A week has gone by since Mom and Sis left, and I still have many to-do's outstanding! Not to mention keeping up with my new year's resolution, to practise Mandarin. Yes, that's right, only one resolution this year...and I'n not very good at keeping them, but at least it's a goal I can attempt to work towards, no?
Last year I had three (practise Mandarin, learn a new language and learn to skate) and only one was really kept i.e. learn to skate. Even so, I'm still a novice at it -- last Sunday after having brunch with MarcL, X, Nat, Jits, Poi and her friend Maggie, Bro and Kimi, we went to Indian Palace, a small restaurant on Queen St W that served a buffet lunch. The price was competitive as it was very close 3 or so other restaurants offering the a similar buffet, so no complaints in terms of value-for-money. However, I think the other place a few doors down that I tried with MarcL, Jits and JB in the summer (Trimurti) had a better selection. I said that to MarcL but he says he can't remember. ^_-
Anyway, skating. Harbourfront Centre, right by Lake Ontario and touted as the largest artificial outdoor rink in Canada (?). Maybe because I looked it up, that's why I was slightly disappointed to see that it was wider than a hockey rink but not much longer. Anyhoo, can't complain cos it's free and maintained! Zambonied every 2-3 hours or so. Was planning to meet Hil and Jas there, and managed to convince Bro and Kimi to go as well. It was the most fun I'd had -- probably cos I learnt enough to attempt to practise what I'd been taught? The outcome of almost 3 hours of skating was two sore spots on both legs (early warnings of blisters :S) and at least 6 falls (I really thought I dislocated a finger when I woke up on Monday -- so much so that I went to a walk-in clinic just in case -- but all seems well so far, doc told me to give it till Fri before possibly doing an X-ray) ..... but I think I'm getting the hang of the slalom (C-push with one foot, then switch feet). :D Like Kimi said, it's the sense of accomplishment! Of course, Kimi had skiing experience and altho wobbly sometimes, he started learning tricks and techniques from Jas.... all in all, a good day for all.
Saturday, dinner at JCh's w MelT, CH, Mirchan, ML and two of ML's friends, both alumni of Bristol Uni, UK but one originally from Birmingham who's now working with the govt in planning IT resource allocation, and the other a newly minted freelance writer based out of Msia. Dinner topics mostly covered socio-econo-political themes, and it was good to hear abt the latest happenings in Msia and to a lesser extent, the UK. Not forgetting dinner -- in theme with the collective new year's resolution to eat more healthily, we had roasted porchetta, roast veal chops (?), some grilled veal and pork and also spicy spaghetti with pine nuts(?), roasted red pepper atop fresh arugula greens. Not very sure abt the ingredients cos wasn't a very good elf re the main course. :P The starter and dessert was slightly more calorific: cream of asparagus and cauliflower being the former, and lemon and rasperry tart being the latter.
After that, watched a couple of eps of Dexter. ML's synopsis was that the series revolved around a serial killer who targets serial killers. So I think we all started off thinking that Dexter was a vigilante of sorts. The truth was, we were only half-correct. He is a vigilante, but he's also very clearly psychopathic himself -- he had just been encouraged to re-direct his bloodthirsty tendencies towards other killers. Every eps, he kills at least one person in a very serial killer-ish way....and the series is graphic about it. Anyway, for continuity across eps, there's an ongoing case abt a serial killer who drains his victims of blood before cutting them into pieces. My initial assessment: it has unusual and interesting direction/dialogue/camera angles, however, it leaves a queasy feeling in my stomach. After all, I really don't like serial killer movies.
Thought that I had to watch something happy once I got home, just to erase that uncomfortable feeling, but MelT was the one driving and we got talking abt interpersonal relationships and outlooks on life and how diff ppl handle things differently...so much so that we parked the car outside my apt building and went on for another good 1/2 (or maybe 1?) hr. I thought I was going to lose my voice! But it was a good chat (and no more need for the happy eps!)...lately I've been feeling rather like discussing these themes, and it was good to have someone to bounce ideas off of.
On Fri, had lunch with NM and MD at Ninki where we just caught up with what's been happening in each other's lives. NM just came back from India with her mom and she was telling us abt magical stones being levitated, and psychics predicting that she and her sis would be married in 2 years! India has always struck me as mystical, but having someone close to me elaborate on things like that....I was fascinated. MD on the other hand came back from vacationing in HK via Tokyo. This lucky gal had 2 weeks in Japan for client work and they liked her so much, they suggested she go back! Anyway so she was also updating us on how she and bf had compromised and how she was going to let him grow in his career and vice versa. I'm happy for her. :)
Later in the evening after work, a chat over a beer at the Duke of Devon w Young P. We both started out on an empty stomach and though we offset that with sweet potato fries midway, the alchohol went to our heads pretty quickly, but in a good way. :) We were both nicely cheerful -- we talked abt his latest vacation on a Caribbean cruise w his family (puking/drinking story snippets prevailed), then abt visiting the gf, then our recurring topic i.e. my dating activities or lack thereof. Young P says he wants to know abt the non-work sides of ppl, but he admits it when I suggested he might just be nosy.
So I was half-full with all those useless carbs by the time I met Mirchan and JCh for Japanese dinner at Yamato in Yorkville. Interesting fact: the ppl who own Yamato also own Fune, which has been suggested before by a client contact of mine. Anyhoo, we got the sashimi platter, the beef teppanyaki and also an order of zaru soba (cold buckwheat noodles to be dipped in a cold sauce mixed with raw quail's egg). The platter was #1 for me, tho JCh and Mirchan liked the teppanyaki immensely. Zaru soba was a little bit too cooked for my tastes -- I like a bit more bite in my noodles -- or maybe I was just not very hungry.
Looking forward: it's mid-year review time. Time to give and get feedback. I'm expecting less than stellar reviews among the total (I already had a middling one from last yr) but on a balance of 'feelings', I'm feeling kinda indifferent at this point in time. Had dinner just now at Swatow with LWA (in town for client work, direct from Msia) and JCh, and she thought I was getting burnt out...hmm...maybe I am. Still, I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's cheering me up a bit and probably giving me the subconscious energy to pull through.
Also today, talked to counsellor on long(er)-term goals....I'm glad I have him: he understands my motivations almost intuitively. But now that I've gotten those musings out, I'm divided in my feelings abt it: was it too early to tell him, given that I'm not sure of my directions myself? In a sense, I was almost just thinking out loud. Would he take action and if successful, would I then be faced with a decision I'm not yet ready to make? But at the same time, things like what I wondered to him abt, they take time to set into motion.
Yes, I think as a whole, it was ok to bring it up.... I hope though that he'll check with me again before he arranges anything too drastic.
