Quick Update

I am back and posting...we'll see for how long, but I will try.  Larry and I went on quick trip back to the US.  We needed to take care of a few things that I will post about in a future post.  We primarily stayed in the Seattle area, hanging with Ryan and the fabulous Annabella, but we did dive bomb my family in Detroit.  We snuck into town (giggling and high five-ing our sneakiness) and surprised Debbie and Louie by showing up in their pool.  Her reaction was great...well worth the little white lies.  Then we surprised my family by driving by them at their usual spot on Woodward Ave. during the woodward dream cruise.  Their reaction was also hilarious....even my mom almost biting the dust by choking when she saw us drive by.  It made for some funny jokes the next day, that's for sure.  My family has a sick sense of humor, so you can imagine.  We had a nice relaxing day with them the next day as well, and enjoyed a perfect Michigan summer dinner.  Michigan corn on the cob, tomatoes, cantalope, and one of my favorite things, HOTDOGS.   What can I say...I'm a cheap date.  The trip to Detroit was too short, but I'm really glad we got the chance to do it.  Seattle was fab too...the weather could not have been more perfect.  We spent an idlyic day at the ocean, full of memories I will treasure forever.  Annabella was a dream...she is such a sweet, funny girl.  She really got into hanging with her Grampy and Grammy.  We stayed at her house, so she was super fun...and Larry loved the red headed wake up call.  We did stay a weekend in a hotel, and Annbella was quite impressed with the fold out couch...I kept telling her "this is very, very fancy" and she agreed...too cute!

We are back and getting into the swing of life again in Sing.  I've been super busy with hair, and Larry is back on the day shift.  He is getting ready to start golf lessons, and seems pretty excited about it.  Frankie is speaking to us again, after getting the furry cold shoulder.  He was well taken care of by Catherine and Sarah, but he still prefers his peoples around him all day.

Today we woke up to some bad news from Detroit.  Debbie and Louie had to put their beloved furbaby, Max to sleep.  They are so very sad.  Anyone who has had to put an animal to sleep knows how incredibly shitty it is.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Maxie was a sweet and loving boy...I loved him very much. We were great pals, and  he was the best fur godson I could have asked for. He will be missed by many, many people who loved him so much.

It is also Larry and Gary's birthday today....happy birthday to my very cute hubby and fab bro in law!!  

More tomorrow...hint...it involves noodles.

xoxoxo

Pam

Happy 39!

A very Happy Birthday to my best friend, Deb!  WHOOOOHOOOOO OL Lady!!

Shuffling right along...

I am stealing this brilliant idea for future blog posts from My BFF, Deb.  I will put my itunes on random, and the next 3 songs I hear, I will write a short blurb about what the song means to me, the time it brings me back to, ect.  

So here goes: Song number one: The Story, by Brandi Carslise.  I first heard this song bombing sown 696 in Detroit, probably running late for school or work.  It was when I had just realized I was head over heals for an old guy that lived in Seattle. It was a very fitting song and I LOVED it.  Then it was on Gray's anatomy, and it became a huge hit.  I love her raw, not overly pretty voice. A friend of mine was driving with me once, and it was on the radio...I was doing my usual teary eyed singing along, and she was just shaking her head, calling me a sap. (Hi Stro!) Anyway...I still love it...for someone so young this chick can write and sing!

K, next one coming up.....Make Your Own Kind Of Music, Mama Cass.

Oh please!  I dare you not to LOVE this song....I have always LOVED, LOVED Mama Cass...that gorgeous, rich pitch perfect voice of hers...oy vey!  I remember my mom having an album (huh, what the heck is an album??) of hers when I was little, and a lot of my early childhood memories are laced with mama cass in the background.  When I got married in Vegas, I got a little slack for not going the more traditional route.  Deb sent me one of those musical cards with this song in it...saying she thought it was pretty nifty that Larry and I chose to do it our "own way".  Thanks for "getting it" Deb! It has definitely always been a "theme" song of mine.  Good one, shuffle!

Neeeeext!   Bust a Move, Young MC.  What can I say....you can take the old school hip hop outta the girl....woohooo...this song makes me shake my groove thang....not much more to say about it...it's funny, silly and has a great beat.

Thanks Deb for the great idea....this is right up my alley!

Oh Yum!

Larry and I went out for our usual saturday night 'dinner out'.  We debated our choices....our new favorite; Bali seafood?  No...we didn't want to get burned out on that....Mr. Prata (24 different kinds!!)  No....not in the mood....Pho?  No.....we had a very unfortunate experience there a few weeks ago, and it will take me a while to muster the courage to go back (insert gagging noises here)  Pizza?  Nah...I needed to get out.  Lar was feeling under the weather, but he agreed to go out...so not wanting to go far, we decided to try something in our new neighborhood.  We chose Ivin's Peranakan restaurant, right up the road from us.  It was a surprisingly mild evening, so the short walk from the carpark was nice.  We even saw a few kitties, none as cute as Frank, but still cute.

I didn't know much about Peranakan food (check this link out, tells ya all about it), and knew only a little of the culture from my visit a few months ago to the Peranakan museum.  I knew it was a mixture of Maylaysian and chinese...and that's it.  Ivin's reminds me of a local italian joint in MI.....families were there, enjoying family style portions of comforting food their Mama's probably made.  It was cheap, cheerful, and even though we were the only Ang Mo's, we were warmly welcomed.  The food was DELISH!  I was trying to figure out a way to describe it yesterday....it didn't seem very chinese...more Malaysian, which is normally roti prata, nasi goreng , that kinda thing.  We ordered a chicken dish that came in a VERY hot ceramic crock (Lar burned his finger....poor guy was having a rough night) it was hunks of chicken in  a rich red, tomato-ey sauce.  Not spicy at first, but it did pack a punch after a few bites.  It was served with white rice.  There were 2 large 'rocks' in the dish...Larry this they are to cool the dish down, thrown in after it is cooked.  We ordered to vegetable dishes, both super yummy.  One was a large slab of sweet potato cooked in coconut sauce, with the sweet potato leaves ( you eat them!  yummy!!  and think how healthy!) and one random shrimp...it was my favorite.  Then a curried vegetable melange.  I t had cabbage in it, but I still liked it.  Lar really wasn't feeling well,so his opinion was a little skewed...he drank  few cups of tea, and ate about half of his dinner.  He was patient with my lip smaking and ooh-ing and aah-ing though.  He only rolled his eyes once...

I LOVED this place...we will for sure be making it one of our regular spots.  Oh, and it was CHEAP!!  We are finding that more and more...the more local restaurants in our new 'hood are cheaper, the food is fantastic, and though we may get a few looks, we are always welcomed.  I'm loving exploring our new surroundings, and getting a more 'real' feel for the people and culture of Singapore.

  Two thumbs way up from the Grulich's!

Random Frank

Happy 4th!

We spent the 4th of July at the American Association's annual party again this year.  It was even better this year to be able to share it with friends.  The fireworks were great this year, and I got a little weepy thinking of all my family and friends that are in Ludington (northern MI) for the annual week at Sauble Resort.  It's weird being so far away and not being able to go...even though this is my second year not going, it still seems weird, like a hunk of me is missing for a bit.  

We enjoyed the evening, laughing and chatting with our friends, and I even got to have a quick chat with a fellow Southfield-Lathrup High School Grad.  He owns Botak Jones, an american food restaurant here in Sing.  He was the first graduating class, and I followed 20 years later.  It was neat to touch base for a minute with a fellow charger.  It makes you realize just how small this crazy world really is.

Larry and I are going to a swim meet tonight for the Singapore Youth Games...hopfully I'll have some good pictures to post!  Have a good Sunday everyone!

Pretty In Pink

I've been doing lots of hair the past few weeks, and have been having fun getting to know new people.  A few brave clients have wanted pink ( ok, Leone was talked into it...).  It's been so fun to express my creativity and step out of the hair color box!

We've had a busy few weeks.  We had a party for Larry's work folks, so it has been a hub-bub of getting the house ready, food cooked ect.  I'll blog about that a little later.

Thanks for being so patient with this blog.  Things are good here, or at least better.  We are fine!  

xoxoxo

Pam

Good Things

I made myself think of five good things to be happy about this morning.  Lar and I have had some challenges these past few weeks.  I always struggle with keeping this blog all about the good stuff, or to just lay it all out there, the good, the bad and the real ugly.  We aren't quite ready to delve into the ugly, especially for the entire blogisphere to consume, so here are a five good things that are helping to keep my head above water.  We are fine, or will be. I'm sure I will share all the gory, fun-filled details at some point, but for now, please send us good vibes, and if you feel like it, swedish fish and copenhagen chewing tobacco (our own oral coping mechanisms of choice...yes, Larry's is gross.  Yes, mine will rot my teeth and brain and make my ass larger. We. Don't. Care.).

1. Yankee candles.  Yep, I pretty much lost my mind in Tang's department store.  I kept screaming " OH MY GOSH, THEY HAVE THE BIG JAR!!!"  Oh, the poor saleswoman....we shall not mention the price.  Suffice it to say, it was ugly...real, real ugly.  But...I. Don't. Care.  Sometimes, it's whatever will get you through that day, that moment and that breath.  
2. Golf balls.  Larry has taken golf back up, and that was to represent him getting clubs, balls, and me promising to get him a snazzy golf outfit (think Jackie Gleason....knickers, tam with large pom pom, and loud sweater to match.)  He's very excited.
3. The world's most darling pedicure 
4. Milk Dud's.  This is my movie stash.  Sarah brought these back from her trip to the states. I always sneak a little bag into the movies with me.  Someone, who shall remain nameless, recently pillaged my stash.  I threatened divorce, he just snickered and complained that his jaw hurt now.
5. Last, but certainly not least, my furbaby.  Frank the wonder cat....he is a big, fat furry band-aid on our hurting hearts right now.  If I could bottle his sweetness, I might be able to solve the crisis in the middle east.  Seriously.     
   

Any suggestions for a fun, singapore themed blog post?  Hit me with your best shot....my brain has shriveled from all the red dye #5 in the swedish fish.

Have a great weekend everyone!

xoxo

Pam

Random Frank

He loves his daddy-o