Super Heroine

Sometimes, don't we just need a super hero in real life to look up to?

Someone who is less than deity, and makes dreams believable again. Someone who dances drama of fall and success in flesh like yours and mine.

Someone who isn't influential enough to spin the world, pounce like Spiderman, or dress like Batman. Or maybe, this someone does. My super heroine spins on ice, flips in midair and dresses in outrageously dazzling outfits while revealing matching undies!!

18 year-old South Korean, Yuna Kim may not be the most formidable athlete I've known for the past 15 years of figure skating sports history.

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The self-claimed untalented, is ballet-non-trained, has no particularly unique feat under her belt, but she conquers the ice with a down-to earth personality and earned my deep admiration since 3 years ago.

Young Yuna understands that everyone is worthy of being her rival, but the worst rival is in herself. Her goal is to perfect her powerful jumps and beautiful executions, to be remembered as a good skater by many, rather than bagging medals home.

Yet, the perfectionist contradicted herself, by fetching numerous golds while ascending the throne as Queen in her peoples' hearts. Superstar Yuna not only skates. She struts on runways, appears in commercials, sings on tv shows, displays politician potential by propelling organisations, and boldly chided unethical media sources at pony-tailed-16!

However, she didn't astound me with the mentioned above.

Yuna still donates a huge fraction of her earnings to organisations and needy sportsmen, as she didn't forget how she was almost forced to give up skating because of fund shortage. She offers coaching to young skaters whenever she finds a breather from tight training schedule. Shows no contempt of other good skaters while dilligently correcting her faulty footwork.

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A noble athlete, steadfast worker, humble acheiver, and philanthropist.

Last weekend, my super heroine stepped up the podium as the World Champion for the first time in her skating career. It was the first time I saw Yuna shed uncontrollable tears.

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So, super heros cry too. Super heros pick themselves up several times too. Super heros put in time and constant effort though they may not always win without fail. And aren't super heros a lot like us in a way? And maybe, there's this little hero concealed in everyone of us?

Since the demise of Princess of Wales, Diana, Mother Teresa and Audrey Hepburn, I've been looking for an inspiring icon that represents feminine strength and internal beauty. Someone who's a fighter, generous and modest. I'm delighted at this young super heroine who's going to wow me for years to come. It thrills me just to know that she'sb constantly renewing herself as a dignified accomplisher, but not just another contender to win the prize.

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It's nice to have a super heroine to look up to. I hope that you have one too, or maybe, your super heroine lies in you. =)

Saffron rice with crab flesh topping

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For unexplainable reasons, I crave for 'X', 'Y'/'Z' occassionally. Dontcha? Sometimes, it gets so severe that I even dream about it.

For instance, I dreamt about catching 7 massive crabs with bare hands the other day! Haha! =D

And it's only instinctual, that I succumb to my craving whenever possible. Like a week ago when Japan was having a long weekend, Bear took me to a fancy Italian/Western restaurant in a neighbouring prefecture.

I was totally elated to find a crab dish on the menu! The description read : A platter of rice with topping of extravagant crab flesh and mushroom.





Duh... but my anticipation nosedived. I obviously forgot that most restaurants here provide moderate or miserable ingredients. I squinted hard... The platter was nothing like a crab galore (~~), it was more like a plate of crap, and a rather pricey one. As Bear footed the bill ungrudgingly, he explained the tyranny of economy depression, and that we ought to give thanks for food at bad times like such.

He's beary right, but my disappointment wasn't soothed right there. Suddenly, it dawned on me that Japan has fresh crab flesh for sashimi almost around the year! So I was all ready to roll my sleeves to gratify my gluttony nature. ;P





And believe me, the preparation is dead easy! Pleasantly satisfying and almost instant to prepare. =P



No concrete measurements here. I prepared saffron rice for two. A handful of Bunashimeji mushroom, and Enoki mushroom cut in short strips, saute with olive oil, finish with soy sauce and little white wine to make a truly wet mass. Chop spring onions, cut Perilla leaves in strips and put aside.



Scoop saffron rice on plate, sprinkle chopped spring onions. Spread the crab flesh, then mushroom mixture over. Generous portion of seaweed strips, with stripped Perilla leaves topped above. To finish, half a slice of 10gram butter and place on both sides. Serve while rice is hot!





And TALA, the effort paid off, almost effortlessly. Almost like the real deal if not for the absence of a sizzling hot plate. But who needs a hot plate, when I can have all the crab flesh I want? =P Bear has already demanded repetition, while I contemplated on buttered prawn or scallop to go along the next time. =)

Inhaling Spring

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At last... kissed by the breeze of Spring.





I wish you could hear how the birds sing. =) We're having skies bluer than usual these days. With occasional showers that must have delighted what's lying deep beneath.

And a climate that colors me happy. Time to don my new spring coat, I'm all revived!

Spring definitely excites me. For starters, we're greeted by the scent of plum blossoms. =)











The endearing charm of this season can't be defined solely by blossoms. Spring promises some most delicious fruits, vegetables and Japanese snacks. Experiencing spring feels like undoing a huge basket of goodies, with its wrapping all too pretty to upset!






Joy of all joys, my best pal here has given birth during this beautiful season, yesterday!! I simply can't wait to visit her and her first newborn that moved me to happy tears. =))







There must be more joy on the way! =D Yeah, and I'll be taking time to relish my favourite season. =)

I plead insanity

Has anybody ever suggested a 'blogging curve'?


If there's one, it's pretty obvious that I've been nestling at the stagnant stage. Nothing excites me, but something in the air is somewhat triggering.


Having not held the camera for long, my wrists are unfamiliar with the weight again.


My brain cells are thawing slow, I'm yearning to go out, metabolism restoring... I probably know how it feels to rouse from hibernation!


We're having sunshine today! ( Meaning : I'm smiling ).


And laughed myself jelly at this hilarious quiz. Take it! Especially if you're a fan of The Muppet Show, and tell me what you are! ;)






Which Muppet are you.

Result

You are Animal.You are completely nuts, but fun to be around.

SPECIAL TALENTS:Drums, Women, Food.

HOBBIES:Drums, Women, Food.

FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS:"Louder!", "Food now!" and "Want Woman!"

LAST BOOK EATEN:"The Musicians' Guide to Drums, Women & Food"

NEVER LEAVES HOME WITHOUT:An appetite.



Guess what? I love Animal!!

I know, I'm all over the place, incoherent, so very Animal, and I'm starving. Insanity. Winter does all these to me. =S

Ciao, I'm grabbing lunch. Food now!

Please pray for Isabella

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My heart goes out to this beautiful baby, Isabella.


Blogger pal Sharilyn sent an earnest prayer request via her blog, for her friends' child. My heart shattered when I visited Isabella's site to understand her situation better.



I couldn't help it as her curls and soulful eyes teased me. The captivating smile lured me to her site.

Isabella is suffering from Bronchial Displasia, immature lungs at birth and faces life threats whenever she catches a flu or cold.

The poor child caught cold again late last month and is fighting for her dear life in ICU. I cried at what her family wrote, ' Her lungs are filling up rapidly and she needs to have a tube inserted to aspirate, which causes discomfort and bleeding. She has had so many needles that she has no good veins left that can be found to adminster her medicines. One three occasions, over an hour was spent poking her in the arms, legs, neck and head trying to find a good vein (in the picture she has a needle in just above the ear). '

People, she needs our prayers now!! Let's escalate our prayers to God for Isabella, that He'll extend His healing hands this very moment.
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"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

Please visit Isabella's site to understand her condition and needs.

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Baby it's cold outside

It's cold outside, in fact, it's snowing.

Come to think of it, if there must be Brrring in winter anyway, I would rather have snow!

I'm a good girl today ( normally, I'm not ). I've just returned from an errand, which is quite unusual during weekdays, but I desperately need some must-haves for the steamboat dinner tonight.





Off I went happily, and hoping to capture some nice pictures of snow during the trip, only to realise that this place is too neighbourhoody. An intrusive camera is somewhat considered an offensive sight, there isn't any decent landmark to help the snow stand out either.


No, it's more like me cooking up excuses for the trashy photos / cheesy post.

It happens... especially when one's well of inspiration has dried up. =P

Ok, I'm bad afterall. But believe me, the falling snow was breathlessly pretty... I had fun brushing my eye lashes laden heavy with snow. =)


Meanwhile, something else pretty is lying backstage.




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It's whispering, ' Spring '.

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Good things sent my way

Approaching late winter, Mr. Sun has not appeared for several days, while the sky poured buckets of rain. I would have been so terribly starved if I have to function by chlorophyll.


And finally, we're having very mild sunshine today! I'll be following the sun from window to window so as to let my Orchid eat its fill! =D





Yes, after the recent ordeal, things start to stabilize a little, I can't be more thankful that Rowndy is still with me. Recovered from cold shock, it's growing steadily and probably blooming in late Spring. =)

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I rested from blogging a little these days in case I make the God-Blessed Box appear too sappy. Still not my usual self at this moment, gimme more sunshine (~~; ). However, admist the dreary days, there are still reasons to give thanks, for much good and bad, and those in-betweens. While coping with the loss of Phal Kun, I've received gestures of tenderness from people who have comforted me. They've helped.

A parcel flew over from a blogger friend, Helena, all the way from UK!

She prepared this gift during her trip to Ireland. It's an ornament in a shape of a pretty cat, made from black turf. I would have been so baffled by the name of the material, if it has not been explained as a deep and rich kind of soil.

The elegant cat that is supposed to bring good luck, carries a big smile. =) Helena's partner claims that it's the same smile she wears when she has her first cup of tea of the day, hence dubbed as her 'tea smile'. Look closer! =)



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I love it! It feels like a thousand smiles showered on me, and her kindness conveyed. Thank you Helena! The cat has arrived timely and your 'tea smile' has eased my blues in a way. It now rests at a spot where I can see it everyday. Gotta smile like you!


And, not forgetting thoughts that may be less concrete, but truly loving by no less! Umeko-San sent me her blessings, something I can never get enough, and won't want to quit giving too! 　梅子さん、ありがとう！ So catch it people, I'm sending it to all of you, especially Sharilyn, for your mails and concern during the not-so-good days.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalms 30:5

A missing piece

I have very faint memories of the recent trip to Singapore, apart from one : a boy bawling in a rowdy bookstore, seemingly lost. The mother hurried his way to calm the child and reassured him in loud affirmation, 'I will never leave you.'

Her promise resounded in my ears relentlessly. It stirred an enormous guilt in me, cos I've left what I considered precious, unattended in the cold. I could never be more foolish.

If you've read about what happened to Phal Kun, I'm most sad to tell you that he's gone.

For several days I've been trying to revive my baby. I've lost sleep, my stomach too busy tying knots to eat, but nothing helped bring ailing Phal Kun back to life.

I'll be lying if I claim that I'm ok. I deserve it. I miss him, the missing piece that makes the picture complete. I was tempted to brag, how he bloomed generously for more than 6 months, still bearing buds when I last bid him goodbye. And now he's here no more, with myself all ready to condemn, in sheer shame, regret, and bitterness. I've never hated myself more.


Just when I dived deep into self-loathing, God quietly prepared me for what was inevitable, and showed me other facets of life that hit me hard. I lost my Orchid to winter, it's a law of nature that God dictates. I earned my misery by a sorry mistake, while many others didn't. Those who've lost their lives, loved ones, poperties in forest fire, or other tragedies across the world. A plenty more in genuine pain, utter loss, or flatly underprivileged.


So I dried my tears, count my loss a lesson. Stop my wimps and remember that God is good! Life is good, unless I decide it's never! The experience shall surely grow me greener fingers, and groom me into a finer care-giver. I can always reap heaps of joy again!





Having said that... Deep in the backyard, honestly, I know that can never forget Phal Kun and how he has colored my days. Sniff. I thank the Lord for those times that I've been blessed with him.

I take the chance to thank all who've cared, prayed and offered a line of comfort. Spider Robinson said it well, shared pain is lessened, shared joy, increased. I should be ready to look for a new Orchid plant sometime later, and find the missing piece that will complete my joy again.
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*He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awesome grace of God. Aeschylus

*When you lose, don't lose the lesson. Dalai Lama