ConfessionS Of A SleePlesS MinD: June 2005

Nail Pitting. Any Ideas, anyone?

Nail with pits

Good nail

The bad and the good nails

Around 3 months ago, I noticed deformity on my left hand middle finger nail. The nail became thinner and pits (holes) started to form on the nail. Now, the entire nail is covered with pits. The condition got worse as the pits started appearing on other fingernails as well. Some fingers were more severely affected than the others, with the original "pitted" fingernail- the LH Middle Finger, being the most damaged. Now the only unaffected survivors are my left hand index fingernail and right hand middle fingernail.

I consulted a dermatologist and he couldn't give me a definite condition. He went on with the usual blah blah that a doctor gives when he was unsure about a condition,

Dr. Seow: "There can be many reasons for this. It could be fungus infection. Or it could be @%$^@^$, @$#^$&, @#$%#$.... "

He gave a list of conditons that I couldn't even spell.

Dr. Seow: "Not to worry. I will run a test for you. All I need to do is to scrap some nail samples"

He took out a surgical knife looking thing and scrapped off the top layer of my LH middle fingernail.

Dr Seow: "It will take around 15-20 mins. You can go and have coffee first. I will call your number again"
Me: "OK"

I left the room and waited.

15 minutes later, Number 0930 blinked once again ouside Room 3. I proceeded in and Dr Seow said: "It is not fungus infection. So to get a immediate diagnosis, I would have to remove a part of you nail near the finger bed, but that would permanently damage your nail and leave a hole there. I don't think I would want to do that. Hahaha.... I will just give you some medication to apply."

Dr Seow: "Do you have asthma?"
Me: "No"
Dr Seow: "What abt your family?"
Me: "Not with my direct family"
Dr Seow: "Have you been experiencing sudden hair loss?"
Me: "I've always had thin hair, so I don't think.... no."
Dr Seow: " Did you handle any chemicals over the last 3 months?"
Me: "No"
Dr Seow: "There isn't a big problem here. The medication I'm going to give you is actually for the hair because they don't make this specially for the nails. hahaha... I'm going to write it down in case the pharmacists gets confused. Hair, nail and skin are all related and are the specialties of dermatologists. hahaha... Try this lotion, apply them on the nail bed of affected nails. After 2 or 3 months, if there is no improvement, come to me again. haha... OK?
Me: "So, there's nothing wrong?"
Dr Seow: "Nothing serious, haha..."
Me: "OK, thanks"

I left the room feeling like it was a waste of my time.

Kermit's 5W+H

What is NETS?

NETS logo

Ignorant me had always thought that NETS was a global initiative and everyone in the world was using NETS. But the fact is that:

NETS stands for Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
It is in fact a Singaporean initative.

NETS was founded as a result of a need for a centralised e-Payment operator by Singapore’s local banks: DBS, Keppel Bank, OCBC, OUB, POSB, Tat Lee Bank and UOB.
NETS is now owned by DBS, OCBC and UOB. The first product launched was the NETS EFTPOS (electronic fund transfers at point-of-sale) service. This allowed Singaporeans to use a card and a PIN number to automatically withdraw funds from their bank accounts at points-of-sale.NETS then introduced the shared ATM network in 1988. DBS, Keppel Bank, OCBC, OUB, POSB, Tat Lee Bank and UOB cardholders could use the ATM facilities of any of these banks.

In 1996, NETS also introduced CashCards – a stored value smart card for use in retail purchases.

NETS products and services are currently marketed throughout Asia, including China, Hongkong and South East Asia.

Kermit's 5W+H

What is Bossa Nova?

Bossa Nova is:

The music, born of a marriage of Brazilian rhythms and American Jazz. The dance, which is said to have originated at Carnegie Hall in 1961, is based on the slower, more subtle Salon Samba and features either type of Clave Beat or a Jazz Samba in 4/4 time.

www.arthurmurraydayton.com/Dance%20Dictionary.htm

A Brazilian fusion of cool jazz elements with various Brazilian rhythms, including the baiáo but particularly the samba. Often wrongly considered Afro-Brazilian, it is a sophisticated and recent form developed by hip musicians and avant-guarde poets. Most were white, though Bola Sete a leading bossa nova guitarist, is an exception.

www.latinsheetmusic.com/latinmusicglossary.html

Heard of Antonio Carlos Jobim's -"Girl From Ipanema"? (sampling)
(scroll down to bottom of page to Track 4 under Listen to Samples)
The English version of this song was first released in the LP "Getz/Gilberto", on MGM/Verve. It is perhaps the best known bossa nova groove. Lyrics

For alternative sampling choices:
1) Ann Marie's Version
(Portuguese)
2) Midi Version (good quality midi)
(Run mouse over "click here" and click to hear file in Media Player)
3) Orchestra Version for the Soundtrack of Garota de Ipanema
(Search "Ipanema under Search by Title, run mouse over Real Player Icon and click)

Garota de Ipanema

Antonio Carlos Jobim

世上只有妈妈好。。。

My mum is one hell of a woman that drives me nuts. I don't know why, but every time she tells me something or asks me to do something, I get really pissed. She is on a 1 week leave now and she is driving me nuts, but she doesn't know about it. She is such a lost woman, the ultra wishy-washy type and sometimes it drives me nuts. She was planning on going overseas for a short vacation as she had some unhappiness at work. So Genting over the weekends was an option. I told her if she wanted me to go, she had to decide quickly because I wanted to find a job. But still, she left it hanging. I called up Grassland, "the coach company to Genting", and found out that it was fully booked till monday. She then said something like no need to check with the other companies, and 这么赶的，不要去了。Then she thought about asking our uncle to bring us around JB and that is also not decided.

Today, she found out that an ex-colleague of hers had passed away and wanted to attend his Songka. So she asked me to drive her there. Just b4 we leave the house, she asks me to buy 4D for her later. I don't know why, it's just buying 4D and SIngapore Pools was just downstairs, but I get really irritated. I was thinking: "Can't you buy it yourself?" I told her OK.

She wanted me to drive her to Kim Tien area near SGH to meet her friends first. She said her friends would be waiting for her at the busstop. As I was driving, she suddenly remarked, "4D 店六点就关了。” I just got more irritated. I know she was just trying to remind me, but it just pissed me off. I put on a black face and she started nagging abt if 不方便， then no need to buy. That irritated me even more. Would I not buy it for you?

Then we came to the meeting place but her friends were not there. She then called her friends to ask where they were. We went on until around near Chinatown then found a U-turn and made a U turn. Her friend told her they were around the Sikh temple, where we went pass earlier but didn't see them. We went back there again, but didn't see them there. What happenened was they didn't wait at the side of the road, but was under one of the blocks buying 4D. WTF! My mum told me to wait in the middle of a T-junction for her friends to come out. WTF!! I decided to turn into the housing blocks bec there was a car behind me. Then, finally I saw them walk out of Singapore Pools. They came into the car and the first thing they said was: "哇，儿子很瘦hor, 跟他老豆一样。"Stupid bitches. I hate it when ppl say that. Freaking irritating. As if I want to be so skinny. And you asked my mum to meet at the bus stop and yet you were buying 4D when we arrived. WTF!!! was that supposed to mean?

And I didn't know what my mum was thinking. After they boarded the car, my mum told them to guide me to the place. My mum said: "hahaha... 你要跟他讲走哪里。他刚刚pass driving." I didn't know if she was trying to save face for me in case I went the wrong way or she simply didn't know my driving status. HELLO, MUM, I passed 2 years ago, remember.

I don't hate my mum. She is really good to me and my sis. But I just can't help but get irritated but her antics. Always so dependent on us. Always so wishy-washy. Always being too nice in the wrong way that not only does she not get in the good books of people, but actually annoy some. I can't help but get angry and irritated with her, but I feel guilty after realising how I treat her. She is a real nice lady but I guess she is always too nice, and tries too hard to please everybody even though she doesn't willingly want to please that person. I hope she doesn't get pushed around that much. Gotta learn to assert herself more. She's always succumbing herself to the tyranny of others and gets herself angry after that. She has thoughts of retiring, but I worry for her. What will become of her when she doesn't have a job to occupy her time? She doesn't have that many close friends and she isn't the active type of person. She hates activities with crowds and facing strangers. She doesn't like taking public transport. How??? Any suggestions anyone? Am I just the typical nagging hater, or am I a mother hater?

No mother and bitches were harmed in the writting of this blog.

LKY at Madam Tussaud's Hongkong. Don't Play Play!

MM LKY (which stands for Minister Mentor Mister Lee Kwan Yew).
Up close and personal, with wrinkles, eyebags and receeding hairline all replicated in 1:1.
People, pay your respect...

Watcha Looking At?

Million Dollar Baby

I've just finished watching Million Dollar Baby. Great chemistry between Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. It's a great sad show. It shows the futility of life. At the same time, it shows that true meaning of life lies in what you do with it and not how long you live. Now I'm getting all comtemplative about my own life that I can't sleep. That's the problem with me. I think too much. I care too much. I hate myself too much. I keep things to myself and only to myself. I'm like this can of fizzy soft drink, shaking myself up every once in a while. Sometimes gently, sometimes violently, always in the danger of exploding, pushing myself to self-destruction. Maybe I'm just a sado-masochist. Maybe I like to torture myself. Kinky...

Nice quote from the movie
(not the exact words, but something like that):

It's the magic in risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you.

What's Your Dream?

Back on a jet plane

Back from a semi-backpacking trip to Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hongkong, Macau. Too lazy to write out in details and post all the pics. Below are some pics taken that I felt look good in B&W. Coloured pics and details of the trip will be posted at a later time, when I feel like it...