Puppy Steps, Jumbo Leaps

I Just Watched This.

 

My heart was wringing in pain throughout the second half of the movie. Cried buckets.
The last movie i watched before today was Marley And Me, which had the same impact.
I swear i'm not watching another sad dog movie for the rest of the year.

Some Snapshots From Our Reunion Dinner...

A little overdue...i know...heh, but these are some random shots i snapped during our reunion dinner two weeks ago. Just to share.

 

Fluffie being greedy...

 

It never fails to amaze me how much she can eat, and no matter how much i try to control her diet, somehow, somewhere, she's always able to find someone to feed her!

 

Can you resist this face? :)

As i type this, my 450D has gone on vacation to Hokkaido, with my mum, aunt and brother...keeping my fingers crossed that it'll be returned to me in one piece!

A Little Lonely...

My mum's flight to Tokyo should have just taken off...the house seems so quiet without her around, and Fluffie's just lying by the stairs, looking and waiting. Feels weird.

Why I Don't Have A Boyfriend.

I need someone who willingly gives up his seat on the train to someone who needs it more, even when no one else is looking.

I need someone who places equal importance on the happiness of his family and his personal successes and glories, and constantly strives to achieve a balance between the two.

I need someone who could and would love Fluffie as much as he loves me, whom i would trust to care for her when i am not by her side.

If you know any man who fulfills all three conditions above, please get me his number :)

Sticky Chewy Chocolate!

I had ice-cream with Swee Ching at Swensen's today :) It was not a planned outing. Just a random, spur-of-the-moment, let's do it decision.

SC is the straight-talking type. Unpretentious. Down-to-earth. Speaks her mind. Does
not bother to mask her thoughts with unneccessary disguises. Over our sundaes, we exchanged views on random topics. In keeping with the nature of the outing, everything was unsystematic, unplanned and relaxed.

I'm glad that i stopped by the store today and met her; thankful that she invited me for ice-cream; grateful for the short time and extra-large sundaes we had together. At the end of it all, she paid for the sundaes, i made a mental note to return the favour the next time, and we took a stroll back to the side of the mall where we parted ways after exchanging stories about our respective automobile accidents.

I enjoyed myself! I really did :)

A Familar Face.

Today, on my way to Novena MRT station after work, i walked past a fast-food outlet and saw a familiar face in the crowd. I had no time to take a second look, but in that split second, i thought i recognised the features of that face.

I wish now that i had stopped to double-check if i was right, if the half-familiar stranger i caught sight of was really who i thought he was. If i were given a second chance, i swear i would stop. But you know, sometimes, in life, there are no second chances.

Spaying Shortens Dogs' Lives?

I read this article online recently...

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Dec 5, 2009
DVM News Magazine (West Lafayette, Ind.)

We know that women tend to live longer than men, but a new study shows that the same may be true in dogs, especially if a female dog's ovaries are not surgically removed early in life.

A study conducted at the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation compared the medical histories, ages and causes of death in 119 long-lived rottweilers with a longevity of at least 13 years with 186 rottweilers with a normal longevity of about 9 years. The study was published in the December issue of the journal Aging Cell.

"Like women, female dogs in our study had a distinct survival advantage over males," said the lead researcher David J. Waters, associate director of Purdue University's Center on Aging and the Life Course and a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences. "But taking away ovaries during the first four years of life completely erased the female survival advantage. We found that female rottweilers that kept their ovaries for at least six years were four times more likely to reach exceptional longevity compared to females who had the shortest lifetime ovary exposure."

This study's findings are in line with those of a study conducted earlier this year at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., of 29,000 who had hysterectomies because of benign uterine disease. Although those women whose ovaries were removed before 50 years of age were protected against ovarian, uterine and breast cancer, increased mortality from other causes was noted compared with those who had their ovaries for at least 50 years.

Both studies call into question the automatic removal of the ovaries when hysterectomies are performed in dogs and women.
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Both Chloe and Fluffie were spayed when they were 6 months old, and i was the one who made the decision to do so. Of course, my intentions were good - no cancer, less stress. But if this article reflected the truth, wouldn't it mean that i have unknowingly eradicated their chances at a longer life?

I'm so affected by this, i can't stop thinking about it.

Cherry Blossoms In Japan.

(Photo credits: /\ltus)

I'm hoping that this would be the scene that meets me when i visit Tokyo, Japan next March/April :) My cousin's husband has been posted to Tokyo by his company, and she will be joining him there once her teaching bond is up at the end of this year.

Even though it is going to be good exposure for them and an amazing opportunity to experience life in a beautiful country, i know that we are all gonna miss having them around in Singapore for the next few years. So i'm guessing that in the period that they're based in Tokyo, we (= mum + aunt + sisters/cousins + me + fluffie!) will be making at least a couple of trips there to visit :) I know i definitely wish to!

I've always wanted to move to Japan for a few months and learn dog grooming techniques over there. Maybe now that my cousin will be there, i will turn my dream into a plan, then into reality :)

My Camera Is Home!

A couple of weeks ago, i had to send my 450D and kit lens to the Canon office at Harbourfront for servicing because the autofocus stopped working. Thank God the set was still under warranty! At first i was concerned that they would take a long time with the set and i wouldn't be able to get it back before the Chinese New Year break, but they were really quick! Less than a week after sending it in, i received a text message informing me that the camera was ready for collection, with zero charges! Yay :)

So...TADA! Made a detour down to the service centre after my course at NUS today :)

The collection process was painless and fuss-free, and the autofocus is working good as new again! I'm a HAPPY girl now :) :) :)

Am I Up To The Mark?

Today, in the office, i received an email that caused me to feel extremely honoured yet highly stressed at the same time. I'm so excited about the opportunity, but there're these nagging thoughts at the back of my mind that keep me wondering if i will be able to live up to expectations?

I don't want to disappoint any one, and i really want to do not just a good job, but an excellent one! I hope i'm up to the mark.