Weekly updates

I guess I should commit myself to weekly updates or my loving fans (yes, all one of them) will never hear from me.  She probably hears from me enough on a daily basis but since she asked... =)

This past week has been interesting.

I found out that New York isn't all it's made out to be. It's really rather ordinary other than it being some sort of shrine to consumerism. 5th Avenue has buildings touting luxury brands all over the place, and Times Square with all the flashing lights looks like some sort of Las Vegas wannabe.  There really is a Starbucks on almost every street.

However, the place lacks feeling. Even with Central Park (which is HUGE) and The Strand (cheap books!).
It's probably just me. *shrug*

After coming back from New York, Friday was spent running more errands and Saturday was spent bringing the wife to Le Cordon Bleu Boston.
While the wife spent 3+ hours decorating, I retired to a nearby Dunkin Doughnuts to read my book. The Man in the Mirror I think it's called. No, it's not about Michael Jackson.

I've always felt it rather strange how God chooses to speak to us and I think He had a message for us this weekend.  On Saturday, He convinced me, through the book, to examine my life more closely.  On Sunday, He spoke to Lynn to convince her that we should spend more time on the word.  As I listened to her after service, I couldn't help but feel that He is preparing us for something.  I've no doubt we should listen closely lest we be caught unprepared when the time comes....

In other news, we're still tying up loose ends. Probably gonna get a Skype account to facilitate calling Singapore from the comfort of home. The coming week will be filled with orientation activities.  Pray for us.

Blessed Sunday!

Blessed is the one who picked up furniture during a run and had a cupcake after that.

I was due for my 12-15km run today (which is running late for my marathon training but what the heck) and it was a fruitful run indeed!

beautiful scenery along the way

Into my 11km, I ran into the nearby neighbourhood and guess what I saw? A trash bin and a coffee table which I knew the hubs would need. We have been scouting for a table from the thriftstore but could not find anything suitable and there before my eyes was the table. So I ran back to our apartment and got him to go back to the exact location again, half crossing my fingers that no one would be there before us.

And so, we had our bin and table and they saved us a bit. Sorry that I sound very auntie-ish but we are very much conscious of the fact that we would not be staying here forever and thus we shouldn't buy unnecessarily. A colleague who had been here before us had told us that she had done so and such incidents had saved her heaps.

So you see, running is good for health and for your pockets, if you do not mind second-hand stuff!

We are blessed by such provision. Indeed the Lord is good!

Minced meat congee for lunch

Park Street Church

missing...

One of the few things that you miss when you are away is the company of friends and family members. At times, the excitement of being in a new place and the opportunity to pursue your own interest can't beat the laughters and tears shared with the loved ones.

Thankfully, my dear colleagues have been in touch with us by sending us random emails updating their lives and today as I opened my mailbox, I was greeted by a long awaited letter. Yes, ZM, I'm waiting for this email!

I'm posting the pics of JJ and JL when they were younger (JL should look the same as the pic still?) even though the mommy is so protective of the photos. Anyway, only loved ones have access to this blog and so I took the liberty! Mommy, ok? Btw, the sister looks gorgeous! Really!

Bro & sis...

satisfied!

The secret to a woman's heart, according to yours truly, is a good kitchen because in this sacred place, she finds both joy and pain but most importantly, fulfilment in her toils.

And today, satisfied was I. I was to go for my cake decorating class at Le Cordon Bleu, Boston and had an enjoyable and enriching time (read the entry here). The hubs went with me to look for the place and waited for me till my class was over. Touched! In exchange, I gave him some leftover cheesecake and cupcake for him to savour (definitely a bad barter trade).

On to the Goodwill store and HK supermarket again. I have been visiting these 2 outlets for consecutive days; I think they should give me some best supporter's award =p. I was constantly on the lookout for baking stuff and I am proud to announce that I have added measuring cup, ramekins, vegetable peeler and mixing bowls to my growing collection. In no time at all, the kitchen would be adequately equipped!

What made me happiest was that the hubs showed his support for the Kuali/wok by agreeing to the purchase of it and it looks (almost) and feels just like the one what I used at home! (Be warned. Constant use of it could lead to probable wrist injury =p). It's difficult to stir-fry in non-stick skillet; something is just amiss. Of course, the wok saw its opening with a dish from me and I must say the sound made when the metallic spatula interacted with the wok made one think of home. Hmm....and with stir-frying, you have to clean up the whole kitchen once you are done with the cooking. It's a good workout if you want to eat and at the same time, stay trim. Join the wok club!

The kitchen

This entry is dedicated to marmie whom I have learnt so much over the years when she worked about in the kitchen. The kitchen has always been her territory and she will watch you like a hawk when you cook in that area. Then she will point out what could be improved and gave some advice (or nagging, if that could really express the state of what she was doing).

Nearer to the period when we were to set off to this ang mo country, she would ask me to watch when she was cooking, scrubbing the toilet bowls, washing and bleaching clothes and of course, cleaning the whole kitchen. And today, I have my own little kitchen and many of her words stay with me.

I am thankful to have a mother who can work in the kitchen and that would definitely include cooking. The kitchen that we have back home is still very new because of how she cleans it (too bad for the many items that clutter). Before we left, she set aside a few set of cloth for us, saying, "You wil need them to clean up!" I had to force myself then to put them into the luggage but you know what? They were the first few things I used when we got hold of our house key. CLEAN UP time! Mom is always so picky about spick and span kitchen that the first few things she did when she went over to my sis' place or my bro's place in SH was to pick up the cloth and clean them! Oh no...it should be before that she examined the area. My sis could vouch for it.

So, dear sis, please translate the above to her when you next see her. Tell her also that:
1) I try to save whenever I can now and recycle any materials, just like what she has always done.
2) I make it a point to buy fresh produce and only those that I want to cook for the day.
3) I can cook gourmet not 'chapalan' food. I can do it because she has done so throughout our growing-up years and in some ways, she has motivated me to cook as well.
4) I may not care a lot at home but now having a home of my own, I am very particular about cleanliness in my home.
5) I washed the toilet bowl this morning, with my bare hands but I will follow her way soon (forgot to buy scrub).
6) Tell her this kitchen is my territory! =p
7) I appreciate her giving me of the cloth cos they were really great help.
8) Oh! Show her the food that I have cooked/baked from my food blog. She would be surprised how far I have gone! =)

Show her the pics too.

Overview of my kitchen, even got pink bin man!

Tell mom that it's not my fault that the sink looks dirty. I scrubbed but the dirt didn't come off. Maybe I should use bleach.

These are what I work with now..but can you ask her to send the chinese wok to me! =p

My library

Dinner for today: Teriyaki Chicken Rice with Egg & Onion.

3 days in NYC

The 3-day trip is purely a recee trip for the November NY Marathon (which I'm starting to feel very much edgy about) and I had 2 main objectives - 1) find out the time needed to get from hostel to South Ferry Station & 2) how to get to Staten Island which is the starting point of the race.

So, from Boston's South Station, we took the 4-hour ride coach to NY. It was a smooth ride, no loud songs being played nor people's chattering (unlike the China's coaches). We reached NY at noon and started walking from downtown to uptown, passing through Central Park (must see how long...& it was darn long; from 59th to 110 Street!). By the time we finally reached our hostel, we were so tired that we dropped dead onto the creaky bed.

And for the rest of the journey, the hubs had kindly took over the planning. I managed to get 2 cookbooks which will be my textbooks for my own culinary curriculum from Strands bookstore (much cheaper!) and he got his StarWars book as well! Of course, what's NY without cupcakes? So to Magnolia bakery we went too! And to Century21 for designer items at civilians' prices. Bought a running tights with compression fabrics for about 5/8 the price. Awesome!

NY..is a concrete jungle. High rise buildings everywhere, esp downtown.

Do you think I will meet the Trumps if I stay long enough?

Apple cult. There's a beeline of people waiting to get in...and it does resemble the Louvre.

The oasis - Central Park

The New-York- thing- to- do (hubs said): Hot dogs/ sandwiches from the food cart/truck. Cheap and nice but not necessarily healthy.

Yellow school bus. Oh! Where are all the students?

World Trade Centre reduced to a construction site. They're building a memorial centre to be open on 9.11.11

Magnolia cupakes cult. Long queue.

Quaint booktore in the film 'You've got mail!'

Hubs and I having heart-to-heart talk in this cupcake cafe in the bookstore.

@ the end of the day, I still prefer Boston. New York is too busy and people do not care less about others (my feel).

Proverbs 3:5-6

The weather changed without warning and since Sunday, it has been raining with frequent strong wind. I was in lament and Ken reminded me, "It's just rain. We have rain in Singapore and the temperature drops too!" Erm, yes but still, it's cold! Honestly, I don't know what to expect in winter. I dread it.

It has since been almost a week in Boston and I must say we have quite an adventure. We missed the conveniences in Singapore mostly and where most terms are so evident and clear to us. Over here, things are less explicit and because we are aliens here, it makes things more frustrating for us. Honestly, if I were to come here alone and study, I would have broken down. Thankfully we have each other and we can only say that we need to take things one step at a time and not be too vexed over those issues. It is indeed a learning process.

My greatest worry as of now is perhaps New York Marathon. Not too much about the distance really but more the weather. You see, the cut-off time is 6.30pm (start time is 10.30am) and I reckon I won't use up 8 hours no matter how much pain I would encounter during the race. Having experienced marathon before helps a lot but the situation is different now. I have NEVER run in cold conditions until very recently. By November, temperature in NY would drop to below 10 C. How on earth would I be able to withstand that??? As of now, I don't even know how I should be clad in. I thought of cancelling the race which would give me direct entry into next year's race. However, the fee is non-refundable and to fork out another $300 for the race is too much. I have to press on.

Yesterday, we visited Park Street Church and I was reminded that I should not be focusing on my weakness and circumstances but to allow God to work in and through me. Was thankful really. I need that sort of encouragement. It is truly in my weakness that His glory is magnified. Ken and I decided that we continue to worship in this church since we are okay with the doctrine and that it is a very Word-based and evangelical church. Hopefully, we would be able to find a CG soon.

And today, the wind was even stronger. I decided to test out my wind-breaker to see how well it could protect me from the cold. Our stock was also running low and decided to go for The Upper Crust Pizzeria for lunch and also to stop by the Goodwill store nearby. Basically this store stocks up donated goods and the proceeds help fund Goodwill's education, training and job placement programmes for people with disabilities and other barriers. We really found good buys there and really, we should have visited this store right from the beginning; we could have saved a lot! This time round, we spent mainly on bakeware. They amounted to US$9 for a set of baking trays which otherwise I would have to fork out US$49.99 for the same things. Among them was a Wilton square tin and it cost US$2.99! Whoah!They are not new definitely and with some dirt but with cleaning, they are okay to be used again! I helped save a fair bit; I'm elated! And I got a pair of leather loafers for US$6.49. How's that? It's quite ironical that in Singapore I donated a lot of my stuff to people and now I have to buy donated items. Hah! I learnt to appreciate what I have now. Definitely a good thing for me!

We are going off to New York tomorrow to recee the marathon route and to familiarise ourselves with the transport for race day. No rain pls!

And you know, at the end of the day, after all these experiences, we have to always bear in mind Proverbs 3:5-6.