Restlessness

For some time now I have been having this restlessness, disinterested in my work, my ministry, my reading... My daily life feels like a facade, going through the motions. Retail therapy doesn't seem to be working but reality bites when my bills come!

In the process of quelching this, I have orbited out of my normal habits by having a new attitude. I'd like to think of it as a carpe diem peppering, a renewed surge of resolutions. Who says resolutions need only come at the start of the year?

So what wheels have I set in motion? Firstly, I have been longing to be able to attend a photography workshop ever since my cousin in Canada attended one to learn how to use their newly acquired SLR. Not that I have an SLR or that I am interested in becoming a photographer, rather, to learn how to brush up and improve my basic photography with my humble Nikon Coolpix.

I've managed to find someone who is willing to teach a couple of us the basics for free. So that's going to happen next month.

Secondly, baking classes. I am still researching on this as I am looking for a hands-on class, to learn the foundations of baking. So far, no yields yet but still I will persist.

Thirdly, Toastmasters. Hmm... the fire for this one has died down as I have yet to find anyone interested to go with me. Solo is still fine but having a partner will help spur me on.

And finally, I am going to update my pathetic make up collection. My colleagues gasped in horror when I told them my set it at least 3 years old, an eclectic mix of cheap, ah affordable brands. "Throw them all away! Imagine the germs residing in your 4 year old foundation and mascara!"

So, in two weeks time, they are dragging me to KLCC to update (or ctrl-alt-del) my make up set for a girly shopping spree. They've been wanting to do a makeover on me for ever as I never wear make up to work. I'm happy to be putty in their hands for this.

Also, I have 13 days leave which I need to clear by end of the year. No idea where to go or what to do yet since KS doesn't have leave, now that he's started his new job.

Chicken Feet

A uni friend introduced this tim sum place near my home and I have been absolutely hooked to it. Their prawns are fresh and there is a good variety of dishes.

We've been there 3 times already and even though it is not cheap, I think this has taken precedence over my liking for sushi/sashimi.

And the best part is? I get to eat my yummy chicken feet!

Did I ever mention how I came to eat chicken feet? I was at my friend, jo-bloggs, place during secondary school. We were attending afternoon school back then and before heading to school, she offered me lunch, cooked by her granny. Of course I accepted. However, there was only one meat dish, and that was chicken feet boiled in dark brown broth together with chinese mushrooms. Thank goodness I was eating alone. My despair was apparent but I certainly couldn't starve and be rude, so I had to eat it. And discovered it wasn't THAT bad after all!

So, now I'm really hooked on the tim sum version. Absolutely yummy and KS lets me have the entire dish to myself - he hates it! Oh well, less men more share.

Crunching Bones

When we got back from Melaka late last night, Dat Fella failed to come running to greet us. Then, as I was surfing the net upstairs, KS called me to quickly come down to check if it really was Dat Fella who was crouching at a corner near our potted plant. She seemed busy, ignoring KS' calls to come rub herself on his foot as per her normal routine.

She seemed to be chewing on something and by the time I spotted the rat's tail, there was a sickening crunch as her jaws crushed the bones. As swiftly as I had come downstairs, I ran upstairs, not wanting to hear more.

This morning, all that's left is a slight blood stain on the cement floor. Ew... But I'm glad she's a good mouser. Jay always vomited the half eaten rodent at the doorstep and I had to clean up before I left for work.

Angels & Demons

When my friend told me how good this book is, as compared to the Da Vinci Code, I knew it would be a good book. I just wasn't prepared HOW it would have kept me turning the pages.

There is an illustrated version of the book in my in-laws place. It's been there for months and every time I go there, I never had the desire to pick it up. However, our trip to Melaka extended by accident (we overslept but that's another story altogether).

So on the last night, I wanted to accompany KS to watch the latest U2 DVD release, Zoo TV. I had hoped I could alternate reading one page and watch the concert. Of course, that never happened. By midnight, KS was ready for bed but I was still immersed and sitting on the edge of my chair. I decided I could still accompany him but read in bed.

Next thing I knew, I heard the sound of a motorbike right in front of the house. I bolted up in panic, as my mind was filled with the terrors and killings in the book, but there was a dull thud as the newspapers was flung into the compound. NEWSPAPERS? I scampered out of bed to read the time and was really shocked to find it was already 6:30am.

I cannot remember when was the last time I slept so late and if I wasn't interrupted, I would have gone on until I finished the book.

Dang you, Dan Brown! This is your second book that has kept me awake until I finished them within 24 hours. I'm glad I read Da Vinci Code first. Angels & Demons is FAR better and the illustrations and photos of the actual sculptures in Rome really helped with the visualisation.

I also realised that I actually have a fear of sculptures, they look so life-like! How marble is carved to look like a flowing cloak makes it seem as though the statue can come alive any time. I hope never to be in the vicinity of one at night.

Ryan & Colin

Just spent the last 3 hours downloading and watching clips from Who's Line Is It Anyway? from youtube.com. This is one show I can watch forever, it's so funny!

Ryan and Colin really crack me up. Colin always gets the female roles while Ryan gets weird ones like being an embryo or something.

So, Day 1 hasn't been very productive. But I'm lovin' it!

Shopping Bug

I don't know what's gotten into me but I've had the shopping bug for ages! I want to buy a new top for work, a new pair of shoes to match all my skirts, a pair of white trousers (my colleague convinced me it's a staple in any girls wardrobe and that I should NOT associate it with emphasizing my thunder thighs and fishball butt).

Even though I have already been scouring some malls, I come away empty handed and determined to launch myself on the next mall. But what I've successfully purchased was not on my shopping list. I bought myself some bras.

I am not shy to admit my bloodline produces pear shaped women and cup A has always been my size. Let me tell you what size I bought this week, cup C. Yeah. Width was tighter by 2 inches and the more comfortable size was a B with the correct width BUT STILL! I proudly whispered to my colleague the next day, "I can wear a C!"

Some years back, I suspect bra manufacturers cottoned on to the fact that not many girls like to categorise their bits as a size A cup. God forbid, it is like a guy going to the drugstore, "May I have a pack of condoms, Small size please?". You CAN'T find a small sized condom, it goes by Large, XLarge and XXLarge (wow, the things one learns at Marketing classes!).

Either that or my fats have finally reached where I have always longed for it to go.

Lazy Bliss

I have a stretch of 5 days due to the Deepavali and Hari Raya holidays. Had great plans of baking til the oven couldn't take it anymore, reading until my eyes watered, being on the computer at great lengths, watching South Park episodes until my speech becomes like Cartman (dammit!), paint at least one shopping mall red and just LAZE around. But there's only 5 days, dammit! Suddenly, there isn't enough time to do all that!

Oh, and perhaps tidy up my bags of clothes.

For the past month, I have been living out of bags. What with all that travelling, staying over in PJ, my home hasn't been a home. I've grown to despise packing, unpacking, packing and then finally unpacking. Thus, I have at least 3 bags on the floor with clothes I have used/packed during the last few stays.

Anyways, there's our trip to Melaka squeezed into this 5 days too. My sis-in-law is back from Perth and also KS's dog is living on the edge due to old age.

I'll start packing AFTER I've had my fill of blogging, clearing my bags, doing laundry...

Weekend at PD

My uni mates spent the weekend at Port Dickson and competed for these cups at the Go Kart there. My friend Z came up with the idea and tie the title of the Championship to our uni name, Waikato, and paint the cups. Alas, he was called to do some last minute work over the weekend so he couldn't join us.

Here are some photos of me and Andrew racing for the Runner Up Cup. I admit I used dirty tactics to get ahead of him, but I did so want the cup! Andrew unsuspectingly relaxed at the start of the race and within the first 5 seconds, I overtook him and never allowed him the chance to overtake me. =)


After the race, I and a few others, took a short trail on horseback. It took us to the beach but unfortunately, what spoilt it was that they had handlers holding on to the horse the entire time. Still, it was good to sit on a horse again after 6 years.


This place that we had all these activities was at Eagle Ranch. Great prices, only RM10 for 4 laps on the Go Kart, RM25 for the Horse Riding (short trail), RM10 for 15 arrows for archery, RM60 for 50 paint bullets for paint balling, amongst other facilities. Highly recommended for a place of weekend fun!

We stayed at Corus Hotel which had rooms facing the sea. This is what the view outside my window looked like:


Had a great time and had fun catching up with each other. One thing we learned from this trip is that, if you want to travel to any beaches in Malaysia, do it during fasting month. The beaches were EMPTY! It was simply splendid to walk around without tripping over running kids.


*Pictures are slightly blur due to the haze

Retro Friday

Had a great Friday night as my entire department went to Ikea for a buka puasa and celebrated someone's birthday. The spread was quite good for the price you pay, just RM16.70 per person. This is a buffet here in the Klang Valley and we're talking Ikea here. Highly recommended although it is better to go after 7:30 after the Malays have broken fast.

We then went to 1 Utama and played Daytona again and other arcade games. This time, boss wasn't too pleased as we ganged up against him and kept making him smash against the walls.

When I tell people about playing Daytona, they roll their eyes and exclaim people just don't play Daytona anymore. Ah well...we need to start looking for inexpensive group games which we girls can participate. Perhaps we'll look for internet cafès next. Any other suggestions aside Eric's idea of mud wrestling in underwear?

Fishballs

My colleague has a thing about checking out butts. She has checked out the butts of most guys on our floor and has cheerfully declared that the only one with nice buns are on the guy who looks like my Aunt. The one who is so rigid that every new person who comes into the office gasps in wonder when they find out he is married. He's certainly NOT what I would call handsome but if his buns are nice, well then, God is indeed fair.

Anyways, I was walking in front of my colleague on our way to lunch yesterday and she started sniggering with another colleague. Pointing to my rear end, she goes:

"We are looking at your butt! You have a nice butt. You know, like fishballs."

Suddenly, fishballs don't seem to appeal to me anymore.