Definition of Love: Aidan.

"Okay, got it! Have you ever had, like, a really bad toothache? One of those screaming ones where it's like electricity crackling up into your head and ears, it's so bad you can nearly see it? Yeah? Okay, convert that same intensity into love and that's how I feel about you."



Page 164, Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes.

All in a Saturday.

I spent quite the time in the kitchen today. Please, none of that Women in the kitchen jokes. Not much is as sexy as a guy who is comfortable cooking to me.

I woke up around 7 in the morning before making pancakes that required buttermilk. I instead mixed in 2 tablespoon of vinegar with a cup of milk. The  flat skillet sizzled with butter as I poured the mixture. When the pancake's raw side has formed bubbles, I flipped them. 10 small pancakes.

The parents went grocery shopping which takes them hours upon hours. So when Mama called around 11 to tell me to bake the frozen pizza in the freezer, it was not unexpected. I took the chance to make two small tuna pies.

Fill half the small caserole dish with the tuna mixture I made yesterday. Layer the top with a crab fillament roll under the layer of pastry. Frozen pastry of course. Bake in an oven after taking the pizza out. Slice the pizza, call lil brother down for lunch just in time to take a tuna pie out.

Lazed on the bed, reading another ebook as I look up a recipe for the best kind of cookies ever. Soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie. Just like the ones at Subway. My previous attempts have always been those hard and crispy type that Mama loves.

At 2.30, I went back to the kitchen and pulled out the mixer from its blue box. Measuring the butter, light brown sugar and white sugar (with the sugars halved from the recipe's measurement), I set the mixer on medium so they'll get all light and fluffy. Which is pretty much impossible for me.

Measure out the flour and baking soda, set those aside. Crack 3 eggs into the mixer and add in 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Let the mixer run for another minute before killing the power. Add the flour and baking soda, mixing it with a big big spoon. Add in 2 cups of chocolate chips. Yes, 2 cups. Hell a lot of chocolate chips.

Mix mix.

Cover, keep in fridge for at least 2 hours. I actually wanted to bake the cookies tommorow but when I went downstairs at 5.30 to help Mama with dinner. As she set the steaks on a grill, I take the cookie dough out of the fridge and form balls on trays as the oven goes through reheating itself.

Less than an hour later, the table was set with steaks, french fries, plain salad, gravy and a plate of cookies. Those cookies were soft. Not soft and chewy but still yummy. Kinda like a cake cookie. With tons of chocolate chips.

*munches on a cookie*

All In a Friday Morning.

Turn on the radio while pulling my sleeves back. Take out a cabbage and carrot, peeling the latter before grating it into a mixture of mayonnaise and lemon juice. Chop up the cabbage before washing it. Mix well with the carrot before sealing the container and let it chill in the fridge.

Take out two cans of tuna, drain it before mixing it in another mixture of mayonnaise and lemon juice. Seal, keep for at least a night in the fridge. Trust me, the mayo would seep into the tuna and take away that odd funky taste which will leaves you with the tastiest homemade tuna sandwich ever.

Take out the black pepper sausages and let it sit in room temperature for two hours.

Take a short nap after looking up a recipe for potato latkis.

Wake up, turn on radio and grate half an onion, a clove of garlic and two peeled potatoes. Sing along to Clumsy while squeezing the juices out of the grated mixture.

Put the sausages in a pot of water before setting it on the stove to bring to a boil.

Lightly beat an egg, mix in the potato mixture, a teaspoon of salt, some grated cheese, pepper and two tablespoon of flour. Mix in nicely.

Put a flat skillet on the stove, some vegetable oil and let it heat up. Put a tablespoon of the mix on the skillet, flatten it out a bit. Flip after a minute or two. Repeat until it browns nicely then let it rest on a paper towel.

Repeat until you're out of the potato mixture, turn off the stove. Take out the sausages.

Three teaspoons of instant coffee, a cup of milk, a cup of water, 2 tablespoon of brown sugar and icecubes. Blend, pour it out for a taste test.

Serve the sausages, potato latkis, coleslaw and drink for lunch. Tells Mama the tuna is for tomorrow's tuna pie. Ask her to buy some green apples for Sunday's apple crumble.

Look up pancake recipes for tomorrow's breakfast.

Confession No.40

That offer from 20 months ago?

Still open.

But let's change it to chocolate mint bubble tea.

Tuesday Thoughts.

Confession No.39

I Don't Get It: Teeth.

Why are people so open to making "appearances advices such as to fix their hair, clothes, complexion, weight, etc but when I commented that a celebrity or stranger should get braces, I get stared at as if I'm supporting Size 0 models?

And be told that they're happy with what they naturally got when they're wearing make up, perfumes, get their hair done etc.

Seriously?

Wearing braces for straight teeth is not just for vanity, it improves your bite which in turn prevent future pain. Unlike getting your hair straightened/curled/coloured, where its mostly for vanity. Its just like you losing weight for health.

Confession No.38

I experienced a moment of jealousy.

Tuesday Thoughts.

For I have been on both sides. A failure and a success. And nothing pushes you to success more than failure.

Talking Over Coffee.

This morning, I sat on a comfy chair at the nearby Starbucks with my Dark Mocha in hand while my friend tells me how people should accept that around the world there are different ways of doing things/thinking.

We then moved from one topic to another, like a butterfly visiting a garden of flowers.

A rose- How tempting a program my uni is offering where they'll sponsor students to do their Master and PhD before being binded to them as a lecturer for a number of years.

A gardenia- About her starting work next month. And my plans to work once I graduate.

A bougainvillea- How people act as if sex is still a taboo around here.

A chrysanthemum- The way people think around here. The whole student loan debacle. The fact that people nowadays lack the basic common sense that makes a person.

A lily- Ebooks and where I get my supply from.

A daisy- My neutral standing on a debacle concerning my uni that happened few years ago.

A violet- How we should go to Rio one day.

A carnation- How I should take Mama's flirting advice. What advice? Go for it, take charge.

This all happened between alternate sips of my drink and mineral water from my pretty bottle. 3 hours.

I enjoyed this morning very much because the topics are not something I can talk freely with my friends. We usually talk about old school friends, boys and just gossip. It does get boring after a while.

Why didn't I spend my time more with this friend? Well, she's been away studying abroad for the last 3 years. Which is why everytime I'm going out somewhere since June is with her.

My parents seem understanding because back in our school days, we went out together so many times.

This perhaps came at a time where I've been trying to loosen some friendships since earlier this year. There might be accusation that I've dumped them with her return.

No, its been in motion for a while now.

As she said to me:

"Have we changed too much or have we just outgrown them?"

Beats me.

First Week, Final Semester.

How my first week of my final semester went:

NO PRODUCTIVENESS AT ALL.

My degree is a 2 year program, 2.5 if you want to do the internship a second time but if you choose not to, you'll get 2 extra subjects. My class decided that doing industrial training once is hell enough so we have 86 credit hours to do in 4 semesters.

Maximum limit is 23 credit per semester and this semester is a mere 20 credit, a mere I say because it was 21, 23 and 22 for the previous semesters.

1. The first week was spent where out of 10 classes, there were only 3. Well, there were 4 but I skipped that one and got told by my class rep that the lecturer for the next subject will be teaching the next class.

Guess what happened.

I arrived at the classroom. It got freaking cancelled. Half of the class was already on their way.

Hanis: I think this is her revenge on us for not coming yesterday.

Friend: You think?

Hanis: Well, I'll do it if I'm a lecturer.

2. I've mentioned my FInal Year Project which is done in a group of 3, so being me I got my team set up by end of July. Ok, set up means I got a group. BUT THEN, the powers to be aka the lecturers decided that for this year, they're going to shake things up a bit.

First, we thought they were going to make the groups at random (Noooo) but apparently the lecturers didn't want the smart kids to group together because that would be unfair (I agree but my group is well balanced) so they went with this system:

The 17 kids with the highest CGPA would be group leaders so the other kids would form their groups around those leaders. Which caused a ruckus among the already formed groups.

My group? Well, I just need to be one of those seventeen and we'll be great.

But until that list comes out, we can't do anything. *sighs*

3. In preparation for this new semester, I have few tv shows and cartoons in a document labelled "Watch When Bored" because we all know that you need to watch Suits (great show) and do nothing for the final semester. (Don't listen to this advice).

And somehow, I also went crazy and downloaded more than 20 ebooks this weekend because my mind somehow thinks I'll be free to read them.

Or its just a way to motivate me in getting an ebook reader next February.

4. I'm disgusted by a seminar held in Malaysia where (urgh) *cringes* parents and teachers are taught on how to identify homosexual guys.

...

I'm ashamed.

Honestly. For two reasons.

One, those signs to detect, are so .. stupid. Stereotypes. And stupid.

Two, this is just going to make us a laughing stock. The best*sarcasm* part is that it is done by some Ministry and hence, it is a government action.

I had a rant with a friend about it yesterday. I think I've mentioned my stance on homosexuality and that is, just stop putting your nose in where you don't belong you haters.

Blergh. Mokesart wondered if Malaysians are as dumb and shallow as that one article. Sadly, most. If this post ends up being read by people who will hate me and call me a no good, useless Muslim/Malaysian, so be it. Bring it on.

I believe in treating people equally, as long as they're not some murdering/drug king/yakuza/etc individual. Yes, my religion dictates that some things are wrong, but the responses to those things are equally disgusting and wrong.

For example, A is a good member of his society. His mom says he's a wonderful son who takes care of his parents etc. BOOM, they find out he's gay and suddenly he's bound for hell, a shame upon his family and deserves to die.

Seriously?

Blergh. I'm not going to link up the articles mentioning the seminar but I'm sure you'll find it in Google.

For more on my stance on same sex loving, read this.

Tuesday Thoughts.

A Song and a Story for You.

As I mentioned yesterday, I posted a story on Glimpses today. Its done in a first person point of view, which proved to be quite the struggle for me midway.

If you want to read it, here's the link.

And if you want to know what song I listened to while writing it, here's the link.

Do read and comment.

That Pre-Final Semester Post.

I'll be starting my last semester on Monday. 4 subjects + Final Year Project = Crazy Hanis. Considering I had 7 subjects every semester for the last 3 semesters, this might be an easy peasy time, right?

No. That Final Year Project is 30% of my total GPA for the coming sem which means that if I fuck that up, I'll need a freaking A for those 4 subjects and that its not a guarantee that my grades won't be ruined.

*has a mild mild panic attack*

*takes a paper bag, breathes into it*

I'll be fine, hopefully. But to stop myself from getting into another panic attack, I'll fill this post with the ebooks I've read lately.

Since the 15th of July, I've read a minimum of 12 books. Few weeks ago, I bought 3 books. Few days ago, I went on an ebook downloading spree. OH BOOKS , YOU ARE MY SALVATION.

I just finished reading Room by Emma Donoghue which is a refreshing read. My advise? Do not read anything as in Wiki, don't even google the book because reading it without knowing what its about makes the book much better.

Its a mere 180-ish pages, which was quite a relief because before that, I was reading the Empire trilogy by Raymond E Feist. Each book was 600-ish pages which resulted in a total of 1800-ish pages.

I first read this trilogy at age ... 14 and I fell in love with the books. Its set in another world, but nothing toooo complicated like some books *coughs*LOTR*coughs* which makes it perfect. There's not much magic, tons of cunning politics that are played around the concept of honour and the Wheel of Life.

Which reminds me, I got to reread two trilogy by Trudi Canavan.

Speaking of rereading, I'm reading Mario Puzo's The Family which I read ... when I was either 14 or 15. Now, this book is interesting but a bit slow. I'm still on page 90-something from 300-ish. After this, I'm gonna reread the Trudi Canavan's trilogies and start on another one.

*sighs happily*

If I can make a living out of reviewing books. (I know I can but yeah)

Note: If any of you are interested in reading any of those ebooks or want to know where you can get some great ebooks, message me through this link right here.

I know, most people who read goes all:

Ebooks ain't books.

Correction. Well, thanks to ebooks, I can read more books than what my budget and the poorly stocked library allows me too. I'll never stop buying real books, but ebooks will still be a great part of my collection.

*hopes to get a Kindle next year*

Think of it this way, you'll help the environment in some way. And if you're complaining about the screen, some of those ebook readers got some pretty nifty features to help with that.

Long live reading.

Oh oh, I'll be posting a short story on my other blog tommorow (once Mokesart edits all the ugly mistakes) and according to him, he likes it. So, await the announcement on that.

Last post I read: This wonderful one by a lovely lovely person concerning beauty.

Passion, Pension.

In an effort to help the environment, I went shopping for a tumbler that would hold my water for classes. Usually, I'll buy a box of 500ml bottles of mineral water per 2 weeks for class usage. Which is 48 bottles per month. Sigh.

I do recycle them but somehow, in my own mind, if I use a tumbler, I can just use a mini electric kettle to boil water or buy the big big bottle of mineral water, a 5 liter jug that can see me through when I have no other water supply.

I drink way more than that, but this is for my drinking water in class (I drink a lot).

So I was browsing through the tumblers, oooh and ahh-ing at the designs till I came across a red one that had this quote printed:

Chase your passion, not pension.

My reaction:

*raises a brow, purse my lips slightly*

I just have a lot of problems with that statement.

First of all, there's nothing wrong in doing what you're passionate about and hey, if it happens to help give you the financial support you'll surely need in your life, even better.

But, not many can chase their passion and earn a living. Oh I know, don't give me the "Don't let money and capitalism rule your life Hanis." talk. You'll need money set aside for your retirement time, the most important factor being your health.

I took Pensions last semester and the few reasons your pension is important has nothing to do with capitalism. It has to do with survival. You know, health cost, increasing living cost, inflation, etc.

Do not give me the "My kids will help me" excuse.

*stamps foot*

Your parents will help you - Excuse when you're younger.

Your kids will help you - Excuse when you're older.

To the people who think this, are you that pathetic? Is that the reason you got parents and kids? Grow a freaking back bone and try to be independent. Do not put their assistance as Plan A. Heck, not even Plan J.

There's few ways I can see that might give you the excuse to chase your passion, not pension.

1. You're from a rich rich family with parents who don't care that you'll be a freeloader.

2. You got a BIG trust fund.

3. You won't mind being a hobo with an infested leg.

4. Somehow, your passion helps you make tons of money.


To put it simply: Your passion might not help you pay for that prothestic leg when you get a foot cut off due to diabetics when you're 60.

Even the healthiest people get heart attacks.

I'll end this with my version of the quote.

Chase your passion and pension.