About a Biscuit, Part 2
17/03/2004
I’m running late, as usual
Meant to announce the winners of the Cookie Tale Giveaway yesterday, but since none of you (the ones who posted, at least) got it right, it doesn’t make much of a difference. Thanks for your entries anyway, Monkey Boy and Loggie Boy.
Let’s try this again soon – like when I write better fiction.
What a difference a day makes
Artificially or not, I feel so much better today. Maybe it’s all the caffeine I had, or starting my day with breakfast, or the geranium-peppermint-lemon burning next to me. Or maybe it was cos of double Utt on TV last night. I feel good enough to go shopping, so I’m gonna go. Like right now.
Don’t feel so good
15/03/2004
I think I ate something that wasn’t quite dead enough
And it’s trying to get back out one way or another. Damn, just what I needed to top off a totally blah day. I don’t know if I was feeling lethargic or apathetic, but the end result was the same – hardly anything was accomplished. Maybe I’ll have a Bundaberg Ginger Beer later.
The sky has fallen
Well, it’s official: I’ve lost steam. I can’t really be bothered, and I feel like crap most of the time. I’m tired, and I’ve lost my appetite. I don’t even feel like going shopping. That’s gotta be bad.
I’m going to try burning some Sweet Orange and Lavender. Orange should be good, it’s said to be uplifting and revitalising, reducing apathy and depression. Just what I need. Lavender, on the other hand, is calming and refreshing, dispels moodiness and exhaustion. That should make a good pick me up brew. Either that or I’m going to sleep.
Crowded House
15/03/2004
Singapore is so small, there’s no where to go…
We decided to brave the afternoon crowds and head for the IT Show at Suntec City today. We hopped on a cab, told the driver where we wanted to go, and he warned us immediately that it was going to be crowded.
“Jam ah, that placed. All jammed. I drop you on the right.”
I’m like, “What’s on the right?”
“Marina there lah. The other side all jammed, ah. I just come from there. All stuck. Singaporeans got nothing to do. Singapore so small, there’s no where to go. If at Expo, not so bad. Fewer people. At Suntec, so convenient. Everybody go. And not only got car jam. On the bridge got human jam.” Then he laughs a weird, awkward laugh.
Now isn’t that the truth?
Well, Mr Cab Driver was right. We were on Beach Road, and there was a long queue of cars and buses headed towards Suntec City. So we got him to turn into Raffles City, and we got off there.
Citilink Mall was flooded with people
The walk from Citilink Mall to Suntec City was horrible. There were people everywhere, it kind of felt like Hong Kong, except they weren’t rushing. So anyway. Once we make it to Suntec, it’s worse. The Convention Rooms where the IT Show was, was a madhouse. You couldn’t take a step without getting stuck somewhere.
There was no queue at the TDK booth, though. The DVD writers had been sold out.
We looked at lots of stuff, the Biostar, the Shuttle PC, some notebooks, the Ebay booth (KF didn’t want to go through the trouble to get a free cup 
) but besides the really cute Logitech Quickcam Orbit, there wasn’t anything cool or mind blowing so we didn’t buy anything.
Well, KF finally popped in the DVD writer onto the PC I’m using. We tested it out just now, it works like a charm. So far. So I’m really excited – I should be able to watch a movie and work at the same time soon!
House in the Country
14/03/2004
Spent the afternoon at Varf’s
Although I realise now that this blog would’ve been more interesting if I had the presence of mind to take a few photos! We had a nice time, mostly playing on his PS2. I mean, how often do you get to beat your boss up and still be able to laugh it off?
There was lots of food, and probably lots more unopened. Next time I’ll just bring flowers.
Flower power
Talking about flowers, was reading this article in some chick magazine, and now am inspired to leave a few strands around the house. Thing is, you need a house to go along with that look. Maybe when we move. I really wanted to get this vase from Country Road over Christmas. It was probably 6 inches high, nice tulip shape. But it cost $40 so I passed on it. It would’ve been perfect.
But I think I can settle for just a nice transparent glass. I know just what I’d like to stick in it too.
Hydrangea
I like Hydrangeas, they don’t have to silly associations that Roses or Carnations have, they don’t smell like Lilies. And I like it that they’re a bunch of blue. Or pink. Or white. Or purple. Or all of the above (depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the soil). My dad has some in the garden. They don’t do very well in tropical weather, so the blooms are kinda small and cute. I’ve seen the ones in cooler climates – they’re gigantic!
Peonies
Peonies are cool, they’re really so Oriental looking. I like that fluffy look it has, like cotton candy – good enough to be eaten! And the buds are so cute, they’re like little balls. Not something you’ll find easily in the tropics either, so I guess my frond a week phase will have to wait.
I brought a nice ‘sprouts from a pot’ package a couple of years back when I went to San Francisco for vacation. A few weeks after I set it up a couple of little sprouts of lavender appeared. Then I left it with Dad since he keeps the air conditioner in his room on all day. It’s still around, but it doesn’t flower. I’d love to fill a small flowerbed with lavender – for a quick picker upper you just need to open the window and sniff hard. And apparently they’re pretty hardy and grow like weeds.
Bye bye Mr American Pie
12/03/2004
Survivor Update
This week’s casualty: Captain America Colby Donaldson. I can’t say I was sad to see him go. It was a good move on Lex’s part to get his act together and make the call. The vote hung in the balance as Huang Shii Ann had to decide whether she’d vote for Colby or <a href=Jerri Manthey. Even though Jerri was totally annoying (everyone thought so), they decided that Colby was more dangerous so they pulled the rug from under him. The only person left hanging in the balance was Ethan, who didn’t see it coming. But he’s ok for now, since he’s bungling up so much no one really takes him seriously.
TGIF
This week ended on quite a high for me. We went to the IT show in the afternoon, and I bought the TDK 8x DVD writer for $229. I was thinking it would probably be neat to have it around to backup stuff. KF and I discussed it before, but it was in the $400 range then and he also wanted a Biostar small form factor PC to go along with it. I thought that was overkill, especially when he found out that the video card he wanted costs close to a grand. I managed to quash that thought then, I should be able to do it again.
About a Biscuit
12/03/2004
Cookie tales
Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to figure out if these biscuit tales are fact, or fiction. Names and faces might have been changed to protect the innocent. Please see the Terms and conditions below.
Story 1: C is for cookie
One time? At the office? I brought these chocolate cookies? There’re packed in twos – real convenient snack size. So the other day, lunch was going to be late, and KT indicated that he was hungry. So I turn around, wave the box at him and ask, “Want a cookie?”
He looks back at me in disbelief, then cracks up and says, “I heard you say ‘Want a quickie?’”.
Quickly I set him straight, but he still laughs at it.
Later in that day, I ask AK if he wants to go for lunch. He says he has a meeting in 20 minutes. So I assume that he was going to pass on it. Again, out of the kindness of my heart, I ask, “How about a cookie?”
And AK replies “Do you think there’s enough time?”
What is it with guys and cookies?!
Story 2: Super Biscuits
Was with a couple of my buddies from the U, we were hanging out and decided to drop by at the Cold Storage supermarket at Great World City to get some snacks. At the cookie row, we run into Mr Man of My Dreams, the Original Eligible Bachelor, the coolest swimmer in Speedos, L Kwok. As usual, I go all soft, and since I don’t even know the guy, I just stood by while my friends went up to say hi – they stayed in the same hostel block when we were in school, so they knew him.
My friend “So how’re you doing? What are you doing here?”
L. Kwok “Oh, ok. Getting biscuits. You know what they say about Ovaltine biscuits, helps build strong bones and teeth.”
I have to admit, after that remark, I just had to see the expression on his face. But he was totally earnest. So I pick my jaw from the ground, walk over to the next aisle, laugh my head off, and look for some other man to lust over.
Story 3: Greedy cookie
NC-16. Not for the fainthearted, or those who don’t like Fear Factor
So one day, my friend in the office, L, and I go to Subway for lunch. I choose the meal with a cookie, but couldn’t finish it and ended up bringing the cookie back.
On the way back, we start discussing who the gluttons in the office are. I said that if I left the cookie on my desk, a specific co-worker of ours (Toiletboy) would certainly go for it. And I proceeded to wager $20 on it. So well, in an attempt to keep me from eating the cookie myself and saying Toiletboy took it, my friend L licks the cookie.
So as planned, I set up the cookie on my desk, with a post-it that says to feel free and have it. I plant a webcam near the cookie, so L and I can keep tabs on it. The hours passed, but the bait remained untouched. It was not possible. Toiletboy sits nearby. There’s no way he didn’t see it. Maybe I was wrong after all.
I leave the office that day, disappointed. Not only would I be $20 poorer, I was so smug about it and now I look like an idiot. Crap. I hate being wrong.
The next day at the office, I sit down at my desk and find a subway cookie wrapper, with a post-it that said “Thanks – Yum!”. Looks like Toiletboy struck again.
Terms and conditions:
· Producers, Engineers and Sharks do not qualify for this contest.
· Closing date is Monday 15 March 2004.
· First 3 correct answers stand to win a box of cookies of my choice.
· Send in your answers as comments to this blog. Sending me your opinion on IM doesn’t count.
· Answer in this format: Story 1 – True/False and repeat for Story 2 and 3.
· You need to be identifiable to redeem your prize – ie don’t sign in as anonymous.
· I only deliver the prizes within Singapore. If you live else where and aren’t around to accept your prize, you’ll only get a photo of the cookies.
· No, you can’t choose your prize. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to accept it.
· No, you can’t swap your prize for anything else.
· I reserve the right to not publish the answers if I don’t get any responses, or if all the responses are wrong.
· You will be disqualified if you ask around for clues or answers.
· Winners will be announced on 16 March 2004.
Watching the girls walk by
10/03/2004
Scenes from Citilink Mall
It starts out quiet at first
After dinner VS and I went over to the Pacific Coffee at Citilink Mall to just hang out, but suddenly all these people started to appear so we couldn’t resist taking a few shots here and there.
The kids these days…
The couple of teenagers started to get edgey after they spotted us taking shots at them. That was fun. I can hardly remember what it was like – but I sure don’t remember hanging out at coffee joints. Oh right. There weren’t any when I was 18.
The chick sitting behind VS
Ahh… the chick sitting behind V. She was telling her friends this story and she got more and more animated as she went on. Anyway for some strange reason she looked like she was looking straight at me and waving in this shot. But she wasn’t, at least I don’t think so.
The Biscuit Story
If you were hoping to read the biscuit story here,
. Check back tomorrow. And to make it all fun and stuff, I’m going to give you a couple of biscuit stories, and you can go figure out which one is fake. Get it right and win – you guessed it – biscuits.
Details tomorrow.
Different day. Same crap.
10/03/2004
The highlight of my day was at 6.10pm
When I left the office. It was excruciating today as well. ‘Nuff said.
Scenes from the train
The North East Line tunnel, from Dhoby Ghaut towards Clarke Quay
The train pulls up to Clarke Quay station
I woke up this morning too early for my liking and took the wrong train to work. Instead of taking the eastbound train, I stupidly took the first one that came and ended up going westwards. It was 3 stops before I realised I was on the wrong train, so I got out and tried rushing for the right train just across the platform. The doors closed just in front of my nose and I caught a couple of passengers on the inside sniggering as I backed off and the train moved off.
The next train took another 3 minutes to come, and by then I already ran down some of the headstart I had rushing out of the house (had to take a call at 9.30am). I took it, and shuffled for a place to stand, but had nothing to hold on to. As luck would have it, the train for one reason or another, kept stopping every 5 minutes or so due to some technical error and sometimes it stopped at really awkward positions – certainly not horizontal. It was as if it was turning a bend, and the train was tilting off the ground.
How’s that for inane?
Rainy Days and Mondays
08/03/2004
…always get me down
It’s a horrible rainy day – only because I had to go to work. Once in a while I feel like this, but most of the time it passes in a couple days. It’s like an extended sugar low, you know? When it feels futile to go to work, and sit in front of that stupid piece of crap they call a Compaq and type away sending off futile messages to dumbass line toe-rs.
Days like this people quit their jobs.
No such luck (or guts) here.
Every breath you take
I never thought that song could ever be mangled, until Puff Daddy did it. And now, a decade and a half after he produces a classic, Sting loses his sting and outputs this strangely at peace version of the song on some MTV Unplugged gig. Gordon, it’s not the same when you sing it that way!
There was something about the pleasure in the obsession that made the original so appealing, and now even that’s kinda being re-written. Might as well get some boy band like N’Sync or Blue or what-have-you (that would make a killer band name!?) to cover it.
Neverwhere, the TV series
It must be nice being Neil Gaiman, it’s like good ideas in good english just rolls off his fingers. That’s why I keep reading his blog. Was reading the IMDb entry for Neverwhere, it’s fascinating.
I’d like to wish you the best in your future career, but I doubt you’ll live long enough to have one. ~ The Marquis De Carabas
Ch-ch-cha-changes…
07/03/2004
An Update on Y
I spoke to Y today and he seemed to be a lot better than he was a couple of days back. On Wednesday, he was truly depressed. Today, he was much more like his usual. He wasn’t laughing or happy or anything like that, but a strange calm came through his voice, which I can put down to 2 possible things: anti-depressants or the book. He mentioned that he read it, and even told me the bits that he thought were good. In any case, I’m relieved that he’s turned the corner.
Making some adjustments
So in a bid to start spending less than I’m earning (who’d have thought it would be a good idea?) I abandoned some of my usual toilettries in favour of less expensive ones. In this instalment I’ll run through the alternative facewash adventure.
Face/Off: Origins’ Checks and Balances vs The Body Shop’s Seaweed Purifying Facial Wash vs Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser
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Checks and Balances Facial Wash Available at: Origins Price: $35 Size: 150ml Skin type: Combination Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
Checks and Balances comes in a nice 150ml size and lasts us about 2 months. A small dab lathers into a rich thick foam which washes off clean. Not squeaky clean like Clinique’s facial soap, but nice and clean without the usual slimey feeling. Ingredients include Konjac Powder which sucks up oil, Wheat Protein which redistributes moisture where you need it – it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight. Yet the loveliest part of it is the Lavender, Spearmint and Bergamot which makes it smell so heavenly.
The price though, is a bit of a put off. I mean, $35 is in between nowhere. You need $50 to get a stamp in your rewards card, and everything else I use (Have a Nice Day and Nite-a-Mins) would put it over $50 but just under $100. Total bummer. Yeah, I could probably give up on the whole rewards thing, I know. But I use those products anyway.
So anyway. I decided to try The Body Shop again, afterall I used their products religiously growing up. And they’re everywhere so it’s really easy to just pop by one of the stores and pick stuff up.
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Seaweed Purifying Facial Wash Available at: The Body Shop Price: $14.90 Size: 100ml Skin type: Oily Rating: 2.5 / 5 |
I just started on Seaweed wash maybe 10 days ago. I have to say it’s not really satisfactory for me. The consistency of the liquid is runny, but it doesn’t lather so well. Too little water and it sticks to your palms. Too much water and it runs off your palms. It’s a fine art that I haven’t gotten the hang of. Once on your face though, it does its obligatory lather and smells pretty pleasant. However, the wash off is a bit of a pain. It’s one of those that leaves that slimey feel on your face, so no matter how much water you splash on it, it never feels clean.
However, it has kept KF relatively acne free still. Maybe it’s too early to tell. I haven’t fared so well, I’ve got a few spots here and there which gets a little annoying. Somehow I don’t feel that the gel-like consistency really cuts the grease.
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Gentle Foaming Cleanser Available at: Clarins Price: $36 Size: 125ml Skin type: All skin types Rating: 1 / 5 |
I was the most disappointed with this one. It promised a “soap-and-water” clean, but didn’t deliver. It left that slimey feeling on my face, and stung my eyes. It was supposed to cleanse, purify and remove excess oil secretions, but again, didn’t manage that. It couldn’t keep KF’s acne in check, and even I started to break out (not badly, but it’s unusual for me). The worst bit was that it smelled like something my grandma would use. Ingredients include Hazelnut, Jojoba, Shea and Soapwort but it smelled like someone dunked a garden of lilies in there. I stopped using it after 2 weeks. It’s sitting somewhere in my cupboard, waiting for when I get real desperate. Add to that it wasn’t really even cheap. I think they really meant it for more delicate skin.
The moral of the story
If you want to stinge, stinge on stuff that you don’t use on your face. And when the package says Gentle, I think they mean it.
