Whoops

Posted by eirene83 at 02:22 AM on December 4, 2006.

I feel bad. Kinda.

While coming down the car park ramp, there was a car right in front of me, not moving. No indicator lights on, no car in front. So I beeped the driver who hesitated before moving the car. And just as they did, I noticed there was a car reversing out of the parking space on the left.

Newly vacated parking space on my left with the driver waiting for me to move so they could get out. Previous driver who was waiting for said parking space on my left, waiting to go in. I was stuck. Only way out was either for the driver to drive ahead... or for me to reverse.

Except there was another driver right at my tail waiting for me to move.

Oops...

Eventually the guy drove off since there wasn't any other way to move. So I feel bad, a little, for depriving him of that spot. Not all that bad, since he didn't put on his indicator lights or anything... (moron)... but just a little. 

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New Words

Posted by eirene83 at 03:01 AM on December 4, 2006 in Library.

First there was metrosexual. Any guy who spends a lot of time and money on his appearance, image and lifestyle. Usually has great taste.

Then there was ubersexual. Which goes back to the more traditional type guys, supposedly confident and passionate... A manly man, I guess you could say.

Then you hear about asexual: People who don't really have any specific sexual orientation, and aren't attracted to either gender.

And now today.

A vitalsexual male. Middle-aged and above, believes in open and honest communication, willing to take action, and is concerned and desires his partner's satisfaction...

Frankly, doesn't that just sound like it's all coming full circle back to the S.N.A.G? The sensitive, new age guy trend that was popular years ago? 

2 onigiri

HP Fic of the Week

Posted by eirene83 at 03:30 AM on December 4, 2006 in HP.

A New Darkness
By: lilysunshine

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Perfect Brownies

Posted by eirene83 at 01:47 PM on December 6, 2006 in Recipes.

Ingredients:

¹/₂ cup butter
4oz unsweetened chocolate
180ml golden syrup
¹/₄ tsp salt
2 eggs
¹/₂ cup all purpose flour
²/₃ cup marshmallows

1. Preheat oven to 200^oC and line a 8" square metal baking pan with foil.
2. Melt the butter and chocolate in a double boiler, stirring until smooth. Stir in honey and salt.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, followed by flour. Stir until very smooth, about 1 minute. Add marshmallows.
4. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes.
5. Fill a large roasting pan with water and ice about 1" deep.
6. When the brownies are done, take them from the oven and place in the ice water bath. Add more ice to water if necessary. Allow to cool completely in the bath before removing the pan.

I never manage to make brownies the way you can get them at restaurants or bakeries, so I've just about given up on making them and resort to just buying them whenever the urge hits. But I thought the baking concept in this one was extremely unique. Dunking in ice water to stop the cooking process? Reminds me of tuna tataki...

Anyway, I adapted the recipe from Baking Sheet and changed some bits of it, mainly because I wanted to try making something chocolate-based with honey, after trying the Macadamia Honey Nut chocolate Shaun got me from Darrell Lea's. Honey has quite a distinct taste, along with other type of liquid sweeteners like treacle, maple and golden syrup so I figured it'd be interesting.

Well, the brownies turned out pretty great! I might keep the method of dunking it in an ice-bath, but it's pretty troublesome... but the marshmallows were a baaddd idea... Did you know the marshmallows can swell up pretty humongous? I had to make some chocolate icing to coat it so it didn't look so bad, especially since I used coloured marshmallows! And golden syrup in brownies are pretty good too. I might try honey as soon as I get some... My mom has super expensive honey only so I don't think she'll be too pleased if I used it in baking. But no more marshmallows!

2 onigiri

William Sun

Posted by eirene83 at 02:14 PM on December 6, 2006 in Library.

First, you saw him as a psychotic, perverted, super-scary stalker in 'The Beginning'.

Now, in 'Falling in Love', he's such a...effeminate, weird character who acts so adorably you can't help but like him.

Not badddd... And I think he looks so much better with spectacles. 

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Baked Marble Cheesecake

Posted by eirene83 at 02:31 AM on December 8, 2006 in Recipes.

Ingredients:

Base:
100g digestives biscuits, crushed
45g butter, melted
2 tsp brown sugar

1. Mix the crushed digestives biscuits with the sugar and butter.
2. Press mixture into the bottom of a lined 9" pan.
3. Bake for 10 minutes at 150^oC and leave to cool.

Filling:
3x 8oz packet of cream cheese
120g sugar
3 eggs
1 carton sour cream
1-2oz chocolate, melted

1. Combine cream cheese with sugar.
2. Add eggs, beating well after each addition and add in sour cream.
3. Mix 1 cup of batter with melted chocolate and mix well.
4. Spoon plain filling into the crust.
5. Drop spoonfuls of the chocolate batter into the plain batter and swirl knife through batter.
6. Bake for 10 minutes at 200^oC then reduce temperature to 150^oC and bake for 40 minutes or until set.
7. Leave in pan to cool and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.

Well, it's actually more like a layered cheesecake, since because I have proven that I can't follow instructions, I decided to do an entire layer of chocolate batter instead of spoonfuls then swirl it... which apparently didn't work as can be seen above. But still, it wasn't too bad since this way I got to taste the chocolate batter better.

Not too bad an attempt. I cut down on the cheese by about 4oz so it wasn't as rich: just nice and creamy but not too rich or sweet. I rather liked it. 

2 onigiri

Perfume

Posted by eirene83 at 02:33 AM on December 8, 2006.

I was wandering around Mid Valley after hours and got sprayed on by tons of perfume promoters. Do I have "looking for a new perfume" written all over my face or something? Because I actually decided to switch my usual daily perfume of Moonflower by Bodyshop to something else.

And realised that not only are there heaps of perfume out there, and most of them tend to start smelling the same by the 2nd or 3rd note... I also happen to like a lot of them.

Lancome's Oui; SJP's Lovely; Cacharel's Amor Amor and Noa Perle; Ferragamo's F and Incanto Charms; DKNY's Be Delicious... For men (yes, really. It's not as sweet so I really like it)... and my top favourite, unexpectedly... Anna Sui: Girl on the Beach.

Hmmm, decisions decisions... It's not cheap either, especially Ferragamo and SJP. They're the most expensive of the lot, about RM200 and above. I might go for Anna Sui, not sure yet.  

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Decision

Posted by eirene83 at 03:03 PM on December 9, 2006.

Well, I tested, I sprayed, I narrowed down, and tested again... And I've finally (sort of) decided... My new daily perfume is going to be:

Anna Sui: Dolly Girl on the Beach! There's something about the scent I really like... though the bottle freaks me out a little. It's expensive, but it lasts... so I figure it's worth the investment.

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MV Christmas Decorations

Posted by eirene83 at 03:07 PM on December 9, 2006.

Such pretty pretty decorations... although personally I preferred last year's theme of 'White Christmas' but a lot of other people seem to prefer this year's gingerbready house goodness and sweetness. More heart-warming was one of the comments I got.

Anyhow, I decided that this year I shall join the legions of people snapping photos... which I did, together with Steffi!

 

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Careless careless

Posted by eirene83 at 03:08 PM on December 9, 2006.

If you all haven't actually noticed, I've been doing a spot of baking or two lately... and last week, I suffered the usual minor baking injury; a slight brush against a grill while pulling out a pan and suddenly I've got burns on my arm. Which isn't too bad since I actually have gotten used to it by now. Time was I would jump around the kitchen cradling said arm, speechless.

And actually, it's not all that painful. Except while I was sleeping, I accidentally scratched it. And scraped the skin off. So now it's painfully tingly and slightly more swollen.

Time to get out the antiseptic cream. 

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Posted by eirene83 at 03:10 PM on December 9, 2006.

Urk! I can't believe it totally slipped my mind!

Happy Birthday, Ronald!

Sorry I couldn't make it for your party! 

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HP Fic of the Week

Posted by eirene83 at 03:11 PM on December 9, 2006 in HP.

Welcome To The Real World
By: IamtheLizardQueen

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What the heck...

Posted by eirene83 at 05:12 AM on December 12, 2006 in .

I was typing out some documents today and I got gradually more and more annoyed and tired and irritated. I couldn't really figure out why until I found myself pausing at words which I knew were being repeated.

Then it hit me: I was waiting for the computer to predict the word I wanted and fill it in for me.

-_-'

Talk about texting too much. 

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Early Morning Adventure

Posted by eirene83 at 07:03 PM on December 13, 2006.

Woke up this morning to a commotion of shouts, whacking brooms and meows. Meows?? In the house??

Turns out some cat managed to get into my brother's room early this morning; probably through the window via neighbour's balcony and had a pretty fun time wandering around. Getting her out though was a much harder process involving much 'Scat!', 'Shoo!', 'Go away' and going around my room and finally down the stairs and out the door. Unfortunately, setting the dog on her was not an option. Mainly because she's bigger than Snifi... and pregnant.

I wonder if cats speak our language...

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BBM: Treasures from an American Girl

Posted by eirene83 at 07:11 PM on December 13, 2006 in Foodie stuff as a favorite post.

I got back home tired, exhausted... and spied a square box on the hallway table. For me. Oh joy, could it be?

And it was!!

My BBM package! I was just about to pounce on it when I remembered I should take some pictures first. *restraint restraint*

My lovely partner, Heather Frazer: An American Girl. I had no idea of her blog address and going through some 60+ blog profiles seemed a little daunting but I managed to figure it out after Googling her name and location. Thank you so much Heather! I absolutely love everything in the package!!!

Anti-clockwise from upper left: Salt roasted pistachios, a mug mat, 3 of her lovely handmade cards, a laminated card with recipes, a green chile dip, some doggie treats and a tub of Bodyshop bodybutter! And just slightly behind all these treasures is a copy of her local paper! I'm going to enjoy looking through it.

She sent some lovely salted roasted pistachios which she says is grown right in her town. Oh, these are going to be mine, all mine. I love pistachios but they always seem to pull a disappearing act in my house. Am so hiding these to enjoy in my own time while browsing through the paper she included.

And while digging through the box, I couldn't stop sniffing the air. I was positive I could smell some spicy clove-y cinnamon-y scent... but where was it coming from?? Then I pulled out the applejack fragrance mug mat. Oh bliss! I love that sort of spicy cinnamon scent. I know I'm supposed to put a hot dish on it to release the fragrance, but I'm actually more tempted to just put it under my pillow and go to sleep!

Heather made lovely little tags to accompany everything inside the box, and I even got 3 of her handmade Christmas cards! So lovely and with her stamp on the back.

There's also a green chile dip which I have yet to try, but looking forward to using it soon; maybe with some nachos. I wonder if it would go well with sausages and such... Must try soon along with the 2 recipes of her family Christmas favourites: Chocolate snowballs and toffee crackers. Look out for it.

She claims that Bodyshop's bodybutter is among her many addictions and sent me a tub of Cocoa butter and I confess, it's becoming an addiction of mine too. I love the rich buttery scent of it and how utterly silky smooth my skin feels after an application. Going to look out for this in my local Bodyshop.

Here's a picture of Snifi having a good smell of everything... Curious? Or maybe she's just attracted to the bags of doggie treats from Chewy Boy?

I rather suspect that it's the latter.

Anyhow, this was a fantastic BBM experience for me. Thanks Heather for making it so great and for all the lovely things you packed in! (Which is a wonder in itself! How did you manage to get everything to fit? I certainly couldn't!) And thanks Stephanie, for organising everything and getting all the details sorted, even through your connection acting up!

2 onigiri

Posted by eirene83 at 02:43 AM on December 16, 2006.

No matter what people say about how small the world seems, I never seem to always bump into people I know when I'm out... Huh. Maybe I just don't know enough people.

But anyhowww... Out of everyone I know... I saw Jian Hung today. Bloody fella has been bumming around since skivving off CLP exams. Incredible. And even though he says he's planning to go for the revision classes, I have this feeling he'll still continue bumming around, come for classes occasionally... and considering his track record, probably pass the damn exam too.

Bloody unfair. 

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Posted by eirene83 at 02:08 AM on December 17, 2006.

Well... I finally got a hair-cut and it looks pretty damn good. For that day.

But after a few days, and going through hair washes and my own brushing, it's gone back to looking a lot like my previous style, albeit a much neater one.

Dang... and it looked so good at the hair salon too.  

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HP Fic of the Week

Posted by eirene83 at 02:09 AM on December 17, 2006 in HP.

Do I Love You?
By: Cyane Snape

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Stupidity

Posted by eirene83 at 02:10 AM on December 17, 2006.

I just realised that I've actually done many crazy, stupid things in my life... Well more like crazy or stupid... hopefully not both at the same time. You know, stuff that makes your closest friends raise their eyebrows and go, "Are you crazy?!?!???" or exclaim incredulously, "What were you thinking???"

Hmmm... still, I like to think that I haven't actually repeated many of those crazy stupid things...

*grin*

Here's hoping for the best! 

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HP Fic of the Week

Posted by eirene83 at 09:20 PM on December 18, 2006 in HP.

It Was Christmas Eve
By: Beren

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Oopss

Posted by eirene83 at 03:33 AM on December 19, 2006.

I just realised that it's about a week to Christmas... and while I've completed and wrapped up my Christmas shopping, I still haven't:

1. Send out my Christmas cards, much less bought them...
2. Done any Christmas baking...
3. Decided on what to bake for my mom's birthday and test out the recipe.
4. Prepared anything to bring for the parties I have agreed to go to.

Oooohhh dammmnnn.....

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You know...

Posted by eirene83 at 08:23 PM on December 19, 2006.

You know that your parents love you, when they drag you kicking and protesting to see the doctor at the slightest hint of a bad case of bronchitis... because it's for your own good.

Damn, my throat hurts. 

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Clinic Christmas Party

Posted by eirene83 at 09:16 PM on December 19, 2006.

Hmmm, in all the years I've part-timed at the clinic, this is the first year ever that I know of a Christmas party being held... Actually for that matter, this is also the first year ever that I knew of farewell parties being held.

Still, it was quite fun. Loads of food and drinks, a bottle of vodka sponsored by the doctor, music in the background and a lucky draw for presents. Well, actually, more like a present exchange done by lucky draw.

Too bad no one remembered to bring a camera... but still, it was good fun! I got a really cute tissue-box holder and one of the nurses that I usually do a shift with got my present of a silver bangle and perfume. Hehe, now that I think about, I can't think of anyone better to get my present!

I wonder if there'll be a party next year?  

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Apple-licious!

Posted by eirene83 at 02:14 AM on December 22, 2006.

WOOT!

I got my DKNY Be Delicious today! And it smells great! And I like how the bottle is shaped to look like an apple... right down to the indentation where the stem is supposed to be.

Though my mom prefers my Hugo Boss Deep Red. But still, love the scent!

(I used a picture from the web because the the top part of the bottle is all silver and shiny and I absolutely refuse to have everything in my room reflected and magnified... Not to mention my own reflection )

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Credo at Christmas

Posted by eirene83 at 01:24 PM on December 23, 2006 in Library.

At Christmas time I believe the things that children do.

I believe with English children that holly place in windows will protect our homes from evil.

I believe with  Swiss children that the touch of edelweiss will charm a person with love.

I believe with Italian children that La Befana is not an ugly doll but a good fairy who will gladden the hearts of all.

I believe with Greek children that coins concealed in freshly baked loaves of bread will bring good luck to anyone who finds them.

I believe with German children that the sight of a Christmas tree will lessen hostility among adults.

I believe with French children that lentils soaked and planted in a bowl will rekindle life in people who have lost hope.

I believe with Dutch children that the horse Sleipner will fly through the sky and fill the earth with joy.

I believe with Swedish children that Jultomte will come and deliver gifts to the poor as well as to the rich.

I believe with Finnish children that parties held on St. Stephen's Day will erase sorrow.

I believe with Danish children that the music of a band playing from a church tower will strengthen humankind.

I believe with Bulgarian children that sparks from a Christmas log will create warmth in human souls.

I believe with American children that the sending of Christmas cards will build friendships.

I believe with all children that there will be peace on earth.

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Japan's Best Inventions!

Posted by eirene83 at 01:24 PM on December 23, 2006 in Fun stuff.

Okay, I'll admit that some of these are pretty dumb and useless... but I also actually think some of these are pretty cool... and useful! Plus, I checked and you can actually buy these off the Net!

Urm... packet of Kleenex, anyone?

If I'm going to be eating toast, I very much prefer to do it sitting down with cutlery and a pat of butter, thank you very much.

Scarily enough... I actually think this could be useful... somehow. I mean, we've all dozed off before on public transportations right, and how often do we find ourselves jerking awake because our head fell forwards? So... yeah...

Why not just... blow... on it... like normal people do?

Cup Noodle cap with timer
For the price of $9, you can now choose how you'd like your noodles done. Me, I usually just test it with a fork... Ingenious... 

I actually wouldn't mind getting this since that's actually my favourite sleeping position but my pillow just doesn't support my neck well enough. And yes, it's actually available for sale.

I don't care what people say: Someone, hurry up and patent and sell this already! Do you know how useful this really is, especially if you've been caught in one of Malaysia's monsoon season rains before?? Though folding the umbrella might pose a problem... but seriously, I would buy this instantly!

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Chocolate Ganache

Posted by eirene83 at 02:40 AM on December 24, 2006 in Recipes.

I decided to bake another batch of the brownies for my mom's birthday cake but instead of using marshmallows and chocolate topping this time, I swapped it for hazelnuts and did a chocolate ganache instead.

Ingredients:
3oz  semisweet chocolate
80 ml cream

1. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium fire until it comes just to a boil.
2. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth.

Optional: I added a splash... okay, fine, several splashes of Kahlua to make it a Kahlua-based chocolate ganache.

Then with a straw, or the end of a wooden spoon, makes holes about 1" apart into the top of the brownie. With a small spoon or dropper, fill the holes with ganache, topping up when necessary. Cool and refrigerate the brownie.

We're only eating it tomorrow, so I'll update you all on the taste as well as upload piccies!  

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Merry Christmas!

Posted by eirene83 at 11:17 PM on December 24, 2006 in Food, snacks & restaurants.

My mom's birthday cake!

Tasted great, though could have done with more Kahlua... Plus without the addition of marshmallows, it wasn't as moist. Though it was rather rich what with the chocolate ganache in it. All in all, a not too bad effort, I would say! :D

2 onigiri

Goodbye 2006

Posted by eirene83 at 11:48 PM on December 24, 2006 in Thoughts, Personal as a favorite post.

And suddenly it's the end of the year again. Where did all the days and weeks and months disappear to?

I'm alone tonight. For the first time in a very long time; for the first time in many years. But I don't feel sad, not really. Just thoughtful maybe. I can't really say that a lot happened this year because it doesn't feel that way. If anything, I would say that 2005 was more eventful than 2006.

I can't say that I kept my resolution of changing for the better... but I think I've grown up this year. I finally realised how much of my time I was wasting, how much I was just fooling around and not really doing anything. Towards the end of this year, I've been doing a lot of thinking. And started cleaning up my act.

And discovered how much I wasn't like my college self anymore, no matter how often I said I hadn't changed. And realised that when years of memories can fit into a box, it can be a very sad thing. And rediscovered how liberating it was to let myself go to act however I like while still being aware of the consequences. And realised how very heavy it is to finally take charge of where my life is going and that no one is going to be responsible for my actions but myself.

After months of drifting along and being stuck in a rut without realising it, these last few months have delivered a year's worth of lessons, realisations and decisions.

And looking back at the twelve months of 2006, so many things come to mind. Events that still make me want to cry and hit out at something; thoughts that make me smile and feel warm inside; situations that tickle me and make me feel like laughing; memories that make me smile and cry at the same time... So no matter how bad it was, I don't think 2006 was a wasted year at all.

And now to make 2007 an even better year.  

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Hello 2007

Posted by eirene83 at 11:54 PM on December 24, 2006 in Thoughts, Personal as a favorite post.

So 2007 came in with a bang, literally and figuratively

Several mishaps during the night (really gomeeenn if I ruined your New Year's) but in the end I had a blast and behaved myself... relatively...

And well, my resolutions for 2007? I haven't made any resolution in years, but this year is going to be different.

I resolve for 2007 to:

Lose at least 10 pounds from my average weight in 2006.
Get a proper job(!).
TRAVEL to all the places I've been planning to go to but never did.
Stop being so complacent like I was in '06.

Edit: Lol, I just realised of all my resolutions, the hardest to keep is going to be the last one,  since I always seem to, naturally, just not care... which can be good... for some things like not letting things get to me... but pretty bad otherwise.

Oh and I just thought of another resolution, thanks to Yush:

Expand my repertoire of dishes I can do in the kitchen, beyond the basic meals I did as a student and baking. :D

4 onigiri

Boxing Day

Posted by eirene83 at 11:57 PM on December 24, 2006.

No boxing day sales *sigh*

But Giordano had a storewide 45% discount going on!

Bargain! Grab some really nice tops and was tempted to get a pair of their jeans (I love Giordano jeans) but decided not to in favour of getting from M&S...

Fruits Basket!

Posted by eirene83 at 09:08 PM on December 28, 2006.

I'm bored, bored, bored, bored, BORED!

And for some reason, I've been downloading a lot of Chinese songs lately... I blame it on all the DVDs that's being played lately. There's this one series that I watched 3 times in its entirety in 2 weeks; because my brother, Carmen and my mom are all watching it... but at different speed. And despite watching it 3 times, I still don't know the whole story.

But thanks to it, I've got a song by Hacken Lee stuck in my head... 

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Slow Internet

Posted by eirene83 at 02:14 PM on December 29, 2006.

Everyone seems concerned with the whole deal of slow Internet due to the earthquake in Taiwan disrupting the cables...

Hmmm, doesn't really matter all that much to me. It doesn't seem all that slow to me, other than when I try to upload photos and my torrents are affected... but then again, that happens to me anyway on normal days, so actually other than not being able to upload my pics, nothing's really very different. No biggie...

And besides, this is a great way to prove that Internet doesn't control my life  

Currently feeling: accomplished

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Another You

Posted by eirene83 at 02:24 PM on December 29, 2006 in Music - Songs & Lyrics.

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Teetotal... Not

Posted by eirene83 at 05:14 PM on December 30, 2006.

Whee, beer practically the whole last 2 weeks; wine last weekend, champagne tonight... and looking forward to a whole lot more drinking tomorrow!

One small reason why I like December so much!

Though since I'm driving, I'm going to need to watch my alcohol consumption. But still... wheee!!!! Then after this, pretty much teetotal for the most of next year... until December again!

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Posted by eirene83 at 03:22 AM on December 31, 2006.

Woot! I just managed to get into Photobucket!

So! Pictures of my mom's birthday cake uploaded! Hehehe, orders welcomed!

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