Aftermath
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Fantastic. It actually drizzled. Should have known this would happen since never in my life I would get up in the wee hours of the morning to sweat it out on the track. At 6am, rolled out off bed, looked out off the window, cursed, drank a glass of water and fall back to sleep again. I made it up with a Tae Box class in the afternoon though. At least I tried. |
Jogging
Friday, April 29, 2005
Two weeks break from regular exercise has taken its toll as I grow more lethargic everyday. Not to mention bloated. So, I'm going jogging tommorrow morning. Yes...siree,
Rice Bowl Journals
First couple of days after I joined rice bowl journals and Globe of Blogs the sheer number of super spiffy blogs, (especially those in Rice Bowls) out there floored me. Anyway, I just hope that it allows unlimited bookmarks because there are just so many interesting reads. I feel like an infant compared to them in terms of content, design and html skills. Yes, I'm still struggling with trying to put in "Recent Posts". How sad is that? |
Soul Mates: Part One
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Came across numerous dating sites promising the opportunity to find THE ONE. Anyway, deviating away from sounding too Matrix, it's much better known as, the "Soulmate".
My mind switched to an episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy some time back. The makeover candidate is a man who is a big time American football fan hoping to give his girlfriend the most unique marriage proposal ever. When asked by one of the Fab Five about what he loves about his girlfriend, he replied simply that, "She's my soul mate, it's as if we knew each other for a long time."
Soul Mates. The term is used too liberally in my opinion. Seeing it ever so often cheapens its value, and hearing certain Hollywood celebrities who change partners as quickly as their Pret-a-Porters, proclaiming "We're Soul Mates!" to the whole world only managed to speed up the equivalent of a market crash. It's not just having a partner in love (or lust), it's about someone you are able to share your journey through life with in dreams and even nightmares. We're all searching for the 'other half', in kinda like a giant cosmic jigsaw puzzle where only 2 pieces fit perfectly.
I've been with AO for almost 7 years and we have our ups and downs too. But it has come to a point where we can easily see a married life future together. So is he my Soul Mate? Frankly speaking, I do not know for sure as there is still much to know about each other as we continue to explore every single edge of our puzzle piece. Do I love him? OF COURSE I DO.
There is a 20 questions Soul Mates test that I plan to try answering with AO. The first question already threw me off with the absolute clicheness
Q1: When you first met was it as if you already knew each other?
(Doesn't this faintly echo that pick up line, "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" I remembered hearing on TV that a person who is atractive to the other party will have a higher chance of being "recognised" as it triggers off a need to be associated with the person. Urgh, perhaps I'm reading too much into this.)
Anyway, results to be in Part Two. |
Sugar Craving Fix
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Frozen grapes. Yup, my latest discovery and has kept me away from those damn ice cream and caramel. Dump some seedless grapes in a small container and leave it overnight in the freezer. It's sweet enough and crunches down like popsicle. I'll usually grab a couple whenever I venture into the kitchen throughout the day and then finally munch on the rest late at night.
I've been experimenting with different frozen fruits also. So far, frozen watermelons, kiwis and grapes are the best. Bananas always turn black the next day and tomatoes just taste weird. Next batch up for testing are mangoes, oranges, strawberries and honey dew. |
Defrosting Fridge
Monday, April 25, 2005
A mini iceberg the size of a cantaloupe has been forming at the corner of the fridge. So this morning in my semi groggy state, I shuffled my way to the kitchen to find all the items in the fridge on the table. Guess someone initiated the defrosting since lazy me would rather live with the iceberg taking up space on her side of the fridge than doing something about it.
I opened up the fridge to find that it's still running. Now, just now can defrosting happen if the interior is still cold? I flicked off the switch and grabbed the hair dryer from my room. Figured that by the time that damn ice melts, my dairy products would have all turned a funny colour.
Fork in one hand and the hair dryer in the other, I picked, poked and proded at the frozen mass. It is times like this that I am grateful for not being blessed with common sense, because it would have told me not to do that in case I toast the cooling mechanism or rip the wires.
A flatmate came out in time to help me hold the hair dryer. Bit by bit, half hour later and working till our fingers are numb, the job was done and the bits of ice chipped out were dumped in the sink for the world to see. Good riddance.
Now when I'm writing this, just realised that there is still the polar ice cap of a freezer which we'd forgotten all about... |
Porcupine
Thursday, April 21, 2005
I know someone (AB) who is loud, in-your-face, has aggressive mannerisms, inconsiderate, hardly listens and insensitive to other people's feelings.
BUT
Who is strong willed, brave and generally has good intentions.
I thought of myself as a person with a high tolerance threshold but spending just an hour with AB could drain me out mentally and emotionally, which is why I limit meeting up with the person to the minimum. Somehow, AB reminds me of a porcupine. Those sharp quills that protect AB's vulnerable body from hurt also turns away many people when they come close.
Recently, I heard that AB's father has leukaemia and AB has to return to Singapore soon. As expected, pangs of guilt jolted me into picking up the phone and arrange a time to catch up with AB. In such a state, I don't blame the person for wanting to be with someone to talk to. We met up and I ended up spending 4 hours with AB. There were nice moments, there were funny moments but I am always on my guard. I could not be myself. And oh those prickly quills.
Dinner soon came and it was my chance to escape.
While making dinner, my phone rang and I answered it.
"Hello! Hey, can I come over to your place? I... I really need someone to talk to."
AB's tone of voice sounded weary and I could not say no.
AB arrived and entered the flat. The next moment...
AB: Alright, give me two bowls.
Me: ??
AB: Don't you want me to show you how to make the sauce?
Me: (vaguely remembering that time) yeah okay. But...
AB: We'll need garlic, corn flour...
Me: But my dinner... (looking at my almost ready food in the pan)
AB: What are you having?
Me: Some stir fried vegetable
AB: Don't eat stir fried! Where's the garlic, take it out.
Me: (obliged all requests)
AB did show me how to make the sauce after splashing half of the entire bottle of my brand new sesame oil and using most of my garlic stash. Misery me nearly had a heart attack but was determined not to show it. Finally when I got the chance to eat, AB was nice enough to wait for me to finish.
After that, we went into my room. 2 hours of listening time for me as I got to know more about AB's family situation, I've experienced for the first time, a mixture of pity, guilt, and of all things, apprehension (of more contact time). AB just needed someone to talk to in order to cope with the stress and while I think I did provide that means, the entire process was like sitting through an awful movie of epic length. And that added to my guilt for feeling this way.
Finally, someone came to pick AB up and I was free once again. Peace and quiet to pluck those quills from my skin. |
Go Greek!
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Just playing around with an online photo organising program, Flickr.
This was taken during the Easter break at a Greek Tavern. My first time trying Greek food and it's fantastic. Always thought that it's similar to Italian due to proximity and all, but it's more seafood and no pasta.
Was expecting the place to be crowded but what do you expect from mid week and post public holiday huh? The bread is fresh-from-the-oven, soft and yummy.
Can't say much about the dessert though. It's sugar overload. And this is coming from someone who adds sugar to tea in TABLEspoons.
|
Pope John Paul II
Saturday, April 02, 2005
I hope talking about this will not be sacrilegious in anyway, but I felt that I just had to say something before it's too late.
The Pope is dying, Vatican confirmed. Watched a live commentary by a highly morbid Australian reporter telling us what the confirmation process would be like when the Pope dies. His real name will be called three times. After the third time and he doesn't respond, he will be tapped on the head three times. After the third time and he doesn't respond, the ring on his finger will be removed by breaking the finger as a signal that his reign has come to an end.
I'm not sure why I started weeping at that moment. Sure I cried over Princess Diana's death too, but that was due to her having to leave her children behind too soon. And I definitely grieved over the comparatively low key Mother Theresa's passing on and the irreplaceable sacrifices she'd made for the many poor and sick people in India. But who is Pope John Paul II to me? I'm neither a Catholic nor have any idea about the things that he'd done for the world. In my eyes, I see a weak old man struggling to walk, to talk, and even to stay awake. And yet with these same eyes, there was a gleam of admiration for him.
What propels someone to carry on his work even when nearly every parts of his body break down? The Pope has a duty, but it was how much he would do it. Perhaps he could have stayed within the comforts of the Vatican where he would not have to summon an amazing amount of will power to keep his body moving. No. He kept on going and has done just that right to the very end. Who would not be touched by that?
Having cheated near death many times in the past and burdened with many ailments, he carries on travelling to many places around the world to whichever places that welcomes him. Thousands came to see him every time and I wonder just how many lives he's touch each time he was present. Over the years, he was frequently on tv and each time, during my ups and downs, I paid no attention to what was said about him. To me, he was just one of the leading figures of authorities in the world and that was it. However, when the revelations of his impending transition from this world finally hit home, the thought of not being able to see him again (even if it's only in the news) was overwhelming. I felt as if I'm losing someone familiar. As childish as this may sound, deep down I assume that he'll always be around.
On one hand, this reminds me of how cruel the passing of time is and on the other hand, the Pope has taught this person of a different faith and minuscule stake in the Vatican that as long as you are still conscious, you can still continue to make an impact on anyone's lives you meet. He will be in my prayers. |
