Sushi, anyone?

I'm sure everyone of us must have eaten sushi at least once in our lives. I'm not the biggest sushi fan cos basically I can't stomach anything raw. But I love the ones with crab and scallop. Yummy.

I can imagine dabbing a piece of sushi generously in soy sauce. And wasabe...how can i not mention wasabe? Just a tiny dab of it on your tongue and you can feel the tingling sensation that travels up your nose passageways. And like an orgasmic explosion - your head feels like its gonna blow off. A mind blowing experience - literally.

Have you ever wondered about the correct behaviour in a sushi-ya*? Whether you're eating sushi the right way? The different types of sushi - even when everything looks the same?

I came across this funny sushi video and was very amused by it. Then again, I'm easily amused. I also wonder if the footwear part is true.

Hmmmmmm....if it is, i guess i'll never look at sushi the same way again.

*a japanese restaurant that specializes in sushi

Nostalgia

Sometimes when i look back, i laugh at how silly we both were to fight. But its too late now...a little too late for regrets.

I never liked him the first time i saw him. I had found him arrogant, boastful even, and a typical MCP.

He's smart, has a good job, maybe a tad too proud for my tastebuds. But above all, we were 'different' culturally, maybe thats why i never looked at him that way. Then, i got to know him better. And I found him interesting to hang out with. He always gave me a different perspective. I liked him...but not that way.

Whenever we went out, there was this sense of comfort. Maybe it was because we could relate on various topics. There's always good laughter. Deep, meaningful conversations over wine. The familiarity of connecting effortlessly.

There was also a certain kind of excitement that hung in the air whenever he was near. He was always so composed, it fuelled my curiosity as to what laid underneath. And i could only wonder. About his prolonged gaze into my eyes. Of him standing too close for my comfort. His touch leaving me warmth in funny places.

He had hurt me on a few occasions, and i had forgiven him. Because he had aplogized. Because he was a gentleman. Because they were small things. Except that one time. He had stirred a rage inside of me. And everything had shattered, into a thousand fragments, impossible to mend.

Today i thought about him. Just as i had on other days. Whenever it rains. Whenever I'm sad. Whenever i'm nostalgic about people I've lost. I had thought about our conversations on MSN. Of his stories during our late night phonecalls. His practicality. Him laughing at himself.

And I miss him. But he doesn't have to know.

Christmas Funnies

This is the not the usual x'mas greeting, but i thought it was pretty funny.

Enjoy this hokkien version.

Merry Christmas all...have a good one! :)

Tempted to dance

I don't know why, but everytime i hear this song (click play button to hear song) I'll be tempted to dance. Right that very minute. It happens each time I walk home from work as I'll be listening to my Ipod Shuffle. The moment this song starts playing, my normal walk suddenly becomes bouncy, my hips sway from side to side - and i look like a moron. I can't help it - i guess that is what reggae does to me. This song is a typical reggaeton beat but what makes it special is the hindi remix. Not sure if Mirame does the same to you. Enough said.

...

Today i tried a new recipe...err...2 recipes to be precise. I have a tendency to pick out the best stuff in both recipes and create something of my own. Today my creation is - chicken & prawn pasta! Well, it turned out really good - according to my tastebuds.



Awesome. The next thing i need to do now is - get married. :)

Psychology of Smoking

Smoking is fun, and if it weren't harmful to my health i would have been smoking as I blog this entry. But i am not, bcos lately, I've been experiencing the shortness in breath, how easily i tire and chest pains to signal that i might die soon. REAL soon. Not forgetting the stains on my teeth - they are an ugly reminder that I am a smoker.

At this point, I have been on "cold-turkey" for the past 13 days. And let me tell you, i feel like I'm on pins. Just 5 mins ago, i was imagining myself smoking and it felt so real. I was battling with my inner self whether i should just go out and buy myself a pack of Marlboro Menthol. Instead, i popped a sweet in my mouth. It then somewhat occurred to me that maybe people don't quit smoking because they don't like how they'll feel not smoking. I am a living example who tells you this now - believe me, abstination is a terrible feeling.

I realized saying no to cigarettes has somehow altered my life. Bit by bit, these changes take shape.

I used to go out and take all the smoke breaks in the world. And after food, i'll be full and contented smoking my life away. Smoking has always been an excuse for me to relax, to take "that break", to get away from work for that small amount of time. Don't you find it "weird" to take a walk instead? In my world, nobody in their right mind - simply walks! These days i sit in my chair and stare into space. And after food, I stare at my colleagues. They in turn stare back at me. Because nobody smokes you see. Besides its too abrupt to immediately get up after finishing your meal.

Smoking is like a reward for myself after accommplishing something, be it the completion of assignment or even a minor task like eating dinner. Once i'm done, i'll smoke. I also believe smoking is an adult version of our childhood habits. When we're kids, we always get to munch something such as lollipops, chocolates or sweets, its simply an oral pleasure.

Smoking is also akin to a time indicator - whether i'm finished or need to get started on something. I'm going to miss saying "Lets smoke one more before we go" and "I'm finished with stuff, lets puff". They're like the famous smoker's line.

With a cigarette, i also realize I'm never alone. I'm not being dramatic here but a cigarette is like a good friend that never goes away. Nobody ever tells you when you walk into a room "You look upset. Did you fight with your cigarette?" Never. Thats because you don't have any disagreements with your cigarette. Its a friend, that makes it bearable when someone is late. A companion, while waiting for someone in a club. A weapon, to hurt someone when you're pissed off. All the qualities you find in a good friend.

I also think smoking is always associated with some memory. Maybe its because when one is smoking, one is always thinking. Do you remember the first cigarette you had? I do. My uncle didn't finish his cigarette and i sort of - helped. :) I also remember one time i sat down with my best friend and we smoked a pack of cigarettes within 15 mins. We were obviously not crazy - that was just our way of dealing with trauma. Doesn't smoking help everyone to relax?

I love leaning back on my sofa, legs stretched out, blowing my troubles away. Such fulfilment to smoke and think of nothing. Watching swirls of smoke itself is a fascination. The art of blowing rings of smoke one after another, its only something smokers will understand.

I find it weird that my girlfriend smokes Marlboro Lights. I mean who in their right mind would smoke such awful cigarettes? Belch. But i realized cigarette taste has to be acquired. I remember vividly it was only after smoking 5 sticks of Semporna that i thought it tasted alright. That is obviously an advantage for tobacco companies cos it takes longer for a smoker to switch brands. The real reason for "brand loyalty".

Tough job ain't it? With all these reasons that serve as justification why people continue to smoke. Not for me. i mean I would love to smoke NOW...but i am going to be good. I am going to resist. After all, there are all these chocolates on my table that need eating.

Gonna miss you baby.

Sleepless Sunday

Sigh...another sleepless sunday.

I hate it when i can't sleep on sundays. Thats cos my body clock gets messed up as I tend to sleep late hours on Fri and Sat. This weekend's not too bad really. Spent quite a bit of time catching up with friends aside from the ocassional dramas that kept all of us busy.

Everyone hanged out at my place and watched Legally Blonde on TV. Then we watched a Hindi Blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. And because its a sad movie somebody had to cry. Boo Hoo.

Back to what i was saying...I really hate sundays. Cos whenever I can't get to sleep, i always wake up late for work. That just...sucks.

Was surfing around and found this shirt.

Pray not, but I was imagining someone asking me "Why did they fire you?"

And me saying "I couldn't sleep on Sunday, so I blogged. And bcos I slept late i couldn't wake up on time. So i got to work late. And they got tired of my shit, so i got fired." Blogging = Fired

Well hell...i better go off now. Laters.

Home on a saturday night

Nothing beats hanging out at home on a saturday night.

Not when you have apple-blackcurrant juice (which i pretend is wine) and Sara Lee super rich chocolate pound cake for company.



Not that I cannot afford wine of course, just that i'm saving this baby for my xmas party with the gals.



Nice? I purchased it when I was in KL the last time round (I actually declared tax for it out of guilt, how silly of me!). It's a 2 year old french wine, still pretty young, but I'll know if its a good buy once i give it a try!

Its gonna be real exciting - the next 2 weeks...can't wait for the xmas party. We are gonna have a big one - first heading to Wine Network for their xmas buffet dinner and most likely to Ministry of Sound to party afters. The opening was held yesterday - its the talk of town, so all the more reason to check it out.

And for new year, we'll be in KL. There'll be loads of partying, shopping and some good socializing cos I'll get to meet some of my ex-colleagues when I'm there. So am really looking forward to it.
So much excitment ahead and I can't barely wait!

Interview Drama

[Listening to: Our Day Will Come - Jamie Cullum - Catching Tales (03:55)]

Two days ago, Singapore Institute of Commerce (SIC) called me up for an interview. It was for the post of Admin & HR Manager. It seemed i applied sometime back in October and they asked if i was keen to explore some opportunities.

So being the restless one, and bored at work because i currently have nothing much to do, i decided to go for the interview yesterday. I was mildly interested because it was a HR position...again...and frankly whenever i'm bored strange ideas come to my head. But what genuinely sparked my interest was...why would an organization with more than 100 staff, be interested to hire a young girl like me to be a manager? So i decided to find out.

Armed with a powerful resume, i had plans to take them by storm. My interview appointment was at 5.30pm. I arrived on time and filled out an application form.

Reason for leaving current employment : Bored
Reason for leaving previous employment : Overworked

I noticed hordes of people trudging in an out of the main entrance, and i felt a little conscious of the numerous stares i got. I pretended to be invisible and continued people-watching. Minutes ticked by and I got restless. Minutes ticked s l o w l y.

T i c k. T o ck. T i c k. T o c k. And i was already starting to feel the beginnings of agitation....

Time check : 6:15pm. 45 minutes wait. What is wrong with these people, i thought.

Then a lady came to me and told me she had been there for more than an hour. I gulped. The thought of having to wait longer certainly did not appeal to me. Then i quietly asked if she was there for the same position. Apparently she was, which was totally fine by me, but not the next thing she said. "My appointment is at 5.30pm". Also. I wasn't at all pleased. And thats when i felt my blood rush to my temples, and i got up - marched directly to where the receptionist was sitting to give her a piece of my not so nice mind.

"Let the VP know thats its been an hour, and its ridiculous to keep someone waiting if she cannot make it" I said.

Shifty eyes. Nervous smiles. More waiting. Many more minutes later the VP's secretary came out and she passed me thrice, each time saying Sorry 5 minutes. I also found out the VP's name was Cenobia. And from that instance onwards, her name hung in the air, mouthed by many people buzzing in and out of that office. She seemed important and very impressive from the way her name rolled out from everyone's tongue.

But I was not impressed, certainly not. Because Cenobia-whatever-her-last-name-was did not have the courtesy to cancel the interview when she could not make it. She made everyone wait for her at the expense of their time.

The secretary came finally, with news that really surprised me. "The VP has attended another meeting, and she'll be available only at 7.00pm." I raised my eyebrows and said "I have an appointment at 7pm and i cannot wait any longer. If she cannot meet me now, I would like to leave please".

"Hold on, i'll check with her again" she said.

She came back 5 minutes later, and before she said anything i stood up. I somehow knew what she was going to say before i heard it.

"Can we call you back another day? If its ok with you," she said.

"No. You fixed an appointment at 5.30pm. And after making me wait for over an hour, you decide that it is convenient to ask me to come back another day. It simply shows poor time management on your VP's part and the lack of respect she has for other people's time. I don't think i would want to work for such a company". I said.

"Sorry, sorry" she said, stunned, and that was all i heard because I had turned and walked. And i was not planning to turn back. Not even once.

As i walked, i thought. Cenobia had turned me away, without even seeing my face. I doubt she even knew my name. But i'll remember hers. Yesterday i came in as a candidate for a job interview. Tomorrow...i may be a potential client investing tens of thousands in their degree programmes. But i may not now, because that is the kind of experience she has left me with...and i doubt anything can change that.

Footprints in the sand

This is where i'm gonna blog from today. Don't ask me why.

Just needed a change.

I'm calling it footprints in the sand as it represents the footsteps one takes in life's journey.

I want to walk down memory lane and see all the deep imprints i've left behind.
This is my journey. And these will be my foorprints.

What footprints will you leave?