Poll Results

I felt the Sumatra earthquake in Singapore. What forces of nature have you experienced? (of any magnitude)


The results shake out as follows (no pun intended) based on 5 voters:
4 Tornados
4 Floods
3 Earthquakes
2 Hurricanes
1 Drought
1 Volcano eruption
1 Other
0 Fires
0 Sand storms
 
So I have two questions:
1) Who/what is the other?? (Times like these I WISH there were fill in the blanks)
2) Who was in the volcano eruption?? When/Where??  All I could think of was the big island of Hawaii or Mt. St. Helen's.
 
Well for all of those reading from the chilly midwest, the weather is still on average 85 degrees here, ranging from very humid to raining.  :)  I'm getting use to sweating everyday and don't know if I'll ever be able to handle the cold weather again! (just kidding, I bet within a year I'm wishing for it).  However, it is nice that I don't require a heater in the bathroom and I can get out of the shower w/o freezing my butt off.
 
Have a great rest of your week!

Wheels on the Bus Go Round n' Round

(photos courtesy of Singapore Shots)

I sorta feel like I'm back in school. Growing up on a farm in the middle of nowhere meant you had to ride the bus until you had the all important driver's license and vehicle. My bus ride could be up to an hour long, I had to get up earlier and often share a seat. Well I'm back at it, but with some changes.

There are multiple buses in the morning! Yes, I do have to get up earlier. But there's no honking horn when I'm late and if I miss it, I don't have to go to mom or dad for a ride - I simply wait for the next one. Granted it usually takes at least another 15 min to arrive and I'll be later than expected for my destination. *It only took me 3 weeks to figure out there's a second line I can take to and from work!

This bus is not free, but it only runs about US$1.25 round trip, and has air conditioning. The evening bus usually isn't too crowded and I can get a seat.  The mornings however are a crapshoot. Sometimes, I have my own seat, sit peacefully for 10-15 minutes until my stop.  Other times, I am standing, trying to take as little space up as possible and the quick trip turns into 30 minutes.  Those mornings, for every 2 people that get off, 5-10 more get on. Once, the bus driver had to keep telling us to "move back, move back".  Luckily I seem to avoid the crowded buses more times than not.

Things about the bus:

• Swipe your metro card on the way in and out.
• Have a view (so you can make sure you know when you're stop is coming up!)
• Beware of front seats as these are usually reserved for elderly and infirm.
• If you're stop is coming - press the button!! If not, the driver may whizz by.
• On the flip side - if your bus is coming, raise your hand so he stops.
• Podcasts are my new best friend for bus rides.
• Always hang on! (especially when in heels)

I have become painfully aware of how much I appreciate my personal space and exactly how large that space is.  Lugging around my computer bag and purse while carrying my iPod and trying to not fall over with heels, I often feel like I must take up the space of two Singaporeans.  All in all, it's great, cheap transportation and less crowded than the trains at rush hour.

Poll Results

My shipment came today! Which item was I most excited to unpack?

a) Scale
b) Bed
c) DVDs
d) Elephants
e) Fridge deco (magnets, pics, etc.)
f) Lap desk for laptop
g) None - unpacking, cleaning, putting stuff away...sucks!
h) ALL! I've been waiting for the day these items in particular arrived.

This was sort of a trick question.  All of the answers are correct, even g!  The votes broke down as follows:

 1 vote - Scale; Whoever selected this knows that I think I have been losing weight, but had no way to verify.  Of course the day I am unpacking, I find one in left in one of the cupboards.  Well the scales don't match, but still seem to indicate that I've shed a few pounds or kilos :).

3 votes Bed; I did make sure the bed was set up that night and it was a great night's sleep!  This bed is sooo much higher than the one already in the apartment.  Don't know why, but I like that.

1 vote - DVDs; The TV lover/couch potato in me was very happy to see these.  Although I have figured out other TV shows to get my fix.  I haven't set up the DVD player yet (thinking of rearranging the entertaniment area) but happy to know I have my movies :).

0 votes - Elephants; Of course I was happy to get my elephants - stuffed, framed and fragile.  Nothing broke! I was so happy.  My blue elephant from the Keefe's went right next to the kitchen sink where it was in Peoria.  Made my kitchen feel like home :).  My framed elephant from Thailand, punched out of rice paper made it unscathed.  Shaun - you will be happy to know that it fits perfectly on a wall hanger already in the bedroom and the tinge of green nicely accents the new bedding ;).  Shaun's mom framed it for me and does wonderful work!!!

0 votes - Fridge deco; I LOVE having a normal fridge again that attracts magnets! My peoria one was the metal finish, except not magnetized.  So nothing ever went on the fridge.  I was so happy to put up my pictures.  The following individuals have made the refrigerator: Grandma Cribben, Katie, Sean & Sara, Mark & Nicole, the Gilbraiths & one of the Beijing olympic mascots.  Send me your pics and you too may be on the fridge one day! :-D

0 votes - Lap desk; What a life saver.  This is one of my favorite Christmas gifts from Santa.  It gets sooo hot with your laptop on your legs and your legs don't have a flat surface for your drink.  Used this on day 1 as well!

1 vote - None; Of course whoever selected this one knows I am a completely lazy person who puts cleaning as the last item on the agenda.  So yes, while 100% of my stuff is unpacked, I woul say about half is actually put away.  Of items not put away, I've made no progress since unpacking day.  One day it will happen :).

0 votes - ALL; As noted, I loved and hated it all.

Here are some pics of moving/unpacking.  I'll wait for the "after" pics once I've actually put it away.