tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91752210640160887962024-02-20T10:43:49.963-08:00under the big blue skythoughts of a random bloggerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845029039130136421noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175221064016088796.post-56524510906086066062013-01-11T21:56:00.001-08:002013-01-11T21:56:18.401-08:00The Rambling SilentI once said a long long time ago,<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3634">
Perhaps an age lost in memory,</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3635">
I'd gladly get lost in the vast sea</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3636">
As long as i return to your shore.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3637">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3638">
But now I can't for any longer</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3639">
Stay adrift in madness and endure</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3640">
This heavy, choking, sinking feeling</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3641">
Of the oceans' depths suffocating.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3642">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3643">
On your shore I once did try to light</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3644">
A fire that would burn, and burn so bright.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3680">
But it was a flame you did not want;</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3679">
One I deprived 'til its body gaunt.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3678">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3645">
It couldn't be the fire for your winter,</div>
<div>
Nor the light for a dark starless night,</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3677">
Nor caring heat in face of defeat;</div>
It was a flame you never needed.<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3646">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3647">
But I could not kill it totally,</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3648">
I am weak.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3649">
I just let the embers glow and fly</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3650">
Nourishing it when it should have died.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3651">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3652">
Tending it was an effort in vain</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3653">
Like how lanterns fall from the heavens,</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3654">
Or how paper boats sink into sea.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3655">
All my hopes were just wishful thinking.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3676">
Oh, my beloved a cocktail of bane.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3656">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3657">
Left to my own I would probably</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3658">
Burn until nothing is left of me.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3659">
Thank God someone told me not to dwell</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3660">
And <span class="yiv1034823179Apple-style-span"> pulled me out of this little hell.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3661">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3662">
So tonight I'll kill this flame fully.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3663">
No ember nor dust nor spark will fly</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3664">
So long as they could again ignite.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3665">
Let forever pass, it will not light,</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3666">
For I shall bury this flame with firm resolve.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3667">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3668">
And maybe one day when I return,</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3675">
Listen for me <span class="yiv1034823179Apple-style-span">knocking on your door.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3669">
I'll greet you with my smile and humor.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3670">
Please, do tell me stories I adore;</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3671">
Holding in my hand a piece of coal,</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1357833979310_3672">
Once bright red and hot, now black and burned.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845029039130136421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175221064016088796.post-87193922570659309452012-11-07T19:36:00.003-08:002012-11-07T19:38:03.858-08:00Strategic Laundry Management (part 1)You're going to uni and are going to live in a dorm. Or maybe you want to move out of your parents' house to live in your own apartment. Possibly, your significant other, with all her laundry washing prowess has left you...<br />
<br />
Regardless of the back story, you are placed in a dire situation. Somehow, the circumstances have forced you to do the laundry by yourself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2TFdZBsazSCViYwx5JfbbW5y9oBikEme6QKhWkKqBWbBF00o1WcnMBSKmOuTu5DvF5T5clm3qyAIi_UxXBvNTwbrRQZ-QudNuEBem_P_o1U2WTWBVTcdj1esztp6Cq_pgUrvp0MXPw/s400/capt.27925eb86f9940f796104afb79d0393b.weiner_wars_hot_dog_champ_nysw105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2TFdZBsazSCViYwx5JfbbW5y9oBikEme6QKhWkKqBWbBF00o1WcnMBSKmOuTu5DvF5T5clm3qyAIi_UxXBvNTwbrRQZ-QudNuEBem_P_o1U2WTWBVTcdj1esztp6Cq_pgUrvp0MXPw/s320/capt.27925eb86f9940f796104afb79d0393b.weiner_wars_hot_dog_champ_nysw105.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Just like any battle, we need... to strategize.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Money is a limited resource and part of this precious resource is going to laundry expenses. To make things worse, the dryer is sometimes paid for separately. More often than not, you have to do multiple loads to wash all your clothes; a proposition that does not please your wallet. It
is then imperative that laundry is done efficiently and intelligently.<br />
<br />
First off, the amount of clothes to be washed can be determined by this simple formula:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Wash Load = Number of Clothing Articles * Average Volume per Article </blockquote>
Now you say, why volume? Well, clothes need to tumble inside the washing machine. I'd say a bed sheet is as heavy as a few pants but how many bed sheets do you think will fit in the washing machine as compared to pants? Regardless, unless you can contort your body's dimensions or opt for a skimpier wardrobe, volume and density are irrelevant. Anyway, the main point is that we should focus on the other factor: "Number of Clothing Articles", which brings us to the first tip:<br />
<br />
<i><b>1. Reduce usage</b></i><br />
<br />
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. So instead of thinking about how you can wash all your clothes, why not think about how to <i>reduce </i>the amount of clothes to wash. This solves the problem at its root. You won't have laundry problems if you don't have that much laundry in the first place. <br />
<br />
In doing this, we have two crucial objectives we must never lose sight of in our quest to reduce clothing usage:<br />
<ol>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Decent hygiene </li>
<li>Nobody noticing</li>
</ul>
<ol>
</ol>
<br />
The following are some of the things you could do to reduce clothing use:<br />
<br />
<b><i> a. Re-use jeans</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
Jeans have arguably contributed a lot to the advancement of human society by providing a durable, comfortable article of clothing. Heck, it even became a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17101768" target="_blank">symbol of rebellion</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Rebel_without_a_cause432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Rebel_without_a_cause432.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope this rings some very old bells.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One nice thing about jeans is that you don't always need to wash them. For example, in <a href="http://www.levistrauss.com/blogs/wash-my-jeans-hardly" target="_blank">this</a> article, Carl Chiara, director of brand projects and special projects for Levi’s® brand, says:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The less you wash your jeans, the better your jeans become.</blockquote>
<br />
Coming from a person who should know his jeans, this is a pretty convincing argument not to wash them. But of course, do not go overboard with this mantra as we still want to maintain proper hygiene. Do be aware and cautious not to dirty your jeans<br />
<br />
<i>Pro Tip</i>: Wear plain, similar denims so that no one will notice you repeating them. People rarely pay attention to your pants.<br />
<br />
<i><b>b. Use clothes wisely.</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b> </b></i>Let's have this scenario:<br />
<br />
You go on a date tonight. Nothing fancy. Just you and your significant other. You take a bath, groom yourself and get ready. You have a simple but nice dinner in a small, cozy restaurant... Walk along the quiet evening streets for a while... typical, simple, date in the countryside. At the end of the night, you kiss goodbye and finally get home.<br />
<br />
You should have realized something by now. The shirt you are wearing has not been worn for a specifically long period of time. Add to that, it should still be clean (unless you did some dirty... er... <i>stuff</i>). And nobody, except your date, has seen you wearing it. Assuming that there is a low probability that you meet your date tomorrow, why not re-use the shirt?<br />
<br />
<i>Pro Tip:</i> Cold weather may be your best friend. People will probably not remember the shirt you're wearing under your sweater.<br />
<br />
Again, hygiene is always a concern so exercise discretion whether a shirt can still be worn again without washing.<i><b> </b></i>If today was a particularly long, warm day, of course don't repeat the shirt. However, if say today was a bit chilly and you only wore it to buy something in the supermarket, which is 10 minutes away, you can still probably re-use this shirt. <br />
<br />
<i>Pro Tip</i>: Using plain shirts yields the highest success rate for "people did not notice I repeated my shirt" criteria.<i><b> </b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b> c. Pajamas ( / clothes you wear to sleep) are very reusable.</b></i> <br />
<br />
Assuming you no longer pee in bed, perhaps the best shirts to re-use are
the ones you wear to sleep or your pajamas. You don't really stink a lot when you sleep. You don't [physically] go to a lot of places while sleeping, hence lower contamination rate. It's just you, your bed and maybe your pheromones. Unless you're Bella Swan, nobody watches you in your sleep. Considering the statements above, this tip fits quite nicely with the goals we've set.<br />
<br />
<i>Pro Tip</i>: Take a
warm bath before sleeping. I shit you not, it also helps you sleep better. <br />
<br />
This is it for now. I still have a few more to add to this but I'm sleepy now. -_- zzZZ<br />
Here's a <a href="http://gifs.gifbin.com/082010/1281347217_final-thoughts.gif" target="_blank">washing machine</a> to entertain you.<br />
<br />
P.S. < insert obligatory "pics not mine disclaimer" here>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845029039130136421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175221064016088796.post-67759452695128473342012-11-06T18:18:00.000-08:002012-11-06T18:18:42.420-08:00Amateur Chef: Netherlands Edition (part 2)This blog is still ALIIIIVE!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://247music365.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/hand-grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://247music365.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/hand-grave.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know it's a bit late for a Halloween post but I'll use it anyway...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Exams, traveling and some other stuff have kept me busy lately hence this post being long overdue. Regardless, this is the sequel to my <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://ihatetypingverylongurls.blogspot.nl/2012/09/amateur-chef-netherlands-edition-part-1.html" target="_blank">previous post</a></span>. <span style="color: black;">Anyway, on with the story...</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Back in my home country when me and my friends went outdoors camping,
we would usually barbecue stuff. A certain friend of mine was a great
cook. We always had excellent barbecues. This was probably the method of
cooking I was most familiar and comfortable with. Thus, I decided to
try to do what he did with the meat before barbecuing it. I put the meat
in a bowl. Put some soy sauce, some garlic, some sugar, some salt and
some pepper. "Some" meaning I literally had no idea how much of what I
was supposed to put. I gave the idiom <i>"playing it by ear</i>" new meaning. I set this aside and work on my other dish. (Yes, I was ambitious. Two meals for my first time. haha )<br />
<br />
While
I was waiting for the flavor to seep into the meat, I worked on the
veggies. I already had veggies in the fridge because I was making salad
for myself for the past few days since I don't cook. What was omnivorous
me supposed to have when dining with my more culinary-skilled,
carnivorous friends? I was searching on le internetz and found this <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lettucewithoystersau_70977" target="_blank">guide</a>. It only has <u>three</u> (<i>expletive</i>)
steps. I should be able to manage. I think. So, I separated the
leaves, cleaned them and blanched them in a bowl of boiling salted water
for a few seconds. I was honestly quite happy with the result. For the
sauce, again <i>playing it by ear,</i> I put <i>some</i> water, <i>some</i> oil and <i>some</i>
oyster sauce and waited for it to boil before I poured it on the
semi-cooked but still crunchy lettuce. It was quite good for a first
time but it definitely could have used some more oyster sauce.<br />
<br />
(sorry no pics of the cooking process itself here. was too preoccupied with the cooking itself)<br />
<br />
Now, for the meat. I thought it was simple enough. You just have to put some oil on the pan, put the meat in, flip it a few times and check if it's cooked right? They say pictures are more than a thousand words, so I will just use these strikingly beautiful images which are definitely more than a thousand pixels (click for higher res).<br />
<br />
Here is what I expected to happen...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3e_Npbhuyj9fp3rd8_i_7oRKJamo6kHv3vVrrsHbdhEFGqioresRc4uXwncyP_6ebfja3iVuhvFQB1YJyGI0Tod3y_ykrxPclMm5QI9UEsu-Z0cIkzAkiu82sAnDAYy3zHqbk9NOnes/s1600/cooking+101.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3e_Npbhuyj9fp3rd8_i_7oRKJamo6kHv3vVrrsHbdhEFGqioresRc4uXwncyP_6ebfja3iVuhvFQB1YJyGI0Tod3y_ykrxPclMm5QI9UEsu-Z0cIkzAkiu82sAnDAYy3zHqbk9NOnes/s640/cooking+101.png" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">seems reasonable enough.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In a perfect world, this is how it would have went. Alas, the world we live in is far from it. Here is what actually happened:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-Unzhx-Hnvx6szsue19Nu7yaXDMrifoa6qXjwz-hF5u8RsT8j0WurZwxSvLQzuK9kLJOLj_FcvS13dOdadHAncK_uZiEm0JU48jBbea051BKeIz4p6-Je1tJQSe71DK-ePS2JIDZYtw/s1600/cooking+101+reality.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-Unzhx-Hnvx6szsue19Nu7yaXDMrifoa6qXjwz-hF5u8RsT8j0WurZwxSvLQzuK9kLJOLj_FcvS13dOdadHAncK_uZiEm0JU48jBbea051BKeIz4p6-Je1tJQSe71DK-ePS2JIDZYtw/s640/cooking+101+reality.png" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fortunately there was no smoke alarm nearby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thankfully, my Spanish floor mate helped me and we somehow managed to cook the meat. Here are the pics I promised:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc28WVxARHWa_W2LEd0Bl8pxwUMeqH1GmeVDWopnGjqPfxRjp8DL_UhKe-TzPQ1eW4ZsK6XLHF0HxqsGxg-7SszUi0W4wLwQpaBX4R6d5npNB0t1d73SxSxc2lvIwBeC3r_VpyqaC56L0/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
The porkchop was pretty cut up because I constantly kept on checking whether it was cooked already or not. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmnShXyHHweH4qDP477jN5tyFAzQKvpjL8ojok1GJP3oHQxQ-P7onQhuMUndfdiYP3vQmksFWU-R382yCXSyIAZVxjS4nhJYf9ZipZSBrnD99o2bwqS8_l4bFjgDHhAm4XVjHbVzr3JA/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmnShXyHHweH4qDP477jN5tyFAzQKvpjL8ojok1GJP3oHQxQ-P7onQhuMUndfdiYP3vQmksFWU-R382yCXSyIAZVxjS4nhJYf9ZipZSBrnD99o2bwqS8_l4bFjgDHhAm4XVjHbVzr3JA/s400/IMG_0217.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
My Spanish friend was kind enough to even give me some bread sticks.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B1yRcBVSpstDIXfuNxyw2-d1mYLvghjCuvFVkXhS8wBy78_NaMiDZt_D2UpZIcfs7dHLHckPPW0VhbalDjmhhteWY2uPiUgp4fPCik4_yJ4E5KZwW1OfSRjxj4xUq-k7B8HzViAgzWc/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B1yRcBVSpstDIXfuNxyw2-d1mYLvghjCuvFVkXhS8wBy78_NaMiDZt_D2UpZIcfs7dHLHckPPW0VhbalDjmhhteWY2uPiUgp4fPCik4_yJ4E5KZwW1OfSRjxj4xUq-k7B8HzViAgzWc/s400/IMG_0218.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Next perhaps is the most crucial question...is it edible?<br />
<br />
Well, the veggies and rice are sort of impossible to screw up anyway so yea, it was good. But the meat... I am at a loss for words. I can't describe it. My tongue has never been so confused assessing whether something was delicious or not. I could taste some soy sauce, some sugar, some salt, some pepper... but I honestly could not say if I actually liked it or not. I just kept on eating and eating; deciding whether the taste was good or bad, how could I have made it better, what else should I do with it, and so on. Anyway, I did manage to finish it and I reckon it wasn't bad for a first try.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtPR8T_bjrEWdXclvWlGsAxpgVwm0f3Xrub6j0FFDi4109ij1rOvsjrnfk810gvP6h7dKBAUp_AnWQSZlZZp5dCA186CLVv5mPH_Zme_ajrSiA8yr9IINImJBnC2gZ-QA-7pq2iUM8sI/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtPR8T_bjrEWdXclvWlGsAxpgVwm0f3Xrub6j0FFDi4109ij1rOvsjrnfk810gvP6h7dKBAUp_AnWQSZlZZp5dCA186CLVv5mPH_Zme_ajrSiA8yr9IINImJBnC2gZ-QA-7pq2iUM8sI/s400/IMG_0223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
P.S. this is a really long overdue post. after more than a month, suffice to say, I think I can cook at an <i>acceptable</i> level now.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845029039130136421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175221064016088796.post-9562695085811881272012-09-26T18:29:00.001-07:002012-09-26T18:29:16.772-07:00Amateur Chef: Netherlands Edition (part 1)So today I wanted to try something interesting. Why not cook something for myself for a change?<br />
<br />
For context, I have never cooked anything in my life. The closest I got to cooking was probably Cooking Mama. (It was on Wii, if that makes it any better.) <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nintendoinvader.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/cookingmama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://nintendoinvader.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/cookingmama.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have always taken pride in my gold medal dishes .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Beyond the jump is a tale of adventure, clueless-ness and
experimentation; fortunately not of fires and explosions. Well, maybe
some smoke...perhaps a bit more smoke.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Despite my lack of cooking abilities, I am quite the eater. My motto regarding food has always been "Food is food." I'd practically eat anything and everything. I really take pleasure in eating. Food was not just a form of sustenance or nutrition. It was an art. I always watched my mom when she prepared food. She makes it look so easy. Add a little garlic, some salt, Mrs. Dash, Viola! I felt like I have watched others cook enough so why not try it myself? There's got to be a first time for everything right?<br />
<br /><br />
I had a 2-hour break today and my dorm was only a 15-minute walk away from school. Albert Heijn was conveniently located in the middle of my dorm-school route. With time to burn and the supermarket along the way, I thought; why not cook something? I always wanted to try to cook and I decided today was the day.<br />
<br />
For this undertaking, I only set two goals... <br />
<br />
1. Make something that is actually edible<br />
2. Not burn something/ cause any (permanent) damage<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HuBk_HfMaGPN6-htaH8lM7wmpcusiRjR9XGyJNTvv3thnvrdRiGlW5ZOOGWdJzeIMa3yVtt8lhyphenhyphenN2EAraodm8eYtWupcKTWDsF1n5cFt9YAbI-IodLSIc3nkSyTskEyExkGUWEQQab8l/s1600/Burning+Down+The+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HuBk_HfMaGPN6-htaH8lM7wmpcusiRjR9XGyJNTvv3thnvrdRiGlW5ZOOGWdJzeIMa3yVtt8lhyphenhyphenN2EAraodm8eYtWupcKTWDsF1n5cFt9YAbI-IodLSIc3nkSyTskEyExkGUWEQQab8l/s320/Burning+Down+The+House.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am able to eat something + this not happening = Mission ACCOMPLISHED!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Obviously the first thing I had to do was to buy meat. I bravely marched to Albert Heijn, searching for some tasty-looking meat. Lo and behold, meat was expensive. Really expensive. I couldn't believe my eyes. What kind of gold do they put in the meat to charge this much?!?1! With price tags ranging from 7 to 15 Euros for not even a kilo of meat, two paltry pieces of porkchop for around 2 Euros did not seem like a bad deal anymore. This was going to be a one-off anyway so might as well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/bruno1998/bruno19981009/bruno1998100900045/7697494-illustration-of-a-green-money-bill-flying-away-with-its-own-wings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/bruno1998/bruno19981009/bruno1998100900045/7697494-illustration-of-a-green-money-bill-flying-away-with-its-own-wings.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">-_-</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I got to the kitchen at home, I chanced upon my friend who has a lot
more cooking experience than me. He delivered some bad news: The meat I
bought was actually "pure" meat, which meant it was not just really expensive, it was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY
more expensive than normal meat. He then proceeded to show me that the
meat I bought actually costs around 14 Euros per kilo. In contrast,
normal meat was around 2 Euros per kilo. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://us.cdn2.123rf.com/168nwm/bruno1998/bruno19981009/bruno1998100900046/7698412-illustration-of-several-money-bills-flying-away-with-a-blue-sky-in-the-background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://us.cdn2.123rf.com/168nwm/bruno1998/bruno19981009/bruno1998100900046/7698412-illustration-of-several-money-bills-flying-away-with-a-blue-sky-in-the-background.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T_T</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well, this is probably a consequence of buying something when you can't read its label. Or it could be the consequence of not knowing how much pork on average costs. So I am left with some high quality meat that I can't give justice to since I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. Regardless, I still go on. I mean, what choice do I have? Time was ticking and I already opened the pack. I can't cry over freakishly-expensive-meat-bought-by-mistake now can I. Next time I just have to buy smarter. If there is any good news to take from this, however, it's the fact that I don't really have to spend that much to cook.<br />
<br />
(to be continued)<br /><br />
<br />
P.S. It's getting late now and I am getting sleepy. I am sorry to say that I have to cut it here for today. I promise pics of the actual dishes in the next installment! That's it for now. :)<br />P.P.S. obligatory "I don't own these photos" noteAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845029039130136421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175221064016088796.post-67322355314236644772012-09-16T17:30:00.001-07:002012-09-16T17:30:27.087-07:00One Lesson Learned... The Hard Way.<i>Winter is coming...</i><br />
<br />
First of all, I hail from the tropics. "<i>Cold</i>" for people here is probably "<i>aah-I-can't-breathe</i>-cold" for me. Anyway, I find myself living in a dormitory/apartment, whatever you want to call it. Seven males and females share 1 bathroom (only for bathing; each room has a toilet). Unfortunately, my room is inconveniently located at the opposite end of the hallway.<br />
<br />
On one very cold morning, I learned a lesson I will not soon forget.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ak5.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/1163569/preview/stock-footage-the-man-all-in-snow-is-shivering-seems-that-he-was-cold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://ak5.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/1163569/preview/stock-footage-the-man-all-in-snow-is-shivering-seems-that-he-was-cold.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not even winter yet. x_x</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />
<a name='more'></a>It was a Saturday, if I remember correctly. We were supposed to go out early in the morning to see some places here in the Netherlands. My alarm goes off and I press snooze again. After 9 minutes, I get out of bed. I slept a little late the night before so I feel a bit like a zombie. Anyway, I go to my toilet. Take a piss. Look at myself in the mirror (<i>eyes look like slits</i>). Go to cabinet. Get undies, shirt and pants. Get soap and shampoo. And off I go to the bathroom. The moment I get there, I turn on the heater. Then, I proceed to take a nice warm bath. But... I forgot one <i>crucial</i> thing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYtnjJzVQ7GUW3fU61p4Y6CjOxi4a5GJe5V_c5urKreyrmKslWUMZP2bdY9hyphenhyphenfcGLhTE0WcNI-sJeTa3uZ7Q-LlFiljWlw5RnPZfAUutS1z0JnPPXXbkHymA0hgmcviPyLCmZvbfuXiM/s1600/oh+shit+face.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYtnjJzVQ7GUW3fU61p4Y6CjOxi4a5GJe5V_c5urKreyrmKslWUMZP2bdY9hyphenhyphenfcGLhTE0WcNI-sJeTa3uZ7Q-LlFiljWlw5RnPZfAUutS1z0JnPPXXbkHymA0hgmcviPyLCmZvbfuXiM/s1600/oh+shit+face.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Try to read the previous paragraph again and see if you can find out. :P<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
.<br />
..<br />
...<br />
<br />I forgot my towel.<br />
<br />
The funny thing about the weather here is that even though it may be 18<b>°</b>C throughout the day, weather during the evening and early morning can drop to single digits. Thus, the mistake of forgetting my towel is indeed a grave one. I only realize this after I was done taking a bath. Facing the grueling cold, I only had 2 options:<br />
<br />
1. Use the dirty clothes to dry myself.<br />
2. Rambo naked through the hallway and hope everyone else is still asleep.<br />
<br />
These are probably the only two sensible options given the situation but my genius brain came up with a very bright idea.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Why don't we just wait for the water to evaporate here in the cubicle?"</i></blockquote>
<br />
And wait for the water to evaporate I did, all the while shivering and rubbing my hands to fight the cold; pissed at the fact that I got a room far away from the bathroom, pissed at myself for forgetting the towel, pissed at global warming for causing extreme weather. Never in my life have I thought that a heater was so useless as my toes and fingers start go numb and the cold pounding through my head.<br />
<br />
I guess lessons learned best are those learned the hard way because after the incident, never again did I forget my towel.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999;">P.S. pics not mine.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845029039130136421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175221064016088796.post-31154665030523648392012-09-15T18:49:00.002-07:002012-09-16T16:27:06.528-07:00A Carrot, An Egg and CoffeeThe title may seem familiar but this short story was shared to me some time ago by my teacher back when I was a kid. Seen it or not, I feel that it is still worth re-reading. It doesn't really matter what kind of problems you are dealing with. This little dose of inspiration will surely be helpful. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
DISCLAIMER: I do not have the original transcript so I'm stealing it from <a href="http://www.mirnabard.com/2010/08/are-you-a-carrot-egg-or-coffee-bean/" target="_blank">here</a> instead.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A young woman went to her
mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her.
She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She
was tired of fighting and struggling.<br />
<br />
It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.<br />
Her mother took her to the
kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high
fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in
the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee
beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.<br />
In about twenty minutes she
turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a
bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she
ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. <br />
Turning to her daughter, she asked, “<i>Tell me what you see.</i>”<br />
“<i>Carrots, eggs, and coffee,</i>” she replied.<br />
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.mirnabard.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bag-full-of-coffee-beans-01-small.jpg"></a>Her
mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did
and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to
take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the
hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the
coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its richness and savored its
aroma.</span><br />
The daughter then asked, “<i>What does it mean, mother?</i>”<br />
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity – boiling water. Each reacted differently.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The carrot went in strong,
hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling
water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin
outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through
the boiling water, its inside became hardened.The ground coffee beans
were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had
changed the water.<br />
“<i>Which are you?</i>” she asked
her daughter. “<i>When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?
Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?</i>”</blockquote>
<br />
Adversities are inevitable. Shit happens. The problems we encounter do not dictate who we are, but it is how we rise up to the challenge that defines us. So ask yourself. Did I cave in? Did I come to reject the world? Or have I somehow made it a better place?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845029039130136421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175221064016088796.post-24352212404884794512012-09-10T19:01:00.001-07:002012-09-16T16:28:11.088-07:00A Thing or Two I Learned from the Dutch<div class="tr_bq">
<i>(...insert long story here)</i></div>
<br />
...And suddenly, I find myself living in the Netherlands. Halfway across the globe from home. I've only been here for barely a month and I am already starting to appreciate Dutch culture, or at least what I make of it. I find their mentality quite interesting and highly effective for dealing with stress.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cartinafinland.fi/en/imagebank/large-image/109/109128/Girl+resting+in+a+hammock+109128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.cartinafinland.fi/en/imagebank/large-image/109/109128/Girl+resting+in+a+hammock+109128.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A skillful demonstration of the art of stress management</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<i>Some of the things I learned after the jump!</i><br />
<i> </i><b><i> </i></b><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>DISCLAIMER</b>: <i>To any Dutch friends, or anyone in general, who reads this and disagree, I am sorry if I have the wrong observations. I do not intend to offend anyone in any way. Feel free to correct me in the comments. I'd be glad to hear more input and insights. :) </i><br />
<br />
<br />
Before I got here, a Dutch friend told me that people
in the Netherlands are generally very chill. Then, when<i> </i>I got here, I sort of understood what he meant. Most shops close at around 6 (save for bars and clubs, but that's another story). I have not seen much 24-hour establishments so far. Finally, go out on a Saturday morning, you can count the number of people outside. Amsterdam is an exception though.<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
My initial impression is that the lifestyle here is more laid back. Given that most shops close early, I think they have a lot of free time. So I guess it's not surprising to find out that the Netherlands is <a href="http://247wallst.com/2012/05/22/the-happiest-countries-in-the-world-2/3/" target="_blank">one of the happiest countries in the world</a>. But do not mistake this "<i>chill-ness</i>" as laziness. When something needs to be done, they get it done. Dutch style.<br />
<br />
Here are the few things I have learned so far:<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<b>1.<i> Be lazy.</i></b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"...Didn't you just say that the Dutch are not lazy?!</i><b><i>"</i></b></blockquote>
<br />
Well... in some aspects they are not, in some they are. This laziness does not mean inactivity or not doing anything. It's about getting the job done using minimal effort.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"...Then isn't that lazy?"</i></blockquote>
<br />
Yeah, I guess. But at the end of the day, the task is accomplished and everyone is happy.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"...How about the quality of the results then?"</i></blockquote>
<br />
The way I think they see it, it isn't about working hard. It's about working<i> smart</i>. The Dutch are renowned worldwide for their efficiency. I bet this is the reason behind it. There really is no sense in wasting unnecessary effort.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2.<i> Look at the </i></b><i><i>(</i></i><i><i>attainable</i></i><i><i>)</i></i><b><i><b><i> </i></b>end </i></b><b><i>goal first.</i></b><br />
<br />
This may not be as "dutch" as the one above, nevertheless, this is vital. The other option is to look at what you have first and think of what you can do about it. This, however, will drive an average person crazy. If you start to look at what you have and try to think of what you can do with it, you may be faced with an almost infinite number of possibilities.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thefilmleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/the_matrix-11347.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://www.thefilmleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/the_matrix-11347.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My head... it hurts...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But when we look at the end goal first, we know what we need. We know what we have to do. It's like shooting an arrow straight to a target you chose rather than blasting a shot gun hoping it will hit something. If you know what you need and what you have to do. There is no other way but to go straight to your target. You don't have to stray from the path because you know exactly where you are supposed to go.<br />
<br />
Also, if you have your goal you will know when...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3.</b><i><b> Sufficient is enough.</b></i> <br />
<i> </i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"You must be messing with me now with all your synonyms and whatnot."</i></blockquote>
<br />
Kidding aside, this is perhaps one of the most useful lessons I learned. I apologize for I am not a man of words hence I may not be able to convey my thoughts on this idea well, but I will try to use an illustration:<br />
<br />
Take a college student. Obviously, his goal is to get his degree. To achieve that, he needs only to pass all subjects. Whether he gets straight A's or just barely passes, if he gets all the credits, he is given a diploma nonetheless. So he need only to exert minimum effort (pass subjects) to achieve his goal (diploma).<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><br /></i>
<i>"So...you're saying the Dutch are contented with mediocrity?"</i></blockquote>
<br />
No. Not at all. This is why I believe setting an attainable goal is important. For the illustration above, we assumed that this certain college student only wants to get a diploma. What if he wants to graduate with Latin honors? The definition of <i>"sufficient"</i> then will vary greatly.<br />
<br />
Also, if you think about it, if your goal is only to get a diploma, then why should you kill yourself to ace all subjects? The college experience is much more than marks given by teachers who assess your performance using their standards. It really depends on your goals as to how much effort you should put into something.<br />
<br />
I believe thinking along these lines allow the Dutch people to find balance in their lives. A balance between work and play; <b>not</b> a compromise but a <i>balance</i>. This would probably explain why they are such happy people! :)<br />
<br />
Hopefully in the next few months, I will get to know the culture and the people better. This is my story for now. 'til the next post. :D<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S. I know the matrix image is perhaps one of the most inappropriate uses of an image you have ever seen but it was the best I could find.<br />
P.P.S. I do not own any of images in this post. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845029039130136421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175221064016088796.post-46168682099538342562012-09-07T18:14:00.000-07:002012-09-07T18:14:00.999-07:00Hello!Ahhh, blogging.<br />
<br />
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but this is my first ever blog post! (yay! :D) For anyone who is actually interested, I will say here and now that I plan to remain anonymous.<br />
<br />
Why after the jump!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmF4CjFp7wxIKTQvNpwYAq8YgR6dViKEPBF3b8KI69mOJi3dJwVijVXqFkA9gijqjwgyKSbUfJpSPBhRX2C7pT9otRAxQmWgxxlhHk_wLdo2YqrBS1mWYSU6UdOwepsq30bv7zwIOkBrE/s1600/Minion-color-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmF4CjFp7wxIKTQvNpwYAq8YgR6dViKEPBF3b8KI69mOJi3dJwVijVXqFkA9gijqjwgyKSbUfJpSPBhRX2C7pT9otRAxQmWgxxlhHk_wLdo2YqrBS1mWYSU6UdOwepsq30bv7zwIOkBrE/s320/Minion-color-2.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Well, I honestly did not know whether that jump actually worked or not, but I'm glad you're here. :)<br />
Anyway, going back to the original matter... anonymity. Some might say that I am a coward for choosing to withhold my identity. Maybe I just am. But here are my reasons for doing so.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Bias, bias, bias.</b><br />
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Regardless of how we want to eliminate it, I believe we can never do so. <i> </i><br />
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<i>"Oh that blogger is an 18-year old kid!" </i><br />
<i>"Oh that blogger is a 40-year old mom!"</i><br />
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I don't want to give my blog a "kid" or "mommy" or any other image because I am just really a random person who will post random stuff in this blog. Maybe throughout the course of this blog we might get to know each other better but I don't want to give any first impressions. :P<br />
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Another reason for this is...<br />
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<b>2. Censorship</b><br />
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Ok. Now you're maybe going "<i>What the...?" </i>but it's really more of me wanting to be able to fully express what I want without having to think about who might see it. The veil of anonymity protects me from such so I do not have to answer to anyone.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Note: No, I am not planning on doing anything illegal here. I also do not plan on posting anything offensive, at least not intentionally. Apologies in advance if I do. </span><br />
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<b>3. "Randomness"</b><br />
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If you have not yet noticed by now, I am really a random person. In this blog I plan to write about anything interesting. So don't expect a cooking blog or a gaming blog or something like that. One post I might be writing about travel, the next a short romantic story.<br />
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The fun of it really is that <i>you won't know what to expect</i>. I hope I will be able to entertain you or at least help you pass your time by posting something interesting. I won't tell what's in store for you. You just have to find out. haha.<br />
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'til the next post. See you! :)<br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><br />cute image of minion is not mine. all rights belong to their respective owners.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845029039130136421noreply@blogger.com0