Going Bananas

"A kitten is more amusing than half the people one is obliged to live with." - Lady Sydney Morgan

I fully agree, just look at the following photos of Braun reaching for a bunch of bananas. Look at how focused she is and the moves are definitely tactical.

Braun to Skoda: "Promise you won't spill the beans, alright?"

Skoda to Braun: "You sure you want to do this


Braun's mind goes a-tickling, tick tock, tick tock


"Here I go!"

"I swear I'm not telling! Can't you see the innocence in my eyes? Oh boy, looks like I gotta shed some pounds to do what my pal just did..."

Self-Sacrifice

Lianhe Zaobao (3 May) - A dwarf hound put up a brave fight in fending off two huge American pit bull terriers from five children. He suffered serious injuries and had to be humanely put down. The incident happened in a northern town, Manaia in New Zealand Wellington. The courageous dog, named George was playing with the children who were on their way home after buying candy. Suddenly, the bull terriers charged at the children and George, who is less than a foot tall, took them on.

One of the children, 11-year old Richard related that the bull terriers’ attack target was his four-year old brother, Daryl. George pounced forward and barked away, in an attempt to distract the bull terriers. The terriers grew aggressive and started to attack George. The children quickly got away and shouted for help along the way. Passers-by stopped and rescued George.

George’s owner, Gay said that the bull terriers bite off big chunks of flesh from George’s neck, chest and back. Nine-year old George had a medical history of heart ailment, hence the vet diagnosed that he would not be able to recover and he was humanely put down to reduce his suffering.

The owner of the bull terriers voluntarily turned them in to the local municipal authority and requested that they be put down because the sudden attack was not triggered by any provocation. The authority confirmed the dogs had been seized and according to local laws, they would be destroyed.

Cats Need to be Paw Safe Too

Picked up this brochure when I brought Mikki to the vet. It says "AIA Paw Safe - The best assurance for your loyal pal" on the cover. My eyes lit up. Veterinarian fees are comparable (if not higher) to medical charges for humans so depending on what the benefits cover and cost, I'd consider insuring my girls. And AIA is a reputable insurance company.

I flipped the cover and was disappointed to read that the plan caters to DOGS only - why?!?! As I looked through the eligibility criteria, this question echoed louder (the same can be stated/required of cats in a similar context). For example, one of the criteria states that coverage is for all types of dogs except Mastiffs, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire/Pit/American Pit Bull Terrier, Argentina Dog, Canary Dog, American Bulldog, or a dog crossed with any of these breeds and/or wolves. Dog need not be a pedigree. The annual premium is $78 (with microchip) or $83 (without microchip).

Other criteria include applicant must be an existing AIA Elite HomeCare or AIA CoverMax Policyholder; insurance coverage is for dogs between three months and eight years; applicant must be the owner; maximum of one policy per dog; limited to two dogs per household for the insurance; and dog must reside with applicant at the address indicated in the application.

Puzzled why cats are excluded from this insurance plan.

If you've a dog and this sounds like something you may want to take up, here is what the plan covers:
1) Accidental death (for death of dog due to an injury within 90 days from the date of the accident / Coverage: $1,000 or purchase price (whichever is lower);
2) Veterinary fees due to accident / Up to $1,000;
3) Cremation or burial expenses due to death by accident (if dog dies as a result of injury within 90 days of the accident) / Up to $250;
4) Loss of dog due to theft (dog is not found within 28 days of being reported stolen) / $1,000 or purchase price (whichever is lower); and
5) Third party liability (for third party bodily injury or property damage caused by dog) / Up to $1 million.

Man's Best Friend

Winnie, a 14-year old cat in the state of Indiana, USA, saved her human family from carbon monoxide poisoning. On 24 March, gas that was undetectable by smell, leaked from a gasoline-powered water pump in the basement. Winnie’s sharp calls pulled the family of three back from the brink of death.

Her female owner, Katie related that it was already 1am and she felt Winnie sticking close to her ear and calling away which sounded like pleas. Katie finally got up from bed when Winnie started to make ear-piercing sounds and kept jumping away. She felt nauseous and giddy upon getting up. She couldn’t wake her husband who just went through a minor surgery in the neck the day before. She dialed 911 for help. When the paramedics arrived, they found Katie’s 14-year old son unconscious on the floor near to the bedroom. The family was immediately hospitalized.

Katie recounted that when a typhoon struck the east of Indiana in summer last year, Winnie also exhibited similar behaviour.

Bravo to Winnie! You've done your feline species proud!!

17 Lessons and Counting!

To date, I've taken 17 driving lessons. 8 more to go and I would have completed the required number of lessons. And I passed my final theory test on Monday, 16 April! I just cleared the review for stage 2, and will be moving on to stage 3 tomorrow, 29 April where my first lesson under this new stage will be vertical parking. Whey, heard so much about this subject so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed! Hopefully I don't get the strict and fierce instructor - but whenever I get him, I tell myself it may be good he is so, because I'll be learning the 'proper' way and not to crack or get nervous under pressure.

I can proceed to book my driving test date. Heard from the instructors that if I book now, the test date will only be in August or September 2007. That is like three months down the road! I find the long wait unacceptable and ridiculous. Is the demand for a driving license really that high or the system is inefficient (as in there is too small a pool of testers or insufficient slots)? My instructor said what I can do is take a break after finishing the last driving lesson and then two weeks prior to my test date, take up a intensive refresher course of three to five lessons per week (end up having to pay the driving centre more $$$). Aaarrrggghhh...waiting is one of the things that I dislike :(

Seven Days to Live

An article by Bill Hybels, extracted from "Today's Christian Woman" website. What can we learn from Jesus' last week on earth?

When some celebrity dies—such as Princess Diana or Sonny Bono—filmmakers often scramble to put together a documentary that examines the last hours or days of that person's life.

What if you knew you had only one week to live? What actions, what priorities, would be captured on film?

Passion Week—the last week of Jesus' life, before he faced a criminal's execution on a cross—was an extraordinary week. Jesus knew he was going to die in seven days. He knew it would be an excruciatingly painful death. But there's much we can learn from what Jesus taught and from how he acted in the week preceding Easter Sunday.

Saturday
The weekend before his death, Jesus stayed at the home of three of his closest friends in the small town of Bethany, about two miles outside Jerusalem. These people weren't among his 12 disciples; they were personal friends—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus chose to spend his last days of freedom with them.

Throughout Jesus' teaching ministry, he emphasizes the importance of community. Jesus continually told all who would listen, "You were created for community with God and others. You were created with a yearning to know and be known, to love and be loved, to serve and be served, to celebrate and be celebrated." What are you doing with the one and only life God's given you?

Have you found this kind of community in your life? It's more than good relationships with your family. You need an inner circle of friends who are fellow believers—just as Jesus had—with whom you can be honest, with whom you can "do life" together.

Sunday
On Palm Sunday—six days before Jesus' death—people lined the streets, waving palms as he entered Jerusalem. It was the first-century equivalent of our ticker-tape parades for heroes down the streets of New York City.

Jesus' popularity was at an all-time high; his teaching had astonishing power. Jesus had changed people's hearts and healed them physically. He'd even recently brought someone back from the dead! By far, Jesus was one of the most popular people in the entire Middle East.

But everyone who lined the streets had a different reason for waving those palms. Some were political activists; they'd heard Jesus had supernatural power, and they wanted him to use it to free Israel from Roman rule. Others had loved ones who were sick or dying. They waved branches, hoping for physical healing. Some were onlookers merely looking for something to do, while others were genuine followers who wished Jesus would establish himself as an earthly king. Jesus was the only one in the parade who knew why he was going to Jerusalem—to die. He had a mission, while everyone else had an agenda.

A couple of weeks ago, I spent some time between flights looking at books on spirituality in the airport bookstore. I discovered things haven't really changed in two thousand years. People are still trying to push their agendas for what the power of God can do. What about you?

Monday
On this day, Jesus did something that shocked people. Known for his love, gentleness, and humility, Jesus came into the temple, saw all the little arcades set up for commercial business, and cleaned house. He overturned the merchants' tables and kicked them out of the temple. People had never seen this side of Jesus before.

Why did Jesus act with such passion? Because he saw worship at the temple in Jerusalem going awry. Jesus knew he had to straighten out the situation before he died, was resurrected, and returned to heaven. The message of his transforming power was going to be left in the hands of worshiping communities. Jesus couldn't afford to have any church get distracted and caught up in questionable activities. They alone would possess the message that would change the world. Jesus sent a signal: Don't get sidetracked. Stay on target. Stay on the mission of spreading God's love.

Tuesday
Jesus taught from early morning till late at night. When the sun went down on Tuesday, his earthly teaching was done.

As dusk approached, Jesus taught the parable of the talents. In those final moments before his teaching ministry came to an end, he told his listeners, in essence, "You have one life. That's it. Some of you have all kinds of gifts and abilities; some of you have less. But don't squander the one and only life God's given you; do something noble and great with it." How poignant it is that as Jesus talked about this, he knew his life was almost over.

Jesus also spoke about the day of reckoning. The closest our society comes to that is tax day—April 15—a financial day of reckoning! But Jesus referred to the day when all moral accounts will be settled. He taught that when that day comes, either people will pay for their evil by being separated from God forever, or they'll be rewarded for having accepted Jesus' payment on the cross for the evil they committed. It's either the self-payment plan or the Christ-payment plan—no other option. Jesus urged his listeners to follow his plan. Whose are you following?

Wednesday
Most scholars believe this was a day of solitude for Jesus. He was doing the most important thing he could—getting alone with God. As he quieted himself, he heard the still small whisper of his Father say, "You're on a mission, and it's going to be difficult, but I'm asking you to endure. I'll be with you."

Some would call it a wasted day. Others would say it was a day that gave Jesus strength to do what he needed to do.

We live in a culture that no longer values solitude. We go from one meeting to the next, one deadline to the next, one activity to the next. Too often we fail to quiet ourselves enough to hear what God would say to us—if only we were listening.

What if you took just one hour to go to a quiet place and say, "God, if you have a message for me, I'm listening"? Some of the richest times you'll know in life will be spent in solitude with God.

Thursday
This day, Jesus took a normal Passover meal and changed it forever. All the arrangements had been made, but then the foot-washer didn't show up! The disciples came to dinner with dusty feet, and stood around asking who messed up the arrangements. It never dawned on them that maybe one of them could humble himself to do that for anybody else.

Jesus came, took off his robe, put a towel over his arm, filled a basin with water, then knelt down and started washing the disciples' feet. They couldn't believe it! The Son of God, the Savior of the world—and he had the humility to wash their feet.

In today's words, here's the lesson: True fulfillment never comes from a life of self-gratification. The way to the top in God's economy is through serving. It's finding God's mission for your life and engaging in it. It's finding people you can humbly serve in daily, down-to-earth ways. And when you find God's purpose for your life and pursue it in a spirit of humility and servanthood, your heart spills over with love and gratefulness.

Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, and when he was done, he said, "Now, you go out and live this way."

Friday
On Friday, Jesus voluntarily submitted to be nailed to a cross.

The Bible says at noon the skies got dark. There was an earthquake. The temple veil was torn. People suddenly realized that when Jesus cried out, "It is finished," and then died, he was no ordinary man.

Jesus was taken from the cross, prepared for burial, and put in a tomb.

Thankfully, the story doesn't end there. But what follows next—Saturday—is most difficult of all, because it's the day between the promise and the fulfillment of the promise. Jesus had predicted he'd be crucified, and that he'd rise from the dead. He was dead all right. But would he come back?

On Sunday, Jesus burst forth from the tomb exactly as he'd predicted. The guards at the tomb saw him, went back to tell the officials, "He's alive!" and were paid to keep quiet about it.

Jesus appeared to more than 500 people—cynics as well as believers—before he ascended into heaven. There was no question about whether or not Jesus was resurrected.

I once spoke to a Muslim who knew I was a Christian. He said, "How come you won't convert to Islam?" I said, "'Cause I won't follow a dead guy. It's that simple. Your prophet Mohammed is in the tomb. How can you get behind anything where the leader, the founder who claims to be something, has no evidence for being any different than any other man?" Jesus Christ is the only religious leader whose tomb says "unoccupied."

With his resurrection, Jesus proved he is the Son of God. And by what he did during his last week alive, but most importantly, on Easter Sunday, your life—and your eternity—can be changed forever.

Ain't No Mountain Too High

Some time back, Grimlock bought me three fridge magnets - one grey mouse, one lion and one cat. They represent the residents at the Cove, ie two humans and one cat (well, then there was only Skoda). You go figure out who the mouse and lion represents respectively, pretty easy right? Skoda has a thing for fridge magnets - she would climb up on top of the fridge, use her paw to move the magnet closer up to the top edge, bite the magnet and then bring it down with her and sometimes, she would bring it to us (drop it nearby). Amazing to see how her mind ticks, the coordination that goes behind the whole process and her persistence (without fail she would get the magnets down every time I put them back).

One fine day last year, the grey mouse mysteriously disappeared and after checking all the nooks several times, it was nowhere to be found. Skoda makes a prime suspect so I also interrogated her several times but she wouldn't confess of any kidnapping crime. The soft approach such as bribing, close pillow talks and whispering into her ear didn't yield any result too.

A few times when we passed by the stall where Grimlock bought the mouse, we would check out the stall but it no longer sold the magnets. After some time, we stopped asking. We were in the area again recently. It dawned on me that perhaps I should just take a look. To my surprise, the stocks were back. And ha, there was a white mouse magnet on display - it was the last piece so we bought it. We also added a hippopotamus and a giraffe to our collection. Good, the 'power' is finally back in balance at the Cove.

Come to think of it, the cat magnet seems to have gone missing for some time. Arrrgghhh, another search? Skoda!!!!!!

We're one happy family sitting high up on the fridge. Then there is this crazy girl who wouldn't leave us alone...

"Now, who'll be first?"

"Giraffy, you first!"

"Who's gonna be next? Eni, mini, mine-y, mo!"

"Hippo, off you go!"


Little did Skoda know that someone had been watching her all this while.

"Kitty, you next, fraudster!"


"Yesssssss, can I help you?!?"


Skoda to Braun & Mikki: "Both of you have got lots to catch up. Think it's easy? Think again, man!"


"Hey, lion, thank your lucky star that I'll spare you this time."


Riding on an all-high energy level, Skoda capped her 'bring 'em down' session with a wrestling round with the batam-weight Mikki...

One More for the Record

Told you before Braun's favourite song gotta be "Oops, I did it again" by Britney Spears. Yes, she bite through Grimlock's mobile phone charger - her FOURTH one. "Looks Can Be So Deceiving" & "Oops I Did It Again"

Grimlock's mobile phone conked off and he bought a new one, a Sony Ericsson W880i on Sat, 24 Mar (this model is real flat and sleek, though lacking on new features). On Sun, 25 Mar, he was charging the phone in our master bedroom. I suggested to charge it in the living room instead. Grimlock reminded me of Braun's 'track record' and I assured him it would be alright and I'd help him keep an eye. Braun did come for the charger and put her mouth over the wire. I inspected the whole wire - a little saliva but no damage, and just to be on the safe side, I put a air freshener near the charger (she can't stand the lemon smell). Later in the afternoon, Grimlock was checking on the battery level. Lo and behold, this is what we saw...

The charger was just a day old! Feeling bad at the result of my insistence and that Braun has let me down (well, considering the good word I had put in for her), I made a trip down to the Sony Ericsson shop again at Ang Mo Kio hyper mart (not sure if this is the correct name, next to AMK MRT station) and bought a new charger for Grimlock (cost me $28!). And to make my trip worthwhile, I ended up getting a new Sony Ericsson W810i for myself (I know the excuse is quite lame lah, hee hee my first Sony Ericsson and my first white mobile phone - the more I look at it, the more I like it :) ) - a further damage of close to $400 to my wallet.

To date, Braun has chewed through the following numbers of mobile phone chargers and headsets, all Grimlock's:

1) Four chargers (including this most recent one);
2) Four headsets; and
3) One computer mouse.

The strange thing is that Braun has left my things alone, don't quite understand that...

Lewd or Art?

The recent display of a nude painting, in the atrium of the Ministry of Information, Communications and The Arts building, caused quite a stir. As the display did not meet Media Development Authority guidelines, the painting was turned to face the wall and then later moved inside the gallery. Some artists interviewed felt that the guidelines were too restictive. The Sunday Times subsequently published a feature on when is a nude offensive to the observer, and when is it art, as well as examine whether Singaporeans are too conservative or too daring.

The article explained that a nude is essentially a painting that features the naked human form rendered in an artistic manner. Usually done as an academic study, it is requisite training for most students in the Western art tradition. (Nude painting is a module under the Fine Art programme at NAFA) The female nude was often portrayed as a goddess or paragon of female virtue in the 15th century during the Renaissance period.

An Assistant Professor at NTU's School of Design, Art and Media was quoted: Whether a nude work is considered pornography or art depends on the intentions of the artist and the context in which the work was created. Pornography is created for the sole purpose of causing sexual arousal. Art may use sexual imagery to aspire to artistic merit.

It also got six experts to review seven classic nudes and this was one of the pieces:

My friend, please don't get alarmed seeing this nude painting or this topic here on my blog. I assure you that my mind hasn't been 'polluted' nor am I trying to be cheeky. As I tell some of my friends, my mind is 'kai fang' NOT 'hao fang' (yes, there is a difference between the two). I'm one of those who wouldn't batter an eyelid nor turn red at the sight of a nude painting, whether male or female nude. Well, the human form has many curves and the female body lines are especially beautiful. Actually hor, it was the cat in the painting that caught my eye. Just look at the body lines of the lady and the cat - there is a certain grace, gentleness. Once again, I've no doubt that the Almighty is the Greatest Creator of all and He has an amazing sense of beauty.

Gentle Giants

I clipped these articles some time back but couldn't find the time to upload them. Are these animals still cute (or do they look scary?) and more importantly, healthy if they are this obese?

This rabbit is of the same size as a big dog. Named Robert, he weighs 9.2kg and his owner is a retiree staying in the eastern part of Russia. His owner once won a prize for rearing such a huge rabbit.

This cat was trapped in the dog flap when his belly got stuck. He had lost his way and was trying to steal dog food from a house. He weighs 20 pounds (about 9.07kg). He eventually was reunited with his owner.

Skoda is also overweight for her age. She last weighed about 6kg in Jan 2007. Though she is not obese, the vet said she mustn't put on any more weight. In fact, she has to shed 1kg. This would be a major challege because all three girls share a food bowl and the current kibbles portion is already substantially reduced (we're not giving the total daily portion for three cats). In addition, we've stopped free feeding for some time and the kibbles are especially for cats that are kept indoor (less calories). I'm also feeding Skoda less treats. Yet, Skoda don't seem to be losing any weight. Visitors to the Cove often asked if she is pregnant. Impossible lah! She has already been spayed.

Some times, Skoda seems to look bigger (my eyes are playing tricks on me?). If she continues to tip the scales on the wrong side, she'll have to be put on a vet-prescribed diet. If we ever have to take up this measure, it would be difficult to keep the other two away from Skoda's diet food. So all three to go on a diet? Braun and Mikki have amazing appetites - they eat a lot but stay pretty much the same size. Might be too early to tell for Mikki because she is still a kitten and easily "burns up" her intake. I definitely don't think cuteness has anything to do with size. I'd be more concerned about Skoda's health.

How, Skoda?!?! I'm at my wits' end leh...

Another Nick?

Once I caught one of the girls up to some mischief and the next moment I hollered away. Almost immediately, the word "Banshee" sprouted from Grimlock's mouth. Then I didn't have a clue what the word meant. I asked Grimlock but he refused to tell me. Recently, he got his Super Heroes cards from U.S. and he showed me this:

The description behind the card:
Real Name: Sean Cassidy
Height: 6'
Weight: 170lbs
Group Affiliation: X-Men
First Apearance: Uncanny X-Men #28, Jan 1967
Extra Fact: One of the X-Men's oldest enemies - the villainous mutant Black Tom Cassidy - is Banshee's cousin!

I almost flipped when I read his profile...
Beware the scream of the Banshee, for this Irish mutant possesses a sonic shriek that can disintegrate solid matter. The Banshee's voice can also propel him through the air on waves of sound or hypnotise the most vicious of villains. Once a foe of the uncanny X-Men, Sean Cassidy was recruited by Professor X to help defeat the murderous mutant Krakoa, the Living Island! Now, after a brief retirement, the Banshee is back in high-pitched action!

GRIMLOCK!!! I'm gonna scream your ears off!!!

Best Foot Forward

Both Skoda and Braun have white paws with pink pads, while Mikki's are black with dark brown pads (they resemble those of a bear).

Some interesting facts about feline paws, extracted from http://www.pawsonline.info/:

A cat's paws, like its teeth, are lethal weapons; they also act as a climbing aid and a shock-absorber when landing. Each front paw contains seven pads. Five digital pads that have claws. One large plantar pad, which is made-up of three lobes and is the main support for the cat's leg, protecting the weight-bearing leg bones. Also there is a small wrist-pad (pisiform).*

There are five pads on each of the hind paws - four digital and one plantar pad. The hind feet are stronger than the front and endure much greater stresses and strains, especially when running and jumping.

There is a common condition know as polydactylism, in cats, this genetic disorder causes extra toes to be present. Sometimes as many as seven toes on each foot have been known.

Finally, one more interesting point about our feline friends is that they, like us, can be right or left-handed, or should I say pawed! Tests have revealed that, out of every one hundred cats, approximately 40 are left-pawed, 20 are right-pawed and 40 are ambidextrous. As regards to us, only 10 people are left-handed for ever 90 who are right-handed.

* "Pisiform" means "pea-shaped", and it refers to the shape of the cat's wrist-bone beneath the pad.

Now, take a look at the paws of Skoda, Braun and Mikki. Who's got the fairest paw of them all?

Could This be Real?

Maybe because Mikki is still a kitten (between four to five months old), Braun keeps a safe distance from her. Mikki is most of the time running about. She will try to get Skoda or Braun in the play mode. Their size does not deter her one bit. Skoda doesn't mind Mikki's antics and gets her share of fun. They end up in wrestling matches and race each other up and down the sofa.

Most of the time, Braun and Mikki engage each other in high-speed chases, with Braun the one being chased. I haven't seen them lock limbs, roll on the floor or go at each other's neck (rest assured, violence is well within PG guideline). If Mikki persists, Braun will scrowl at her and usually Mikki backs off. I had often wondered if Braun is going to stay out of Mikki's way for some time to come. Having said that, I'm SO HAPPY to have captured the following shots in this early hours when I happened to be staying up. HOT FROM THE PRESS leh! It's almost unbelievable that both had settled down on the study table (Mikki kept her paws to herself) and within close proximity. The moments weren't long but I wouldn't ask for more :) Looks like the ice may be melting?

Ahhhhhh... (Don't think you can fathom how mesmerised I'm with this photo)

Oops, a little too close for comfort?

No worries lah, we're cool!

La, la, la, I finally got some shots of Braun and Mikki together - these are their firsts. I had taken quite a few of Skoda and Mikki together - will post these soon. And very few of all three together - this would be a feat man!

I shall close with a few solo shots of my Braun Braun Sweetie Pie, who is right beside me, snoozing away on the cushy study chair (while I'm seating on a round plastic chair with no back support). What to do, I got to spoil her now and then ya!?! And I bet the other two rascals must be having their good sleep on the sofa outside.

Mr Chow, wait for me! Yawn...

Beauty Bloom

It's amazing to see by the day how much Mikki has grown, from about palm-sized to a feisty, hyperactive gal with an amazing appetite. And once upon a time, I kept my fingers crossed that she would live.

(Mikey, that's you in the background. You're dearly missed.)

This gotta be my favourite photo taken to date of Mikki, on 10 March. Isn't she pretty?

Looking just as lovely in these close-up shots...

Mikki, what are you up to?!?

"The Man, His Levi's & I"

"Tell me, what could be better on a Saturday afternoon than snuggling up to the man? I think it might by his Levi's that I love. And not his hairy legs?

I love his hairy legs. I love not his hairy legs. I love his hairy legs. I love not his hairy legs...

Oh my goodness, this is getting complicated. Looks like I'll need some help."