would be the fun in that? All I can say is that she wouldn't expect it at all.  It's precisely why I would want to give it to her.  

A Real Christmas Card

Quite unexpectedly, we found a Christmas Card in our postbox.  We didn't send out any and certainly, didn't expect to find a greeting card, all the way from Colorado.

Just like in the movie "Inception", there was a card, within the card, for Mom.

It was a surprise, to say the least.  But stranger things have been known to happen.