Father-In-Law's Poem: Lazing Through The Seasons

I learned from Meimei that my Father-in-Law loves to doodle. He will keep pieces of scrap paper or notepads around just to draw and write things on a whim. I see that in Meimei as well. She takes after her dad very much in habits and cheekiness.

He came up with this out of the blue this morning when we were over for breakfast. Both father and mother in-law are fluent and good in Chinese. It's too late for me to pick this up but I hope our kids will take on a strong interest in Chinese. It's a very colourful and sparking language.

Guest Post - Poetic Pokpok's back!

Busy busy busy
Busy as a bee
From left to right I try
Around the office I fly

Pokpok
11.10am 30 June 2009

Anniversary

Today is our anniversary. And I only have this to give.

" Once I wish and yearn and lust,

Searching for thee I know I must,

Long has loneliness dull my trust,

To find a love I hope will last.

In midst of paper pens and stands,

There shines this light so bright and grand,

What is this so special my curiousity peak,

Could it be the guide my heart so seek?

An adventure so eagerly I embark,

One Mid-Summer Night is the start,

Determined to preserve and leave my mark,

A passion driven by cupid's dart.

A season pass in the blink of an eye,

So many memories left in my mind,

In hunger happiness and good crys,

Savouring more in our lives.

Our first year this great endeavor,

Many more ages to smooth our edges,

I thank thee for taking part,

A beginning to the end till death do us apart. "

- Pokpok, 04 July 2008

Our First Year

I felt guilty not having done more for our anniversary. I've never been one for celebrations and presents. But I know this is what my meimei wants, so no matter what next year I must!

Sugar, My Darling's Second Love

" Sugar my darling,

A cup of chocolate melting,

Tearing from the coldness,

I feel my heart fading.

Sugar my darling,

Your joy so alluring,

Sweetness in your smile,

I feel my heart wanting.

Sugar my darling,

Your sweetness so endearing,

Happiness is everything,

I feel my heart giving. "

- Pokpok, 16 June 2008

Sugar My Darling

My baby can't keep her hands off the Coffee Bean's Ice-Blended Pure Chocolate drink even though she is not supposed to be taking so much sugar. She insists that the drink is made of only cocoa, milk and ice . . . Oh well at least she is happy hehe.

Where has Poetical Pokpok gone?

Poetical Pokpok has been hijacked. I haven't seen him for the last month. I wondered who would do such a cruel thing.

Words just stopped popping into my head. Nothing rhymes at all. Is this what they call, a "writer's block"? It used to be that words freely come into my head, in beautiful lyrical verses and I'll just pick and choose the ones I like to use.

Now, zip, nothing, nada. Only thing that comes to my mind is, "Buy my car yah, buy my car, la~la~la~, buy my car and go far far. See this rims ah, they're so shining, don't worry cause we'll throw them in for free!"

Damn silly radio commercial keeps ringing in my head. Bah! It's been a month since they stopped this advertisement on radio but I still remember it. Curse the creative directors that came up with that jingle!

Hopefully, Pokpok's poetic hiatus does not last too long.

1 System 7, 1.50 Quick Pick . . .

I gamble religiously on Toto. Toto is a game where 7 numbers, 6 standard plus 1 bonus number, are drawn from a pool running from 1 to 45. The draws are done twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. There are 3 category of prizes and consolations. Top prize start from 650,000 and snow-balls to the next draw if no one wins it.

Tempting for anyone isn't it. Imagine winning a snow-balled prize of a few million dollars . . . Bye bye office! Heeelllloooooo sunny beach and beautiful babes! Muhahahahaha. In my case, many many holidays with my honey and family, maybe a new car, renovation on the house etc etc. Aaahhhhh, so many things can be done with that sort of money. I share the same dream as everyone else - to strike it big and welcome the instant retirement.

But well it's not that easy to strike . . . I did a mathematical calculation once. 45 different numbers brings 8.4 million plus combinations. It is a draw of sheer luck. And that is what i'm banking on this past 10 years. That one day my lucky stars would be smiling down on me and let me strike Toto.

Well some of you must be thinking . . . "You silly bum . . . do you know how hard it is to strike?!" "You are throwing your money down the drain!" "Stop dreaming and be realistic!" . . . Well I'm still working diligently. I bring home the dough every month. It's not like I'm sitting around doing nothing but dreaming about striking. I just 'invest' a little in hopes of a better tomorrow heheheheh. It's buying hope, something to look forward to, something to dream about.

Hopefully one day that dream would come true. . .

" Roll and behold,

Seven magical numbers are shown,

A golden ticket is told,

But the winner remains unknown.

Could this be my moment,

I turn to mine and hope,

They look at me in bemusement,

My optimism starts to mope. "

-Pokpok, 12 Oct 2007

Toto, A Game of Chance

Please take care of yourself . . .

My girl has been getting gastric pains recently and it's still coming while she is in China. She has had this problem since young. Apparently her family has it too. But that's not the important thing here.

The important thing is knowing to take care of oneself. I have a colleque Nancy who has gastric problems as well. But she has learned to bring a packet of biscuits with her everywhere, to munch whenever she feels hungry. She also takes her meals timely everyday. She says these days she doesn't get the pains as often since she had started to watch over herself. I guess it's because she is a mother of a 3 year old boy. She has to look over someone, thus becoming more self-conscious of her own health as well. As she puts it, "I watch over myself so I can enjoy my life with my hubby and baby. If I fall sick, I feel pain. But they would hurt even more in their hearts."

I hope my girl can learn to take care of herself. I remember her telling me she skipped lunch yesterday. . . it hurts my heart to know that. It's like seeing someone destroying their life and yet there is nothing you can do to help. It's this sense of helplessness that drives me crazy. Work is only important if you have the health to enjoy your fruits of labour. What's the use of slogging when you would be lying in hospital because of it?

I really don't know what I can do or say to help her. She can only help herself. Much like how I can only quit smoking on my own will. I can only pray she becomes a big girl sooner. . .

" Like a baby in a craddle,

Raising her arms to the sky,

I help my baby across the puddle,

Hoping she will try.

There is only so far,

My body can carry her,

The paths are made of tar,

And I can't always be near. "

- Pokpok, 11 Oct 2007

One's path

I miss her so . . .

Damn'it . . . only 2 days and I'm already feeling the pain. Hmmm, am I being too sticky? I don't know. What I do know is I miss her. 5 more days . . . 120 hours . . 7200 minutes . . . 432000 seconds more to go. That's like an eternity when you miss someone . . .

Darn it hurts.

I'm going home for dinner now every night. Then off to Vanadiel to play with my Taru. I'm like a lifeless zombie now, walking with my head down. Oh, why can't the week go by faster . . .

" Where is your soul,

Your heart, your mind, your own,

You seem to be wandering,

Around the white desert alone.

Where is your soul,

Lost in a barren sea of cold,

You seem to be drifting,

To a land made of mold. "

- Pokpok, 09 October 2007

Decay

Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock . . .

I mentioned in a previous post about my Tarutaru in FFXI. They are truly cute creatures . . . yeah yeah it's a digital world . . . but just indulge me here. The most lovable thing about them, besides their big head, is that when they stand or sit they will sway from side to side. They are like those big head toys, heads rocking from left to right.

Recently I discovered my darling does that as well. Hehehehehe. And wala~! The term "Taru-ing" was coined. Whenever she stand or sit still, she will unknowingly taru. Like a little 5 year old girl swaying from side to side, immersed in her own beautiful world. I feel a warmth in my heart everytime I see her taru-ing, and would draw a quiet grin on my face.

" Swaying from side to side,

Rocking from left to right,

Constant as an ocean's tide,

Oh it's such a pleasing sight.

Watching my baby taru-ing,

My heart fills with such pride,

Whatever she is yearning,

I would gladly try to abide. "

- Pokpok, 08 October 2007

My Taru

Blankey, Blankey go away. . .

My baby left for China again yesterday. . . *sobz*. She would be there for a whole week (hopefully). So here I am alone, counting the days before I can see her angelic face again. I miss her already.

Her flight was in the morning at 11AM. So I had to wake up at 7AM in the morning even though I had slept at 3AM the night before. My baby called to give me a wake up call and as I laid in bed struggling to peel open my eyes, my inspiration hit me . . .

" Blankey . . . Oh Blankey,

Come again another day,

My baby's leaving,

For a land far far away.

I need to catch her today,

To show her my dismay,

To make up all the kisses,

Before my week of disarray.

Blankey . . . Oh Blankey,

Do you hear me pray,

My baby's waiting,

So please do as I say. "

- Pokpok, 08 October 2007

Blankey, my Baby

I have a standing joke about waking up in the morning. Although I always set my alarm clocks to 7AM, I can never get right up when they ring. I'll just bang them off and continue to snooze. Good thing though my honey always call to make sure I wake up heheh. Though I always have some sort of excuse hahaha "Honey, I can't get up, blankey is holding me captive . . ." "Honey, the sky is still so dark, why you call me at 4AM in the morning . . ." She says "Pokpok . . . pillow is covering your eyes again . . . that's why it's dark . . ."

So yesterday, I put in my most gallant effort and fought against Pillow and Blankey. I managed to wake up to send my baby to the airport and see her off. *Sigh* I hope this week breezes past quickly, so I can hear my darling's voice again every morning.

Let me out! Let me out!

A momentous life changing experience hit me 2 nights ago.

I was sending my baby home. We got onto the elevator and up to the 21st storey. As she was getting off, the doors suddenly close in on her. Luckily, it only caught her hand as she pulled away back into the elevator.

The elevator stalled and the doors refused to open again. It kept banging in the closing motion while an annoucement echoed in the elevator : " This is an emergency annoucement. For your own safety, please do not force open the door. . . ". Wow . . my very first elevator breakdown! Help! Help! Call the Police! the Fire department! the Special Task Force! the Army! Call the damn President!!!!

So there we were, stuck in the elevator. It had stopped on the 21st floor so we could peer through the windows to the corridor. My darling called the emergency number listed on the elevator wall and they said they would be coming soon (I had left my phone in the car ... so much for being the knight in shining armour).

We sat on the floor and waited, while listening to her ipod playing Scissor Sisters medleys. Hmm what's this feeling i'm getting . . .

" Stuck in a lift,

I banged desperately ,

Longing for the gift,

Of freedom and reprieve.

Where is my saviour,

To rescue me from the pits,

My maiden in shining armour,

Oh I'll love her to bits. "

- Pokpok, 04 Oct 2007

Fear of Heights

I have this fear of heights . . . Yes . . . it's not manly. But I can't help it. My head goes into dizzy spells and my hands start trembling. My mind would play tricks by imagining me falling off the edge to my death.

It was a good thing we could only see the corridor. But I still can't help it knowing we were on the 21st storey. What if the elevator grips start to give way? What if the steel ropes were suddenly cut? What if . . .? Phew . . . fortunately my mind didn't get to wander for too long. As I held onto my honey's hand, I felt a sense of comfort and relief. My maiden in shining armour . . . Hehehehe.

But this incident changed my life though. Ha! I'll never live in an apartment higher than 10 storeys, at least not till I conquer my mortal fear of heights . . . or maybe if my lady holds my hand always.

The Epitome of Stupidity

A strong description. The Epitome. The Pinnacle. The Summit. The Utmost.

Funny enough that I am writing a post about someone I actually detest. Maybe it's the inner urge to rant. But seriously, everyone does stupid things. I do stupid things all the time. But to be detested, you need to be so good at it and yet so oblivious to what you have done. You have to be so self centered, thinking the world revolves around you, that you do not notice the nonsense and crap you are creating. That's the pinnacle.

I used to have this boss who literally embodies the word stupidity. There is so much to say, yet normal words cannot describe the mess she creates everytime she speaks or writes an email.

" Nonsense with every breath,

Chaos in all her mails,

She fires her arrow of death,

And everyone scurries to bail.

An unfortunate foe falls,

Besieged by her senseless whim,

The epitome of stupidity,

I call thee Ms G*lian Lim. "

- Pokpok, 02 Oct 2007

Stupidity

Absence . . .

" Sensing her touch,

Yearning for her smile,

I laze quietly on the couch,

Thoughts coming in a pile.

Why do I miss her so,

My mind slows to ponder,

I now believe too,

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. "

- Pokpok, 5 Aug 2007

Absence

My baby went off to China this morning for work. I should be a bigger man and say it's all good. But I can't help but miss her so. It's still early days, but I have a very good feeling about this one. There are several big obstacles to pass though. Hopefully it'll all end in happiness. One can only hope . . .

I am a Smoker . . .

Puff Puff Puff. This is what I've been doing for the past 10 years.

I smoke about 10 sticks a day, everyday. Most of you would now be thinking ... "What are you doing to your body??!!" "Do you know smoking kills??" "Do you know you'll die younger??" ... and the 'questions' and reprimand goes on and on.

Yes. I know Smoking kills. I know eating fried foods might result in colon cancer in the later years. I know eating fast food or growing overweight will increase the chances of heart attacks. I know not exercising will make your body weak and susceptible to illnesses. I know there are ten thousand and one things that can kill you the very next moment.

I sound like I'm in denial arn't I. Yup, I guess I might be. . . But you see, I grew up in a very liberal household *think Ang Moh upbringing*. I was never caught smoking - simply cos I told my parents about it the same day I started. And all they said were "Ok, but don't smoke too much, not good for the body." That's how much freedom my parents gave to their children. I've never met any other parent capable of doing what they do. To allow us freedom, yet still love and guide us along through life as they did. I'll tell you all about them in another post.

Back to the cigarettes . . . I've tried to quit 3 times through these years. The longest I've lasted was 4 months before I started again due to stress from taking my exams. The first 3 were done 'Cold-Turkey' style. I was having shivers, nose dripping, constant headaches, short-tempers, and totally irritable in the first few days.

And now comes the 4th attempt. Unlike the first 3 attempts which were done voluntarily, this attempt is done in part for someone else. In part because eventually it is for my own selfish happiness too. And I think I have a good feeling about this attempt. I didn't have anyone to push me along the first 3 times. However, now I have a purpose to quit. And I truly hope that purpose is enough to push me through.

I'm gonna cut down slowly, bit by bit. The first target now is to drop to 6 sticks a day. I really hope I'll make it. For a better tomorrow for myself, I truly, sincerely hope so. . .

" Puff Puff Puff,

The cigarette fills the air with smoke,

My lungs cringes at the black stuff,

Til I eventually choke.

My heart longs for it to end,

To bridge this long dark gap,

My world wants a new bend,

To end with a triumphant clap. "

-- Pokpok, 2 Aug 07

Puff, Puff, Puff

*Smoking kills*

My First Poem . . .

This is my first attempt at a poem ever . . .

It just struck me out of nowhere. I guess this is how poets work. They get inspiration from their daily lifes and wa~la~! beautiful lyrics flow from their pens. I hope the same is working for me as well . . .

" My Little Sio Ba

So Lovely, Tender and Sweet,

My Heart Fills with Joy and Wonder,

Everytime We Meet. "

- Pokpok, My Sio Ba

Yes, its cheesy. But I like cheesy. Nothing beats the courage to try something you have never done before. So I'm writing my cheesy poem and sharing it to the world. Proudly.