Seinfeld

I never get the jokes of stand-up comics, hence I don't really find Seinfeld funny. But it's on every weeknight right at the time I need to relax [i.e. just finished working], so inevitably I often end up watching it.

I still don't laugh much, but a striking thought hit me - their group is exactly like my own group of friends! Elaine with her 3 male friends - how they tend to take care of her, how laid back and relaxed their friendship is without any politics and hidden agendas attached, and - oh dearie me, the whole thing just resembles our group so much!! Except that we're not that crazy. Perhaps.

Fasting

Fasting does our body good in so many ways. I actually feel better for eating less, and I feel lighter. It saves lunch money. It gives much more time to do things instead of eating. [I always multitask while I eat anyway]. I feel so much grateful for my food when it's time to break the fast, instead of taking them for granted. It's all good.

Just My Luck

A store heir. An unemployed architect. A factory co-owner. A kindergarten teacher.
What do members of this group have in common?
"Everyone in this car is single!" One of us pointed out, and the bland truth hit us for a moment before we roared in laughter. Half amused, half confused, there's an unsaid question eternally looming among us: Why? It seems like there's a curse spreading around our group - but, perhaps it's the other way around, it's the curse that binds us together.
We're not really looking, let alone being desperate or anything, but still, it's an ironically amusing thought.
I've got this senseless fear that a certain someone might be gay. "God can't be that cruel!" I thought. But then - I looked back and realised that I've been living a cruel joke anyway, and based on my luck, I'm actually going to be surprised if he's straight. I'm writing this in the most lighthearted way possible, smirking, but oh God if You would, please let me out of this joke.
Don't let him be gay.

Just a Day Off

Finished filling out report books.
Women fighting for sale items are scarier than a bull running festival.
Manic Street Preachers make Rihanna's Umbrella sound good.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow is tough to sing.
Bonbon is sweet, Panpan is spicy, Dingding is neither.
Danny Noriega got voted off... pff.
Buy 1 get 1 at Starbucks.
My Sims want to go on a vacation.

Short on Money, Long on Time

In the eye of modern capitalist lifestyle, the phrase may seem like a lazy excuse for underachiever buggers. In an age where money is everything and jobs seem to be the main ingredient of life, God forbid that individuals other than studying youngters would still rejoice over being short on money and long on time.

Today's the first day of me having an unplanned cutback from 14 hours of work to roughly 11-12 hours a day. It's depressing, obviously, since I make slightly less money than previous months - but, dear God, how sweet it is to have time to actually do things. To take it slow, to enjoy not having to rush in the restriction of time.
To live.
How sweet it is to experience what Paolo Nutini sang in 'New Shoes':
Oh, short on money,
but long on time,
slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine,
and i'm running late,
and i don't need an excuse

I already plan to fill back those hours with paid work, and soon I will be back on 'long on money, short on time' - but in the mean time, I'm just going to enjoy the sweet sunshine - or in my case these days, the comfortably beautiful rain.

Secret Garden

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of my favourite books of all time. I like reading stories where the main characters are children, and I love English country gardens/mansions. Children story books are often more beautiful and pure - with limitless imaginations, earnestly charming personalities, and big appreciation of many things in life that adults often take for granted... or just don't notice anymore.

On top of all that, the idea of having a personal secret garden is extremely fascinating to me. It'd be heavenly to have a beautiful, fragrant, and tranquil enclosure that nobody else knows about, in the middle of a beautiful English country garden.

I thought it'd be a bit weird to call this blog a secret garden, when it's online on the worldwide web - but, upon further pondering, I thought it's still a secret in the sense that nobody will see it anyway unless I give them the link. Which is the purpose in the first place, where I and some closest friends plan to keep each other updated with each others' lives. So, here we go....

100 Random Things About Me

1. My name is Claudia.
2. I believe in God.
3. I love chocolate.
4. I could play The Sims all night.
5. I can't NOT listen to music.
6. An avid fan of Suede.
7. I love Great Britain.
8. I prefer British English.
9. I like to spend my free time in front of my computer.
10. I wish I lived during The Beatles' height of fame.
11. I'm learning Mandarin.
12. I know a little French and Dutch.
13. I read Benny & Mice comic strip every Sunday morning.
14. I don't watch local telly.
15. My favourite Starbucks is non-fat no-whip iced mocha.
16. I love salty french fries.
17. I like to read classic children storybooks.
18. I love European films.
19. I can drive, but I hate parking.
20. I love nail art and nail polishes.
21. I love crystalline things.
22. I love documentaries except where animals eat each other.
23. My favourite colours are black and blue.
24. I never leave home without my mobile.
25. I love BBC.co.uk
26. I'm afraid of needles, but I've got 4 piercings.
27. I love iPods.
28. I recently reformatted my computer, and am installing things right now.
29. I play organ at church.
30. I can't stand pain.
31. I like the piano, and self-taught myself to play.
32. I could fall asleep crying, listening to Damien Rice.
33. Katharine McPhee was the only American Idol contestant I've ever rooted for.
34. I adore musical boxes especially the antique ones.
35. I can play drums, but not so good.
36. I like people who are knowledgeable.
37. I love trying or starting new things.
38. I've been keeping a diary since I was little.
39. I get angry easily, but I forget easily as well.
40. I used to love New Kids on the Block.
41. My 'home channel' is Star world.
42. I watch useless MTV reality shows on Saturdays.
43. I take everything too personally.
44. My first gig was Ash.
45. I was once held under a knife point while waiting for the bus.
46. I really want to visit London.
47. I don't like cigarette smoke.
48. I fell off a jungle gym when I was small, and got more embarrassed than hurt.
49. I took ballet lessons when I was young.
50. I can cook simple meals.
51. My special place is Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour.
52. I like to help strangers in need.
53. I love visiting cultural centres.
54. My earliest memory was looking at my newborn sister.
55. I had a happy childhood that I often wish to come back to.
56. I'm training my English accent.
57. Ronald McDonald and his clown brethren creep me out.
58. Celebrities are just people like us. Except John Lennon and The Beatles, of course.
59. The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
60. I love rainy days.
61. I can't swim.
62. I name my gadgets with Elvish names.
63. When I'm really angry, I cry.
64. I set up a daily schedule of things to do.
65. Some people find me intimidating.
66. I don't talk much.
67. I almost burned my classmate's hair with my candle during a kindergarten Christmas play.
68. I love my students way too much.
69. My favourite ice cream flavour is choc choc chip.
70. I hold a degree in architecture.
71. I have already got over 100 Pokemons.
72. I once got a perfect point for a singing test at school.
73. I had a secret crush on someone for 4 years during middle school.
74. That person on 73 didn't even remember who I was when we met again in a reunion.
75. I love playing Moonlight Sonata.
76. I want to have a secret garden in an English country mansion.
77. My favourite beach is Nusa Dua, Bali.
78. I hate politics and economics.
79. I must have everything I wear colour coordinated.
80. I love Italian food.
81. I have a vast collection of hair accessories.
82. I have a penchant for earrings, especially silver ones.
83. I'd rather spend my money travelling.
84. I love Coca Cola classic. Other variants just don't do it.
85. The first mobile phone I had was a Nokia.
86. I was always the best in the class during elementary school.
87. I love Converse shoes, ballet flats, and boots.
88. I'm a loyal Maybelline user.
89. I grocery shop at Carrefour.
90. I love to wear Esprit, Zara, and Levi's.
91. I fancy someone at the moment.
92. I'm loving my teaching job.
93. The only things I love about my country are my family, friends, and students.
94. I'm able to juggle 2 balls and play hulahoop.
95. I'm a vegetarian.
96. I hate going to salons.
97. My biggest fear is losing my loved ones.
98. I wish I had more income.
99. Going to music concerts gets me high.
100. I wrote this to kick off this new blog.