things change...
but today, i'm looking at the bright side.
i believe everything happens for some good reason.
i'm contented already.
once again, thank you
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
tonight's menu - one choice (eat or don't eat)
let me present to you,
tonight's sumptuous dinner
from left to right: coke float, seedless grapes, grilled teriyaki chicken & spagetti accompanied by greens, cherry tomato & sunflower seeds.
(spagetti sauce made with traditional spagetti sauce, bacon bits, strips of honey baked ham and french onion)
hmm..considering this as one of my first few steps into cooking, this is one of the few times i manage to get all the proportion right, from the teriyaki marinate to the amount of spagetti needed for 3 pax. i'm happy with a job well done :D
the day started around 3.30pm. woke up and told myself, today is a day for a tad of house work.
washed up. made the bed. unpack yesterday's bag (came back from perth yesterday morning). brought some clothes to wash. tidied the room & bath. planned to cook some dish and soup for dinner. but sis wants spagetti.
was starving since i woke up. so before heading out for the food stuff; i had some crackers and a hot choc. jot down a list of things to get from the supermarket, then headed out.
it was raining cats and dogs...but i was 'determined' to cook today...haha...big deal huh?!
sometimes, it feels great to do this at your own pace. when i do things like this alone, i feel so at ease; with no one to pressure or rush me through my shopping, i can put my mind on what i really need (or change my mind as and when). i was wondering what vegetables i should get for the greens. initially decided on broccoli. so, i took a broccoli to weigh. after throwing in a few more items into my cart, my fickle mind decided that salad would be better than just broccoli. i apologized and gave the broccoli back to the lady. i half expected her to give me a scowl, and thought twice about leaving the bag somewhere remote; instead, she smiled and say, "of course. it's ok" - (genuine smile. i know)
took around 20mins going up and down the aisles of the small 'supermarket', and then i was done. i realized i've got 70% of the items in my list, added 20% more that wasn't in the list, and changed 10% of the items (quite a good improvement for little miss fickle today)
not going to describe the detailed process of my cooking since it was quite simple. but the whole time, i was imagining myself as nigella lawson in the kitchen - with the cool spontaneity and a little bit of grace. i felt good!
for once, i was not as clumsy and nervous as i used to be with the pots and pans, and the low and the high of the stove fire.
a little improvement to record!
thanks for guiding me along, nigella...
but before i celebrate this small progress, here come's the most important part of this all;
LET'S HEAR FROM THE JUDGES:-
sis says:
GOOD! just nice a portion to fill the stomach and to crave for a tad more.
there was a "good chemistry between the spagetti sauce and the cheese" (whatever she means by that; as long as it means GOOD).
dear says:
overall, a good improvement among all my cooking that he's tried and tasted.
though, the chicken was a bit tough.
maybe it's the breast. or maybe it's the chef.
anyway, cheers to a day not-wasted...
it's been a while...how was your day?
tonight's sumptuous dinner
from left to right: coke float, seedless grapes, grilled teriyaki chicken & spagetti accompanied by greens, cherry tomato & sunflower seeds.(spagetti sauce made with traditional spagetti sauce, bacon bits, strips of honey baked ham and french onion)
hmm..considering this as one of my first few steps into cooking, this is one of the few times i manage to get all the proportion right, from the teriyaki marinate to the amount of spagetti needed for 3 pax. i'm happy with a job well done :D
***********
the day started around 3.30pm. woke up and told myself, today is a day for a tad of house work.
washed up. made the bed. unpack yesterday's bag (came back from perth yesterday morning). brought some clothes to wash. tidied the room & bath. planned to cook some dish and soup for dinner. but sis wants spagetti.
was starving since i woke up. so before heading out for the food stuff; i had some crackers and a hot choc. jot down a list of things to get from the supermarket, then headed out.
it was raining cats and dogs...but i was 'determined' to cook today...haha...big deal huh?!
sometimes, it feels great to do this at your own pace. when i do things like this alone, i feel so at ease; with no one to pressure or rush me through my shopping, i can put my mind on what i really need (or change my mind as and when). i was wondering what vegetables i should get for the greens. initially decided on broccoli. so, i took a broccoli to weigh. after throwing in a few more items into my cart, my fickle mind decided that salad would be better than just broccoli. i apologized and gave the broccoli back to the lady. i half expected her to give me a scowl, and thought twice about leaving the bag somewhere remote; instead, she smiled and say, "of course. it's ok" - (genuine smile. i know)
took around 20mins going up and down the aisles of the small 'supermarket', and then i was done. i realized i've got 70% of the items in my list, added 20% more that wasn't in the list, and changed 10% of the items (quite a good improvement for little miss fickle today)
not going to describe the detailed process of my cooking since it was quite simple. but the whole time, i was imagining myself as nigella lawson in the kitchen - with the cool spontaneity and a little bit of grace. i felt good!
for once, i was not as clumsy and nervous as i used to be with the pots and pans, and the low and the high of the stove fire.
a little improvement to record!
thanks for guiding me along, nigella...
but before i celebrate this small progress, here come's the most important part of this all;
LET'S HEAR FROM THE JUDGES:-
sis says:
GOOD! just nice a portion to fill the stomach and to crave for a tad more.
there was a "good chemistry between the spagetti sauce and the cheese" (whatever she means by that; as long as it means GOOD).
dear says:
overall, a good improvement among all my cooking that he's tried and tasted.
though, the chicken was a bit tough.
maybe it's the breast. or maybe it's the chef.
anyway, cheers to a day not-wasted...
it's been a while...how was your day?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
we ARE the CHAMPIONS
the other day, when we were singing along with this song by Queen, i knew it. i could see it. i felt it in my heart and lungs. the emotions choking in my throat, overwhelmed by the strong sense of victory...long before today - the day we lift this cup up high!
like they say: it's written in the stars...we're meant to be...the CHAMPIONS!
did you watch the match?
like they say: it's written in the stars...we're meant to be...the CHAMPIONS!
did you watch the match?
closure
....closure. we all seek it. we seek the end of things and also the beginning of new things. those things we can't find closure on, they haunt us. they pop up in our dreams, they creep into our thoughts in idle moments, like a mind-bender that's beyond our mental capacity, a mystery that just won't be solved.... "
Thursday, May 15, 2008
GREAT!Tuesday, May 13, 2008
the myriad thoughts that rapid-fire in my mind
i use to think that i'm a person who's tactful with my words and actions; this is because i noticed that i'm always getting feedback from my listeners by judging their expressions. every movement of their facial muscle combined with their gestures seem to tell a story.
however, i soon realized that i was wrong.
maybe i am tactful erm..most of the times? ...but not always.
during conversations nowadays, i realized i've learnt to take a few seconds for some thoughts, before i respond. i learnt that its good to be watchful of what is said or done, lest you hurt someone's feelings without your realizing. (although i was usually more spontaneous or should i say straight-forward with my words; i somehow agree that being a tad more careful with words among new acquaintances might safe your ass) well, it's better to be safe than sorry. you don't what to know what some over-sensitive or petty people might do to get back at you for what you said.
anyway, my point is, i discovered that i'm a natural observer.
as soon as i enter a situation or a place, i will begin to observe the people around there. from their posture, expression and gesture to their reactions; and if i have the chance to observe longer without being noticed, i'd listen (not eaves dropping since their conversations would be loud enough for a listenning ear) to their dialogue. from there, i'd make my own judgement of the person.
for instance:
i was having lunch at Bugis Street restaurant in gloucester, london. as my companions were busy chatting away, a whining sound caught our attention. we saw this chinese family of four (mom and dad, a daughter, maybe 7 to 8 years old, and a son 5 or 6 years old) on the table next to us. the boy was crying and whining, pushing away everything in front of him. the mom and dad's attention were all on him, both trying to pacify and appease him with some snacks on the table. didn't seem like easy, 'cause the boy never stop whining. since there wasn't a fuss from the daughter, i vaguely remembered her sitting quietly as she watch the three in action.
it turns out, the boy was hungry as everyone in the small restaurant could hear the man half raised his voice to order for the food to be expedited as he claims his boy was starving already. the man pointed out that the other table's patron who came later than them has already been served their food. the poor waiter apologized and scurried to the kitchen.
(this is just an example of some of the people i observed)
i watch. and i lose myself as i'm prone to do, in wondering about people.
who are these people? where did they come from? are they doing the right thing? what causes them to do what they did? is it their background? what were other people thinking about them? did they care? are they happy or sad? what was the little girl thinking as her brother always seem to get all the attention? how would she grow up to be like? and the boy, is he going to grow up to be a stubborn pain in the ass? or would he pick up good habits and change as he grows up?
questions like this move through my brain like rapid-fire; i'm barely aware of them.
many a times, i can exhaust myself with my own inner catalog of questions and possible answers.
it came to an extent that i caught myself wondering about the stranger at the mall or the old aunty in the bus, when it was already time for bed. i wonder if it is the same for other people.
do they think and wonder as much as i do?
do you?
i have a tendency to experiment for responses from friends; especially new friends whom are more shy and introverted, and those whom i think are extremely careful with their words and actions. these are the people who share very little about themselves. i'm still trying to find out and understand why - the human behavior. hence, it always seemed like a challenge to me, to make them feel comfortable when talking to me, to share a little more than they would a new friend, that they would come out of their 'protective shell' and talk to me like they would their close friends.
but don't get me wrong. of course i'm sincere, and it's not any silly self-challenge quest.
however, i soon realized that i was wrong.
maybe i am tactful erm..most of the times? ...but not always.
during conversations nowadays, i realized i've learnt to take a few seconds for some thoughts, before i respond. i learnt that its good to be watchful of what is said or done, lest you hurt someone's feelings without your realizing. (although i was usually more spontaneous or should i say straight-forward with my words; i somehow agree that being a tad more careful with words among new acquaintances might safe your ass) well, it's better to be safe than sorry. you don't what to know what some over-sensitive or petty people might do to get back at you for what you said.
anyway, my point is, i discovered that i'm a natural observer.
as soon as i enter a situation or a place, i will begin to observe the people around there. from their posture, expression and gesture to their reactions; and if i have the chance to observe longer without being noticed, i'd listen (not eaves dropping since their conversations would be loud enough for a listenning ear) to their dialogue. from there, i'd make my own judgement of the person.
for instance:
i was having lunch at Bugis Street restaurant in gloucester, london. as my companions were busy chatting away, a whining sound caught our attention. we saw this chinese family of four (mom and dad, a daughter, maybe 7 to 8 years old, and a son 5 or 6 years old) on the table next to us. the boy was crying and whining, pushing away everything in front of him. the mom and dad's attention were all on him, both trying to pacify and appease him with some snacks on the table. didn't seem like easy, 'cause the boy never stop whining. since there wasn't a fuss from the daughter, i vaguely remembered her sitting quietly as she watch the three in action.
it turns out, the boy was hungry as everyone in the small restaurant could hear the man half raised his voice to order for the food to be expedited as he claims his boy was starving already. the man pointed out that the other table's patron who came later than them has already been served their food. the poor waiter apologized and scurried to the kitchen.
(this is just an example of some of the people i observed)
i watch. and i lose myself as i'm prone to do, in wondering about people.
who are these people? where did they come from? are they doing the right thing? what causes them to do what they did? is it their background? what were other people thinking about them? did they care? are they happy or sad? what was the little girl thinking as her brother always seem to get all the attention? how would she grow up to be like? and the boy, is he going to grow up to be a stubborn pain in the ass? or would he pick up good habits and change as he grows up?
questions like this move through my brain like rapid-fire; i'm barely aware of them.
many a times, i can exhaust myself with my own inner catalog of questions and possible answers.
it came to an extent that i caught myself wondering about the stranger at the mall or the old aunty in the bus, when it was already time for bed. i wonder if it is the same for other people.
do they think and wonder as much as i do?
do you?
i have a tendency to experiment for responses from friends; especially new friends whom are more shy and introverted, and those whom i think are extremely careful with their words and actions. these are the people who share very little about themselves. i'm still trying to find out and understand why - the human behavior. hence, it always seemed like a challenge to me, to make them feel comfortable when talking to me, to share a little more than they would a new friend, that they would come out of their 'protective shell' and talk to me like they would their close friends.
but don't get me wrong. of course i'm sincere, and it's not any silly self-challenge quest.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
i'm sorry
i was ignorant of your feelings.
i'm sorry i hurt you.
i did not put myself in your shoes.
i'm sorry i was blunt.
i did not care how you'd take the harsh words.
i'm sorry i threw my tantrums at you.
i did not care if you might be bothered by other things.
i'm sorry i wasn't there for you.
i did not think you might be needing me.
i'm sorry i never seemed to get it right.
i was oblivious of the signs.
if i had the chance to turn back time, i wouldn't undo anything (cause it's the past that has made me what i am today)
but i wish i had never hurt you the way i did.
i wish you well...
i'm sorry i hurt you.
i did not put myself in your shoes.
i'm sorry i was blunt.
i did not care how you'd take the harsh words.
i'm sorry i threw my tantrums at you.
i did not care if you might be bothered by other things.
i'm sorry i wasn't there for you.
i did not think you might be needing me.
i'm sorry i never seemed to get it right.
i was oblivious of the signs.
if i had the chance to turn back time, i wouldn't undo anything (cause it's the past that has made me what i am today)
but i wish i had never hurt you the way i did.
i wish you well...
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
sometimes i think i talk to much
it is at that point of time, when i felt the need to share my opinion, and later realize that somethings are better kept to myself.
people don't need your opinion.
nobody likes a know-it-all.
is that true?
"Wise men talk because they have something to say;
Fools, because they have to say something"
- a quote by Plato
so, am i a fool?
maybe it's true that a wise person will listen and pick up from other's conversation, and talk only when he has something important to say.
but won't that make him a boring person?
in a group, there has to be a speaker and a listener. if you put both listeners together, you might as well have two mutes.
am i making any sense?
people don't need your opinion.
nobody likes a know-it-all.
is that true?
"Wise men talk because they have something to say;
Fools, because they have to say something"
- a quote by Plato
so, am i a fool?
maybe it's true that a wise person will listen and pick up from other's conversation, and talk only when he has something important to say.
but won't that make him a boring person?
in a group, there has to be a speaker and a listener. if you put both listeners together, you might as well have two mutes.
am i making any sense?
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