the second half of the stimulus set is to be houses, hundreds and hundreds of houses, and all from singapore in case there are cultural differences in the way the asian brain perceives american architecture. i volunteered to do the driving, in part to get out of the office, in part because i had designs on motoring down to sunset way for durian ice cream (which i did). the daily scoop also had lychee martini on offer, but i wisely decided that nothing else either does, or should, interfere with the perfection that is frozen d24, and i was right. hk had bailey's, which was also excellent. i popped over next door in the hopes of buying a box of yam cake studded with tiny bits of lap cheong and topped with sliced chili padi and crispy fried shallots, but was foiled by a big sign on the door that said CLOSED ON MONDAYS. i will return.

we drove around sunset way, with S. popping out of the car every few meters on commando raids to snap photos of suitable facades, criteria for suitability including (a) no cars in the driveway, (b) no gates obstructing the view (c) no dogs (d) no humans (e) no vegetation etc. this was harder than it sounds. most houses in singapore have ridiculously short, virtually purposeless driveways, fronted by enormous obscuring gates. those we eliminated immediately. even at the places with long driveways, we had to get right up to the gate and take the photo between the bars in order to get a decent picture. also, despite us going around in the middle of a working day, more places than you can imagine violated (a) and (d); i.e. singaporeans have way. too. much. money.

down dunearn road, and into all the small side streets, where we got barked at by alsatians, schnauzers, a corgi, and 6.8 million golden retrievers. also a cantankerous pyjama-clad auntie who would not believe that we were with a research lab, even after being presented with identification, and who chased us halfway down the street threatening to call the police. a while later, we found ourselves making our way down yarwood avenue. you should take a walk there if you haven't -- it has lovely, palatial houses, and i would absolutely live in one of them (if they were in, say, roanoke). not so much because of the house -- small living areas i can abide -- but because having a yard to romp around in with dogs and family and friends should not be a luxury; everyone should have sprawling, open spaces where they can breathe, and read, and think, and live.


#6: Those days when I wake up and think: "Wow...I can do anything I want to do today." (Not that I even recall when last that happened).