Furry Perceptions and First Impressions.

It took one week of waiting.
A 25 minute drive there and back.
3 hour visit.
36 photos later.
3 scratches
and a 13-hours to think-it-over.

Only to be told over the phone by a complete stranger, that they thought "we" were not a suitable couple for her feline babies. Her reason was, and i quote "...she felt we didn't have a heart". Or something like that. The translation from German to English is still quite hazy.

But what the fuck, right? That was totally not what i was expecting to hear this morning. And considering we sat with them for so long, asked so many questions and even browsed through their official Norwegian Forest Cats' documentation. I mean, i thought we left a good impression. I even thought they liked us. Proof that first impressions do matter and that "within the first three seconds of a new encounter, you are evaluated… even if it is just a glance" [stolen from here].

But after J told me the news, it was like a slap to the face. I was like a fish out of water. And my initial comment was, "Stupid bitch! Who does she think we are? What does she mean we have no heart?"

Then my heart sank.

Images of the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz flashed in my head. And like a little girl i balled my eyes out, lost my appetite and sat in the kitchen. J later spent the next hour trying to comfort me. Sadly, we all tend to make judgments on others. Some choose to keep it to themselves, whilst others are more outspoken.

I'm not sure what i'm more upset/disappointed about, a) The fact that we got rejected b) We aren't getting Derry and Darcy c) That some complete stranger was so quick to judge and make assumptions or d) Our search continues.

I guess there's so many ways of dissecting what could have gone wrong.

What was said or not not said. Did we leave a good impression? Did we not? Why didn't we tell them more about our background of how we met? Would it have even mattered? I mean we are so open to tell anyone and everyone about our history but the one person we should have tried to convince were the breeders who probably thought we just turned 21, incompetent since i stay at home and may decide i cannot care for them.

But maybe it's a blessing in disguise. A lesson to be learnt.

Maybe it's a crude awakening to show that if a person really loves something so bad he/she should then act upon it immediately. And maybe our initial hesitation to say YES immediately was our gut instinct telling us something.


And the only way i can console myself is to simply tell myself, Derry and Darcy weren't meant to be. Oh and last but not least, i do have a heart, damn it!

I Got Mail!

Yesterday i received my first postcard in what seemed like ages. In fact, i think the last time i received one was close to a decade ago. So thank you MissSeniorPisces, i really appreciate the fact that you took time out and even bothered. Like you said, Old Skool Is Still Cool!

I mean, even if it's a short "hello, i thought i'd invade your mailbox or wish you were here" kind of a deal, it's always nice to receive something other than bills or notices once and awhile.

But then again, in order for that to happen, it would help if "friends" had my address to begin with OR they were even bothered to want to know what my address is. But we all know it's far easier to construct a message on either facebook or ones' email account and just click SEND.

The internet has made Life so much easier. In fact, there's no excuse why one shouldn't be contactable. We all have our own excuses for being lazy. "Oh the internet was down", "...there was no electricity", "i'm so busy" or simply, "i forgot".

I know i am guilty of that.

However, there is no doubt, that the good ol' pen-on-paper form of communication ranks as far more personal. So, if anyone would like to send some snail-mail my way, feel free to message me/shoot me an email and i might just send you my details.

[PLEASE NOTE: Perverts and Dodgy people should NOT apply - you can never be too careful nowadays ya know.]

...

So anyway, here's some useless/interesting information for you. Since arriving, i've noticed that addresses here are written unlike any other place i've been stationed at.

A TYPICAL GERMAN ADDRESS FORMAT

1) Title + Receivers' first name or initial + Surname
2) The Street Name + the Street/House/Block number.
3) Postal code, City.
4) Germany [if the sender is sending it from elsewhere]

But where is the unit number?


Well there isn't one.

I live in a 4-storey block with 3 other blocks connecting in a row one right after each other. And each block of 8 units is designated a number but there are no individual unit numbers.

I guess one just hopes prior to moving into a new place that he/she doesn't live in a block with another resident with the exact spelling of the surname, name/initials and title. I'm not sure what the chances of that are but i'm sure it's happened.

And we all know how annoying it is if you're expecting mail and it doesn't arrive.

...

Speaking of expecting, J and i are finally going to meet our babies [Derry and Darcy] tonight! Our appointment is at 7pm and i'm hoping to take lots of photos.

Home... Alone again.

Much like the rest of the working nation, i don't look forward to the week days. But in a span of 24 hours i spend on average 15 hours alone... at home.

Although it does include the half an hour J and i have in the morning where his breakfast is interrupted by him getting ready for work. Then 20 minutes in the late afternoon, when J dashes home to kiss me 'hello' and then 'good-bye'. Just enough time so he can pick up his bag full of notes, a packed box full of sandwiches and a flask of hot coffee that i lovingly prepared so he won't starve.

Then his day ends just after 10pm, at which time his eyes are red from his hectic day and all he wants to do is fall deep in sleep. Then within 2 hours from his return, he's back in bed and the next thing we know, the alarms are screaming for us to wake up 6 hours later.

But Thursdays are a little kinder, i get to see him an hour and a half longer.

He has a break in between classes and since the school is only 5 minutes drive away, this gives him a breather to come back home and have a hot meal. I'm thinking baked Salmon with cream sauce, mashed potatoes and broccoli tonight.

...

I remember there was a time when being at home was such a luxury. Don't get me wrong, i quite like being at home. But at the time, how i yearned to stay in bed for hours on end. But 16 hour days spent in the office was what i faced every morning and that usually did my head in. My weekends were reserved for drowning my sorrows and an excuse to take photos just so i could remember it all.

Oh how times have changed.

I'm thinking it's all those times i'd openly declare how much i WISHED i would just stay at home and be a HOUSEWIFE. Now look at me, i practically am one. The Universe was listening! In a sense, i've gone from one extreme to another and every day it seems like i'm living a life as a true hermit.

But how sad am i that i still flick through past photographs and of friends' uploaded photos just so i could have a sense of what it might be like to have a social life. And i bet if i were to return for just a moment, everything would be just how i left it... the same.

One would think with all the traveling and moving from one country to another i'd be used to it by now. But why is it that i always feel as if i am the one that has been forgotten?

Grasping on Optimism, i remind myself, it can only get better.

Pony Bangs Fringe.

OK maybe the title doesn't sound "right" or even kosher, in fact it can be mistaken as crude but i assure you it is not.

I saw a sliver of sun today and it wasn't from sitting on my super comfy chair looking outside either. Yes, i bothered to shower and change and venture outdoors for a solid 1.5 hours. Nothing too much to rave about but for a moment there i caught myself squinting. But then again, it could have been the wind getting caught in my hair and the ends stabbing my pupils. Don't you hate it when that happens?!


And to add to my ever-so-eventful day, i even tried to trim my fringe in attempt to save some Euro. And yes, i was actually going for the side-sweep look.

But did you know a "fringe" is known as a "pony" in German. Just as how in the States they're called "bangs". Confusing? I know right!

I reckon i'd also be a terrible Witness.

Today i have officially been living in Germany for 1 year. Isn't that crazy?! Where does all this time go? Who sat on the remote and pressed the fast forward button?

Well today was a public holiday known as Rosenmontag which translates into English as, Rose Monday. But it's also Carnival Monday and for all the Christians out there, it's the Monday before Lent.

There was a huge parade in the city with floats, people dressed up in all sorts of costumes and tonnes of alcohol. The floats carry people who chuck all sorts of beaded necklaces, candy and sorts to the public. German folk songs are blasted on loud speakers and people of all ages seem to know the lyrics and steps. It's quite hilarious to watch especially if they're completely wasted and wearing a costume. All the different breweries open up stalls along the roadside so you have a choice of beers all in a few metres from one another.

But we didn't end up going.

Neither one of us was in any mood to get up early and try to push our way to the front. Neither one of us were blessed with extra height, so it would be a bitch to go out and only see the backs of peoples' heads. Damn those tall people who bully those vertically challenged!

And since it was the long weekend, it was more than likely that people would be already drunk by the night before, if not by the morning. Apparently, when J volunteered for the Red Cross some years back, he said he was called in to work on Rosenmontag and saw lots of fights break out. The crowd can get quite rowdy, which explains why the Police surround the city centre and walk the streets in big groups.

So instead, J and i celebrated the day in our PJs. Stuffed ourselves with homemade pizza, random junk food and watched a string of movies. What a great day it was!

One movie in particular i will have to recommend is Slumdog Millionaire. Funny thing is, Ms. Redd had mentioned it in one of her posts and so i was telling J about a movie that a friend had recommended and one that i wanted to watch but had forgotten its' title. And not long after, forgot who actually mentioned it and where i actually read it. [I know it's shocking, i can sometimes have a brain the size of a fish.] My temporary memory loss meant i couldn't even describe the movie cause i didn't actually watch the trailer because Firefox froze. [Not much help there either.]

But then today, as if J read my subconscious, put on the movie. Whatta kwinky-dink!

And even though the conversation about what the mystery title of the movie was was more than 12 hours ago, i immediately remembered the title the second i heard it. It was like a jolt to my brain, i was so excited that i was able to actually remember the title. However, it's a pity being forgetful doesn't improve with age.

Oh well.



But if you can't be bothered to watch the trailer here's a description that i ripped off:

"From Danny Boyle, director of Trainspotting and 28 Days Later, comes the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"

Seriously. Go watch it. It made me cry at the end and it's called Slumdog Millionaire.

How about a cuppa Earl Grey?

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And if it weren't for the moldy moss on the trees and the random bird in flight, i would swear the view outside my window of the top of naked branches was in fact a grayscale image.

What a lovely Pantone-Cool-Gray kinda day - the kind of day that prevents me from venturing outdoors and socialising. There is no wonder there is such a thing as winter depression, or better yet Seasonal Affective Disorder [SAD - what an appropriate acronym].

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My sunnies are not the only thing missing out of my handbag but so is the blinding suns' rays on my somewhat pasty skin. Alas, i'm over Winter.

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Next!

D is for Derry and also Darcy.

After much discussion and browsing through dozens, if not hundreds of online ads for kittens, we have finally fallen in love with one. She's 12 weeks old as of this coming Monday, a Sagittarius and a Norwegian Forest Cat or also known as a Norwegische Waldkatze in German.

We've got an appointment to see her on Friday evening. We'll call her 'Derry' for now since that's what they named her. Derry also looks like she's just been in a Wind Tunnel but oh so very cute. Oh and also her sister, Darcy, as there is a high possibility that we might get two babies. Uh-oh double trouble!

The owners breed them and apparently, when J spoke to the woman on the phone she seemed very nice, answered whatever questions we had, gave opinions and strongly suggested that the kitten should have another feline companion. I'm not sure whether she's so much in it for the money as it's mainly for the sake of the cats' sanity.

But we'll see.

So if all goes to plan and we do in fact fall in love with them. I say 'them' because there's a high chance that i'd want to stuff them all in my bag. But we are only able to take her/them in 3 weeks time since that's when they will be old enough to be weaned off their mother.

Great timing as it so happens to be my 29th birthday. Yay for me! Another candle on the birthday cake and possibly a new addition to the family! *golf claps*

I'm not being sarcastic, i actually have no issues of me turning 29. I might not say that as the cake continues to be covered in wax in years to come but for now, i have no issues.

So yay, i might be getting [a] baby/babies soon!

And no i don't have to worry about waiting for 9 months. Neither do i have to go through the pain of labor and popping out a watermelon-sized object out of a hole that looks like the size of a lemon - well not any time soon anyway. [And yes we all know the miracles of Stretching.] Oh and not forgetting what a friend wrote on one of her blog posts about What Women Go Through and Men Don't, risk being cursed with a dodgy looking vagina just for giving birth! Now we wouldn't want that would we?!

I'm so excited. I am seriously burstin' with fruit flavor!

Note to self: Must remember to purchase a good steal comb, a big arse cat climbing tree and to take my Pill on time. Damn it! Which reminds me...

K is for Karneval and for Kitty.

Kareneval started yesterday. Altweiberfastnacht is when the women (called Möhnen) storm the City Council Offices chop off the ties of men, capture the Lord Mayor and take over the administration of the City for the night. It is the official opening of the street carnival in the old city of Düsseldorf and it runs until Ash Wednesday. Basically an excuse to drink, get dressed up in costumes and mingle/flirt with others.

And whilst parts of the country are either calling in sick, nursing a hangover and/or waking up next to a stranger, i on the other side have done quite the opposite. J had the early shift this morning, so was up by 6 am. I can't tell you how painful that was to be awake so early after only falling asleep just a few hours before. I know there are thousands of people in this world who have no choice but to wake up so early in order to put bread on the table, but i'm talking about me and if i had a choice, i would not do mornings.

Usually, first thing in the morning i'm sitting with J by the sofa eating my mish-mash of cereals covered in joghurt and chilled milk. But this morning, i couldn't do it. I felt so spewy. I'm not sure whether it was the post mid-night peanut butter sandwich that caused me to feel nautious or the lack of hours. And no, i'm not preggers. The "anti-baby pill" that my gynie likes to call it should be in full working order thank you very much.

So as usual, i bid J farewell at the door and did a 90 degree angle turn towards the bedroom and straight under the sea of covers and pillows. It's so comfy, it's like my cloud.

The weather has been fickle the last few days with random snow showers and bursts of sunshine. It's all very misleading because it's actually cold as arse outside. I've been complaining that i want to go out. Being stuck indoors all week is making me cranky since the weather doesn't permit me to frolic outdoors and do some kind of activity. Yes it can be annoying. There are times i actually want to do things other than sleep.

J keeps reminding me it's Winter and that i should be patient.

But my impatience finds me twirling my thumbs and dragging myself through my project, knowing very well i've only got less than 2 months to complete it.

And it doesn't help that my search for a feline kitty is going nowhere. Apparently, it's not common/recommended to buy kittens from pet stores or shelters either. Mainly for the health reasons and that it's cruel to the animal.

Which is why owners turn to flashing their best price on sites. And just when we thought we had one, a cute little kitten that came with a super good deal which included a 2 metre high cat tree, toys and covered loo, the owner said that they had already sold it. DAMN IT! Too slow. Why didn't they remove the ad already?!

So i've been whining that they're either too expensive, too far away or just not right. And after every search it's always, "... but we're NEVER going to find one." And as supportive as J can be, he keeps telling me to be Patient. And reminds me it's like apartment hunting. It will take time until we find the right one and reassures me it won't be over night!

Great. And like a spoilt child all i can think is, i. want. it. now!

But maybe it's like The Secret. If i send enough vibes out to the Universe, maybe just maybe i'll have my request answered.

[So here it is: We're looking for an oh so very cute, healthy, a Maine Coon or Silver Tabby Female Kitten that is cheaper than the prices that have been advertised and is available now. Preferably from a Cattery located in either Düsseldorf or Köln and comes from healthy and attractive parents. Thank you and have a nice day!]

Free Rice

Usually when i get links to websites or groups i usually i dismiss them unless i really can be bothered or the headline tickles my fancy. Upon clicking the groups' link i saw a simple image on the right hand side and i was intrigued. But i can't be arsed to rephrase what i read, so this is what it said;

It's a simple word game.

One right answer is 10 grains of rice for someone without food. If everyone answers just a few questions a day, it will add up.

Make it your home page.
Invite your friends.

Feed the hungry.
Improve your vocabulary.

Here's how it works:
They're not sitting on a pile of rice, waiting to decide how much to give... Nor are they manipulating poor farmers to donate rice. The ads at the bottom of the page fund the purchace of the rice, which is distributed through the United Nations World Food Program.

So if you're into words and their definitions, i say head to freerice[dot]com now! Perfect if you have a bit of time between chatting with a friend and checking your facebook account.

And you can even change the topic, difficulty level and have the choice between playing in English, German, Italian and Spanish. Best part is, the sponsors pay for your donated rice and you don't even have to get out of your comfy chair!

Go on, you know you want to.
It's like Pringles, once you pop you can't stop!

I am NOW NO LONGER a FatCow customer!

UPDATED AUG 13, 2010:

It has come to my attention that there has been a number of people googling "Fatcow sucks" or similar phrases in google and often they get thrown onto this page.

One Hosting Review site even links to my page...

"http://winkris.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-am-now-fatcow-customer.html

They failed to mention their website hosted with fatcow, and I am more then certain blogspot.com is not hosting with fatcow.com. I don’t see any affiliate links. But I question why someone thinks its ok to pay $20 for a domain when there are tons of fine companies out there you can find without doing much research for cheaper."

Well to answer your question, i did do some research but according to your statement, not much.

My only defence was that i thought i was going to stick with Fatcow for the long run and therefore figured the $20 as a one-off payment for not having registered a domain was not a big deal.

Had i known i was being ripped off, i wouldn't have signed up with them.

With so many Webhosting review sites online, it’s hard to differentiate those who are telling the truth and those who are not. And with so many bogus sites out there tricking customers into believing that they are getting a good deal, how is one to make the right decision.

Maybe i was naive to think that i got a good deal. And maybe i didn't do enough research.

But it's been over a year and in that time i can honestly raise my hand and say, i was a very unsatisfied Fatcow customer.

For the main reason that the tuturials were so complicated to use and the package i signed up for was misleading. I wasn't even able to put a generic Under Construction page as Fatcow had promised.

I had applied for a Minimoo package, which i assumed i could upload just a simple page that i had designed - no flash, not even rollovers. Just an opening page that informs my clients or future ones, where they can reach me. But unfortunately something simple couldn't even be done.

Obviously, they didn't tell me that prior to signing up with them.

So basically to cut the long story short, it was a waste of money. And sad to say, Yes, Fatcow does suck and i did not renew my membership when the one year was up.

The post below is the one that i had originally made and one that many have already read, so should you feel the need to read it go ahead but my advice is to check out other hosting sites.

Good luck!

***

After little debate and much research, i've decided that FatCow will be my web hosting company. All thanks to Boobers who helped me find it online. They're even #1 on the Top Cheap Hosts Reviews List and that must count for something!

After reading up on their package [not like i understood everything. All that lingo is like foreign words to me which is why i needed the opinion of my sister], it seemed pretty good. The overall design is cute [i'm thinking they were aiming for the "girl" market with their cuteness] and overall, it looks like thought has been put into the small details. I like that.

For instance if you click on the Get Started button and you're introduced to the The Original FatCow Plan. First thing i noticed was the dairy theme and that the Designer even layed out the package contents like those Nutrition Labels on Cereal boxes, which i thought was SUPER cute [oh gawd. Why do i sound like Paris?] No but seriously, i like it when Designers put thought behind their Design.

So then i wanted to read other reviews and i came across this one site titled, Even The Best Hostings Suck Sometimes: Searching for Hostings that Suck the Least. Straight to the point heading but exactly what we're all in search for. In the review they searched keywords such as "Fatcow sucks", "Fatcow scam", "Fatcow issues", "Fatcow problems" and out of 10,000 SERP PAGES about Fatcow being a sucky hosting company, they were only able to come up with 15! "This is still extremely good considering other hostings we have looked at have way worst ratio. The hate pages is actually negligible." [Read it here].

So that got me and i've finally signed up with a MiniMoo account.

It is relatively cheaper and my needs are by far very basic. They "...created the MiniMoo as a way to get started on the Web with not just a domain name and an e-mail address, but also access to all sorts of site-building and management tools. You can post a generic "under construction page" page until you're ready for a full FatCow, or you can use our site building tool to build your very own page." [Read more here].

All for $5/year.

But what they don't mention is, is when you register there is an additional $20 for those who don't actually own a registered domain name yet. Which is me. But that's ok, $25 is still heaps cheaper than the other sites i've seen.

They accept credit card and even PayPal.

I haven't got a PayPal account but Boobers does! So she bought it for me as an early birthday pressie... THANKS BOOBERS! So technically, my first year is free... Yippee! After which, i reckon, i'll have had my website done [i give myself 1 year] and then i can upgrade and i'll be legible to have all the other goodies. But apparently with MiniMoo they even have Step-By-Step Tutorials which makes Life so much easier when you have no idea where to begin and you're actually web-building retarded. Like me.

Oh and the best part was, when Boobers went onto the Live Chat to ask a question about why i wasn't able to log in. There was immediate live customer service! How cool is that?! You could even see one of the Moo Crew typing away in the box, i guess that's what they mean by Live Chat. I would have thought with the time difference, people would be fast a sleep. Or like with one other hosting company [not naming them of course], one must send an email and only if you're lucky within 24 hours you get a reply.

So yes. Now we must wait for the payment to go through [which should take a few days but i'm in no rush]. So i guess that means i can tick off one thing off my list... Yay for me! And no, i'm not being paid by any company to say nice things about their sites. I'm not that popular.

Water provided 24/7.

I'm not sure why but i am absolutely in love with my mini IKEA Aquatic plant. So much so that i even have dedicated this entry to it. It sure beats having to remember to water it. I must remember to change the water more often when Summer comes because i don't want to be responsible for breeding mozzies. But i must say Lady Luck has given me the Green Thumb because my mini collection of other plants are still alive and they're actually growing.

I think they're happy.

Sometimes it's the little things in Life that bring a smile to my face.
[Plant 1.79€ + Vase 1.50€]

Our glass window doesn't allow me to look outside when i shower. But i always find it nice to have something to look at when i'm washing my hair. Unfortunately, the air freshener and rolls of toilet paper don't really scream out BEAUTY. I mean there's so much matte white coloured curtains can do for a person plus i've already tried to practice my German by reading the bottle labels.

I wonder if anyone has invented waterproof dictionaries? And even if they have, i doubt i could afford it. But who really has that much time, or water to waste for that matter, to flick through plastic A-Z pages with pruney fingers? Not me. That said, i'm not sure even if i had a window that allowed me to look outside, i would be so daring to bare my arse or everything else for that matter to our neighbors/strangers.

Believe it or not, i am quite shy or should i say, private.

Truth is, i'm not that comfortable with my body. Rarely do i shower with the door open or walk around at home in my birthday suit. I'm not even keen on walking around the pool without a towel/piece of clothing on top of my swimwear. But then again, i guess it all depends on the context, how sober i am and who the other person [should there be one] is.

One must draw the line somewhere.

Chrissie's Valentine's 2009

Did you know that Valentine's Day is a $14.7 billion industry in the U.S.? Crazy shit! And did you know that in Japan women are the ones to give chocolates to their boyfriends, male friends and co-workers. And then men return the favor a month later on March 14, known as White Day, by handing out white chocolates, lingerie and jewelry to their friends and loved ones [source: Valentine's Day Around the World].

Seriously, i feel sorry for the guys since not only do they just get chocolate but they have to wait a whole month to get a little sumin' sumin, if ya know what i mean.

...

But what can i say, i've had an exceptionally good Valentine's day.

It was my first spent face-to-face with J and of course the first in Germany. We didn't go all out and buy the mushy love heart card or stuffed animal. If anything, i wasn't expecting that much at all. Blame it on my previous non-romantic V-days and lack of adoration from the opposite sex but i know J loves me, so there was no need for coloured paper hearts or cutesy animals.

But my day did not begin by being woken up by a 6 year old as i had predicted.

Instead i was ordered to stay in bed and sleep in. How great is that! When it was of a decent hour, J came in to say they were going out for "a walk" and would be back soon. Which is when Little L jumped on the bed to hug me and wished me Happy Valentine's Day. Again, i was told to stay in the bedroom and at no circumstance was i allowed to set foot in the kitchen or living room when they had returned from their "walk".

Of course i was curious as to what they were doing but i played by their rules. And to make the waiting time bearable, J even put together a hot bubble bath for me.


Finally after 3 hours of waiting, i was told that they were ready and they opened the door to reveal a Prosecco brunch. Little L with the help of J, prepared a full-on breakfast with scrambled eggs, delicious fresh croissants, rolls, salmon and even freshly squeezed orange juice. And sitting on the table was one of my favorite flowers, tulips.


Then out of nowhere Little L presented me with a small bunch of flowers, of which she hand-picked at the florist not too long before. And at that point i thought i would burst into tears. I'm not sure why but the gesture was so pure and honest that it could only reinforce that she has in fact accepted me in her little world.

Later Ekki and his son came over and we spent the rest of the afternoon at Bobbolino Kinderwelt; an indoor playground. And of course it was jam packed with children and young parents. Who knew it would be so exhausting jumping on an over-sized inflated bag.

Then we dropped Little L at home and we crossed paths with the mother at the front door. She so happened to be speaking with a neighbor at that very moment. And usually i sit in the car whilst J brings Little L upstairs but it would be rude to stay seated, so i came out.

The next thing i know we were wishing one another Happy Valentine's day, then i was holding LittleBabyA [wrapped in several puffy layers but surprisingly quite light] and we were walking upstairs.

It was truly a surreal moment since i never thought i'd be allowed to be that close to the little one.

Then a short visit to IKEA to buy random items before closing time and to replace J's 1-week old chair to one that is exactly like mine. Oh and i now have a very cool water plant that lives completely under water. It has now found a home on our bathroom window sill.


And to top off the day, we decided to treat ourselves and go out for Japanese food at Kiku Sushi. Words of advice if you want to stuff yourself with coloured plates of sushi, don't pair them with 2 glasses of 0,5 litre German Weizen* beer because you're bound to be full before you're even half way!

Needless to say we had very big eyes.

* TIP: Pronunciation guide for English-speakers: "veye-tssen-beer" [Do NOT pronounce it "wisen-beer"!] Says who? Says here.

So did anything happen today?

"Huh? What do you mean?" There i was standing in front of a sizzling frying pan cooking dinner with tongs in my right hand and an oven mitt in the other to shield me from super hot oil.

"I mean did anything happen to you today? Anything bad?"

"What's that supposed to mean?! Oh my gawd, you're freaking me out now. What was supposed to happen?" OK i panicked slightly. Was i supposed to do something? And if i was, was he referring to my non-productive day. My brain felt a bit slow but my attention was focused on turning the tofu over.

"What day is today?"

In my head i know it's Valentine's day tomorrow but i reply with "Friday".

A few seconds later, J continues with "It's Friday the 13th".

"Oh i know. I was in a bad mood today."

'Nap Time' is necessary in order to function.

Stolen from Desktop Nexus Wallpapers.

Can you believe it's Friday already! It feels like only yesterday that i was moaning about how a new week was going to begin. And how the second section to the project i'm working on was so tedious to complete. The thought of Spring Cleaning did cross my mind.

But i did it. That section was completed on Tuesday night! And i rewarded myself by taking morning and afternoon naps thereafter. Now i'm onto the third part and i'm hoping it'll be smooth sailing.

I am totally not a morning person.

I dread the 6:45 Monday through Friday wake up calls. But if it means spending an hour with J in the morning, then a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. I am so grateful that i can actually appreciate sleep. I remember there was a time that Sleep was my enemy and i'd be lucky if i got 4 hours of restless shuteye. Then waking up feeling more shit than i did hours before. Oh how i don't miss that.

But when Little L stays for the night, i'll be sure to be woken up by 7. A simple tap on the hand and repeated ducks to the floor until i peel my eyes open. Then followed by a morning hug and declaration that she's hungry. And as usual a mish-mash of cereals are poured into 2 bowls and we sit in front of the tv to watch cartoons in German.

And no, i don't understand all of it.

Somehow between my broken German, hand gestures and limited vocabulary we are able to understand one another. And thanks to my cartoon watching, i now know that SpongeBob SquarePants in German is actually called, Spongebob Schwammkopf.

Hmmm.

But i must say i always look forward to when J wakes up because then he can take over and have actual conversations with her. It can be rather frustrating not being able to communicate even on a childs level. I guess there's only one way to fix that.

But Little L is staying over tonight. Apparently her mother bought her this create-crystals kit for children and she insists that she wants to make it at our place. So hello Chemistry days!

I'm hoping she's gotten over her cold though. Because the last time she came over she was sick and i'm more than certain that i caught something from her. You know how children are prone to pick up all sorts of germs on the playground. Or maybe it was because she kept offering me Pretzel sticks from her hand and i couldn't say no.

And yes, i'm forever reminding J and Little L to wash their hands as soon as they come home.

But i think it's time to bust out with the Dettol spray just in case!

...


Oh and other great news, i'm also in the process of registering my own company.

Well i have the papers sitting on my desk. J was kind enough to go and get the paperwork for me the other day on his way to work. My serious lack of the German language requires him to translate everything for me. And so we're sitting down this weekend to go over it all.

But apparently, it's not as hard as i thought it would be to start up ones' own company. Basically, as long as i don't earn more than XX,XXX€ a year i won't be taxed. Of course there's other terms and conditions but from what i've been told briefly, it sounds pretty good. I'll be under the "Artists" category and there's even a list of benefits including cheaper Health Care cover.

Oh my how exciting. I'm weeks, if not days away from owning my very own company. Ummm... hello Boss, i believe it's time for a nap.

Victoria's Killer Fires continue to burn.

"A bushfire burns in the Bunyip State Forest near the township of Tonimbuk."
Picture: AAP/Andrew Brownbill

"Trees, looking like burnt matches, show the fury of the fire."

Picture: Mark Smith

Unbelievable images and video footage continue to float around the internet of the devastation. Some even give me goosebumps! The Herald Sun newspaper has a gallery called Victoria's Killer Fires on their website. And just flicking through some of the photos brings a tear to my eye. They even have a shot of my friend, Captain H and what's left of Roslyn.

"CFA volunteer Hayden looks at the remains
of 100-year-old Roslyn House, in Taggerty, which he rented."
Picture: Norm Oorloff

Not too long ago, i received an email from KatieBaby to say that their 100-year old farmhouse was swallowed up by the flames. Luckily nobody was there at the time. I guess in times of disaster one only hopes one doesn't know anyone directly involved. And kudos to Hayden for volunteering to help put out the fires.

My thoughts go out to those who have family and friends affected by the fires. But i cannot begin to imagine what the people of Victoria or Australia for that matter, are going through right now. Loved ones perished in the flames, homes burnt down to a crisp and memories down to pieces of ash. I'm sure the fear of their safety, loved ones, friends and well-being plagues the back of most minds.

I can only thank my Guardian Angels and those looking out for me that i've never been put in a Life-Death situation like that. BUT if i ever was *knocks on wood* and only had 10 minutes to pick 3 personal items to grab before running out of a burning house, i'm thinking they would be;

1.) My handbag which holds a USB memory stick of photographs and current saved working files. My camera, tobacco/filters/rolling paper, loose change, ATM card, Health Insurance card and Passport.
2.) My teddy bear, Timmey, that i got from my parents when i turned 2 years old.
3.) A fully charged mobile phone. Only because i don't own an Address book and my phone has all my numbers such as loved ones and family.

So without thinking for too long, what would YOU take?

...

"CFA volunteer David Tree helps a distressed koala in burnt-out forest at Mirboo North."
Picture Russell Vickery

Here's an amazing moment captured that i'm sure has touched many hearts around the world. Perhaps you've seen that image of a particular Koala being given water? Well i found the shot in the gallery and it's of CFA volunteer David Tree helping Sam the Koala in a burnt-out forest at Mirboo North. There's even a mini video of the moment Sam was found [here].

And you will be pleased to know that Sam is in good hands and will be released back into the Wild once she has recovered. So cute. I want a Koala too!

Donations can be made at the Australian Red Cross website or you can do so by clicking [here].

MSG and Street Corners.

I couldn't resist, i just had to buy it. It's been awhile since i've had a dose of MSG and so i decided to have it for lunch today. It brings me back to my boarding school days when i'd buy instant noodles in Super-saver packs and stash them in my cupboard.

Anyway, J brought me to one of the Asian supermarkets in the city again and i must say it was strange to see so many familiar items. Walking into the place tainted with that "Asian smell" suddenly brought back memories, not so much of me cooking Asian food but of the supermarkets back in Malaysia. Marinades, sauces, snacks and questionable canned goods lined the aisles.

But of late, we've both had a craving for fried Tofu. Not the tasteless Bio kind that you can find in PLUS or the regular supermarket but the real Asian kind sitting in water and is firm to the touch. I've even managed to find a sweet chili sauce that tastes just like the real deal and the combination somehow always seem to hit the right spot. So simple yet so yummy!

...

Oh and on a totally different note, i saw 2 hookers over the weekend...

...on the street that is. J and i were driving around looking for a parking space to go to the Asian Supermarket and he pointed out these 2 women standing by the street corner were in fact prostitutes. Of course i didn't believe him since they were dressed like any other person. I'm not sure what i expected them to look like but definitely not dressed in jeans and thick winter coats. I guess in 7˙C weather it's best to dress appropriately. Apparently the barely-there outfits are reserved for the actual whore houses.

One woman was much older, unfortunately Time did not do her any justice and she looked rather haggard carrying a portable stereo [for what? I can only imagine as part of her "special" act]. The other was much younger, probably in her late teens. Blond but relatively attractive in comparison to the more experienced and well seasoned woman standing beside her. It wasn't exactly late but somehow the dim street lights and the quietness of the area added to the seediness of it all.

"But maybe they're just waiting for someone." I said innocently.
J laughed and said, "I don't think so. And i bet you if we go around the block again they'll still be there."

And just like a tour guide he continued with, "...and just up the road is the red light district with all the sex shops. And over there [pointing] is a high-class strip joint..."

True enough the 2 women were still standing there eyeing every moving vehicle in the corner of their eye.

When we finally found a parking space, we decided to walk past them. We stood on the opposite side of the road, in case we were standing in "their" territory and i rolled a cigarette. I'm not sure why but i tried not to make any eye contact with them but i was like a moth to a flame, i couldn't stop watching.

We didn't see them "pick up" any customers.

But we did see them dash towards a nearby convenient store entrance when a Patrol car slowly drove past. And as soon as the car was gone, they snuck back out and returned to "their" corner and we continued on our merry way.

Searching for a feline companion.

I've We've decided that we're getting a kitty. And yes, i do mean a 4-legged furry kind. We've been talking about getting a little something for awhile now but the urgency money was never there. So last night before i could ramble on about why i thought it was a good idea to get a little pet, J already agreed. He thought about it for some time and a pet would be great. And seeing that now J is gone for most of the day and i'm stuck at home doing work, it can get rather lonely.

It's one thing doing the household chores but without some kind of interaction with a living thing, it can get a bit mundane. Sometimes i switch on the TV in the background just so it feels like i have company. Sad i know but somehow it works. And i'm able to concentrate better with white noise.

So little in October 2006.

I checked how much it would cost to fly Satan's Spawn aka Smooks from Malaysia but with the flight and the boarding, i might as well fly back to Asia and then some. But it's too expensive and i don't have the money right now. Plus it's rather cruel since i will need to put him in quarantine. And if that's not traumatic enough i'll have to pluck him from his "friends" and new home. I remember visits to the vet were torture and before he was even let out of the cage and near the vet, he'd go ballistic.

But oh how i miss Smooks and his fetch-and-return-rolled-up-plastic-bags antics. Deep inside, i think he thought he was a dog except he never did do any leg humping. Thank god.

So sad in December 2007.

So i suggested visiting the Animal Shelter, since i'm all up for animal adoption. But apparently it's nearly impossible to adopt kittens here. I guess it's rare to see stray animals roaming the street unlike in Asia where they seem to be found in practically every corner.

J says many of the shelters here house old, sickly or injured animals and it's actually better to contact owners via ads on websites. So i did a random google check and found several sites hosting free ads. It seems like there are a lot of British Short Hair and Maine Coon cats in this country. A quick peek at the price and i was shocked to see that some even go as high as one months' rent for a 3-bedroom flat! It's insane. Perhaps they were bred from Champions but still, it's madness. Who has that kind of money just lying around?

We're not narrowing down the breed but obviously, i want one that is within my budget. A kitten to be around 12 weeks of age, healthy, attractive, likes being around people/children, doesn't mind being carried and is short haired. We're going for a female kitten since i remember when Smooks was going through his rebellious stage [and before he got the big S.N.I.P] he was an absolute nightmare.

Anyway, i'm SUPER excited that we're going to get a kitty. When? I don't know but we've already decided on a name.

Jizz In My Pants

I'm feeling a lot better. The cold air in my lungs must have done me some good. I found myself at the supermarket and Rossman's. I couldn't resist and bought a whole bunch of unnecessary items but oh well.

Anyway, a friend of mine posted this on her facebook and i've seen it circulating around, so of course i had to have a look. Anything to prolong my break i guess but the more that i watch it the more i have to giggle. Their facial expressions are classic. It's so cheesy, ya gotta love it!


Jizz in My Pants
[The video features guest appearances by Molly Sims, Jamie Lynn Sigler, and Justin Timberlake.]

OK break-time is over.

Echo... oh... oh.

Every so often i try and open the windows to let fresh air flow through the flat and it doesn't take long for the warm temperature to be replaced by the frosty outside air. The oxygen is like a boost to my system much like a slap to the face. I keep myself occupied by trying to get my head around my project and churn out as many pages as possible. But somehow Time escapes me and before i know it half the day is gone and i feel i could have done a lot more work. Sound familiar?

My head hurts today and without sounding strange, i can feel my muscles tightening up in my chest cavity.

Maybe it's because i went to bed angry last night. Of course, over something stupid, what else. And no, it's not even worth talking about. I guess the stress of another upcoming deadline, being home alone all day and/or not seeing J as much [but it hasn't even been a week yet!?] are slowly getting to me.

Maybe i'm just being hormonal.


Total random information for you but my Widget Chi pet that i have remembered to water is now blossoming with greenery! He used to keep dying because i would forget to "water" him. I guess if i'm not in bed, chances are my arse is sitting in front of my computer. I need a living pet to keep me company, i think. Sadly, my plants have stopped talking to me and Spot - the Ladybug is nowhere to be found.

Yes i am realising my days are probably as exciting as watching paint dry but yet my readers still come back. Who knew my Life would be so interesting for some?

But i'm going to make an effort to go outside today. I thought about it last night but figured it was too late to make a dramatic exit and i'm sure it would probably cause more friction. Running out without a coat, gloves, duplicate layers is a very stupid idea especially if one is sick. So instead i closed the bedroom door and curled up under my IKEA duvet and forced myself to count sheep.

I think the stale air is starting to get to me.

It's not even 9 yet and i'm toying around the idea of getting showered, changed and taking a brisk walk outside. The weather man says it's currently 4˙C and it's looking kind of miserable but maybe the fresh air will do me good. Maybe it will put my thoughts into perspective and i'll find inspiration in the form of... something.

Lay's keeps me company

In the last 2 days i've had a minor case of the Sniffles, the attack of the sneezes and an itchy throat. I'm not sure what it is. It's either that i'm coming down with some kind of sickness or i've developed seasonal allergies.

Being the drama queen that i can be, i lay on the bed complaining that my throat was itchy and it felt like it was closing up. I kept wanting to cough whatever-it-was out but it only aggravated it. My body was already aching and my head felt like a bowling ball. Uh-oh. Sounds like a sickness.

I managed to put together breakfast and as soon as J left to pick up Little L and bring her to school, i passed out. An hour later he returned and woke me up to say he was going into work later. He needed to do some work from home and that he went to the pharmacy to get me medicine since he figured i'd be bedridden and in no mood to drag myself up the road to the Apotheke. Awww, what a sweetheart!

He returned with Vitamin C, 2 kilos of oranges, lozenges for my throat and Aspirin Complex Granulate; which works wonders against colds/flus by the way. The Sniffles disappear almost instantly and pains are not as severe. It's like magic and best of all it doesn't make me drowsy.

So in between naps and doing loads of laundry, i've been trying to get my head around doing work.

It's not working so well though. My concentration keeps fading. I'm already missing J.

But somehow i've managed to get through another day by being a little more productive than the day before. I even was able to pack and prepare a few sandwiches and coffee for J in time for when he does his pit stop back home from work at 5:15pm and makes a mad dash to his 5:30pm class.


And instead of making dinner for two, i chose to sit on my arse and eat my way through a whole bag of Paprika Lay's in record time. I think it was 15 minutes. Why? Because i can.

I guess it's no fun having to cook for one. Yes, i know it's not exactly healthy but i can't be arsed to eat anything else right now. I'll figure something out later.

Money In. Money Out.

I went on a bit of a shopping spree on Saturday. There's nothing like a bit of retail therapy to soothe the blues away. BUT i am happy to say that i stuck to my "To Buy" list. As promised, i finally got J's belated presents; a much needed black leather wallet and a massive backpack for when he returns to his night Studies today.

Ya know, a part of me is so very proud of J for going back to finish school. 29 and with so many commitments, responsibilities and barely any time to spare. I am very grateful for everything he does and despite what has happened in his past, he continues to want to be better person, provider, father and partner. But the other selfish side of me is sad that we won't see so much of each other. Already as it is he's gone for most of the day and now i have to add another 5 hours to that.

*Sniff*

But then again, it is his future we're talking about. And if it means a better position and more opportunities, than i'm all for it and i'll stand by his side and just bite my tongue. Let's hope 2009 flies by as fast as last year.

...

Anyway back to my purchases and the new stuff i get to play with. Seriously, it felt like a delayed Christmas with all the boxes and bags. The only difference was nothing was wrapped in colourful paper and everything was deducted from my bank account. But it's all good. I am very pleased with all my purchases but the ones i'm most proud of are as follows...


The hunt for a Mouse has ended. I decided to stick with Logitech. I figured since i had no real issues with my last, and being such a loyal person, i decided to stick with them. I ended up going to Kaufhof in the city and checking out Saturn since the selection was far more impressive than most that i've seen. A few were out on display so customers could fondle them for a bit until they found the right one for them.


After what seemed like forever, i eventually settled for a black Logitech V450 Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks. And i couldn't be happier. I can't believe i managed to live without a functional "right-click" for so long. I was able to download the software via their website which was quite handy. And apart from the very neat itty-bitty plug-and-forgot-receiver, its erogonimic shape and sleek design, i am also able to check my battery life via the software. WoooOooh, that's always handy.


I also got a new quite compact USB hub that looks like some kind of transformer with its arms folding out. I always find USB outlets on a hub too close together. It's a bitch to have so many USBs lined up and having not ALL fit because of a poorly designed piece.

Oh AND i also decided to get new headphones. I'm a bit particular when it comes to the sound quality and like to hear some decent bass in my tracks. And before you even think or say it, no i have no intentions of being a DJ. My hand-eye coordination cannot make it.

But there's something about canceling all outside noise that makes music sound far better. I'm not a fan of those that you stick-in-your-ears ear phones since i like to crank up the volume and after it can get quite uncomfortable. My previous Sennheiser px 200 served me well but somehow with all the traveling from to and fro, the headphone jack decided to conk out on me and i could only hear from one side. So sad... boohoo.


So i opted to go with the Panasonic RP-DJ 600 even though i know that Sennheiser is known for their quality. But it came down to Aesthetics, Comfort and Availability. Aesthetically they suit me just fine and fit nicely on my coconut sized skull. No, they don't make my head look bigger than it usually does. Yes, they are super comfy. Yes, i like to have quality sound wherever i go even if it means i'm sitting at home most of the day alone. But hey, since it's still really cold outside, it also serves as fancy ear muffs. Oooer! Multi-functional.

Oh one more thing to add, i can't believe it's February already! Is it just me or does it feel like the days are getting shorter and Time is moving faster? I wondered what happened to January?