Lee Seung Gi : Love this song - Because You're My Girl
The face reminds me so much of someone I miss very much...but would kill at first sight...
Labels: Lee Seung Gi, music video
Yummy food time!!
This morning, I woke up early, to cook breakfast...my favourite breakfast...back from schooldays when my Mom and Grandma used to make it for me...a label that has stuck to me until date...
I made some Khichree. The wet touch to make it more smooth like congee - that's how I love it.
I also fried some onions and capsicum with chili soya sauce. You have to be careful when cooking this one. Do not over do the soy sauce since it darkens the dish and always use a wide wok rather than a small frying pan...
The chilled sweetened tomato pulp added the right balance. Boiled them and mashed them with sugar and salt.
The eggs add to the colour. I heard recently that egg yolks have good cholestrol...so you can have them...Of course, one at a time...until someone proves this false or (worse) reinstates the old belief that egg yolks are bad.
I like to mix the egg, khichree and tomato pulp together since it makes a slurpy, congee-type dish that can be gulped down by kids really quick...and it is very very YUMMY!!
Yesterday, I had cooked quite a number of dishes for lunch...
A mixed vegetable dish which had eggplant, carrots, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, onions...Healthy!!
I also made a stuffed Chili Pepper dish...since I don't have an oven, I made use of the microwave...Remember that the capsicum actually taste quite sweet when heated. So the filling had to be a bit spicy and salty to balance the overall taste. I used onions, potatoes and chilies to balance. :-))
Then was the tricky fried slices of eggplant. You gotta be careful here since you do not want to use too much oil, you are better off sticking to non-stick frying pans. Make sure you have sprinkled enough (and not too much) turmeric and salt...A good replacement for the deep fried ones...;-)
And together with some Papad, it was so yummy!!
No Cricket World Cup 2007 feed in HK?!!
I have been going crazy. 4 years back Cable TV had to be pushed into beaming CWC 2003. I thought it was due to the HKCA requesting them to take pity on 1000s of helpless cricketers and fans in HK. So I wrote to HKCA to ask if they have any information this year...they don't and it seems they had not done anything to influence Cable TV's kindness 4 years back...sigh...I have called up Now TV and Cable TV with no results. At least, the service at Now is better since they are able to answer on first try... Cable TV support kept transferring my call between Customer Services Dept and Sales Dept so many times that I lost my patience and shouted at whoever answered. I told them not to transfer my call any more and waste my time otherwise...and it worked...Until now...that is 2 weeks from Cricket World Cup 2007...each of the stalwarts of cable tv and broadband tv have no idea at all whether they would be beaming it or not...they keep on showing dog races, horse races, golf, reruns of old cricket matches, sailing, football...but not THE EVENT in the Cricket Calendars world wide...is this the frog in the well situation or what?!! Wake up and start beaming before I really get pissed off and disconnect both the services...
ICC has been trying so hard to promote cricket in the Far East...May be they should get involved and nudge HKCA awake...for if they want people to take up cricket...they are never going to make it unless they act like NOW!!...
Labels: Cricket World Cup 2007
Wii your crowd!
Wow, we were 14 people in all celebrating CNY at my place and I comfortably catered to that crowd...well, we did order 2 large pizzas to ensure nobody was hungry...in the end we had a lot of food left over.
I cooked Bangalore Chicken Curry (could have made it a bit more spicy and lemony to give it a Thai touch esp after all the coconut milk that went into it)
and Spinach Chicken Curry (which had spinach and milk). Some rice and parathas...
The Wii and NDS combination was deadly!! We did watch my bro's wedding video...when we could not grab hold of a controller…*sigh*
Fun started when the kids stayed over to play Wii, XBox360 and watch dvd.
What was to be a one night stint spread into 3 days eventually…and *SURPRISE / SHOCK - I was playing Daddy!!
I had always thought having kids is fun. The past few days have made that feeling stronger…as I humbly bow to all the good and caring parents all over the world and appreciate the tough job they have at hand…especially bringing up little children until they reach that magical age of 18…and sometimes until later…
Disaster struck when I stepped out for a few minutes to buy bread for the following day’s breakfast. Little M got hot water burns in the shower. Little M hung on to me from that time on. I had forgotten to remind K to help him with the shower. It broke my heart to see him in pain. Thank God, Boroline was at hand. It was after 11pm and I vowed myself to take him out to the doctors in the morning.
It was late in the night when all 3 dropped off while watching JAWS.
In the morning, I woke up before the rest to prepare breakfast. Toast, Eggs and Sausages. Then they resumed their Wii wars until we pulled Little M away. The doctor said it was not that bad and would heal in a couple of days.
We went to watch Charlotte’s Web at MCL Kornhill. It was a Cantonese show with Chinese subtitles…however, I still enjoyed the whole time. And all of us cried when Charlotte died in the movie…sniff sniff. I did not hide my tears…just let it roll down…There is no need to hide tears if one wants to cry…what is wrong with that? The age old stoic show of hiding ones tears…is hogwash…or may be fit for national leaders or queens…I am neither.
We went to McD for tea where I had just a salad! After walking around for some time in the mall, we headed back to war with Wii again.
We ate left overs from the previous night for dinner…I was so lazy and tired already…trying to make sure they didn’t kill each other and damage the controller or tv while they were beating each other at the games. They are fast learners and their response to new moves was much better than mine…I felt like a dinosaur. It’s too bad that we had watched Night at the Museum on the previous day and could not repeat it with the kids…that’s another funny children’s movie…
After dinner, little M had to be pulled into the shower and assured that nothing would go wrong. The doctor’s direction was not to wet the burnt area…and that’s where he almost began soaping himself…until I screamed in shock. Then on I had to wash him and brush him.
We were watching the Cantonese version of Madagascar which btw is another good children’s movie, when each of them dozed off and I had to carry/push them to bed. I was so knackered!
Breakfast on the following day comprised of noodles and dumplings (wonton & siu mai). They were ok. They resumed the Wii wars until their parents arrived.
They drove us to TST and Sham Shui Po where we bought more Wii games and controllers.
So the list of Wii games is as follows:
- Wii Sports
- Wii Play
- Metal Slug Anthology
- Rayman Raving Rabbids
Still waiting for Cooking Mama…before I try some sword stuff…
Music and Lyrics
Click here to go to the trailer page.
It was a late night show we signed up for...Music and Lyrics. I had been thinking about watching it for some time...well, ever since I saw the trailer at the theatres. I like this kind of movies and it has pitched my favs Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant together...once more in that deadly combo...No this one doesn't run on the lines of BJ diaries....it's the story of an 80's pop star who doesn't have any good assignments and has failed in his career after the band split and he had to do his own writing...lyrics...He goes around doing small shows here and there...reunions, adventure parks, etc...until he is asked to write a song for a super-duper star...He stumbles upon a rhyming genius in the form of his temp plants-lady. He asks her to help him out. However, it becomes quite complicated when he finds out about her secrets and fears. And then together they try to fight each others' limitations...and fight each other as well...it's the same old romantic story which you would love to watch even though you knew that they would end up being together at the end...
I love the songs...lyrics and melody...soul and appearance...
I felt so inspired that night, I wanted to get back home and write, write, write...but could not...There is no emotional blockage in my flow. It's just the time constraint that I have due to pressures of a demanding family-life...what was that again?!
5/5*
Labels: Movie Review, Music and Lyrics
Who is it?
While visiting India , George Bush is invited to tea with Abdul Kalam. He asks Kalam what his leadership philosophy is. He says that, it is to surround himself with intelligent people. Bush asks how he knows if they're intelligent."I do so by asking them the right questions," says the Kalam. "Allow me to demonstrate."
Bush watches as Kalam phones Manmohan Singh and says, "Mr. Prime Minister, please answer
this question: your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister. Who is it?"
Manmohan immediately responds, "It's me, Sir !"
"Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir," says Kalam.
He hangs up and says, "Did you get that, Mr. Bush?" Bush nods: "Yes Mr. President.
Thanks a lot. I'll definitely be using that!" Bush, upon returning to Washington, decides he'd better put Condoleeza Rice to the test.
Bush summons her to the White House and says, "Condi, I wonder if you can answer
a question for me." "Why, of course, sir. What's on your mind?" Bush poses the question:
"Uhh, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"
Rice was puzzled and finally asks, "Can I think about it and get back to you?" Bush agrees,
and Rice leaves. Rice immediately calls a meeting of senior senators, and they puzzle over
the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer. Finally, in desperation,
Rice calls Colin Powell and explains the problem.
"Mr. Powell, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?" Powell answers immediately, "It's me, of course."
Much relieved, Rice rushes back to the White House, finds George Bush, and exclaims,
"I know the answer, sir! I know who it is! It's our Colin Powell!"
And Bush replies in disgust, "Wrong, its Manmohan Singh!".
Labels: joke
Happy Chinese New Year (of the Pig)!!
Some interesting theories about human and pigs:Human = eat + sleep + work + enjoy
Pigs = eat + sleep
Hence, Human = Pigs + work + enjoy
if, Human - enjoy = Pigs + work
in other words,
Human that don't know how to enjoy = pigs that work
Men = eat + sleep + earn money
Pigs = eat + sleep
Hence, Men = Pigs + earn money
if Men - earn money = Pigs
in other words,
Men that don't earn money = Pigs
Women = eat + sleep + spend
Pigs = eat + sleep
Hence, Women = Pigs + spend
if, Women - spend = Pigs
Women that don't spend = Pigs
Summary:
Men earn money not to let women become pigs!
Women spend not to let men become pigs!
Men + Women = 2 Pigs
Wish all the pigs happy forever.
Labels: CNY, Happy New Year
Happy Valentine!!
Hmmm.....it took a lot of spying around to get back the bunches of roses...I had bought them at the Flower Market (Prince Edward) for my Valentine...during lunch time on 12th...Rumour had it that they would not be available on 13th or 14th...however, my boss and team-mate hidden them while I was away from my desk...I found them...finally...
In the evening I went for a photography course...it was about doing portraits in indoor lighting...I loved the effect of continuous lighting equipment...however, I still need to figure out how to use the manual modes on my FZ50. Here are some results...
Labels: Photography, Valentine Day
www.whereismylife.com/getitallbackontrackagain
After a stressful surprise 2 day training, we headed for an evening at NEWAY CEO. There were some new faces with us this time. I think I was going back there after a few months! With hardly any time to practise, I picked some Mandarin songs...mostly Lee Hom, some David Tao and one Eason Chan. Although AC made a few videos of my singing, I sincerely hope and honestly pray that they do not make it to the youtube!! At least not without proper editing...by me!!I met SL, DL and GL after so many months!! It was so great just seeing them that I didn't even feel like singing until 1 hour was over!
The food looked quite deadly to me...I was afraid I would fall sick like everytime I go there...so I kept myself restricted to fruits and hot honey-lemon drinks only. I was so hungry after we finished that I bought some 小笼包 from 7 Eleven.
After the evening was over and we were waiting to go back home...I asked GL about his mom's health. I was shocked to know that she passed away last September. The awkwardness of the mis-timed question was nothing in comparision to the pain I felt at that moment and even now. I actually have tears in my eyes while writing this. So many times I have been over to there place and she had taken care of me...I consider GL as a very good friend right from 2002 when we shared the same office corner. I am sure he feels the same about me. But I was not there beside him when such a big tragedy struck his family. It was during the ITS project time when I was flying up and down to Sydney for work. I just let my life take the backseat and work drive! I left the people who are important to me to drift beyond the small sphere that I live in now...thanks to all the work and the busy stuff related to it. This is not the life I want. This is so wrong. GL is a strong guy and I am too. I will pick up from here and drive. I will not let work override my personal life. Work is like a rubber ball, it will bounce back...personal life is like glass, it will shatter into pieces if you let it fall too many times...sounds like cliche but is very true...I miss those days when I could stay over at GL's place the night before we hiked like crazy...watch football with his friends...go hiking...playstation games that I always lost...mangoes...his Indian neighbour with a mixed baby...his ancient PC...elephant leg photographs...his fish tank with the huge yellow fishes that were so intelligent...I just want to say one thing to him. I am sorry, G. I am really sorry and I won't let this happen again.
Oh God, I miss my life so much!
It's close to V-Day and CNY. I am going to attend a 3-hour photography course tomorrow night. I am looking forward to it. I hope there are few students so that we can interact more in the given time. :-) Then on Tuesday, I need to sneak out to buy many bunches of roses...different colours...I want to deck my home with roses. hehehe. It's Nicole's bday on Thursday. I met their family yesterday when we went out looking for the balcony door in Tsuen Wan. She has done well in her recent exams. CNY CNY CNY...all the red packets are ready...well, almost...Still need find some time to buy clothes for Ah-bit and his Grandmom. And my fridge is empty...Got to go out and get food...
We were planning to go to Singapore but postponed it...may be in July...in my birth month...:-))
Hmm...This is going to be a very busy week...I better tie up my shoelaces...
By the way...Blogger has done a great job by adding the Labels feature!!
Office secrets revealed through maths
This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint...it goes like this:What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But ,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And,
B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%
So, one can conclude with nmathematical certainty that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.
Labels: joke
* How to keep yourself awake during a meeting *
Do you keep falling asleep at meetings and seminars? What about thoselong boring conference calls? Here's a way to change all that:
1. Before (or during) your next meeting, seminar or conference call,
prepare for the meeting by drawing a square -- 5"X5" is a good size.
2. Divide the square into columns -- five across and five down. That
will give you 25 one-inch blocks.
3. In each block, write one of the following words/phrases:
synergy
strategic fit
core competencies
best practice
bottom line
revisit
take that off-line
24/7
out of the loop
benchmark
value added
proactive
win-win
think outside the box
fast track
result-driven
empower(ment)
knowledge base
at the end of the day
touch base
mindset
client focus(ed)
ballpark
game plan
leverage
4. Whenever you hear any one of those words/phrases, check off the
appropriate block.
5. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically or diagonally,
stand up and shout BULLSHIT!"
Testimonials from satisfied "Bullshit Bingo" players:
"I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won."
-- Jack W ., Boston.
"My attention span at meetings has improved drastically."
-- David D., Miami
"What a gas! Meetings will never be the same for me after my first win."
-- Sue S., NYC
"The atmosphere was tense in our last process meeting as 14 of us
waited for the fifth box." -- Joseph R., St. Louis
"The speaker was stunned as eight of us screamed BULLSHIT!
for the third time in two hours." -- Kathleen L., Atlanta
Labels: joke
Tales from The Panchatantra 2K6.
Once upon a time, there was a software engineer who used to develop programs on his Pentium machine, sitting under atree on the banks of a river.
He used to earn his bread by selling those programs in the Sunday market. One day, while he was working, his machine
tumbled off the table and fell in the river.
Encouraged by the Panchatantra story of his childhood (the woodcutter and the axe), he started praying to the River
Goddess.
The River Goddess wanted to test him and so appeared only after one month of rigorous prayers. The engineer told her
that he had lost his computer in the river. As usual, the Goddess wanted to test his honesty. She showed him a match
box and asked, "Is this your computer?"
Disappointed by the Goddess' lack of computer awareness, the engineer replied, "No. " She next showed him a
pocket-sized calculator and asked if that was his. Annoyed, the engineer said "No, not at all!!" Finally, she came up
with his own Pentium machine and asked if it was his.
The engineer, left with no option, sighed and said "Yes. " The River Goddess was happy with his honesty. She was
about to give him all three items, but before she could make the offer, the engineer asked her, "Don't you know that
you 're supposed to show me some better computers before bringing up my own?"
The River Goddess, angered at this, replied, "I know that, you stupid idiot! The first two things I showed you were
the Trillennium and the Billennium, the latest computers from IBM!" So saying, she disappeared with the Pentium!!
Moral: If you're not up-to-date with technology trends, it is better not to open mouth.
Labels: joke
Four Weddings and A...
Well, Well, well - Fat Ben and Lovely Loretta got married. Finally! Thank God!! Hahahaha..I caught a glimpse of their lovely grandmother who had cooked me a nice dinner once at the wedding banquet.
I planned to meet her after the dinner...but I had to leave right in the middle of it due to allergy from seafood...horrible!!
That's one of the sisters :-)We have been frequenting the streets of flower market!! Every Hong Konger does!! Especially around CNY time...
its just around 12 days to Chinese New Year and HK looks all red and flowery...I have attached a bad shot of the flowers on my bay window...hehehe
And by the way, Baadu and Puja have a baby girl! She is called Shivani...so cute cute :-)
The pain in my back has kept me away from the gym this week...may be I should use the extra time in practising for the Friday nite show down at Neway CEO...yeah! The students of old school are going to have a K night...
Labels: friends
