Fifty Shades...

I briefly mentioned this book(s) in the previous post but I wasn't really sure if I wanted to talk about it. It just doesn't feel right, just like the book(s), but then again, just like the book(s), can't help it. HAH!

Fifty Shades series (E L James)

I heard there is no middle ground with this book(s). One either hates it or loves it. Me? I must belong to its target audience coz, you know what, I actually don't mind it (don't mind it???).

Whodathunk this kind of material will make it mainstream! What does it say about our society in general? That something is "taboo" until some power-that-be decides it's not? Then as the power in number grows that it becomes acceptable? Not that it makes a difference to me at this point. Human facets are complicated, complex and diverse to begin with, I can understand that what society thinks as normal barely covers a facet or 2.

Then there's also the argument of those on the other side of the fence on this book(s). Does it really promote what they say it does?

At the end of it, regardless of the divide/opinion/discussion, why over-analyze it? Like me and sis were saying, if it gets people reading, hey, why not? Whether it's the explicit content or the fantasy or the love story aspect that a reader is drawn to, reading is reading. Whatever floats people's boats, right?

Just one other thing, I almost want to say this book(s) is (are) not for hopeless romantic young women. Not because of its content. We're all (mostly) adults after all. 2 words. Christian Grey. Or I should say 3 words. NO Christian Grey.

HAH!

Laters, baby... (sorry, couldn't resist *snicker*)

Where Did the Week Go?

Gah! Not sure what happened, but the week flew by in a blink of an eye, and here we are, Friday already. Ok, I do know what happened. These darn book(s), {un}fortunately, kept me so preoccupied, it just ate most of my night time. To this moment, I actually still don't understand why they just engage me so *ambivalent sigh*... More on that later (I think)...

Anyhoot, before I knew it, the weekend's come. Mind you, I have a very short work week this week as I took some vacation days so I guess there's another reason why it feels it flew by just like that. Wednesday was kinda' like my Friday.

Ahhh... rest... sleep... Since I really haven't gotten much sleep for the most part of this week, it was quite nice waking up late yesterday and this morning.

Yesterday, decided to meet a friend for lunch. It worked out that she happened to be working at a nearby office and I happened to be off.

Lunch Special @ Guu (fried chicken with vinegar & tartar sauce)

(Japanese soda... the marble inside makes it fun...
only in Japan, I tell ya)

It was a nice bonus getting the chance to talk to some other people at that office that I haven't talked to in a while.

Oh, and right before I was leaving to meet my friend for lunch, hubs informed me that he managed to get some special screening tickets for the same night.

I liked the movie, I think. Didn't think Andrew Garfield can fill in Toby's shoes (who I incidentally thought could not have pulled it off in the first place but he did, I eventually thought), but I guess he provided a different angle to Peter Parker. I didn't think the movie brought anything entirely different though to the franchise, but at the end, I still enjoyed it.

So that was a nice way to end the day.

Didn't do anything all day other than read some more, mostly, hehe, and now, off to meet some friends for some Friday libation.

Here's to the weekend...

"Happy Retirement!"

Yesterday, we celebrated a colleague's retirement party. 3 of us at work organized it. Based on the guest of honor's reaction throughout the night, I'd say we didn't do so bad.

What I did find more interesting tho' was watching the faces of the people who showed up to celebrate with our colleague. These are people who he's worked with at some point. I know why they're there, having worked with him for almost 4 years. And they're obviously all good reasons.

I guess I find the whole thing heartwarming. That when my turn comes, that I will hopefully see the same expression on people's faces. That's all...

Burpy Smile

Another look at the food that've made me smile, of late. Again. hehe

Filipino Camarones ( fried shrimp)

Watermelon salad (a summer staple)

While out with colleagues--

chili lime chicken

hummus and pita

(having a good time, after all)

The making of a ravioli--

filling (ricotta, spinach,
turkey Italian sausage)

sauce (with turkey Italian sausage)

ravioli (using wonton wrapper)

Result

And one time for dinner--

Lemon ricotta blueberry pancake, with...

... with turkey breakfast sausage...
and some good quality maple syrup

*rub belly*

Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm...

Mailing List

Store mailing list, ah, the new bane of my existence. Ok, that's being overly dramatic.

Seemingly innocuous enough in the beginning, and useful (in my shopping mind), I'm now inundated with it, always announcing to me what good sales I am potentially missing out there, or I could partake in (depending on my mood).... What? Unsubscribe? Never! HAH! (never say never)...

Over the weekend, what with the semi-annual sales happening all around, according to my emails, I thought I'd refill our Bath and Body stash for soaps and what-have-yous. I did have a coupon after all, thanks to an email. And I figured, since I'm out and about, I might as well walk around to see where my remaining monthly budget can take me.

I walked into Holt Renfrew, Canada's answer to Harrods, only without the history, or to Bergdorf/ Saks/ Neiman, just because there is no Bergdorf/ Saks/ Neiman around here. Anyhoot, there I was, ready to live it large with my $27.24. Alas, that amount could not even buy me a heel of a shoe or a sleeve of a dress. What was I thinking anyways?

But I did find something elsewhere.

Gap espadrilles (on sale, $27.99, and the only pair!)

Now how much more summery can you get than that, eh? And within my budget too! Well, give or take a few cents. Cents!!! Pretty good, huh?

Now if only summer could have come yesterday... And if only July 1st could come tomorrow, you know, for a new shopping month. Kidding! No, actually I'm serious... Kidding!

HAH!

(and I guess all these summer colors just inspired me to get this color for my pedi earlier)

... too bad it didn't show how neon this orange is:p

C'mon, summer, just come, won't ya!

Time in a Wristwatch

Happy Father's Day!

This is a watch that used to belong to my dad. Just an ordinary Kenneth Cole watch, really, that my dad wore for daily use. Its leather strap was so worn out, the inner lining had already separated from the leather.

It stopped ticking a while back. And I left it as is for the longest time. Time stopped. I guess, in a way, time did stop, the time with my dad, that is. A little over 6 years ago.

Then recently, hubs offered to get the batteries replaced for all my watches. I gave him 2 of them, which didn't include my dad's. But I guess he decided to surprise me and grabbed it anyways, so when he got home that day, there it is, on the table, my dad's watch, ticking once more, and with a new strap, given a new life.

Time started moving again, I suppose...

My Mother's Daughter

I am, that's who.

I know, I know, people would say who else would we be but our mother's/father's daughter/son. But then again, sometimes, things happen that a person lives up his/her adult life handling things the complete opposite of his/her parents' way. Whether consciously or not, we, at some point, swear we'd never deal with things the way our parents did... I'm rambling, ain't I?

Growing up, I was pretty close to my mom. I still am, but no longer in the same way when I was a child. Which is expected, I suppose. As I got older, I've always thought that my mom and I have opposite sensibilities. I think I'm more like my dad in terms of attitude and personality.

But every now and then, my mom's personality in me asserts itself in tiny ways that makes me realize, eeek, I am my mom! HAH!

My mom loves tiny tools/gadgets. As I do, apparently. Thingamajigs that I can do without, really, but get it anyway because they're cute, and on the odd chance that I may need them even once, then I'll know I have it. (Mind you, that tiny egg flipper is proving very handful hehe). She has tons of these stuff. And it seems I'm getting there. Yikes!

Living at home, I remember my mom always having a stash. Of what? You name it, she has it. One time, I remembered friends hanging out and I was asking them if they wanted anything. One of them jokingly mentioned some random food. And true to my mom's style, I found it, in the cupboard. Joke was on him, for sure!

Fast forward XX years, and here, occupying part of our dining table, is a basket with various goodies, for the times I just feel like munching.

(Mom, did you fly out here and sneaked into our place, without us knowing?)

I can keep going, scarily enough...

The funny part is I didn't even realize it until a family friend brought it up. What rock have I been hiding underneath, you ask? Uhm, denial rock?

How do I feel about all this? Not sure. Other than acknowledging it, I don't think I feel anything else. It is what it is. I am my mother's daughter after all, no?