I’ve been reading Karen Cheng‘s blog for… years.
Can’t even remember how long now but i stumbled upon it through random clicking and found myself returning to it every other day.
Which is really strange cos despite me being a blogger, i’m not a blog-stalker.
Admittedly, i stalk hers.
Hi, my name is Joyce and i stalk Karen Cheng.
I love her optimism and reading about a life so different from mine, which i think is the whole purpose of reading a blog – peeking into someone else’s life and cultivating joy from it.
I love that she appreciates random leaves like me.
I coo at pictures of her healthy food (prollie cos i cannot cook to save my life).
I’ve been following her sons Sean and Callum growing up, as she writes on their holidays, adorable things they say, frustration in parenthood, fun activities they do together and ‘Firsts’ in a lot of everything – first day of kindergarten, first time this, first time that.
Perhaps her writing on her children are my favourite part of all.
I marvel at the drawings they conjure and the toys they make.
When i first noticed Karen linked me on her blog a couple of years ago, i excitedly told AshleyTheMonkey about it. “Hey, do you read Karen Cheng?” “No…”
“Oh. Well she’s this blogger right, *blablabla rambles on about Karen Cheng*… and she linked me *beams* ” “… oohkay you psycho.”
Ash couldn’t fathom why i was so excited over an Australian blogger i’ve never in my life linking me.
>.<
Then one day, Karen emailed me about her Karen Cheng pose.
The first line in my reply email back was that her blog made me want to have kids -_-
She said it’s my hormones talking 0_o
Anyway, back to the Karen Cheng pose (read the link then you’d understand better!), she started up a Facebook Group for fun – to let other people post up pictures of themselves taken in the reflection of a mirror to show what they’re wearing/looking for the day.
If you think that this is merely a narcissistic act, stop right there.
Karen took it much further. With the help of supportive bloggers and friends, she held a charity event for the Singapore Red Cross when she flew there last month.
They raised app. SGD2,000 in 2 hours for the fund, all derived from the fun of taking pictures of yourself in the mirror.
It’s a bit blur cos i took a quick shot right before SarChan knocked on my room door to walk downstairs together for the MTV Asia Awards.
You can see the heap of scarves piled on the bed cos i packed stuffed them into my bag in a hurry!
Remember what you always repeated to me?
That everything happens for the best.
I know that may not look that way right now.
I know that you must be thinking how could it possibly be any worse than that.
But it could.
(Er… i’ll state all the worse things that could happen to you when i see you later today)
We know we hit points in our life, where the situation is so unbelievable we laugh.
We laugh because it’s so insane we become hysterical.
That sort of laugh scares me.
I know we haven’t been hanging as much as we’d like to.
You know. The usual things in life get in the way – work.
Work.
Er… and more work.
We’ve both been there for each other when we’ve delved into our darkest moods and moments.
It’s always been like a balancing act.
One drowning, the other helping.
And who said it’s going to be any different this time?
Life is throwing a punch to see whether you can take its pressure and withstand its force.
I’ve always known you as someone strong enough to puff your chest out and go, “Well fuck you too!”
So just hold on okay… we’ll sneak up on It when Its attention is diverted, and ride along with its stride.
My dread for Mondays has got me up to a new routine before i go to work.
First, the alarm on my hand phone rings
But not just any old alarm tone
Rather,
A soothing increase in sounds of bells that, well,
Make me think of fairy bells
If i die die also cannot wake up
A clanging one on my old school alarm clock is staged to ring at the ULTIMATE last snoozing time
Which i place 4 feet from my bed
As long as i don’t trip over my books/handbags by the side of my bed,
I will be alive and well for work
While i shower
I blast Regina Spektor’s Fidelity and dance in the bathroom
As long as i don’t slip while attempting to shower and dance at the same time,
i’ll be okay too >.<
In the car, i’ll blast happy songs like
Ben Lee’s Catch My Disease
and
Belle and Sebastian’s For The Price of a Cup of Tea
Oh yeah, i’ve also started giving more way to people on the road and waving thanks all the time
(Read: practicing good road karma)
I figure the good karma i spread on the road will prevent me from getting into an accident, and having green lights all the way (i usually do )
That’s what i kept on asking for at the Kent event last night.
And ohmygod 42 Below is DANGER.
I could barely taste the vodka and… it really got to me.
Milcah kept on trying to set me up with someone, “Look at his hands! He’s got great hands! I bet he’s got a huge package!” She measured a substantial length between her hands and gestured at me. “Oh for fuck’s sake Milcah!!” i yelled.
MaryBerry said i started doing my skippy dance.
DikHaHaHau said i was giving all the guys who were chatting me up attitude.
He introduced me to Jac (i don’t know how you spell it… i think he’s french and the MD of BAT) who er was really nice and ‘saved’ me from someone.
“Want to go again tonight?” asked MaryBerry
“I have plans already. But even if i didn’t… no! Enough..!”
I’m going to skulk to the coffeeshop near my house in a Bass Agents cap (cos my hair looks really shite right now and i’m not going to bother) to buy koay teow in soup.
And eat it at home.
While watching ANTM or something.
”
)
