Rabbit is back!

VW is once again changing the branding of this car in North America. It is back to being called the Rabbit. It is the new Golf that's been released in Europe since late 2003. Why are we always so LATE in getting any innovative vehicles in this region? (It is to protect the crappy domestics, that's what!)

Marathon Mario

It rained buckets this afternoon so we skipped tennis. Instead, I used my energy to woo Mario into taking me into a new dimension. I used up the battery pack. :p

World 5
99 Lives

I have been given the BIBLE. (you know, the guide to secret passages and tricks!) Have to dedicate time to bible studies this evening.


Thank you Bobby!
***hugs***

Hooked on DSLite

New.
Super.
Mario.
Bros.
ROCKS!

Wedding pics (don't worry they're not mine!)

My friend Mayze (pronounced Macy but with z sound, not pronouced Maze) has finally posted her wedding pics...http://mayze-klayton.spaces.msn.com/

She used the same photographer as my other friend Frank. It was done in Taiwan...apparantly a whole lot cheaper and better quality than Hong Kong.

I don't think I ever understood why wedding photos are taken PRIOR to a wedding and in outfits that you aren't going to wear on your wedding day. How did this start? Ever since I can remember, that's how things were done...is it just a chinese thing? (sorry, Taiwanese too) Anyone have comments on this?

Then there are MORE wedding photos taken during the wedding...so why the extra set of photos? It's like couple Glamour Shots but with a wedding theme.

Is it then tacky to just take these "wedding photos" and not have a wedding?

I will be going back to HK in November for her wedding. I will probably do a short trip to TW. What I REALLY want to do is visit Malaysia or Thailand for a diving trip. It's been SO long. I miss Nemo. :(

Brutal day

another shitty workday to start the week off

these ppl I work with just keeps getting dumber

Reasons why this has happened:

1) Rounds and rounds of layoffs.
Dumb ppl still managed to stay with the company (many actually did make it to the chopping block but there are still SO many left), leaving MORE work for the competent employees. Those that have the background and education to match what they're currently doing has of course managed to find better jobs elsewhere. So we have very few folks who knows what they're doing and many that has no frigg'n idea.

2) Outsourcing.
We're running an internal outsourcing model and the quality of employees being hired in the low-cost region just doesn't cut it. We're relying on ppl that have very different culture when it comes to training and mentoring to build a team. Even if we hire smart employees, we are either 1) not training them to their full potential (both soft and hard skills) or 2) they get fed up and leave.

This is not the ideal work environment I want to be in. I would like to work in a high calibur workforce where people are educated, innovative and know what they're doing! Of course, that's what we all want...and to get it, I will have to go back to school. Not going back for the $$$, but for a place where I would like to get up and go to work for. Not somewhere I dread going 5 days a week.

Need food

Tired and need food. Neil, where are you??? I need to grocery shop SO bad. There was nothing to eat in the house except of the last bits of Raisin Bran..you know, all the broken and powder-y pieces at the bottom that turns into drywall compound when you add milk to it? I had THAT for breakfast and 1.5L of Gatorade throughout the day. After 4 hrs of beach vball. (well, cut that into 2 hrs, it was kinda slow), hot shower and hot bath later, the hunger has KICKED IN.

Lots of events happening this weekend,..Pride (one of North America's biggest Gay Pride events), the annual Dragon Boat races at the Toronto Islands and the start of the Toronto Jazz Festival. I've attended none of them. WAY too many ppl, WAY too many tourists.
http://www.pridetoronto.com/, http://www.dragonboats.com/, http://www.torontojazz.com/

If you ever think about visiting Toronto,..late June is definitely a good time!

Apres Kaji

I am full of scallops, fatty tuna, lobster, hamachi and sea trout. Summer menu is much lighter, most of the dishes were served cold. My mother was so stuffed that she was full by the time sushi rolled around.

I once again booked seats at the sushi bar. It's a 2 and 1/2 hour dinner, you need some entertainment!

Chef and owner, Mitsuhiro Kaji is entertaining as usual. Even though I don't understand Japanese, his animated expressions are just amusing to watch. Here he is busy preparing sashimi and posing between his precision slicing.









Below are some of the dishes we had tonight.








Silver Cod and tofu with 3 different kinds of miso














Toro Tartar with corn pancake.









Lamb chop with Japanese Barbeque sauce.







I wanted to take more photos of the food but I got too excited when I got there and totally forgot about it for the first 3 course. :p Then when I did started taking photos, I would forget again and then take pictures of the half eaten product...see the smeared bbq sauce next the lamb chops?
Scallops with truffle dressing. The beige stuff on top are mushrooms. Served cold and raw. (mushrooms were cooked) There's suppose to be 3 scallops with this dish....

Needless to say, it was another fabulous meal. I recommend everyone to at least try this once. If you are a sashimi/sushi lover, it is a must.

Thank you again Kaji san and his whole crew!

In with Summer, Out with Winter

It's the bi-annual Wardrobe Switcheroo Event! The event is held when I feel the weather has sufficiently settled down enough for me to justify switching my wardrobe to match the season.

I don't have a 400 square-feet walk-in closet as most of us ladies would like to have, so with the amount of clothes I own(and the fact that I have to share my closet with someone else now), storing out of season clothing is essential to avoid closet explosions.

Today is a good day...it's a ME day. I had my monthly massage appointment with Joe this morning. (Mr. Magic Hands, don't think dirty, he plays for the other team. He's just so bloody talented!) For once, my shoulders, upper back and neck is healthy! I wasn't broken, nor did it feel like a curb when he's working through my traps! Finally, being active again is giving me results.

I will be spending the afternoon hosting the Wardrobe Switcheroo Event. Part of the Event will involve purging of clothes that 1)haven't worn for the past 2 seasons and probably never will and 2) stuff that doesn't fit me anymore...this usually means it's too small. :(

Tonight, I will be taking my mom to dinner for an early birthday celebration. I'm taking her to Sushi Kaji...notoriously expensive tasting menu style Japanese Resto. http://www.sushikaji.com

Expensive, but worth every penny.

Dumb people at work but TGIF

I know we all have to learn and work with these challenged folks, but when dumbness comes from not caring? It is time for them to go. It will only cause more harm than good, for both the individual and the company's interest.

I however did enjoy pointing out this person's inadequacy and uselessness to their management. (all facts and not opinions of course) I am only a bitch when you force me to be one!

I am having DS Lite withdrawal...I was hooked playing Super Mario Bros last nite before leaving work. I'd forgotten how much fun that game can be!
Check it out...
http://www.nintendo.ca/cgi-bin/usersite/display_info.cgi?pageNum=1&lang=en

If you get one, for sure get to get "Brain Age". For once, games for the non-gaming community! "rewarding form of entertainment everyone can enjoy, as it helps players flex their mental muscles" as described on the website.

Weekend is on its way. My legs are finally healing from my Monday torture, at least they aren't hurting from walking down stairs anymore. I will do yoga after work tonite to stretch them out for Sunday's vball. Yes, sorry all...it's beach vball league.

Orchid finally winding down

I bought an Phalaenopsis orchid WAY back in March. It was on sale, $20 at the local grocery store. During its glory days, it had 15 flowers on it. It's now down to 4 and the spike that doesn't have flowers has yellowed. Did some research and was advised to cut the spike as it's dead. :(

There's a new leaf growing so I guess it's still healthy,..perhaps I need to repot as the roots are overcrowded.

On to some good news,...finally surrendered and decided to look for a team to play with on weekends and summer league.

I have "try-outs" on Sunday with this team, I hope this team works out.

For those of you that don't know, I (or Neil would have me say, We) purchased a Honda Fit Sport. It is only On-Order basis right now, ETA mid July. Patience is wearing thin,...I want that car in my hot little hand now! (or rather, want my arse in the hot little car now!)

Had been checking some forums about the car...as usual, most of them are from the States. Apparantly, the demand for the vehicle is so high that dealerships are selling above MRSP! I've never heard of such a thing in Canada! Peeps are bitch'n and whine'n about the mark-up and the fact that there are now waiting lists. (?!) Folks that did get their car already said the min. TAT for the car is 6-8 weeks. Whoa! What are we buying here? The Hermes Birkin?

My dealer better not be lying to me when he said max. 4 weeks wait!

Jelly Legs still!

Had some time to sorta fill out some profile stuff and uploaded a pic. The white kid's my nephew, his name is Kael and he's 6 months old. I call him pumpkin head!


World Cup Fever is on! You know it when ppl are calling in sick to take the day off to watch their football...fellow Porkchop colleagues are in a good mood...Portugal 2, Mexico 1.


Talked to dealership just now, no word on when EXACTLY the car is coming in, but it should be within 4 weeks, nothing crazy like the U.S. waiting list; VIN number should be available tomorrow => car will be officially ordered tomorrow => I can officially get insurance lined up.

Legs are hurting worse than ever, had to take some Robaxact this morning, but it's not working! Last time I hurt this much was after 30 laps at swim practice,..umm..that was 14 yrs ago...fuk, feel even older!

Still bored at work => hence another post

Yoga class tonite? I really shouldn't....

Post #1

Such pressure for the first post! What do you write on these things? I guess just thoughts and ideas as they come to your head?

The need to start a blog is really due to laziness...instead of writing to different ppl overseas about the same sh!t, I only need to write it once. :p

So life so far....
- still living with my man
- recently bought a car, waiting for it to come in
- jelly legs due to crazy Monday morning workout class
- loving the summer weather
- playing tennis after work today, hope I keep them balls in the court and not hit them out on the road...

Next update will probably consist of pics of the car...heheee..can't wait!