A First

Last night I dragged Justin and the boys out to get a library card. But, I had forgotten my passport. And the library doesn't take cash or credit cards, only EZ Link or NETS cash card. I didn't have enough on either of those cards to pay for the foreigner membership and fees ($53).

So, today I decided to do that while the boys were at playschool (we call it school, but really they just do arts and crafts and dress up like fire fighters and play with other kids).

I needed to top-up my EZ Link card in order to have enough money on it to pay for the membership, so once I got off the bus at the library I looked around for a 7-Eleven. Because where else would you think such services are offered?

The first stop left me still needing a top-up machine, so I started walking to the nearest MRT station (a 5 min. walk, a local assured me). I was almost there when I spotted another 7-Eleven that had top-up services. Sweet! I wouldn't even have to climb the steps of the station in the blazing heat.

"I need to top-up my EZ Link card," I told the attendant.

"How much?" she asked.

"$60."

"6-0???"

"Yes."

And she looks at me like I've just grown another head. (For those not in Singapore, EZ Link cards are our public transportation cards, what we use to pay for bus and MRT fares).

"Most people just ask for $20 or $30 top-ups," she told me.

"Well, I need to get a library card that costs $53 and the library doesn't take cash."

"I think you are the first person to ever ask for a $60 top-up."

I'm blazing trails here, people.

*~*

And on a completely unrelated note, when I got the boys from school, Levi had something stuck all over the top of his shirt.

Me: "Levi, what's all over your shirt?"

Levi: "I pick my nose."

Nice.