I will never stick my hand in a tissue box again.

I stuck my hand in a box of tissues earlier (you know how when the tissues have almost run out, you have to put your hand in to pull the pieces out) and felt something kinda solid along with my tissue.

I took one loook at it and dropped it on the floor.

It was a lizard.

A lizard !?!

They terrify the shit out of me, and sit high on my most-feared icky-creatures list - second only to rodents of the furry variety (rats, mice, hamsters, chinchillas and rabbits).

*shudders*

Bored Games.

The boyfriend and I engaged in a friendly (or just slightly competitive) bout of 'bored' (his term - see, I give credit where credit's due) games tonight, which ended in a draw.

We played four games in total:

1. Jenga (he won)

2. Othello (I won)

3. Connect 4 (I won)

4. Jewel Quest (he won)

Jenga started with a little bit of friendly ribbing - him trying to blow over the tower when it was my turn, and me trying to nudge him when it was his - but I concede that he earned his victory fair and square.

The claws started to come out in Othello. I still don't understand how he acquired that first corner, and I'm certain it was captured under dodgy circumstances (like when my back was turned or something) because one moment I was happy that he had put the piece in that spot, and the next thing I knew - he had the first corner ! Still, good (me, white) rightly triumphed in the end. A classic Disney tale of good trumping the bad (him, black). So I won, despite his underhand ways.

We moved on to Connect 4. And being the sore loser that he is, negated my gloating by putting on an air of indifference, dismissing the game as insignificant because he doesn't usually play it to begin with. I know right, how low can you go !

Finally, having run out of physical games we moved on to Jewel Quest on Yahoo games. In a bid to ensure that he won this one (or risk losing in the overall challenge of the 'Bored' games to me - and me holding it over him for ages to come), cunningly refused to divulge the rules of engagement. He won partly through cunning and partly through a fluke - because his board allowed for more consecutive jewel blasts than mine. Or so I say.

But in spite of his lack of healthy competitive spirit - all the cheating...tsk tsk - it was a good night and a nice way to spend the first weekend in the new year. 

Welcome 2009. I foresee many great things ahead this year :)

PS: You know I'm only kidding boo!

Schmerk.

So it's my first day back at work since the week-long hiatus as a result of my wisdom tooth extraction, and one gloomy non-gluttony Christmas.

It's 720pm and I'm still at work.

My mouth is still hurting - still at that same level of pain (not subtle enough to ignore, not over-whelming enough to write home about).

I had porridge for lunch, and bought some curry tapioca chips from the man who parks his van opposite Amoy market. I know I really shouldn't be having spicy or crunchy food at this juncture, but I couldn't help it.

And it was so yummy.

Before I knew it, half the bag was gone and I was left with a still throbbing left cheek. I can't decide if it's throbbing more after the chips, or if it's still the same.

I just want to go home.

Traffic Jam.

I think I spoke too soon when I said I was on the road to recovery. I'm not even in the slow lane - or maybe I am, and there's just a horrid horrid jam causing traffic to come to a complete standstill. In fact, I think I might even have rewound and backed up a little.

My cheek is still swollen like a puffer fish. I've developed an ulcer under my tongue. And the side of my face is bruised.

Beat that.

So how do I want to spend the last minute of 2008 ?
Hmm. Let me see.

Getting well perhaps !?
Or just with my boo.

There's been an almost constant pain in my face the past couple of days. It's the so-annoying-but-I-can't-quite-put-my-finger-on-where-it's-coming-from type of pain. Not throbbing enough to make you go ouch and cry. But yet not subtle enough to ignore.

*bawls*

And there's work tomorrow.

Woe.

On the mend.

Happy to report that it's Boxing Day, aka day 5 post-surgery and I'm still in one piece. By that I mean something yellow and gross hasn't exploded out of the side of my cheek like a scene out of Aliens (except it's my cheek instead of my tummy).

Aside from the queasy tummy - Christmas Dinner last night at my colleague's place (I've been on a steady diet of porridge since the extraction, and it was all spicy Indian food last night. Need I say more?) - and the still swollen-like-a-puffer-fish-cheek, I think I'm on the road to recovery (the slow lane with the traffic jam).

Christmas Eve.

I opened my eyes this morning to the sound of the rain coming down hard and fast outside my window.

I didn't quite want to get out of bed, but I couldn't quite lie there forever either because I had a check-up at the dentist in a couple of hours so instead, I rolled off to the side to grab my laptop for a quick update to the blog.

There is much to do pre the dentist visit - like brush my teeth for starters. I haven't done so since Monday when they sedated me, yanked out two of my wisdom teeth leaving a gaping hole, and stitches (sutures?) where they used to sit. Don't judge ! I'm told it's perfectly normal not to do so (not brush your teeth that is) for the first couple of days because you don't want to rip the stitches - brushing one's teeth being quite a vigorous exercise aferall. So instead, I've just been rinsing my mouth - gently of course.

Today feels nothing like Christmas eve. Could be partly due to the fact that I've been holed up in my room since Monday, and partly due to the fact that I'm not quite so looking forward to yet another day of porridge and potentially some grape jello (if I'm lucky).

If I was living in a country which snowed - would it be the gently plod plodding of snow I hear dropping gently onto my roof and yard and covering everything in a blanket of white, as opposed to this angry pounding I hear now ?

Would that make it feel any more festive ? I wonder.

Anyway, have a very Merry Christmas ! I leave you with some naked baby pictures - they always make me smile :)

Caelynn at 4 months

Cara at 4 months

Yvette at 6-8months

Ryan at 6-8months

Hungry.

I'm watching 'makan places lost and found' on Channel 5 now, and feeling mighty hungry. The stall being featured now is one called mien and specialises in pasta - carbs, yums !

It's only one day post-surgery and already I'm sick of my porridge.

Give me something else. Now !