CPSC 110

So, it's the new year and the start of a new term. True to my nature, I've been trying to avoid weighing down my schedule with too many classes and so I've decided on Art History, Classical Studies, Medieval Studies and Latin (which up till now has me confused as to why in the world I would have taken it up in the first place...)

Anyway, which such a 'heavy' course load of arts subjects, I decided that it would be wise to sit in one some of Jk's Science classes to determine which science class I should take up next year to fulfill my Science Requirement for my degree. Here's a list of the classes I have sat in on and my verdict...

CHEM 123 (???)

I have sat in on this class TWICE. Not because I like it, but because I have nothing better to do at this time and spending time with Jk in a class was better than sitting alone somewhere (I have an aversion to being alone... even in bed sometimes...)

Verdict: I will never take this class. Chem was my enemy in high school and it seems that it is STILL my enemy. The only upside of sitting in on this class, other than getting to spend time with Jk, was that the professor reminded me of the actor from "The Flintstones" who played the role of Fred Flintstone. The over-usage of his favourite phrase 'turns out' makes Jk cringe every time he says it and thats also a little upside of that one hour of Chemistry :)

BIOL 112 (???)

I sat in on this class once. We got pretty decent seats, right at the back in a little gallery-like box... made me feel like I was attending the opera.

Verdict: I don't think that this is the class for me either. Not only could I not catch up with what the professor was saying, my mind strayed so far that I spent the whole 50 mins alternating between dozing off and drawing a Nerdosaurus Raptor for Jk.

MATH 200 (???)

I sat in on a class talking about matrices and vectors.

Verdict: Need I say more?? Matrices and Vectors and mangni-what-a-ma-bobs... I would not only fail, I would do it epically. I spent this entire class getting ready to poke Jk awake if he dozed off while sketching bug-eyed chicks and squirrels.

Of all the classes that I sat in on though, the one that took the cake was:

CSPC 110

I could at least understand more or less what the professors were talking about in the other classes; endothermic, exothermic, membranes, velocity and multiplications. But as I plopped myself down next to Jk for his CPSC 110 (Computer Science) class, I realized that not only was the population being dominated by males, but that the entire class was made up of nerds. Which made me feel even more like the bimbo that I get accused of being occasionally.

It took me less than 2 minutes to realize that I did not understand a SINGLE WORD that came out of the professor mouth.

Okay, I lied.

I understood the words alright. They were simple English words. I understood them perfectly. Individually. When strung into a sentence, it just made me feel like the professor was just throwing out a random bunch of words that were related to math and science.

One of the best examples I can give you is this:

Professor: So, how many of you are confident with 'render cat'?

*** 97% of the class population raised their hands. I'm pretty sure I was one of the 1/4 who didn't raise my hand. (I'm pretty sure that 1/4 of the class is not 97% of the class... but what the heck... as long as you understand that i was a minuscule minority...)

Professor: So you're confident you can do it? That's good. I want you to practice 'render cat'.

At this point, I was so confused that I was shouting (in my head) "WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY RENDER CAT??? Are we supposed to render them speechless???"

A whole load of other fancy smanshy terminology was used by the professor and I cannot for the life of me remember now.

Verdict: I would take Chem, Bio or Math before I would take on CPSC. This course is just crazy. I actually thought the professor sounded like he was a fluent Klingon. Plus, he walks up and down the aisles so much that I was SURE he'd notice that a bimbo was sitting in and call me out to banish me from the CPSC building. Never again.

An so my search for a suitable science course to fulfill my Science Requirement continues.

Wish me luck.

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones BUT Words Might Actually Kill Me..

Or my self-esteem...

If it ever existed in the first place.

So yes, visiting my 'beautiful' hometown, M-City meant visiting relatives and making our final rounds of farewells before my sister and I disappear back to the far west of the Great White North.

Considering the higher exchange-rate of B-Town to M-City, my sister and I went nuts shopping... (RM 2.25 to BND1) and (RM 3.12 to CAD 1)

- Zara had sweaters (must-haves... especially boyfriend sweaters...) for about RM 69.90 which means about BND 34 converted into B-Town currency and about CAD 22? I went nuts... I think I bought 4...

- A high-waisted black working skirt was essential RM 55

- Gorgeous Eyelet-Lace white top (versatile... for work and casual) RM 99

- T-Shirt for AD RM 16.90

- Jersey Tops 3 for RM 50

- Preppy Sweater RM 49.90

and some random stuff I think...

And so, if I merely indulged in foods that I have been craving back in B-Town, well then, I had a FEAST back in M-City... much as I dislike my hometown (I have several legit reasons), I have to admit that nowhere comes close when it comes to down-right scrumpdelicious meals.... and if they were obtained at a hawker stall by the road-side, *slurrrrpppp* it was even better...

and so, our little adventure continued in this vein until I had to visit a certain relative... a relative who reminded me of my self-worth...

or rather... the lack of it...

I was lectured (asian style) about how I should be contributing to giving my parents $100 each a month to spend on whatever they wished or liked... and compared to her own filial daughter (who i HAVE to add... IS A FULL-TIME WORKING WOMAN DONE WITH UNIVERSITY) who gives said amount to her mother...

I have no problem whatsoever in contributing to ease my parents financial burdens and rest assured... i have EVERY intention of supporting them when they are older... but i just dont see the logic in sending my parents $100 monthly while they send me my allowance monthly... I should just tell them to subtract $100 from my allowance to keep to themselves to get themselves little luxuries such as perfumes and bags... shouldn't I?

Rubbish.

not only that... as soon as my taller and much slimmer sister comes out from the washroom, said relative looks over and exclaims loudly as to how pretty my sister has become... she has been 'becoming prettier and prettier' ever since we were, lets say... 10?? I have always been pushed aside while this particular relative and her crones (for want of a better word) exclaim on how my second sister is prettier and how the baby sister is the prettiest...

I have nothing against my sisters whatsoever and will admit to their charm and beauty... but being pushed aside as if I was nothing (actually... as if I AM still nothing..) is just downright hurtful and mean... I love them and I know it's not their fault that I look nothing like them (they're totally lovable... the one that I am ranting against is my 'relative'), but I really wish that people would keep their mean opinions to themselves... it's bad enough being reminded when I look at pictures... but having to be reminded over dramatic exclamations of their beauty while giving me the "dont-you-think-so" look is just horrible...

and so yes... I was always told that all I need is just to have a little confidence... to be assured of my own worth... and so therefore, I started searching for and gaining what my (immediate) family and close friends urged me to... Confidence...

but after years of emotional abuse from not only said relative, but other sources probably unaware of their hurtful cruelty, self-esteem is not something easily obtained... but one negative word, or a sentence rather... can destroy what has been so difficult to obtain over 4 years out of their reach in a matter of seconds....

So yes, stick and stones may break my bones, but words will certainly kill me...

Light Greys and Lime Greens

Wellll.....

Not sure if this has been mentioned before, but my parents are renewing their marriage vows this year... in fact, it's this Friday.

Sooo.... my dilemma for the moment?? Weight gain. It's a real and dangerous threat as i had my dress made about 1 1/2 month ago and guess what? It fit perfectly during a fitting but now I have put so much on weight that the dress is snug around my midriff... Tis a very very very real issue as I have to perform during the ceremony and singing would only make it tighter and therefore issuing the threat of my zip busting or something like that...

Shoot....

Serves me right for not taking note of my weight gain and indulging in comfort food from the moment I touched down in B-Town.

p.s. my dress is light grey with a lime green sash :D

Pasta with a Bacon Mushroom Cream Sauce

Well, during a practice session with the peeps performing at my parent's Renewal of Vows, I was ordered by my mum to cook dinner while she went out with my dad.

So, at home with 7 other peeps to feed and a shortage of variety of ingredients, I was relieved when I found bacon and mushrooms in the fridge. As a bonus, there was also thick cream (altho not enough so I had to improvise and used milk too...)

Ingredients:

Pasta

Bacon (smoked preferably)

Oyster Mushrooms

Bunapi-Shimeji (White Beech Mushrooms)

Garlic

Thick Cream

Milk

Black Pepper

Oil (tiny bit)

Method:

1- Heat up oil and cook bacon. While the bacon juices are emerging, throw in chopped garlic and cook until soft, not brown. Put on a pot of water to boil.

2- Add Oyster Mushrooms and White Beech Mushrooms and cook until soft. Meanwhile, cook pasta in pot of water.

3- Season bacon and mushrooms with black pepper. Add about 1/4 cup of milk and cook until it reduces. Add another 1/4 cup of milk and reduce some more. Add about 3 tbsps of thick cream to the sauce.

4- When pasta is cooked, drain away the water and mix into the cream sauce. Take off the heat and serve.

Bon appetit peeps ;)

Back in B-Town

I've been back in B-Town for about a month or so now and somehow or rather I've managed to stay busy and therefore, sane :D

Losing weight before I came back to B-Town for my parent's renewal of vows seemed like a good idea that was quite easily achieved when I was in Van-City... but since arriving in B-Town, I've been eating non-stop... the things that I have been deprived of for 9 months were just too hard to resist T.T

- Ice Milo

- Sambal Stingray (Much to the envy of E :P)

- Nasi Katok

- Chicken Rice (@ Tien Tien!!)

- KoloMee (mmmmMMmmmmYuuuummmm)

- ABC

- Laksa

- Roast Duck (in Miri)

- KFC

- Jollibee

mmMMmmmmmyyYYYyyuuummmmmmmm.... I dont even remember what else I ate but I know everything I have eaten so far have messed up my plan for losing weight in time for the family portrait T.T

Being Discipline... or at least making an effort to...

Okay... so you know how the typical asian family has high expectations about everything? Well, fortunately, my parents aren't typical but unfortunately, my aunts and uncles are. Very typical. Super Competitive. Harshly critical.

As the date to return home creeps nearer and nearer, a new determination has popped into my head... I have to lose weight. I have to squash the irritating remarks of "Wow!! Do they have really good food in Vancouver? Coz you put on weight!!" and "Do you remember your cousin E? She can join your Fat Club now... both of you can shake hands!!" that usually greet me when I meet them during Chinese New Years or family reunions.

And so... I have been going to the gym.. almost everyday... and not only that... to Oz's despair, I have only been buying bananas, oranges, grapefruits and Oatmeal every time I go grocery shopping...

Apparently, one of the best ways to lose weight is to keep a food journal... I guess reminding yourself of what you have binged on and how much it might cost your hard work and effort is a good way to stave off the hunger... on the bright side, I will be able to save money too (grocery shopping is what I spend a lot of money on... T.T) So... here goes nothing and I hope this will actually work!!

GOOD LUCK TO ME!!

Broke Food

Broke food is.... food that you eat when you are broke.... obviously, that has happened to me ALOT!!

so.... what do i usually eat when i am broke??

(1) Instant Noodles (but being the brat I am, I eat the Korean ones... not so cheap.... but at least they really fill me up :D)

(2) Cabbage Soup (you might think it disgusting, but when I was reading about Charlie Bucket having to eat Cabbage Soup day in and day out, I got curious and tried making some.... I liked it :D but probably because I use chicken stock for the soup and I add chicken and mushrooms :P)

(3) Porridge/ Congee (again... cooked with chicken stock, this dish is AWESOME!! and during times when i'm not so broke, I add chicken :D)

okay.... that's about it... I just realized that I need more poor food.... food to last me through long spells of hunger and broke-ness.... however, when my sister NY comes over this august to start her uni life at my uni, our financial status will no doubt improve considerably (she has more economic sense than I do... WAY MORE...)

but yes... that's it for now.... I might come up with more "poor food" if my situation does not improve :P stay tuned :D