Holiday Post #25: Happy New Year! See ya, 2013!

Credits to Dracu-Teufel666 (c) Danbo Happy New Year 2014

Holiday Post #24: Snakes need to shed their skins too

When it comes to a new year, a good deal of things come into mind. There’s reflecting on the resolutions made, giving away (or tossing) of that old box inside your garage, and perhaps thinking about what you want to do better next year. I had the opportunity to go shopping at Arundel Mills, an indoor mall outlet that carries some of the well-known brands at prices lower than those in boutiques.

I managed to bag $100 worth of clothes. Like a top, three pairs of pants, and a pair of sneakers. Looks like a new makeover isn’t on my list for 2014. Sorry guys, you may have to work harder to get me to change my mind. At the moment, my worn out Puma did well with persuasion. I dread its stench and torn underside with every outdoor trips. Well, if you look on the brighter side, I guess it’s still a miracle that I shopped and spent some dough.

Thank you PF for the safe driving to and fro the place. You may have been a lil mood swingy that day. But I’ll do my best with taking the positive side this time round.

Liquidation,
Vonnie S. 

Holiday Post #23: Good things need to end for better things to begin

Ah, these anime are at their finale. One by one, they ended. I highly doubt I’d miss any of them, but there’s always somewhat bitter sweet when they reach their conclusions. Then it’s deduction time. You hate it, love it, or go meh. I had a lot of meh’s this season. Not much of a kick, I’d call it. Anyhow, I am very much anticipating next year’s lineup. I mean guys, Gin no Saji is back for season two! That would be an absolute must watch for me despite the impending crazy semester. Don’t even want to think about work and school just yet.

Good bye, heroes who love two heroine at the same time!

Also, I have to become self-discipline. No more slacking for no reason. Now that the roommate is here to motivate me, I should take the opportunity to be a little more dedicated to time manage my life. Tough call, but the idle days will be over. Hmm…at least for the spring it will be. Need to get myself a daily planner for sure.

Crappy relationships need to end. I cannot afford any of those no more. Look, I had that privilege to love everyone unconditionally despite their huge flaws, but check where they’ve gotten me. Far? Heck no. Instead they leave and disappear, without so much a turn or acknowledgement. Some even had me turned into the invincible man. I am through with such people. Next time you come round, you’d better be calling me a therapist and ya, always bring a check with you.

But I’ll say these words more often next year. I will because it’s finally the quarter century of my lifespan. (Assuming I’ll live to a 100 years old.) Can you even imagine what a milestone that is? Some people don’t even get to live to my age. So so grateful as always. What better way to spread the joy than to spread the love?

Old,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #22: Merry Christmas!

Despite the lack of activity outside, us girls had tons to do. Card games and food galore! For breakfast, S made utma, some spicy flatten rice dish. PF enjoyed it so much that she went for seconds. Such gesture probably set a flame in S to proceed with lunch preparation immediately after finishing on the utmas. While she sliced and diced, PF and I competed a great deal on Doodle Jump. I usually care not for that game, but I had to prove myself worthier than her in gaming skills. That we did, neck and neck. The onion smell however proved a formidable foe, forcing frequent trips to the bathroom.

After lunch was prepared, we baked cupcakes. S thought it would be good to use the confetti cake flavor for its colorful batter. That indeed was alright, except the first batch was a lil burnt on the bottom. We hypothesized the high temperature to be the problem. Second batch came out perfect, lightly browned on the top and cooked to the bottom. Us girls then dressed our cupcakes up with frostings and sprinkles. These three are mine.

I regretted not accepting PF’s dare to use money as gambling tokens. I could have easily won $15 from her since the girl was losing so much at Black Jack. Instead we made do with some strawberry charms I’ve gotten for free from a random website. Don’t ask me why or how, it’s been a while. Then lunch ensued with a delicious pot of dry curry chicken and a pot of dhal. PF contributed a plate of stir fried vegetable as well. I stuffed myself silly with rice and sweets that day. 

As the skies turned auburn, it was time for PF to leave. We walked her to the bus stop and watched the bus take her downtown. Christmas was a day spent with laughter and food. May there be many days such as these in the future for all of us.

Deck your device,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #21: A -5 Celsius stroll

Christmas Eve night saw S and I down at Mt Vernon. We were up to no good, I’ll definitely admit to that. You see, that night we binged on pizzas, wings and beer. Not my usual plate, but it was a treat by the roommate. A good experience for her too, since it’s her first time at Homeslyce. Free food drives my wheel forward, not even the icy winds could’ve stopped me. Sid and Chai met up with us shortly after I placed the order. Upon closer look, Sid does look handsome. Don’t get me wrong tho readers, I am definitely not interested in him.

Three Indians and one Malaysian sitting over American pizza and drinking German beer. It cannot get anymore international than that. But we all had a great time. At least they all did, considering I made quite a fool myself by blurting out some Telegu. The boys will be heading home for the winter break. Chai promised some presents from India. By 10pm, I sent them on their way with hi-fives. PF met up with us shortly after their departure, finishing up the leftovers. Twenty minutes later, we strolled back to Monument Street. Three girls shivering from the cold at the Mt Vernon bus stop could have been mistaken for penguins huddling together for warmth.      

Once home, we were out cold. All snoozing away dreaming of a White Christmas.

See ya,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #20: What’s for lunch?

It’s Christmas Eve. Over here, it means that the shops will be closing early. But for the few international students who don’t celebrate Christmas, the day turned out to be just another holiday, like Labor Day but a lot colder with the snow and all. I was invited to a lunch at PF Chang’s. My friend PF (not to be mistaken as the owner of the restaurant) happened to turn a year older today and wanted to celebrate it at Inner Harbor area. Of course, it had to be a Chinese place. Wait, I wish to add the word American to the Chinese.

Alright, it wasn’t that bad to be honest. Dishes were decent. We had an almond-cashew chicken, pepper steak, and lobster sauce shrimp for main. Those set lunches came with hot and sour soup which I found not quite up to par. But hey, I pride myself of flexibility especially when it involves food. Besides, I just wanted to see the birthday girl put on this pink garland I got her. A punishment I deemed worthy for making me wait an hour down town due to poor timing.

In the end, the most important thing is that PF had a great time. I mean, what a better way to part than a good snow fall. So romantic.

Perhaps so,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #19: The start of something new

 Is it too late to learn a new language? The uptake might be slow, but the speed doesn’t stop the interest for sure. Learning is a plus with an eager teacher too. My roommate really, really wants me to converse with her in Telegu. Well, we’re aiming for conversational level for now. 

Not too sure if we can achieve that in four months, but it’s worth a bet. At this point, I have a couple of vocabularies down solid. Here, I’ll write some down for you to try too. Gonna do a pronunciation-approximation list to tailor to non-Telegu speakers.

Am chestu know? (What are you doing?)
Padukuntuna (Sleeping)
Tinda (Eat)
Vintuna (Listen)
Neni ninu chalar premistunanu (I am loving you)
Daebuda (Omg)
Apa (Say what?)

Of course, learning a language ain’t complete without some bad words:

Peecidana (Crazy girl)
Peechora (Crazy boy)
Niku konchom picah/picih (You are crazy.)

Oh say this,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #18: Write this sentence

Reflect on this year. Look back at fond memories. Realize that there’ll be mistakes in the past; words said wrong, decisions made wrong, and people you hurt. But it’s alright. It’s all your bag of references.

Advocate more,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #17: You deserve a break

Credits to Namie-kun (c) Fairy

I wish I held a Nintendo console,
just to walk around the world
of Pokemon XY.
It’s too bad that I couldn’t get
that one limited edition
platform.
What logic is this?
What is your reason
for this felony?
Why the torture
of missed opportunities.
Sold out, that’s all.

Slit throats,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #16: Practice what you preach

It’s gonna be yet another wordy post. But I wanna transcribe what I have in mind, considering that people has been questioning me about religion of late. Yes, ‘of late’ might just be my new favorite word. Fancy that. So here, religion to me is a type of guide book to proper living. One may be titled “Dummies Guide to…” then again another may go “How to…” Essentially, those guide books serve to teach people who need them, how to be a good human being. Methods may differ, but the goals are the same.

Picture this: You have the “Dummies Guide to Gardening” and I use the “How to Garden” book. Instead of fighting over whose book is better, wouldn’t it be better to plant more trees instead?

And for those who are already experts at gardening? You probably don't need a guide book. So there should be no need for pressure. Just keep swimming.

Spread more butter, spread more joy.

Reply me yo,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #15: Support a good cause

I backed Santa Company, only for a dollar tho. Coming from a poor student, it’s excusable I hope. Well, at least I can say that I helped the anime production. Every bit counts when it comes to crowd funding. I sure wish the project goes well, considering that the staffs involve have some awesome resume/works done in the past. For example, seiyuu Rie is playing one of the characters of the anime. She voiced Alphonse Elric in Full Metal Alchemist. So that’s cool.

Perhaps you could take some amount out to make someone else’s day. Even if it’s not for a good cause, as long as it gives happiness, you should go for it. Buy someone a drink. Donate to a local charity. No difference if it’s Christmas or Labor Day, one may give whenever they can. See, if you do some good to someone, then that someone passes it on to another person, etc etc. You’d be surprised if it comes back round to you. What a way to wrap things up in a bow-like fashion.

I am perhaps saying too much about being good. It’s not about preaching and I am not siding any religion for sure, but regardless of the benefits come what may, save the world. Yes, I should say that instead. Save the world. Make a difference. J

Tell tell,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #14: Keeping up with promises

But they are meant to be broken. Who the hell said that? He who did (because I am a sexist) is surely an irresponsible bloke who seeks convenience and has that forgiveness card to his disposal. I have broken little; though a great deal has got to be promises I made with my parents. You know, how on earth am I ever gonna fulfil “I promise I will get all A’s for SPM” now that I am already in grad school. Never gonna happen. Time cannot rewind, but your clock can.

Since timers can restart, the new year will lead to a new you. In fact, it can start tomorrow. How about in an hour’s time? Look, my point is that I want to be a keeper of my own words. Unless I say ‘just kidding’ or LOLed hard at the end of a sentence, you best take it that I mean what I say. Of course you can always count on the fact to double check with me. No pressure; life is too short to be keeping you on your toes anyway.

We dine,
Vonnie S.

Holiday post #13: What did mom and dad say?

Lose weight if possible.
Study hard.
Earn USD before coming home to Malaysia.
Don’t worry about not getting a job in the US, Daddy’s here for you.
(Forget that sentence #4 contradicts sentence #3.)
Be kind to your roommate.
Buy more pretty clothes for yourself.
Enjoy life.
We love you.

Hati hati hati ho,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #12: Advent Calendar, the online way

Neopets are at it again now that December is here. I have been rather religious at visiting the site of late. Now that I think about it, I have once again forgotten to visit PL’s account. The lack of internet in the apartment has made things rather inconvenient. I may however proceed to work on it tomorrow given that I’ll be going to the bookstore for its wifi. As the world faces some tough economic times, I believe the cyber world is experiencing similar effects; at least that’s how I feel with Neopia. There should be a petpet or paintbrush by today, but those are still out of sight. Wearables are low this year too. What is this? I don’t want to be settled for cookies or toys. Those are for kids. The irony of that sentence.

Perhaps the only thing not depleting is the appetite. I really mean it because my roommate is making carrot curry. Whatever that is, it sounds “yum!”

Upside down,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #11: Broken things need repair

After a year and a half living at this apartment, things are showing signs of wear and tear. For instance, two light bulbs decided they had enough of work and called quits on the same day. She was left dumbfounded, but not at all a total lost. Your friend is well prepared for situations such as these, given the fresh box of light bulbs hidden inside the closet. They were inexpensive and ready to use. However, something else was bothering your friend. The height of it all. That ceiling was beyond reach. No matter how much she scratched her head, it won’t get any closer. But hey, she then remembered that a roommate happened to be lying around, serenading to some Indian tune.

Glad those got taken care of. An hour later, the roommate came running. She said, “Aiee, the bathtub is clogged with water.” Where’s McGyver when I need him?

Oil and water,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #10: Christmas trees everywhere~

All in Baltimore,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #9: A Christmas Song for You

Holiday Post #8: Winter Solstice Day!

This weekend saw temperatures rose to akin Cameron Highlands. The jackets covered the chair heads and stayed where they were as we left the apartment for some outdoor strolling by the harbor. First stop, the Gallery. Roommate had agreed to partake in gift exchanging with me, so she needed to find a place that sells such items. I had long prepared hers (a 3D star puzzle and an awesome Xmas card), to be accurate, I bought those last week. If you remembered the previous post, that was exactly what she got me from Claire’s.

Due to the lovely weather, I decided to take her to Camden Yards to see the Orioles baseball stadium. The place was quiet with the exceptional one family who are perhaps doing some team gear shopping at a store nearby. I dragged S over the fence to a cool spot that overlooks the field. The length I go to to impress others! Usually, this spot is near impossible to take photos in isolation of the subject for little kids and adults alike will do the same. Unlike then, today we took our time with the statue posing and court viewing. Not a game day and no security guards in sight; twas just the two of us under the sun at an empty stadium.

Don’t worry, this post ain’t set up to be some kinda horror movie. We got on the Orange bus to Little Italy. There, lunch was at Whole Foods Market. Half a rotisserie chicken and coconut drink after, S was beginning to experience migraine pangs.

Homebound,
Vonnie S.  

Holiday Post #7: A girly gift

So, my roommate and I exchanged Xmas present today. We couldn’t stand the anticipation. Heck, we both don’t celebrate Christmas to begin with. Hence, I would call it simply a barter trade. This primitive gesture of material swaps has always been something I practice any time of the year. But as time drags on, I had done less of it due to its lack of practicality. You know what I am saying no? Ask yourself this, how many of the gifts you received this year go unused? First world problem.

Like this one right here… LOL just kidding. I might just give it a shot. We’ll see how long that last.

How to use this? Haha^^

Creeper plants,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #6: Anime anytime!

Got up in the morning feeling like a hikikomori,
Check my phone for no emails but some fun game messages,
Put my change on the floor cos I ain’t doing laundry (for sure),
Doing the whole breakfast in bed, that’s no fantasy.

Hold up and listen, I’ll make you jealous.
People’s gotta work and run run hustle,
I stayed at home avoiding the snow,
And torrent them down to the VLC yo.

Outbreak Company’s an escape from reality;
Golden Time’s a sad case of split soul-body;
Kyoukai no Kanata’s a lost story;
And Freezing’s back kicking baddies.

HXH stayed strong to the plot;
White Album’s nuts with confession faults;
Kuroko has even more baskets to shoot;
And Magi’s back for godsend Round 2!

Things get hopeful in Valrave;
Teekyu is random but quick for taste;
Co-existing Yozora Q has lives to save;
This list concludes my leisure state.

Barb wired,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #5: Saying Goodbye

I brought up Sora at the last post and she’ll play central here too. I just attended her convocation and department reception yesterday. Good thing the whole procession didn’t take long; in fact, I accompanied her mom and AmandaL around the campus, acting like a photographer. More like a paparazzi? Gave her a Brave black bear cub plush toy and card bearing everyone’s signature in it. In exchange, she gave me a little cell phone accessory of this Korean pouch. At least we parted in cheery mood; a reminder that goodbyes don’t have to always be of tears.

The night before however was a little different. I slept over at HJ’s place. Had kimchi and pork belly for dinner. The highlight has got to be when her roommate and oppa returned home carrying a little field mice. What happened to the little thing you ask? Death by water.

Chewed out,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #4: Bite that Apple!

Perhaps the one great thing that has happened during Thanksgiving this year was a stress-free New York trip. Together with Sora, us two watched the Macy’s Parade, dined on lobsters for lunch, watched the Big Fish musical, and walked a great deal in search of the Hello Kitty store. Sharing new experiences with a good friend can really contribute to some of the best memories. We talked and laughed a lot, not to mention, got into a slight diarrhea trouble (not me though). I’d say the hostel served us well too, though we were shivering out butts off due to the heater failure. No biggie, neither of us threw a fuss.

Our trip had to end on an awkward fashion though. Stupid Greyhound bus broke down and it took us an extra three hours to get home. I tried contacting customer service, and the lady in charge was rude as hell. Pulease, if you cannot do your customers some service, don’t bother hiring people to do it okay? You’re losing yourself some valuable patrons to Megabus and Boltbus. I’d rather pay more for Amtrak, than to deal with people like you.

That’s all fine still. I’m alive, well and ready to hit the sack by nightfall. Anything to get away from the freezing cold.

Mic off,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #3: Shopping In

With the birth of online stores, my opinion of actual store visits has lost its vitals. Perhaps not with the Malaysian audiences though, then again slowly but surely assimilation will happen in the near future. I digress. I need a new winter jacket. Been wearing the same thing since 11’ winter, but the thing is still handy. People, if it ain’t broken why throw it? Hah, that line didn’t sit well with my mother of course and she said, “it’s not nice wearing the same thing again and again!  Did you see your winter holiday photos?”

She’s right. Files after files of the same attire; though inside they differ, there is no way to tell. Does it matter tho? I gave up. If it’s time for shopping, I’ll graciously do it. So here, I got myself these things online:

~ Room divider: to split the space in half;
~ Greeting cards: to return the favor;
~ Printer ink: for the Canon;
~ Fuzzy socks: to keep warm;
~ Frying pan: for the roomie’s dishes;
~ Foam bath soap: for the sleepy mood.

Everything but the damn jacket. LOL.

Lots of love,
Vonnie S.

Holiday Post #2: Stomach Stuffers

In celebration of final’s end, Vickson, S and I got together for a trip to Bonchon. It is this quaint little restaurant situated at the county region. Pretty much inaccessible if you lack self-transportation; the journey alone narrowly clocks in five minutes more of an anime episode. And yet for food, we’ll travel far. Well, Vickson has been talking about this one place that serves awesome fried chicken every time we meet. And for some random urge to have Asian food, I rang up the man and laid out an itinerary that befits a good day out.

To start, I offered to pay for dinner. The driver is more inclined to show up for free food. Asians; we sure know how to mess with each other. I played the good fool to throw a celebration party for finals’ end and for taking in a new roommate. Then again, if that’s the one way to get him to come round, I’d do it all over again. My roommate had a blast for sure, she did a great deal of shopping of Indian spices. Of course, I splurged a lot myself too. Snacks that reminded me of home and convenient food are must grabs at H Mart. I sure as hell did my bank account some damage, but hey, at least everyone went home happy.

And crabs for Monday dinner? Hooo yeah!

Peppermint suckers,
Vonnie S. 

Holiday Post #1: Not Alone

Tis the season to lay off the study cap and sleep. Finals turned tails and left after some brutal showdown. I am physically exhausted, the narcoleptic symptoms kicked in particularly strong during car rides. I am mentally tired yet not completely done with the challenge of grad school. I am hungrier than ever because of the cold temperatures outside. I am also happier than before because so much has happened this month! Now I can talk about it post per post. Bear with me okay?

#1 New Roommate

She’s no pet I adopted from the streets. Perhaps it kinda ended up that way. I was notified two weeks prior to her arrival that she needed a roommate, but I wasn’t prepared for her presence at my lobby. A phone call the night before to say that she was flying into Bmore, and the next day saw her moved in (while being accompanied by ChaiS and friends).

I gave her the ‘talk’; a short version of an interview. I rather lay everything down clearly, for several reasons. I told her so in a subtle way, “break these rules and I’m sorry, but you have to leave.” Since she moved in during my finals week, I was left huffing and puffing my way through things. Gotta rush that project, havta write that paper, stay up! Roommate, S passed the initiation test with flying colors. S slept like a log while I jacked the electricity bill with lights on for hours on end.

She’s a year older. And already at the ripe age for marriage, according to Indian culture. I believe that her future husband would be glad to know he’ll be taking more than just a pretty girl home. S is great at cooking, and now primarily handles my dinner. I have to add that she willingly do so, for her current love is to no boyfriend but to cook good food. There, I rest my case.

Perhaps the best thing about having this roommate is filling that loneliness void. I lacked human companions in general since my move into Bmore. Although, her stay is going to be temporary (four months top), I am sure that agreeing to taking her in as a roommate is probably one of the best decision I’ve made for my sanity.

Holiday stress,
Vonnie S.

Q: They are so different from my friends...

Twenty five more post till I meet my target goal of 80%. I'll leave the remainder blog post in December. That’s great because I disapprove of this month with much grit. It’s a warzone. And I am developing some weird PTSD symptoms as time goes on. Weird…

Anyway, I had fun talking to that one naughty professor during a bus ride home. Since I managed to convince myself that the mishap is entirely my fault alone, I am on good talking terms with her. So we did chat. Initially about my troubled research paper, but I deviated the topic because that topic triggers awful chills. Instead we talked about anime. No kidding. But I am glad to have that conversation, something besides academic talk. Consider it rapport building, I guess.

She’s better,
Vonnie S.

Q: Oh... Sell the ore ah?

The leaves are raiding every nook and cranny of the streets. Like any sensible living being, they stayed away from the roads as though to say that those belong to cars. Fall is my favorite season of the year, but not when it is coupled with deadlines and work, now that combination just stresses me out. But forget that, you’ve been reading the same thrash right? Most likely you’re dealing with the same garbage; then again you might have bigger problems. This is my degree of first world problem; despite it not being larger in magnitude of severity compared to a starving nation, I am still stressing about it.

Sometimes one would just have to sit oneself down and tell oneself that you are not going to die if those problems go unsolved.

Look up,
Vonnie S.

Q: I am not going to accept this...

Lately I haven’t had good sleep. I especially lost more last night after an email from my professor. Just in case I don’t get caught saying what’s what; I’ll save it for the end of the semester to talk about it. Let’s just say that my fellow cohorts are not liking her much either. These anxiety tell me that I have not been doing things right. Then again, I feel like this all the time. My sweaty palms are good indications of those feelings.

I suppose the only time that they actually go away is when I have closed a particular life chapter. Either that or when I am certain of some outcome. Right now, I am in the middle of both, that’s why I am left like that, a nervous wreck.

Don’t come just yet Santa! I am not ready for you yet!

Unemployed,
Vonnie S.

Q: I lost faith in the opposite gender.

Now that one paper is out of the way, I can talk about anime. People are curious about what I am currently watching and I can definitely tell you that nothing is new in the crib. Mostly second seasons and perhaps one new anime, I think. Wait, allow me to gather the list here for you.

Season 2: Freezing Vibration, Kuroko no Basuke, Magi, Valvrave, White Album

Season 3: Yozakura Quartet

Ongoing: Hunter X Hunter

New: Kyoukai no Kanata

Beat that,
Vonnie S.

Q: I remember that tragedy...

So the battle with phlegm tribe continues and has been hitting a plateau, hardly showing signs of letting up. I am not satisfied, not happy at all. But, I’ll put up with it as usual. In one hour, I’ll be actively job hunting for the sake of completing a class assignment. The resume needs more work too, and once I get that settled, I can submit it for revision.

On cold days such as today, I crave roasted chestnuts. They are not readily available here, and so I’ll put up with it. I tell my stomach that we’re going to have butter chicken with spaghetti tonight. I tell my body that gaining weight is now an option, though not a preferable one. I tell my mind to focus on completing this semester. Already I hear this loud protesting going on…

A way out?
Vonnie S.

Q: Whose tears are these?

My last piece of herbal candy and my throat has yet to heal completely. The phlegm is still there and I’d glare that this abomination if my eyeballs allow me access to it. Go home sucker, you know that other people will welcome you. Time to pack your bags and go! I need to write two critiques by tonight and while I appreciate your company, all this coughing has been driving me nuts! Sigh.

Team swim,
Vonnie S.

Q: Do you know that I'm the only one in this whole wide world who would put up with that?

Credits to skritek-zaneta (c) Salt

Follow the yellow brick road, they say and you will get your wish. I have been on that path for a while now, yet to see anything but fog and the occasional forest friends. Some would walk by my side for a bit, some would ask for food, and most would show up during fair weather singing songs of spring; then leave to do their bid.

“Life is short,” they said and disappeared soon after.

Magical message,
Vonnie S.

Q: You love to eat, but hate to cook…

When one speaks of God, you’d expected a Christian. A goody-two shoe that even your fight-flight response approves because you let your guard down in its presence, and just a little, your muscle tone relaxes rapidly. You may perhaps willingly share your space, throw in a smile or two and within a split second, watch this person return it effortlessly. Her eyes gracing your presence with utmost attention, without so much as turning around to see the bookworms buried in their readings or the one little boy who has been running between bookshelves. You then find yourself talking about your life and how it came to be, what is at stake and who you love; many of those may have been locked up before friends and family, yet permeate without difficulty as though the barriers are all gone. Except she is not a Christian; an atheist would better suit her religious identity.

“You see, I don’t believe in God. What an irony, because I so happen to major in religion. I’ve read the Upanishads, the Koran, the Bible, all those holy sacred books. If you can name more, chances are I’ve covered them front to back. But I simply can’t. Do you want to know why I don’t believe in God?”

I nodded, partially because it was impolite not to follow through with a conversation and the other portion was simply out of curiosity. No cats involved I swear. 

Part I,
Vonnie S.

Q: You love to talk, but hate to listen…

It’s pretty official. After all, we’re talking about a seven-year long relationship that has been consistently growing stronger with each passing night. I sold half of my pillow space without much persuasion, feeling that it is only the right thing to do for my sleep buddy. No gender, no name, no pulsing heart; but its mere presence strikes melodious lullaby to my ears. What I found myself looking forward to after a rough day outside is some cuddling time with my bolster. And often times it takes me to places, people and adventures I never possibly could have these days. I probably shouldn’t spare it too much attention for its innards have been shifting to polar opposites, and for that it has gotten more capable of doing the whole touch-your-toe regime.  Despite the stress of material aging and rough-housing, it continually stays in place as though it too may have deemed that it is the right thing to do. Barely holding on to fabric, thread by thread, it watched with silent eyes as I pace back and forth in my tiny studio bedroom, sometimes in anger, sometimes in tears. It identified with its owner, her bipolar-like swings from stress of chasing deadlines and trying to meet expectations, yet loyal to the program and life goals. Take with you this idea if you will, that these two stubborn existences will see that their time in Baltimore end on a good note, one that perhaps promises many more nights of serenity, preferably on a softer pillow.

Cotton wool,
Vonnie S.

Q: Is it a golf country?

I hate that the living system us humans created after countless centuries of development came down to money worshipping. I, as any sensible living being would perhaps since birth, conformed to this system, learning and experiencing it firsthand day in day out.

One cannot eat without money. That goes the same direction for the clothes we wear and the shelter we sleep in; these two other basic necessities we cannot survive without. But greed takes us further, for we weigh the price of love, kindness, guilt, and other abstract qualities that build human relationships by its monetary value. As though we were all come preprogrammed with some sort of appraisal skills, many fell into the bracket of putting price tags on nontangible items. I wish I can talk further, but time holds a strict leash on me.

I hate to admit it, but I am guilty as charged, and if I was ever placed on trial, I’d blame “circumstance” as the main perpetrator. I would have done so in a heartbeat. Had society not mandated money as God,  had religion not forsaken science, and had human beings be just as satisfied today, as had they live in caves with just two pairs of apparels and daily rations of food, I wonder if we’d be more or less materialistic in the present.

Small cycle,
Vonnie S.

Q: I just fool around to get closer.

Had the best falafel wrap at the farmer’s market yesterday, but then I lack cash to buy the organic honey, so much to sigh about now.

Take after,
Vonnie S.

Q: Where was this when I was a child?

Bought a dark chocolate for the guy I meet at Barnes and Nobles since I ate half of his portion the last time; hope he gets here to take them away from my hands.

Country kid,
Vonnie S.

Q: That was excessive, but necessary.

Picked up a bag of bagels and put it back on the shelf, the Giant employee came over to thank me; I feel great!

Fool around,
Vonnie S.

Q: Eight hours and counting...

If I learned one thing today, if you don’t meet someone’s expectations, you’ll be immediately put down as a disappointment.

Pfft,
Vonnie S.

Q: Do you have to ask?

I will be Skyping with my two favorite Vietnamese tonight, looking forward to some turmoil and teasing.

Bon-mee,
Vonnie S.

Q: You mean something like this?

Thanks for your lovely text message; I will reread it before I sleep every night and in fact, I had already backed up a spare copy in my SD, saved it into my laptop, and laminated a print to be hung up on my wall.

To the front,
Vonnie S.

Q: This this this this this this...

Make it or break it; having the constant need to pee every single half hour.

Derived relationships,
Vonnie S.

Q: I won't complain if someone cooks for me everyday now.

You look so stunning this morning that I believe if the word “beauty” is to physically manifest itself, that’s what it should look like.

Soy bean,
Vonnie S.

Q: Some people are like clouds, once they f*ck off, it's a beautiful day.

One day in Malaysia, and you dang well know it’s coming.

http://themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/one-day-in-malaysias-future-azmi-sharom

Fall’s here,
Vonnie S.

Q: I don’t mind being soaked to the bone.

If you’d stay unchanging, in a corner of my heart, always hurting me, I don’t need you anymore.

Stop this,
Vonnie S.

Q: Can you please teach me?

Some people should not be driving; see let’s make a law that goes like this—if you fail the driving test more than three times, you will forever be banned from ever getting a driver’s license.

Eye-to-eye,
Vonnie  S.

Q: What will I do...

Time is running out for me and anxiety is latching itself tight; from now onwards, it’s to do or die.

Hold on,
Vonnie S.

Q: *whistles*

I dreamt an overlapping scene where I was living with two of my American colleagues, some high school mates came to visit and then my pk koko started a revolution against the government.

No picnic,
Vonnie S.

Q: Exactly one year ago punya story...

I saw four Korean girls running my way and the first thing I did was to look behind thinking that there was a shoe sales somewhere.

Roll up,
Vonnie S.

Q: I am going to take care of them to the end.

“The reason why you can’t see her at first is because she’s next to Leafa’s boobs…so what will you notice first, boobs or Yui?”

Give a few,
Vonnie S.

Q: So, it's just fan service?

“The rain keeps pouring as though it knows the overwhelming feeling inside the many of us who are chasing after deadlines.”

Overcoming,
Vonnie S.

Q: She's settled for now.

“I met an old lady who has three masters; a Korean who’s been around Hopkins for more than forty years and still hungers for more education.”

Snack time,
Vonnie S.

Q: What? I am so surprised!

“It could be very disrespectful, BUT I can see how it can be really funny.”

Exploitation,
Vonnie S.

Q: In shut down news...

“You know I wish I know what audience I’m dealing with, so that my brain doesn’t turn into a pile of mush and forget to lock the butterflies away.”

Basic version,
Vonnie S. 

Q: Wanna hear about my dream last night?

“I need to step up and buck it, even if it kills me.”

In my name,
Vonnie S.

Q: Can men and women be 'just friends'?

“Felt the burn of not meeting standards, I can only but frown at the marks received this week.”

Stolen letters,
Vonnie S.

Q: Am waiting for our government's IQ to rise!

“Would I live at an urban village, one of a collective community away from the city and we no work for money there, I can do it. But one this dirty and weird, I would have to think thrice about that.”

Use what,
Vonnie S.

Q: Largest investment in Asia to date.

“So the duck plunged itself into murky waters, found no fish but instead its friend’s feet.”

That's enough,
Vonnie S.

Q: I dunno if i can keep up to this overrated extremeness!!!

“One thing I learn from Tuesdays with Morrie is this: to live today like it’s your last.”

Management problem,
Vonnie S.

Q: Going out every weekend is too hard! I would go back to 'couch potato' life.

“My future is a demanding parent who constantly reminds me to do well or perish.”

Take the risk,
Vonnie S.

Q: And here we see a collision of great strength...

“The heat is exhausting to the body, but the missing menu item is tantalizing to the mind. Oh blacken salmon benedict, where art thou?”

Lie down,
Vonnie S.

Q: Do you like sports?

“I made a point to progress forward but with adversities in my way, I can only heave a sigh of regret; thanks to a dead battery and no plug-ins.”

A request,
Vonnie S.

Q: It's funny how just by not logging out of your social media your sexual orientation changes.

“Blacken nails could mean you’re either dirty or you’re hardworking; but little did you know the importance of its difference unless people said so otherwise—the power of label.”

Speaks well,
Vonnie S.

Q: But when I write and rewrite, I feel worse.

“If cold beer doesn’t tempt you, it’s not weird, it’s called preference.”

Gave up,
Vonnie S.

Q: It was hard to hang in there.

“There’s nothing much to do but to take life by its horns, swiftly turn it around and ride it into the sunset.”

Instinct,
Vonnie S.

Q: Anxiety...anxiety...

“Though you sit here by the harbor in the company of peer pressure, your mind stays not where it should, but rather where it feels most complacent—watching Youtube videos.”

Admit it,
Vonnie S.

Q: One page is still missing...

“I would teach our ancestors to not bank on the materialistic culture; but as to how we get there, it’s still a mystery we have yet to get to even today.”

Gimmes,
Vonnie S.

Q: That's where I'm getting at.

“If I get reincarnated, I would become a horse; just to frolic around the meadows without a care in the world.”

Mindset,
Vonnie S.

Q: Shall I press the button to reset life?

“If I don’t have to do it, I won’t.”

Tired eyes,
Vonnie S.

Q: You should be happy to look at it.

“Utagawa Hiroshige or Claude Monet should be my new notecard.”

Burn in mush,
Vonnie S.

Q: Acting sad will make your friends pay attention to you.

To make up for the six lost posts in the last week of September:

“I wanted a Tweety bird of my own so bad to keep me away from procrastinating.”

All sad,
Vonnie S.

Q: It's people like these that cast a bad light on religion.

It’s October! And now, time for the new set of challenge! Let’s do this—ONE LINE JOURNAL and slay this month gracefully without so much as breaking a sweat. Let’s get today’s down this instant!

“Ten Youtube videos, downloaded six anime episodes, and went through ten journal articles over a cup of green tea at the Johns Hopkins’ Barnes & Nobles.”

Cure,
Vonnie S.

What I Eat: Vietnamese Side Sauce

You don’t own a blender at home, and you refuse to bend your back over chopping things up. No fear. I have a simple sauce that is sure to play with your taste buds and leave you wanting more. Goes super well with almost any fried/non-fried foods imaginable; only not those already with sauce of their own. If you’re a healthy person, your lettuce and salad would marry this sauce on the spot.

Ingredients:
Mince garlic, one tablespoon of fish sauce, one tablespoon of lime juice, Sugar, and warm water.

So you add them all together. That’s it. Toggle the quantity around to suit your own taste. I assure you that people will ask you for the recipe! If you want some extra kick, put in some chopped chili padi.

I usually make rice paper rolls to go with this. But they make great salad sauce too!

Empty stomach,
Vonnie S.

What I Eat: Korean Pancake

Okay, I promise you that my dishes aren’t complicated. Otherwise I wouldn’t put them up here to help you college students. Here’s another one if you’re into the Hallyu wave lately.

Ingredients:
One cup of flour, one and a half cup of ice cold water, one egg, one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of Korean chili paste, vegetable oil, and a whole load of scallions.

Sift the flour into a bowl. Carefully add water to the mix. Any temperature is fine, but I find ice cold water tends to make crispier pancakes. Add the egg. Add the salt. Add the chili paste. Stir them all until they form a batter. The batter is to be runnier than the western pancake for faster cooking.

Heat a frying pan with some oil. Stir-fry some scallions until they are soft. Then make sure they spread evenly around the pan. Next, you take the batter and carefully coat over the scallions. Don’t coat too thick, or the stuff is gonna taste horrible (too doughy). Keep it light and you’ll have better results. Flip the pancake over to cook the other side.

And you’re done! A nice flavored Korean pancake. You may certainly add seafood to the batter for more variety. But I prefer mine plain and simple for sure.

Wild past,
Vonnie S.

What I Eat: Butter Chicken

So, this is a recipe I revamped from Ika’s. You can say that I stole it and added more points to suit my taste. Not exactly better, but it’s something I like to do with all the extra spices lying around.

Ingredients:
Chicken meat, onion, minced garlic, broccoli, carrots, butter, salt, pepper, chili powder, rosemary and parsley.

Fairly easy recipe; don’t have to constantly watch it while you work on your papers. Set oven to around 375 F. Take your chicken meats and vegetable in hand, dump them into a bowl. Add all the mentioned condiments above to taste. Don’t ask me the quantity, I main agak-agak. Mix everything together minus the butter and parsley. After they become one big happy family, you may take a baking plate/tray/something deep so that the butter doesn’t flow all over the place. Yes, that’s your sauce. Lay the chicken nicely like their sunbathing yo.  

Then, take spoonful of butter and put them where necessary. We want both meat and vege to get them okay. Once you’re satisfied, you may put them into the oven for thirty minutes or whenever cooked.  Flip them periodically to avoid it being burnt. Garnish with parsley before serving.

Voila! You got yourself a dish worth serving with rice. Makes a great party potluck dish too!

Really,
Vonnie S.

E: Happy Midautumn Festival

I’ll keep it plain and simple. Happy birthday to me! I had a great weekend minus the rain of course. I'm crab stuffed for awhile. No more ice cream, please! Now we're just keeping to frozen mango and potato samosa in my diet. Time for some roasted chicken.

No sense,
Vonnie S.

What I Eat: Steamed Eggs

If you have a rice cooker with significant dept or a wok that enables you to steam stuff, you may want to try this recipe to satisfy your tofu cravings.

Ingredients:
Eggs, water, salt and one salted egg yolk.

Boil water for steaming purposes. Then proceed to do the next step while the heat works its magic.

Crack your eggs into a bowl. On a 1:1 ratio, add the water to the eggs. Yup, you stir them like your life depends on it. Just make sure they become one liquid. Meh, them salted egg yolk is not really important. But they add flavor and surprise to the dish. You can add mince meats to the mixture as well. Then, pour them over a deep dish. 

Take that dish and put it on a standing pedestal above the boiling water pit. The idea is to let the heat and steam cook the dang thing. You can tell that it's cooked by poking a fork into the egg. If no yellow liquid flows outta those holes you just made, you can be certain that the dish is ready. Garnish with soy sauce, sesame oil and some chopped green onions.

Serve it while it's hot. Yea baby. This is one healthy ass meal that's sure to impress people for its color and smooth texture.

Ding dong,
Vonnie S.

What I Eat: Butternut Squash Porridge

A personal comfort food that needs little care and skills. Honestly, I enjoy having porridge these days due to the dropping temperature. And this will definitely make it appearance on my menu at least once a week. This was an accidental creation; a time I got too lazy for anything brilliant.

Ingredients:
Butternut squash, rice, water, chicken stock, white pepper, sesame oil

Wash your rice and put them inside a pot. Fill half the pot with water (and you may have to occasionally add more because they either evaporates or get absorbed by the rice to maintain texture). Then add in the squash; make sure they are cut into cubes. Cover the pot and let it cook for fifteen minutes. You can then add the chicken stock. Don’t put too much all of a sudden. Taste it before you decide to up the quantity. That’s all!

Garnish with white pepper, sesame oil and some chopped green onions.

There you have it. An easy meal that’s light and savory. You may have some chicken or eggs on the side to compliment it too.

Ding dong,
Vonnie S.

What I Eat: American Potatoes

One of the most celebrated foods during my potluck days. I am pretty sure they’ll make a bang at your future ones too. These things make great party finger foods and your friends will thank you for bringing some potassium into their diet. This recipe works well with yam, pumpkin and sweet potato too!

Ingredients:
Potatoes, Butter, Parsley, Salt, Pepper

Cut the potatoes into thin slices. Then evenly coat salt and pepper with the potato slices in a bowl. Later, heat butter on a frying pan. Once hot, put slices after slices onto the pan. Increase heat and let them brown before flipping them over with a fork or chopstick. Garnish with parsley while they are in the pan before tossing them out on a plate.

Married,
Vonnie S.

What I Eat: White Sauce

The main affair of my life and what is the reason for living is good food. But it doesn’t mean that I am an expert cook. I’ll try to make do this blog posting by inputting some recipes that I, as a busy graduate student, would cook at my tiny studio apartment.

You may or may not be inspired by them, but it’s a lil note for myself as well when it comes to making easy yet time manageable food.

So…when it comes to sauce, there is an impressively simple yet full of Western flavor. Named the white sauce, I came across this at an American friend’s home. It was Thanksgiving and the turkey needed some dressing. Hence came this white blanket coat.

Ingredients:
Butter, Milk and Flour

Melt butter on the pan in low heat. Then you add flour in a 1:1 ration with the butter. Stir them all together until thickens. Finally, you pour in some milk until the texture suits that of a sauce.

Tadaa!! It goes well with steak, fries and anything else imaginable. And trust me, I personally tried making them, so rest assured you won’t go to the hospital.

NY strip,
Vonnie S.

Pep Talk Letter (Part III)

Finally, I can tell you this: improvement cannot do without maintenance. Bluntly speaking, if the event needs to stay on the plateau for next year, so be it. There is no pressure to perform more than necessary, for a decent event is better than a sucky one. Even if ___ doesn’t produce a whole Konoha village next year, who has the right to say that we failed? You will disappoint people if you build an expectation of it for sure, but you sure as heck did not fail. You have but yourself to answer to. Take time to manage the internal organization of ___, seal the cracks, and try to work with respect for one another. I heard that you had CF to help out this year, I wished you didn’t have to, but extreme times call for extreme measures right? Then ask yourself this today, what can be done so that ‘extreme times’ don’t happen again? It is easy for us to ignore and assume that solutions come easy, but like it or not, problems do persist if you don’t get rid of them somehow.

In conclusion, the ___ team needs a new definition and it should be “With great planning and teamwork, come great ___s.” You know, something along the lines of ‘janji ditepati’ but not shady and corrupted. Oops, I did not just say that. Anyway, hope you guys have/had a good post mortem meeting. And may we see each other in the future. 

Sincerely,
Vonnie S.

(pg 03-Final)