Gallimaufry#135

Just a gallimaufry of AI-generated photos, real photos and ramblings 📸

Clearly, this ride belongs to a true Doraemon fan.

Notice the Life Key on the spoiler

The Life Key is a gadget owned by Doraemon, used to bring life to inanimate objects like toys.

THE LOST CHARM OF SALON MAGAZINES: A NOSTALGIC REFLECTION

In the past, a visit to the hair salon for a touch-up on my grey roots was always accompanied by the delightful anticipation of immersing myself in the latest issues of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Elle, and other such magazines. However, the advent of the digital age has cast a shadow over this simple pleasure. Regrettably, the salon I frequent has ceased to stock these magazines, a casualty of the times where everyone’s eyes are glued to their cellphones, engrossed in the digital world, rather than the glossy pages of a magazine. The charm of flipping through a fresh magazine, lost in the world of fashion and glamour, is sadly becoming a thing of the past.

REDISCOVERED GEMS: POSTCARDS FROM 1990

San Francisco

My AI mouse buddies stumbled upon the forgotten postcards!

In primary school, Cousin Bernie loved to play Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" over and over again on her cassette player.  It was a tune that we associated  with visits to our late Aunt Monica's house after school. 

Those afternoons became etched in my memory, especially when Aunt Monica had just returned from her adventures in San Francisco. She brought back a treasure trove of photos—towering redwoods, cable cars climbing steep hills, and the vibrant streets of Haight-Ashbury alive with color and music. Her stories transported us from our small town to the bustling, eclectic city on the West Coast.

I promised myself I would visit San Francisco someday. And so, years later, in 1990, my dream came  true. I finally stepped foot in San Francisco, walking the same streets I had seen in those old photos. The nostalgia of Scott McKenzie's song played in my head. Aunt Monica's tales mingled with the reality of the Golden Gate Bridge stretching across the bay and the charming crookedness of Lombard Street, echoing with the sound of clanging cable cars.

Standing there, I realized how those childhood moments had shaped my longing for adventure and appreciation for new experiences. The United States was the first distant country I visited outside of my home country, apart from our neighboring Singapore. Aunt Monica's love for San Francisco had become a beacon, guiding me to explore beyond what I knew. And as I watched the sun set over the Pacific, I silently thanked Cousin Bernie and Aunt Monica's infectious wanderlust for bringing me to this vibrant, unforgettable city where I left my heart.

           

Standing before the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, I am swept away by a wave of nostalgia. It feels like a dream come true, a surreal moment that takes me back to the days when a poster of the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge with running LED lights was a rite of passage for every electronics student. I vividly remember my husband (then boyfriend) meticulously soldering red LEDs onto his poster, and I wistfully imagined how incredible it would be to visit the bridge one day. Little did I know that this dream would become a reality, and here I am, marveling at its grandeur in person.

Dinner - Vietnamese

Thit Kho To - braised pork belly in coconut water

Thit Heo Nuong Xa - lemon grass pork chops

Saw this on FB and had to share! 😂

Prayers needed!

Dear Heavenly Father,

So pure and bright,

Guide our hearts and ease our plight,

For 23 years, peace was mine,

Until 5 years ago, came neighbours unkind.

Kids game till 3:00AM, then Dad's on a spree

Vacuuming at 7:00 AM, moving furniture, you see.

Thump, thud, and screech, with a bang and a clatter, 

Complaints fall flat, management's no help, the matter. 

Constantly dropping things, creating a din, 

Adding chaos, under my skin.

They wash their AC, pigeon poop, feathers, and all, 

Foul water drips in, my fries take the fall. 

Dinner ruined, pizza we had to call, 

From pigeon-poop water, in a flood.

I went quite loco, boiling blood. 

Mom vacuums again later in the day, 

Driven by OCD, in her own frenzied way.

So if they must stay, grant me patience, I pray, 

Or guide them to find a new place to play. 

In peace we pray, both night and day, 

For love and kindness here to stay.

Amen

Dear bloggy buddies, I could use all the positive vibes and prayers you can spare. Dealing with my neighbors from hell, who live above us in our condo, has been quite the challenge. Despite my repeated complaints to condo management, my neighbors persist in their disruptive behavior. Seriously, who vacuums not once, but several times a day???!!

Your prayers mean the world to me.

Thank you. 🙏🕯️