Image: djcodrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
It’s always been my dream to write. As much—or as little—as you’ve probably read my articles or my book, there’s still a very long way for me to go in terms of fiction and creative writing. So coming to Iowa for five weeks where I write, write, and write! is indeed a leap towards achieving my dream. I have to thank Stuart for this. Of course, my parents and sister are holding the banner up for me too, but since we’re talking about marriages here, I’ll just focus on being mushy.
When someone from the Health Promotion Board approached me to do something with them on positive thinking, I said yes without a second thought. I’m honoured, I thought. In my mind I figured it’d be some talks on keeping yourself happy and positive, but I was so wrong. They could never been more creative. Positive thinking and positive actions are their focus this year in the lead up to World Mental Health Day (WMHD) in October. Haven’t I been talking so much about minding our thoughts? That what we think will affect how we feel and what is eventually translated to real actions? This is exactly what HPB’s message is to all of us this year, and the messenger is not a person, not words, but art. Yes, art.
I was lucky.
Even though I burnt my lunch and dinner the day before–an entire six-inch organic spinach pizza. But because that one afternoon of bad timing–just five minutes–was sandwiched between two good days, so I was one happy woman after all.
Before that day, I had visited a friend’s house. Condo, she called it. Townhouse, I told Donna what we, in Singapore, would refer her humble abode to.
The outside view of her home
Happy July 4th! That’s what people say to each other today in Iowa. I said that to the smiley lady cashier with short blond hair at the supermarket too.
It has been a week since I’ve arrived in this city of literature. Ten days of reading, writing, more reading and more writing has not dampened my urge to want to read more. It has been such a liberating experience for me. Until now, the TV has been sitting in my room, observing my every movement and listening to my every breath, without uttering a single sound, as I haven’t allow it to. So, living without a TV is okay, after all, when there are better things to do.
For quite a long while, I was deceived. The cheery blue sky made me think that time had stood still at 5pm, when it had already turned 8pm. Night had come, yet, it didn’t show. So, this was the first greeting that this city had offered me. What a nice way, I thought.
The colour of the sky at 815pm in Iowa
Another view from my window
At 930pm, the sky looked had turned grey but still hiding a tinge of light. It looked like 7pm in Singapore.
Ole, ole, ole, ole… ole… ole.
Alright, it’s the football season again with the kick off of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, probably happening right now as I’m writing this post. I’m no football fan, though I’ve managed to watch one match in each of the world cup for the past decade. Yes, I catch the one final match that will determine who reins the football field for the next four years.
When I was first read this news S’porean Cheated by ex-lover on The Straits Times two days ago, I felt sad for the woman who had lost her relationship and her money. When I reached the part where she commented on how she felt about this case, I felt sadder. This, was what she said (taken from The Straits Times):
I don’t trust men anymore. I trust money more now.
I’m sure she said more than this liner during the press conference. But, based on this alone, it isn’t hard to know how deeply hurt she was from this relationship. Yet, based on what she said, I’m very concerned.
An Australian friend made a most innocent remark when he saw the grill gate, or rather, all the grill gates, at the entrance of all the flats. “Why are there gaps in all these gates?” he asked my sister.
I was dumbfounded for about three seconds when my sister told me about this, before I laughed in comprehension. The gates in Australia are all netted with a mesh to prevent insects, especially abundant during summer time, from flying in. So he found it interesting that the gates all come with such gaping holes in between each grill, and each household sporting a different design!
