little bitty girl

As everyone knows, I like instant satisfaction. As easy-going and carefree as I may seem to be, I definitely like my routine especially when it comes to my computer stuff. So needless to say when I received an email from Flickr saying that old skool members need to merge their accounts with their yahoo accounts, I wasn't very happy. For me, it's just another bloody online thing that I need to remember my username and password for.

K: Did you get this stupid email from Flickr?
S: Yes, I already merged my account.
K: That's so annoying. Now I have to get some new account?
S: I am sure you already have an account.

Impatiently types "yahoo.com" and waits. For 2 minutes.

K: What the hell? What's taking so long?! I'm cancelling my stupid f*@$%ing flickr account!!

Stefan sensing a brewing tantrum is about to take place comes over and tries to soothe me by hugging me and then mocking me.

S: (in his "Karen" voice) Stupid Flickr! Stupid Yahoo! I am cancelling my flickr! I am cancelling my blog! Screw this! (in his own voice) Who's impatient?

K: Well....

Fortunately making me laugh always gets me out of a funk. More tapping on keys and this realization....

K: I already have a stupid yahoo account.

Stefan starts laughing and sulking ensues on my end....

Comments (0)
Posted in Me-ness, Stefan

I've been battling with my body for the past couple of weeks. Last week some weird stomach flu was going around, this week the beginning of a cold that just dwindled into a sinus infection. I think my body is just telling me that I suck at taking care of it and now it's just rebelling against its master.

Inspired by this month's Domino, last night I made myself a really nice ginger-ey soba noodle soup. I felt instantly better. I mean the thing is, I am a generally healthy eater anyway but I think I just need to detox my system.

I've never done a detox before but many of my alternative medicine friends highly recommend it, and they all do it once a year. They're hardly ever sick or lethargic so I think there must be some merit to their way of living. I'm only going to do it once I feel better though. They said I should only try it when I am no longer so weak as detoxing can be a little straining on the body for the first week.

And in a weird tangent about food, someone once asked me if I could only pick one type of meal that I had to eat for the rest of my life, what would it be? Naturally for me, I would pick noodle soup as there are so many variations to and it spans many cultures. A friend answered steak and eggs. Could you imagine the type of poos that person would have if they ate steak and eggs, for every meal for the rest of their lives?! Not also considering the early onset of heart disease.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Comments (1)
Posted in Homage to Hunger

I had a hard time being inspired to do a winter re-design for this blog. Except, I was getting really bored of the fall one. Why haven't I been inspired?

Well, because we haven't really had a winter until now, which is a mighty scary thing in my part of the world. It just makes me so aware that something is really, really wrong with the world and we have to do something to stop it.

Anyway this isn't going to be a lecture, just random thoughts that have been bouncing round in my head. I've decided that I'm going to make an effort to live a "greener" life, be more aware and educate myself on how to do this. So in the spirit of random thoughts on this topics, here are some links -

I watched An Inconvenient Truth. If you haven't watched it yet, I highly recommend that you do. It'll change the way you think about our world (or at least I hope it'll have that effect).

Here's another really awesome site that has lots of interesting and educational info.

Even Mindy's going green! She's now using an alternative kitty litter and so far, no real complaints from princess perfinicky.

Last but not least, Louise did some great whimsical drawings of animals who are at risk. It makes you smile and sad at the same time. I love this, this, this and this, my personal favourite.

Background prints of redesign by Squidfingers.

Comments (2)
Posted in Delectable Design, Randomness

K: Why the heck is this hummer trailing me so closely? They're right on my ass. It's so irresponsible.

S: Why?

K: Well, it's been snowing hard and the roads are pretty slippery. The whole highway is backed up....if they made a wrong move, you and I would be dead.

S: They would be just fine so I don't really think they're too concerned.

K: They should be! It's so inconsiderate not to think of other people....

S: Errr....do you really think that someone who owns a Hummer would really think about these things?

K: Good point.

I guess you can tell that I am not a fan of idiots who own Hummers in the city, since this is my second post about the inconsiderateness of Hummer owners. Just so you know, we don't actually own a car. We're very lucky to live in a city with amazing public transportation. We rent a car whenever we need to get stuff for my parents who live in the suburbs or when we need to transport heavy items from A to B.

Comments (1)
Posted in What's Buggin' Me

Something happened on the weekend and I just cannot get it out of my head so I thought I would empty my spleen here.

I was walking from the market when I happened to chance upon a family hanging out. I was alerted to their presence by the high pitched giggling of their pre-teen daughter. I looked over when I realized the son who looked to be about nine, had picked up a huge ice rock that was slightly bigger than a baseball. He took quick aim and threw it as hard as he could on the back of a nearby pigeon.

A loud "thud!" was heard while the pigeon squawked and awkwardly tried to fly away. It finally managed to fly after a couple minutes much to the delighted squeals of the two kids while the mother looked benignly on and the father was obviously bored by it all.

"How could you?!" I said pointedly at the parents.

The mother looked back rudely and said, "Mind your own business! He's just being a little boy..."

"No," I flashed back. "He's learning to be an asshole."

Then the father stepped in and told me not to swear around his kids and just wait until I had my own kids. It probably wasn't the best reaction but I was so angry. I cannot believe that those parents would let their kid do something so inanely cruel just for a few laughs. I know that people think pigeons are pests but it's still a living thing.

My parents would have been livid if that were me. I would have gotten such a sore behind when I got home. And I am not saying that they should have hit him, but to just stand there and allow him to act in such a way is just ridiculous.

That's truly how assholes in the world are created.

Comments (6)
Posted in What's Buggin' Me

Some more literary friends often bemoan that I am apt to read fluff. I read the way I eat -- I like to sample a bit of everything. Fluff has its uses like all things such as; cleaning the palate of the mind for a more serious book, providing brief levity without being taxing, wasting time at airports.

I always wish that there was a boy lit genre. Ever since I was young I have always had the privilege to be privy to inner boys' talk. I think it's because I am a die hard tom boy with girl sensibilities. Guy friends feel confident that they can confess without the usual judgements and get a girl's perspective at the same time. I am often bemused by the boys and really, in some ways they have more drama in their lives than we women expect. It would make good reading and I am just throwing this out there for budding male authors looking for an idea.

Just remember to give me some credit if you gain any success.

more »

Comments (0)
Posted in Reading List, Reviewing

Here's to the boy whose little boy smile lights up my world, who sits patiently with scratches on his arms, cajoling an unwilling cat to take her medication, who pretends he doesn't care if he gets birthday cake but is always happy that he gets one, teases my mother for always stealing "his" tupperware when in reality she's reclaiming her own from all the meals she brings him, and who makes me laugh like no one else can.

Happy Birthday!

Comments (1)
Posted in Stefan

I tend to like to ask and talk about "inappropriate" things. The thing that I just don't understand is why people can't be honest and frank around the people they know. Especially if they know the other person is comfortable with it. Even if they aren't, sometimes I think society is way too P.C. about everything and boundaries need a little pushing.

I like to ask Stef questions.

Sometimes he's really taken aback. I don't know whether this has anything to do with his Anglo-Saxon upbringing that makes him so reticent. Or whether I am just too frank. It definitely doesn't have anything to do with my upbringing since both my parents are notoriously shy. I think the truth of the matter lies somewhere in between.

Plus, he's my husband, if I can't ask him questions, who else can I ask?

more »

Comments (0)
Posted in Girls Are From Earth, Boys Are From La La Land, Stefan

It's been a little bit insane in our household since the news of Mindy possibly having some sort of sickness. So it turned out that her pee had a higher than normal pH level. Sometimes this is an indication of stones in the bladder (bad) or a urinary tract infection (also bad). The vet decided that we needed to do X-rays just to make sure that she had no stones.

I had to drop her off at the vet and I confess that I was tearing up a little as they took her to the back and she gave me the most bewildered look. I hate the idea of her not feeling safe or happy. Truth be told, she's never had to be away from her home for any long periods of time. When we go away, we have her cat nanny come and hang with her the entire time we're gone. (God help us when we actually have children since we're so obsessive with Mindy now).

more »

Comments (1)
Posted in Mindy-Lou

I thought I would do a little fashion blitz, a practice run before my annual Oscar fashion report. The 64th Golden Globes Awards were held last night and the colour of the evening was white. I really like the idea of a great white dress, it's a refreshing change to the basic black. As you can see, not everyone's interpretation of this trend had the desired result.

more »

Comments (4)
Posted in Fashion Smashion, Glued To The Tube

I am sure many of you out there have thought that perhaps one day, you would like to collect a urine sample from your cat. Let me tell you that it's not as fun as it seems.

Mindy's been licking a part of her belly and now it's turned into an awful rash. We brought her to her doctor because I thought she must have some skin allergy but the doctor said sometimes cats lick their bellies because their stomach or bladders are bothering them. They do it because they think if they lick it, it'll get better. Or it could also be a behavioural thing that she's recently developed. To rule out any internal issues, we had to get a pee sample.

more »

Comments (2)
Posted in Mindy-Lou

Sometimes, they like to sneak off and take naps without me. Then, my inner paparazzi comes out....

Comments (0)
Posted in Mindy-Lou, Stefan

Tsk! Tsk! Only three books read this week. I am never going to get to my personal goal of trying to read (this includes my re-reads) of three hundred books this year. Why three hundred? Seems like a reasonable number. That, and it's divisible by the prime numbers 3 and 5.

Have I ever mentioned my weird obsession with numbers? I break phone numbers, birthdays, social insurance number, any type of series of numbers by making little math quizzes in my head. Once it's broken down, I never forget it. I think in my past life I was a wannabe mathematician.

more »

Posted in Reading List, Reviewing

Dear Stefan,

A year ago today, I stood with you facing the sea while a thunderstorm was brewing and we vowed to be together for the rest of our lives.

When we first got married, I seriously didn't think that anything would be different. After all, we had co-habited in sin for so long that marriage was just the next eventual step. All of our guy friends joked how it was all "downhill" from here on.

But oh! how you love to surprise me.

When I look back on it, all those dating years it feels like there was a part of you that held back 10% of your true self until you knew for sure, that I was yours. Because this year? This year was a whole different ball game and sometimes I have to stop and think to myself,"Who is this guy?" Don't get me wrong. As my boyfriend, girls would just sigh and tell me how lucky I was. As my husband, I have everyone from my grandma to acquaintances wanting to pay money for you.

more »

Comments (5)
Posted in Stefan

New year, new pet peeve.

Taking a swig out of my morning tea in my coffee (tea) cup holder. The tea bag must have broken at the end as I just swallowed a huge mouthful of tea leaves.

Yuck!

Comments (0)
Posted in What's Buggin' Me

My parents are redecorating our family home and part of the re-decorate is dismantling my childhood bedroom. It's been a little traumatizing having to decide what I no longer want to keep especially since I was such a pack rat. I came across some of my old high school assignments and it was funny looking back on past tests and essays. Here's one that I thought I would share.

It was my final assignment for one of my three graduating English classes where we had to write a 20 page essay comparing two books. It was our prelude to writing hard core essays for university. Fortunately for me, my English teacher appreciated my inner nerdiness and permitted me to write a 40 page essay comparing three books. In my notes that I found, this was what I wrote for my opening paragraph-

more »

Comments (0)
Posted in Me-ness

Every so often, just when I think my parents have completely assimilated into Canadian culture and lingo, they will say something unexpected that proves that this isn't the case. For instance, a conversation with my mother this morning -

"Don't forget to pick up food for Stefan when you come by today."

"Food? You made him food again? Why did you make him food?"

"I don't like the idea of him eating ABC noodles...."

"What the heck are ABC noodles? .......Oh, Alphaghetti!"

Comments (0)
Posted in Family Shenanigans, Stefan

In light of my entry and talking about community within the blogosphere, if you didn't already know, some amazing artist and craft bloggers came together to raise some money for the Kim Family. The auction is now closed but if you would still like to help out in some way, please donate to cover the fees for this auction. You can find the details by clicking this link here or you can also make a direct donation to the family by clicking this link here.

Update: Funds for the fees are now covered but still check out what was listed and drool. Oh, and donate to the family directly if you can.

Comments (0)
Posted in Added Thoughts

What? Already?

I can't believe that it's been two years since this blog was started.

I don't really know how to describe what this blog means to me. It's been through its many changes and moods.

It first started as a way for friends around the world to catch up, then I wanted it to be a venue where I could practise my writing skills. For awhile, I wondered whether I should have a "theme." Should I be a food blog? An admirer of design blog? A pseudo gossipy blog? Then for a very brief moment in time, I had serious blog envy. How come other people have so many readers? Am I just this big blog LOSER?

Then I lost the focus of why I ever wanted to blog in the first place.

The funny thing is once I stopped caring and started writing again for me, that was when I found my own voice once more. Now, I'm always shocked by just how many strangers and acquaintances read this blog. In my mind, I am just writing for a small few who are too far away to see me. But I admit, I am always really flattered when acquaintances come up and tell me how much they enjoyed a particular entry or how it's "so me". I want this blog to be "so me." Hence, the haphazard entries about nothing in particular.

My big shocker this year, is that my mum reads this obsessively and calls me when I haven't posted an entry. Why is this a shocker, you ask? Well, it just seemed that not too long ago we were teaching mama the concept of "double clicking." Now that she's surfing the internet and finding stuff she wants to find? It boggles the mind! You would think that this would make me censor some of my writing a little. But, no. Besides, Mama Kang needs a little jolt of excitement every so often. That's what keeps her looking so young!

I would like to think that I helped inspire some people to blog this year (i.e my brothers). I love that some of my friends and other family have also started to blog. I like getting glimpses of their day to day lives. That are so many new things that I've learnt about them as people.

And for the bloggers that I've never met but feel such a kinship to? I am constantly astounded and humbled by the generosity of spirit and kindness that we, as a community extend to one another. What I love the most? I love that for few moments in time, I get to live vicariously through your lives.

Thank you.

Comments (6)
Posted in Me-ness

So the new updated Firefox has this new amazing built in tool where it automatically spell checks while you are typing. A nice little underline shows up when you've made a mistake.

My only issue is that the spell checker obviously has a US dictionary built in, because I still spell everything the British way. And so anytime I do spell a word the English way, an underline keeps popping up.

No insult to my American friends, but I've spent so many years spelling words such as colour, favourite, cheque, honour to change my habits now. I wish there was a British dictionary option on this new update. I hate it when the computer keeps telling me that I am spelling things wrong. I keep having to check to make sure that I am not.

Update: Woo hoo! It's nice having a techy knight in shining armour in the house. Once he saw the entry, he looked into it and installed the necessary dictionary. Hmm....I wonder what would happen if I complained about other stuff online....like cleaning the toilet?

Comments (2)
Posted in What's Buggin' Me

So I didn't quite get to my 6 book goal before the end of the year but it is what it is. Marie's been trying to get me to read Murakami since we first met. For some reason, I've always resisted and I finally read Norwegian Wood this past week. The book was quite simply astounding. So complex and beautifully written about love and loss.

more »

Comments (1)
Posted in Reading List

"Am I ugly when I sleep?"

"Yeah, you were a little ugly this morning...."

I couldn't think for all the uproarious laughing after, over his own "witty" comment.

I don't know when Mr. Comedian thinks he's going to get laid next, but I am telling you right now that it's not anytime soon.

Comments (0)
Posted in Conversations, Girls Are From Earth, Boys Are From La La Land, Stefan

I spent the very first day of the new year doing what I love to do best - cooking a yummy meal and sharing it with a friend. Stefan had gone to see a Bruins vs. Leaf game and so Lia was kind enough to come and share dinner with me. She had never watched Love Actually before and watching this movie is slowly becoming an annual Christmas/Holiday tradition for me.

It's just generally a happy, feel good movie. Sure, some story lines are more enjoyable than others but I like that not everyone has a sappy happy ending. Because life's like that.

From this last watch, I've decided that Jamie (Colin Firth) and Aurélia (Lúcia Moniz) storyline is my new favourite. I like the idea of people being absolute strangers, unable to communicate and still able to fall in love. I hate to admit it, but I am a cheesy romantic at heart.

But what I really love is Jamie's the little house he retreats to after he discovers his brother was shagging his current lover. I love the idea of having an old decrepit cottage in Europe with a pond (hopefully not muddy and filled with eels) and writing. But I definitely would not do it on an old fashioned typewriter, as much as I love them. I would die without my computer and internet.

I am glad to have shared the experience of watching the movie with Lia - spicy shrimp linguini, couple bottles of wine, good conversation, snuggling under my sockmonkey sheets. It's a great start to a new year.

Comments (1)
Posted in Joy-Friends, Reviewing

Katherine from Chatiryworld gave me the idea for this entry.

A review of some of my favourite pictures and some of the cool things (at least to me) that happened this past year.

more »

Comments (1)
Posted in Me-ness