Dear Lazy Bum,

It's past 9:30 AM and i've been up since 6 AM. I've already indulged in a not-so-secret stash of chocolate i found in the kitchen and i'm functioning pretty well on this caffeine and sugar high. But i'm trying to avoid the bedroom so i don't get lured into taking a morning nap.

I'm starting to believe, naps are complete Time suckages. But oh, how i love them!

Anyway, our apartment is much bigger than our last and with more corners to hide, Luna often plays Marco Polo. With every whine, i respond by calling out her name, which she then uses to acoustically locate me. It can get annoying but the second she finds me, she comes running towards me with a quivering tail and i forgive her.

As for Yoshi, he's passed out in the corner. Probably exhausted because he spent part of the night bringing random toys to the bed again. I woke up with some cling wrap, two plastic strings and a rolled up plastic bag shoved under my pillow. I'm just glad that they're not complete outdoor cats because that would mean i would have to start worrying about them bringing me rodents.

Speaking of outdoors, it's getting quite warm.

Yesterday when i went to the supermarket i had on a thin hoodie, by the time i got back i had already sweat bullets. My winter blubber has been following me around and lately, i've become self conscious about my growing muffin top. J has opted to ride his bike to work instead of using his car, which apparently only takes 15 minutes door-to-door, and i'm starting to feel that eating less junk food may not be enough.

My regular workout consists of walking around our 86 square metre apartment with the exception of walking to the train station down the road twice a week for German classes. And i'm starting to notice living in my 30s, means carbohydrates and all things sweets have started to set up camp on my thighs and arse for much longer.

I'm not keen on paying for a gym or a yoga membership and the nearest public pool costs 14.50 Euro for a two-hour visit. I've reserved bike rides with J for the weekends, so my only solution to get the blood pumping is either walking or learning how to jog. I've heard and read that jogging/running is a great way to burn calories but can be a bitch for ones' joints and boobs if you don't have the correct support.


But i should really stop making excuses and just go out, even if it means just window shopping along the main street. It looks like it's going to be a gorgeous day/week, so go out and do something!

Love,
Chrissie.

Before and After.

J, also known as Grumpos, spent part of Monday night battling his allergies. By 3 AM Yoshi decided he wanted to bring random toys in the bed because he wanted us to play with him. I tried kicking him out of the bedroom but Yoshi just ended up scratching at the door, which was more annoying.

So my only solution was to sleep on the sofa, hoping that Yoshi would follow me. And in turn, hope J wouldn't get annoyed that he didn't get enough shuteye. Yes, i am a thoughtful girlfriend.

My typical week day starts at 6:10 AM, so you can imagine my annoyance when my alarm went off just as i had fallen back to sleep.

I must have clicked the snooze button again because before i knew it J storms out of the bedroom in a frantic mess because he had forgotten to switch on his alarm and had only 15 minutes to get ready and be at work.

I don't know about you but waking up before the crack of dawn AND then getting yelled at, is not exactly how i like to start my day.


Later that afternoon Grumpos came home from work with a bunch of I'm Sorry flowers.

***

But let's rewind back...

After J came back from sorting through and packing up the contents of his parents' house the other weekend, he brought home with him a bunch of stuff including a huge box full of tools which he inherited from his mothers' late boyfriend.


It looked like we were in a mechanics' heaven.

The remaining half a dozen or more duplicates are now in another box collecting dust. But instead of throwing them away, i'm thinking we should rent out a space in a flea market and sell all the crap that we don't want.

As they say, one Man's Rubbish, is anothers' Treasure.

***

Originally, J was supposed to use the small room that leads to our bedroom as his work area but since we moved here, he hasn't once used the space. The area has turned out to be an area to hang our laundry. So to make use of our apartment, we decided to rearrange the furniture and make that area a place to put our closet as well as our deep freezer. We then moved all of J's stuff to my workroom.

But when we moved here in January, J promised me he would help me sort through the leftover boxes in the workroom/guestroom. With no place to put the contents, we were desperate for extra shelves.

So after dinner on Friday, we checked out IKEA online and the Expedit shelf series we wanted were on sale until Saturday. J's ex-colleagues had given him a 88 Euro IKEA voucher and so we decided to make use it.

And after a quick calculation, we found out we would end up having to pay 40 Euros more if we didn't make use of the sale plus whatever extra we needed for other items. So with one hour left until closing, we got into the car and made our way to IKEA.


And thanks to the faulty boot lock on J's car, we weren't able to open the boot. But lucky for us we managed to squeeze the 150cm long boards through the back door.

Had we got them delivered, it would have cost us 75 Euro - which is just as much as a set of 4x4 shelves!

How crazy is that!?

At last, gone are the days i have to walk through a maze to get to my desk.

Before • After

Before • After

We turned the IKEA 2x4 Expedit shelves on its' side and used it as a divider to separate J's working area and my space. I've taken over the open shelves and have used it for my folders, working files and German books. And i've had to leave a gap in between one of the folders since Yoshi and Luna like to use the space as their shortcut to the kitchen.


And the other IKEA 4x4 Expedit shelves are on the opposite wall and is used to house some of Js books, my design books and various other bits and bobs.

All that's left are half a dozen boxes or so and a wardrobe that still needs to be put together - the one item that we couldn't be bothered to put together once we dismantled it in our previous apartment in Düsseldorf over a year and a half ago.

Working at my desk feels so much better now.

It actually feels like i'm in a proper office just minus the colleagues and an irritating boss.

The Battle Against The Expanding Waistline Begins.

You know when you have to re-examine your food intake when you're forced to readjust your belt size. I wonder how many washing machines out there have been wrongly accused of clothes shrinkage.

And so, as of yesterday, J and i have decided to go on a diet.

Well, more him than me.

They say, "there's a connection between couples and weight. Not only do women and men who live together tend to gain weight at similar times, they also are more likely to achieve better results if they tackle weight loss as a couple." [source]

This sudden leap to start eating more healthier was apparently triggered when he found out that all of his new colleagues are involved in some kind of sport. Which by the way, neither J or i play any sport or attend any gym. One of the sole reasons why we're going to make bike riding a must-do activity over the weekends from now.


But our lack of movement/exercise probably explains why our stomachs have slowly converted themselves into bellies with prominent profiles.

I reckon just as we are aging, so are our metabolisms.

And although i have no real issues with J's expanding waistline, he, on the other hand, feels miserable.

Did you know, "Winter weight gain isn't just an urban myth; it's driven by biology and fueled by mood. In fact, most of us gain between three and four pounds during the winter months. [source]

Damn you, Cold!

So anyway, i've been given strict instructions that the next time i'm at the supermarket, i'm supposed to get J less fattening food and not buy anymore meat for him.

Junk food such as chips, candy and chocolate is now being replaced with roasted almonds, fresh fruits and salad. However, J's allergic to many of the nuts, so i guess that just means that i get to eat them all for myself.

Yum!

Our mission to eat more healthier started with yesterday's dinner;


Salmon encrusted in various herbs and blobs of margarine which i then baked in the oven. And to accompany it, some salad with red radishes, cucumber and red capsicum + rice with a little soy sauce.

The salmon was the frozen kind, 700 grams and bought from Lidl [a discounted supermarket here in Germany] for 5.99€ - well worth the price, i say. It's meant to be for four people but it tasted so good that we managed to eat three-quarters of it.

And the best part was, it didn't even taste fishy! I really don't like eating fish that has little bones or has that awful fishy taste to it. Does that even make sense?

Although technically, if we were on a strict diet there would be no rice, salad dressing or extra margarine. And the salmon would be steamed and a much smaller portion.

OK fine.

It wasn't exactly the most fat-free meal out there but it sure beat the frozen lasagna we ate for dinner the night before.

Now i gotta think, what should i prepare for dinner tonight.

Anybody out there have any suggestions?

Tired of Blank Walls.

Prior to moving into the place we currently call 'home', we had only seen one other place. It was in our price range and the "balcony with a view" meant looking over a car park and having a direct view into the living room in the next block.

But then fifteen months ago when Js current boss told us that she knew of an apartment that could be for rent, we jumped at the chance to look at it. Turned out our future landlord had already filed his divorce papers and his current tenant who took up most of the top floor was moving out.

Score!

I remember walking into the place and thinking how fancy it looked with granite flooring in the hallway and heated tiles in the bathroom - we were definitely spoilt.

Although i doubt our new place will have heated flooring. One should be so lucky.

And out of all the places we've moved to, we haven't had the need to paint the walls or put up wallpaper. But the previous tenant, for some reason, painted the hallway a dark brown.

Why?

I have no idea. Out of all the colours in the rainbow, he chose a *poo* brown. It definitely has made the place look so much darker and feel so much more narrower. But i remember before we actually signed the contract, we were excited at the prospect of doing a mural, hanging various sized framed photos and even sticking my collection of 1 cent coins up on the wall to create a pattern.


Thirteen months later, the wall looks exactly the same as when we moved in, except for the odd scratches here and there.

The nails the previous tenant knocked in haven't moved hence the reason why the three items on the wall are not centred. The colour in the hallway remains to be that icky brown colour and Miss June 2008 [Max] still fills up that blank space.

Our excuse has been that we never had enough disposable money [and Time] to get around to painting the hallway. Laziness is more like it.

But with Luna frequently jumping up at invisible butterflies on the wall, the last thing we wanted were mini foot prints up and down the hallway.

So as the woman of the household, i have appointed myself in charge of any creative decisions. J will just have to deal with it.

I've already seen a few prints in IKEA that i like but as they are so mass produced, i have decided against it. And the idea of ripping out pages from a magazine and sticking them up with blu-tac seems so 'high school'. Although i have no issues with the walls in my work room having taped up printouts.

They're there to remind me to do work.


And my mood door, which has turned itself into a place to stick pieces i like whether they are purposely designed or just random items that i remind me of my past. It will be one that i will continue once we move into our new place.

Although, i wouldn't mind something like this...

[via smoothdaddyride]

And if money [and availabilty] were no object, i wouldn't say no to any pieces done by Shawn Barber or Audrey Kawasaki either.

For those of you who need inspiration and would like ideas of how to visually spice up your home, check out Bloesem : Let's Get Personal. I'm so jealous. Some people have, like, the coolest place!

So should any of my silent readers like to share some links to where one could purchase some impressive originals that won't cost an arm and a leg or even prints, i would be most appreciative.

They don't even have to look realistic.

I like funny doodles and quick sketches. Photographs are good as well and so are housewarming presents.

*smiles*

Alcohol & Hibernation.

Summer is nearly over or should i say, has ended? Autumn officially starts tomorrow. Leaves are turning various shades of orange and the sun is showing less of herself these days. The temperature hovers just below 10˚C at night and somewhere in the late teens during the day. I think it may even be cooler this week.

I'm so not looking forward to Winter.

So anyway, on Friday J thought it would be a good idea to celebrate the weeks' end by knocking back a few alcoholic beverages. We figured if we go out on Friday then we have both Saturday and Sunday to just hibernate at home.


We knew of a small Salsa Cocktail Lounge in the city centre and so we decided to check it out. Turns out the cocktails were much cheaper than most places and at 5 Euros per cocktail, who could complain.

Only problem was we got there too early and the place was empty.

But hunger got the better of us and so after our drinks and tequilas, we decided to get something to nibble on. We walked over to Café & Bar Celona, which was just around the corner and the place looked like it was invaded by teens. I told J i couldn't help but feel like i had dipped myself into the Fountain of Youth. He said, why dipped? Shouldn't it be submerged... or dived?

No surprises, we blended in quite well.


We ordered our beers and Bar Celonas' famous thin pizzas. Famous because when we first moved here, we couldn't believe how thin the base was and couldn't stop talking about how yummy the pizzas were. So when our order came, we made a close examination and concluded that the base was basically one big tortilla wrap. And there we thought it was fresh dough painstakingly rolled out paper thin.

Our night out drinking ended just shortly before 10:30 PM.

I know, how sad.

Just when the hip happening people started going out and having a life, we headed home.

Never mind, my heels were killing me and all i wanted to do was curl up on the sofa. Maybe we were just bored knowing that there's really nothing to do in this town.

On Saturday we decided to drive to the DVD store to rent out The Women, Avatar, Guess Who? and some other scary movie that J wanted to watch but i didn't.

We originally wanted to check out the sauna and pool but then realised trying to peel us off the sofa required more willpower. And instead we spent the whole weekend glued to the TV stuffing our faces with various food groups including these super yummy addictive Swedish cookies.

♥

And since the kitties are banned from sleeping with us in our bedroom, Luna and Yoshi were more than excited when we brought our blankets to the living room and we all snuggled up on the sofa together.

zzzZzzz

It's Monday already and i'm sitting here wondering what happened to the weekend. The weather was gorgeous but instead of taking advantage of it, i was at home.

Yup, our random train ride adventure did not happen as planned.

I went to bed around 4:30AM the night before because i was nitpicking at my project. I couldn't be bothered to wait any longer for J to finish his game so i could upload the files and just click SEND to my client.

So out of boredom and mainly out of annoyance, i slept for the most part of Saturday afternoon.

Yes, i sulked. So what!?

So what did i do on Saturday? Well when i woke up, J was of course sleeping, so i played a few rounds of online Poker to buy some time. Then spent the rest of the time channel surfing until i eventually passed out.

Fun, eh?

J chose to refrain from playing his games ALL of Saturday and even said and i quote, "It's getting kinda boring. And my friends aren't online".

Yea, you know why? Because THEY PROBABLY HAVE A LIFE OUTSIDE THE WORLD OF BLOODY-FUCKING-WARCRAFT!

Or not.

Well i can't really remember what we did but it alternated between watching a bunch of DVDs we borrowed from the library and taking a nap or two.

...

Then today after work he helped me take my Bumble Bee Bicycle to the petrol station to put air in the tires. J had borrowed the company's van, so it was much easier to transport the bike there. Then when we got back, he took his bike and we rode around the block a few times - it was nice, we hadn't done that in awhile.

Oh man, it didn't take long for me to feel the burn in my legs. I'm so unfit!

But one thing is for sure and that is i definitely need more practice stopping and starting my bike. It freaks me out when cars drive so damn close to me!

I need to be more confident.

So anyway, we came home and i prepared dinner. But just when i thought he got bored of playing, he was back online playing with his little "friends".

Hmmpf.

Well he did manage to sit down with me for most of the dinner. I should at least be grateful for that but of course, had the monitor turned in his direction so he could spring up just in time before someone tried to attack him.

So much for him being bored of playing games online.

J suggested we go away THIS weekend.

Hmmm.

We'll see about that!

I'm sure as hell not keeping my fingers crossed.

A Million Little Pieces

I've never really been a huge fan of reading. Although if i needed help to sleep, i'd just grab a book and before i know it it would put me to sleep.

It's no wonder sometimes it would take me months to even get to the half way point. And by the time i got there, i'd forget what the book would be about. It's terrible.

But i guess when my social life took a nose dive, i turned to other means to fill my boredom and 'reading' helped pass the time.

So after taking advantage of the free DVD rentals and unsuccessfully finding another decent English paperback at the local library, i was yearning for something else. A book that i could sink my teeth in and one that would follow me everywhere i went.

Then when my friend, BennyBooBubbles, insisted that A Million Little Pieces was a good read, i was curious.

And after reading the reviews here and here i was intrigued and had to order it from Amazon.de. And knowing that not everyone including Oprah feels the same way, makes me want to see what all the hoo-ha is about. OK i'm about 5 years too late but never mind.

...

And this is what the DHL delivery man brought for me today...

515 pages

Now let's see how long it'll take me to get through this baby.

Sober Saturday.

It's Saturday night and i'm home alone with the kiddies because J's spending the night in Hannover.

:: Image courtesy of Movie Guide ::

J's best friend who lives in Hannover [about an hour and half drive from here] invited J over because he's having a bunch of his other friends over for some kind of "Boy's Night".

Huh? I have no idea.

Apparently the best friend's fiance is out for the night and so he's planned some kind of Street Fighter tournament. Each player puts in 5 Euros and the winner then takes it all.

I joked around and asked whether that was some kind of "secret code word" for strippers and mischief. But J assures me that they're only playing Street Fighter and most likely there will be a lot beer consumption.

I guess boys will be boys.

So last night J had this bright idea to rent the game and console last night from the Movie Rental place. It cost 8 Euros to rent the game and to borrow the console, one just puts in a 100 Euros deposit and when you return it, you get the money back. But it turned out that the CD couldn't be read. They only had one copy so J was utterly disappointed that he couldn't at least practice beforehand and get a few moves right.

And so he printed out a cheat sheet instead... tsk tsk tsk.

...

On Monday morning i have an appointment to bring the kitties to the vet for their 3rd vaccination shots and to get their ears checked. They have some funky looking dark crap in there that occasionally falls out in mini clumps. I suspect they have ear mites.

It's gross. Just thinking about it makes me itchy!

Originally i was going to go with J but the kitten foster couple called J earlier to ask whether i wanted to go along with them. They have an appointment too and they have to bring the other brother and another kitten for their shots. They offered to pick me up and drive me to the vet with them, which i thought was quite nice.

I think they just miss Luna and Yoshi and are making an excuse so they can just see them.


But little Luna is becoming more demanding day by day and is no longer the introverted feline that we once knew. Although she hasn't quite developed much of a voice, she has a habit of climbing to the highest vantage points and pats/claw my leg when she wants attention or if i'm taking too long to prepare their food.


They are currently taking turns lying on my lap and passing out. It won't be long until they get a surge of energy and start chasing each other around the apartment. And i just heard the front door slam which means our neighbor who lives below us has just left and is probably heading to some party or somewhere exciting.

As for me, well my night ain't looking too exciting, so i may just make it an early night.

Yes i know, i've become boring.

And this Winter fat that has mysteriously found its' way on to my body has made me so lazy and tired.

Skills - We have 'em. Others are just better.

Between now and my last post, not that much has happened. Unless of course you would like me to go into detail about how i did a round of laundry, cooked salmon with cream sauce and made mashed potatoes. Then this morning sorted out breakfast, made the bed but then ended up taking a short nap right back in it.

Oh i know what to add to my excitement yesterday, i contemplated putting off mailing a letter which i already fixed a stamp on but was too lazy to walk to the mailbox which is only a 2 minute walk away. Seriously, it takes me longer to get showered and changed than to walk over the bridge and up the road.

But i did it anyway. My life is fascinating isn't it?

...

Anyway, i came across this video that a friend added on, where else but, facebook. I had no idea what to expect but if you have about 18 minutes to spare and want to be amazed by some mad skills then watch Nathan "Flutebox" Lee and Beardyman...



Seriously, why couldn't i have a talent like that? And even if i tried, i'd probably end up hyperventilating with that much oxygen. Then ungraciously i would pass out covered in my own saliva. Lovely.

P.S I'm guessing blowing on the top of a beer bottle to make a mellow sound doesn't really count as a musical talent. How about blowing spit bubbles? Does that count as a skill?

Probably not, eh.

Reserved for... later.

Believe it or not, J and i actually ventured out of our sanctuary this weekend... twice! We were up against the pollen but we made the most of it. We jumped on a few rides, sipped on some free flow of Prosecco and indulged in yummy food on board.

Will do a proper update later. I can't be arsed to collect my thoughts and sort through the photos. Anyway, hope you had a great Easter!

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.

Is it Time yet?

I did it. I pressed SEND and there's no turning back.

Now all i have to do is sit patiently and wait for the headhunters to do their job. I'm not so much in a hurry since i'm quite enjoying this REST period. Chinese New Year is coming up so chances are everyone is gearing up for the holiday spirit and preparing their guts to be over fed.

Me? Well every day seems to blend into one. If it weren't for the window in front, i would still think it was last week. I sleep at odd times of the morning then i wake up before sunrise to swap a few stories and expose some emotions over the phone then crawl back into bed to join hands with my subconscious for a few more hours. Then as Tea time approaches i'm back behind the screen reading various articles and stimulating my visual senses. But often my bad posture forces me to sprawl across my bed, tunes continue to whisper from from my Sensational Speakers as i attempt to scratch through the pages of my recent purchase; More, Now, Again.

It keeps me occupied. Words keep me company.

I don't know when i'll have this much time off, so my sleep is very much welcomed. It's like when you find yourself in an awkward pose lying on your bed but strangely it's so damn comfortable [never mind that later you'll end up twisting a muscle] but you're wishing you could bottle the feeling up and stash it on the shelf for those days when you need it most... when you crave Comfort.

Well that's how i feel about Sleep, it's like a love-hate relationship. We're like best friends whereas before we were sworn enemies.

And yes, i am not ashamed to say my canary colored Made In Frankfurt t-shirt and hot pink Paul Frank shorts have become like a uniform and like an addict, i just can't seem to get enough.

Riding in circles

Yesterday's random outing sparked some form of creative bug in me. It even produced a sudden urge to visit the National Art Museum and even stop by the Toy museum today but sadly i went as far as the kitchen.

But i found myself cooped up in my room wishing that the dull headache that i went to sleep with would go away. It didn't. So i occupied my time by manifesting random ideas that sounded good at the time and could perhaps be beneficial to my health.

Exercise.

Something that i haven't done in awhile. There doesn't seem to be any Kundalini Yoga places in my area and the centers are pretty far away from my folks place. The thought of an hour's class and then having to stand on the train for just as long and stressing myself even more does not sound inviting or relaxing for that matter.

Then i thought, why not a bicycle. Don't laugh... and no i don't mean a tricycle!

I remember when my man was on holiday here and we were on that little man-made island, he suggested we rent bikes and suddenly it freaked me out. I hadn't ridden a bike in ages! I know how to ride a bike - i think i remember. There was a time that my sister and i would wear matching jump suits - willingly mind you, and ride our bikes to the nearby park with our dad.

But those days are long gone.

I believe my last bike ride attempt was last Christmas with my sister and her now husband. Our little adventure didn't last very long, probably because the rented bikes were so crusty and the seats were so uncomfortable we might as well have shoved a rod up our arses.

But then i thought, i'd be a bit nuts to go out and just buy a bike.

A smart idea would be to head to the East Coast and rent one for S$5/90 mins and see how i go. Then my attention shifted to roller blades. Yes my attention span can flutter back and forth. I figured that since i can ice skate, i'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to get into roller blading. So i searched online for various stores, all of which are on the other side of the island. So maybe that's something i can check out this week.

And that was that. My fitness frenzy sort of fizzled out there.

I soon found myself passed out on my bed surrounded by back issues of trashy magazines kindly donated by my mother. Yes i am a bum. And yes i sat on my ass all day, which isn't all that much different from my working life but now i'm living off my Savings, there are no pressing deadlines and i'm bludging off my folks till i get my feet back on the ground.

As for my job search, well that hasn't really begun. To be honest, i don't know what i want to do and it doesn't help that i'm questioning my creative potential. I've browsed design directories/forums and even noted down a few studios that seem interesting but that's as far as i've gone. I guess i'm still trying to get a grip on Reality and trying to figure out which path i want to go down. Fate has given me this opportunity/ Time Out, so i should be grateful for this breather.

Seriously, it's moments like these i wouldn't mind just being a house wife and raising a family. Don't worry, i say this now but once it happens, i'll be craving for a career and itching to go on random getaways with my man... which of course we intend to do but not until i get my arse back into a paying job.

Yes i am quite fickle that way.

Oh no! That better not be my biological clock ticking i hear. Oh gawd... could it be that my ovaries are talking to me again? Shush... not now!

I'll admit the thought of going back to work scares the shit of me and the last thing i need is to be stressed and have another break down. Just dealing with everything that's happened in recent months, i've realised, has made me withdraw into my little shell.

And yes, i am not ashamed to admit i am having issues dealing with it all.

I'm only human.

Reminiscing

I can't believe it's Sunday ALREADY! It seems like only yesterday that i was trying to figure out how i was getting my arse to Malacca. Strange how Time seems to speed up when you least expect it. The fact that it's already November makes me look back at the whole year and wonder how much i've progressed. And how grateful i am to be where i am at this moment in time.

At last i can say, i'm so looking forward to next month! I'm only hoping that once Christmas rolls in, Time will slow right down. I'm still thinking happy thoughts of 'us' and know that there are better things to come.

...

So anyway, this weekend has been very relaxing and i've spent every chance possible sleeping. Yes, i'm back to my routines. Except this afternoon i went to Ekamon's open house for a few hours and then before it started raining i made it back home and was back to vegging out in front of the computer/tv. But after speaking with my beau i decided i'd scan a few photos from my past. I had meant to do it some time back but as usual my laziness got the better of me.

So as i spend the remaining hours of my weekend reminiscing over my past, i realise how much i do really miss those times and the kinds of friendships i had back in the day... Innocent we were not...

GX: Nearing the End

[See them all at winkris.multiply.com]

Since i hadn't been out for the past month it was nice to see everyone again.

And without fail i was reminded by various people that a] I've put on weight b] I'm much fatter then before c] Before i was skinny but now i'm not d] I've been eating more that's why i'm bigger.

It is obvious that i'm NOT the kind of girl that orders a minuscule salad with dressing on the side and then complains that she's full because she's already eaten. It's the damn junk food i tell ya!

But it's no wonder that there are so many girls with eating disorders. Simply because society has a habit of drilling it into the minds of the influential that one should fit a particular mold. Probably one of the reasons why gym memberships are so popular and realising the fact that as one gets older, ones' metabolism slows down too.

I need a hobby and one that involves some form of exercise... hmmmm.

Oh... the sweet taste of alcohol.

[There's more at winkris.multiply.com]

It had been awhile since i was out with the boys but this time the regular crowd wasn't all there. It then dawned on us, how things have indeed changed. But despite the lack of bodies i had a really good time. Not only did i hop from one club to another but i successfully drank my night away with a mix of beer, whiskey and stout.

But i realised a few things last night, a] i still like my alcohol b] I can't play drinking games to save my life... yes i'm absolute shit at it! c] And even if one explains the rules again and again, my ability to understand does not guarantee anything d] Oh and i actually don't mind dressing up all girly.

It must have been around 6 am when WingBoy drove me back. I vaguely remember our discussion and i'm thinking it had to do with Language Barriers. The next thing i know, i'm found past out on my bed and only waking up this afternoon nursing a hang over.

The thought of slaving in front of an open flame when ones' alcohol levels are still high wasn't a good idea. So i then later spent most of my day taking several naps and nibbling on Domino's because i couldn't be arsed to cook.

But because it's Sunday and i'm a lazy git, i'm going back to bed.

i like to channel surf but i'm not that hardcore.

Like junk food i'm borderline of obsessed with Discovery's Home & Health on Channel 77.

I don't know what's worse, watching mothers pop out a baby the size of a watermelon through a hole the size of lemon or seeing flesh sliced, stretched and stuffed then watch fat being sucked out with a tube and collected in a container.

mmMMmmm... lovely.

I can't say i've experienced either so i can't say much. But then again, just because i haven't won a million dollars doesn't mean i wouldn't know how it might feel.

Seriously, at the rate that i'm going, not only will i develop a square arse from sitting on my toosh for most of the day but it won't be long until i start blending into my furniture and start memorising reruns instead of phone numbers.

Don't worry, i'll get my lazy arse back into the Dating World before it ends up completely flat and non-existent.

But before i go, i thought i'd share with you an invention i saw online...

[The remote control wrangler]

Not only do the prototypes come in various colours and is a cheaper alternative to fixing a serious underbite but it even comes with a Richard Simmons work out head gear and curls!

SERIOUSLY... WHAT THE FUCK?

The L Word

No this is not an attempt to write an episode of Showtime's Lesbian series. In fact quite the opposite, Sunday is 'Laundry Day' better known as Lazy Day in my books.

Nothing too sensual there unless dirty suds and 1 hour cycles are of interest. I've taken numerous naps throughout the day to catch up with lost hours and i can't help but eye my bed from this distance.

I have no issues in admitting that i am a lazy git.

It is obvious that motivation runs thin in my blood and my four walls keep me protected. But i see nothing wrong with wanting to spend some time with oneself. Although i can't help but sometimes wonder whether my developed independence may in fact backfire on me one day.

I've spent a great deal of my waking hours thinking of things i have done, my passions and what i want in Life. Once again like a deep sea creature i withdraw into a hidden cave to collect my thoughts and can only hope to emerge with a new lease on life.

My battle continues but sudden disappearances are common even from the tender age of 10.

Questions invade my thoughts daily and i get lost in a whirlwind of confusion. But should that Burmese monk be correct when he said i'll live till 90, i guess i should be expecting a shit load of unanswered questions and really should consider investing in some heavy duty age defying cream soon.

She keeps me wondering about What If...

I am contemplating whether or not i want to exit my sanctuary. But the blinding sun is out in full glory, it's past mid day and my curtains are still drawn shut. Each time i pass my bed, i can't help but have a lie down.

I have a few errands to do. I lied.

I am tempted to do what most women like to do and that is to spend money. Of course money in the form of plastic. Plastic that i am THIS close to paying off. But there always is a reason to purchase clothes that i don't really need and probably don't have space in my wardrobe for.

But my mission is to look for a dress.

I currently own ONE dress and it hangs in my cupboard and fashionably sports a "so 6 years ago" aura. I'm not a boob tube kinda girl and neither do i like fabric clinging to my body. In other words, i'm quite fussy when it comes to details. Simple is my motto. Which makes me a somewhat easy person to shop with, i'm in and out of stores and i much prefer to go shopping on my own.

But i'm trying hard not to splurge on unnecessary items, at least through the month of May. It is a balancing act but i know it can be done. I just have to learn how to restrain myself.

Oh well, instead i'll treat myself to a few drinks tonight and show some love and support at Baze.

...

Oh, i received another email from HER. I shall rename her LittleMissNaughty.

And once again our past lingers in my thoughts. It's been over a year since we saw one another and how so much has changed since then. It was a mutual infatuated case of Should-Have-Could-Have-Would-Have-But-Didn't.

It may be true that ignorance is bliss but at the same time curiosity and lust still hold hands in its shadow.

i heart tokidoki

+

SHE sort of reminds me of HER

On repeat.

"I'm having a Bimbo Movie weekend"

As if announcing that little fact was any reason to emphasize my already Loser Ville persona.

I have no issues admitting that there are some days that i prefer to watch brainless, love infected, girly-girl, bimbo-tic type movies to occupy my time. Movies that lead to brain fucks or anything that requires serious concentration are usually dismissed especially since i already get that 5 days a week.

However, i will be the first to say NO to Horror flicks. I have an over active imagination and i don't need additional graphic visuals to encourage anymore twisted thoughts/dreams. Yes, i absolutely detest with a passion scary movies.

I gave away my free 2 movie passes to my colleague knowing that she would have more use for them. The fact that they were expiring on Monday was a bit of an issue plus the choice of movies being screened lately aren't up my alley.

Yesterday i was rambling on about how gutted i was that i have to go to work on Monday. Instead of running away for the weekend and enjoying the 2 day public holiday on Tuesday/Wednesday... i'm stuck here!

I had planned to go down South but due to work commitments i had to cancel. I think i'm losing my drive, my passion... my reason to progress. I'm thinking i just need to run away... somewhere on my own.

But that little dare devil in me got lazy again... and instead i spent a huge portion of my day in bed and swam in and out of consciousness.

Apart from laundry, i've done the couch potato in me proud. I've alternated between lounging on my couch watching one movie after another and sneaking back into my room for another siesta.

It's Saturday night and i'm pimpin' my bed head hair like it's a tiara. I will continue to think of YOU and imagine YOU'RE beside me. But as usual my night will involve kickin' back in my hot pink Paul Frank shorts only to pass out and possibly have today repeat itself tomorrow.