"I parked quite far away so you'll have to carry me to my car", she said.
By carry, she meant to give her a lift in my car, of course. Just as we reached her parked car, as she was getting ready to get out of mine, by some weird, crazy, unexplained force I was driven to burst into the high-pitched, nasal refrain that we were singing earlier:
"Nyaaa... nya-nya-nya... nya-nya-nya.... nya-nya-nya-nya-nyaaaaa..."
"Stop, it!" she cried, "What are you, a mosquito?"
That reminded me of the time we went for a 3-day camp at FRIM.
On the first morning, right after we arrived, we were placed into groups of 9 or 10 persons, and were asked to choose a name for our respective groups. We must name our group after an animal, said the camp facilitator. Some idiot (I think it was me) came up with Mosquito, and everyone else agreed. In fact, we were very proud that our group was named so differently from the usual Cats, Dogs, Tigers and Elephants.
For the first activity, the facilitator announced, everyone except the group leaders would be blindfolded and spread around in a large area a certain distance away. Each group's leader, at one end of the clearing, must then gather all the group's members together again. This would be achieved by the group leader making the sound of the animal the group was named after, really loudly - the facilitator emphasized - so the members could hear and could follow the sound back to their leaders.
My friends and I stared at each other, and then at the facilitator - but we're Mosquito! I can't remember what his reaction to our dismay was, but it was probably a sneer or a smirk. So, okay, mosquitos do make noises - they make that irritating high-pitched "eeeeeeee.............."
And with that irritating high-pitched "eeeeeeee.............." which struggled really hard past the high-decibel meowing, barking, roaring and trumpeting to the ears of the Mosquitos, we managed to gather ourselves back into a group. Now, the next time someone said to name the group after an animal, choose an animal! Mosquito is an insect - know the difference, please!
But what a lovely camp that was! :)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Another Post for a Friday
Over lunch, my pretty friend and I talked about the horrid thing that is the Friday afternoon class.
Well, I said, I'd prefer it if I didn't have to do anything (work-related) at all on Friday!
That isn't unreasonable, she said, because I am busy all the other days of the week.
Truth be told, my schedule is sort of packed from Mondays to Thursdays, but I won't say it is reasonable to use that as justification for "not doing anything" on Fridays. Still, it was so sweet of her to think it :)
Furthermore, she continued, I have to blog on Fridays (and she LAUGHED!)
!!!
I don't blog on Fridays! Perhaps I should though...
* * * * *
It was like two minutes after stepping into my office, after lunch, that my phone rang. It was a really cute fella. He asked,
"May I know where you are now, Miss?"
I answered,
"You called my office phone and I answered, so obviously I am in my office."
See what I mean when I called the fella a cute fella?
The whole episode reminded me of the time, a long time ago, my Mom called my Papa.
"Where are you now?!"
"(With a smile in his voice, I'm sure) Which number did you call?"
"Your office number."
"So that's where I am now."
* * * * *
I was looking at Snoflek's blog a little while ago, and she'd written a very nice post about someone else's blog. I visited that, and found that I like it very much as well! Take a look, if you will, at this very creative person's very pretty creations: http://verypurplestuffs.blogspot.com/
5th July edit:
Since I was on the (sort of) topic of interesting blogs, here another: http://www.playalittleguitar.com/
Most people I know don't know I have a guitar. Yes, I own a guitar I can't play, and I've owned it since almost a decade ago. I bought it with money I earned from writing fairy-tales, and I bought it because my Mom sold my piano though I didn't want her to. Yes, she sold the piano I can't play. So, in retaliation, I bought a guitar I can't play...
Well, I said, I'd prefer it if I didn't have to do anything (work-related) at all on Friday!
That isn't unreasonable, she said, because I am busy all the other days of the week.
Truth be told, my schedule is sort of packed from Mondays to Thursdays, but I won't say it is reasonable to use that as justification for "not doing anything" on Fridays. Still, it was so sweet of her to think it :)
Furthermore, she continued, I have to blog on Fridays (and she LAUGHED!)
!!!
I don't blog on Fridays! Perhaps I should though...
* * * * *
It was like two minutes after stepping into my office, after lunch, that my phone rang. It was a really cute fella. He asked,
"May I know where you are now, Miss?"
I answered,
"You called my office phone and I answered, so obviously I am in my office."
See what I mean when I called the fella a cute fella?
The whole episode reminded me of the time, a long time ago, my Mom called my Papa.
"Where are you now?!"
"(With a smile in his voice, I'm sure) Which number did you call?"
"Your office number."
"So that's where I am now."
* * * * *
I was looking at Snoflek's blog a little while ago, and she'd written a very nice post about someone else's blog. I visited that, and found that I like it very much as well! Take a look, if you will, at this very creative person's very pretty creations: http://verypurplestuffs.blogspot.com/
5th July edit:
Since I was on the (sort of) topic of interesting blogs, here another: http://www.playalittleguitar.com/
Most people I know don't know I have a guitar. Yes, I own a guitar I can't play, and I've owned it since almost a decade ago. I bought it with money I earned from writing fairy-tales, and I bought it because my Mom sold my piano though I didn't want her to. Yes, she sold the piano I can't play. So, in retaliation, I bought a guitar I can't play...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Pretty
Would you love me if I were not pretty?
Would you have me, without even knowing me,
If I were not pretty?
Would you decide that I'd be good for you,
Though you've never been acquainted with me,
If I were not pretty?
Would you take the time to consider,
Whether you could be happy with me;
Would you think twice before deciding,
That I were precisely what you needed;
Just because you liked my looks,
If I were not pretty...
Were I not pretty?
Did you want me simply because I were pretty?
And would you still eat me, since you thought me so pretty?
Would you have me, without even knowing me,
If I were not pretty?
Would you decide that I'd be good for you,
Though you've never been acquainted with me,
If I were not pretty?
Would you take the time to consider,
Whether you could be happy with me;
Would you think twice before deciding,
That I were precisely what you needed;
Just because you liked my looks,
If I were not pretty...
Were I not pretty?
Did you want me simply because I were pretty?
And would you still eat me, since you thought me so pretty?
Friday, June 26, 2009
A Short Long-Titled Post for a Friday
At the entrance to the hospital, there were several masked attendants. As I walked towards them, one stopped me and asked if I was having flu, or flu-like symptoms. I said "No" and was allowed to go in.
I wonder what they would do had I said "Yes".
Or if I said "No, I *ahhh-chooo* I don't have *sniff sniff* flu, or any *cough* of the symptoms. *ahhhem*".
Perhaps I should try that the next time.
I wonder what they would do had I said "Yes".
Or if I said "No, I *ahhh-chooo* I don't have *sniff sniff* flu, or any *cough* of the symptoms. *ahhhem*".
Perhaps I should try that the next time.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Smartest Guy in Class
He deserves a little publicity, for displaying his superior cognitive abilities, twice in two weeks!
First time: c. Last Week
The lesson was about differentiating two methods used to display output, namely println and print. The former includes a newline character at the end of the output so subsequent output would appear on the next line, while the latter doesn't. To demonstrate, an example with 4 statements using print method (each displaying a single word) were used to print a single line of text, consisting the 4 words. Another 2 statements using println were then used to show subsequent output texts in separate lines.
He asked - with regards to the first 4 statements using print - why should he use 4 statements to output a single line of text, when he can very well use just a single statement?
For the benefit of those not familiar with programming, here's an analogy to illustrate:
The Lesson: I am going to show you how to use this knife. To cut a fruit, say an apple, I hold the knife like this, and I cut like this, like this, like that, and there - I have slices of apples to eat!
The Question: Why can't I just take the whole apple and bite into it?
Second time: c. This Week
The lesson was about the dangers of integer division resulting in zero. For an easy example, say one has 2 floating-point variables, x and y. The value of y, is a tenth multipled by x. If the statement is written as y = (1/10)*x, the right-hand side expression will always be zero, because integer division of 1 by 10 always results in zero.
He asked - why can't he just divide x by 10 directly?
Again, for the benefit of those not familiar with programming, here's the analogy:
The Lesson: Here's an important precaution when using the juicer. It is important to cut the fruit, say an orange, into small chunks before putting them in. If the pieces are too big, the juicer can't juice them properly.
The Question: Can't I just squeeze the orange juice out with my hands?
Why, yes you can! Bravo, kid.
First time: c. Last Week
The lesson was about differentiating two methods used to display output, namely println and print. The former includes a newline character at the end of the output so subsequent output would appear on the next line, while the latter doesn't. To demonstrate, an example with 4 statements using print method (each displaying a single word) were used to print a single line of text, consisting the 4 words. Another 2 statements using println were then used to show subsequent output texts in separate lines.
He asked - with regards to the first 4 statements using print - why should he use 4 statements to output a single line of text, when he can very well use just a single statement?
For the benefit of those not familiar with programming, here's an analogy to illustrate:
The Lesson: I am going to show you how to use this knife. To cut a fruit, say an apple, I hold the knife like this, and I cut like this, like this, like that, and there - I have slices of apples to eat!
The Question: Why can't I just take the whole apple and bite into it?
Second time: c. This Week
The lesson was about the dangers of integer division resulting in zero. For an easy example, say one has 2 floating-point variables, x and y. The value of y, is a tenth multipled by x. If the statement is written as y = (1/10)*x, the right-hand side expression will always be zero, because integer division of 1 by 10 always results in zero.
He asked - why can't he just divide x by 10 directly?
Again, for the benefit of those not familiar with programming, here's the analogy:
The Lesson: Here's an important precaution when using the juicer. It is important to cut the fruit, say an orange, into small chunks before putting them in. If the pieces are too big, the juicer can't juice them properly.
The Question: Can't I just squeeze the orange juice out with my hands?
Why, yes you can! Bravo, kid.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
No Random Post
A friend once said that when one's heart inclines towards something, one starts to really notice it, and notice all its likenesses. And the commonest things that haven't meant the least to one all one's life start to bear seemingly irrelevant significant importance. That smallest thing may make the heart skip beats, the eyes linger moments longer, the thoughts stray off course. It may be a name, a number, a date, a car, a book, a colour, an abstract idea...
Today, I am thinking of pink. Nice, sweet, baby pink. And I am thinking of 23. It is, afterall, another one of my favourites.
Today, I am thinking of pink. Nice, sweet, baby pink. And I am thinking of 23. It is, afterall, another one of my favourites.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Steamed Buns
The recipe (from here):
500 gm flour (super white flour or Pau flour)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp (6g) instant dry yeast
2 tbsp shorterning or vegetable oil
250 ml lukewarm water
Method :
1. Mix all the dry ingredients together (flour,baking powder,salt,sugar,yeast and shortening) in a bowl and then add in the water and mix well until it forms a dough.
2. Keep kneading the dough until it doesn't stick to your hands.
3. Divide the dough into two small doughs and knead again until the dough texture is smooth.
4. Leave the dough to rise double the size, covered with a wet cloth. (around 30mins - 1 hour)
5. When the dough has risen , punch the dough to let the air out. Knead the dough into small balls (half size of a baseball) and fill with your choice of fillings (e.g. red beans fillings,beef or chicken curry fillings,tuna).
6. Place a small piece of paper as a underlayer of each buns. (This is to prevent the buns from sticking to the steaming pot)
7. Leave all the buns to rise again for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile you can prepare the steaming pot.
8. Steam the buns for about 10 minutes , and ready to be served.
Guess which step I missed?
7. Leave all the buns to rise again for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile you can prepare the steaming pot.
Yup, that one. Smart, aren't I? The moment I'd done a batch, I hurried them into my steaming wok. Hurried them like they'd evaporate if I hesitated 2 seconds. Hurried like there's a deadline which if missed the world would cease to exist. I want to bang my head against the wall.
They look really UGLY, and aren't as fluffy as I remember they ought to be, but they are edible. Heck, they are more than edible - just not fluffy. Gah! I need to do this again next weekend!
14th June, 12:30am edit:
I consulted my bestfriend's husband, who has had some formal culinary training, on dough-rising matters. In addition to always include step 7 which I missed, he said, instead of punching the dough (step 5 of the recipe), I ought to press it gently, to rid it of the big air bubbles and preserve the tiny ones. Press it GENTLY. Not punch it all over. Definitely not karate punch it from every direction!
500 gm flour (super white flour or Pau flour)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp (6g) instant dry yeast
2 tbsp shorterning or vegetable oil
250 ml lukewarm water
Method :
1. Mix all the dry ingredients together (flour,baking powder,salt,sugar,yeast and shortening) in a bowl and then add in the water and mix well until it forms a dough.
2. Keep kneading the dough until it doesn't stick to your hands.
3. Divide the dough into two small doughs and knead again until the dough texture is smooth.
4. Leave the dough to rise double the size, covered with a wet cloth. (around 30mins - 1 hour)
5. When the dough has risen , punch the dough to let the air out. Knead the dough into small balls (half size of a baseball) and fill with your choice of fillings (e.g. red beans fillings,beef or chicken curry fillings,tuna).
6. Place a small piece of paper as a underlayer of each buns. (This is to prevent the buns from sticking to the steaming pot)
7. Leave all the buns to rise again for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile you can prepare the steaming pot.
8. Steam the buns for about 10 minutes , and ready to be served.
Guess which step I missed?
7. Leave all the buns to rise again for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile you can prepare the steaming pot.
Yup, that one. Smart, aren't I? The moment I'd done a batch, I hurried them into my steaming wok. Hurried them like they'd evaporate if I hesitated 2 seconds. Hurried like there's a deadline which if missed the world would cease to exist. I want to bang my head against the wall.
They look really UGLY, and aren't as fluffy as I remember they ought to be, but they are edible. Heck, they are more than edible - just not fluffy. Gah! I need to do this again next weekend!
14th June, 12:30am edit:
I consulted my bestfriend's husband, who has had some formal culinary training, on dough-rising matters. In addition to always include step 7 which I missed, he said, instead of punching the dough (step 5 of the recipe), I ought to press it gently, to rid it of the big air bubbles and preserve the tiny ones. Press it GENTLY. Not punch it all over. Definitely not karate punch it from every direction!
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