Some questions do not have answers

Tinker Goes Skating

2006-07-05T14:11:00.000+10:00

So, 3 months ago I talked about this book Tinker Goes Skating that I bought from eBay. It finally arrived yesterday.

The pictures were familiar but I did not remember the storyline except that Tinker actually goes to skate, so the story was new to me.

It's quite a whimsical story. The ending is strange though. The last sentence in the book was "Exercise is so good for you!"

Going to read it over again. It sure brings back my childhood memories of me in my room with my pink alarm clock and going to kindergarten.

Evelyn Pauses

2006-07-05T00:23:00.000+10:00

I shall be wary about posting up thoughts that occur in my mind at 4 am in the morning. Clearly it's too hot to handle for some people.

I just came back from work. It's tiring. If anybody asks for more Durian, Rocher or Toblerone gelati I'm going to cry. Why are the most popular flavours the firmest?

Going to sleep.

Evelyn Goes To Yam Cha

2006-07-04T16:08:00.000+10:00

Went to eat dim sum last Sunday. One of my friends treated us because he did well for his exams (hope you continue to do well, Victor! Hehe..) We went to King Bo, which is at the corner of Little Bourke and Russell St in Chinatown.

This was the first time I went there, usually preferring to go to Sharks Fin's House. However, wherever I go I order the same stuff. Makes no difference.

Cheong Fan - Thin rice sheets filled with barbecued pork. Yummy... for those who are wondering why I didn't order the prawn ones - I don't eat seafood.

Sesame Balls - Filled with red bean paste. My dad loves this too so that's probably how I come to order it everytime I go.

Egg Tart - Self explanatory. I wonder how they make the pastry?

Mango Puree with Sago - I prefer the honeydew version but the mango one isn't too bad. I'm not a big mango fan.

Water Chesnut Jelly - At least I think that's what it is. Definitely has waterchestnut. This was the first time I've actually tried it. Quite nice - sweet.

In case you guys were wondering how come I don't eat the other essentials in dim sum, I do. It's just that these are the more important dishes to me.

Off for a nap now. Hope it doesn't screw up my entire sleep schedule again.

R & R

2006-07-03T20:41:00.000+10:00

I woke up at the bright and early hour of 1 pm in the afternoon and stayed in bed MSN-ing half heartedly until I ate lunch. Went out for a while, came back home, ate again and went. back. to. sleep.

So here I am at 8.40pm with an extremely messed up sleep schedule. Won't be surprised if I only fall asleep at 5am or later tonight. Argh!

I have come up with the conclusion that people who go to Freddo's and order chocolate gelati when there's like 18 other amazing flavours are people who want to play it safe and do not embrace change. More flavour and personality analysis to come when I make up other hypotheses.

Going to do something with myself to prevent myself from accidentally falling asleep again.

Evelyn Bakes A Birthday Cake 3

2006-07-02T23:00:00.000+10:00

Spent the whole Friday night baking for my housemate's 21st birthday.

It's strange how what I used to embrace with such joy has become almost a chore to me - mainly because the novelty has worn out. Nonetheless, my housemate deserved a cake and therefore I baked it.

Here it is. It's a chocolate cake covered with chocolate ganache, with chocolate pieces at the sides and topped with truffles.

I decided to be more adventurous with the truffles and flavoured them this time - mocha, cointreau and just plain chocolate.

Still have not eaten it yet because there was some misunderstanding and my housemate received not one but two birthday cakes. Lucky girl.

Going to bed to nurse my sore palm due to scooping gelati.

Evelyn Is Working

2006-07-01T23:02:00.000+10:00

Due to the fact that I am not going anywhere this winter holidays, I decided to go look for a job and promptly headed to Il Dolce Freddo, one of the best gelati stores in Melbourne. The owner interviewed me and today I went for my official training. Guess I'm gonna be scooping gelati for the rest of the semester.

I like the job. I get to talk to the customers, cultivate strong arm muscles (my palm hurts from the scooping already) and earn money as well. No complaints.

Pictures to follow when I can be bothered.

Iced Gems

2006-06-30T10:59:00.000+10:00

One of my childhood snacks were these tiny biscuits that I used to eat all the time.

I looked it up online and turns out that it has been around since the 1890s. Pretty impressive. Haven't seen any around here though.

I miss them.

Decisions Decisions

2006-06-29T15:59:00.000+10:00

Returned the pair of Diors today after all. Decided having 2 pairs of Diors was a waste of resources that could be better spent elsewhere. Therefore, now trying to decide what to spend on instead:

Louis Vuitton Epi Leather Change Purse - Again, Epi leather. I know you guys are all sick of it. I'm intending to use it as a small wallet rather than a change purse though. There's actually an extra slot for cards and cash.

Louis Vuitton Multicolore Porte-Monnale Plat - I'm inclined to get this one because I'm determined to get something Multicolore before it goes out of fashion. I'm in perpetual fear that it's going to happen anyday - although many people insist it's now a classic.

Canon PowerShot SD630 6MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom - Always wanted Canon too.

Sony Cybershot DSCW50 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom - Don't really care which one I get actually. Is one supposed to be better than the other?

Sigh. Decisions.

Scrambled Eggs and Pink Checks

2006-06-28T16:46:00.000+10:00

Spent the entire day in the city. Woke up bright and early (by bright and early I mean something like 10 a.m.) and went down to Manchester Lane to eat a nice, fattening atherosclerotic-plaque inducing breakfast. Yummy.

I love scrambled eggs. And mushrooms.

Jo's sunny side up eggs with hash browns.

While I was at Crown I passed by Greco and took pictures of their cakes on display. Always wanted to do it but my camera somehow was never with me.

After my dismally depressing shopping trip on Saturday I went to the city today with no expectations at all. However, managed to find a couple of things. I found my much coveted sweater (angora, not cashmere. They didn't have a v-neck sweater in the cashmere *sob*) as well as:

Dior Titan Sunglasses - I love the dimantes...I'm a sucker for them. However, I'm still questioning this purchase since I already have a pair of Dior sunglasses sitting at home. Wondering if the money would be better spent on a pair of Prada or Chanel instead. But it was on sale!! Still indecisive.

Burberry Key Holder - Yup, after all my indecision and depression I finally settled for Burberry. Love the pink. This design is discontinued so to all the girls out there who got their pink Burberry checks before it happened, congrats!

P/S: I've changed my blog settings. Now everybody can comment.

Failure

2006-06-27T11:50:00.001+10:00

I had a horrible dream last night about my violin at home getting dismantled to pieces by my ex-music teacher because she thought it sounded horrible and in the midst of it, my phone rang.

Me: Hello?
Person: Ini Evelyn kah? (Is this Evelyn?)
Me: Ya?
Person: Saya dari Universiti Melbourne. Ujian Farmasi kamu tak lulus. (I'm from the University of Melbourne. You failed your Pharmacology test).
Me: Huh?? *panicked*
Person: Kena uji lagi. Hantar AUD4750 secepat mungkin. Ujian esok tau. (You have to resit your paper and pay an extra AUD4750. The sup is tomorrow, by the way.)
Me: ARGH!!!!!!!!!!

Strange thing was that the conversation was in Malay. After that I panicked, couldn't think of a way to tell my parents and mercifully woke up.

Traumatized.

White or Steel Dishwasher?

2006-06-25T13:51:00.000+10:00

I went out with my friends on Friday night to celebrate the end of our exams. After dinner we decided to head off for some cakes and hot chocolate.

Friend: Shall we go to Koko Black?
Me: Yeah, let's go there!! There's this really cute dishwasher there. *wink wink*
Friend: Cute dishwasher? Is it the white kind or the stainless steel kind?
Everybody: ???????????

I was referring to a person, not an object. My friend thought I was referring to a machine.

Am I that merchandise orientated?

All Dressed Up, Nowhere To Go

2006-06-24T15:17:00.000+10:00

Saturday - 24th June 2006. The only thing that kept me going during the exam period.

"Never mind, on Saturday you can shop".

So I got up bright and early even though I slept at 4am due to a late mahjong session and went shopping. And came home with : blisters.

Yup. After 2 months of wearing closed patent leather shoes to clinic because that was the only kind of shoes allowed and 1 month of sitting in front of the computer walking an average of 100m a day, my feet couldn't stand the strain of walking around for 3 hours in the city in 3 inch heels. Couldn't.

How can I express my disappointment? I went to Ralph Lauren and my beloved cashmere was on sale. Not that it mattered - they didn't have my size. I went to Prada to get my long coveted key holder only to be informed that they didn't have the colors I wanted. I went to Burberry who promptly told me the bag I wanted was sold out 2 days ago. Went to Gucci and found nothing.

Nothing...nothing...nothing...

Evelyn Is Going Crazy

2006-06-17T03:02:00.000+10:00

Don't think I'll be updating for the next few days. I have to have no life or else I'm going to fail.

I don't want to fail!!

S.T.R.E.S.S.

Clue 3

2006-06-15T16:50:00.000+10:00

After a large gap in clues, I've finally come up with another one. This happened quite a few weeks ago at a party I went to.

I got introduced to this guy and he started talking to me. I could immediately tell that he was the kind of guy who randomly flirts with anything with a skirt on. Fine - I continued to be polite. He had a couple of drinks and soon he was talking to me with his face like...6 inches away from me. I was continually stepping back to get more space in between.

If you don't know a person well, stay a good 2 feet away at least - preferably four. It's an invasion of space and unless the girl is really in to you, I don't think it's a wise move.

Evelyn Mumbles

2006-06-14T19:07:00.000+10:00

I am just somebody who wants to pass my exams.
I just ate a lasagna.
I said I never want to be taken advantage of ever again.
I wish we could turn back time.
I hate people squeezing my toothpaste from the middle. Stop it. Squeeze from the bottom up!
I miss my room.
I fear dying alone and found 3 weeks later, eaten by wild dogs. (quote Bridget Jones)
I hear the sound of rain falling and think of the song "All Cried Out" by Allure.
I wonder if everything is predestined or you hold the key to your own fate.
I regret not being a stronger person when I was younger.
I am glad that I have parents as great as the ones I have.
I sing only when I'm alone.
I cry only when the depths of my soul has been stirred.
I am not always someone who is patient.
I made sure I took my keys with me before I left the house today.
I write when I need to express myself.
I confused happiness with instant gratification.
I need more time.
I should study more.
I start my days running through the things I have to complete by the end of it.
I finish my days lying in bed, reading a book before I go to sleep.

Evelyn's Baking Frenzy

2006-06-13T12:28:00.000+10:00

Right now I'm supposed to be studying frantically so that I don't fail and pass with some reasonably decent marks. The nicer the marks I get, the more I get to shop. Which means I should be motivated to study. But I'm not. Instead I've been pottering around the kitchen trying out new recipes and re-attempting my previous failed trial bakings. I even had time to teach my friend to bake a cake for his girlfriend today. Imagine that. What. Am. I. Doing?!??!

Mixed Berry Muffins - Turned out a bit bland due a surprisingly small amount of sugar in the recipe. I should have known. Sugar makes the muffins go round.

Capuccino Chocolate Chip Muffins - These muffins are by far the most successful batch of muffins I've ever made in my life. I think I'm going to make this one of my signature recipes.

Jam Drops - The last time I baked these, I shoved 32 of them onto one tray. As a result, I got a gigantic slab of biscuit with spots of jam on it. This time however, they actually turned out as Jam Drops, having reduced the number of cookies on the tray to 16. Yay!

I rarely show the process of baking mainly because I'm the only one in the kitchen and I don't have time to put down what I'm doing (flour-y, greasy hands and all) to take photos. However, since this time all I really did was stand around and instruct my friend about what to do, I have pictures of the cake assembly process.

Spreading Icing

Putting the top layer on - My friend commented that it looked like a gigantic Oreo cookie.

Completed Devil's Food Cake - Such a wicked name for a rich, chocolate-y yummy cake. Filled with fresh whipped cream and topped with chocolate icing. Not bad for my friend's first cake, no?

Number of lectures to complete = 70
Number of lectures completed = 19
Number of lectures left to complete = 51
Days to end of exam = 10

Stationery In The Dating Game

2006-06-12T14:59:00.000+10:00

Was getting my daily dose of Questionable Content and read this comic. I found it amusing and suddenly remembered that I had my own dating stationery as well.

I would first like to state that I have never used them and they were given to me for my 21st birthday from a friend as a joke. ~~I hope~~. Anyway, here's to show that I'm fully equipped with what stationery I need when should I choose to go prowling.

Address Book - Presumably for all the contact details of my conquests. It actually gives you advice on what to do, ranging from what to do when you date a serial killer to how to unhook a bra. They should come up with an address book of worst case housemate scenarios. maybe that would be marginally more useful for me.

Be My Valentine - This came in a stack of 50. I can't imagine why I would need even one, let alone 50 of these. My friend obviously has a high opinion of my prowess.

Somebody Likes You - I guess this is the milder one of the 3 items. Also came in a pack of 50 but I've given a few to my friends who wanted to shower some love to their significant others.

Needless to say all 3 of these items are lying under my bed collecting dust. Until I met a Sven.

Days to end of exam = 11
Number of lectures to finish = 70
Number of lectures finished = 4
Current state of mind = Hysterical

Phantom of the Bathroom

2006-06-11T18:44:00.000+10:00

This is almost becoming a series in my blog. But now, not only is there a Phantom of the Soy Milk and a Phantom of the Chocolate Cake, the latest installment of this series comes with this title: Phantom Of The Bathroom - more specifically, the Toothbrush.

I went to brush my teeth in the middle of the night and absent mindedly picked up my toothbrush from the holder and was about to squeeze my toothpaste on when I realised something was wrong.

The toothbrush was blue.

I had been using a red toothbrush for the past 2 months. What on earth was a blue toothbrush doing in my toothbrush slot? I searched the entire bathroom and couldn't find my toothbrush anywhere. Just a ratty old blue toothbrush in its rightful place.

When things move into the oral hygiene side of things, forgive me if I start getting a little bit worried.

I dont' even want to think what's in store for me in the future.

Scattered Beads, Broken Chain

2006-06-11T12:00:00.000+10:00

I came home yesterday and took my keys to open the front door. One second later beads of my keychain were bouncing on the floor and for a moment I didn't even register what was going on. Then I realized that my trusty keychain had finally given way.

Trusty Old Keychain - Remnants of my name with the Aquarius sign - an urn of water.

While I was on my knees on the floor trying to find all the beads, I was trying to figure out how long I've been using the same keychain and concluded that I've been using it for 5 years. It had been holding my keys for 3 apartments and my own home back home. Sigh, sentimental me.

Then the other side of me concluded that I needed a new keychain. So I spent the rest of the night surfing around for nice stuff and here's what I found! ~~Yes, I am an ungrateful girl who won't even let her keychain lie cold in its grave before starting on a quest for a new one~~.

1. Tiffany & Co Star Key Ring - My current favourite. Even the hole is in the shape of a star *Sigh* My only concern is that it would scratch horribly and I'll be left with something that resembles scrap metal.

2. Gucci Key Holder - My second current favourite. Just not sure if i want to get another Gucci item.

3. Chloe Padlock Keychain - Threw this in for fun. It's quite a whimsical idea - having a padlock as your keychain.

4. Louis Vuitton 4 Key Holder - Again, my love for Epi Leather is rearing its head. I can't help it - the colors are so vibrant. I think this one looks the classiest as well.

5. Prada Triangle Key Ring - I like the simplicity of it. Looks less likely to scratch as well.

Sigh, the dilemma. 12 more days to liberation and serious shopping.

Evelyn Eats Dessert Pizza

2006-06-10T15:15:00.000+10:00

I haven't been eating out all that much lately because of my attempt to save money (it seems as if I'm forever saving up for something) and exams. However, we went to Blue Fire in Melbourne Central to celebrate my friend's birthday yesterday.

I've heard a lot about that place but never had the opportunity to go, mainly because ever since I moved from Southbank back to Carlton I hardly venture into the city nowadays. Firstly, I have to buy a tram ticket - that's usually what hinders me the most. After 2 years of having a monthly tram ticket buying tickets every time I take a ride hurts - a lot. Secondly, there's just no reason for me to go into the city anymore since I study in Carlton, do my grocery shopping in Carlton, eat in Carlton and stay in Carlton. Sad but true fact.

Back to Blue Fire. I heard a lot about it and many people told me that it was a nice place to go so I had pretty high expectations. We ordered 4 pizzas between the 6 of us - 3 savoury and one dessert.

Pork & Pancetta

Roast Lamb

Aussie

Strawberry - Pizza with mascarpone cheese and white chocolate, topped with pecan ice cream.

I'm not going to bother reviewing them one by one because personally I felt that they were all mediocre. I had great expectations for the dessert pizza but the only thing I liked about it was the pecan ice cream. I felt that the base of the pizza didn't go that great with the topping. Not that their topping was that great in the first place. Their savoury pizzas were average as well. Didn't blow my mind. Waste of my calories, if you ask me.

And their service, I don't even know where to begin. They seated us at the a la carte side of the restaurant for some unknown reason and then made us shift when we told them that were actually interested in pizzas. Okay, still acceptable. Then we ordered and waited 45 minutes for the savoury pizzas to come.

I'm not sure if you readers know this but I actually time restaurants. On average food will come between 12-20 minutes - 20 minutes being the upper limit of my patience. 45 minutes for pizza is just ridiculous.

Then we had to wait for another 45 minutes after we had finished for the dessert pizza to come.

There were only two good points about the place:
1. They didn't charge cake-age (not sure if that's the correct term). I've been to restaurants that charge 5 dollars per person when you bring your own cake. Preposterous.
2. You get 20% discount if you use the Melbourne University Student Advantage Card.

Don't think I'll go there again.

Evelyn Bakes A Birthday Cake 2

2006-06-09T15:35:00.000+10:00

I had my first written paper today and my housemate advised me to wrap up for the exams because the exam hall is supposed to be really cold.

I listened to her advice and wore 4 layers and a scarf. For the first half of the exam I was fine... having practically ran all 6 blocks from my apartment to the exam hall because my friend was late. Then I started to get cold and by the end of the paper, my lips were blue (literally) and my teeth were chattering.

Went for a nice hot bowl of tom yum soup after that and came home to bake a pineapple upside down cake for my friend's birthday. Wanted to bake something more elaborate but just didn't have the time.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake - A little bit pale because I didn't put in enough brown sugar. Oh well - at least I tried. I'm not even sure if my friend likes pineapple.

Can't believe I still have 4 more papers to go. I'm exhausted.

Kacang Lupakan Kulit

2006-06-08T21:03:00.000+10:00

Here's a post to all international students who have been looked down upon just because we don't talk, act or enjoy the same things that local Asians do.

There's nothing more annoying than somebody insulting people directly and matter-of-factly without even considering that perhaps it is a little bit offensive to the person right in front of them.

Kacang lupakan kulit is a Malay proverb which translates to "A nut forgetting it's shell". I guess it means something along the lines of someone who forgets their roots or origin. Who you are.

I know somebody who openly disdains anything and anybody remotely Asian... especially international students. Forgetting that the person he is bitching to is international and doesn't take kindly to direct insults. Forgetting that he himself is Asian, try as he might to act, think, talk like someone who isn't.

If you think Asians are superficial, unrefined, vulgar, elitist, of bad taste, I guess that means I am too. That is my identity and I do not choose to reject my roots - even if you do. What I believe is that no matter who a person is they deserve to be treated with respect. And at least have the grace to bitch behind my back instead of openly insulting my own race in my face.

Note: This post does not apply to all local Asians that I know - most of them are fine. I am good friends with many of them. Just a couple who think they are better than the average person.

Unwanted Physical Contact

2006-06-08T13:00:00.000+10:00

It may be interesting to know that I hate people who are very touchy-feely.

I think it's unnecessary - especially if I don't even know you that well. Sure, I still hug people when I meet them and shake hands when I'm introduced to someone new, but that's where I draw the line.

My friend wrote a Friendster testimonial recently and she mentioned that I do not like my face to be touched. I read it and I suddenly remembered that it was true - it was almost a defining characteristic. In dental school my friend was examining me and she was using her hands to move my face left and right so that she could get better access to what she was looking at and I was so close to getting out of the chair and screaming at her to stop it. Not that it was her fault - it's just me. Anything on my face just grates my nerves to shreds.

Of course there must be something along the way when I grew up that made me this way. And I know what it is.

When I was about 7 I went to school and we were supposed to hand in our homework of assigned to us on the previous day. I suddenly realized that I forgot to bring it. I explained it to my teacher and she in turned didn't believe me and pinched me so hard on my cheek that when I went home, even though I didn't tell my mom about the episode, my mom noticed the bruise on my face and demanded to know what had happened to me.

I guess that's how it started. Even a pinch on my arm now drives me crazy. Incidentally, I don't know what's up with teachers like this. Do they really think that by doing that I would be more compliant and willing to please her? Does she really think that doing something like leaves a positive impact on a young and tender mind? Did she really want to be remembered fondly as the teacher who scarred me for life? (okay, a little bit dramatic here, but you get the point).

My first written paper is tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Monsieur Truffe Chocolate Truffles

2006-06-07T17:13:00.000+10:00

My friend was telling me that Koko Black was so yesterday and Monsieur Truffe truffles were the chocolates to eat right now. Skeptical me decided to just try it out to see what the fuss was all about.

I got 3 praline truffles, one plain, one raspberry and one passionfruit.

The verdict:

1. Praline - These truffles kind of remind me of Ferrero Rocher, so I think it's just a glorified version of it. It's yummy, but not particularly out of ordinary.

2. Plain - It was a dark chocolate plain and I swear could actually feel the chocolate molecules going straight to my brain to send me to happy land. Very very good - one of the best plain chocolate truffles I've ever eaten.

3. Raspberry - This was my favourite of out the 4. I usually don't really enjoy fruit in chocolate but I guess this is an exception to the rule. The flavour was just right - not too fruity the way many of the fruit chocolates tend to be. Delish!

4. Passionfruit - Nice but didn't leave much of an impression on me.

My only complaints is that the truffles are a little bit on the small side (definitely smaller than the ones in Koko Black) but that's good in a sense - because they're only 40 calories each.

Koko Black Hazelnut Clusters are still the best and my favourite, but I think the Raspberry Truffles have just made their way into my good books.

Watches To Die For

2006-06-07T11:59:00.000+10:00

When I was around 8 I'd sit in the living room of my home poring over a watch collector's book and talk to my dad about them.

Me: Dad, how much do one of these cost? *point at picture*
Dad: *amused at my still naive nature* Why, I don't know.
Me: Can I have one?
Dad: Maybe when you're older. *another amused smile exchanged with my mom*

Hah. Now I'm older, aren't I?!?! Also not as naive. I've realized that if I want any of those watches in that book, I'll have to work for it myself considering they're not stuff you go to your local marketplace to buy. So I'm just going to put these pictures up to remind myself why I'm studying.

Jaeger Le Coultre Reverso Duetto - This is by far my favourite watch to date. In case the picture doesn't make sense, it actually has two working faces...front and back and you can flip it according to which face you prefer. *Sigh*

Patek Phillipe Twenty Four - "Where will you be in the next 24 hours?"

I actually had 10 originally but decided to crop it down to 2 because I suddenly felt they didn't look as good as I thought they did anymore. Strange. Must be the soy milk making me rational - that's what my friend suggested yesterday.

Back to books.

Martina Hingis' Choice

2006-06-06T15:39:00.000+10:00

Been following the French Open obsessively and happy that Martina Hingis is in the quarter finals. She's probably my favourite tennis player, even though when she was younger she used to throw tantrums on court. However, I believe that she is truly talented and her comeback has been very successful. She's currently World No. 12 after only about 6 months since Australian Open. Impressive.

When I was about 15 my mother made a big mistake of showing me an advertisement in the newspaper about the Omega Constellation - Martina Hingis' Choice. I mean, seriously:

1. Constellation - I'm obsessed about stars.
2. Bored and Watchless

Needless to say it sparked off my campaign to get hold of that watch. It wasn't easy - this was when I was only 15. My mom thought it was insane. My dad, an avid watch collector - was wavering but suffice it to say that even my will could not induce them into getting it for me.

Mom: You're a schoolgirl not some socialite.

Until my 18th birthday when they caved and told me that one does not turn 18 every day and I deserved it.

Omega Constellation - Half gold mother-of-peral dial. Not many people like it. Generally seen as too mature for a girl this young.

Strange how I'm thinking about my 18th birthday a lot lately.

Next post: More watches.

Daddy's Plastic vs Cold Hard Cash

2006-06-05T19:27:00.000+10:00

I've been trying to save more money lately so that after the exams I can go for a good long well deserved session of retail therapy. Because of that I've been eating in and spending cash instead of using my card. Cash tends to make you more aware of the fact that money is going out.

I still remember when I got my first credit cards. It was my 18th birthday and my parents gave me and envelope and told me that I was now an adult and they believed that I was responsible enough to be awarded them. I got two (one Mastercard and one Visa) but I only use one generally because it's my favourite.

Daddy's Plastic - My shopping companion. Which I should prepare to part with end of 2008 when I graduate. *sob*

Incidentally, having a card makes a lot of difference to how you're served. I still remember I went to Sakae Sushi in Singapore once during a shopping trip and when I went up to the counter to pay, the cashier petulantly printed out the receipt.

Cashier: $19.80. *slapped down the receipt*
Me: *slides the card over*
Cashier: *mollified expression* Oh, thank you, Miss *surname*
Me: .....

Suddenly I was viewed as a serious customer and deserved to be called by name.

No, I have never psychotically charged a few thousand dollars for fun before and I don't intend to. My parent's trust is worth more than that. And I've never bought things that are not um... approved by my parents using it either. That's what cash is for.

18 more days to go....

Mindless Grocery Shopping

2006-06-05T14:46:00.000+10:00

Went to Safeway and bought a ton of groceries back, only to realise that I did not buy

1. Milk
2. Sugar
3. Pasta

which are staples, but managed to lug home pineapple slices, more mushrooms and more vanilla soy milk.

What am I doing??!!??!

*dragging self out again*

Tall Glass Short Glass

2006-06-04T17:07:00.001+10:00

So, lately I've taken to drinking soy milk for breakfast and just before I go to bed. I like the taste and I like to think that it helps me make healthier decisions during the day. In short, this is my latest addiction.

Anyway, here's my favourite soy milk for now. Some people have been informing me that it's not exactly the healthiest drink in the market because supposedly there's sugar in it (8%), but as far as I'm concerned it's better to drink soy milk than to eat a bar of chocolate so shut up. I'll drink what I want to drink.

Vitasoy's Vanilla Flavoured Soy Milk - So good that the Phantom of the Kitchen victimised it. Yup. There is still a rat capable of opening the fridge and the cap of the milk carton living in this house, even after my point blank note.

Incidentally, since I'm drinking so much milk I found out that it's actually better to drink milk from a tall slim glass than a short fat one because of our perception of volume. People have been known to pour 50% more milk into a fat short glass and think that it's the same amount as what's in the tall slim glass.

Tomorrow is my conservative dentistry exam and I only have one prayer - that I pass and graduate from plastic teeth forever and ever.

Two handfulls of raisins = 150 calories
2 plates of fried noodles = 1400 calories
2 cups of milk = 200 calories
1 tablespoon of peanut butter = 100 calories
Total = 1850 calories (hey, I'm stressed)

How To Be My Eighth World Wonder

2006-06-03T13:01:00.000+10:00

Was happily still on my chocolate buzz when I saw that Chloe had tagged me to talk about the 8 things that encompasses my dream guy. The non-existent mortal made for me.

*deep breath* Okay, here goes. I generally do not like to talk about this, but since I'm tagged, I'll do it.

1. Musically Inclined - By that I mean he should at least be able to sing in tune. Of course, if he can play several musical instruments and performed in Carnegie Hall when he was 12 I am not complaining.

2. Tactful - I cannot tolerate a person who does not have the ability to say something in a gentler, more positive tone. In my personal opinion, if I were to choose between a guy who said "Yeah, maybe that post you wrote was a little bit boring" and a critical idiot who says "That's one of the lousiest posts you've ever written", I'd definitely choose the former.

3. Willing To Take Out The Trash - Definitely the most detestable chore for me.

4. Can Drive - I don't care if he has a car or not but he should at least have a driving license. I really don't think this is a very big demand. I could drive when I was 17 for goodness' sake. Can I imagine driving my boyfriend around? No. Point made.

5. Motivator - If I go out with a guy who consistently wants to make me rebel and do the exact opposite of what he wants me to do i.e. "You should stop shopping" and I go and shop immediately after that statement just out of sheer rebellion, I think that's just not going to work.

6. Someone I Can Talk To - I once went on this horrendous date with a guy who could not hold a decent conversation. It was basically me asking questions and getting monosyllabic answers. Worst lunch I ever had. I need somebody who can at least talk about something... anything.

7. Fulfills Promises - Nothing pisses me off more than expectations that are not met. If you tell me you're going to be there at 8pm, I expect you to be there, not still napping at home. Especially if you were the one who asked me out in the first place.

8. Loves Me For Me - A guy who can accept Evelyn as she is - bags, shoes, dog and chocolates. Someone who understands that in my twisted mind, spending a few thousand dollars on a bag is perfectly reasonable. Someone who does not ridicule my dreams but at least tries to support them. Someone who knows my faults and makes me want to be a better person. I guess this kind of overwrites everything else. Such a person is worth waiting for.

There we go - 8 things. I noticed it sort of became a rant session somewhere along the way. Couldn't help it. So much easier to think of what I don't want from past experiences than thinking of what I want.

Tag Victims = Mayne, Jason, Jo, Ruth, Angela, Lisa, Shaun and Ruth. Suddenly realize I don't know that many people who blog.

Evelyn Loves Koko Black

2006-06-02T13:47:00.000+10:00

When the first half of my day was obviously not going well, my friend suggested that we go for a drink in Koko Black so that I could 'chill' and calm down to face the coming onslought of more nightmarish scenarios.

Koko Black is a chocolate boutique born in Melbourne. I still remember the first time I walked past their city store about 3 years ago. I thought it looked nice, went in and discovered one piece of chocolate costs AUD1.40 (about RM4). Although I now know that AUD1.40 is peanuts compared to other chocolates out there, my then innocent mind (not so innocent anymore) couldn't digest it.

Anyway, I only started eating it regularly about 1-2 years ago. Yes, it is a luxury (in both a financial and caloric sense) but it is well worth it. A strange thing to note is that to date, I have never actually bought Koko Black chocolates for myself. I've either

1. Gotten them as gifts.
2. Gone with friends who choose to treat me at the spur of the moment.
3. Won them.

Of course, now that I've said it out loud I'm probably going to be footing the bill for the rest of my life now.

Display case of Koko Black - almost as dazzling as the display case of Tiffany & Co. Almost.

Koko Black Gift Boxes - Koko Black gift boxes come in a few sizes, from a tiny box containing just 2 pieces to the magical, sublime 64 piece box. I have received all sizes except the elusive unattainable 64. I don't blame anybody - it costs AUD90.

Koko Black also specializes in drinks and other chocolate based desserts, but what impresses me the most about this store is definitely their hand-made chocolates. I choose to review 6 pieces today - graciously given to me by my friend yesterday to cheer me up. It's a little bit banged up because I carried it to the city and back in a paperbag.

Clockwise from top:

Hazelnut Cluster - My favourite chocolate of all time. Hands down. 3 candied hazelnuts coated in milk/dark chocolate. I could eat them on a daily basis.

Chai Tea - Slightly tea-flavoured. Yummy.

Caramelized Coconut - Exactly what it says, coated with white chocolate.

Almond Praline - I'm having mixed sentiments about almonds right now. I used to like them a lot, but lately almonds have been tasting... too almond-y.

Nougat - Another one of my favourites.

Strawberry Something - I can't remember the exact name, only that I know it's definitely strawberry flavoured and the texture inside is mousse-like.

Sigh. It's all gone now. The only thing for me to do now is to find a four-leafed clover, get lucky and discover tomorrow that there's a bottomless box of Koko Black chocolates outside my front door. Addressed to me. Me me me...

Evelyn's Cake Was Violated

2006-06-01T23:41:00.000+10:00

I love it how when I plan a day perfectly in my mind only to wake up and realise that everything... E.Ve.Ry.Thing is against me.

First I wake up and my internet isn't working. Okay, that's fine no big deal. I can live without it.

Next, I go to the fridge to take a slice of cake. And then I notice something isn't quite right.

.....

The cake icing has been scraped/licked off and the corners of the cake were gone. I tried to calm down and left a note on top of the box.

"Please do NOT eat".

As you can see, I was still polite.

Went to church, came back and found more cake slices were victimised. Saw red, took the cake box out of the fridge and left it on the kitchen counter with another note.

"Cake has been crumbed/licked/scraped. No desire to eat it. Whoever who did it can just HAVE it!"

Yes, I am
1. Passive agressive.
2. A very angry person right now.
3. ready to spike my next batch of baking with laxatives.

Aurora Borealis

2006-05-31T12:12:00.000+10:00

Aurora Borealis, also known as the Nothern Lights is a luminous phenomenon in the night sky consisting of overlapping curtains of greenish-white light, sometimes fringed with pink, appearing in the ionosphere of high latitudes. It is caused by the emission of light by atoms and molecules that are excited by beams of electrons generated by a complex interaction between the solar wind and the Earth’s atmosphere.

To see it in real life is one of my missions in life. I used to say that when I grow up, I would go to Alaska and see aurora. Now I'm grown up - am I? - and I still haven't gone. Since a visit to Alaska is one of the most expensive trips, perhaps it won't be soon. Also, apparently a lot of it is based on luck - it's not everyday that you see aurora.

Fiery Red

Greenish

Multi-colored

Bluish

Okay. Back to Radiology.

Evelyn Bakes Chocolate Stuff

2006-05-30T18:40:00.000+10:00

Woke up at about 11 today and concluded that I didn't want to do any work during the afternoon because I didn't have the mood. To fill in time, I ate lunch, went back to sleep and woke up with nothing better to do. Incidentally, I have developed this technique of sleeping without actually sleeping. Like, even if I've slept 10 hours the night before I can still just sleep for the sake of it to pass time.

Anyway, woke up and decided to bake a couple of things. Since ingredients in my house was rather limited I settled for an After Eight Chocolate Cake (recipe given to me by my aunt. It's one of my favourite chocolate cakes in the world) and double chocolate muffins.

Double Chocolate Muffins - Chocolate muffins with chocolate chips, essentially. Very happy how it turned out. I detest it when the muffin doesn't rise and form a big bulbous crust and just kind of looks a bit dome-shaped without overflowing. The theory of course is to just overfill the cups. Yay!

After 8 Chocolate Cake - It's basically a very rich chocolate cake topped with peppermint icing and chocolate sprinkles. Have yet to sink my teeth into this.

All in all, quite a productive day in the kitchen, and not so productive day in relation to my studies. Must persevere!

1 plate fried noodles = 700 calories
1 plate creamy chicken & mushroom pasta = 700 calories
1 slice bread = 150 calories
2 mandarin oranges = 120 calories
Total = 1670 calories

Magic Mushrooms

2006-05-30T12:05:00.000+10:00

My favourite ingredient at the current moment is mushrooms. I suddenly developed a love for it - not that I hated it before, I just like it more now. I was searching for more mushroom recipes and I found out that

1 cup of mushrooms contains 20 calories.

Mushrooms contain anti-carcinogens and have anti-aging benefits

Mushrooms contain tons of vitamins and minerals which I can't be bothered to list here

Mushrooms promote a healthy immune system, lowers blood pressure and promotes weight lost.

Therefore, I'm concluding that I should eat more mushrooms.

Shitake Mushrooms - I grew up eating these with steamed fish. Well, when I was young enough and still liked seafood anyway.

Straw Mushrooms - Yummy in stir-fried vegetables.

Porcini Mushrooms - Used a lot in Italian cooking, especially risotto.

Button Mushrooms - What I usually eat now.

Enoki Mushrooms - The only time I actually eat these is when I eat steam boat, where I usually starve for the night because the only things I can eat are meatballs, mushrooms and egg.

Quick and easy mushroom recipes can be found here

Louis Vuitton Agendas

2006-05-29T15:41:00.000+10:00

It's exactly one week before my exams start, and exactly 2 and a half weeks before it's all over. However, I must say that the exam period is actually one of my favourite periods. This is because all you have to do is study - no classes, no external stress. Just you, the notes and the desk.

And some internet browsing. It's been about two months since my Burberry stint (links at end of post) and it's truly a high time that I come up with something else to obsess over. I found it yesterday - LV Agendas.

Yes, I know it's ridiculous to pay that kind of money for a piece of leather that doesn't actually do anything, as opposed to a bag which...er... well, doesn't actually do anything either. Especially when Melbourne University actually gives you a yearly planner for free at the beginning of the year. Which is why I'm still hesitating and considering if this is worth my the money.

Blue Epi Leather - The Blue is gorgeous, the Mandarin is gorgeous. Did I mention that their New Red is gorgeous too? *swoon*

White Monogram Multicolore - Very nice, but keeping it white would be a nightmare.

Geranium Suhali Leather - I love this series, which happens to be the most expensive (why am I not surprised).

Burberry Posts:

Bargain With Self
Blueberry Burberry

Scarred face at 18

2006-05-28T19:22:00.000+10:00

When I moved into my new room I noticed the the light in my room was a little bit dim. I didn't bother opening the covering to see what was going on and therefore decided to just deal with the dimness. ~~Making myself blinder in the process~~. Anyway, this evening the lightbulb decided that it had had enough of serving me and decided to die off.

I climbed up, and with much difficulty managed to open the cover and found out that there was only one lightbulb installed, even though there were two sockets. Can't believe I've been suffering in twilight-like state for the past 4 months needlessly.

And I left the lid off. This is because when I was 18 (3 weeks before coming to Australia), I was sitting down in the study room in my house with my mother when suddenly what seemed like a shower of glass rained down and the next thing I felt was hot liquid running down my face. For a moment I was dazed and didn't understand what had happened but my mom next to me was going into hysterics, screaming for my dad to come now and deal with the situation.

Amusingly, my dad was watching TV at that time and didn't see what the fuss was about. He had innocently presumed that my mom had dropped a plate down the stairs and was just dramatising the situation. What was the big deal? After a few more moments of frantic shrieks and increasing hysteria, he finally concluded he better come check it out. That was when he started panicking too.

Turns out the glass covering of the light that happened to be right over my mom's head had somehow come lose and fell down, hit her head and shattered - all the pieces raining down on me. A piece of skin about 2cm long was almost sliced off my forehead and I had a deep gash at the side of my nose from my nose rest of my glasses, presumably because a piece of glass weighed it down and it pressed into my skin. Obviously, I was bleeding as if my whole face had been slashed up by some psycho killer and my dad was frantically trying to decide what to do.

Him: It's 11pm at night how are we supposed to find a plastic surgeon?! (Yes, my father thought it was serious enough to warrant plastic surgery. Remember that this is me at 18 with perfect skin with the danger of living with a potentially maimed face forever).
Mom: What?!
Him: Arggh...I'll just do it myself. *stressed*

He brought me to his clinic, stitched up the gash at the side of my nose, gingerly placed back the skin that was partially sliced (it was hanging on by about 3mm worth of skin, so my dad hoped that it would manage to stick back) and brought me home.

All through this time they didn't let me look into the mirror. All I could do was cry. And cry. And cry. In my entire life, I have never cried so much. Every time I thought about it for about up to a week after the incident, I cried. I cried to the point where I had no tears left, when all that was left in me was just hacking gasps.

I cried because I it was my face. At 18. I know some people might not realise why I took it so seriously. Some people may even think that I should just get over myself and stop being a drama queen. But this was 3 weeks before I came to Australia, desiring to make a good impresson on new friends and start a new life. At 18. When 18 is supposed to be the best year of any girl's life. Also the potential of having a scar forever was something I could not face - did not want to face. I did the only thing I could do - which was to cry.

I came to Australia with a bandage on my forehead and on my nose - which my dad warned me that I should leave on if I ever wanted my scars to heal without discoloration etc. I religiously left them on - I'm sure those who went to Trinity with me would remember. I did not want to leave them off anyway - the scars were unsightly. The bandages naturally did not make me Ms Popular either.

A few months after my hard work paid off - the scars were almost invisible. Now, three and a half years later, unless I point it out, nobody knows. But I do. However, this minor accident (in the grand scheme of things, I concede that it's minor I suppose) prepared me for what was to come - a major accident, which I may blog about sometime in the future.

Sometimes I look at my scars and wonder what would it be like if I never went through those two ordeals, if my first impression I made on people was not ,' Why do you have a bandage on your forehead?'. Yes, this sounds shallow, but it is the truth. However, I know I won't be who I am today - and I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. I guess time will tell.

Other interesting facts to note:
1. Some people actually nicknamed me 'Nelly' when I came because of my face bandages.
2. My then brand new iBook (love of my life) was also involved in the saga. The glass scratched the screen and nicked the computer as well. When I realised that I got even more hysterical, if that was possible. Up to now, the battlescars are present.
3. I have a phobia for all covered lights now. Unsurprisingly.

1 slice bread and peanut butter = 150 calories
1 bun = 100 calories
1 bowl sukiyaki udon = 700 calories
1 plate fried rice = 700 calories
Total = 1650 calories

Simmering

2006-05-27T19:23:00.000+10:00

I admit that I'm not the best person in the world. My faults are plentiful.

This weekend has been one of reflection over my past couple of years and strangely, as often is the case - my memories flash to the unpleasant scenes, not the pleasant ones.

One of the things that I always berrate myself over is the fact that I never stand up for myself. Whenever somebody does something to me that annoys me, I simmer, but I never confront the person and give them a piece of my mind. Never. Then I kick myself every time I think of the incident for not having any backbone.

Of course, there's always factors to consider, like is it nice to behave badly. Also, is it a good idea to lash out at a friend's best friend/boyfriend, knowing your friend is going to side the other party no matter whose fault is it.

Somehow I feel like I'm at the losing end of this game. And a horrible person.

4 mandarin oranges = 240 calories
1 plate fried rice = 600 calories
5 slices bread = 700 calories
1 bowl cereal = 200 calories
Total = 1740 calories

Evelyn is a Pale Listless Blue

2006-05-27T13:11:00.000+10:00

For the past week I've been sleeping more than 10 hours a day in the hope that I will be energized and motivated when I get up. Not. Happening.

I'm not sure why. Maybe because this semester is 15 weeks instead of the usual 12 weeks that we're used to. Or maybe because there's more stress in each week trying to meet denture deadlines and the adrenaline rush of treating real life patients.

I've been procrastinating a lot. It takes me at least 3 procrastinating episodes to get things done - sometimes much more than that. My motivation has been stolen... and I don't know what to do.

Maybe I should bake a cake.

Obsessive Calorie Counting

2006-05-26T12:11:00.000+10:00

So, I ate a footlong sub yesterday and did my homework - partially. Apparently it's 370 calories per 6 inch - which I naively believed. However, after I chowed down the whole foot of it (the human stomach is amazing), I concluded that I can't possibly have eaten only 740 calories. It felt more than that. Yes, I can actually guess how many calories I've eaten just by how I feel. So I went to research it properly.

I found out that a 370 calorie 6-inch chicken teriyaki subway...

1. Is made with white bread. I chose honey oat bread - therefore making it 60 calories more fattening.
2. Has no cheese. I had 4 slices of cheese - additional 100 calories there.
3. Has no sauce. Seriously, they want me to eat a subway with vegetables, dried chicken and no sauce and no cheese?! Sauce set me back another 40 calories.

Which means that my footlong sub comes up to a shocking grand total of 1140 calories. with 1140 calories, I can go to KFC, pig out on 6 wicked wings, 2 regular chips and still have 140 calories to spare.

I feel so cheated.

1 regular fries from KFC = 250 calories
3 KFC Wicked Wings = 250 calories
1 slice bread with butter = 150 calories
1 slice bread with jam = 150 calories
4 mandarin oranges = 240 calories
1 plate pasta carbonara = 700 calories
Total = 1740 calories (at least I'm satisfied)

Amazing Grand Pianos

2006-05-25T17:03:00.000+10:00

Ever since I moved to Australia I never had the chance to play as much piano as I would like to have, thanks to the fact that I don't have one in my apartment. It just doesn't seem like a good idea to buy a piano when I move every year or so. Also, my parents said that when I finally settle down and everything they would send the piano I have at home now here instead of leaving it to rot pianistless at home.

You know what I always wanted to do? I always wanted to take off the lid of my piano at home and put in a glass lid instead, so that when I play the piano I can see the mechanism moving. Can you imagine a glass lid raised? I think it would look lovely. My music teacher actually told me that it was possible but my parents told me to focus on practicing instead of cultivating nonsensical ideas. Anyway, my idea is not nonsensical. I actually found such a piano online! And many others as well.

1. Steinway & Sons Black Ebony. Starting with the standard dream of every pianist. *sigh* I visited one last year and the price tag was a whopping AUD150 000. I don't want to know what the special ones cost.

2. Schimmel Transparent Grand Piano. Not only the lid is transparent, the whole entire piano is. Not sure if I like it this way....it's probably more tasteful with just a glass lid rather than the whole piano. Definitely no ordinary piano though.

3. Steinway & Sons Marbleized. Not much to say except it's er... marbleized.

4. Steinway & Sons Louis XV. This just makes me think of scenes in Jane Austen novels where the ladies sit in the drawing room and entertain themselves playing the piano and sit around eating tea. A plain white grand piano has always been one of my pet favourites though.

5. Steinway & Sons Summertime. This is amazing, I don't know how would you match it in your house, but I insist it is amazing. It looks almost like a toy piano. Serious work of art.

Only 2 weeks to my exams and this is what I'm doing - looking at pianos on the web! Just my way of destressing.

1 slice of bread with chicken = 200 calories
1 foot long Subway sweet onion chicken teriyaki = 800 calories
2 mandarin oranges = 120 calories
Total = 1120 (perhaps Subway is the key)

Good Chick Lit

2006-05-24T17:29:00.000+10:00

This semester I've been reading more than that I have ever had ever since I came to Melbourne. Reading has always been my hobby, although many people are surprised when they hear it. I find it difficult to fall asleep at night if I don't read at least a chapter or two to calm my mind. Sort of like a ritual. Anyway, here's a few light reads that I particularly like.

1. Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. It's about this big time lawyer who screws up, runs away and ends up a housekeeper in the country. Very unrealistic but good happy ending anyway.

2. Spellbound by Jane Green. Just finished reading it a couple of days ago. It's more meaningful than Undomestic Goddess because I think it's more realistic with a lot of issues that many girls really face out there. Happy ending as well. Come to think of it, all the books I read have happy endings.

3. Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine. Same author who wrote Ella Enchanted, which is also a brilliant book. If you watched the movie and didn't read the book I highly recommend it. Very nice fairy-tale like feel to it. I know it's recommended for children but I think it's a good read even if you're older.

4. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. One of my favourite authors of all time. About an old maid who thought she only had 6 months to live and decided to do all she didn't do when she was young. I cried reading it.

5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. You won't regret it.

2 chicken sandwiches = 600 calories
1 double chocolate muffin = 300 calories
1 instant pasta = 450 calories
3 mandarin oranges = 180 calories
Total = 1530 calories (not bad)

Chocolate Boutique 1

2006-05-23T15:30:00.000+10:00

I've been looking back at all my photos from ages ago that I have not put up because of my non-existent/lousy internet connection. Now that my internet is semi-restored (I say semi because whenever I get comfortable, it acts up again), I shall attempt to put these up. ~~Also because there's nothing new and exciting happening in my life right now.~~

Anyway, these pictures are from Cacao, which is a chocolate boutique in St Kilda. They were taken in February, which is ages ago. On my birthday, actually. But they still look delicious so who cares. They sell other stuff besides chocolate like pastries and cakes, but I don't have the photos of them.

A few pieces of their chocolate range. Particularly like their packaging because they put the chocolate into wooden boxes. They almost won me over from my Koko Black fantasy - more on that when I talk about Koko Black next time.

Chocolate Eiffel Tower. Yum yum!

Chocolate Chess Set. Tons of motivation to win.

One of the desserts. Can't remember what it is.

Ending on a completely irrelevant note. Found an article about the Hermes Birkin in one of the magazines they had there. How much would I pay? Not enough.

1 chocolate frog = 200 calories
1 pack instant pasta = 450 calories
A few M&Ms = 50 calories
1 mandarin orange = 60 calories (my token fruit of the day)
1 chicken sandwich = 400 calories
Total = 1170 (it's a start)

Why Raising Funds Is A Nightmare

2006-05-22T18:24:00.000+10:00

I was given half a box of chocolate (24 pieces) to sell to raise funds for the Dental Faculty for one of the functions. I thought it wouldn't be too difficult - worse come to the worse I'll just buy them myself right? However, I've concluded that raising funds is a thankless task - so thankless that I hope I don't have to do it again, and I have newfound respect for all those people who collect money in the streets for Breast Cancer and AIDS and etc.

Not that I even had to do much. I managed to get rid of the bulk of it by just persuading my housemates and people that I know well to buy some off me. After that it was just uphill work. I think it has to do with my personality. I do not like asking for favours, and this experience almost left me feeling as if I was begging, like it was a personal favour and I needed their help.

Acquaintance: Give me one good reason why I should buy chocolate from you.
Me: Yeah, exactly. Why the hell am I even asking you? *in head* Because I'm raising funds.
Acquaintance: You're a dentist yeah? Why are you selling chocolates? Trying to get more business in the future?

Decided to just buy the rest from myself. I don't need to humiliate myself further.

1 bag potato chips = 1250 calories (not joking)
1 plate instant pasta = 600 calories
1 plate penne matriciana = 500 calories
Total = 2350 calories (I promise I'm going on a veg and fruit diet tomorrow. I think.)

Lost And Found

2006-05-21T14:10:00.000+10:00

It's a well-known fact that I invariably leave my possessions in restaurants, libraries, the dental school and most recently - the clinic. I can't help it. There's just so many things going on in my mind I can't be responsible and unforgetful at the same time all the time. There's bound to be a few slip ups once in a while. Right?

Anyway, I had the best session I ever had in clinic on Friday afternoon and came home and did nothing the entire weekend until this morning, when I woke up and decided I should study today before I fail everything. I got up, took my notes out and searched for my pencil case. And searched. And searched.

Finally I concluded it wasn't in my apartment and that I probably left it in the clinic. Rushed down to the dental school (thank goodness I only stay 1 minute away) and got the security guard to bring me up to the undergraduate clinic to get it. He was naturally not impressed with my irresponsible act (You should always check everything before leaving the clinic. Not only that, you shouldn't be using pens like these!). I just mumbled my thanks and walked home.

The discomfiting part of this entire scenario is that I only realized my pencil case was missing 2 days later. That's how little I study.

1/2 pack chips = 600 calories
2 Krispy Kremes = 400 calories
1 pack instant pasta = 450 calories
Total = 1450 calories

Evelyn Loves Nila

2006-05-21T01:03:00.000+10:00

Just got back from my friend's 21st birthday. Tired, grumpy and exhausted. I just want to start studying so that I don't fail.

Interesting facts I learnt:

1. The word 'nila' which means blue is originally Sanskrit. Never knew that - always thought it was Malay. I still remember where I learnt that word from - from the Malay proverb 'Kerana setitik nila, rosak susu sebelanga' which loosely translated means ' Because of a drop of blue dye, an entire jug of milk is ruined'.

2. If possible babysit, a 3-tiered birthday cake at the backseat of the car instead of putting it into the boot. And always put on truffles at the last minute.

Me and the birthday cake. Just had to take another photo with it.

3. When you think the past is the past and nothing will come back to haunt you again - it comes back.

1 slice birthday cake = 300 calories
1/2 bag Sweet Chilli Smith's Potato Chips = 600 calories
1 slice ice cream cake = 600 calories
Random bits of food at party = 500? 700??
Alcoholic Beverages = 300? 3000??
Total calories = Too much! *sob*

3 Things To Lust For

2006-05-20T10:02:00.000+10:00

Suddenly realised my blog is starting to turn into a food blog if I don't talk about other things - so here's a short list of things that I wouldn't mind owning that caught my eye lately. There's actually more but I thought I'd do those separately in their own categories rather than to try to cram it all in.

1. Mont Blanc Starwalker Pen - Not just any Mont Blanc that you see on the shelf, but a limited edition one produced for their 100th anniversary. There's actually a six pointed star-shaped (my Archilles heel) diamond set that the crown of it instead of the traditional signature plain star. Sigh...

2. Loius Vuitton Shirley - It's been around for quite some time but I just thought I'd just mention it again. Great bag for a clutch.

3.Apple MacBook - I know the MacBook Pro is nicer, faster, better etc but it's also more expensive, and I'm not a very demanding girl (well, not as demanding as to insist that it's the MacBook Pro or nothing like what my friend did). Anyway, a 13-inch widescreen is definitely good enough and compared to my current iBook G3 (yes, 3! *sob*) this is heaven. I'll be satisfied.

Evelyn Bakes A Birthday Cake

2006-05-19T18:46:00.000+10:00

When my friend invited me to his 21st birthday, my first thought was that I wanted to make the cake. I'm addicted to decorating - so this presented a good opportunity for me to practice my baking skills. When he told me that there would be around 40 people there, I concluded that I would make a tiered cake - specifically, 3 tiers.

This is definitely the most elaborate cake I have ever made to date and I cannot deny that I am proud of it. Could have been nicer but for a first attempt, I think I'm satisfied. The cake is half pound cake and half chocolate cake, filled with white and dark chocolate ganache and covered with sugar paste, decorated with royal icing and lastly, topped with truffles.

Feeling very happy.

12 truffles = 600 calories
1 slice bread and butter = 200 calories
1 packet instant pasta = 450 calories
Total = 1250 calories (not bad)

Dessert Buffet

2006-05-18T17:05:00.000+10:00

I went to this dessert buffet about 2 weeks ago in the Conservatory in Crown Casino. I know this is a little late to post it but I just got the photos off my friend today. This is the reason why I am not skinny. Here are a few photos of the stuff:

1. Chocolate Covered Strawberries - Not a big fan of these. I prefer it with chocolate fondue rather than a hard crust around the strawberry - wasn't very easy to eat.

2. Chocolate Brownies - It was alright...felt like I was eating solid chocolate actually.

3. Chocolate Mousse with Orange Sauce - That wasn't the exact name but it was two weeks ago, I can't remember everything! Didn't like it. I don't think chocolate and orange go very well.

4. Chocolate Something with Mango Puree - Well, I don't like mango. So I didn't even bother trying it. Looks nice though.

5. Something That's A Bit Like Chocolate Meringue - I forgot the name. The texture was quite nice. Yum yum.

6. Monte Cristo - It's tastes something like a very very smooth tiramisu with a sponge cake - this was the thing I enjoyed the most, although it doesn't look very impressive in this photo.

They had quite a few other things as well such as a few savoury things so that we wouldn't get sugared out, waffles, a few other desserts that I didn't photograph because they had already been cut to pieces (I forgot to take photos until the end). Oh, and I had the best scones I had ever eaten in my life here too.

Needless to say I enjoyed myself.

Cake crumbs = 500 calories
1 chicken sandwich =400 calories
1 packet of instant pasta = 450 calories
1 plate chicken and mushroom risotto = 700 calories
Total = 2050 (Why do I bake for fun? Why?!)

3 Things Trapped In Evelyn's Mind

2006-05-17T18:16:00.000+10:00

1. Moon River

Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.

2. Cake Decorating - Seriously, this is definitely my latest obsession. Why can't my obsession be studying? Why?!

3. Dentistry - Dreading my next appointment. Supposed to do a subgingival restoration. Absolutely no idea how to do it - never did it before in my life, not even on a model. Praying I don't kill my patient.

1 chocolate frog = 200 calories
2 slices chocolate cake = 600 calories
4 slices bread with shredded chicken = 900 calories
Total calories = 1700 calories (no improvement)

Contact Lenses Part II

2006-05-16T20:41:00.000+10:00

Complained a few posts ago about my missing contact lenses that just disappeared when I dropped them. Well, it happened to me again today. I can't believe it - something that I had never done in my life happening twice in the span of two weeks.

Contact lenses don't like me.

2 chicken sandwiches = 600 calories
1 plate risotto = 700 calories
2 Summer Rolls = 400 calories
Total = 1700 (number creeping up again)

Horoscopes

2006-05-16T10:34:00.000+10:00

I like reading my horoscope whenever I have the chance. It's entertaining. I choose only to believe the good forecasts of my week and ignore the bad. After all, it's probably not true but I my as well get something positive out of it right?

I'm an Aquarian, which supposedly means that I live in the future and happen to be impulsive. I don't know about living in the future but my impulsiveness has probably been proven countless times. I'm also supposed to be independent. Not sure about that. Don't people become independent when they have nothing to depend on? It's more an environmental factor kind of thing right?

Horoscope of the day: Some hot professional prospects demand more time and perhaps more education on your part. Embrace these challenges. You can really go places if you capitalize on these opportunities. Give it your all.

Oh yeah, and I forgot to post up my calorie count of yesterday. I'm getting better at eating less. So proud of myself. Hehe...

1 plate penne carbonara = 700 calories
1 slice bread and butter = 200 calories
1 plate pasta with matriciana sauce = 600 calories
Total = 1500 (not good not bad)

Evelyn Hates Sports

2006-05-15T14:32:00.000+10:00

When I was young I just wasn't good at sports. It didn't help that the teachers were skeptical that I could even run, let alone throw a discus or those ball thingamies, whatever you call it. I still remember a particular teacher who was in charge of the day's ball throwing event (whatever you call it).

Teacher: Hm...I see Evelyn is here. Are you sure you can even pick up the ball?
Me: ........

I hardly see that as a positive environment for me to grow to love sports. It only made me hate it more. Oh, I forgot to mention that the reason why the teacher chose to be so bitchy to me was probably because my mom was the afternoon supervisor of my school. Yup, my mom was in the same school as me. I assure you it did not make life easier for me. I could blog for hours about all the adolescent trauma I endured. But I digress. The only game I play up to now is tennis. No more, no less. That's the only game that captured my fancy.

Anyway, I devised ways to get out of sports practice and especially the annual dreaded event - Sports Day. I disliked the heat, the games, the teachers and just the general atmosphere of it all. Therefore, every year I would weasel my dad into writing a letter for me to get out of that living hell. One of the benefits of being a doctor's daughter, you see.

'This is to certify that Evelyn should be exempted from all sporting activities for 3 months due to a severely sprained ankle.'

Interestingly, I sprain my ankle at the beginning of the sports season every year. However, my years of cheating has finally come to bite me in the back. Everytime I knead dough, try to cut wire using pliers or have to do anything that requires strength, a small part of me wishes that I tried harder when I was young. Then I wouldn't have to struggle so much now.

Spent the whole afternoon learning how to pipe royal icing in preparation for another upcoming birthday. My entire right arm and fingers are sore. Not sure if it's me, the icing or the bag.

Oww...

Breakfast At Tiffany's

2006-05-14T19:39:00.000+10:00

Was walking around in Borders and saw the Breakfast At Tiffany's DVD on sale, so I decided to buy it. I've heard tons of good things about it and Audrey Hepburn so I thought, why not. Spent the afternoon watching it.

It was quite nice, but didn't really blow my mind away. There were only 3 things that I particularly liked in that movie - her dress, the theme song (Moon River) and the Tiffany & Co store in New York. I must go there one day. And of course, it had the all important happy ending.

It's Monday again tomorrow. Time flies.

2 slices of coffee cake = 800 calories
1 plate minestrone soup = 250 calories
Total = 1050 calories (omg, I actually did it!)

Evelyn Learns Mahjong

2006-05-14T11:32:00.000+10:00

I went to my friend's birthday party yesterday and for the first time, played mahjong and actually won two games! Wohoo!! I have to say I understand why so many people like that game so much. Back home there's a group of tai tais (middle-aged women who have rich husbands with nothing better to do with their time) who play mahjong every single day and from my house I can hear the tiles being mixed periodically. I never understood the fascination. How could you play the same game every single day without getting sick of it? Well, now I'm starting to understand a little bit more.

Lately, my nights has been troubled with dentistry-related nightmares. Last night I dreamt that I was working as a qualified dentist for the first time with nobody to turn to for a second opinion and the whole night I was just trying to come up with the best treatment plan and the best way to inject the local anaesthetic and so on and so forth. This course is really taking its toll on me.

Going to end on a lighter note with pictures of the stuff I brought to my friend's birthday.

Onde-onde. For those who don't know what this is, it's basically a chewy ball of glutinous rice flour with palm sugar in the middle coated with dessicated coconut. It's supposed to be greener than what the picture shows. Somehow the green didn't manage to shine through. Oh well.

The Birthday Cake - Genoise sponge with a custard layer in the middle topped with white chocolate ganache. The golden stuff on top is caramel. Had a lot of fun baking it.

Evelyn's Favourite Products

2006-05-13T18:33:00.000+10:00

I always believed that one should try to really take care of one's self as early as possible to prevent problems in the future (easier said than done, my favourite thing in the world is desserts). Also, I believe that a person should try to put in effort into their appearance. This is not a question of shallowness, this is just being realistic. If you look nice, smell nice, and are nice - things would be good.

Anyway, just thought I'd talk about a few things that I like using a lot.

1. Lancome Juicy Tubes - Yum yum, it tastes so good that after I used them for about a month I used a couple of lipglosses that were not flavoured and suddenly they tasted horrible, although previously I never minded before. My favourite color to date is Myrtille. Interestingly, none of the Juicy Tubes I own were purchased by myself. They were all gifts. Very good gifts. Yay!

2. Darlie Toothpaste - I grew up using this and now that I'm in Australia, I actually bring it over when I come because I don't like any of the toothpastes available here. Particular detest the taste of Colgate somehow.

3. Napoleon Perdis Loose Powder. What can I say about this? It's a really good oil absorber and it's very...luminous? Sparkly? I don't know what's the best word for it, but suffice it to say that when you use it, your face has a 'healthy glow'. ~~Incidentally, healthy glows are usually artificial.~~

4. Loreal Serie Expert Vitamino Color - I like this a lot because it has a very nice smell and it works. I use the whole range of it, not just the shampoo.

5. Plastic Straight Ruler - You know, the grey on one side, transparent on the other bendy ruler. Best ruler I've ever used in my life. Stock these up too when I come to Australia. LOVE them. Doubt many Malaysians like using any other ruler.

Shall put in other stuff next time when I can think of more.

Several onde onde = 600 calories
1 plate penne carbonara = 700 calories
1/4 easter bunny = 250 calories
1 slice birthday cake = 300 calories
2 spring rolls = 200 calories
Alcoholic beverages = 300? 3000? Who knows??
Several chips = 250 calories
Total= Whatever it is, it's more than what I should have consumed.

Dentistry At Its Worst

2006-05-12T22:06:00.000+10:00

So, I realise that I'm quite a lousy student by now. But today, I showed my finest act of idioticism of all.

Demonstrator: So. We'll be drilling and filling the second premolar on the left side (tooth number = 25)
Me: Okay.
Demonstrator: Okay, numb it up with the oral gel and call me when you're done.
Me: Okay.

*5 minutes later*

Demonstrator: All done?
Me: Yeah.
Demostrator: That's the second premolar on the right side (tooth number = 15).
Me: ........Shitttttt!!!!!!!!!!!! *In head*

It went all downhill from there - basically because my confidence in myself was shattered and so was the patient's confidence in me. Not only that, I made many various other stupid mistakes as well which I won't bother to go into. But suffice it to say that I have absolutely no idea why I'm in dentistry right now. No idea at all. And thank all the stars in heaven I didn't actually start drillling that tooth!!!!!! Also, my demonstrator thinks I'm an absolute idiot by now.

4 slices of bread & kaya - 800 calories
1 plate instant pasta - 400 calories
1/4 chocolate bunny - 200 calories
3/4 taro milk tea with bubbles - 275 calories
1/8th char kuay teow - 100 calories
Total - 1775 calories (could have been much worse considering the day I had)

Evelyn is Exasperated

2006-05-11T19:13:00.000+10:00

I've been trying to keep a food log for about a week now and I can't say that I'm too happy with the results. I thought that it would shame me into eating less and healthier. In a sense it has - many times at night I feel like nibbling an 'extra little something' but refrained because I had already clocked up the total. However, I find it discouraging at the same time. It seems that no matter how hard I try I can't seem to get down to 1200 calories, mainly because to do that I can only eat 2 complete meals a day.

This brings me back to my secondary school years when I could just wake up, go to school without breakfast, come home and eat a couple of spoonfuls or rice and dishes and go to bed. After that I'd go to some tuition or something like that and come home for dinner, which would be another couple of spoonfuls of rice. Then at night I'd eat cookies/various junk without even thinking about it and I was happy. And thin. After I came to Australia and was admonished into 'eating healthily' i.e. 3 complete meals a day, things just went downhill from there.

Blah...

1 1/2 swiss roll - 300 calories
1 slice bread & kaya with = 200 calories
1 slice kuih lapis = 150 calories
1/2 plate nasi lemak = 400 calories
1/2 cup gelati = 200 calories
1 plate penne carbonara = 700 calories
Total = 1950 calories (argh!!!)

Evelyn Is Still Baking

2006-05-11T14:14:00.000+10:00

I tried to make kuih lapis today which turned out to be a failure, mainly because I didn't realise that you had to constantly stir the batter when you make the layers because the flour sinks to the bottom. As a result, I had a really hard crusted kuih which was really mushy in the middle. Yuck. Will re-attempt again when my self esteem returns.

Lately I've been very interested to make all the Malaysian sweets that I've been craving like onde onde, sri muka and bubur pulut hitam. Haven't actually made them, but plan to.

Here are a few photos of what I've been baking/cooking lately. I'm surprised this craze has lasted.

1. Fried Rice - This is by far the most complete fried rice I've ever fried in my life. I am usually not this hardworking...even though fried rice is supposed to be easy.

2. Scones - Went to a dessert buffet a week ago, ate the best scones I've ever tasted in my life and decided to come home and try to replicate it. Reasonably successful but not amazingly out there yet.

3. Orange & Poppy Seed Muffins - Didn't really like them because the poppy seeds tend to get stuck between teeth. However, many people commented that it was nice and crunchy. Depends on what you like I guess.

4. Caramel Slices - Probably my most successful attempt of the week.

5. Kaya Swiss Roll - To use up all the kaya I made. Had to find a way to get rid of it. I was so happy that my swiss roll managed to roll this time even though it wasn't really perfect - previously I had to make swiss sandwiches instead of rolls. Very happy.

Gingerbread Houses

2006-05-10T21:47:00.000+10:00

I love gingerbread houses. It just looks so charming... a small house that is entirely edible. Makes me think of Enid Blyton books where the characters go to the Land of Goodies and break off bits and pieces off the houses there....or Hansel And Gretel when they go into the woods and eat the witches' house.

Anyway, a friend of mine went to a baking competition and sent me these photos of these gingerbread houses that the contestants made. Thanks loads! Here they are and I think they're very very pretty!

First things first. This is the one my friend made for the competition. I love the thing on the right, which he told me was a monument of sorts. Like the way the snow is on the roof too. Hehe...

Hmm....don't really like this one much somehow. I think they're supposed to be the Three Little Pigs and in this case they're living in a gingerbread house instead of one made of straw, sticks or bricks.

No particular thoughts on this one.

I love this one it's so fairytale-like and whimsical!!!!!! The toadstool!! *sigh*

Saved my favourite one for last. It's kind of small and not really outrageously complex or anything, but I love the roof of the house and the idea of Little Red Riding Hood going to presumably what is the grandmother's house. Not sure why the wolf is waiting outside though.

All in all, it was a pleasure to look at. I only wish I was there in person to see it for myself.

Dr McDreamy

2006-05-10T18:09:00.000+10:00

In Grey's Anatomy there is a good looking surgeon that interns love. In the dental hospital, there's a demonstator who is good loking that students love too. Our very own Dr McDreamy.

A friend of mine said that it's only because he's young. If he was a 50 year old demonstrator we wouldn't give him two thoughts. I think it's because he's young and also because he is a demonstrator - a person who rescues us when we are in trouble. Therefore, the appeal of having someone good looking rescuing us from our daily mishaps is what makes it desirable. ~~Also, he's definitely the best looking thing on the floor.~~

Nope, I don't think he has gone out with any of us and I don't think it'll happen anytime soon. But you never know.

4 slices of bread with kaya = 800 calories
1 caramel slice = 150 calories
1/4 of an Easter Bunny = 200 calories
1 plate pasta = 600 calories
Total = 1750 (no visible improvement)

To Elope Or Not To Elope

2006-05-09T19:45:00.000+10:00

I always thought that eloping was something that only happened in romance novels or movies. Stuff of fantasy, not reality. Are there people who are actually that brave to run away, leaving behind everything that they are familiar and hold dear to just for the name of love? All that you have after you run away together is each other. What if that falls apart? What then?

I was making dentures (nothing new there) and everybody was bored. Therefore, my prosthetics demonstrator decided to spice things up by telling us that when he was a strapping young whippersnapper he had eloped with his girlfriend.

Us: WHAT?
Him: Yes, it's true.
Us: Tell us!!

Apparently his girlfriend was Italian and her parents wanted her to marry an respectable Italian boy, not some Australian boy who was serving in the army and drove around in a dilapidated jeep. Naturally he was told to bugger off. There was only one thing his girlfriend could do and she did it - she eloped with him. Because of that she was ex-communicated from the family for a year - until she gave birth to a daughter.

It got me thinking. Here was this old man who was just a demonstrator to me - a person we go to just to correct what mistakes we're making. Yet in another time and place, he was a tragic romantic hero of a love story.

What's next? My patient used to be a superstar?

3 slices bread & kaya = 600 calories
3 caramel slices = 450 calories
2 peanut butter cups = 80 calories
1 slice bread & butter = 200 calories
1 plate fried rice = 600 calories
Total = 1930 calories (this is starting to get embarassing)

Scaling & Root Planing Teeth

2006-05-08T20:33:00.000+10:00

Spent my afternoon in the undergraduate clinic trying to clean my patient's teeth, which in my opinion had not been brushed for a very long time - judging from the smell and the amount of gunk that was on his teeth (the correct terminology would be plaque and calculus I suppose).

Having a patient with bad breath is tough. The trick is to make sure your nose is nowhere near their mouth - effectively meaning one has to either sit up higher or view from slightly different angles than what one is used to. Very tricky.

Scaling and root planing in itself is quite fulfilling when you have a patient with lots of plaque and calculus (which I did). Sitting there for an afternoon scraping patiently using scary-looking instruments and acting like I knew exactly what I was doing was quite fun - in a bloody and disgusting way. Digging right under the gums to get to the dirt trapped between the tooth and the gum isn't very pleasant. To crown it all, I gashed my patient's cheek with one of the hand scalers once.

It started bleeding and I saw it was a 1cm cut. Felt terrible but what's done cannot be undone. Luckily it was a shallow gash and my patient is very understanding.

This is why going to a dental student for treatment isn't a very good idea.

Hand scalers - different types for different teeth. Don't they look nice and colourful?

5 slices of bread with kaya = 1000 calories
1 regular KFC chips = 250 calories
1 KFC Wicked Wing = 80 calories
Total= 1330 calories (better, but 1000 calories on bread and kaya??)

Evelyn Hates Kaya Thieves

2006-05-08T11:45:00.000+10:00

So. I decided that I was going to try to be a better person from now on. You know, try to be less selfish, learn to be nicer to people even if people aren't all that nice to you. I tried. Really.

As some of you would have known, there was a Phantom of the Kitchen who was stealing my food. It then became Phantom of My Room when I moved some of my snacks into my room to avoid that from happening. I got annoyed, asked the Phantom to kindly stop it and the Phantom did - even apologizing and buying back my missing groceries.

So.

I stopped buying any food for about 3 weeks because I concluded that's the best way to have a peaceful mind. Unfortunately, it was very taxing on my financial situation so I decided to cook again.

I was nice. I could have been all selfish and refused to give Phantom anything, which was what I felt like doing but I concluded that I should be nice. So I gave the Phantom stuff that I baked and everything....and yesterday even dished out a portion of kaya. I think I made the boundary very clear. That's your kaya. Now leave MY kaya alone.

I even took the precautions to hide the kaya in the fridge behind two blocks of cheese, a big bunch of spring oninos and a packet of cream cheese.

To. No. Avail.

My kaya has been stolen once again.

I am so pissed off.

Evelyn is Exhausted

2006-05-07T19:25:00.000+10:00

Lately I've been feeling that there has been little purpose in my life. Sure, exams are in about a months' time but I somehow lack the drive nor the motivation to start studying for it so that I don't fail. So I woke up this morning and discovered I had nothing to do and proceded to look for something to do.

This is what I did for the day:

1. Grocery Shopping - Now that my enthusiasm for baking is back I have to go more often to get various ingredients.
2. Kaya - Wasted an hour of my time stirring at the stove
3. Laundry - After putting it off until it was impossible to put off any longer.
4. Cupcakes - After making kaya, seemed natural to find something to do with the kaya. Hence, made kaya-filled cupcakes.
5. Cleaning - Gave the entire kitchen a good cleanup. Then decided the living room should be cleaned up too. After that, came into my room and concluded I should clean up my room as well. And sort my notes. Took the whole afternoon.
6. Fried Rice - More cooking. And cleaning.

I'm so exhausted now I want to just lie down and go to sleep. However, it is now time to study. No more nonsense. *sigh*

1 slice of bread with cream cheese & jam = 200 calories
3 kaya-filled cupcakes = 600 calories
1 plate of fried rice = 600 calories
3 KFC Wicked Wings = 250 calories
1 Reese's Peanut Butter Cup = 36 calories
Total = 1686 calories (back to square one)

How To Make Kaya

2006-05-07T12:40:00.000+10:00

Here I am stuck in Melbourne. Without kaya. I know you can go to the Asian grocery store and buy it in the form of 'Coconut Jam' but I didn't think much of the ones I tried. Which was why I set out to make it myself to satisfy my craving.

Making kaya isn't all that hard... it just takes tons of time and patience. Basically you just get equal amounts of coconut milk, sugar and eggs...whisk them together at high speed and put it into a double boiler. And stir. And stir and stir and stir and stir. I can't stress stirring and double boiling enough. Until it starts looking like kaya. Took me an hour to do it today.

My arm aches but my stomach is contented.

Misteri Kehilangan Kanta Lekap

2006-05-06T21:59:00.000+10:00

I took my shower, brushed my teeth using the Modified Bass Technique (brushing teeth is small circles with the bristles 45 degrees towards the gumline. Incidentally, this is the best way to brush your teeth) and proceded to take my contact lenses off. After I managed to put both of them into the case, I accidentally dropped the case and my contact lenses just vanished. Disappeared. Evaporated.

Misteri Kehilangan Kanta Lekap (The Mystery of the Missing Contact Lenses). The reason why I wrote the title in Malay is because when I was young, I used to read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys in the translated Malay versions. Because of that, whenever a mystery comes along, I always think of it in Malay. It's just one of those things.

Anyway. There goes 2 weeks worth of contact lense life.

2 scones - 300 calories
1 plate of ravioli - 600 calories
2 orange & poppy seed muffin - 200 calories
1 small chocolate bar - 150 calories
1 slice of bread with butter & chocolate sprinkles - 200 calories
Half a bag of garden salad - 50 calories
Total : 1500 calories (marginally better)

Comedy Festival

2006-05-06T00:14:00.000+10:00

Every year my local friends invite me to go to Comedy Festival Melbourne to enjoy the pleasure of sitting through a stand up comedy. This year was no different - we went to a stand up comedy by some British comedian. Forgot his name now. Amazingly short short term memory.

Anyway, I thought it was quite nice, although the previous ones I went to was more enjoyable. He gave me a few insights though. One of the ones that struck was his definition of happiness. According to him, to be perfectly happy, you have to be in a situation that is happy... and be in the position to see that the next thing coming up was one that would inspire bliss as well. In other words, if you're happy now but you can see that the future is bleak... you can't be perfectly happy. Perpetual happiness is the key to bliss. And I think that there is some truth in that statement.

Another thing he said that was striking was the his view of Friendster. You type out your favourite movies, music etc so that if someone had the same interest, they can click and view your profiles and think that because they like the same things you like, you'll be great friends and are therefore compatible. However, the truth is it doesn't matter if you have the same interests. The important thing is that you like/hate the same things for the same reason to have a connection. Just because I like dogs for companionship doesn't mean that someone who likes dogs for their fur (like Cruella De Vile) is going to click with me.

Oh. Just remembered his name. Daniel Kitson.

Chicken salad = 200 calories
1 slice of bread with cream cheese & jam - 200 calories
1 slice of bread with butter & chocolate sprinkles - 200 calories
1 small cup of iced chocolate from Gloria Jeans - 250 calories
11 dumplings - 550 calories
3 scones - 450 calories
Total: 1850 calories (no visible improvement)

Not Just Any Pen

2006-05-05T11:10:00.000+10:00

My father is a great believer in good stationery, especially writing instruments. Which is why I was bequeathed my first Parker pen when I was 8. Every year after that my dad would upgrade it... first from the cheap plastic tips that come in different colors to full stainless steel ones with gold tips and finally to a solid silver one that was striped when I was 15. I believe that that particular pen was my lucky pen. When I was 15 everything was going great for me.

However, one day my pencil box disappeared - presumably stolen. I was distraught and didn't have the courage to tell my father about it. After all, not only was that pen in that pencil box, but also a large collection of my colored pens that were very much in vogue at that time as well as another brand name ball pen. Yes yes... which crazy parents let their children even touch such expensive things, let alone bring it to school every day where most crimes occur at such a young and tender age. Let's just say that my parents trusted me to be careful.

Anyway, I confessed to my mom tearfully and she promised me that she wouldn't breathe a word about it to my dad and just forget the whole thing ever happened and adviced me to downgrade to plain 20 cent ballpoint pens from then on.

The next morning I woke up heavy hearted and still feeling blue over the loss of my favourite pen in the world. I started to pack my bag to go to school and lo and behold - there was a brand new Parker pen sitting on the study desk. Not the exact same one I lost, but similar. In the back of my mind, I knew what happened - my mom had told my dad about my loss but told him not to admonish me. He didn't - and he went further. He gave me another pen - even after my carelessness and undeservingnesss. I was touched.

5 years later on my 20th birthday he gave me a box. I opened it and there it was - the exact pen I lost when I was 15. He had managed to find the exact model again even though it was out of production many years before he even gave me the first one). Now I use it daily - its weight comforting and reassuring. My father's gift to me.

Sometimes it's difficult to deny the fact that I am a pampered princess.

Childhood Memory 1

2006-05-05T10:47:00.000+10:00

I've been thinking about my life when I was back in Malaysia, young, innocent and naive. When the biggest worry in my life was whether I made a mistake in the Maths paper that would prevent me from getting 100%. Things were so easy and straightforward then.

I would come home from school, eat a couple of spoonfuls of rice and dishes, take a bath and get ready for the best part of my day - lying in bed eating oranges and reading about brownies having their adventures in fairyland or the like.

I'd take 2 oranges out from the fridge, peel them by hand, bring it upstairs and choose a storybook to read. I'd eat the oranges systematically, segment by segment, savouring the experience. In my younger years I acquired the ability to hold books and flip the pages using my toes so that I wouldn't stain the books with orange juice. Inevitably it would still happen once in a while. Up to now I can still see orange stains on some of my favourite volumes.

An orange a day keeps the doctor away.

Evelyn Loves Eating

2006-05-04T19:47:00.000+10:00

Some days I accept the fact that if I can't fit into a size 6 Bettina Liano jeans, it does not make me any less a person than a person who can. This is when I feel that I cannot give up my chocolates, chips and cakes that are my comfort food when I need it. Then on other days, I think that if I was thin, my life would be complete (very twisted view of life, but it's nonetheless true).

Anyway, for a long time I've always heard that one of the ways to control what you eat is to keep a food diary. Except I never did. I concluded that what's the point of writing it down when I know what I'm eating? So now I've come up with this brilliant idea of writing down everything I've eaten for the day in this blog for everybody to read so that I will hopefully be shamed into a healthier diet. Shall be aiming for 1200 calories or less a day.

So here goes.

1 slice of bread with shredded chicken - 200 calories
1 small bowl of chicken salad - 200 calories
3 Scones - 450 calories
1 slice of chicken & leek pie - 400 calories
1 bowl of ravioli pasta - 600 calories
Estimated total calories: 1850 (Re.Pul.Sive.)

OMG I think it's already working. Terrified that I'm going to die alone and obese.

Wish List

2006-05-04T12:42:00.000+10:00

One of the ways to entertain myself is to just randomly surf the net looking for things to get obsessed over. And I came up with this:

1. Victorinox USB Drive - Yes, I know that I don't need a Swiss Army Knife when I don't do anything close to anything remotely associated with army life. That doesn't mean that I can't get one so that I can use the tweezers for ripping off stray eyebrow hairs and the scissors for cutting off tags from my clothes, right?? Besides, the USB key looks so much better this way.

2. Heart-Shaped Measuring Spoons - I've concluded that in my fantasy kitchen all my kitchen appliances will not only be functional, they would be adorable.

3. Lucky Symbol Paperweights - Except number 7 isn't really my lucky number. I always thought that number 3 was my lucky number. Not sure how I came up with that idea though.

4. Pewter Dog Charm - Isn't it cute?? I'm going to save this for my future long-haired daschund. :D

5. Leather Portfolio - I love this so much I want one of them! The only thing stopping me from owning it is the fact that it costs 145 pounds. There's so many funky colors too. *sigh*

Baking Accomplishments

2006-05-03T11:50:00.001+10:00

When I first got back to Melbourne a couple of months ago my friends from dentistry bought me a cake mixer for my birthday, because I was very into baking at that time. Isn't it ironic? Here we are telling our patients to stop eating sugar and secretly we're baking various sweet things as pick-me-ups.

I was delighted with the present and baked practically everyday. Since I was new to the act, everything was exciting, from sifting flour to grating chocolate. Now I see it as a chore. Especially grating chocolate - I've grated off my own skin a few times by now.

Anyway, I've stopped doing it for about a month now except for specific reasons (birthdays, pot luck, ~~depression~~) due to the fact that baking was proving to be a very expensive hobby and I just didn't have time to bake and be a model dental student at the same time. However, here are a few pictures of a couple of things I baked. I'm not very hardworking when it comes to taking pictures so there's only a few for all to see.

1. Chocolate Ripple Cake - More like a log really. One of my first attempts, not one I'm really proud of. Took a photo of it for the sake of it because it was my first. Haha...

2.Almond Berry Slices - The first slices I ever made. Came out quite well, even if I do say so myself. Tempted to try making them again...almonds are one of my favourite nuts!

3. Pineapple Upside Down Cake - I love the way the cake looks because of the cherries!! I've always wanted to replicate this but never had the opportunity due to the many other recipes out there that I have not explored.

4. Housewarming Cake - Baked this for my friend's housewarming about a month ago. It's actually a butter cake covered with sugar icing. Spent ages getting the colors right. Next time I'm going to make hearts instead of polka-dots. ~~If there is a next time~~.

5.Portuguese Custard Tarts - I'm actually very proud of these tarts... mainly because the custard came out exactly the way I wanted it to.

6. Birthday Cake - For my friend's 21st. It's some sort of chocolate cake - I've forgotten the name. I didn't actually get a chance to taste it myself because I left the party early.

Yes, I baked everything from scratch and no, I do not know how to bake cheesecakes yet. Currently trying to experiment with pies and scones. Will post up more pictures when I can be bothered.

Balancing Act

2006-05-03T11:50:00.000+10:00

I check my bank balance every two weeks just to make sure that I'm not overspending or doing anything too crazy. However, it still doesn't save me from the shock factor when I click and see numbers that I just cannot believe.

Then the excruciating pain of looking at the bank statement to see where the money went to starts. The top I forgot I bought, the ridiculous phone bill, the dessert buffet, tickets, eyebrow shaping...etc.

On top of that, I've taken to eating out all the time nowadays - mainly because I don't want to have anything to do with my house kitchen (long story that shall be told another day along with the rest of my grievances about this residence) and also because I'm lazy. Also because if I have food lying around in the house I am more likely to snack and consequently get fat. However, I suddenly realize the need to stop eating out. When I eat out I can easily spend 30 bucks a day just on food without even trying, depending on what I choose to eat.

Must start cooking at home again.

Denture Making

2006-05-02T21:19:00.000+10:00

I suddenly realised that I have not actually posted up photos of my completed denture work. Granted, I've probably whinged about how bad my life is in the dental lab melting wax and setting plastic teeth at the exact correct angle and inclination but a picture is worth a thousand words. So here we go...

My denture model in the articulator, which is a very expensive metal device that set me back about 1000 AUD because it can do 'everything' - i.e. simulate how a jaw moves in an actual mouth. At this stage the gum part which is usually made of acryllic in real dentures is still made of wax...which we painstakingly mould to ressemble what you see in the picture. Just in case you were wondering, it takes an ignorant dental student about 9 hours to set both the upper and lower jaw teeth in and about 6 hours to get the wax gums looking like that. A qualified dental technician finishes everything in 2 hours or less. Hmph.

Up close and personal photo of my upper denture and my very poorly manicured thumb (no point painting nails if you're doing dentistry - it gets destroyed the day after).

Another view of the upper denture. There's a piece of wire that's set into the wax to strengthen the entire structure. Incidentally, the pliers supplied by the dental school suck big time. I have cut myself with the wires at least 3 times by now while trying (extremely unsuccessfully while cursing) to cut and shape the wires to the desired length and curvature.

After all that effort, the next thing to do is to sit and pray hard... very very hard that the denture fits into the patient's mouth. ~~If it doesn't we remove the patient from the waiting list and let them live an edentulous life~~.

Sticky Matters

2006-05-02T18:29:00.000+10:00

I've been playing piano for my church in Melbourne this semester and it has been bringing back memories of my younger days when I was learning how to play the instrument. I choose to remember only the happy lessons, not the lessons where my music teacher would repeatedly tell me to curl my fingers and sit up straight.

My music teacher used to live 10 doors down from my home. Every Wednesday morning at 9am I would walk to her place for lessons. I can still remember the smell of her house (she had the whole house air-conditioned and installed some sort of air freshening device so her house always smelt and felt nice). We would then go through the few pieces she got me to practice for the day and if I did well, she would reward me.

The reward was in the form of stickers. Not just any stickers, really beautiful stickers that I coveted (to my innocent 6 year old eyes, they were the best things in the world). If I was up to par, she would tell me to go into her spare room and take out a box that contained these marvelous stickers and let me pick one, sometimes two if I was especially good. I believe that those stickers played a very big role in motivating me to become the pianist I am today.

Reminiscing.

Punctuality

2006-05-01T19:39:00.000+10:00

I like to think that I am a punctual person - the latest I've ever been in my life is probably 5 minutes. Except for the time I got hit by a truck. So it's no surprise that I'm not really a fan of people who like to come consistently late.

I think that 5-10 minutes late is kind of reasonable, as long as it's not all the time. I mean, things happen. But anything more than that is pure habit and irresponsibility if you ask me. It's fine if I'm free with nothing better to do (actually, it's not fine but I try to tolerate it) but when I sacrifice things so that I can be there on time, I think it is not unreasonable for me to expect the same out of people. Especially when I am not the person who sets the time.

I hate waiting.

Rants

2006-04-27T23:30:00.000+10:00

I have to rant. Today was such a bad day. Not just a bad day. A bad day filled with all my pet peeves. It's as if though everything was arranged for the worst things to happen at the same time.

1. Denture Making - I cannot begin to express what two simple words mean. I spent my day sitting in the lab trying to set plastic teeth in wax in exactly the right angles and inclinations. Doesn't help that there are two demonstrators who were looking after us who had conflicting ideas

Demonstrator 1: Look at your occlusal plane. Can you see that your anterior teeth are a little too low? Raise them.
Me: Okay.

*half an hour later with the modifications*

Me: So, how is this?
Demonstrator 2: Look at your contact points. Your anterior teeth is too high. Lower them!!
Me: But I was just told to raise them!
Demonstrator 2: How are you going to establish contact points with anterior teeth that high?
Me: *mumble* Okay...

*another half an hour later*

Demonstrator 1: Anterior teeth too low! Raise them!

I cracked. In total I raised and lowered my stupid lower anterior teeth 5 times. 5 hours later I finally finished and went to KFC for comfort.

2. Lousy Internet Connection - When my internet is up and running smoothly I never give thanks for that. I think that is why it goes on strike once in a while to give me a taste on what life is without internet that runs the way it should run. My MSN has been disconnecting every 5 minutes and webpages are refusing to load. Seething...

3. Late Notices - I received a SMS in the middle of the night telling me that I had to go to church for worship practice today. I'm fine with going, it's just that having earlier notice would really be a big help - especially when I have already promised my friend that I would go to her birthday party which purposely planned on a day that I could go. Not to mention that another friend of mine was going to do her maiden song-leading in Dental Christian Fellowship and I was supposed to go and support her as well.

4. Missing A Sale - Myers had a one day sale that surprise surprise, I could not go because I didn't have time. This might be a positive thing because by not going I'm saving money but as far as I'm concerned, this is lost opportunity.

5.Meeting an Ex - Fine. Not an ex. But with all the same emotions when you meet someone you don't want to meet again. I particularly hate it when I feel that I'm not my best that day and they are obviously at their peak of fabulousness. But that's life isn't it? If your day is bad, it's very bad. All I could think of during the encounter was

a) Your girlfriend is carrying a fake LV bag.
b) This is a really shit day.

Thank you for listening.

Numero Uno

2006-04-27T14:09:00.000+10:00

Sometimes I feel like an outsider.

Some may say that I brought it on myself - investing my time the wrong way with the wrong people at the wrong place at the wrong time. Sometimes I think maybe it is my own fault - a defect in my personality somewhere.

I think the reason why many people would love to have a relationship with someone is because then you can be No.1 to the person - and that person can be your No.1. And this isn't really just about romantic relationships - even friendships. Having a best friend means you're the most important friend in their life, the way they are your most important friend. The person you're going to depend on when the rest of the world has abandoned you and when you really need someone to be there. Not just some superficial acquaintanceship (is that even a word?) where when the going gets tough, you're left alone - hollow and cold.

Tired of being No. 2.

Blueberry Burberry

2006-04-25T19:42:00.000+10:00

My friend came back from New York last weekend and gave me this.

This marks the end of my 2 year wait for a piece of cloth. Although I insist that it’s not just a piece of cloth. This is going to keep me warm for the rest of the year – not in a boring way, but in a check-y, cashmere-y Burberry-ish warmth.

Happiness.

If...

2006-04-23T22:19:00.000+10:00

If is such a sad depressing word. If only I had....

I wish I had...

Why didn't I....

If I could turn back time...

One week earlier....one week later...

One milisecond later.

Fate.

Procrastination

2006-04-23T10:06:00.000+10:00

"Procrastination is the thief of time" is probably the most under-rated proverb I have ever come across - because it's true. Everytime I procrastinate I just create a bigger problem to deal with in the future because I refuse to do it now.

"A stitch in time saves nine".

Another excellent proverb I should make as my new mantra.

48 hours to Pharmacology. Argh!!

Evelyn Is Enormous

2006-04-22T15:18:00.000+10:00

I haven't been doing my laundry and therefore as my clothes deplete, I have to delve deeper into my cupboard to look for suitable clothes. After digging around and trying on a few things that I used to wear a couple of years ago, I realise:

1. If I thought I was obese at 19, I was not. Now I'm obese.
2. Size 6 is probably not my size anymore.
3. I need to stop eating.

Depressed.

Bored

2006-04-22T11:47:00.000+10:00

Lately I've been craving for excitement. Anything to break the boring 8am-5pm of Dentistry drilling, filling, scaling and waxing. Anything to get out of the constant stream of revisions and tests and presentations. In short, I am bored.

On one hand, end of semester exams are only 6 weeks away and if I know what's good for me, I would not be welcoming distractions but rather, shy away from it. But I have to admit - I need something new.

P/S: I want nice excitement... like random box of Koko Black on my doorstep. Not bad excitement like breaking my neck.

Withdrawal Symptoms 2

2006-04-20T18:46:00.000+10:00

I thought yesterday was bad when I had a scratchy sore throat. That was until I woke up this morning with a blocked nose and a severe hacking cough coupled with a pounding headache.

My dad has concluded that its probably a viral infection - in which case nothing is going to help me except the usual homely remedies like lemon and honey and just general rest. I'm really annoyed because my test is coming up and this illness is just giving me extra excuses to not study.

On another note, my housemate was my guardian angel of the day by making me century egg porridge (yum yum) and herbal tea to soothe my throat. My only silver lining in the cloud is that at least I'll lose weight.

Back to Pharmacology.

Withdrawal Symptoms

2006-04-19T10:31:00.000+10:00

Thanks to pigging out on my baking as well as about 3 big packets of chips a week, it was inevitable that I was going to gain weight. Which was why I have decided to cut out junk food out of my life for the next couple of weeks. Also, I'm broke so I guess not spending the few dollars here and there on stuff that would get me fat anyway would help with my crisis situation.

I quit junk on Friday and have been trying to be healthy since. Today, I woke up with a really bad sore throat. Now, why is that?

Easter Holidays

2006-04-19T00:58:00.000+10:00

I made a checklist of things I wanted to do during the holidays.

1. Buy Sunglasses - Check. Got my Dolce & Gabbana's after all. I was fated to own it. Which leads to...
2. Dye Hair Black - Check. Still getting used to having black hair again. The last time I had black hair, I was still in secondary school in Batu Pahat where we weren't even allowed to wear earrings. Oh well, at least it matches my sunnies. :D
3. Finish Making Dentures - Going to wake up bright and early tomorrow and go to the removable prosthetics lab to do it. Hopefully the demonstrators will be so impressed with my dedication that they will help me set the teeth. In. My. Dreams.
4. Stop Eating Junk - This has become easier to achieve ever since I severely overspent. Totally over my budget now - have to tighten my belt in all ways.
5. Study - Mid-sem coming up and I have this sneaking suspicion that if I actually start studying early for my end of semester exams it would be a good thing for me in the long run.
6. Projects - Something about skeletal development and cephalometrics. *moan* Why didn't study to become a professional shopper instead?

Looks like the only things I've done are unrelated to study. Must persevere!

Awww....

2006-04-18T00:54:00.000+10:00

My friend started me on this new web comic that I've been reading for the past few days and I have to say that although it is nice, I still prefer Questionable Content. However, this particular strip is one of the sweetest comic strips I have ever read in my life to date. From a crazy gamer, I think one cannot expect more. I've added this comic to my link list.

*sigh*

Bags

2006-04-16T16:27:00.000+10:00

1. Louis Vuitton L' Ingenieux PM - My favourite one is actually white in color but I couldn't find a picture of it. However, the red one is lovely too. Too bad I don't have USD2750 to spend on a piece of goatskin.

2. Luella Stevie Striped Handbag - This bag has been copied by so many other brands that it has lost its charm. However, I feel that the stripes and the anchor charm redeems it somewhat. Very pretty.

3. Burberry Blue Checked Tote - I have a love hate relationship with this bag. When I first saw it I loved it. Then I hated it. Then now I can't make up my mind.

4. Fendi Spy - Love the color. I want it!

Stopping at four. Strangely I can't find others that really strike my fancy. Also just realised that they are all totes... and the bags I have are also totes. Better start thinking about diversifying.

Good Friday

2006-04-14T19:20:00.000+10:00

This is the first Friday in 10 weeks that I have a break and actually have money to spend. Only the shops are not open.

Why???

Unrealistic Expectations

2006-04-12T16:36:00.000+10:00

I went horse-riding last weekend and rode a brown horse called Mars, presumably because Mars Bars are brown. At least that's my interpretation of its name. Anyway, if I had my way, I would have wanted to ride a white horse.

So I came back and told my cousin that I wanted to own a white horse some day - which of course is a highly unrealistic desire. She came up with something even better.

'Why not say you want a unicorn? Since you want a sabre toothed tiger as well, my as well get a unicorn to match it!'

Alright...I'll shut up now.

Lost

2006-04-11T19:47:00.000+10:00

If I have everything, why do I still feel that there's a void?

Depressed.

Clue 2

2006-04-09T19:57:00.000+10:00

If a girl really likes you, she is never busy. Never. Only in extreme circumstances will she say that she can't make it - and even then she will offer an alternative date.

Get the drift.

The Pot And The Kettle

2006-04-09T09:08:00.000+10:00

There's this person who never fails to insinuate that my love for designer items is an insult to my religion and is a sign of my extreme shallowness and materialisticness. It used to really annoy me but after a while I decided to just ignore him. After all, it's not his money and it's my life. I feel that someone who barely knows me has no right to judge me on such trivial matters.

However, I would like to point out that although it is true that I have my human failings, at least I freely admit it. In his case, while he himself refrains from indulging in such luxuries, guess who is lusting after luxury items too? His own girlfriend. Perhaps he chooses to tell me off so that I do not negatively influence his girlfriend - I do not know. Whatever the case, I find what he says extremely insulting and extremely uncalled for.

So maybe I feel that he should tell his own girlfriend off first instead of telling me what to do with my life.

Evelyn's Favourite Sweets

2006-04-08T22:19:00.000+10:00

1. Koko Black Chocolate - only specific pieces though. Realised that there are a few that I actually hate. Must change dream from a bottomless Koko Black Chocolate box to a bottomless box of my favourite pieces of Koko Black.
2. Lindt Lindor - I like the ones that come in a box of 18 squares... they're so addictive finishing off a box is no sweat. Mm....
3. Chocolate Mud Cake - Specifically the one from Greco's. Although the one in Trevi isn't all that bad either.
4. Nutella - So good you can even eat it on its own.
5. Blueberry Muffins - So hard to find a good one though. My favourite blueberry muffins used to come from Baretto but sadly they changed the recipe and it's not as good anymore. :( Sad sad sad...
6. Pancakes - The best stack of pancakes I have ever eaten was somewhere on Chapel St. Sadly the next time I went back I couldn't find the restaurant that served it again! I wonder if I hallucinated eating such a scrumptious snack.
7. Almond Crossaints - Right up there with hazelnuts, almonds have always been in my good books.
8. Honeycomb Gelati - Yum yum yum...
9. Peanut M&M's - These are so deadly I don't even dare to eat them anymore.
10. Apple Crumble - Something I go for when I get sick of chocolate.

I find it ironic that I am a future dentist.

Bargain

2006-04-05T23:31:00.000+10:00

When I was young my parents used to motivate me to study by promising rewards if I did well. Now that I'm older that has ceased of course, but that has also led me to be more complacent about my studies.

Which is why now I think I am going to reward myself instead of waiting for my parents to do it. I'm lusting after a Burberry scarf now that the weather is getting colder. I know I won't rest until I get it. Which is why I'm making this promise to myself:

If I get H1 for both my mid-semester tests coming up, I will buy it for myself.

Better start studying.

Pink or blue? Pink or blue? Sigh... can't decide.

Elsternwick

2006-04-05T19:32:00.000+10:00

How far would a girl go to forget her removable prosthetics sorrows? All the way to Elsternwick.

After my clinic session this morning I was so frustrated I knew I just had to let it out. That was when my trusty dentistry friend told me that there was a sale in the Cactus Jam outlet in Elsternwick. Let me tell all of you now that I never go anywhere further than Toorak. But I decided that Cactus Jam was worth my effort. Plus, I needed therapy!! So we took a train out to Elsternwick. When we arrived it promptly decided to rain.

.....

Anyway, we persevered and managed to get to the store finally through the wind and cold and rain and spent 2 hours there just trying on clothes, more clothes and more clothes. Managed to get two pairs of jeans and a top. That effectively means that I have a few more jeans that I need and a couple more tops than necessary. But who cares? They were from Sass & Bide and Habitual! How was I supposed to resist?

Came home, decided to weigh myself after weeks of avoiding the scale. That was when I realised that I lost weight. Looks like today isn't a bad day after all.

The Long Line

2006-04-05T11:47:00.000+10:00

Nothing annoys me more in the undergraduate clinic than someone jumping the queue to talk to the demonstrator.

Seriously, there's like 6 of us sharing one demonstrator, and each 'consultation' lasts between 5-15 minutes. If two people jump the queue, we end up waiting around doing nothing for about half an hour while the patient sits in the chair getting increasingly irritable and choose to blame the only person they can think of blaming - us.

It doesn't help that some of the other groups even try to steal the demonstrator allocated to our group. Seriously, just join the queue. Everybody has to wait!!

I'm going shopping.

Clue 1

2006-04-04T19:52:00.000+10:00

My guy friend complains that girls do not show enough signs that they are interested in a guy, leaving them to do guesswork. In my personal opinion, girls are meant to not show too much of what they're feeling.

I think one of the dead giveaways when a girl likes a guy is when someone asks her what she thinks of him.

Friend: So, what do you think of Jared as boyfriend material?
Girl: Jared? Well, he's alright. *supressed smile*

If a girl says she thinks the guy is alright, secretly he is more than alright. It's that simple. Or else she'll come up with a list of things that is wrong about the guy. It's amazing how many guys see the word 'alright' as a negative sign.

There.

Sunglasses and Tresses

2006-04-04T11:40:00.000+10:00

So I went to have a look at sunglasses a few days ago and saw this white Dolce & Gabbana pair that I really liked. I tried it on and concluded that it didn't look that good on me, but if my hair was black it would be perfect.

Because of that, I'm seriously rethinking my hair. My dark roots are already showing...so in a sense it is time for a change. BUT I've already promised myself that I would only buy one pair of sunglasses per semester. Sigh. The dilemma.

Should I dye my hair black to match that pair of sunglasses? I think I'm insane.