Haven't been blogging much

Work has been a scream!!!!!!!!!!! [src: dailymail]

A blog I used to read had this motto "This too shall soon pass... >.<".

Hope it happens soon. I am going crazy!!!! Looks like I got to keep reminding myself to...

Nobody messes with Nobita

[src: itaishinja.com]

Not when Doraemon is around :D

I am trying to figure out what people are saying in 2ch. Not sure what is the diff between 2ch and 4ch but apparently, they are treasure troves like reddit. So I am running google translate on the words. Sigh. B1 wouldn't help me translate, claiming that his Japanisch is bad.

Bär @ Zafferano - Deine Geburtstag viel Glück!

Zafferano's lunch menu ticked all my boxes for Bär's milestone birthday. Antipasti buffet, dessert buffet, great view. It was definitely on the steep side, so I told the *censored* not to buy Bär a present. I think just the bill itself will make everyone sweat.

I had told お母さんabout the birthday, because I know that she likes to be involved in happy occasions. She said great, include me and she even encouraged me to end the *censored* early. She just told the *censored* we have another appointment to attend to. If I were Bär, I'd be very touched because お母さん can be very hardcore when it comes to Arbeit. The people at Zafferano were pretty hardcore too. They sent me an sms and called me like 3 times during my *censored*, which was very distracting, because I had to present and write my own bloody *censored* notes.

So お母さん and I left later than the others. We arrived at the Ocean Financial Center (the restaurant was on the forty-third floor). A lady was at the door to tap us in, and she informed me that "my party had arrived." Imagine my surprise when we arrived to a mostly empty restaurant and the hostess brought us to an empty table. The restaurant filled up rapidly as the lunch crowd came in so it was a good thing that we made reservations.

I was very distracted by the all-around view (it was that good) and by the fact that my people had gone missing between 1st and 43rd floors, that I was not able to intercept お母さん when a waiter asked her "sparkling or still, Madam?"

Ok, let me clarify here. I learnt after going to Germany, that it is very common for other nationalities to drink bottled water. Not everyone is as fortunate as us to have water cleaned so much that it is drinkable from the tap (ok I don't look too closely at New Water). Before going Germany, everytime I hear "sparkling or still water", it freaks me out quite a bit, because the atas restaurants in Singapore love to mark up the bottled water a lot. And if you are not in the know, the wait staff will just keep opening new bottles and you will be unpleasantly shocked at the bill. 

I don't think I mentioned this before, but when I stayed over at HM's the first night, he asked me if I was thirsty, I said yes, then he poured sparkling water from a brand of water (which is marked up quite a bit in Singapore's restaurants). I was visibly flabbergasted, and grabbed the bottle from the table for a closer look (ok it was more than a close look, I was ogling the bottle). I think HM and Frau HM probably thought they had a country mouse come to stay, but I was actually very impressed that they would serve their guests such expensive water, until they explained that in Germany, bottled water, no matter sparkling or still, is quite affordable. 

I think you can find San Pellergino at about S$2.99 in the supermarket, and marked up to about S$10 in a restaurant. In Germany, it is about 0,55 euros and that's including the pfand, and about 2,50 euros at a restaurant. 

But I digress. I usually let the wait staff pour 1 round of water, then stop them and get them to pour the iced tap water after that. It just makes the entire experience better for everyone (you know what I mean). Pity お母さん chose still water. It is like drinking tap water. B1 calls still water "God's pee". I much prefer the fizzy pop from sparkling water (I call it "God's sneeze"). I developed quite a love for sparkling that when I returned home, I asked B1 whether I should buy sparkling water at the supermarket. He looked at the price and said deadpan "please drink Coke (coca cola)".

Anyway, turned out the *censored* took the wrong lift, so they had to take it down, cross the threshold and take the correct lift. In the meantime, お母さん had asked the waitress to explain what were some of the items because she has some dietary concerns. I know Bär's so basically I told him he could only order either the chicken or the salmon, though お母さん said he should order the lobster cos it was his birthday *hehe*.

It was very logical for the entire party to choose the antipasti buffet over the minestrone soup. We had a lot of fun choosing the items. I personally loved the egg topped with the tuna cream. You'd think it is a very simple dish, but it is difficult to get the egg just so that the egg white is whole yet soft at the bite. お母さん said the antipasti was nice but nothing in particular leaped out at her. She tried everything except the ox tongue, she said. I took the breaded fish (I think it's cod? The *censored* liked it ), mesclun salad (my fave, I will spend the bloody S$5 to buy it at the supermarket), aforesaid egg, fresh mozzarella mit tomato.

*censored* who doesn't eat greens, said she was shocked to see all the greens on my plate. I think the olive oil used at the restaurant is really flavorsome, it featured heavily in many of the dishes at the antipasti *love*.

There was bread at the table, focaccia and some other bread. But it was cold so I only used it to wipe the plate before eating. I still prefer my bread toasted like they do at Au Petit Salut.

Regrettably we only went twice, because we also ran out to take photos of and at the outside sitting area, which offered really awesome views of MBS (eye-level with the infinity pool, too bad it was too far away, it would have been fun to ogle at the half-naked people), the Flyer, and the ships in the horizon. Ok, I can also see it from my house corridor, but it is much further :D and some parts are blocked. I tried to look for my apartment as well (works both ways right?).

お母さん and Bär being older and much more mature, remained at the table chatting sensibly with the main courses placed before them, while we three were cavorting outside. Aww, I would have liked to go one more round. I ordered the rigatoni, which the waitress had explained as stuffed pasta (I liked, though I  was more familiar with ravioli, tortellini etc). Later she came over to me while I was at the antipasti buffet to tell me that she made a mistake and that it was like penne. I appreciated her doing so. My rigatoni was ok. Tasted strongly of bacon, which I like. :)

お母さん ordered Taglierini (I think?) while the other three ordered roast chicken. There are three reasons why I usually don't order roast chicken other than at Chinese restaurants where they chop the damn thing into bite sizes which you can readily pick up with chopsticks. 

1. It's difficult to eat, while maintaining the correct etiquette. The three of them told me separately that they struggled abit with cutting the meat, though I was quite impressed that all three were able to cut without a single scrapping sound against the pan the chicken came served in.

2. It's hard to get right. 90% of the time, the bird is dry. Eating the breast meat is like chewing on packed sawdust.

3. It's boring. If I order chicken, it means I think the rest of the main courses harbor no hope. 

Anyway I was right, the chicken was dry. お母さん said politely hers was alright, but she left a lot of the pasta behind which is rather telling, methinks, though she said it was because she wanted to leave room for dessert.

Oh dessert, mad glorious dessert. I think the desserts were pretty good.We all loved the chocolate cake (served with vanilla sauce, isn't it nice they bothered?), and the berry mousse tart which was topped with a berry gelatine and a thin sponge bottom. The tea cake came with caramel sauce, looked like banana cake and tasted great. The mango pudding was not bad, but the diced mangoes on top were abit sour. So was the grapefruit and pineapple juice served with diced watermelon. Refreshing but tart!

I thought the lemon cream tart was so-so. As was the berry cheesecake. I worshiped the chocolate cake pedestal at least three times, greedy pig I am. It was that nice. Moist. I think Vater has reached that standard for his chocolate cake as well. Kudos to him. I forgot to upload the cake slice he gave me. Will do so later.

 

I liked having the cheese board, though I didn't like the taste of any of them. I am not good with the Italian cheeses so I won't bother guessing the Italian names, but I think I tasted a Camembert-like cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, and a strange semi-hard cheese with mold. I avoided the blue cheese.  

We had a pretty fun time, お母さん still looked a bit out of it. She paid for the bill, because I underestimated the bill by S$2 (I had withdrawn S$250 for the meal). When I said I would pay her back later, she said it was a treat for us because myself and the *censored* have been doing an excellent job (we earned some raves from *censored* recently).

The three of us were very shocked because it was really expensive. But she said, don't look so shocked, just say thank you. We did, but the three of us were saying in the cab later that it was really ex, and shouldn't have had her pay.

I for one, feel like rotten. As if I had asked her to join us because we wanted her to pay. It was specifically because I didn't want her to that's why I withdrew the $. But we had like 3 bottles of the water so I wasn't sure what was the markup so I asked her to pay first.

Mutter said it was very 潇洒 of her. I agree. B1 said if I ever let the waiter go 1 round of bottled water when he's paying, he will murder me.

Hot guy on new Emily Owens

I was having breakfast when I watched Emily Owens, MD. There was this part when she just comes into the hospital, awed by the massiveness of the hospital. Then someone calls her, and I almost choked on my breakfast.

Holy shit, this guy is dropdead gorgeous, and he is wearing spectacles.... yummy. I hope the show survived so that I can ogle at him some more though the show is really dumb.

Midautumn fun @ the library

Some weeks ago, I was the library when I caught sight of a special booth set up at the library for the mid autumn festival. All you had to do was guess at least 3 answers correctly to eight riddles (some in Mandarin and others in English) to win free prizes. Anyone who takes part will win the prize (i.e. no lucky draw).

Naturally I participated, especially since I don't have to read like 48 books like the other misguided time (to only win a S$5 ticket to the Maritime Experiential museum, which was a total bust itself). I asked my friend to take part, but he didn't want to. So I filled out one for B1 and for myself. 

So today, the library smsed me to tell me I won. Strangely they didn't contact B1, but when I checked at the counter, they did have his name on the winning list as well. So we collected our presents, which was a black bag containing a pen, a spiral book (which you can write on - it will be my German composition book) and a towel. Much better than some other libraries that require you to visit the libraries in the area to win the same thing.

The librarian was so thoughtful, she actually bothered to give us stuff that are gender specific, like I got the free spiral book with a peach colored towel, and B1, the plain grey one with a blue towel. I am also quite impressed by my own restraint, given how kiasu (scared of losing) I am, it was amazing I did not submit for my 9族18代.

On the other hand, because I hadn't gone to my favorite Bishan library for a while, I totally missed out on the opportunity to attend a free workshop on acrylic painting on canvas. Today when I noticed it, it was too late, the workshop had been oversubscribed. So sad. Free paint provided to allow you to paint at the workshop itself and a real expert to teach you... *sobs*

Beware online (Skype) Scammers :D esp those with the name "Miller"

I was very bored this week, because T still hadn't come back to CoH (longest case of ISP changing ever). So when someone tried to add me on Skype, I took a look at the invite. General Jack Miller from the USA army on a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. Many red flags :D but I was intrigued by how far he was going to rig this scam...

first of all, kiddies, generals have stars on the insignia on their shoulder lapels

(1) since when is Afghanistan considered a peacekeeping mission by the USA (lol)

(2) So-called generals don't talk to civilians for no reason, especially since they are not supposed to disclose their location.

(3) He has 7800+ contacts in Skype (supposedly, good luck to them). Clear sign of scammers, they go for quantity not quality

But like I said, I was very bored, and I wanted to know how long he will take to scam me. 

It took him about 2 days (I ignored him most times. COH is more interesting) , after some stupendously dull questions. I was careful not to leak any info. Of course  you never do that, that's how they get you.

Here are some of them:

He asked me how I was. I said I am busy. So he replied he is very busy too. Hahaha.

He asked me if I was single. I said no (just to see if he will continue the scam). Then he asked me if I had children I said no. Then he said that his wife and daughter died in an accident some years ago.

Scammers go for sympathy from women, in fact all men do :D In fact, that was another stupid thing he did. He messaged this incredible sob story in 4 long lines within 1 minute. Dude, I can type super fast (just ask my COH and Skype friends) but even I can't type that fast.
I was going to ask him if he copied and pasted, but decided not to 打草惊蛇.

And then he claims to have adopted a son from Ghana while on a peace keeping mission there.

Ok, now I am starting to think that he thinks I have an IQ of lower than 100. So I asked him, how do you keep in contact with him? He said he hadn't kept in contact with his son for 5 years.

Wait a sec, you can't contact your son, but you can skype to 7800+ people? Wtf hahahahahahahahahahahhahahaha.

But I innocently replied, so what do you do? you write? (actually I wanted to be more sarcastic, but I was feeling benevolent). 

He said "NO I WANT YOU TO CONTACT MY SON USING  YOUR HANDPHONE" (in caps. really :D)

Me: no, why must I? 

He: why not? 

Me: I don't know you, I don't know your son. Ask one of your 7800 contacts to do it. 

I swear he was stunned (it was quite hilarious).

So I GIYBF him. It's quite simple really. What you do, is run "Ghana", "scam", "Miller" "USA". You wouldn't believe how many links on scamming sites about this fake "Miller" guy. Eg.

http://www.romancescam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27427 (I am a bit insulted that it is considered a romance scam hahahahahahahha).

Dude, pls be more creative and download someone else's photo. You can't keep using the same stuff. And do a more believable story ok? :D I really pity the guy whose photos he stole. Just imagine that poor guy innocently walking around in Afghanistan and this woman in a burqa storms up and slaps him very hard. And him not knowing why. Hahahahaha. Total joke. Nah, this guy is fucked, poor thing. This is why you don't upload your real photos online, silly.

Still it was quite funny and I had a lot of fun because I got to learn about USA military ranks. I immediately sent him the link while waiting for him to digest the lack of logic in his speech and blocked him. Oh dear, should I not have warned him?

Anyway read up on other funny stuff on scammers. Apparently US military is now the new Nigerian scam. Gold mines are so yesterday. You'd know they would finish tapping that by now. hahah
http://militarygear.com/asp/2010/12/20/new-online-military-scammers/

Maybe I shouldn't laughed that hard :D. I might have fallen for the trick if he looked like this...*lol*

Ah, my one and only Jim Caviezel (in the Thin Red Line)

Mutter's theory of the Cat's tail

When I was a little girl (oh god, never realized that I would reach a time where I could say that...), Mutter and I were sitting at the hawker centre where a lot of wild kitty cats milled around table legs, human legs, pillars or lazed comfortably in shady corners.

"Marmee? Why are some cat tails long and others short and stumpy?" I asked Mutter in mandarin.

Mutter said (very seriously), "some kitties have fish to eat so their tails are long. Those that have short tails don't have fish to eat..."

The joke was that I subconsciously believed that shit, all the way, until one day some guy asked me the same question, and I without thinking, spewed the same nonsense Mutter said and felt very silly after that.

I went home to confront Mutter and she mused "I didn't realized I was so witty then."

Thanks Mom.

Oh for the love of Man - HeTexted

You know, the sad affliction that plagues only women, the need to analyze, decipher, interpret his very plain and simple black words that appear on your IM, handphone screen or email for hidden clues, motive, and intentions.

Men on the other hand, are more QED, they just try harder to please/ annoy the girls they like, and not at all for those they don't like. Seriously, only women would bother wondering about the nuances behind words. But I can totally relate, because it is like i-wish-the-earth-will-swallow-me-up kind of embarrassing if you misinterpret his intentions, and then confess to/avoid him only to find out that he "eh, don't know why, I just like to talk to you". (This happened to me before, what the fuck is this?)

Now, if you read those bloody words for the umpteeth time and still can't figure out whether he likes you, you can now post it on http://hetexted.com/ for the whole world to see and analyze with you whether he's into you, not into you or the verdict is still out. Because suffering is not complete unless you share with others.

My verdict? So much fun.

Pinku on the canvas

Today B1 was vacuuming the floor and decided to move all the canvases I bought to the other room. As he lifted the canvases (the big ones that I was intending to paint for the house), I was flabbergasted at how many there were.

Her legs were pointing in the opp direction, which was very weird. I am not sure why I drew them like that

I guess it is time to get started. However my technique isn't very good (hopefully, yet), and the blank canvases aren't cheap. I wouldn't want to paint something like mad and then have it turn out looking like shit. This is also another reason why I am hesitant to apply color to my little girl picture. I think it looks quite nice, so I am worried I will destroy it with my shitty painting skills.

 B1 is complaining that our walls are starting to fill up with mug shots of animals. Suck it up, darling.

Pan kun and James

Don't worry, they were not engaging in bestiality :D.

The doggie, James, is trying to do sit-ups, and the chimp is holding him down. They are a Japanese duo (animal kind I guess). I came across this show while walking along AMK with B1. I was trying to replace the blue melamine spoons in the house. For some strange reason, we have the two forks but somehow the two spoons went missing. So this time, I bought 3 spoons.

Anyway B1 saw that I was interested in the show, so he said if I wanted it, he would buy it for me. I can't believe I passed over Naughty Bear (such an interesting name for a PS3 game with a very violent teddy bear), and Rilakkuma stationery set for the first and second seasons of Pan kun and James.

updated!
Watched a few episodes of it already. Show is very simulated. I felt as if I was watching a reality tv show. It even comes with a creepy uncle, who peeps around trees at them. Supposedly his trainer, but I think he just needs a camera to look like this guy (from Lucky Star)

The Re-readable list

I came across this article at the Atlantic Wire about the re-readable list, i.e. books you will read over and over again because they are that good to read. So I thought, why not come up with my own? I must note that my book choices are largely skewed towards romances and children books. Why? Because children books are good for you, especially when you are stressed and romances, well, every woman has those days where she wishes a handsome rich man (not knight) will drive by in his Audi Spyder and sweep her off her feet. Haha.(just realized no romance novel made this list)

Here is my re-readable list (not really in order of preference):

1. Laura Ingalls Wilder series. Favorite was Farmer Boy, and its endless descriptions of food. Nuff said. I still haven't forgiven her for the buttermilch yet. 

2. Anne of Green Gables series. My favorites were actually Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Windy Poplars. Ok, make that almost every book ever written by L M Montgomery, except for the Emily series. They were a snoozefest.

3. The Family from One End Street, though I preferred the second book, The Further adventures of the Family from One End Street.

Damn, I want to get my hands on the Holiday at Dew Drop Inn, the third book in the One End Street series. I did not realize that there was a third and final book until I was trying to write this entry. *^%$

4. All Creatures Great and Small (Omnibus collection from James Herriot)

5. Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl. Roald Dahl books are full of whimsical, faulty characters.

6. Cheaper by the Dozen by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and Frank Gilbreth Jr

7. Fifteen by Beverly Cleary. Her coming-of-age books, which I like more than her kid books, tap on her actual life.

8. The Faraway tree series by Enid Blyton

9. Two for three Farthings by Mary Jane Staples (a bit unbelievable in this times)

10. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

11.  The Railway Children by Edith Nesbitt.

12. An Old fashioned girl by Louisa May Alcott (the only other book I like is Little Men. Little Women made me feel like slapping all the girls, especially Amy)

Fairly good books that I'd read if I can't find the above.

1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone by J K Rowling (the only book I maintain as readable out of the whole set)