to

from the bottom of my heart..

Normal

I am leading a life somewhat closer to normalcy now. It seems like a mighty odd thing to say, more so even harder for people to comprehend. The hard part being... what is so difficult about being normal? Recently, I encountered an unpleasant experience that many are bound to encounter in their lives. I didn't mope long. I just shared the story to a few of those whom I thought ought to know about it. Told myself that once I'm done with the last person, I must feel better already. Just this morning, it struck me that I've actually learnt to control my state and organize my thoughts. I didn't fell too hard, I learnt to take things easier. I could actually talk, and feel better about it and almost forgetting it. How queer, yet a great beginning. Perhaps normalcy is not such a bad thing after all.

Don't work too hard?

Got that in an e-mail.

(Click on picture for better view)

Mehran was briefly talking about suicide in class yesterday. He scanned the room and said, "No.. you all don't think about suicide." He looked at everyone again, just to be sure. Our eyes met. Mehran said, "You do think about it, don't you?" I just smiled and nodded. "But no, you won't do anything about it." He explained further to the class. "It's the eyes, you can detect depression through the eyes, you see."

Abnormal Psychology is interesting. Felt a bit bad that I slept for a while in the class. But I was really exhausted. Anyway, he's a nice man. It's been awhile since I sat in, and I'm surprised he still remembers me. Something to be cheerful about. :)

Ghost writer

Imitation is the best for of flattery. But plagiarism? (=.=)''

I'm a ghost writer. Uncredited.


_the wordsmith_

My baby got me a baby

My baby got a teeny-weeny baby for me. :)
It's a beautiful gift and I'll treasure it well.
Thank you so much, baby..

i lap u

Read about baby's account of getting it here. (^_^)

Under fire

Wiggings again, grrrh. Musn't let the snafus hamper my fire today. I need to meet deadlines.

After flopping hopelessly for almost half a week, I'm glad to regain momentum and start pushing myself again. I don't even get it why my body refuses to cooperate with me. Fatigue sets in everyday, just with a snap. I don't even have the energy to work, hence I stare at the screen like an idiot wasting all precious time. The writer's block is horrible too. And just because I delve into something more colourful than office docs & the library that sits in the dust to get ideas doesn't mean I'm skiving. My scribbles, fortunately (unfortunately in this case because it earned me a earful) thrive on colourful out of the box stuff. I can only spill my anguish here, here and here.

Feel like saying,

you want good and cheap, wait long long

you want good and fast, pay me more

you want cheap and fast, nah i give u farce.

Who the hell understands what i'm gurgling within this rigid goldfish bowl?

>><((((('> oO_oOo^Oo_Oo^o_O <')))))><<

Extreme mental exhaustion. Can't shut down. Can't operate either.

Customer service

I don't think I make a good Customer Health Advisor. Proof?
JO & TC turned to look at me once I put down the phone.
"Ooo. You getting 'mang zang' edi hor." (mang zang = Cantonese for irritated)
And I thought I had been courteous and tweet enuff. haiyo.

Wokay, I do admit that I'm not cut out for this job so well. Customer service was never my forte (nooo...it will not elude me forever....*drama queen*- copies Yoshino Yusuke from Clannad The After Story).

But I'm doing my best to fit in. I badly need to lay my hands on a book which specifically directs me how to communicate with customers (read: nicely).

Huhuhu. I get irritated all too easily, Buu can attest to that.. being on the receiving end for as long as we're together. woops. Sorry hunny. *sheepish*

To be fair, it doesn't help when the distressed lady on the other line refuses to accept any suggestions from me. And she keeps repeating.. and repeating...aaaannnd repeating the same old lines. *drifts off into imaginary world*

"Lady, get a hold of yeself & LISTEN!"
*smacks lady's head*
Lady looks up adoringly.
"Yes, master! I shall stop being ridiculous!"
"I'm so sorry, master!!!" Lady sobs inconsolably, filled with remorse.
*smacks lady again*

Cough cough splutter splutter. Back to reality.

Ok..nuff with the runaway thoughts. Pardon my imagination. It's hard to tame that side of me, ye know. *winks*

Grr. Just stop the supps for a week & take it again la to see if it's the culprit anot. 'Une' by 'une' tis time, just to see which one you're not ngam with dey. And nooo... the company's not gonna run away. And stop telling me it couldn't be other stuff that's making you woozy... [deleted][deleted][deleted] *fragments of imagination again*

I wish I could be nasty in real life... but lice bowl is lice bowl la (pun intended). Cannot play play.

I am guilty. Guilty on the charge of not being a good customer service person. huhu.

Komtar

Komtar view from a bustling market in Penang

Hope you like this picture I took in Penang. As there's no connections for me to surf at home, I've taken the initiative to lounge at the Coffee Bean near me place. I've been here like since almost 11 am? O_o. That's a hefty 5 hours I've sat. Any longer, roots gonna sprout from me bottoms. Hehe, the things I'd do to blog. Had a lovely brekkie here. Today is a gorgeous day and I shall continue blogging tomorrow! Gotta go home and keep those clothes. Looks like rain is a coming. No good for me clothes! Ja ne..minna~

When boredom looms, I cook!

This has got to be the most unproductive holiday for me ever. Oh heck. Blame meself for not making any effort to make it productive.

Let's begin with Thursday. I moped for the entire day after accompanying Buu to the bus station. (You'd think that I should have got acquainted with the fact that Buu's always jet-setting off anytime with last minute notices.. well, yeah I am... but those pangs of longings still overwhelm me each time he steps out of my comfort perimeter). Besides doing some timely laundry, I joined couch potatoes worldwide in front of the idiot box. Now how productive is that?? (>_<) #$@

Thank goodness my future housemate aka Cuzy Joon was nice enough to spare me some time for dinner after work. Pheww.. he certainly added value to my day. *laughs* Not to forget the comforting phone call that I made to Mum which we had to end when she practically screamed at me..

"Woi!!! 27 minutes already lar!! save the $$ for the next phone call!! talk so long... the next time you call me.. what.. will be like next month la cuz u outta credit hor?"

Mothers. Don't I adore mine?

I was very determined to make up for the squandered time. Hence on Friday, off to the market I scuttle in the early morn. I also drove to the 100 yen shop after the marketing trip. Got quite a number of knick-knacks for a new project that I hope to immerse in. Indeed I was a happy girl for the whole day.. grinning like a fool for the amount of groceries I purchased. More laundry was done again. Dinner was a jolly affair even though though I dined alone. I guess cooking does bring out the happy vibes in me. And silly me started being a tuber again in front of my bestie, but this time, a very contented spud. :)

Lalala.. with a full fridge, I reckon I'd start off Saturday on a cheery tone. Thus I twirled into the kitchen and started messing around. Would you like to look at what I churned out?

Grilled Bacon wrapped Asparagus + Enoki & Grilled Okra (Tempura Sauce Dip)

I had no idea that okra or ladies' finger would actually taste splendid being grilled. The tempura sauce was just something optional I decided to make as I'd boiled a potful of dashi to freeze. They're sweet as a dip for the okra. Both the rolls and okra were popped into the toaster oven for about 15-20 minutes and they're good to pop into ye mouth. Do give it a test~ (^-^)

I've always preferred the noodle family to the rice family, which makes me quite partial to glass noodles. Hence, here's a recipe for the dinner I made on Friday night using that:

Stir Fried Tang Hoon/ Glass Noodles

Ingredients

• Onions (sliced)
• Garlic (minced)
• Carrots (julienned)
• Prawns
• Ham (julienned)
• Spring onion (1 inch lengthwise)
• Leeks (1 inch lengthwise)
• 1 egg
• Glass noodles
• Soy sauce to taste
• Oyster sauce to taste
• Pepper to taste
  

It's a simple recipe actually.

1. Heat up some oil in a wok.
2. Saute onions and garlic till fragrant.
3. Throw in the lot of carrots, leeks, prawns, and ham. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
4. Scrape the ingredients to a side of the wok, and beat in the egg. Scramble it up. Add more oil if necessary.
5. When eggs are semi-cooked, add in the glass noodles and stir fry everything on high heat.
6. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce and pepper.
7. Add in the spring onion just before dishing out, mix em well and it's ready to be served.

Stir Fried Glass Noodles

Cooking is up to one's creativity. Feel free to alter or mix and match anything you like for this dish. (Pssst... Charsiew and Chinese sausages would be lovely with it!). By the way, I've not given the exact measurements for the ingredients because I went by the agak-agak way. There's a saying that cooking measurements does not have to be exact, but baking is the opposite. Trial and error, so don't be afraid to fail. It's how we learn! (^o^)

Talk about baking, please check out Cass's website if you'd like to order cakes for any occasion! Arigato~