Chocolate

English: Chocolate [ˈchä-k(ə-)lət, ˈchȯ-]
Japanese: チョコレート [chokorēto]

Function: Noun. Happy food.

Originally invented by man as a cure for PMS.
It worked.
However, the effects quickly dissipated.

What does a woman really wants?

A very interesting forward that I've received.

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, if he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer. If after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.

The question was: What do women really want?

Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: The princess, the priests, the wise men, and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.

The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, The most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunch-backed and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc.

He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden. But Lancelot, having learnt of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the reservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered.

Arthur's question thus: 'What a woman really wants?'

She said, 'Is to be in charge of her own life.'

Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth. And that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was.

The neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding. The honeymoon hour approached and, Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom.

But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen stand before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth be her horrible and deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.

'Which would you prefer?’ She asked him.

'Beautiful during the day… … or at night?'

Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day he could have a beautiful woman to show off to his friends. But at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch!
Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day? But by night a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous, intimate moments with?

(If you are a man reading this...) What would YOUR choice be?
(If you are a woman reading this) What would YOUR MAN'S choice be?

What did Lancelot chose?
.
.
.
.
.
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Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur to his question, replied that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.

Upon hearing this, the witch announced that she would be beautiful all the time. Because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.

The moral of the story is

1. There is a witch in every woman no matter how beautiful she is! (I disagree!)
2. If you don't let a woman have her own way, things are going to get ugly.

So, always remember:
It’s either ‘HER WAY’ or it’s ‘NO WAY’!

Sweet Creep

It is really a pleasant surprise.
Aww... a mail from my Twitter friend! Not a tweet, but a snail-mail!


Twitter friend: Which do you think you are, the monster or the little kid?
Me, without hesitation: Of cos I'm the cute baby!
Twitter friend and me: Haha...

The monster actually reminds me of No Face from Miyazaki's Spirited Away - a demure, simple-minded creature who is easily moved by his emotions and those of others. I think I'm actually the crafty baby who whines to get the ice-cream. It's cute.

Really appreciate this Sweet Creep that arrives in snail-mail in this Internet times. Smiles.

What people are willing to do for a little green

Everyone can really do with a little more cash and fun.
Get both... why not?

Get your own - Open publication

Nauseating fun. Eat the mayo out of the pits.
Messy fun. Party in the pants. (extra spicy?)
Loopy fun. Superglue your toes together.
Sporty fun. Banana hammock in the park.

The Orange Idle Status

Blocked! My office has blocked Google Talk! I cannot believe it.
My office has blocked virtually all web IMs and GTalk is the one and only sole survivor. We reasoned that perhaps some important people in the office are on GTalk. Apparently, this was a flawed assumption.

Day 1 of Google Talk Withdrawal Syndrome

The inconvenience is annoying. I actually find dialing for my colleagues a chore. Yes, it feels like a C-H-O-R-E. I'm so used to dialing for my colleagues only when their status is a GREEN Available. I know I will be greeted with a "Hello" and I could have a discussion with him/her. There is certainty.

But, on this very first day without GTalk, it is like attending school for the very first day and learning the alphabets all over again. I relearn that someone is probably busy or away from his/her desk if it I still do not get a "Hello" by the tenth ring. It would seem that I have wasted some time trying to dial for him/her, cranking my neck and trying to balance the phone between my ear and shoulder.

It does not help matters when our desk phones do not have IDD caller that show any missed call. I realized it must have been one of those days that I hear the most number of the "ring ring" tone. (Disregarding those days when I was a tele-marketer.)

Day 2 of Google Talk Withdrawal Syndrome

I surprise myself that I feel less annoyed. I'm starting to feel more comfortable with using the primitive telephony to "spy" on my colleagues' whereabouts.

Besides the primitive telephony, I'm beginning to appreciate the non-instant messenger, emails. They are less intrusive. For IM, I have this sense of urgency to reply instantaneously. Thus, I always do so in short phrases. For emails, I could take some time to think and reply in full complete sentences. There is probably more thought process involved for emails. I'll think twice if I've missed out anything before hitting the send button. I'm wondering how many more days it'll take, before my emails will get shorter and shorter and shorter... Hmmmm.

Women Lingo 101

I would love to disagree, but the following is hilariously true.

1. Fine
   This is the one word that women use to end an argument when they are right and you need only to shut up. Period.
   
2. 5 minutes
   If she is getting dressed, "5 minutes" means half an hour. "5 minutes" is only 5 minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3. Nothing
   This is the calm before the storm. This means something and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with "Nothing" usually end with "Fine". Refer back to No. 1 for the meaning of "Fine".
   
4. Go ahead
   This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it!
5. Loud Sigh
   This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means that she thinks that you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. Refer back to No. 3 for the meaning of "Nothing".
   
6. That's Okay
   This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. This means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7. Thanks
   A woman is thanking you. Do not question... ... or faint, just say, "You're welcome."
   Disclaimer: If she says, "Thanks alot", that is pure sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. Do not say "You're welcome"... ... that will bring on a "Whatever".
   
8. Whatever
   A woman's way of saying F**K YOU!
9. Don't Worry About It, I've Got It
   Another dangerous statement. This means this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking, "What's wrong?". Refer to No. 3 for the woman's response.
   

Novus @ the National Museum

I could not recall the last time I was at the National Museum. It has been that long. But no, I was not there for the exhibits and displays, I was there for food. Nested amidst of the city central yet away from the crowd, this Euro-French restaurant is just the purfect place for some quiet moments on a lazy, drizzling Saturday afternoon.

Love the contemporary interiors.
Love the serene ambiance.

I'll definitely go back again.

Where the Hell is Matt?

Matt is awesome.
I really love this.
After watching the video, my friend and I proclaimed in unison, "What the hell are we doing here?"

Delightful Little Mouthfuls - Luxemburgerli

I was delighted when my lovely cousin brought these all the way back from Sprüngli, in Zurich. I fell in love with these delightful little mouthfuls! These cute little macrons come in flavours vanilla, stracciatella, hazelnut, caramel, lemon, mocca, raspberry, cinnamon, Champagne and chocolate! Yes, they come with alcoholic cream filling like stracciatella and Champagne! They simply melt in the mouth, yummy! More, more and more please!

Anyone heading to Zurich?

You've Got the Glazed Look in Your Eyes

I stumbled upon a lovely book "Have a Crumby Book" in the bookstore. It not only tells of the history of Busken Bakery, which has baking since 1928, but also features the brilliant and yummy-licious looking Busken Bakery billboards for the past decade.

How I wish we have such billboards in Singapore as well! I'm certain the yummy-licious billboards could chase my monday-blues away.The billboards are so appealing that I spent a good 10 minutes flipping through the 160-pages book.

I have to applaud at their clever advertising. Really.

Busken Bakery even have these Busken Donut Spectacles for the donut lovers to get the glazed look in their eyes! Reminds me of those arts & crafts days back in kindergarten. Some fun time!

Fatal Blueberry Attraction

Colleague peeps into my cubicle and walks in: You look good in that white top leh. Where are you going tonight huh?

Me: Oh, thanks.

Colleague: You on diet ah, seem slimmer now.

Me: Really? No la...

Colleague: You very fair hor, like me like that. Many people say I look like Taiwanese or I'm from China.

Me, nodding: Ya, I was mistaken as a Vietnamese when I was in Ho Chi Minh.

Colleague: Ya lor, so fair looking right?

Colleague, staring at the blueberry jam and cream sandwich cookies on my table: Aye, you got the blueberry one ah?

Me, nods.

Colleague: The blueberry one looks nice hor?

Me, nodding: I think so too.

Colleague: I got the strawberry one leh.

Silence.

Colleague looks at the blueberry jam and cream sandwich cookies on my desk.

Silence still.

Colleague: You very lucky hor, got the blueberry one.

Me, smirk look: Ya lor. I like blueberry too!

Silence again.

Colleague still looking at MY blueberry jam and cream sandwich cookies: Hmmm... I'm going to find someone to exchange with me.

Me, grins.

Well, usually I would not mind giving her my blueberry jam and cream sandwich cookies. Somehow, I did not. Guess my top isn't that pretty after all and I did not actually look slimmer. Nor was I that fair looking... HUMPH!