Posted by eirene83 at 11:19 PM on August 1, 2007.
I feel this longing to enter the kitchen, make an utter mess and exit with gloriously fattening goodies...
Unfortunately, first there were the exams.
Stress = major kitchen blunders
Then now it's closing to mooncake season.
Mooncakes = smaller appetites
I could normally just eat them myself except I'm currently feeling about as light and delicate as an elephant...
Feeling like an elephant = no eating
No eating = no baking
Le sigh...
Posted by eirene83 at 04:59 AM on August 3, 2007.
I've been on holiday for about a week now and I already feel frazzled... Clearing my room, packing things up, getting all the things done that I've postponed for so so long...
Feel like a fat cat is sitting on me and breathing hard...
Too much to do, so little time to do it in...
And the ironic part of it all is that I'm the only one putting pressure on myself... Again
Posted by eirene83 at 05:08 AM on August 3, 2007 in Library.
I got this from Jan Leong way back in April before he left for Melbourne... and I only just got around to watching it...
I actually never heard about this Japanese drama before until Jan mentioned it to me... and during the first episode, I thought it was actually pretty good... and then I found out it's actually based on a real story...
Jan, did you say you nearly cried a few times watching this? I'm up to episode 7 now and I've already nearly cried twice... It's really touching and sad... Not in that typical cheesy drama way where the characters seem so incredibly strong and resilient... But in a way that we can connect with and understand...
It's good, it's recommended, it's a book I wish they would translate into English. If they can translate Densha Otoko, why not this? 
Posted by eirene83 at 12:32 AM on August 6, 2007.
Blog holiday!!
No updates for a while... Hehehe, will be back when I'm back!
Posted by eirene83 at 03:06 AM on August 21, 2007.
I'm alive, I'm back and I'm sadly sadly extremely poor right now... But I'm still happy because the holiday was a b-l-a-s-t!
Still, at times I do wish that I never started the habit of self-funded holidays back in college because seriously, it's a major killer on my savings! Cost of living in HK isn't exactly cheap and combined with the fact I went during sales equals major withdrawals!
Anyway, I have yet to transfer the pictures from my camera but it's safe to say that you can expect semi-regular updates from now on!
Posted by eirene83 at 03:12 AM on August 24, 2007.
I finally finished watching "One Litre of Tears"... I stopped at episode 7 and picked up again after a couple of weeks.
Actually, I've been watching more stuff in just these few days compared to what I normally watch in a month... and it's all because I've finally got my own DVD reader. Yeah, I do have a DVD player connected with the TV downstairs but call me weird, I just don't really enjoy sitting in the living room watching anything. I prefer to be in the privacy of my room, not that I'm watching illicit stuff (bleks to any of you who's thinking that)...
So finally I can watch all the stuff I want without being out in the openness that is my living room! Joy!! But that also means I've been going to bed later and later again. Ah well, just about watched pretty much everything I've been keeping for the past couple of years... Yep, that's right. I've put off watching DVDs just because I couldn't watch it in my room.
Posted by eirene83 at 03:19 AM on August 24, 2007 in Food, snacks & restaurants, Foodie stuff.
Hmm, I know I promised I'll cook more once my exams are over... (and I did collaborate to make dinner last Saturday ) but baking-wise has slowed down, what with all the edibles I lugged back from Hong Kong, plus the mooncake festival...
So much I want to try yet so little people around to eat up... And so little time to do it all...
Especially since I've gotten into the mood of making everything from scratch! I don't mean making my own pasta or anything... That would be a little overwhelming! But as far as possible, refrain from shortcuts like instant mash (I detest those anyway... Give me lumpy mashed potatoes any time ) Things that shouldn't have any shortcuts anyway, like pasta or marinara sauce...
What thinkest thou? Good? Bad? So-so?
Still. Time factor... Maybe during the weekends?
Posted by eirene83 at 03:36 AM on August 24, 2007 in Library.
Back in Sheffield, I used to be obsessed with playing this game. I can't remember who sent it to me, but it's rather like an advanced version of 'Whac-a-mole' in arcades but played on computer... I would play it during every study break and my then boyfriend used to say that it was his lullaby since he would go to bed and I would go on playing. I was that crazed. It died off once I got back to Malaysia since my laptop wasn't readily switched on 24/7...
Lately though... I've been bitten again, and I got to wondering (since I forgot) just how I got it and whether there were any sites and well... I just got the newer version (With cheats!! as compared to the beta version I'm used to)... Plus also found out a couple of tips!
So crazed in fact, here's a picture of me playing it during my flight delay in Macau!
Still, it's a rather addictive game for me, so thank goodness that my computer still isn't switched on 24/7. If you want to give it a whack, just Google 'Tontie' and you'll find it! :D
Posted by eirene83 at 03:44 AM on August 24, 2007.
I'm insane. That's the only explanation I have for why I finished watching Meteor Garden in one sitting.
Of course, now my ears and butt hurt thanks to the dunno how many hours of sitting I've done. Not to mention my legs are nicely warmed by the CPU whirring by my feet!
Still, it makes me feel like digging out my manga and reading Hana Yori Dango... Which will probably just add to the hours I've been in front of the screen!
Posted by eirene83 at 02:52 AM on August 28, 2007.
Lesson #1
Sometimes you just need to give things a couple more whacks than usual to make it go away.
Posted by eirene83 at 04:03 AM on August 28, 2007 in Thoughts.
I knew I'd blogged before about 'The Break-Up' and that scene with the line: "I want you to want to do the dishes!". (August 16, 2006)
I just got to thinking again lately. Is it really so extraordinary to wish someone to want to do something willingly? Not because you asked or because you were going to be present or anything. Just because they wanted to do it. Could it really be too much to just want voluntariness and instead we should be satisfied that they agreed to do said act, as it were?
I guess I can really understand when some of my guy friends say females are impossible to please. First, we want them to do something they'd rather avoid. Then, not content with the fact they're already doing it, we then want them to want to do it...
It's already really insane trying to cope with a female's wants and needs... And then to top it all off, she expects you to actually have wanted to do it!
But still... It's a little beyond the getting a guy to read your mind bit; it's just wanting them to genuinely want to do something, be pleased about doing it... and not just because you asked.
Posted by eirene83 at 12:59 AM on August 29, 2007.
Sending out CVs, updating resumes, scheduling interviews... It's not just the process of looking for a job I detest; it's the entire situation. The wondering if I'll be bloody good enough to be hired; if I'll end up not being able to catch up fast enough; if I'll end up falling behind... Not to mention the whole orientating into the new place, getting to know the colleagues, building up a lunch habit, commuting to work, and making sure my pay isn't so crap I still would need to depend on my parents.
And of course, on top of all that, trying to fit in an actual life, exercise, entertainment, hobbies... Or do I need to say goodbye to all that for the next 30 years? Because I doubt I'll be able to opt for early retirement. I don't think I could survive old age based on my EPF/savings...
Not to mention, I actually hate work clothes... I don't mind those collared shirts really... It's just the fact they're all so... dull coloured... Couple that with the fact comfortable work pants don't exactly look professional, it's like a whole day dressed in torture.
I'm just whining. I know I should be grateful that I'm able to have a future, to work, use my hands and feet... This period will pass... For the moment, I'm just throwing a tantrum.
Posted by eirene83 at 01:01 AM on August 29, 2007 in Fun stuff, Foodie stuff.
It gets hot in Malaysia... And sometimes it gets so hot, we even joke that we could fry an egg on the pavement... (Not that anyone's ever tried, really) and at the same time, my really old car starts feeling like an oven... even after it's been parked in the shade!
But after reading some news reports about how some people in America tried baking cookies (successfully too, mind you!!) in their car of all places... I'm just a little tempted to see if it could actually work in Malaysia. After all, I'm pretty sure the temperature goes up to 35oC on really hot days here... So imagine what it'd be like inside a locked car parked in the sun.
Probably burnt cookies like what happened to some.
Posted by eirene83 at 01:02 AM on August 29, 2007.
I'm bored, I'm hungry and I've got 2 interviews lined up next week.
Dammit, I really don't want to work!
Anyone out there want to weight the pros and cons between employment in Singapore and Malaysia? Because I really can't balance it.
Posted by eirene83 at 01:03 AM on August 29, 2007.
Happy 50th Merdeka, Malaysia.
I got a free flag today while shopping at a hypermarket near my house and wondered what to do with it. I'm not exactly the flag-waving type and certainly don't feel like decorating my room with it. So I stuck it in a plastic bag and waited for my mom to deal with it.
Funny thing is, around this time of year, everyone seems to associate flag-waving with being patriotic and news abound about how people should put up flags to show their patriotism. I thought being patriotic meant loving your country, being proud of its achievements and culture and character? Do I actually need a flag to be patriotic? Does flag-waving equates to being patriotic?
Hmm, confused here... I love Malaysia; I love her people and the cultures and beliefs... I certainly don't love the state of things in general, but I love her people. And I damn well think that I don't need to wave a cheap plastic flag to be bloody patriotic.
Posted by eirene83 at 03:33 AM on August 29, 2007 in Thoughts.
Nah, I'm not talking about the fruit.... I'm referring to the group of people (So far as I know, usually Chinese) that some other people label as banana; yellow on the outside, white on the inside - "Westernized" Chinese... And as far as I know, this term gets bandied around mainly when said person in question is Chinese but can't speak a word of Chinese, hence banana.
It's usually just a joke and it's okay... Heck, I even call myself a banana at times... But what really offends me is when some people not content with throwing that label around, go further to say that I'm a disgrace or that I don't know my own culture. Because I can't speak a word of Mandarin.
Er, hello? Excuse me? The last I recall, a culture didn't revolve solely language. Isn't culture the sum of a race's customs and attitudes, ritual and beliefs, art, literature and yes, language too? So I get extremely pissed when a person (usually mainstream, hardcore, conservative Chinese) says that I'm a disgrace for not knowing my own culture... Because I say I don't understand Mandarin.
Just because I can't speak it doesn't mean I'm not Chinese; doesn't mean I don't share in the beliefs and customs; don't appreciate the literature. I may be Westernized; who isn't, these days... It doesn't mean that I don't know my roots!
Sheesh, seriously...