the other happy couple

The Other Happy Couple

An absolutely beautiful couple!

From the class of 2000, another couple got married. The third, I would say. But not just any couple... both were best friends back in high school.

We've fallen out of the best buds category, moving away from each other in terms of space and interest. Even so, the initial bonds never really sever and at high school the memories of conversations, experiences and all silly, girly stuff (same ol but necessary boy crushes, for instance) are dear to mind and heart.

This couple does really have a great love story to tell. They've withstood everything, really. They had a couple of tries in a relationship during high school, met many, many obstacles especially when he migrated to Australia. But when she went over to Australia just recently to study and look for a new job, they fell in love again and it was as if fates just wanted to test them, perhaps to make them even stronger.

I'm so thrilled for them. Unlike other couples I hear marrying at this age, I am not gasping thinking this is far too early.

In fact, if it were me, I would say it is the unthinkable, regardless of how much I love *Gallant. Frankly, looking at this happy couple and comparing my relationship, I am far from ready to get into a marriage.

Kiwi and a reply

Gosh, this one really made me all teary eyed:



and a reply...

When 'Mo is 'Lo

When 'mo hits 'lo

If I had to name my strengths I have at work, I would say it would be motivation, hard work, ease with big time speakers (once I have gotten over the fact that harmless flirting is totally harmless) and little doses of anal retentiveness.

I used to be able to work hard on all weekdays, bring work and the *passion into the weekends and still remain all *idealist and optimistic for things to come.

Truth is the old me is starting to fade away. Like now, I just don't have the mood to finish up my brochure for my Prepaid Mobile Summit. Neither have I done anything for research (other than print out loads of reading material) for my next conference on corporate communications.

I don't know if it is a case where I have no other actual work experience to compare, but work life is really starting to drain and I sorely miss the free time and the slower pace... you know, to read and contemplate (seriously, despite a part-research job I don't enjoy mental meditations as much... evident in blogging only about boyfriend lately) and help out with charity and bake cookies (stuff like that).

To put it in other words, I don't think I really hate my job as much (contrary to complaints I have been telling my friends lately). I think I just hate having to work.

.::.

On the flipside, I think *sheercrazyme is loving her job and has a wonderful observation blog.

And on another note, I have joined True Yoga and quit Planet Fitness. Would I recommend the yoga centre? - No. The classes don't fit expectations, their member features are so basic and you even have to bring your own lock for your locker, and staff is pushy with sales and lack a friendly appeal. I was even told that they cold call people to sell packages (I am displeased because the centre is practically spilling out from all sides with the worst yoga practitioners I have ever seen).

Despite the lack of yoga classes at Planet, I am definitely heading back to Planet after my six month tryout at True Yoga. It really says something about quality, not only about the yoga instructor being much more skilled, but that the practitioners are more advanced in the few available weekly yoga classes. Plus, I am missing the variety of kickboxing, aerobics and step classes available.

Talk about post buying remorse!

.::.

p.s.s. Have found another way to use the croutons. I added them to a stir fry tomato dish! Yummy Chinese & English fusion.

f a t

F A T

Reckless and stress related food therapy is bad for the body and soul. After I tucked into a bowl of home made salad and glanced at the new box of (baked) croutons I realise...

... six tiny croutons = 30 calories.

Now, that is just plain nasty and underhanded for calories to be sneaking in that way.

Just four updates

Just Four

.:: One ::.

Dearest pals from Malaysia dropped by for a three day holiday last weekend. I am quite confident to say that they had a great time from sightseeing the night safari, shopping (3 times at Orchard road!), and food at Newton Circus.

*Sheer, we popped open that bottle of Italian sweet red wine and it was delicious. Bubbly and sweet. The girls insisted that I send over the name. Will definitely hunt down more bottles.

.:: Two ::.

*Gallant and I are going to Europe! Yup, the decision to go has been confirmed and we are now making plans. Tentatively, we start at Athens, then Vienna, Rome, Paris, Nice and end at Barcelona. Two or three weeks of European sights and cultures come May 2007.

So don't you dare be asking me out for fancy dinner from now till May. I got to be a scrooge to save up for the trip!

.:: Three ::.

And as a little thank you gift for his birthday surprise, *Gallant bought me an iPod nano. Classic silver casing and a little extra radio device so I can tune into stations when I am at the gym (previously, I have been complaining about watching silent telly at the gym as you need an FM tuner to get sound).

Wonderfully thoughtful as this was something I could really use. Best part of all? *Gallant selected songs and albums that he thought I would enjoy and downloaded them into the iPod.

Presentation was very sweet too! He bought another one of those hand puppets from Takashimaya (just like where Dragon came from). This one is a top hat with a white rabbit in it. We found this amusing as we thoroughly enjoyed 'The Prestige'.

The iPod was tucked inside the rabbit. Talk about a little sweet magic and romance.

.:: Four ::.

My first summit will be running on Monday! Very excited. Now, I must hurry and write my chairman's speech (the lazy man!) and memorize the 53 man guest list.

I hope it runs smoothly and everyone has a great time.

Glad to report:

Glad to Report:

A satisfying birthday gathering at the beach, under the stars and brimfuls of intoxicating liquids.

A happy *Gallant, sans surprise (cause I am horrible at keeping things under the lid) but delighted nonetheless.

Amused friends *Sheer and *Lala Femme, who were there to lend a hand and a bucketful of comments about the night and his friends and about relationships.

A thankful me, especially to *Sheer who came to help and to celebrate *Gallant's birthday.

A Full Glass?

A Flute Full of Champagne

I never liked the idea of glasses having to be half full or half empty. Why can't I have it all full and with the best bubbly?

*Gallant told me just this morning that a Chinese proverb says that a person troubled with work is most likely not troubled simultaneously in the 'other world', ie relationship wise and adding an oh-so-charming *wink for assurance.

And what will you say if my job starts to get better or that I find a new job that is just absolutely fabulous?

I'll have to search for a new proverb... probably from Mongolia.

My boss is giving me the day off for having completed my second conference with IQPC. It was really a tough push, trying to finish the programme for the 'Asian Commercial Shipping Summit'. Many problems, from there being too many competitive conferences, best speakers all are either holidaying or having major end-of-the-year strategic meetings... but worst of all, they expect me to pull off a conference dedicated for top level management to discuss their expansion plans and competitive strengths. It was a nightmare trying to get speakers for this event.

Furthermore, the shipping industry, in general have egoistical, get-to-the-chase-what-is-in-it-for-me kinda attitude. They change their minds in two seconds and have little respect for the 'little ladies' in the industry (hey, a woman marine lawyer actually said this!).

I had nightmares, really, and I am glad this is all over now. Well, not exactly *over, as a brand new conference cycle starts tomorrow on a new topic of pre-paid mobile phones. It is a third time running event and tonnes of sponsorship potential (= lots of commission dollars).

Think this is going to be my last conference to 'try out' the job. If I keep having these nightmares and stress, I really will consider another career. The returns are fantastic and learning from the company has been more than anyone can ask for but it's not worth it being this worked up.

Something fun... finally!

Something fun... finally!

I really should apologize for the lack of posts. The only update I can give you is that the job has extreme ups and downs and I am still very much the same drama queen you know me to be.

Work is hardly an occupation that involves *saving the world* and yes, I do still struggle about having to balance corporate commerciality and idealism. Anyway, being paid does feel good and I shall not carry on with complaints but to say that all is well (but not perfect... could always be better!).

Just do me a favour... don't ask me about work if you see me. I already work many hard hours a day and sometimes even dream about it. Sure, work gives me pleasure and fulfillment and in-some-sense meaning... but I sure dread the days that I am no longer a *relatively care-free student.

Frivolous activities are most necessary... like planning *Gallant's birthday. The surprise party is scheduled for the first week of October at a beach chalet.

Truthfully, Sentosa doesn't seem like the most *special spot on earth, but *Sheer has given valuable feedback that Botanical Gardens and Fort Canning will have me sitting around in pitch darkness and uneven wet grass.

So a late-night-beach-side-lantern-lit-picnic it will be.

Imagine this... a blanket (did you know SIA blankets make very pretty picnic mat and of course I won't have that rattan type mats!) pinned down by the weight of camp lanterns and candle holders. Surrounding the main setting will be spikes set up to hold my strings of ornamentals and twinkling lights and soft music(drat, need to figure out power supply).

His eight friends near and close will enjoy wines of white and red as well as bottles of lager (it is his birthday and he will have his beer). I'm also thinking of cocktails like sea breeze... and sex on the beach! We will nibble on strawberries, cheese, nuts, treats... and most of all the birthday cake. Of course, there will be kebabs of chicken and seafood roasting nearby as hot savories are always appreciated.

One thing for sure, I would hate having to use plastic and paper for serving and need to think about getting my glasswares over to the chalet.

Perhaps we will talk the night away, perhaps we might play charades/taboo or take long strolls along the beach. His friends are nice (although some more giddy than average) but fun nonetheless!

Can't wait to carry out the deed for his birthday, especially if it is for one I love this much.

Construction Risk Management Asia

Construction Risk Management Asia

Click here to view the priliminary website for MY event.

MINE MINE MINE MINE.

Sorry... there is a crazy bout of pride linked to having produced a non-school related, youth related event that will bring in profit shares.

Not exactly keen about the layout but they all tell me this is common for version #1. They will update the website and snazzy it up as the event draws closer.

Not all rosy. Work hasn't exactly been the easiest thing. Lots of dissapointments... like Capitaland's &%$#&(%#! policy of not speaking at any conferences (competitive information... can't devulge) and Singapore's BCA &^$@#$ policy of not speaking at commercial events (despite their Malaysian counterpart joining us).

Still in the midst of speaker acquisition and here are my top three big shot hopefuls:
i. Philip Jeyaratnam - he's the lawyer who handled the Nicoll Highway case, has an impressive profile of Presidents of this and that... and Singapore politician JBJ's son.
ii. Mizutani-san of Tai Sei Contractors (and president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry)
iii. Tan Sri Mustapha of MK Land - has a list of accolades too but my most favourite is the one where he recieved an award for a most charming personality!

Please help PRAY that these great men will join my conference.

Thing about the contractor and developer relationship is that they simply despise one another despite needing to work together. That's why Tai Sei and MK Land, each a contractor and developer are asked to both co-chair the event.

See... despite being in a commercial line now, I still want world peace. =P

Convocation July 2006

Could You Believe It??!! - Convocation Pictures!

The next time I'll go picture crazy is prolly engagement day/wedding. In the meantime, do try to enjoy the following series of pictures from July 10th Convocation.



One with the family...



... and MORE family members



with a very TALL sister



And finally... our second picture together



With friends



The men of my life



Here's one of the food we had the night before. And this is just half of the amount of food we really prepared.



After the ceremony, we went for dinner... and father told us the story of how he met and woed mother. This was the first picture he had of her and he still keeps it in his wallet... next to his very first driving licence!

I don't really have a story to tell with my pictures. Just that I had a very good time and I felt loved. The morning after everyone leaves is the lonely part. Oh well, tonnes of work to do right now to really feel lonely anyway!

dinner before graduation

Family (+ Boyfriend) & Graduation Day

The past three/two days have been so tiring but fulfilling with the family dropping by in batches for graduation day tomorrow.

*Gallant dropped by this afternoon to help prepare a huge feast for them all. But our timing was horrible as we cooked beyond our 7pm mark well into 9pm. It wasn't that our preparation was slow... it was the six other family members, crowding around the very hot and sticky kitchen trying their best to help.

Goodness gracious.

There was the cousin who laughed loudly at everything, cousin's boyfriend who tried to help (because *Gallant was helping), mother and aunt who was fawning over *Gallant cooking and de-boning the chicken meat, daddy wondering if he can empty our trash/wash dishes/mop floor, and sis who really helped by washing dishes (I swear we used almost every one).

Of course, everyone just HAD to help cook. Truth be told, I didn't really end up cooking anything other than to organize, buy and prepare. Of course, everyone just had to prepare their own thing and so we really had a *rojak of a dinner. Here's our dinner menu and chef:

River Fish and Chinese Wine Sauce - *Gallant
Prawns with Mince Garlic and Chillies - *Gallant
Bean Sprout and Salted Fish - Aunty
Fried Bee Hoon - Aunty
Green Curry (Leftovers from lunch) - *Me
Beef fillets with Bell Peppers (Leftovers) - Me
Baby Kai Lan Shoots with Prawns - Cousin's BF
Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls - Group Effort
Salted Chicken - Aunty

Cut fruits - Mother
Cold tong sui - Me
Hot Sweet Bean Curd and Gingko Nuts - Me

I'm glad my family was touched with all the effort put into dinner and decided to pitch in no matter how much I urged them to leave the cooking to me and *Gallant. He was of course a dearie too when he admitted he searched websites yesterday to seek the *perfect recipe for dinner today.

I have a lot more to say about graduation and graduating... but I guess I'm too tired to continue right now. Maybe more after the day itself!

In the mean time, enjoy your soccer game tonight.

12.01am

12.01am and it is Monday again

*Gallant left my place and our fabulous weekend together just a couple of hours ago. I hate to see him leave and wait another week till we can spend quality time together.

Our initial plans were not followed to the letter, naturally. I would fall asleep on his shoulder through football games and be woken up at goals. I didn't even budge for the Brazil and France game.

We didn't go to the museum because we were too lazy in the morning. I ended up cooking three meals instead of just one also because we were too lazy to leave home. We did manage to drag ourselves to the market, thankfully, else be faced with starvation induced by sloth.

Some shopping was done at town on Saturday. Then we passed the Thai embassy and dropped by the fair. We bought yummy packets of green curry, tom yum and yellow curry paste from a shop called Blue Elephant. These as-good-as-from-scratch pre-mixes are going to make me seem like a pro in the kitchen.

For dinner, we packed an array of Thai food and the biggest durian I've ever seen! Durian lover *Gallant, who could usually eat two whole durians by himself couldn't even finish this one. And again on Sunday lunch, I cooked Pad Thai and made rice paper rolls (with a tangy chicken filling). You can say it was a very Thai inspired weekend.

It's great that he is back... and sweeter than ever. Very true that absence makes the heart grow fonder as I was pampered, loved, taken care (foot massages all weekend long) and bear hugged at every opportunity.

Quickie 28/7

Quickie 28/7

Stress makes me do the strangest things... like impulsively going to Toni&Guys, pay $83, and lose 3 inches of hair length resulting a long-hair-obsessed boyfriend to cry what?!

I love work. If only work loved me. The job of a conference producer is not easy, but at least it pays okay.

That is, if I have gotten my pay yet! I'm still flat broke (yet spending $83 on a haircut... go figure). I was supposed to get my pay on the 27th, but there were documentation problems and I will be paid the sum next month.

*Gallant came back and he bought me a book without words. Just pages with pictures... and I'm going to have to write him a story. He also got me a pen, with a dangling pearl attached from Tasaki Shinju.

I'm just looking forward to the weekend. Thank goodness I only work five days a week. *Gallant and I have been trying to find time together, but weekdays are just too tiring right now.

We've been daydreaming our weekend, and so far we've decided -

Friday evening we'll meet after dinner and watch football together.

Come Saturday he'll sleep till lunch (cause he's a pig) and I'll be at yoga class oogling my yoga instructor. We'll meet for lunch at town, and then off to the Arts Museum and then a movie after. Then it's my place again for a couple of dvds and pigging out on potato chips.

On Sunday, we'll go marketing. I'll cook him a feast for lunch. Of course he will clean up after. The rest of the afternoon we'll just be idle. We're prolly going to read and sip tea (or in his case beer) and eat tong sui I made in the morning.

Then the painful but fulfilling five day work week starts again. And then it will be another great weekend to look forward to.

the answer

the answer

*sheer and I asked a question (she provides more details here). I've given some thought so here's my answer:

First, let me say that I know what kind of qualities I look for in a guy. It is quite a unique (ie weird, eccentric, fairy-tale, non-existent-in-this-era) set of qualities. Also, as I have discovered recently, I fancy men who are opposites, yet complementary with my interests and behavior.

And therefore, assuming that all men in the room are single and suits my physical desires (*ahem), and also assuming that I am the embodiment of their vision of a perfect girl (*ahem, ahem) and will therefore be clamoring and trying their best to impress me with great answers, I would ask:

I am rather superstitious. Actually, I would go as far as to run past a black cat's path as I actually believe that by switching laws of superstition, I can bring myself good luck. Tell me, are you superstitious?

His answer: (I'm crazy about you but...) I am not superstitious.

The desired reply would be one that finds my quirk endearing and that he would be very inquisitive to pick my brain about the superstition.

However, he would confess to be not superstitious, and proceed to tell me in many ways how, eg, walking under a ladder or breaking a mirror does not affect him. Nonetheless, he is respectful and loves how I think. =) This part is crucial, as I can not imagine a stable relationship with two times the quirkiness.

In any case, he would be eager to help me Feng Shui my apartment and help me balance auras, etc.

Needless to say, *Gallant is exactly like that. We've had opposite opinions on many things, namely superstition, idealism/realism, wars, Peter Singer, aromatheraphy and the Japanese visiting war shrines. The yin and yang, basically.

.::.

Oh yes... and*Gallant's coming back tonight!

stealing office supplies

want. to. steal. office. supplies.

must. resist.

I'm still at the office. I made silly mistakes at work today and can't put it off until tomorrow. People are starting to do illegal stuff... like the girl behind me, calling her long distance boyfriend. Not a good idea, really, when you're coo-ing empty nothings in a relatively quiet office and everyone can hear you.

I am tempted to steal office supplies. Stress drives this crazy madness! But I wonder how I am going to put into my purse this one metre tall, half metre wide roll of bubble wrap we use for fed-ex.

Popping bubble wrap bubbles are soooo calming. I take longer breaks by the photocopy machine, and when no one is looking - proceed to poke and pop that bubble wrap.

a project

a project

*Sheer and I have a question for you:

If you have only one question to ask a room full of eligible men/women, and after commit yourself to matrimony to the person based on your single answer, what is your question and the other's desired reply?

Think about it. I know I am. Share, if you don't mind.

*saved

Damn, I was *Saved Today

If you knew me long enough (and stayed even longer bearing the eccentricities), you would recall that I have certain pre-conditions for falling in love.

First, I still hold true the ideal that love does happen at first sight (and boy did *Gallant make my heart beat faster when I first saw him), but falling in love is a process that takes some doing (ie date, share secrets, hold hands). In other words, I can fall in love at first sight, and continue to fall even more in love. =) And in my case one of these *doings include being *saved.

I promise that there has never been an instant where I did not fall for my knight-in-shining... erm... - Nike/Adidas (got to be realistic that men I meet do not wear suits on a daily basis yet, let alone an armour).

In *Gallant's instance, we were on one of our first dates late in the middle of the night crossing a wide road in the middle of town. We were chatting and very engrossed in our conversation. He told me he plays the saxophone and it was the worst place to have my knees go weak in the middle of the road. A car suddenly appeared on an otherwise isolated road and *Gallant quickly ushered me to the other side safely.

Granted, it was not likely that the car would hit us anyway but give us a rude honking, but the rush of blood that flushes the face with the first sight seen being your identified saviour is indeed my ultimate feminine weakness. The heart would not stop pounding, and the (always) cute faced knight would be fussing over my well being. Now THAT is what I call being *saved. =)

The last boyfriend before *Gallant was even more *drama. We were on our first date and I went to his school canteen day. I was standing in the middle of the parking area when the ice truck was trying to move from behind me. The last bf then, with one hand and a single maneuver whisked me into his arms (note flush of blood to face, male machismo and fast beating heart).

There were two other guys I remember having saved me and had my heart set on its highest level of *crushing. One held me in place when the car took a wild swerve (that sleepless night, I remember sending a text to *Lingy: Did you know what *mister* did to me?!) and the other was when I was once again in a *charm & flirt induced conversation and almost stepped into a drain. Of course, the gentleman saved me from being literally in the ditch.

Today's situation was a little different: it was yoga class and my knight was the yoga instructor. After 2-3 times a week yoga classes, I think he knows I have relatively weaker arms (than the rest of the class) and I have relatively bad balance (than the rest of the class... I think you understand my bitterness by now).

He wanted us to try this (with straight hands). He knew my weaknesses so he came to lift me into the position by my waist. The posture is feels wonderful as it opens and relaxes the back muscles beautifully. But just when I started to enjoy the stretch, the instructor took his hands off and left to attend other students and my weak arms started to wobble.

I couldn't exactly drop and fall and I felt almost frozen. Most definitely, I was stuck! Automatically, I softly cried out I'm scared and a pair of strong hands came to hold me back into position. The worst part wasn't over yet as I was now panicking and he had to talk me out of the position (que: display of male machismo). I was *saved.

Yea... and the soothing voice also said: No need to be scared. Que: charming smile.

Hehe... no, I'm not falling for my instructor. I guess I'm having a big time school girl crush on him. To turn things to a really positive side, I will definitely be motivated to go for more yoga classes now. =)

I'm already in love. And madly, head-over-heels at that. My *Gallant will be back to Singapore in a few short days and I'm already thinking of ways to get out of work early to spend more time with him.

.::.

First day of work starts tomorrow! Wish me luck. =)

Material attachments

Material Attachment

I had to come to a sudden stop and now my heart still pounds wildly. Rock bottom of my bank account was so near as in a mere 24 hours, I have accumulated:

two pretty work skirts
one chocolate brown jacket
a cotton-club white lace blouse
(that goes beautifully with the chocolate brown jacket)
one navy blue chiffon blouse
one pair of Neckermann slippers
one bottle of Australia's Natural Source Hi-Shine Hair Mask
and four bottles of Body Shop burning oils - almond, green tea, bergamont, and lavender

And I've just recently upgraded my gym account to access all Planet Fitness gyms in Singapore and couldn't resist six cute pastel coloured underwear from Hush Puppies. And on my wanna-buy shopping list, I still have a white and brown jacket from Kaco, shades from Evita Peroni, and nail strengthener from Sally Hansen. Also, I still need work shoes.

It all hit me how this has absolutely fallen into the category of shopping-too-much when I was on my way to Takashimaya's cashier today with a black leather handbag that was 50% off its SGD$290 price tag (and bl**dy h*ll I am still craving for the bag right now).

Goodness gracious how unhealthy this has become. Truth be told I've not been buying much for the last year and suddenly it was the unleashing of shopping deprived ME into the stores. And worst off all, *Gallant and *Father Damsel actually nudged me to help myself to some pretty things before work (note to self: remember their quantifier - few).

Shopping was almost narcotic for me as I put on, modeled, and posed for the personal audience that was me in my makeshift stage of a fitting room. I just wanted more and more pretty things that my greedy eyes see.

Not good. Not good at all for the soul. Shame on me and the fact that I have not even started earning my own dollars yet. I seriously need to remind myself all the financial strings I have that come unfortunately with the first paycheck:

Basic Paycheck MINUS
Rent
Utilities
Travel
Food
Toiletries

AND
Study Loan (I wish to pay this off really fast)
Obligatory Pocket Money for Parents and Sister Damsel
Central Providence Fund
Untouchable Savings of at least $500

I swear I don't have anything left.

I know this is all silly (and awfully materialistic of me) to be making calculations before getting that first paycheque or even starting the first day of work yet (June 19) but these are financial realities to face (yes... time to budget).

Some thoughts came unsettlingly to my head today and wouldn't leave me for a moment's rest since their visit.

The first was actually a lovely one where I saw a billboard at a great location along Pasir Panjang road for some low rise apartments. With abundant and flexible housing loans available today, I was all goosebumps to think that I could actually own one of these. You see, post graduation thinking have some parents (as I have discovered in a conversation this lunchtime) pressuring their children for not only work but for a path towards matrimony. For myself, my want of a future lies more in the realm of real estate.

That's definitely a far away plan but something I find myself yearning for after living in campus hostels, parent's home and now a rented space.

Second, I find myself very surprised at this new batch of graduates-going-into-the-working-scene who are hardly thankful of their situations. In brief, I have no idea why fresh graduates whine about their first jobs not paying very high salaries. Most I've met are not paying rent (and by living dependently, most food is paid for too), have no student loans (or have their parents to pay for it), and do not give obligatory sums of monies to parents (believe me, mum's not going to be satisfied with just $100).

In most cases, almost the entire sum of pay is for leisure's use and that's nice cause allowances hardly ever reach even a third of that amount. And so a conversation with *Lala Femme couldn't help but to make me shake my head at her unhappiness with her situation.

If I only had *Lala Femme's luck:

Got offered a $1,800 job but she's not going to take it.
If she did, she might need her parents to give her extra pocket money.
And her parents are already going to pay for her student loan.
She lives with her brother (therefore no rent)
And her brother puts food on the table
(of course, *Lala Femme says that the nice thing to do is to give her brother $100 each month)
Her brother has a car too that she drives around
She is not going to give her parents anything yet with her "measly paycheque"

I am of course very jealous of the financial (planning) fortunes of others and hope they can see how lucky they really are.

However, being green eyed does not mean that I do not recognize that luck strikes each person in different ways. My parents put me through this far and it is my happiest obligation to give them a reasonable token and I would not have it any other way than to pay my own university bills.

I guess it is very important for me to reason and pace myself (in case of dangerous shopping sprees) in the paycheque coming months. I would like to declare myself free of material attachments... Maybe after I get that black leather handbag into my possession and out of my way.

.::.

Goodness me this was a long *ranty post. I call it my therapy of sorts as i) I blogged out how I felt, ii) See how silly and selfish I actually am, and iii) try to be *noble / *saintly / *politically correct.

Also, let me take the chance to say a big thank you to *Sheer who was so kind to spend some time with me shopping yesterday and to give me my belated birthday present of a stunning trinklet to adorn my otherwise plain neck.

good things

good things and good times

I made risotto last night for dinner and dear *Jules keeps popping into my head throughout the process. Now-a-days, I tend to associate Italian cooking to the friend I know who does it best. =) So, when making Italian risotto with Japanese short grain rice (hey, it's a huge bag of rice that seems ages to finish and the Arborio rice looks the same like Japanese short grain...) *Jules' voice kept saying: how could you...

Yes... I am guilty of culinary murder! And I received due punishment as my risotto tasted rather Chinese/Japanese than Italian. The Japanese grain factor and that I used shitake mushrooms in the dish. I might as well have done a fried rice version rather than slave for more than an hour just cooking. Risotto preparations calls for home made chicken broth and tedious pouring in of 1/3 cups of broth every time after the grains absorb the broth.

Looking on the brighter side of things, I could say that it was then a personalized dish by yours truly (and my *Chinese boyfriend who is anti-Japanese and anti-Italian food could be thankful).

The bay-leaf chicken broth and white wine did seep marvelously into the starchy pearl rice grains (carbohydrates make the best comfort food), and the taste of fresh portobello and pink plump fresh prawns both infused in garlic are my favourite tastebud temptations. Gently steaming hot covered with a sprinkle of cheese... gosh, I look forward having it again for lunch with a big bowl of garden salad.

.::.

I am pleased to share with you that the *damsel has a new status. I am currently:

EMPLOYED

The lucky company is called IQPC and I will be a Conference Producer! (click on the link to see the details of the position)

But its me who is the lucky one. I believe it fits into many things I am looking for in a starting job - use of brains, desk and field work, travel, training, creativity, responsibility, great working environment... oh, and a fairly generous pay. =)

Believe me, I'm trying my best to stay calm as I am very excited about starting (this June 19). The conferences are all large scale and regional/international. Just to give you an idea, see one of their conferences, Network Centric Warfare with speaker none other than General Tommy Franks!

So when they made an offer for the job, I was so stunned! I knew it was something I really wanted to do and believe I could the task but I was up against so many applicants and most are from mid career. In my state of pinch-me-I'm-dreaming, I could only answer: "uh-huh" que *nod head* and goofy smile.

Granted, there will be many working hours this near future and a taste of real life dog-eat-dog corporate living. Nonetheless, I don't think I'll hardly ever get bored doing this job and I'll definitely learn so much from this.

I'm going to take a good one week break now before work begins. I hope that I am able to meet the demands and challenges of the job and that the company fulfills all the wonderful expectations I have of them.

flatter this ego, please

flatter this ego, please

Both the two elevators going up my block happened to stop at level one to ferry a *damsel and a family with two little girls. The *damsel hopped into one and the father went into the other... but the two little girls of four and six cried out: we want to ride the lift with the pretty che-che (sister).

I smiled throughout their ride to the 11th floor. The girls were constantly staring, laughing and rib-poking at one another. With their attention, I could have sworn I was wearing Barbie's pink life sized princess dress.

On the job hunt, I had a very tough interview with a certain *B&M advertising company. The interviewer was snide, sarcastic and had the attention span of a five-year old. He kept insisting that I should be in HR or PR (so much that I thought he was going to offer me a job with his company in HR or PR) rather than sales advertising.

Anyway, he made me an email job offer but I had to refuse. I have my eye on a bigger fish... or rather, a BAT.

is it *that time already?

I practically *sprinted back to Singapore on Saturday morning with all the work pressure *Mother Damsel was giving me. *Lingy best describes the new age mom - that they are both modern and traditional.

The modern side has my mother wanting me to be earning big money, a high position and with a huge "MNC" company with bright prospects. And modern moms don't gender bias sons and daughters... now this girl has to fulfill a son's traditional role of earning "money with a big company" so mother dearest has best bragging rights. "After all my daughter went to one of the best universities" (que roll eyes).

Of course, I could never dream of escaping the traditional *doom too. I just didn't think it will happen this soon:

When do you think you'll be getting married? asked *Mother Damsel

Huh? Not so soon. (Pushing blame on *Gallant) He still has his honours, masters and PhD to go.

You'll be an old maid by then!

PLEASE! We've been only dating for a little over a year.

If you count the fact that you knew each other for seven months... that's almost two years in total! Your mother and father are not getting any younger, you know.

.::.

In a separate *conference / operation-guilt-her-into-marriage, *Grandmother Damsel says: I've had nothing to do lately except dream of having grandchildren.

And *Mother Damsel came up with a backup plan: If you work and meet someone else (ie someone who will marry you NOW) will *Gallant be willing to let you go? Are you willing to date someone else?

*Father Damsel's retort: She just started working and he's still studying. I'm not going to pay for their wedding.

standards of success

Standards of Success

My text message to *Gallant in China:

Guess what? I'm getting my second class honours after all. (I was paranoid that I would fall into third class honours)

His reply:
I never doubted that, dear.

(a little later)
I missed out on a perfect score. I got five As and one A-.

Yes, *Gallant is (occasionally) a dean's lister. That and how he gets through exams practically effortlessly and at last minute cramming at that. And I know this wasn't a particularly easy semester... he had to put in a lot of time in his lab, complete six modules, resolve his club politics, organise the World Bank student conference, play basketball (a little too routinely) and be boyfriend to a very demanding *young lady.

Sour sentiments aside, let me disclaimer that I am very proud (and still very amazed). I'm more disappointed in myself.

Couples tend to match each other and achieve what the *old folks like to call *compatibility*. Similar wavelengths, a matching *appearance (admit it... you tend to point out couples that have one obviously much better looking than the other), capabilities, etc.

I know modern times do not equate this measure and *Gallant himself has told me how different our academic faculties are, but how I wish we could be equals this way (it would make job application much easier too!).

On a side note, my *perfect dear is now interning in China for a law firm. His life science background did not stop the associates from appreciating his English language capabilities and quickly gave him contracts to translate and bring him along for numerous client meetings with the ang-mohs (btw, Chinese law is a highly self insulated practice... the lawyers do not need to immerse themselves (unlike other countries) in English law. This is why most lawyers in China do not even speak English).

And my biggest achievement this week was that I did a full backbend yesterday at yoga class. If parents, fellow classmates and finances wasn't pressure enough, my own love has become a new factor for the oh-so-competitive me.

drink for work (sing/work for supper)

Jobs of the ethical pay less, unfortunately

I was scurrying for the British American Tobacco networking night at Indochine, Orchard when a sweet young boy (of ten and four years?) stopped me in my path.

Sister, Sister... can I have a moment of your time please?

Urm... what is it about?

(little boy goes into his sales pitch for his charity cause)

Oh gosh, I'm sorry... I don't have $30 to give to you. I'm looking for a job myself... and in fact, going for a job interview (of sorts) right now.

The young fellow had a sudden look of pity and suddenly lit up with a bright idea:

You need a job? I've got one for you. You can try my job... it pays not bad.

I gently declined and made my way past the many shops that hold lovely things I currently am too broke to own right now.

Well, the night was quite a long one as I tried my best to put on my *sweetest smile and give my most attentive gazes and say things that I should be, at the same time trying hard to appear intelligent, capable and charming.

Golly, a job with BAT pays very well. Hearsay tells me around $2.8 - 3k for an arts entry level position. But it isn't just the money, these people are clearly talented in what they do and the job has so many challenging aspects. I hope to join their corporate regulations department, where they deal with governments around the region in working out the sales (and taxes) to enable the sale of tobacco in their state. Of course, in the negotiations, there will inevitably be a balance made in terms of social programmes (and contributions) to counter the effects of youth smoking, health issues, etc.

These people really have it down to a pat. Basically, they offer the liberty or choice to smoke but emphasize social responsibility.

But more important, they will train their management trainees very well. Lots of courses and overseas experience. Hehe... lots of partying too! =)

p.s. Little Sister has a blog!

http://fernfernfern.blogdrive.com/

I'm sure she won't mind the link.

Mid Year Resolutions

Mid Year Resolutions

I'm never one to believe that birthdays, festivals and anniversaries are only to be celebrated at its *rightful time (thank you, Alice, for un-birthdays). Therefore, it is not only new year that we can make resolutions, especially if it is our goal for self improvement:

Happy Thoughts
*Bugger all that is unpleasant and all that creates pressure. I am "beautiful, intelligent, creative and resourceful". I have to start believing that I can and work hard to achieve the goals I must fulfill. I am referring to my job search and my parents who currently display a little too much pressure and a little too little of confidence.

Heck, its only two weeks since my last exam and one week since I've moved in here (and gotten broadband). For the sake of my sanity, someone big has better hire me pronto! Since that is not realistically going to happen, I have to pull myself together and work hard (and patiently) at getting hired.

Gym (and Jeans) time
If I am going to pay to go to a gym, I better actually go there. Also, *Gallant has been pushing me into Levi stores, wanting to see me in jeans (and a white tee shirt... can some guy tell me what this is all about?). I hate jeans... cause I don't have the *perfect thighs and butt. Let's see what Planet Fitness can do about that.

Minimal Boyfriend Blog
Speaking of the boyfriend, yes, I will admit... enough of the sappy, hair-stand-on-ends posts already about how-much-I-love-him entries. You don't need to know all that! =) Although, bad habits are hard to kick so I'll never say never but I'll try my best.

Better English
I know I have some grammar problems (spelling ones too). I must get myself a couple of grammar books and practice to save the dignity of the Queen's English... while I still have the time.

Read More Books
It is very, very sad how little I have read this year. I can count non-academic books on the fingers of my hands (okay, one hand).

I think that's enough for now. =)

Join a Gym today!

Join a Gym Today and Master the Art of Thinking Thin!

Goodness knows I succumb to a bourgeoisie, capitalist and frivolous lifestyle. I joined a gym this weekend despite not yet earning a single cent to my name. FYI, I'm still squandering money off parents who pays my rent, food and luxuries. Yes, it feels guilty (and yes, the *damsel is dramatic).

Being a financially careful Jobless Graduate calculating dollars and cents, each trip plus travel definitely wasn't worth the membership at Planet Fitness (if I go around 2 - 3 times weekly, it adds up to about $10-12 SGD per trip). However, the insensible craving for smaller thighs, sculpted arms and a toned stomach soon outweighed all other sensible calculations.

Good golly the gym is fun! Signing up, my membership consultant, Maeve (check out the special name on my Chinese speaking, heavy accented consultant) showed me so many possibilities of a fitter me, by means of tones of activities I'll never get bored off (exercise classes, yoga marathons, wall climbing, swimming and fitness trainers), spa facilities and a waiver of my registration fee and a month free if I join for 12 months!

But her sales rhetoric aside, getting healthy was something I needed and it would take some time off me while I am sitting around, s-l-o-w-l-y looking for work.

I attended my first gym session on a Sunday morning. Based on their 7-days-a-week exercise class schedule, I planned to attend Yoga (with-Grand-Yoga-Master-from-India-Venky) from 12-1pm, and then Street Jazz from 1-2pm, a little machine work (hehe... only ended up doing 10 minutes on the treadmill) and a long sit down in the steam room.

My yoga class was exciting! Most definitely, it was the most intense class I've ever had. Our grand-master-of-yoga-Venky definitely lived up to his name (and like my Yoga CD instructor *lingy and I fawn over, he was a cutie too with his very nice yoga trained bod).

This guy could lift himself up with his arms while he is in a lotus (cross legged) pose. And he could do turns and lifts and twists like soft licorice. The rest of the class was pretty good too. Strong arms and immense flexibility. I was in awe with the rest of the class. I must say it is a huge change from the NUS yoga and pilates classes. NUS students, I now firmly believe, are mostly a bunch of inflexible people as they gawk at me as if I'm non-human when I can touch my toes. Wait till they see the yoga class at Planet! =)

At the Street Jazz class, the instructor again was another cutie (hehe... yes, girls... join a gym today). For those of you who have watched Centre Stage, the part where Jody Sawyer joins a jazz ballet class? Well, it was pretty much like that... especially the warm up session. Great fun save two very important points: first, if I could dance and get my tangled feet and hands coordinated, and secondly, if the people around me were not men who looked and moved a little more feminine than they should or have women all over the middle age mark. Call me Prude, but this dance had us all touching privates and shaking *booty... Definitely no no for the people around me. But I must Definitely add... the women around me had such fit bodies that look nice in their tight (and skimpy) leotards sans wrinkles and the men prolly had nicer legs and skin than mine. They can dance well too... I was most obviously the worst in the class of ten.

If there is anything I hope to achieve at gym (and this I will tell my personal instructor when I meet him tomorrow) is to gain more confidence with my body (and yes, the thighs, arms and stomach appearance too, of course!). Women, of all body shape and sizes wore their tight leotards proudly, and most walk around naked in the locker room. The steam room was a picture of half draped *goddesses (in their own right). I don't mean I want to go around the locker room half *nekkid, but if Planet Fitness did anything, it was a membership of confidence to these women.

Perhaps it is true. Sexiness, confidence and all other attitudes alluring are first a construct of the mind. Maybe, being thin or slim can be constructed the same way. If you can carry of a slinky gown with the extra inch on the arm, a love handle in the middle and tree trunks for legs and still command the looks of heated desires like Sophie Dahl (and I assure you that many of the women I've seen at the gym can), lady, I applaud you and if all my efforts fail to be thinner at the gym, I aspire to be just like you.

.::.

On another unrelated note, the *Damsel got her phone stolen on Saturday. Innocently standing inside the train, with her phone in her backpack pocket on a crowded day from City Hall to Ang Mo Kio. When I found a seat halfway through the trip, I noticed the pocket opened and the phone was missing. And I've just answered a call right before entering the train so I know I couldn't have left it elsewhere.

So a word of caution at busy places, gentle readers: beware. There are people out there who are not so nice as to trouble you with the task of gathering your phone numbers again. The biggest loss of all would be a history of text messages lost - including the one where *Gallant, pre-relationship, asked me out for our first date and offered to cook me porridge when I was sick.

Little Poseidon

Little Poseidon

My dear fish is dying. He has been sick for a while now and for quite a number of occasions even did the belly up floating position. It all started about two weeks ago when his belly was bruised by his violent ways of swimming. My *Po loves to head butt the gravel in his bowl and make his water go *splash!

He is now weak, his inner gills look sore and his tail is flaying. It is a condition of the previous injury and growing old that I can not do anything to cure.

If you know *Po, you'd acknowledge that he is 'one darn special fish'. Magnificently beautiful, charming and a little naughty. I know I say this not just because he his my pet, but how many goldfishes actually like to swim in the area of the bowl that is nearest to you, suckle your finger when you stick it in like a big fat worm, eat bugs that fall into your bowl (prolly knowing I was shrieking in disgust) and the fruit I lovingly cut up, do head butts and swim so excitedly when it knows it is feeding time.

Another thing *Gallant and I notice also, is that when he is in *Gallant's room, he likes having his dorsal fin up. *Po must be trying to appear more manly to his male owner.

*Po was *Gallant's gift on our third month anniversary. I would like to think that I have showered this little life with so much love and care that I have given him the best life he could have.

And a part of me believes that *Po is hanging on to his life for me. I know it sounds dramatic... but with the course of his injury and sickness, he should have been gone long ago. He now sits in a bowl near my table. He is trying hard to swim and he faces me (even if I turn to another side he swims to the other end).

*Po, you're the toughest *cookie I know. I love *Poseidon very much and truth be told, I need his company so much now that things are new and *Gallant is away. But if he has to go, and goodness knows how much pain he is probably in, I will understand.

Update, 11.15am: Little Po died peacefully.

a while

It has been a while

... since my last post. I've finished exams, moved house and now just starting to look for my very first job. It is all very exciting, although a little scary but a step taken necessarily with courage and positive attitude.

Job Search

I really couldn't tell how I did in my last exam but it really feels insignificant now. The *next big thing* seems to be the job search. I've left previous ambitions of wanting to be a writer or a journalist behind for reasons that I feel that I could do something else much better... but then, what?

And next conclusion that follows is that my future career lies with the possible fate of what is available on the classifieds. =) At times like these, I need some hope that luck is on my side. Also, that jobs are not always dead ends and a girl who has ambition and drive can get herself almost anything she wants.

So anyway, I'm totally torn between types of jobs: Part of me wants to try out jobs of obvious fulfillment aka idealist positions (for lack of a better term) such as with the National Heritage Board (Museums), Corporate Communications for the National Healthcare Group or fundraise for some of the local NGOs.

The other part desires a more indulgent, commercial career such as a management position with True Yoga or the Duty Free Shop, and handle public relations for some events company. These jobs are demanding in their own right, but darnit I feel the urge to change-the-world and I don't think that might happen even if everyone learnt yoga and can use Burberry at duty free prices (Nonetheless, I do love yoga and Burberry with every bit of my heart).

And then there is the realist side that opts for financially rewarding and career building options such as the British American Tobacco Management Trainee programme. As promised, no one else can train a fresh graduate better than BAT.

Well, my conclusion is that I best not count chickens before they are hatched. I'll send in my application and inform you later when I have the luxury to pick and choose.

House

I've moved into my new home in Ang Moh Kio. I'm staying here with *Em and we're fitting in quite nicely, learning all little new secrets of our living space. Things like a hidden curtain railing, goodies of home appliances and kitchen utensils left by our previous owner, the marketplace and all her fresh gems, and a maze of the transport system (*Em has gotten lost only once, I think, I have gotten lost four times).

I think I'm absolutely lucky to have found this cozy home. I love waking up in the morning to the no-longer-in-NUS-student-hostel-accomodations, although cleaning can be quite a chore as we no longer have the cleaners like at the hostel for common areas.

I must admit though that I'm not used to sharing a place with someone and will sometimes shut myself up in the room for want of closure (plus, I'm a little sad with *Gallant having just left for one and a half months back to China). It takes a little getting use to but I'm glad its with someone like *Em.

I went for a walk this evening at a nearby park and I must say Ang Mo Kio gardens is MASSIVE. My first sight was a pond of water lillies and neat rows of trees along garden pathways. There were sections as well, such as Mayflower Park and a large ground with poles for hanging up birdcages on Sundays so that people can admire your singing pet. Playgrounds with children laughing happily and their grandparents spending retirement in the best way possible (or at least, I think so). It was my moment of bliss, listening to light classical music on my headset and forgetting, for at least a moment, the stress of looking for a job.

Boyfriend

At this point, I am ready to conclude that *Gallant is *perfect save the few following reasons:

i. To tidy the bed in the morning when he wakes up
ii. If he can remember that happiness is not spelt with a 'y' (happyness)
iii. To not finish one third of my one liter bottle of shower foam in just one shower session
iv. To not sleep past 2pm
v. To practice a little bit of thrift rather than overwhelming generosity
vi. Must throw tissue paper away after use and not accidentally leave them lying around
vii. No reading in the bathroom
viii. Stop fixing my computer because he really doesn't know how to and I can't stop him as I fear bruising his male ego (it is not true that every guy can fix computers... he should know this)
ix. Must give in to playing twister with me
x. If he was not from China

In all aspects, I am sincerely proud and thankful for the wonderful qualities *Gallant has. In all confidence I will say that my *man will reach great successes one day. He's (almost) everything I want in a man. The relationship has definitely evolved sensibly and romantically over time as we are now more in tune with one another than ever before. My companion is loving, patient, kind and witty. The most cruel thing now is the fact that we are both foreigners with undetermined futures that will most likely tear us in different directions. I am more fearful of this now than ever.

He called me from the airport right before he boarded his flight and told me to look inside my cupboard. There, he left me a prepaid telephone card to call him in China as well as some money. He also bought me quite an expensive webcam in addition to his usual date expenditures. It is all very sweet, and gentlemanly of course. And really, I am tempted to accept all these as he is obviously the (immensely) more richer of us both. But I think it is wrong... I'll be returning all these when he returns.

I'd like to think that even if he was church-mouse poor, I'd love him just the same.

Happy birthday to us

It's our birthday

...he said mid embrace. Well, give or take four hours more.

He's going to pop open a bottle of champagne($300 SGD... why didn't he just buy jewelry?!) bought specially for this occasion and we'll drink sparkly bubbly to toast our special occasion.

I bought him another pair of cufflinks (I love a young man in cufflinks). This time, a pair from JJ Weston. Silver elephants... because elephants never forget.

A strong relationship is one that appreciates not only the big gestures but the little ones as well. If I had a wish for tonight, it would be that we never take each other for granted. Listening to all the silly problems our friends have with their relationships, we've got so many good things going. I'm a really lucky girl.

It's a wonderful day... if only there wasn't the finals exams. *Grin. Anyway, I don't think anything can spoil this fuzzy familiar feeling inside that I've been having all year long.

Here's to many more with my boyfriend. Thank you for asking, darling.

Gracious!

stormy cloud nine

A Brewing Storm on a Cloud Called 'Nine'

It is not anger, just heartache. Nothing serious, but small things do add up. No screaming, of course I cried buckets (I provide you rain, dear Nine). Not over, but things fundamentally changed. Bad timing, then again there is never a good time for this.

Update: *Gallant didn't leave me feeling upset for too long. Last night, he said sincere apologies and held my hand to his heart. Today, he gave into my valid *ahem* demands.

Well, tomorrow is the first day of exams. But *tomorrow, what problems lie ahead?

type of writer quiz

You Should Be A Poet

You craft words well, in creative and unexpected ways. And you have a great talent for evoking beautiful imagery... Or describing the most intense heartbreak ever. You're already naturally a poet, even if you've never written a poem.

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Oh right... you'd laugh as hard as I did, knowing the kind of poetry I churn out. Hmmn... how about poetic writing instead? =)

And you know I love quizes near exam time:

People Envy Your Generosity

You're a giving soul, and you'd do almost anything for those you love. And they'd do anything for you! People may envy how giving you are, but more than anything, they envy those you open your heart to.

What Do People Envy About You?

What a cheap way to feel good about oneself...

You Are The Opposite of Machiavellian

You don't have a cynical, power hungry bone in your body. Honest and kind, you believe being a good person is the most important thing. While your upstanding morals should be admired, be careful! You're at risk for being manipulated and toyed with.

How Machiavellian Are You?

If a person were truely Machiavellian, she'd lie at every single question and appear the exact opposite. Then again, a Machiavellian would have never written this disclaimer.

You Are 40% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird... But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

I honestly thought I was a lot more weird than a mere 40%. =)

Little tarnishes in this lovely relationship of mine (minor problems that will, like fine antique, eventually give character and define its beauty) coupled with much of the big world stresses makes a very unhappy me.

At times of grave (emotional) sorrow, it is sometimes nice to get a different ear. So I called *Mr Winks who tried his best to console me. And if you're anything like *Mr Winks, in times of great tears, you read the other person quotes from Nietzsche.

Different persons, different remedies.

bacon pasta and lemon roast chicken

Love is Bacon Tomato Pasta and Lemon Roast Chicken

I've finally finished the last of my papers in NUS. Now, with less than two weeks to exams, I can assure you the near future is full of late nights, panda eyes and a crammed head.

After a long Sunday night at the breezy arts canteen writing my essay (the study rooms are full and the library is closed) and a tiring Monday morning editing the essay, I just had the urge to cook a huge, elaborate meal.

Furthermore, the boyfriend was hinting (pretty hard) that he missed my cooking. I had to oblige.

I wanted to make Belle's baked fish with marjoram but I was out of the herb. Then I couldn't decide between pasta and salad, or roast chicken with butter and garlic rice... so I made everything (with the exception of the rice).

The pasta was a great success! Here's my secret when I try out online recipes: I choose one that I like, and then google around the main ingredients to find other recipes to compare, and add own touches to the recipe and voila! But with the searching and cooking and preparing, my whole afternoon and evening was all used up.

I started off with this Capellini Capricciosi recipe.

The pasta tastes a lot better than it looks. That and I have bad photography skills.

Bacon and Tomato Pasta
serves one tiny eater and one large eater

Olive Oil
100g of streaky bacon (2cm bite sizes)
Two cloves of thinly sliced garlic
Two medium sized onions
Two large ripe tomatoes
Handful of parsley
Salt and Pepper
Chicken broth
Splash of white wine
Angel hair or thin spaghetti

Heat a hot skillet coated with olive oil to pan fry the bacon. Cook the bacon either half crispy or well done, depending on how you like it (if you like very crispy bacon, do make sure you continue frying and remove ASAP and add it towards the end else further cooking processes will make it soggy. I prefer the medium crispy version). Add garlic and onions and saute till the onions turn translucent.

Add the finely diced tomatoes. I would prefer to leave the tomatoes for a long time in the skillet to get it relatively soft. Again, it is up to you how long you like it. Add a little chicken broth (not too much, it is a relatively dry dish) and the salt and pepper. I added a little more salt than usual as the pasta, since dry, would require this.

Add the white wine (around half a cup) and simmer to evaporate some alcohol. Then the al-dente cooked pasta and then the parsley. Serve immediately. If the pasta looks a little dry, add a spoonful or two of olive oil (the original recipe demanded 1/3 cup!).

I would add a little cheese. I bought some and I forgot to add it but it tastes good enough even without. I would skip any herbs though. Any of that dried stuff would have made it the taste too complicated.

Preparation time: Twenty minutes if you chop your ingredients quickly or one hour and fifteen minutes if, like me, did preparations while watching Gilmore Girls on the telly.

*Gallant loved this dish! We prefer this to the white sauce or marinara based ones. I will definitely be making this again and it is relatively easier to prepare.

Remember to only eat free range (kampung) chicken
to help minimize cruelty to animals! =)

I made a roast chicken too (for the first time). The recipe was adapted from Tauton Press. It was truly fun to make (the hour cleaning, stuffing and *rubbing the chicken quickly *flew by). I was so impressed that despite my gusto preparing so much stuffing that consisted of huge button mushrooms, lemon, garlic, bell peppers and parsley, everything fitted into my tiny chicken's cavity. I made the sauce too with the drippings, chicken broth and some white wine.

The pasta and chicken, along with lemonade (when you buy too many lemons, make lemonade!) and a green garden salad, we had a great dinner last night.

Women Getting Trapped

I think I see more and more of my girl friends who have boyfriends getting into dangerous traps. Time is indeed a toil, especially at an age too young to wed (thankfully, we still are).

The twin traps are i) finances and ii) eros. The first is to be lavished expensively by one's man, from simple change for the soda machine, dinners to fancy gifts. My own sister received a new handphone, a platinum diamond (chip) necklace, weekly dinners at nice restaurants and someone to pay her handphone bills, amongst many other things (gosh, she has it better in a relationship than I do!).

The thing about women that men know too well is that most of us feel obligated to return the favour (pun intended) in some way. Machismo and (*true) social rules state that we can't go dutch. Truth be told, what else does a natural man, even the most patient, want but sex?

Thus eros is the repayment women give. Yes, I understand that own pleasures need to be fulfilled too and I bear no prejudices to those who have experienced it. The reality is that the issue is indeed a serious taboo indicated by the female (largely Asian... okay, my girl friends) hesitance to admit so.

Really, it is such a private, intimate space and pleasure I would personally seek to save for my *Mr Forever-and-Ever. Keeping it though, I'm sure, is very difficult and requires lots of willpower.

So if a woman gives it away, the man, while enjoying the pleasurable gratification has also got himself a ball and chain (touche!). Only difference from the married version is that he (if he cruelly wishes to do so) can remove it easier, without paying alimony.

For the woman who gives eros away (without the true intentions for own gratification),without having her man trap her with *financial guilt, now, that's a really silly girl. *wink.

I worry for my sister and my girl friends. I am even more worried about the girl who fell into both financial and eros traps.

Although I do wish to meet the woman who traps her man in finances and eros!

watch

see the robots, see the boy

http://clik.clak.free.fr/film_high.htm

If you like well done animation, a sweet plot, mechanics... and one of those this-hits-that-and-causes-that kinda shows (you'll get what I mean).

boys

Boys and Last of Things

I had a pretty dream last night. My boyfriend past appeared to me in a tux and asked if we could waltz together for one last time (funny thing is, I've never waltzed with any of them).

We did the Fred and Ginger thing, as he gallantly turned and I gracefully twirled to an empty dance floor. What seemed to be the surrounding was only a blanket of stars.

He then kissed me kindly on the forehead, and told me he was letting me go now.

Yeah, I know that. He left me years ago. *Hmpf.

It was a tiring few days as I hurried my essays (still have one more to go and a presentation before exam, barely three weeks away! *eep!). I had barely any sleep lately.

So when *Mr Winks (I just realised how *obscene it was to call him *Winky) text messaged me to have dinner, I was too tired to cough out any creative language. Imagine how irritating it must be for you to text someone a whole para, to be only replied with 'yeah', 'okay', 'Wednesday?' one-liner messages. I thank *heavens for my understanding friends.

"Well, for you and your leisure I shall make the requisite sacrifice. On the hour past noon then fairer one", said he

But he says we would have the last of dinners together. I can't believe he is letting me go too!

Which could actually be true. You see, *Mr Winks is no ordinary person (really, I mean that... very eccentric-like). I can actually imagine him saying that he wants to 'remember me this way', prolly 'unspoiled by the capitalist world and makings', retaining my 'innocence and purity'.

Yeah, we talk like that to each other. Sometimes, I wish we all would. Some friends have testified arguing and insulting each other as signs of closeness (and closure?). Me? I would prefer to get melodramatic with you.

Women and birthdays

women and birthdays

I'm so tired... Just finished a supper birthday surprise for a girl friend.

There were six slices of delicious cakes from Bakerzin. Rather than buying a whole cake, we just thought a few slices would be more delightful to the palate.

Wine glasses tied with ribbons (friends were supposed to get a bottle of wine but they forgot! So I had to whip up a last minute ribena).

A long stem African Daisy with a ribbon (if you have not guessed the theme yet).

Sweet red watermelon arranged artfully on a plate.

Three other friends were invited.

A yell of happy birthday, big smiles and cheerful conversation.

.::.

The thing about surprise birthdays are that you don't let them know until the moment itself.

Nasty girl politics come to play here. She bought a cake for my birthday and perhaps expected I do the same.

I pretended not to know and told her I wasn't doing anything.

She was spiteful. I got insults after that.

Now what the heck is that?!

geylang

Just dinner, no *desserts please

My independent study on Peter Singer is finally completed and handed in to the department office barely three minutes before the deadline at 5pm. Many thanks to senior *Sheer who "almost died" from correcting my grammar and spent 3 hours with me on the phone to not only give me an edited draft with suggestions but why I made the mistakes I did (you know, the give a man a fish vs teach a man to fish proverb?) I am gratefully indebted.

But horrified with the level of my academic writing proficiency. It is *delightful the little surprises that *get you a month till graduation.

Nonetheless, the professor has seen my paper's draft, is fond of it, and assures me a minimal B+, prolly more after the edit. Damn*t, that is not enough!

To celebrate the completion of the paper, *Gallant and I went to Geylang, Singapore's Red Light District. It sure has the makings to attract local men - women, food and durians.

I suggested we went to Geylang as I have never been there and friends have been raving about the food. Boyfriend dearest suggested we check out the *ladies of the night. I firmly put my foot down that we were only there for dinner, but no *desserts. We were joking, of course!

I don't know why *Joone's sturgeon dish looks so good.

Mine was a sloppy, oily version.

Dinner started off at Sha Tin Kitchen. It is a Cantonese restaurant that food blogs have been raving about. Unfortunately, it hardly met our minimal standards. We tried their famous sturgeon, a recommended three mushroom on potato basket, and our own choice of stir fried frog legs (because I have never eaten frog). The first two was a disappointment as the presentation was less than desirable (flop food on plate and serve) and extremely oily. *Gallant, a self proclaimed oily food connoisseur commented that the chef's skill was not good as "good chefs can fry food without making it taste as if it was drenched in oil". The frog legs I like. Frog tastes like a cross between chicken and fish. I felt awful though as we later walked around and I saw tank after tank of aquariums filled with live frogs. I feel guilty whenever I eat something out of the usual animal food list of chicken, fish, pork, beef and mutton. The bill was not good too as the oily sturgeon was $38 and the total bill came up to $63 for two of us.

After dinner, we wandered the streets of Singapore's night industry. The women stood around in their national groups as I recalled walking past the Indians, Malays, Singaporeans, PRCs and even Caucasians. They were a mix of sleeze, innocence and desperation. Some faces I still vividly recall such as the very (really) obese woman in a short tube top, auntie with shoulder pads, a woman with her blouse so low part of her nipples popped through, a librarian looking woman with glasses and prudish handbag and a Chinese 'English woman' with coffiered locks and sweet dress.

The night was definitely an eye opener and I have to admit that it was difficult not to walk past these streets without passing judgment and harboring prejudices I thought I would not have. I hung on tight to *Gallant who then remarked: "If you were not here, women would be coming up to me and calling me 'handsome'".

The number of women on the streets was actually more than what I have observed in Thailand. I could not give you a number, but I promise it is hardly a modest figure. *Gallant said that my expression was of disbelief and that I was outright staring at these women. I really couldn't help it. It was difficult to see so many resort to this measure, and even more so when (some) of these beautiful, youthful girls being approached by ugly, old, fat and dirty men. Even more degrading is that there were so many that men walked in groups to ask for prices, and they move from one to another until they can find the 'best bargain'. (Racial remark ahead... sorry!) I could see the disgust and desperation on one sweet Chinese prostitute who was hesitant to lower her prices for a Bangladeshi foreign labourer. It wasn't that I wanted to make a racial observation, but my civil rights classes have shown me how racial groups can be so demeaning stereotyped and I made conclusions about how this girl, should she be racist (I really think she is), feel about having to serve another *type of man.

Then there was another who had her arms locked around an old man, refusing to let him go until he has agreed to her services, and others coyly stroking the arms of the men they would soon have in their $10 an hour motel beds in a short while. But a sweet moment did not escape me, as I saw a man approach one of the ladies, and both of them had the exact, complementing features. Is it wishful thinking if after passionate lovemaking they become a couple? =P

*Gallant and I even stopped by a sex toy shop, and once again, I was stunned to see the variety of unnatural objects people insert into themselves. I don't know how two people (ladies, presumably) would pleasure themselves with a half metre long doublesided dildo, or men being pleasured by two small fake stumps passing off as breasts.

Where is the sanctity of sex? Sadly, *Gallant had to truthfully add that even he feels that the sanctity of marriage, but not sex, is the new age thing.

And in the midst of this sin trade, are religious alters, many temples, churches, clans and martial arts associations. It was a pity, that in a clash of two stark opposite cultures (sex and religion) it was the former that was more predominantly seen. The bus of passing tourist who had their nose pressed to the window, looking out for these ladies will tell you that.

The night ended quite innocently with the only purchase being Geylang's famous soya bean pudding (tau foo fah) and $30 worth of fruits (durians, mangosteens, mangos, oranges, plums, apples and pears). When we approached the store, the fruit uncle told us that we looked so sweet together, and gave us two (extra) sweet mangosteens to symbolize the two people in love. Tonight, we celebrated (not in a grand way) 11 months of being together.

All I want for any occasion

All I Want for *insert any occasion here* is a Tiffany's

Ladies, I urge you to click on the magnificent piece of jewelry on the side and marvel at its iridescent, delicate, heavenly qualities.

I have fallen in *love with this beautiful piece: Tiffany Voile bangle, medium. Round diamonds, 2.47 carat total weight, color grade G, clarity grade VS; platinum.

Listen to this description: Brilliant melee diamonds are painsakingly hand-set in platinum by Tiffany's master jewellers. The delicate effect is reminiscent of the luminous fabric called voile.

Stunning. Really.

.::.

Blog Ban Notice

On another note... I've been put on a blog ban by *Gallant on any other blog than mine. Simply because my ISM and other assignments are far from completion. I'm *allowed on my own site for purposes of ranting and self expression (so I don't tire him out, I think). =)

If it was not for my own good, he'd get a good *crack at the head for taking away such an online indulgence of mine.

Demi-vegan

I, the Demi-Vegetarian

If you didn't know already, my independent study (final year project) is on Peter Singer and his utilitarian thought. Specifically, I am examining the philosophy of foreign aid (he argues that it is your obligation to give a substantial portion of your paycheck, eg, 10% to charity, etc). Although, I must say the more interesting bits are about his vegetarian and abortion policies.

Let me share a new bit of philosophy: I was cutting up a chicken carcass this morning (not to say that the chicken inspired me to blog but rather I now feel obligated to) and words from Peter Singer started to taunt me. *Moral me started to worry about my participation in the 'flesh industry', and truly, it was a gruesome thought as I saw through skin, flesh, bone with my sharp blade, feeling each tear through the flesh (Singer said to not use 'meat' as it makes the animal a food automatically... so no 'pork' but 'pig' and no 'beef' but 'cow', yeah?) and hear each cracking rib bone. Pressure had to be applied to get the blade through.

Really, more sessions of chicken carcass cutting will make a pure vegetarian out of me. Truthfully, I hope it does.

In the meantime, I can't help but to confess to you that there is a difficulty to give up meat (arghh... what can I use to substitute the word?) completely. Not because I enjoy the taste so much but variety is a luxury and vegetarian food can only offer so little options. Furthermore, society (and dates) makes it difficult to confine others to my diet and myself away from lovely restaurants. Third, there are health issues involved where meat proteins are necessary for the body.

Which is why I currently subscribe to H.R. Hare's vegetarian philosophy. He calls it demi-vegetarianism. Hare sympathises the animal food industry but he argues that there is more damage done if we all become full vegetarians. He elaborates two of my concerns (society and health) quite impressively, and argues the economic and ecological need to continue some eating of animals. If you are keen to know more, I will be happy to share more details with you or lend you a copy of his essay, Why I am a demi-vegetarian. He defines demi-vegetarians:

"[Demi-Vegetarian] means someone who while not being a full vegetarian, let alone, vegan, eats little meat, and is careful what kinds of meat he or she eats. Usually the selection is on dietetic grounds (lean meat rather than fat, fish rather than meat, etc); but no doubt moral considerations come in too."

Hare's relevant point is this: eat only the minimal amount of meat you need. This way, it would be unnecessary for the industry to be so cruel to the animals while still meeting dietary requirements, cravings for meat and (in my case) fulfilling *social obligations. If possible, eat more fish as he thinks they suffer less.

More important, I would like to share a plea he makes. Go for free range meat. In my case, I have been cooking up only kampung chickens lately (*bless their free-range souls). Being kampung chickens, they are not cooped up and run a little free-er than their farmed counterparts.

Markets (both the wet kind and economy kind) are based on principles of supply and demand. If we can make this little change, imagine the impact we can make for animals and it is not at so much of an inconvenience for us (no sacrifice of eating meat here, see).

Indulge me please: Eat more fish and only buy kampung (free-range) chickens.

This community service message was brought to you by the *Damsel who now realises that her avoidance of KFC should be made into a boycott.