Day 121 - The image of Snowflake riding a bike in a hot country

On a cold morning, Snowflake likes to climb onto my lap while I'm getting ready for work in front of the heater. She'll get into this position in the photo above and have a quick snooze with her head resting atop my right knee, her face always facing the heater.

It always makes me laugh, because I can't help but picture her riding on the back of a motorbike in a South-East Asian country (the heat!), hanging on tightly and gripping the handlebars while the warm breeze caresses blasts her face!

Day 120 - Wooden blocks make a happy baby, seeing someone doing what they love and loving what they're doing, and catching up with old friends

What makes me smile?

1. Seeing how happy 2 coloured wooden blocks can make a baby!




2. Watching someone doing what they love and loving what they're doing. In this case it's Fred DJing at Creamfields - not bad at all for his 1st gig!
   



3. Catching up with old friends over pasta and wine, reminiscing old times and sharing new stories. 

Day 119 - Reflexes, breakfast at 3:30pm, macarons and sweet treats

Today, I'm feeling very thankful for...

...reflexes. I was off with the fairies daydreaming while turning on the tap at the basin, and when I reached in to cup some water in my hands, my hands instantly jerked backwards as I jumped, startled. I hadn't realised the water was scaldingly hot. It got me thinking about how incredible the human body was - how something as complicated as stimulating the receptors in the skin of our finger, conducting it into a nerve impulse that transmits to our central nervous system, and continues to transmit the nerve impulse into a motor impulse to cause the involuntary withdrawal from the pain and stop further damage - all happens "automatically" within the space of nanoseconds. All these intricate neurones and nerve endings and transmissions were formed from one single cell. Last week I took some time to marvel at the universe, today I'm marvelling at the universe in all of us.

...places like Hobba that serve breakfast until 5pm, so people like me can have it at 3:30pm.


...friends like Christean who bakes yummy macarons, meaning I always have access to a stash of them!

...having a boyfriend who not only showers me lots of sweet treats...

...but makes me honey joys as well!

Day 118 - More of retelling of The Notebook and why I love Snowflake reason #20

1. Following yesterday's torturous session of hearing me explain scenes from The Notebook in excruciating detail, poor Chan found himself in yet another conversation about The Notebook with me. Lol.

Chan: Morning
Me: Good morning
Me: You know what I realised last night
Me: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are surrounded by white ducks, not swans
(what feels like decades later)
Chan: OMG
Chan: Now you tell me. And you didn't tell me the part that after Rachel asked why he didn't write to her in years, and that she waited all that time for him that they got it on
Me: Lol it is irrelevant that they got it on
Me: Why don't I send you the 4 and a half minute long clip of the epic scene
Chan: No no that's not necessary
Me: When they are in the boat, surrounded by ducks she commends him on how well he's done, he's bought the house that they fooled around in and built it up from scratch
Chan: You watched it again didn't you???
Me: And he said "I promised you I would" So it was Ryan saying he promised her he would that upset her
Chan: Far out. Everything you have told me is news to me
Chan: Now I have to start from the start again because of this new information on the scene
Me: Would you like me to explain again
Chan: No no
Me: I'll happily give you a full synopsis again or you could just watch the 4.30 minute long scene
Me: 4.30 minutes it's not that bad
Chan: Omg

A while later...

Chan: There is a scene when Rachel and Ryan are rowing in a boat on a lake. They are rowing in sunshine surrounded by all these white ducks in the water. Rachel commends Ryan on how well he has done, as he has bought a house and built it from scratch. Ryan claims that he made a promise to her that he would. They chat whilst on the boat, and thunder and lightning begin to fill the sky. As they make their way back to land it begins to rain and it pours down. They both look at each other awkwardly. As it rains both Rachel and Ryan begin to burst out in laughter. They finally get back to shore and Rachel hastily leaves to boat and screams at Ryan. She asked him why he didn’t write to her, as it wasn’t over for her. She said that she “waited 7 years and you never wrote and now it was too late”. Ryan said that he wrote 365 letters, 1 for everyday of the first year. Ryan proclaims that it wasn’t over and it still isn’t over. They both move towards each other and come to an embrace. Then they made their way into the house where they got it on
Me: Where did you get that synopsis from? That's great
Chan: That is from what you told me, what my friend told me and a touch of Chan in between
Me: Well done Chan. It's like you've watched it!


2. Reason #20 of why I can't help but love Snowflake:

She can be a very wise-looking kitty sometimes.

"When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good, you will not, hmmm?"

Day 117 - Afternoon chuckles and retelling The Notebook

I love it when you're chugging along with monotonous work and feeling slightly flat after a heavy lunch, and lo and behold an email arrives in your inbox with hilarious demotivational pictures to lighten your day. Afternoon chuckles keep your head away from your knuckles!

Here are a few memorable ones from today's:











And here's a random funny Jon threw in!

Later on in the afternoon, I had a humorous chat (it was for me anyway) with Chan. He made the mistake of asking me about The Notebook. The poor guy had no idea what he was getting himself into.

Chan: Have you seen The Notebook?
Me: Lol yes I have
Chan: I've never seen it only heard of it
Me: You're missing out
Chan: Cbb reading the synopsis because its long and draining me, what's all the hype associated with the movie? Why do people talk about it or make reference to it?
Me: Perhaps you should watch it and find out
Me: It's a romantic film
Chan: Nah nah nah that's all I needed to know then
Me: I'll admit I've watched it a few times. When I watched it the first time with my best friend we sat there bawling even after the movie had ended
Me: It's very sweet
Me: Dramatised
(minutes later)
Chan: Omg
Me: Lol
Me: Did you read the synopsis?
Chan: Not really. I read that it was based in the 1940's and it went on and on so I stopped and cbb reading any more
Chan: Someone played a joke yesterday and made reference to The Notebook and I had NFI what The Notebook was about
Chan: I know people talk about it but I don't know what its about. Was told I was going to see The Lucky One
Me: Lol you poor thing. Same author
Chan: Ok thats the reference now I get it. What a crap movie The Lucky One is
Me: I think you should give The Notebook a go. At the very least you have Rachel McAdams to look at
Chan: But Ryan Gosling is in the way
Me: But it's Ryan Gosling.....
Chan: To a lady or a man that likes a man I'm sure it would be an ideal film to watch
Chan: A nice synopsis of The Notebook - a pure chick flick
Me: Yeah that sums it up
Chan: "Every girl's dream"
Chan: Omg
Me: Lol
Chan: I should have never asked
Me: There is one epic scene when they meet again after 7 years and he brings her out on a boat. They are surrounded by swans. Its a very stunning setting and they start chatting and sort of look at each other awkwardly then it starts pouring. They laugh and there is dramatic music and then she gets visibly upset
Chan: Oh no now you are reenacting events
Chan: Its so vivid for you
Chan: I was thinking that you might say the swans started attacking them
Me: When they get back to shore she storms off, then turns around and screams at him "Why didn't you write me? It wasn't over for me, I waited for you for seven years but you never wrote and now it's too late"
Chan: OH SNAP
Me: And he explained that he did write
Chan: I have a fear of swans. I see swans and fear they will attack me
(completely disregarding his fear of swans)
Me: He wrote her 365 letters.. he wrote her everyday for a year
(minutes later)
Chan: Omfg
Me: And he says "It wasn't over, it still isn't over"
Me: And he goes in for a passionate kiss
Me: And they kiss and embrace in the rain
Chan: Why was he away from her? War? Army?
Me: War. She's from a rich family, he's poor
Chan: And where did the letters go if she never got them?
Me: It was a summer romance when they met. Her mother kept them from her, she didn't want her to see him because he was poor
Chan: Oh
Chan: Epic 7 years
Me: So epic
Me: But she was engaged to another man by then, a rich man
Chan: Let me guess that she was with someone else?
Chan: So cliche
Chan: And then she left the rich guy and ended up with him and they lived happily ever after?
Me: Sort of. The way the story is told it starts off with an old man reading an old woman a story at an old folk's home
Me: Later on it is revealed that the old man is old Ryan Gosling, and old woman is old Rachel McAdams. She has alzheimer's so he reads to her to help her remember
Me: Sometimes she remembers, sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes she doesn't recognise her husband, doesn't recognise her kids
Chan: I soooooo shouldn't have asked about it
Chan: I am getting a full synopsis right now
Chan: You can't get enough of The Notebook
Me: Bet you're regretting it now
Chan: Its in the memory bank
Chan: A display of sensitivity in a man can be demonstrated by mentioning The Notebook
Me: So if he groans when he hears The Notebook...
Chan: No groaning in front of a lady. Just going to have to suck it up
Me: Lol
Chan: Your retelling of that whole scene has given me enough of an insight of the film actually. I might use it one day
Me: You will reenact the scene?
Chan: Not reenact. Retell it having never watched the film
Me: You should probably know how it ends too then
(what seems like hours later)
Chan: Do I need to know?
Me: You've made it through this far. He crawled into bed with her at the old folks home. He can't stay away from her because he loves her so much
Chan: Oh my me
Me: And they die in their sleep in embrace
Chan: Oh
Chan: Thanks for the synopsis Sammie
Me: Anytime Chan, anytime
Chan: Lol

And just for fun, this is The. Epic. Scene.

Day 116 - Sleeping in with Snowflake and honey joys

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

1. Incredibly lucky that I can stay in my warm bed, listen to the pouring rain outside and sleep in on a public holiday. I truly savoured this simple pleasure... by sleeping longer.


2. I was awoken by Snowflake pushing her back into my face - she had flopped herself down on my left shoulder, with the rest of her plonked onto my pillow. Having a 6kg purring cat leaning against your face is oddly charming!



3. I made honey joys!

The house is now filled with the sweet aroma of sugar and butter... I wish I could bottle it up! My heart must hate me.

Day 115 - T-Rex hates chaturanga, Hoppípolla and Planet Earth, dancing in the rain and a steaming bowl of pasta

Man, what a day. Work has been incredibly busy and stressful for the past few weeks and today was no exception. It was 9 degrees when I left home this morning... and there was so much rain!

After spending most of today huddling in my scarf and gloves (both outdoors and indoors), and being very confused while trying to sort out calculations that even boggled our supplier and vendor, I had a great yoga session where the instructor really pushed us. Repeatedly having to hold chaturanga dandasana (aka one-sided push up in slow motion) for a few breaths was no fun (she even heckled, "Everyone's favourite pose!" as the class grunted) but I think I needed the extra exercise.

Oh and here's a yoga funny I came across:

Source: Yoga Dork

Post-yoga, I was warm, calm, relaxed and in a state of zen as Sigur Rós' Hoppípolla started playing on my iPod. I started to mentally watch this video in my head...


...and as the scenes flashed through my mind, I couldn't help but smile and think how amazing this little blue dot of a planet we lived on was.

I grabbed a green tea latte on my way home (it was too cold for frozen yoghurt) and laughed as rain started to drizzle down on me. It was a strange night - the streets were wet and deserted, and with so many roads closed off due to roadworks I found myself dancing in the middle of the street in the rain... just because I could!

Once I got home, I tucked into a big steaming bowl of spaghetti bolognese. Ahhh comfort food on a cold night.

Day 114 - Chewbacca likes McDonald's and Fred gets to DJ at Creamfields Melbourne

1. Everybody likes McDonald's. Even Chewy!



2. A month ago, Fred mentioned he was submitting an entry into a remixing competition. He explained that there were 3 stages to the competition: 


• Stage 1 - Remix submissions for each state are shortlisted  
• Stage 2 - Public voting commences on the shortlisted tracks 
• Stage 3 - The top 3 voted tracks for each state go on for a final round of judging where the winner will DJ their own set at the Creamfields festival in their state!

Fred had recently gone full time with producing his music and was psyched about the competition - there was a mad glisten in his eye as he talked about how incredible the exposure would be. We cheered him on and asked him to let us know if he got to Stage 2 as we'd do our best to help with votes.

A couple of weeks later, we received a notification in Facebook - Fred's track had gone through Stage 1 and was now at Stage 2! We were ecstatic for him and quickly put in our votes. As far as public voting typically goes, it was more of a popularity contest than anything so we helped to spread the word in hopes that our friends would help cast their votes too. At that point, Fred's track was hundreds of votes ahead of the rest. I had a listen to a couple of other shortlisted tracks, and to me, Fred's was a clear winner - trance music isn't my forte, but his sounded solid, had a great beat behind it, and most importantly had depth and emotion that I could feel. I was confident his track would stay at the top.

I had forgotten to check back on how the voting was progressing, but was under the assumption that Fred would be leading. During the last hour before voting ended, I checked the voting page and my jaw dropped when I saw that his track had dropped to 4th place... but it was just 2 votes behind 3rd place! I frantically clicked 'Vote' and saw the votes increase steadily as Fred and his friends tried to garner as many last minute votes as they could.

This video sums up those last few manic minutes of voting:
I can't help but laugh at Fred's expression and the amount of brolove in that room.

Fred was in 3rd place and on his way to the final round!!

3 days later....


FRED WON!! What an amazing feat! I'm overjoyed for him and incredibly proud, what a fantastic way to break into his career!

Day 113 - Lawrence Leung's Beginning Middle End and Easter chocolates

It was my first time catching one of Lawrence Leung's shows at the Comedy Festival, despite referring to him as "the hairy beardy Asian guy" for years.

This year's show was Beginning Middle End. Lawrence took us on a humorous journey of stories including his housemate finding disturbing erotic fan fiction on a heavy metal music website starring himself and Toadfish from Neighbours (here's Part 1 and Part 2 of the fan fiction) and fictional Lawrence falls pregnant to Toadfish (he even shows an actual enactment of the fan fiction, filmed with Toadfish!), dispelling the apparent sexiness and allure of Colin Firth by successfully demonstrating that he is a pervert/stalker ("Would you like to come and fish in my trout stream?") who likes to stand next to fireplaces/windows, and even stories of unknowingly eating whale in Japan and proceeding to vomit all over the boss of a girl he fancied... all done with the aid of a charming PowerPoint presentation. And he even had a half-time recap slide when a latecomer arrived! His mastery in story-telling, quirky charm, constant smileyness and self-depreciating humour had me fixated and laughing along to his every word. I'd love to see him again next year!

After the show, I picked up my (belated) Easter chocolates from Joanne.

Nice way to end the weekend!

Day 112 - Things I love doing on Saturdays

I love weekends. They make me so happy!

On Saturdays I love to...

...have breakfast, brunch and lunch all at the same time around 2:30pm.


...crack "The Bermuda Triangle likes nice racks" jokes.


...oooh and ahhh as I wander amongst row after row of stalls selling adorable crafty goodies at the Finders Keepers Market (I wish this event was on every Saturday in Melbourne instead of once a year though).









...shriek with joy and clap wildly when I discover that my books have arrived (thanks Bretty).

...play a fun game called "stuff on my cat" with Snowflake (because cats + stuff = awesome).


...laugh at Snowflake because she can be really adorable when she's pretending to play the flute and when she's playing dead.

Day 111 - Lululemon's blush quartz and entrance area is complete

1. Pretty blush pink shades never cease to put a smile on my face every time I come across them.



2. I'm proud to announce that Stages 9 and 10 of Project Home are now complete! 

Michael and I turned this madness...


...into organised serenity.


Snowflake's already found herself a new hangout spot!

Day 110 - The most astounding fact about the universe and interesting dinner conversations

Contemplating the universe and reflecting on life have made me smile today.

In light of yesterday's post where I mentioned #2 Remembering how lucky we are to be here right now from 1000 Awesome Things, Brett shared with me this incredible video of astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's response when he was asked, "What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the universe?"

It moved me to tears.


Interestingly enough, over dinner with Brett, Keng, Graeme, Elma and Robert, a whole range of topics were covered in conversation including:

• The universe (and the video above) and our self-awareness of each of us being part of the universe
• An app called APODViewer which presents NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day
• Hubble
• Religion
• The art vs science of medicine
• Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
• Tree of Life
• Tivoli, Rome
• Freud
• Keats
• Consciousness when anaesthetised 
• Richard Dawkins
• Stephen Hawking
• Broken babies
• Different parenting methods
• Do iPads stunt child development?
• Krug Vintage 1998 
• Gotye

...and then more. All while getting drunk on 5 bottles of fine wine.

Being able to witness Elma and Robert, who are a couple of supposedly 80-something year olds, question, challenge, explore and indulge in their curiosity was an inspiring sight.

I expected to feel weighed down afterwards - we were delving in some seriously intense topics for most of the night after all - yet I felt refreshed, uplifted and optimistic. Must've been the fine wine's doing!

Day 109 - I think Darren Criss from Glee really loves Hanson, levitating llama, poor kitten left for zombies, the happiest coat lining, Snowflake is fat and Neil Pasricha reminding us to remember how lucky we are to be here right now

1. I brushed my teeth smiling while watching this this morning! But I'm still a little uncertain, do you think he likes Hanson?!



2. Oh my gosh isn't this the funniest thing?!?!?!? Thanks for the early morning chuckle Soon Yang!

Source: Icanhascheezburger


3. And the afternoon chuckle Jon!



4. This is the happiest coat lining in the world.



5. Michael: "Your cat's so fat. She's been climbing onto my lap a lot for a nap and she usually slides off while she's asleep because she's so fat. One time she was sleeping on my lap and she started sliding off, but then she startled herself and... (mad laughter) woke up just as she was falling off and fully sank her claws into my thighs to hang on and pull herself up. It was really painful! Man, she's so fat." 
   
   Exactly at that moment, Snowflake jumps onto the table where we were sitting, flops herself down while clumsily knocking a paper bag off the table, proceeds to roll onto her back sticking all four legs in the air, then blinks at us.  


6. Loved loved LOVED Neil Pasricha's post for today, # 2- Remembering how lucky we are to be here right now on his blog 1000 Awesome Things. I remind myself from time to time of this very humbling, spine-chilling sensation when you look at yourself, at everyone and everything that's surrounding you whether it's your family, your friends, your job, your environment, the food you eat, the roads you walk on, the buildings you go past everyday..... and you marvel at how everything came together, how everything just somehow fell into place so that you and all these things would be here, exactly as how you are and they are now. And how freakin' incredible is that?! Of course, Neil articulates it leaps and bounds better than I can. 

Never forget that you are so lucky to be here right now, doing whatever it is you are doing.