rainy day

It's a public holiday today... and well since we woke up early, we got quite a bit done too.

Went out for food, did grocery shopping, cleaned the kitchen, prepared the beef for meatballs, made a big pot of green tea, cuddled the kids, sent the clothes to the laundry.

Then about 4-ish I felt a little peckish. Because we usually don't go out of the house that early in the day.

We usually leave about 1 or 2 in the afternoon, grab some food and run a couple of errands. So since we had food like, 3 hours earlier than usual I was already a bit hungry.

I rummage through the pantry and guess what I find? Pancake mix!

Fluffy buttermilk pancakes with Vanilla ice cream and strawberry + apricot jelly. Yum!

What a way to spend a rainy day

Aglio e Olio

My cousin sister in law makes fantastic Aglio e Olio and it's made me always wanting to make good Aglio e Olio.

So one day, I bought Swiss Brown and white button mushrooms and a pack of streaky bacon hoping to cook Aglio e Olio.

Then I realized I had no chilli flakes.

So I made this instead.

Angel hair pasta with sauteed mushrooms and bacon. Topped off with a generous serving of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and basil leaves for garnishing.

Went out shopping later in the evening and found chilli flakes, so this was dinner.

Bacon Aglio e Olio with grilled zucchini topped off with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and basil for garnishing.

Not too bad. But definitely room for improvement!

600 days

Another hundred days have gone by oh so quickly

Another hundred days of love

Another hundred days of joy

Another hundred days of being pissed

Another hundred days

We stick it through, thick and thin.

Love you.

Iron Man 2 OST

I entered another ruumz comp for an Iron Man 2 OST CD and poster. Few weeks after, I got an email saying that I've won...yay!!!!

The puppy called me at work saying I've got mail and thinks it's the Iron Man 2 CD I won. And I was thinking how on earth did they fit a poster in my mail box.

When I got home... this is what I saw

Yes that's me!!!!

Wait, that's no poster and what the heck is Madonna doing in my mail?!?!

OMG seriously?! First of all, at least give me her newest album. Not one that came out in 1984! Secondly, at least give me a brand new CD. Not one that has no plastic covering, and NOT ONE THAT HAS SCRATCHES ON THE BACK COVER!!! geez...

you

the title says it all.....

Sometimes in life you just can't help but wonder why do some people have all the bloody luck in the world....

I live with one of those lucky people. I seriously do not want to sound bitter or anything about it... but seriously?!?!

First he gets a second lease on life - he gets to pursue what he dreams of doing and his family is supportive... mentally, spiritually AND financially.

Secondly, he doesn't have to worry - financially, that is. Family is there to back him up.

Thirdly, he gets to do what he likes as "work" where the rest of us have to actually work whether we like it or not.

THEN, he gets an iPhone. Does he have to pay for it? Nope. And it's a 32GB 3GS version...

The cherry on top of the sundae is... what he just IMed me on gtalk....

puppy
zarim just called me he's gonna be putting my name down for a local reality show about producers kinda like AF but for producers, not singers so we'll produce for artists and compete to on a production level

bunny
wow cool HAHAHAHAHAH so from rocker... to producer... to actor... to reality tv star? :P

You seriously have got to be kidding me..... SERIOUSLY?!?!?!

I have to start wearing pants

Yes that's true. Sadly but true. I got violated in the comforts of my own home this morning.

I had left a pile of plates in the kitchen sink last night because I was a bit too lazy to get to them.

This morning, I woke up about 9-ish. Washed up, tied my hair and went to the kitchen to do the dishes in the kitchen sink.

When I was done, I realized that I had forgotten about the pan which was still sitting on the stove. So I turned around to get it and went back to the sink.

Half way washing the pan I had the compulsion to turn around which I thank my stars that I did!

There was a guy with a camera phone, leaning in towards my kitchen window trying to take a pic of me in my underwear!

I got a good look at him. Gave him the angry stare and yelled out "What do you think you're doing, you fuck face?!" he of course was flipped out of his mind, and quickly ran off towards the lift.

I then called out for the puppy and told him that some creep was trying to take a pic of me arse through the kitchen window. After a bit, he heard someone creeping about and quietly trying to open the doors in one of the nearby units so he snuck out to check it out.

He found four bucks lying on the ground near our unit. So we're pretty sure the guy lives nearby. One of these days if I bump into him he's gonna get it from me....

Duds and Peeks with the four bucks mommy made daddy found. We treated ourselves to Starbucks with that hahaha...

Am I traumatized by this incident? Not entirely. He must either be some really down in the dumps or in such desperation to actually have snuck up to my window, leaned over the railings to try to take a pic of my back.

Pissed, yes. If I see him I want to kick him in the balls. But, we'll see....

big bad burger part III

Almost two years ago, I stumbled across this article about a Quad burger and I remember telling the puppy that I would like to try it - yes I know, I have really bad eating habits but then again it's not like I do it all the time.

And then I remembered pondering on whether or not I should do it or how I would want to make my own burger.

Never got round to doing it.

FINALLY got around to making our own burgers. Beef patties, bacon, swiss cheese, grilled egg plant, sauteed onions and mushrooms on french bread with wedges on the side.

This is how it went

I made beef patties with chopped up basil, rosemary, garlic and shallots mixed with seasoning and breadcrumbs

Then pan fried/seared the patties. Mistake here was using a griddle pan. Should always use a flat pan so that the meat cooks with the juices making it nice and moist.

Filling. Grilled egg plant, pan fried bacon (nice and cripsy) and sauteed onions and mushrooms. These really complemented the meat very well.

Wedges baking in the oven. Cut the potatoes length wise then drizzle some olive oil over before you sprinkle wedge spice powder over. Toss them well and just chuck them in the oven to bake for a good 30 mins or so. Remember to take them out halfway and move them around so that they bake evenly.

The finished product. I layered my burger with the grilled egg plant, first beef patty, sauteed onions and mushrooms, swiss cheese, second beef patty, ketchup, mustard and topped it off with a layer of bacon.

Ariel の成人の日,

Ariel has always been the baby of the family. She's always had Byte to care and protect her. This incident is her 成人の日(coming of age).

We recently discovered that she had some sort of rash on her back and it was getting kinda red and patchy. Checked it out online, it could be fungus... ring worm... or just a rash. We didn't want to take the chance, so we isolated her from Byte (so that Byte doesn't get it too) and took her to the vet.

This is her in her isolation cage. Poor baby wasn't used to it at first but kinda liked the privacy of her own 'room' after a bit :P

She was scared but put on a brave front. Poor little baby had to go through a scrape test... and at first she was ok with it until it started to get a little tender and raw, poor baby started to wheek.

Anyways, good news, it's just a rash. Nothing like a medicated shampoo and anti-bacterial cream to take care of it.

Her medicated shampoo, anti-bacterial cream and medical bill.

All we have to do is to bathe her about once a week and apply anti-bacterial cream for her twice a day... *phew* thank goodness it's nothing too serious!!!

Hehehe Ariel having her first bath!

my creepy parking neighbor

It all started sometime early this year. I kept bumping into this guy who parks right next to me in the parking lot in the mornings. So since we park next to each other and see each other sometimes, we smile and nod our heads at each other.

Then one day, on my way to work, I saw a piece of paper stuck at my car door window. I walked closer and it was his calling card and he had written on it "Your neighbour"

At that point I tried to think of it as kind of like a nice gesture, he was trying to be friendly, that sorta thing. At the same time, alarms kinda went off in my head. So I asked a guy friend for his thoughts and which btw he blogged about it. Read it here.

In the end, out of courtesy (and naïveity I suppose) I emailed him to say hi and to introduce myself... and that was it. I haven't seen or heard from him since.

Yesterday morning, I realized that he has parked his car in the inside parking, because as I was walking from the lift lobby past the parking lot to get to the porch, his car drove by and stopped for me (and some other residents) at the pedestrian crossing. So since I recognized him, I just nodded and smiled.

Do you know what he did?

When I got to the car, I noticed a car stopping in front of mine. I look up and it was him. He had STOPPED HIS CAR. WOUND THE WINDOWS DOWN. YELLED OVER "HI CLAIRE!"

A little flattered but creeped out at the same time. I just flashed him a smile and said "Morning!" and got into my car a pronto!

Today... I get an email from him which reads "Hi... nice to see you again yesterday, we should meet for a drink sometime."

*facepalm*

Apa Dosa Ku

The tele-drama premiered earlier today on ASTRO Citra (Channel 131) at 9pm and will be featured every Wednesday on the same channel at the same time.

Puppy and I purposely subscribed to the Mustika package just so that we can watch it (Red Comm, we're still waiting for our DVD sets :P).

His scene during the Sook Ching massacre is featured in the opening credits so that's kinda cool.

Here they're prepping up for the Sook Ching massacre scene. The shot of him used for the opening credits is from this part where the Japanese general tries to rough him up but he resists their threats.

So yeah, we're waiting for the next few episodes to see his scenes on the silver screen!!!!

baby Cherrie and me

Finally got to visit baby Cherrie... OMG she's just SOOO adorable (yes I'm being all clucky/broody/whatever you call it)

She's kinda boring though. All she does is sleep... scream... have some milk... stare at you for a bit... look a bit confused... sleep....

That's her right after a nap. She looks very confused because I've been kinda shoving Poppy in her face :P

But OH.MY.GOD she's so adorable...

I'm in love

See that look on my face? It's the face of an over joyed aunt.