Not an End but a Beginning?

As the year of 2009 comes to a close and 2010 approaches, it is time again to reflect on the year that has been, review the resolutions made and to make new ones. Out of my 3 main resolutions made last year, I managed to accomplish 2... the third one was a long shot anyways.... but then I did put a lot of effort into it and reaped slight rewards so no loss there ^.^

I watched Christmas Carol today.... got spooked a few times.... it is a good movie (I really do not understand how you [you know who you are] can fall asleep during the movie), true to the actual story says a friend of mine. Love the flying scenes... Anyways, though the story has be told and retold, I am most fascinated with the three spirits and how one affects the other....

The past will shape us, our personality, character, the core of how we think, feel and react to the world. What we want (or do not want) in the future will determine what we do in the present. A lecturer of mine told us, there are 2 forces of motivation. One is pushing away from what we dislike is one that is pulling us towards what we like. For example, Scrooge is motivated to push away from being poor rather than being pulled to the riches though it would seem the same at first...

To have that motivation for living, one must first know what he or she wants in life... each entitled their own priority, non more important than the other as long as it is important to the person. The question that I would like an answer now is.... Do I know what I want? Or are resolutions just to fill up the empty spaces? Like studying because there is nothing better to do. Merely to give a reason for existence?

Do you know what you want?

Seafood Marinara

I love seafood.... that is a fact.... eating seafood outside is expensive.... that is another fact.... so buy the ingredients and cook!

Quite a simple dish (yeah I know, everything seems simple ^.^)... you just need garlic, tomatoes, onions, seafood (whatever you like.... mussels, crab, shrimp, cuttlefish, lobster.... go crazy), mushroom (optional, personally love mushrooms so add them to practically everything), some herbs (dry will do but fresh of course will be better)....

Simply blend the garlic, tomatoes and onions and saute to make the tomato base, then add the seafood and herbs. Cook the pasta separately to al dante. Place the pasta on a plate, pour sauce over it and voila!

For herbs, there is difference between fresh and dry ones (besides the obvious physical state). Dry ones have concentrated flavour, so do not put too much. Fresh ones have less concentrate flavour but the flavour is more complete (non lost during the drying process), hence more favorable. Also, fresh ones are more sensitive to heat. Hence, add dry herbs in the earlier part of the cooking but only add fresh herbs just before serving.

Bon appetit!

Appreciation

It is nice to be appreciated..... like in my recent job, the employers are supposed to provide 2 meals a day... but they also bought us breakfast (additional) and when there were those who do not want to eat rice, they also bought them waffles instead... overall I feel that we were treated very nicely, hence after the closing I stayed back to help them shift the stock to the storage area (no small feat I can honestly tell you)

Anyways, some people do not realise the importance of appreciation. Personally I am very motivated by possible appreciation. Monetary may get me to do a job, but the other will get me to do an excellent job ^.^. Though a praise or a pat on the back is a form of appreciation, at times it does not convey enough heart. It is also not how much money is spent on it but how much heart and effort is put in....

Such as my organising of group activities. It is ever so often that when people wants to have a gathering/outing, they will just come to me and expect me to run the whole thing. Occasionally there are some who gives back such as organising birthday outing for me or topping up my phone credit. But all in all, the most annoying is when certain groups only contact me when they want me to organise something for them......

woohoo! going for first yum cha session since starting hols (weeks ago.... sad I know ^.^)

Irony....

Irony is me working at a world chinese book fair.... especially those who known before university... Surprisingly I am doing pretty well.... one of the lady did not know that I am not fluent in Mandarin.... until I started asking her what she meant for certain words... after that she even gave me translations for some of the words I am most likely to use for promoting my items ^.^

Dragging self to bed.....

Holidays.....

Another round of exams over..... another semester finished.... a step closer to graduation..... but most importantly.... another month of HOLIDAYS!!!

So what to do during the holidays? While talking to some of my course mates, I realise how strange I am.... people are all talking about going on vacations (local or overseas) or meeting up with people or spending quality time with family or the other half....

My list on the other had includes painting gate and outside wall (any volunteers to help? pretty please? lol), rearranging the house (finally getting my own room!), repotting plants, organising gatherings and maybe a day trip, learning more guitar songs, working (which I had to forgo a trip... sigh...), working on my cross-stitch.... just to name a few... phew ^.^

I guess it is to each their own =D

p/s - I never could understand how some people can get bored during the holidays..... there so much see so much to experience so much to do!!!

Good vs. Evil

When watching movies, especially those Chinese drama about life in the Forbidden City back when the monarch was still in place, I like to ask who is the good and who is the evil.... then I realise there is actually no distinct line... all the concubines will do anything to move up the social ladder.... those who do not will just get stepped over.... it just depends on which receiving end you are at....

Take for example one of the last scenes in the Hannah Montana movie. The manager brings the daughters of the reporter to convince him not to expose Hannah. Taking children out of school with out the knowledge of the parent is kidnapping no? And by using his daughters who adore Hannah to convince him to give up his job is emotional blackmail. Then she offers free concert tickets to him and the daughters if he does as she wants. That would count as bribery right? Some might say that it is not because she has nothing to gain.... but in the end she is actually saving her own job because if Hannah is exposed, then she is likely to be out of a job... so does the end justify the means?

Just using this as an example for a general thought......

So good or evil is just a matter of perspective?

Saving Turtle Project

My most recent project..... Saving the Turtles!
In short: Sell soft toy turtle, get profit, give profit to society, society save real turtles.... so do your part and buy the soft toys from me ^.^

Loyal turtle will follow you everywhere...
Begging you to take him home...

Awwwwwwww.......

Ohana means family....

Price:

Baby, Key-chain (3.5 inches) = RM 4 only (market price: RM 5.90)

Adult, Soft toy (9 inches) = RM 15 only (market price: RM 16.90)

If you buy 2 adults, a baby will tag along with no extra cost! (Free la tu)

Save your turtles today!!!