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There's been a nice break from reality shows on TV. I feel like I'm in the eye of a hurricane before MediaCorp unleashes another wave. But one seemingly innocuous show crept through.

The Search for America's Hottest Male Model has got to be the sorriest excuse for a reality show yet. It's so obviously pandering to female (and definitely some male) hormones with hunky men walking around in briefs and army boots. Don't get me wrong, these guys are hoties (Eees will agree to that!). I'm just grumbling about the dearth of quality programs and the rise of reality shows!

So attention TV executives! Can you please not resort to mindless programmes and actually pay for scripts that are well, you know...intelligent?

Can we see a return of clever comedies like Friends, Cheers or the grand-daddy of them all, MASH? And TV shows like Hill Street Blues, Chicago Hope and Ally McBeal. People may veg out in front of their TVs but I think they'd like to be entertained, not see the same old formula rehashed a hundred times under a different title.

Time has a funny way of putting things in perspective.

Several years back, I thought of nothing of late night partying, drinking champagne at weekend brunches or chugging beer at 3 in the afternoon. Friends were fun, my job paid well...life was good. Then an ex-boyfriend unwittingly magnified all the ugliness of that life through his example. What I saw repulsed me. And I swore I would stop.

It wasn't/isn't easy. Not because of my desire for the buzz but because of friends who still partied hard. I have moved past that stage when alcohol was a must for a good time. I know I can still be silly and have fun with one glass of wine or without but it doesn't seem that way for some.

Alcohol isn't the be all or end all of life. Surely there must be other ways to have fun that doesn't involve consuming it in quantities or a pub! I want variety with a dollop of intelligence, humour and appreciation. Otherwise, it's boredom with a capital 'B' and life's simply too short for that.

Been doodling again lately, thanks to all the inspiration I've had from the many illustrated blogs out there. Take a look at the list in my left column and you'll find some pretty amazing ones who are on my 'must read' list.

Note: My sketchbook here is the Fabriano Artist's Journal. I do have a Moleskine notebook but that doesn't take washes well - the paper warps quite badly. I heard the Moleskine sketchbook isn't that good for watercolor either. However the Fabriano was rated quite highly by several sites for light washes.

This beautiful illustration is courtesy of Janey. She sent me this postcard after I signed up for inclusion in her postcard project list. It will now be laminated and pinned in my cubicle at the office on Monday.

Pop over to her website to see more of her art. And don't forget to say 'Hi!'

I hope to make this a regular Friday feature. Sometimes profound, sometimes downright silly. Or just curious...like today. Take at look at the left column and choose your preference.

WOMAD! The main music event of the year. So far, the line-up of international artistes includes those from Syria, Cuba, UK and even our backdoor neighbour, Malaysia. Jazz, Reggae, Hiphop, World, Ethnic, Latin...music for every taste and every age.

It's going to be 3 days of fun, music, dance, drink and good friends. Tickets are S$82 for 3 days.

Crappy week! It started last Friday evening before I even left the office. A couple of things popped up then that left me with no doubt that I'd be in for crappy week ahead. So true! Monday came and I was dying for Friday. I'm now barely crawling towards tomorrow. Hope that no ugly surprises spring up tomorrow with images of impending doom the following week.

Last night, we had a belated Father's Day dinner. True to form, Dad suggested a place and kept it a secret (even from me, and I was buying dinner!). We drove up to Teluk Blangah - an area in Singapore not particularly noted for its food. When he turned into a street, the signboard read: Labrador Park. And right there, were about 6-8 food stalls selling an assortment of local food. Dad slowed down. I heard Mom draw her breath and let it out shortly after when Dad drove on laughing. I swear, that man...

We ended up at a carpark after a short winding drive, near another sign with an arrow pointing to Olive Ristorante. Ooohh! Italian! The restaurant was lovely - far from the bustling crowd, tucked among the trees on a hill at Labrador Park. It was outdoors dining, with no walls yet was sheltered from the weather. We could see the city lights twinkle in the distance, hear the humm of insects and feel a gentle breeze move through. The menu consisted of Pasta, Pizza with a small dessert and appetiser selection. Small but good. And the bill which popped by later was not a squeeze on the wallet either. A highly recommended place for a chill-out evening.

So once again, my dad scored. He's already got something up his sleeve for my mom's birthday in August. And he's not telling!

Ok...I confess.

Gadget, gizmos and widgets turn me on. I love the extra zing they bring to work and life around me. And now thanks to Andrea, I've got another toy to add to my burgeoning collection. Check out the left column.

A little meme for this week:

1. Visit Italy
2. Travel through Europe
3. Cruise the River Nile with my sis
4. Visit the Louvre, the Hermitage and Cairo Museum
5. Become a published writer
6. Join an animal activist group
7. Make it an Mac World Conference in NYC or SF
8. Meet the love of my life

Not too much to ask for, is it?

...when there's a friend who's unhappy with what she perceives are slights from someone in management?

It's nothing major but she's a sensitive soul and feels it acutely. And she's getting more and more ticked off. She's good at what she does and I too feel she's not being treated fairly or even taken seriously. I'm her listening ear and sometimes her punching bag when she's feeling particularly frustrated.

I'm not sure what I can do to help and I don't want to be caught in the middle of what could be an explosive affair. I learned my lesson from getting involved in a creative misunderstanding earlier this year. So for now, I offer a shoulder and bite my tongue.

Just returned from my dentist after an urgent visit. Sipping coffee this morning, I felt a sharp twinge in my mouth. And true enough, Dr Tan said it was a cavity. A big one, right under a filling which hid it. It could be a root canal job, I was warned as I started to hyperventilate. I had 2 jabs; the last one being the most painful EVER! Tears spouted, drat it!

He started drilling and cleaning and cleaning and cleaning...then "Oh, I don't think you'll need a root canal after all!" I could have hugged him. He patched it and gave me some ibuprofen if it starts hurting. I'm back at work with half my mouth numb and drooling. Quite attractive that.

I go back in 2 weeks for a check up.

Now you can still be connected when you're out clubbing without having anything as cumbersome as a handbag in your clasp. The Tsaya ladies' thigh holster for the mobile phone looks drop dead sexy as it keeps your mobile phone close while you're partying the night away.

Great with a skirt, but what about when you're wearing pants?

After nearly 2 months worth of rehearsals, bruised bodies and practically no social life, Fireflys debuted on June 2 at the Singapore Arts Festival - Arts on the Movie with Spellbound. This 5-act piece was truly the best in their repertoire yet! They wow-ed the crowd at Bugis Junction with fir twirling and fire staff combined with dramatic theatre and dance. It was truly tummy-tingling, goosebumps good!

There may be some good news in the near future for the group, so I'm crossing my fingers for it to happen. Stay tuned.