Ely1

Looks like you can retain a lot of stuff since the apartment is very well-maintained - good on you! Nice, spacious place - looking forward to your updates, and seeing pics of your cats - Ely

Quite a rare occurrence for both husband and wife to be on the same thread ! Definitely fun! As for your laundry pulley system, my hubby will be able to advise you better on this (he's doing ours). Your apartment is so retro it make me laugh me a little. I imagine an entire overhaul and a hefty reno bill, but at least you'd be able to do it up exactly the way you want it, not pay some premium COV for a "just-renovated A1 decor" that isn't you. Looking forward to more pics and progress! - Ely

I've tried Zumba and Dance with Julianne - awesome fun! Turbo Jam also incorporates Capoeira and Tai-Chi so it's a fun workout. I just love how Jillian Michaels is super hardcore and really pushes me with every workout. Kelly-Coffey is another good one. - Ely

I watched Ipman! Besides, I know crazy Pyroblast moves and Polymorph into Sheep! Bah! - Ely

Cannot lah, people afraid - you can go (selectively) meet the pets in the common room I'll have each one in their own crate. - Ely

The gracious hostess extends the invitation to all interested ELY'S RT-GATHERING May Dream Mae29 Kobelala Marshy Friends78 Patsy Sleek Caraval Hafiizh Footprint RimBlock Boyblunder Csingeu El LoCo knownothing CutieCat Adidaem JCase Seth & Ader (I might just persuade you to get a cat, ha! Sleek will be my wing-woman - btw, Chase was a REAL foster, not some random cat video I found - that's how cute the kittens I foster are ) - Ely

NP re: the links. I love shopping online anyway, even if it's just browsing I hear you, sleek. Some days are easier, some days not so when my parents, with the best intentions in their heart, tell me everyday how ugly I am or how terrible a person I am, or how I should change the way I laugh and speak (they say I speak poor English), and even the way I walk. /boggle I try not to let it get to me but it can inflict some serious self-doubt over time. I was seeing a therapist for a reason y'know~ It definitely helped some, until he hit on me and that plunged me further into hating my looks (or rather, the way I present myself). "The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body. After all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind." - Francois de la Roche Foucauld Bring the entire Amazon forest or Serengeti plains if you wish! - Ely

I tried the "tone" but it didn't work. Sigh, so much more to learn about Deh-ing. Think I can do better at being assertive instead. Just need to get myself really irritated before I start barking out orders! Awwww What a very nice thing to say, makes me feel so much more assured - Ely

Greetings Duchess, Would love to have you over and continue our conversation You were a little shy at first but warmed up soon after. Haha, maybe I'll convince you to get that wine chiller afterall! Thank you, Adidaem. Very sweet of you to say so. Now, all we need is The Husband to think the same! Don't worry, pets will be crated (seeing that most are either phobic or allergic). They'll be fine in their crates - being crate-trained when they were young. They would most likely be really confused why they're not joining in the party as they love being in the center of all activity - Ely

Um, totally! Just so dark and not conducive for pictures at all! Terrible place we were at. Sigh, or we would have had pictures galore! - Ely

I have an electric dog collar...hmm... - Ely

Bondi and Maxey will be sad at not being able to meet you, but I'll be sure to give some extra loving after - Ely

Np, Csingeu, would love to really get to meet you and your gorgeous wife. Both of you were so quiet at May's place! Thank you for the compliment - it comes as a surprise as we only met briefly We can provide "shuttle service" from the MRT - just let us know in advance - Ely

Thank you May I'm trying - slowly but surely I think another hindrance is that I'm also worried that I might become vain or conceited. >< I hate that. I love ancient, unreal qualities like heroism, passion, honesty, humility - and these are so fast vanishing from the world. - Ely

Nahh, all of you are so off the mark! What I really need is May Dream and her Deh Power! Everything done for free, and quickly and no nonsense! - Ely

Was great meeting my fellow Virgo RT-er Still can't get over how tiny and cute your shoes are ! Such a pixie, you! Yeah, I had a lot of fun chatting with you. Pity we didn't chat for as long as I'd like Next time k? As for cat comment, pls see Action Figure above~ - Ely

Thank you Seth I volunteer with Cat Welfare Society as well as Action for Singapore Dogs here so know enough to help people with pets' problems. Also a huge fan of Cesar Milan ! Used to volunteer in Australia too with Dog Refuge Home and Cat Haven, and soon as some time frees up, I'm planning to get Maxey certified with Good Canine Citizenship so we can visit old folks homes, the mentally-challenged, cancer kids etc. More than happy to help anyone here too regarding their pets or problems with stray cats. I've now passed on the responsibility of taking care of about 30-50 community cats at Old Airport Rd since I'm moving, but have come forward to my MCST as their "cat person" (trapping, sterilising, returning, managing). Now I really need that action figure!! There's a JR at my estate that is up for adoption. Are you interested? - Ely

Oh, I do my own kickboxing - Turbo Jam and Jillian Michaels. I also used to carry a 6-batt Maglite in my car in Australia. No one messes with the 156cm lady! I'll just beat them with my tiny ineffectual fists! - Ely

Everyone's invited! In fact, I already preemptively put both your names down on the guest list as Hafiizh is also in the east, and footprint is a regular So far, the guest list is: May Dream Mae29 Kobelala Marshy Friends78 Patsy Sleek Caraval Hafiizh Footprint RimBlock Boyblunder Csingeu El LoCo knownothing CutieCat Adidaem Do let me know if I've missed anyone, and if you'd like to come - tentatively, it's Mid-June Um, also let me know if you're allergic/afraid of dogs/cats - I'll have them crated. <3 Ely

I know I can be forthcoming with you, like you are with me, so... /slips on slinky 4" heels It's actually a cultural thing in our society to "refute" compliments. This has been pretty much ingrained since I was a child. It's also "unlucky" if you praise a baby to be cute, as the older generation would think this would "curse" the kid to now become "ugly". You're supposed to say (to an adorable child, but directed to the parents/grandparents) "Oh my, how ugly! I hope she blossoms into a swan!"~ During the familial obligations of Chinese New Year, should a relative tell my parents "Oh, your daughter is pretty!", they would politely reply "Not at all! She's so ugly!". Naturally, this has rubbed off me some, and I'm bearing my soul here:- I don't have pictures taken when I was young, and when I asked my Mom where my baby pictures were (was trying to make a collage of all the kids for Mother's Day), she told me (with a straight face) I was too ugly as a child so they didn't take any pictures. When I cut my hair to a trendy bob after moving to Australia, she lamented that I had lost my ONE saving grace, because prior to the haircut, I could pass off as attractive if seen from the back view. Not seeking any sympathy here, thank you very much. Just the hard truths on my admittedly "stupidly insecure" behaviour. I was seeing a therapist on building my self-esteem, which sometimes is paralysing, but I am aware how well my persona covers my inner defects, so people usually don't believe me and think that I'm either fishing for more compliments or putting on some fake display of false modesty. I'm working on it though, which is why I said I humbly and gratefully appreciated their compliments - I just didn't want their kind words to have a life of its own and growing into something that would make me feel more pressurised and conscious about. It is definitely not meant to irritate people or make others feel worse about themselves. It's a lifelong struggle for me to accept compliments without cringing and hopefully, I'll get there some day. I hope this helps you understand me a little bit more "Don't forget that I cannot see myself - that my role is limited to being the one who looks in the mirror." - Jacques Rigaut /kicks off heels - Ely

Cats are excellent at jumping, with some breeds more particular on being at really high spots (like Norwegian Forest Cat) as they have impeccable height perception. Unfortunately, they lack the same intuition when it comes to depth perception, which is often the case of cats falling off flats (even 1st floor) and ending up paralytic. I've built little wheelchairs for some kitties - took quite a bit of research and shopping at Daiso but managed to get the cat zooming around again Such a joy. My rescues scale all my walls and fences with the utmost grace while Bondi struggles to pounce on a table-top (THUMP!). Most fosters would insist that you have windows meshed (but there are great stylish ways of doing so) before allowing you to adopt. I'm not as stringent though I emphasise clearly what precautions must be taken. Many plants too are toxic, and sadly, since I've had cats, The Husband has stopped sending me lovely lilies Cats that are allowed to roam should never have their nails trimmed as they would be unable to climb trees to get out of harm's way. Indoor cats are fine. Pedigree cats should never be let outside because they lack the natural ability to defend themselves. You'd be surprised, footprint, even my previous "curvy" rescue can scale a fridge in one leap, and she's quite... rotund. I call this: "I Ate A Bowling Ball" - Ely (now also known as Crazy Cat Lady )

Armarkat 57" - US$84.99 76" Cat Condo - US$49.88 Beige 62" - US$39.88 80" Cat Condo - US$69.88 - Ely

Hi Sleek, with 4 cats, I'll think they'll want some condo space, so here are some multi-level ones. Unfortunately the "REALLY" cheap ones are only available to ship in Australia - pity. Cat Condos:(all ship internationally - check shipping during checkout) 42" Leopard - US$29.99 52" Beige - US$29.99 Smart Cat Ultimate - US$53.49 Smart Cat Multi-level - US$42.75 Beige 73" - US$58.88 -cont'd

I knew a fellow geek would appreciate the humour Cute videos always work. Here, try Chase's: http://www.youtube.com/elyria59#p/u/1/cBb73zGAY_s He's quite the King Of Cute! - Ely

Zoloft is cool, though anything *pam is a friend (lorazepam, diazepam, nitrazepam) and Xanax gives a Zen inner poise But I wouldn't mind Jake Gyllenhaal feeding me compost either~ Haha, I have several rake brushes and massage brush for Bondi but the FURminator works the best. HUGE clumps of hair omgah. I also have Mysterious Purr Padds that electrostatically traps dander, flea dirt, hair and dust: Hmm, wow - stretching upwards means wall scratchers but if you're not opposed to cat posts/condos, let me know and I'll direct you to some REALLY cheap ones. Pet stuff here are so expensive I baulk everytime I'm at PLC. Ahh, a pet owner after my own heart Makes my heart skip a beat whenever people say "no fillers"! P.S. We ARE up late, aren't we? - Ely