and so it is...

just like I said it would be, words come easy on me, most of the time... about food

The Junkbox has finally opened for thought... exclusively, working to swell up that apetite.

enjoy!

I have red and yellow fingernails!

And, I bought lime green and orange shoes.

Lime green shoes have been on my list for a long time... I'm only worried that I'm starting to resemble some sort of macaw with this new fascination of avian mating colours.

Anyhow, painting my nails was fun. Almost artistic. Trying to get this squiggly curve to turn out right, with just the right amount of red and yellow was an utterly rewarding experience. As a first timer with creative nail painting, more so on myself, the little bits of keratin on my fingers turned into a temporary canvas for a walking exhibition of abstract art. I quite like it though. If not for the sloppiness inherent in my left hand (I'm right handed) I would say they are pretty perfect... Hah, enough about that...

I have also been looking for the perfect economic, colourful, stylish, well printed organiser. There are many interesting ones, the one I took a liking to was the Monologue 2009 A6 diary that comes in pink, white, black and purple. Unfortunately, I need an organiser, which tends to be more flexible. So my search continues.

I am...

I am the air you choose to breathe,
When the cold wind comes this way.
I am the bitter smelling reed
That slithers where you lay.
I am the crystalline blackness,
That overtakes the day,
Shattering all your sadness,
Come out! Come out and play!

This was written by me, in a more sombre mood.

Anyway, I am going to revive one of my many blogs to talk about food. Food (and tea) has been my lifeline through hard times and has become an obsession that I would very much like to share. Please visit The Junkbox for the yummiest, sweetest and most sinful treats that make up life. Look out for the special section on tea that will be coming up soon.

till the tummy tingles for tasty treats,
au revoir,
amelie

the reading list

For someone who loves to write, I hardly ever read. My excuse is even stupider--I do not read, because if the book is good, it becomes an obsession until i read the last page. This has happened too many times. But well, some things can't be helped. It's all in the name of knowledge.

So as the news goes, I have a reading list. It is quite broad (and it also depends on the whims and fancies of the library), but nonetheless, it is a list. Let me get into the details of what brought me back to this literate state. It was none other than good marketing. I saw a lime green copy of The Arabian Nights at Kinokuniya. It was the perfect lime green. It even matched my yoga pants. I had to buy the book and I had to buy The Arabian Nights, simply because i hadn't read it yet. To my surprise, it was cheap. 5 $ for a penguin paperback. I realised it was made from recycled paper (and still it can outshine the non recycled copies. lime green was a brilliant marketing idea!) and that is why it was cheaper. To come back to the point, I have started sourcing for books to read at my local library. I'd rather not read books without a recommendation for it could be a complete waste of time. Besides, I usually have no patience for that kind of crap.

Anyway, everytime I tick off one title on my list, I'll post my personal comments and responses on [ human space ]. The first of many more to come....

au revoir,
amelie

Les Choristes

caresse sur l'ocean


vois sur ton chemin

still water

i've always liked maksim. i wen't out to buy coldplay but instead i got a compilation of orchestral and classical songs. i'm not regretting it, but somehow my desires are always open to interpretation. my new earphones also afford me this choice. somehow music sounds so much better through them. now all i need is an ultra expensive sound system to satisfy me.

while we are on the subject of whims and nonsensical fancies, i must point out to you i have way more than i can handle. some may seem lucrative, some whimsical, some indulgent and many nonsensical. nonetheless they all afford me this satisfaction of believing that it is all achievable.

in an area as limited as this, occupation is a must. usually my sort of personal occupation tends to burn a hole in my wallet so i've listed down a couple of things that you can do here that won't drive you broke before payday.

1. read: the library is free. (just return the books on time)
2. exercise: apart from saving transportation costs, your circulation improves
3. paint: the walls if you have to. eases your mind so you can save counseling costs.
4. drink water: it's not free but its cheap. warm water also helps you lose weight.
5. avoid shopping malls: most important rule. if you must go there, leave all your cards behind and carry only limited cash.

i think these tips should come in handy now, since the whole world is pretty worried about the new born recession. it's not about being stingy, its about saving on fringe costs. there are many more but because i have a headache i shall leave you till the next time.

au revoir,
amelie

there's planning... and then there is over-planning

planning has always been a good thing. having things to do or doing the things you have to do must always be planned. it helps to compartmentalise your life and get the best out of the activity or the task.

but, if you try to coerce a naturally messy person into planning, you might just get a very well planned mess.

that sentence looked nice on the screen so i decided to leave it there, although it does digress from my point. i think planning is essential, to a level where you know what needs to be done. somehow, anyone who has gone past 10 years of life will know plans don't always work out. you need to plan for mistakes, discrepancies, shortages, and all the what ifs and what nots. so basically, you need to plan with the possibility of it all going wrong. which to me, sounds terribly ironic. why plan at all, i would say...

as an individual, i never started out with a plan. i just followed my likes, dislikes, and skills. maybe i was lucky to be good enough to pursue whatever i wanted, so ultimately i am who i am based on a whim and a lot of effort... to breakdown this vague analysis, this is an essential checklist to understand where you stand

1. list down 5 things you love doing (in order of preference)
2. list down 5 things you are extremely good at doing or have received recognition for
3. list down 5 things you wish you could do or wish you could be better at doing
4. list down 5 things you want to learn in the next 5 years

voila! i think you might be able to see some parallels and get your life into perspective. writing things down has always helped me focus on the bigger picture. this technique helped me get through my olevels and alevels. pretty much so for university and now its helping me add the buzz back into my life.

with this, i take your leave.

aurevoir,
amelie