I've noticed alot of tv-shows have been making parodies of mr pacman. WAKKA WAKKA! ;D
Anyway, time for mid-night (1.39am) random talk, which I'm a big fan of.
Just finished culling a 3000 word report which should be really 2500!!
Its so hard! But I'm glad I've done some of it. Its group collab work so it'll go thru several cycles of culling.
I don't like the word culling. No. I sounds like you're going to chop the head off a chicken/fish! :C
Also - a long time back I remember mentioning that I would explain the concept I had just grasped in an Atheism talk --- now i totally forgot about what it was!! I really need to review and get back to it.
Alrighty - now for one of my recent fav piccys from one my most loved manga's ---tadaa! Naruto!
It's set as the background for the computer at my workplace! I've gotten alot of comments on 'What is that??!'
"Only one of the best manga series in the whole world!" hehe--.
Bloggin off - kwana
While I'm patiently waiting for the download of the latest chapter of the Naruto manga to finish (DARN IT! Someth must be stuck...its still on 31% ever since I left to continue on with some study...) I've been pondering the best way to put forth what I've come to understand about justice, mercy, grace and human error into a succinct sort of paragraph. This is what I was referring to in the last post (the Atheism talk I heard at the EU meeting on monday). It really struck out at me and I'm pretty content about this little tidbit of info that been added into my head!
Another thing that I've learnt (and I guess in case I ever forget - I can always come back here) is how to most accurately palpate the brachial artery - that is to use for measuring one's blood pressure. I had the most difficult time when I tried to palpate it in my client --- it was literally 5 mins or poking my finger nails into his upper arm. Another factor is that he does have an over-sufficient amount of subcutaneous fat which doesn't make my job of reading his BP any easier!
So I just ended up placing the stethoscope over where I knew the artery ran and just hoped for the best! I was so glad to find that I could hear his pulse running thru! (yay - "What a fluke!"). I later told my supervisor about it and he told that he had a tip for finding the artery.
Ask the patient to extend their arm. Find the tendons of the biceps mm. Palpate sl. medial to these tendons and it can be quite easily found because the mm belly isn't in the way!
Also most recently I've been trying to find an ideal place to have High Tea! It stands for all things yummy and decadent. Just the way God intended sweets & alike to be!!! Honestly though, you CANNOT skimp on good quality deserts and mini-cucumber sandwiches!! And SCONES! I am the greatest lover of these buttery delectables - bring on the jam and cream!
Most people have an obession with sweet stuff I think. Even from a young age - I think we're hard-wired to love sweet things! Here are some of my recent culinary artworks!
As you can most possibly tell - I have a slight obession with strawberries and cream. The most destined pair of foods ever! The cake on the left most was for my dear friend Lisa's 21st. The 2nd is just a slice of it. Its meant to be a sponge but the bottom layer turned out quite dense. Due to poor technique.
The right most pics were made for my work-mates birthday (age undisclosed hehe)--its basically the same sponge recipe with choc & rum icing and strawberry slices again. Quite decadent but without cream, I feel something essential is missing.
Below are more piccies of the choc tour I took my pal Lisa to...(better and less blurry pics thank goodness)
Left-most is the display of Chocs at DJ in the city - the stuff looks pretty alright, although lacking the somewhat more 'connoisseur' /refined look of the other choc stores we had visited earlier. They have the most wonderful looking penguin chocs - its filled with apricot (?) praline - I had a similar one when I was in holidays in Tassie! :)
The remaining pics are of Lisa & myself in the tea lounge in the Sheraton hotel - enjoying pistachio macaroon from Lindt (not a trace of pistachio - just 200% sugar) and those 'hug mugs' made with Max Brenner hot choc. I had the dark chocolate variety - though it didn't taste any different from the normal milk choc hot choccy's I've had before.
But I give it 8.5/10!
Bloggin off - rather long post - kwana
I was just skimming over the Sydney Morning Herald (my current homepage) when I saw this gossip article on Heath Ledger & Michelle Williams break-up.
The thought that occurred to me was 'WHY do celebrities break up so easily??'
Do they initially think 'Well I don't really care if this person is the right person for me, if we split I'll just give them half my stuff and get on with life??'
Do they also think "Well, this person is ALRIGHT. I mean the gene pool ain't that bad - blonde hair, blue eyes, lean build...that'll just do. I will eventually get really get to like this person after we get married."
The thought that people can just treat marriage like some non-consecrated and un-important bond infuriates me to no end!
When God created marriage it was a symbol of life-long commitment & bond for both people!
Well thats my little rant for today. On the otherhand - this blog entry is taking a bit longer than usual (simul. msn chat) so I guess thats what keeps me from posting!
I have to post tomorrow about the good talk I heard at uni today! It helped me uncover this concept regarding atheism that I was trying to tackle for some time!
For the time being: here is one incredib. blurry pic taken by our tour host when my friend Lisa & I went on a Sydney Coffee/Choc tour .. and the second is a nice cup of cappuccino with froth art (or whatever its called).
<3 bloggin off - kwana
Many news I would like to blog about--
Firstly, the blogs that are meant to be a commentary to my holidays have been delayed...like been on an extended delay! I don't like to make excuses but I have been making myself very busy with small errands around the house!
Lately I've finished re-furnishing my room! *yay* Joy and Happyness for everyone at home including my mum who is the most prolific/freak/OCD cleaner in the whole world!
My wardrobe is finally been used instead of me piling loads and loads of clothes on the un-used side of the double bed!
It's sorted in colour and type of clothing - i.e skirts and tops.
Also I've been visiting IKEA lately and first had bought more clothes hangers (only in white - even though I found out later they also did them in black! :( )
Then in a sort of impulse like fashion bought 2 x 1m of table cloth fabric - which is a good thing since it really prompted me to clean off my desk.
The status of my desk is now officially new and sparkling! Here is the living proof:
I've also been caught up in a bit of DIY! Due my lack of hammer and nail skills (haven't really used a hammer since Yr8 woodworks class) -- the magnetic bar you see hanging up above the funky red wall clock-- required me to hammer two nails in then remove one because I had just realized I could of checked if the bar lay on a horizontal 180degrees before hammering the nails in. Anyway it didn't take too long and before I knew it--the whole bar was set up and ready to go! :)
Also I've been shopping most recently & the fruits of my shopping are mainly TEES!
Even though I don't normally shop for tees - I really don't know whats been up lately. I think my brothers snide comments about my style has finally gotten to me?! (noo way).
Anyway, I normally wear more classic, clean cut and sometimes tailored some eclectic tops and jeans vs. street wear so my brother always comment that I dress like an 'old lady'. ;P I just dress mature, is all! And I love my style too!
So my latest purchase required me to tailor the top my self since its a guys size (they were out of XS)~!
Here it is! (Hehehe--GO old skool Nintendo!) I had to shorten the sleeves and shorten the whole length of the tee to make it look more *feminine. And its slightly baggy which is ok because I like loose fitting tops and oversized tees/cardigans/everything else are in for winter.
I think the whole aim of these holidays for me would have been:
1.) Get more organised - DONE -- also getting into regular habits! DONE!
2.) Get into more activities/learn new things - DONE
3.) Relax - DONE
Yay! End product is a very content me. In comparison to last year - hmm, I think I've gotten way more organised and had achieved many small goals I had set for myself. That is...except the waking up early to jog bit...which will get under way...soon. I have been getting up relatively early (i.e before 9am) and been walking the dog everyday except Sundays (rest day eh he).
Bloggin off - kwana
Whoah!! I haven't blogged for over a month now! But i do have good excuse *cackle*
Since my last blog on the 14th of Jan - I have had a 2 week holiday with family in good ol' Tassie and no it is not a hole of an island thats just full of forests and nothing else! People just always have these presumptions about places before they've even ventured there which isn't very fair. At least for the tourism business anyway.
Also - to further my arguement...around a week after I came back from Tassie -- holidays called me again, but this time to Shelley Beach near Toowoon Bay on the central coast of NSW - around 1.5 hrs drive north of Sydney!
I got to say - both holidays have helped open up new perspectives and goals that I want to achieve when I get back to 'normal' life. Usually nobody thinks that holidays can help clear up your mind and help set up various objectives...--- so this is a first for me...
Though I guess mainly cos I had a fair bit of alone time to think over a few things---bearing in mind that I do quite enjoy alone time. I heavily lean more towards the introvert side...built up since childhood methinks.
I'd like to think that most people can feel comfortable in both environments with and without lots of people around.
E.g I love going shopping by myself. Don't have to start up conversations. Just me and my shopping. Though it doesn't quite come in handy when you're wondering if one thing looks better in blue or yellow.
Anyway - here is one photo that I'm taking the time to upload---
The above pics were taken in reverse order. So going from right to left--- right most being the earliest morning shot of Toowoon Beach at around 6.00am. The middle pic is taken ~6.26am and then the last pic I took before I left and headed back to the beach house at around 6.50am. I really <3 the last pic -- its so glorious! Day shine -- a perfect demonstration of God's glory via nature!
And another one which has a sort of funny story to go along with...next blog for that.
Welcome back Maxi!!
Above Maxi has a haircut --much to the horror of jay---haha. Well its what matters inside that counts. Also he looks slightly shaggy here - its just cos we came back from a morning walk is all!
Also I am going to find the time to upload pics from Tassie and the rest from Shelley Beach and find time to make a commentary too! :)
Watch this space--
'They say a lift operators job must have its ups and downs' - quote from unknown source. (I just read it in the SMH)
And also you may lose your wisdom if you get your third molars removed!
But enough of these lame one liners from punland. (even though I had to reluctantly laugh at my boss's unfunny and unoriginal joke when I told him I needed sick leave for the aforementioned procedure...!)
Contrary to popular belief - I did not heavily dislike my temp job at gift-wrapping. It offered a different perspective to my routine job at data entry and opened up a new opinions on the type of shoppers that exist on this good green earth.
There are nice people and there are nasty people. 98.3% are nice people and the rest belong in what I like to refer to as the domain of hellish shoppers who shouldn't ever tread on the good shopping/retail grounds!
I don't want to ponder much on the nasty person but this really nice guy did give me tips that was worth half of my hourly pay! Which is sort of generous in a way (seeing as I work in conditions on par with 3rd world sweat shop workers! -hehe).
I think mainly because I put quite a bit of effort into wrapping his gift!
See, what I send to do is wrap gifts that are in the shape of rectangular prisms and cubes more nicely and have fancier bows than those irregular shaped ones ( I like these people more because it takes up less time to wrap and less stress etc).
So the guy had a nice cookbook and I wrapped it up to make it look like a million bucks! Presentation is one of the most important factors in gift giving (at least what I believe in.) Though I suppose the idea of not judging things by the outer appearance is comes into play too :)
From gift-wrapping, its not hard to develop a sixth-sense about what is actually inside a gift. Which does take alot of fun out of opening a present--!
E.g I'm sure most people know how to tell if you got a thoughtless box of chocolates. Though I guess it doesn't apply in all cases...short of time and money?? solution = box of chocolates.
A funny incident that came about was when two Indian guys came up to me and asked me to wrap up a giant teddy bear. It did take up quite some time since I had to re-do both sides to make sure you couldn't see the bear. But it was one of the most enjoyable gift-wrapping sessions because the guys were joking around quite a bit - I guess the thing that made me smile most was their easy going sort of demeanor and when I asked them what colour ribbon they preferred to suit the person, the guy answered 'I can't tell you who its going to with this guy standing around' (gesturing to his friend next to him.) and gave a throaty laugh.
And I was thinking 'ookay - thats weird but still very entertaining at the same time.'
That pretty much sums up the 3 days of work at gift-wrapping. Fun and somewhat rewarding (new skills and experience) but very much tiring (non-stop work for around 5 hrs).
Another thing worth noting of - just casual observations...
I was walking into my local library to borrow 'To kill a Mockingbird' since its one of those classics that I've convinced myself to have a read of. Anyway, while I was walking past the computer that offers internet service to the public...I noticed a boy of around 6-7 years old sitting on his grandmothers lap playing the pokies machine game online. At first, you would think its just slightly sort of un-ethical (?) exposing a child to gambling at a young age...but then it wasn't just normal pokies. It was BABES pokies!!!!
Babes as in scantily clad women featured in the picture boxes...and I was thinking---what sort of a world are we living in (and does this grandmother even acknowledge the fact that her grandson is being overexposed to women a bit too early)??! When I was at that age - I didn't even know women could dress like that! =___= This sort of observation deserves a 'geh' factor of around 9/10.
Thats it for now - I've yet to organise the 'AMAZING CHALLENGE' (my own spin-off of the Amazing Race) for the kids at sunday school tomorrow! I'm actually quite excited cos I hope the kids will have a great time!
Bloggin off - kwana
Due to a request from my friend n workmate Annie - (yes you get a special mention!)
You can check out more about the Minus 5 bar here! --> The unique almost all-ice bar! I'm not sure why they call it minus 5 if the temperature in ice lounge is actually minus 15 degrees celcius --> 5 degress Fahrenheit??
The bar is situated in the walk from Circular Quay station to the Opera House.
The bar is actually quite small because it's located on the top level of a normal looking bar downstairs.
However, it is one of those once in a lifetime type experiences, so you could fore-go the slightly steep fare ($30 incl 1 cocktail) to experience the 'coolness' of having a drink in 99.5% ice!
Having said the 99.5% bit is because I thought the floor of the bar would be made of ice too - but in hindsight, I guess it would be too much of a OHS risk. haha
The cocktails are all vodka based - mixed with many fruit flavours (Nudie juice!) served in an individual ice cup!
I was extremely glad to find that your lips do not stick to the cup when you drink from it!
Before we were let in - we were shown a brief video and told of our time allowance of only 30 mins - any more and you'd suffer from some serious hypothermia! Which is true - cos I almost couldn't feel my fingers after 30 mins (even with 2 gloves layered on!).
Here are our snazzy coats n gloves - before & after!
<-- BEFORE AFTER -->
Inside they had a few ice 'couches' and a variety of ice sculptures that aren't
shown here cos NO PHOTOGRAPHY inside!
End blog - sleep time! - <3kwana
While reading the papers yesterday - I stumbled across something that is worth mentioning and could brighten up your day just a little bit ;)
Presenting the Darwin Awards - which recognizes some of the most ridiculous & amusing deaths of the year!
The Darwin Awards is held in honour of Charles Darwin (father of evolution) est. in 1995 to salute 'the improvement of the human genome by honouring those who accidentally remove themselves from it...ensuring that the next generation is one idiot smarter.'
Here are some snippets worth mentioning:
- Jumping out of a plane to film skydivers while forgetting to wear a parachute oneself (USA, 1987)
- Trying to get enough light to look down the barrel of a loaded gun using a cigarette lighter (USA, 1996)
- Using a lighter to illuminate a fuel tank to make sure it contains nothing flammable (Brazil, 2003)
- The man who had sexual intercourse with a vacuum cleaner (USA, 2000) --> I don't get how someone can claim their own life by doing this though...
1996: Also scoring 8.4, 1996s winner is entitled Macho Men?.
Some men will got to extraordinary lengths to prove how macho they are.
Frenchman Pierre Pumpille recently shunted a stationary car two feet by
headbutting it. "Women thought I was a god," he explained from his
hospital bed. Deity or not, however, Pumpille is a veritable girl's
blouse compared to Polish farmer Krystof Azninski, who staked a strong
claim to being Europe's most macho man by cutting off his own head in
1995.
Azninski, 30, had been drinking with friends when it was
suggested they strip naked and play some "men's games". Initially they
hit each other over the head with frozen turnips, but then one man
upped the ante by seizing a chainsaw and cutting off the end of his
foot. Not to be outdone, Azninski grabbed the saw and, shouting "Watch
this then," he swung at his own head and chopped it off. "It's funny,"
said one companion, "when he was young he put on his sister's
underwear. But he died like a man."
1998: Scoring considerably higher than that of 1997, Ski Theft Backfires won with 8.3 on the scoreboard. Matthew and his friends were sliding down a Mammoth Mountain ski run on a foam pad at 3am, when he crashed into a lift tower and died. His makeshift sledge of yellow foam had been stolen from the legs of a lift tower on Stump Alley. The cushion is meant to protect skiers who hit the tower, and the tower Matthew ran into was the one from which he had created his sledge. There's a moral in there somewhere.
2004: (I thought this one was pretty funny.)
-Rutting Contest: Most rutting contests involve two male mammals, like
the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis dallis), which ram into each
other at high speed in order to impress a female sheep and win the
right to procreate. These mammals tend to have unusually thick skulls
and extra fluid surrounding the brain to prevent damage from the
competition. Humans tend not to have such thick skulls and other
natural adaptations, and therefore do not generally rut.
Of course man,
the tool user, can find artificial means to overcome natural
limitations. One well-known example of this behavior is the medieval
jousting contest in which participants wear armor and ride horses
toward each other at high speed.
The most recent observation of human
rutting behavior occurred when two Taiwanese university students donned
protective helmets and revved their motor scooters in an effort to
impress a comely female of their species. The two were the same class,
but not friends. Other classmates reported that both men fancied the
same female student. After indulging in a few drinks during the
Mid-Autumn Festival, the two encountered each other, and words were
spoken. The gauntlet was thrown down. In lieu of horses, the two would
ride their motor scooters at each other at high speed, and the one who
didn't turn away would win the exclusive right to pursue the female.
Obviously both were very keen on her, because neither of them turned
away. Their scooters collided head-on at 50 mph. Both died instantly.
The girl at the center of the rut refused to comment, other than to say
that she "wasn't interested in either of them."
And the winner for 2006: nicknamed Hammer of Doom
(August 2006, Brazil) August brings us a winner from Brazil, who tried to disassemble a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) by driving back and forth over it with a car. This technique was ineffective, so he escalated to pounding the RPG with a sledgehammer. The second try worked--in a sense. The explosion proved fatal to one man, six cars, and the repair shop wherein the efforts took place.
14 more RPG grenades were found in a car parked nearby. Police believe the ammunition was being scavenged to sell as scrap metal. If it wasn't scrap then, it certainly is now!
Just goes to show the wide wide depths of human stupidity.
Bloggin off - kwana
Buaha. Always late as usual (slept in til 9.41am despite alarm going off 7 times from 8.15am). Need to rectify this in new years! This calls for adding a new dot pt. in new years resolution list!
1.) Keep fit - start encouraging others to exercise. Help + support.
2.) Manage time more efficiently! (why I'm up early to blog instead of leaving it last minute!)
3.) Study harder to maintain above credit average!
4.) Wake up early so I can take a jog. Hmm. early morning jog...*shudders* :D
On to more prettier/eye-candy news - this NYE'06 was pretty cheerful and enjoyable! Going out to see the fireworks isn't as bad as I thought even though I really hate the idea of lots of people crammed into limited amounts of space.
The atmosphere was 'OK' - beer river running down our picnic mat!! And males relieving their bladders near the toilet blocks instead of IN the toilet blocks. =___="" Gehhh--- (Pity vox doesn't have a list of smileys here!)
The positive focus would be with the people you are celebrating NY with! And so I much enjoyed spending the last few moments of 2006 with great friends! Let me try this out...maveric Ooh. :) Gets a special mention (since you're the only one linked up here! haha)
Here are some pretty pictures!
Let me explain one thing - I figured out the theme of the 'Diamond in Emerald City + Coathanger' theme whilst chatting to some workmates yesterday!
Diamond represents the 75th Jubilee/anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Emerald City - is the nickname for Sydney as mentioned in various Australian literature. I.e Melbourne is the cultural hub of Aust. while Sydney is party central I guess you could say! Hence the sparkly image = emerald.
Emerald city - also mentioned in the Wizard of Oz - they projected the glitterly red shoes that Dorothy has to click 3 times to return home. The image of the shoes (I want a pair!!) was projected on the pylons of the bridge but where my group was celebrating NYE was on the other side. Hence we couldn't actually see it :(
Coathanger - is simply the nickname to our beloved harbour bridge since (reluctantly) I agree it does somewhat resemble the bridge. --> surprisingly not many people knew that it was nicknamed the coathanger!! (but I guess most of the people I asked were asians...haha).
Enough blabber and more pics eh?
Also I'll upload Peggys pics, in which the photography style was much different. I think the shutter speed was longer -- cos ur fireworks turned out real funky.
Sort of like how I'd see them if I went under general anesthetic (when I got my wisdoms out. XDXD) & got carted over to see the NYE fireworks!
Ah yes! Also I've uploaded the group pics too! (From Pegs camera) - feel free to snatch them!
Ok. Bad time management! Spent too long here - but very worth it. Largest blog in a while!
Everyone take care and keep your new years resolutions!
Bloggin off - kwana
