Jake & Josh's Mum’s Neighborhood

this past saturday, we had our annual 'deep fried turkey and kid's secret santa exchange' party at steve and cor's house.

what a good party - i just felt like a huge release being there with good friends. laughing and talking and best of all - the kids are so good at playing on their own now. they spent most of the time in the basement with each other. ah bliss!

an important lesson learned within five minutes of arriving - even though i think people never read my facebook status updates, they SO read them.

within the first hour, the following facebook statuses by yours truely was discussed:

- that i admitted to staring at zac efron's 6-pack in '17 again'
- that i love red, orange and yellow peppers, but am not fond of green peppers
- that i almost went to see 'new moon' on my own

i think the highlight of the night was the guys chin-up contest. boys will be boys, after all.

afterwards, steve l. said, "i'm very disppointed with myself. hoa! i should hire you to train me back into shape."

to which hoa's reply was, "okay. but you HAVE to listen to me. if i tell you to do a push-up, you can't just say, 'bah! why bother?'"

hoa totally had steve l. pinned on that one because that's EXACTLY the type of thing steve l. would say.

and i think it's these little conversations of parties that seems to stick with me the most. the kind where a smaller group is off to the side, chatting and having a good laugh or two.

Twilight's double meaning

http://blogs.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fea...

With the Twilight books hogging the top end of best seller lists all year and the second instalment of the film franchise, New Moon, breaking box office records around the world, it's fair to say the saga of Edward Cullen and Bella Swann's unlikely romance is this year's defining cultural phenomenon.

I actually had a book seller trying to tell me the other week that Twilight was a modern interpretation of Wuthering Heights.  This was in the context of a conversation about why I didn't think these books were really ideal reading for my 11 year old niece (although I wouldn't try and discourage her from reading them - just wanted some ideas for other books that might appeal but have a bit more literary merit, eg, something like Margaret Mahy's The Changover which I have blogged about previously and which Madame Smartypants Bookseller had never even heard of).  Anyway, I am sure we will see plenty more Masters theses (is this the plural of thesis?) on this phenomenum before the Next Big Thing comes along. 

The Twilight Saga Collection

Stephenie Meyer

so. Wow. This is Colic. It's one of those things you hope is just an urban myth. Then it moves in with your new baby, and wow, is it real. Our little lady currently has two modes: asleep and pissed. When she's asleep, all is well. When she is awake, she's crying almost all of the time. I'm trying to time her feedings to be at least 2.5-3 hours apart, so that I'm only feeding her when she's actually hungry, and not when she just needs to be pacified. When I overfeed her, predictably, it comes back up on my shoulder. The only time she sleeps for extended periods is when she is strapped to me in the most excellent sling my brother gave me (un porte-bebe de Maman Kangourou), at which time she can log three of four hours of sleep. Otherwise, she pretty much refuses to sleep in any sustained way. I saw the pediatrician earlier this week for a scheduled check-up, and she gave me some very helpful advice, which I had not heard anywhere else. Unlike all the books and devices that promise to help you get rid of colic (not that I've been reading, I've digressed to a pre-literate stage) she basically said that colic happens, and the best we can do is try to get her awake, and getting all her colicky needs to cry and scream met while I don't mind being awake, and then hopefully she will sleep during the night (not through the night, just during the night). We had had a few bad nights where she was up crying and inconsolable from 3am onward. One night I finally just strapped her into the sling and slept sitting up on the couch. She did sleep for three hours then, but the doctor and I agree this was both unsustainable and dangerous. We came up with a plan to shift this awake time to the day time, with the use of gentle means of keeping her awake, such as giving her a bath. The most difficult part of any plan, of course, is carrying it through, and I find myself letting her sleep just for the peace and quiet. I'm going to let her sleep another half an hour, and then wake her for a feed, and then give her a bath if she doesn't stay awake, and then let her do her crying and screaming while I indulge in some mindless TV. 

after the annual SCAW (sleeping children around the world) charity concert, we finally had a chance to try roger mooking's kultura restaurant. like his other restaurant, nyood (pronounced 'nude'), it's like a tasting menu where you share as a group.

oh yum. definitely a good choice. the only problem was that there were so many yummy items that we over-ordered. at the same time, the plus side is that the next time i go back, i'll have a clearer idea of what i want to focus on.

our crazy, long list (including appetizer, main menu items and dessert):

Edamame - Miso, Black Bean

Scallops with Gow Gee - Braised Beef Cheeks, soy Emulsion, Cripsed Shallots

Mushroom Orecchiette - Mailvoire Pinot Noir Pear Chutney, Aged Cheddar

Peppered Tuna Carpaccio - Daikon, Sesame Oil, Mizuna Cress, Miso Crisp

Naan - Garlic, Black Onion Seed, Harissa Yogurt

Indian Samosas - Shitake Mushroom, Pine Nuts, Truffled Paneer, Tamarind Date Chutney

Miso Black Cod - Yuzu Corn Puree, Pickled Radish Salad, Crystallized Tamarind

Crispy Tofu - Miso Consomme, Shitake, Garlic Chips

Chicken and Gnocchi - Rice Crunch, Spring Peas, Peppered honey

Black Quinoa Cursted Lamb Loin - Roasted Salsify, Gai Lan, Maple Gastrique

Chocolate Delice - Salted Caramel, Sesame Nougat, Twizzler Ice Cream

Flourless Chocolate Cake - Chocolate Pudding, Caramel Parfait, Frozen Lemon Curd

Vanilla Sugar Doughnut Holes - Caramel and Chocolate Dipping Sauce

keep in mind, for a lot of it, we had to order two as there were about 5 adults and chaeli, whom loved the food that she tried but was a bit disappointed that roger mooking himself wasn't there to greet her (he's one of her favouirte 'cookers' as she likes to call it, from foodtv.ca). okay, i admit it. i was disappoint too, even though i knew full well that he wouldn't be there.

my favourite was the black cod, mushroom orecchiette and the tuna carpaccio. the tofu and scallops were also amongst some of my faves.

alright - just one more observation that I have to make from my bodypump class, which i wrote about yesterday... okay, maybe two. because there's this little petite brunette who attends the class and she really is just that. petite. but with very noticeable breasts. and not in the bad way. i'm not saying that she's so out of proportion that she might fall over but seriously - she's stacked and well, it's very hard not to notice.

but other then that, i've noticed that on the occassion, we get some male clientele in the class. and without fail, i honestly do not know what they are trying to prove.

there they are, all arms but with a big pop-belly, loading up the weights and ready to go.

not even after the first exercise, are they able to last.

here is where i smirk. way more then towards the teens that i wrote about yesterday because at least those teens proved to us that they weren't there to try and prove anything and were, actually, not the typical, pain in the ass teens we normally stereotype them for.

but these men! exactly what did they think they were trying to do - impress us?

i lose count at all the times they end up dropping their weight right to the ground before we finish a set, creating a huge thud as the instructor, even with the mic, tries to talk over the noise as she brings us all to the finale. at this point, our muscles are starting to shake, sweat is stinging our eyes, and we are doing everything in our power to try and overcome that lactic acid build-up so we can finish the set together - as a team. and basically, just bring it on home.

but that loud thud? that annoying distraction?

it makes me want to just face THAT GUY and say, "did you seriously think that this is about how much you can lift/press? this is about ENDURANCE, baby - not maximum weight. take it outside to the rest of the meat heads if THAT's what you're looking for!"

morons.

so this is probably going to make myself sound pretty horrible... but who doesn't sound horrible once in awhile on the internet? everyone. that's who.

i walked into today's bodypump class about five minutes early, surprised that nearly all the spots were taken. relieved, i did find one spot near the front and yes, while most people do not like being in display for the rest of the room to see, i don't care.

i even have a hole on one of my butt cheek which i have to patch up. but as it's mainly a class of women, whom will see me completely naked after the class in the locker room (and vice versa), does one hole, showing my baby blue panties really make a huge difference?

i don't think so.

as i was saying, i like being up front. not because i like being on display (not caring about who sees my bum with the hole showing that i'm wearing baby blue coloured panties and WANTING to show said bum with the hole that's showing blue panties are two completely different things), but because it helps for me to be close to both the instructor and the mirror. just so i can stay focused and on time. and i don't have some one in front of me that's completely off beat, mucking me up.

i hate that. it's my pet peeve. let that be a warning - if you're going to take a spot in front of me, you had better be awesome.

anyway - the class was packed! and as i didn't look around all that much, i didn't realize that half the class was made up of teen girls until the instructor welcomed the students of some catholic school, where they were participating in the class for the day as part of their gym excursion.

and in the middle of the week, outside of summer vacation, i'm just not use to seeing anyone younger then the age of 23 at my gym - and the 23 year olds are usually either trainers or fitness instructors. the rest of us clientele are usually in our 30's and up. these girls were YOUNG! you know - young enough so that THEY needn't be ashamed for gushing over twilight actors.

now, this is a hard class. and while i've been going to this strength circuit training class from hell since september, i'm still working on increasing the plates of the bar that i use. and the last thing i need are a bunch of teens laughing and pointing at me while snickering to each other, "hee hee - look at that older lady there struggling with half the weight i'm using! and she's got a hole in her pants! YOU CAN TOTALLY SEE HER BLUE UNDERWEAR!"

but something amazing happened. because as we started to do the warm-up, and i couldn't help but to see the reflection of those behind me from the wall mirror, i realized that these teens were actually using 1/3rd to even as low as 1/4tr of the weight that i was using. and they were struggling! like - they were just dying and we only had just done the warm-up!

so it's horrible for me to say, but i enjoyed it immensely as i doubled up my plates for the squats while they were all taking breaks numerous amounts of times, panting and making faces like, "you have GOT to be kidding! she wants us to do what now?" they were having 10 times harder of a time then my first class.

and then i really looked around and saw that some of the regulars are actually older then i am and loading up way more weights.

it gave me inspiration - that with age, we actually can become stronger. and that women today knows what it takes to be kick-ass if they want to be.

okay... so maybe this epiphany was somewhat tainted over the fact that i got to feel better about myself through the struggle and pain of a bunch of teens. but i hope, at the least, that these girls saw a future where they too, can achieve this type of strength and determination.

after all, us old farts know a thing or two about life. :)

i guess you could say that today has so far been all about me.

when your husband is out of town for a good part of the day and your kid is sleeping over at your parents' place, wouldn't you make it all about you? damn right!

after my bodypump class, i did a bit of shopping. mainly - christmas wrapping paper, christmas gift bags and some gift-tissue to go with the bags. but while i was at it, i made a point to stop at the shoe company and winners to finally treat myself to some ankle boots. i'm so happy that i did. the one i got at winners is basic but sleek - fine, black leather, squared-off toes and thick heels (more practical). the one i bought at the shoe company is nice and shiny! and really, just for fun - mainly to wear with jeans:

Shiny_boots

the last thing i did before heading back home was to treat myself to a manicure. it's been way overdue.

i went to one of those drop-in, fast places that only charge $15 for a basic manicure. i've come to the conclusion that the quality isn't any different from some of the more expensive spa's. the extra $10 i have payed for those upscale places have just been that - an upscale place where the ambiance is all very nice and pretty.

the colour? shiny, dark blue, baby. :)

will be sporting them tonight when doug and i head out with friends for some wining and dining.

and i love my boots.

Yes, I know I have been AWOL for quite a while - and I can't really guarantee that I will be back to posting regularly anytime soon.  In the meantime, here are a couple of photos of some close encounters of the bushwalking kind (from last weekend when my son and I went for an early morning walk before the rest of the bushwalking hordes started scaring everything into hiding). 

As well as these creatures, we also saw a swamp wallaby but it was too far away to photograph. I had to get the lizards identified later - they are lace monitors (also known as tree goannas).  The education officer from the park also said we were very lucky to see the echidna as they are notoriously shy.  I have only ever seen echidnas in the wild three times in my life and twice have been while walking with my son.

Fernando zobel de ayala at the 21st ad congress.

The prizes, free stuff and pizzaz are considerably less but for me, this is still one fun shindig. I haven't won anything yet but i still have 2 more days to learn, mingle and party here, so i'm pretty sure i'll be going home with even just a minor prize. My favorite local band, sandwich, played at the phil star lunch party. They're awesome! I so miss my boys na, especially my butchik.

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