Sangria
Sangria always brings back memories of this really sweet guy who made the drink for me.
The first time i tasted it was on the Chilean's independence day. Hung out with a group of Chileans in a Chilean restaurant.
They get really annoyed when I think that Chilean and mexican food are the same thing. Someone ordered Sangria. This pitcher of red drink. I was skeptical. It looks suspicious. Took a sip of it and I was immediately won over! haha.. had so much Sangria that night. It was really good. That was the best i ever had!
Since I liked it so much, this guy told me that he will make the drink for me some day. He said its really easy... just wine with some juices... now the thing is that people always say things like that. Nice things. But they rarely fufill it and you don't fault them cos it happens so often. But when someone remembers it and tries to fulfill it... i think its just so sweet.
Anyway, thats my story of Sangria. Its been such a long time. I don't know why but it just suddenly came to mind. haha.. totally irrelevant.
Kinda remembered having Sangria in Italy last year. It was really bad sangria. I bet they spiked it with vodka or something cos it tasted so.. urgh.. just so hard to down. And it gave me such a headache. Seriously, when in Italy, just stay with wine.
Labels: food
37.7
It all started with an itch in the throat, feeling dry and irritated. That was Friday. It later developed into a sore throat. Boy, did that hurt. I was feeling miserable... throat hurts yet that ain't good enough to justify for an MC.
Saturday morning. I was so sure that I was having a fever. Feeling groggy but thought it was such a waste to spend my weekend in bed sick. Pushed myself out of bed, to the studio for over 2hours of prancing around. What with all the
jete,
glissade,
pirouettes. I felt like I was simply moving my limbs via mechanical robotic action.
After that we trooped off to get our new leotards, chiffon skirts, character shoes and skirts. Had our measurements taken and I started thinking that since I was wearing a padded bra, and since I usually do not wear any bra during dance... I ought to take at least an inch off whatever she measured... it was just a thought.
Took a cab home after a really late lunch. Showered, took a painkiller and hit the pillow. Phew..
(I must add that its really rather expensive taking cabs these days. I mean after adding all the xtra charges.. geez..)
Sunday, went to see the doc. Gave me a bagful of drugs. Spent most of the day resting in bed and finishin up The Half-blood Prince. I think Albus died cos the guy playing him is dead. The grey wizard from LOTR just doesn't have that stately, crinkly wizardly look... grey wizard just looks too.. erm
grey!
I'm still coughing and fluing. Mucus in copious amount... i think having a cough and flu helps to work out your abs region. Like when you cough, those muscles kinda contract quite a bit. When you blow your nose... really hard, u use those muscles too methinks.
argh. bored.
Ramble. rumbles.
Mum is staying at sis's place for a week. And suddenly, I look forward to going home! Its not that I'm some kind of problem child, its just a nice feeling to have the whole house (small as it is) to myself.
A couple of things that I can do now includes walking around almost stark naked, playing my cds loud and not hear some chinese drama going on in the background...
I can, for instance, be boiling water to cook pasta while showering. And the the water has boiled, I walk out of the bathroom, naked, to put the pasta in. Hahaha.. all this in semi darkness (I have people living opposite my block! or maybe they already got use to my exhibitionist tendencies...)
Weather is turning chilly. I didn't sleep too well last night because I felt cold! My blanket isn't enough. Suddenly, I think of The Day After Tomorrow. Anyway, its the time of the year when it rains more, is cold and all I want to do is snuggle in bed. Its also the time of the year when I feel most needy. In need of someone to curl up to. Its going to be a long december.
Yesterday at the library. I felt like all the books were getting boring. Everything book talks about similar stuff. Humans and morality. Evolution. Sperm competition. Sex. Consciousness. Emotions. After a while, it seems that every book mentions something another book said. In the biology section, so many books has an introduction talking about Darwin. I know he is a great guy per se. But I have been reading about him for a long time. Nothing new these days huh?
Currently reading: The Moral Animal.
Frankly speaking, I don't believe in morality. I will admit that I do not posses any bit of morality at all. What is right, what is wrong, is frequently subjective and its just a very thin line which separates the two. Right vs wrong is a human-constructed concept. Acts in the name of morality and justice have often times throughout history proven to be a sham. Some social construct which blinds peole. Talk about the inquisistion. In the name of christ, burn the witches at the stake. Is that right? Who are we to label what is moral, what acts are moral?
We are a pretty blinded species.
Talking about religion. Imagine a world without it. Would it have been much better? Averted more suffering? Averted war? Averted extremism? The world could have been a better place without religion. If Christ never came, if Mohammad never came, etc etc.
Singapore has often emphasize on the need for racial harmony. I think its time they go beyond that. There has been, for some time, a growing resentment for expats. That isn't so bad considering that do bring in skills we lack. They bring with them a culture, a working attitude which might be good for us. But presently, we have growing numbers of China Chinese. You hear them everywhere. Is there discrimination against them? I can only frankly say that there sure is some kind of prejudice against them.
PRCs are all over the world. They are everywhere. Mao's idealogy. Go forth and multiply!
thirty-somethings
Lately, I've been hanging out with people from the thirty something age group. Which is kinda interesting because I've always thought the age gap could create some communication barrier. Well, i figured it really depends on who u are talking about.
I get along fine with my brother. In fact, its rather fun hanging out with him.
I was having a very nice chat with a late-30s guy. It was an enjoyable chat. Which lasted up to 4 hours and I still felt that it wasn't enough! haha
Had dinner with another fren yesterday... it was ok. I won't say that it was crazy fun but still it was enjoyable.
I began to see something in common between these people. They are all single 30somethings. Neither entirely desperate, nor unhappy. I can't tell if they are
contented, but i get the impression that if they are well, sort of happy? Ok maybe contented to a certain extent will be way to describe it.
The 30somethings I use to know were horrible to hang out with. I mean, even lunch in a group creeps me up totally. Typical talk on work, retrenchment, the job market, property, cars, kids etc. I guess when u are married and have kids, you do change a lot huh?
Or maybe, I am the one who has changed. The 30something person trapped in a 20something's body! hahah! totally crap.
I'm beginning to ponder over that, since some of my conversation topics centers on food, cooking, and even herbing! (ok i don think there is such a word) -- growing herbs.
Oh by the way, so far these guys are all really sweet. My brother included. When we were young, he was such a jerk, but now he can be so sweet sometimes.
Ken: You use to like papa smurf! We have no idea why, but it was like the ugliest and therefore cheapest smurfs around cos nobody wanted to buy it! We thought perhaps u were lacking in fatherly love or something!
NUC
: Life is so unfair. Only the dumb ones go far.
:There are so many PRCs in NUS now. I think they should call it NUC!
-- i thought that was freaking funny.
A recent visit to NUS where I found a certain banner hanging from every lamppost which said
"GLobalising Higher Education"
Maybe I'm dense or something, but I just don get it.
Kathy graciously explained that they must be referring to the prc influx.
A friend working in one of the research institutes commented:
I was in the lift today and it certainly felt as if I'm in China.
lighter
I have to add, that with shorter hair, I seem to run faster!
Past few days have been good running days in the evening. The air was cool and fresh after a light rain. None of those sticky humid feeling you get here sometimes. Its on days like these, good days, that I feel like I can run on and on, and not stop. Such a high!
One day, Charmaine and I will do a marathon together.
------------Love and its undoing.
I think love is a shady idea. I think the very act of love often destroys it eventually. As much as love can make a person change for the better, it can also, in fact it oftentimes, brings out one's vices too. With love, comes the feeling of posession, jealousy and dependence -- just to cite a few.
------------The Pearl.
Many years ago, I told my brother that it will be wonderful if someone will build a condominium at the foot of Mt. Faber.
Recently, they did just that.
During my Sunday jog, I stopped by The Pearl and peered through the fence. Almost done. A few units already have furnitures being moved in...
All of a sudden, I had this rush of desperation. I wanted a unit there badly!
A 2R unit cost 715k. I can't see when I will be able to have that kind of money. Thoughts, imagination, crazy ideas... guess if I was a rich guy's mistress, someone who could afford The Pearl, I will have my dream! I will be the ideal mistress. I will NEVER ask him to leave his wife. I will NEVER bear him any kids. (Guess I will never pledge undying love nor affection either!)
Thoughts and vices aside, I have nothing more to say.
My boss was sitting down, having a chat with me yesterday. And right there on my table, a book labelled "Promiscuity" and a picture of three fucking turtles. I wonder what he thinks of me now.
haircut
Just had a hair cut over the weekend. By haircut, I really mean it. From almost waist-length to short (barely touches my collar).
I have forgotten that short hair uses much lesser shampoo.
That its so much easier to wash.
That it dries so much faster.
And that my head feels so much lighter
(Think airhead! hahaha!)
At work this morning:
whoever: Hey! you cut your hair!
(why do people ask such redundant question! Its absolutely obvious I cut my hair, they could have said something like "Why did you cut your hair?", "where did you cut your hair" or "nice hair cut")
Scratches and bruises
I have a whole lot of scratches and bruises on my right leg!!
I think beach soccer is really fun. Just running around, trying to get the ball to go where u want it to, and of course when u get to score. The downside is the sand which gets into your mouth, the violent guy who kicks u in the shin, foot and ankle, and the rough sand at Palawan beach. (To note that the sand is likely imported from Indonesia -- couldn't we get finer sand?)
It was really nice to meet up with the old astro gang! Been like a couple of years since I last heard from them, I almost forgot how fun it can be to hang out together!!
Jacksen: 4-by-4! Ok, again. 4-by-4! Again!.. ... ... ... ... ...Jeff: Eh, can you don't say that so loudly.Jacksen: Huh?Jeff: Its embarrassing!
good ol'laptop
I officially pronounce my laptop dead.
It now lays on the coffee table in the living room.
It can't start up. .
The hard disk all but give a silent slurr.
I hope that I have backed up everything.
I guess now, its only me and my mac mini.
rants etc.
This could have been the perfect week for a getaway! Tue and Wed are public hols!! But alas, I didn't seem to notice that till a few days before.
Feeling so way tired today. One should never sleep at 4am if one has to wake at 7 the next day for work. I feel as if I am just going through some programmed motions for the day. Brain activity is almost down to NIL.
As I grow older, it gets increasinly harder to find friends to hang out with. Especially those 'last minute' scenario. I tend to be like that. Maybe after work today, I will feel like having dinner out. SMSes will be sent
enmass and the replies are usually all the same. SOmething like
"I'm really sorry -- I can't make it today. Another day ok?"
Gone were the days when I could almost always find someone to hang out with. Maybe, its because we are all out of school. It use to be something like this: After lecture, friends will feel like chillin out. Now, after work, colleagues will want to go home because they are either tired, have family, have a bf/gf -- wat else?
Maybe, its because I don't particularly like my home. Geez, now I sound like a problem child who has never grown up! Maybe, I got used to living without my mum. A year in hall, a sem at Berkeley, 2 months in Italy. Maybe.
