Anthropology of Mr O

Specimen: Shanghainese Male

Age: Late twenties (but looks 40)

Weight: Heavy, resembles O
Hobby: Sleep

When i first came to this office 10 months ago, Mr O left a very deep impression on me. He delighted me with melodic snores every afternoon, and never fail to entertain me with his weird antics. As much as possible, i will try to chronicle his every action.

In the picture above, he was sleeping WAY past lunch time, and lying backwards so u can imagine how loud the snore is. He also sleeps while waiting for the fax to get through (meaning while standing), or sometimes while his hand is still navigating on the mouse.

You may wonder why my company retains someone like him. Truth is, everybody sleeps during lunch, of course none as "soundly" as him. He is very well liked by other colleagues despite his sometimes uncouth behaviour. And also in china, being uncouth is like... wearing fur in winter, it's not right but its acceptable.

To Mr O: if u ever read this blog, pls don't be offended. I find u interesting and u brighten up my otherwise boring work life.

White Weekend...

It snowed and snowed and snowed over the weekend. Weather is the topic of every conversation these few days. On the way to work today, the cab driver told us that he hasn't seen Shanghai snow this much since 10 years ago.


Snowflake on my Jacket. THis was taken on day 1 so we were all quite excited.

Snowy car.

Bunny is too cold! All cuddled up in one corner.

This is a video i took while i was in cab.


This is the view outside my apartment... Usually the snow melts when it reaches the ground, but the temperature is now cold enough for some of it to accumulate.

At this moment, there is a snow storm happening outside. The snowflakes are the size of a 50 cent coin. And sometimes the precipitation comes down as sleet (ice pellets). Roads are becoming hazardous, apparently someone was stuck for 20 hrs on the highway!

This weather will persist for the next week or so. Will provide more updates soon!

Love buds...

I know that a relationship has come to a level of mutual understanding when we know each other's taste buds. I mean what's more important than feeding each other right?

The first time lester bought lunch for me, it was everything i hated. Beancurd, Mushrooms, meat with bones... I eat like a child. I don't like adult food, or food that is too complicated to consume. Like pigeons, and pig intestines or funny parts of an animal, or scary eyes staring at me. I have mastered the skills of eating fish and ignoring the eyes, but when they get too big i still feel irked sometimes.

anyway, here's lunch from lester yesterday. Complete with tidbits... I finished it all.

much ado about being a bride...

less than a month to ROM, less than 4 months to Actual Day...I am extremely excited. But i'd lying to say that i'm not one bit stressed out.


All the work and money for the one day of Once in a Lifetime. The one day of role playing a hollywood star. The one day where i am given a chance to thank my mom publicly since i never made valedictorian.

I wonder why brides fuss so much about weddings, then again, why do birds fly?

week round-up...

shanghai experienced its best and its worst last week, weather wise that is.

On thursday, Shanghai snowed. Actually it snowed a couple of times before but the snowflakes were really bigger this time. It was gorgeous... i was in wonderland. Everyone walking along the streets seem to have a smile plastered across their face... China is polite when it snows.

However, on fri, sat, sun, i also experienced some of the most dreary days in shanghai. The sky is gray, the roads are constantly flooded, our coats are always damp, and taxis are super hard to find.

STILL, it was a productive week, depending on how u define productive.

Travelling (Beijing)
I was in Beijing Mon-Tue on business. i was "lucky" enough to meet the coldest day of the year. Minus 10. Brrr...

Gossip Girl (MUST WATCH)
I watched the entire season of Gossip Girl, thanks to Vika's recommendation. I love love love it... Its like a never ending chick flick. Brainless, cute actors, nice clothes, cool music. All i can ask for... Its from the creators of OC, so tht means i'm gonna soon buy up 6 seasons of OC and watch them all.



FOOD (Tian Jia, Japanese)
U know a restaurant is there when there are only 2 items on the menu (like how In and Out only serves cheeseburger and hamburger). THere's tuna, and there's crab.

Left to Right, Otoro (fatty tuna belly), Meguro (fatless tuna, wht we are normally served), and Combo (combi of Otoro and Megur0). Its the freshest tuna shanghai will ever see.


There's also a special item on the menu, scorched tuna sushi... they heat up the Otoro with a torch in front of u and u eat it immediately. Yum.. *salivate*

380RMB per set, but it feeds 2 pax nicely. I will recommend this place to all sashimi lovers.


SHOPPING

I also got myself a new pair of shoes!! Loook! Its 4 inches high, i'm so gonna tower over les... But its OKAY, his confidence will match up to my heels i'm sure.

COOKING

Lester decided that he wants to bring the boys home for dinner. so i whipped up dinner with the wonderful help of kimsoon (he made all the delicious stuff i just made the mess).

Menu

1. Shepherd's pie
2. Chicken Wings
3. Butter Salted Veggies
4. Pasta Vongole**** (yum from kimsoon)
5. Grounded Mushroom soup
6. Sara Lee Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

What a great way to end off the week. =)

LUST CAUTION

MOVIE SPOILER: DON'T READ IF U INTEND TO WATCH THIS MOVIE...

Okay ever since i moved to china, i have become a non-serious movie person. It's different when u watch dvds in the comfort of ur own home, one is more likely to multitask, have toilet and snack breaks, so light hearted movies are generally preferred. But i heard so much about LUST CAUTION that i had to watch it. I only have 2 net takeouts after the show...

1) Men's greatest weakness is woman...

2) Women's greatest weakness is jewellery...

Nothing can break through Mr Yi's tough exterior except for the lolita-esque "Mrs Mai". And "Mrs Mai" was so bent on Mr Yi's doom (even after 3 years of plotting) until she was given the gorgeous pink diamond. I'm like... what the...

Anyway, if u want to spend time watching another show with quite a number of naked bodies, catch Viggo Mortensen in the Eastern Promise. Its one of those surprisingly nice mafia shows (of course picked out by Les not me)Viggo was a pleasure to watch, i am glad that he didn't get typecasted into Aragon-like characters his whole career.

Guess the picture...

Issit...

View from the Top?

Some latest art trend?

What you see before u see Jesus? *angels singing*

No its actually the view from my cubicle window. I call this zero visibility, PSI 700+++, then why am i at work! The weather has been quite erratic. Last week lowest was -4, this week lowest only 10. My aircon broke down this week, the repairman said that business has been great. SH in olden days didn't need the aircon because summer wasn't too hot, and winter wasn't too cold. I'm glad to know that global warming has benefited some people.

In case u need a reference, this is what i see on a good day. Its exactly the same view, but i can't even see the olympus ad today.

Trading names, exchanging vows...

I feel compelled to announce that we've e-filed our ROM. We have officially declared to the gah-men that we are getting married, Les calls it biting the dust...

Come 18 February, i'll trade my very long surname for a very short one. I can't imagine what life will be without my very long surname. I used get a lot of flak for it... I was called Antasusuma, someone even told me my name means Sh*t in her native indian language.

I remember when i used to play mood court in church(basically a mockery of court scenes for silly offences), i'd be charged with having too long a surname- waste paper, waste time, waste ink... And i got charged with a double offence the 2nd year. wht to do...

But no i'm not really anxious to trade it to Ng. Ng is boring, the best Lester could come up with was the sound u make when u do a number 2.

Anyway, we've been deliberating writing our own vows. After having gone to Heather and Mark's wedding which was uber touching, i'm convinced that i will cry if Lester says anything that is not funny or rude. Maybe i'll have to ask the JP to finish my vows while i bury my head in the ring pillow bawling my eyes out.

Its incredibily silly.

On a more serious note though, i think its really sweet to write your own vows, only because its a personal promise, and words one will remember for a long time. I dunno. we'll work something out i guess.

Home...(updated)

Home is neither Shanghai, Singapore, or Jakarta. Home is where family, food and friends are...

We were greeted by foggy weather in Shanghai yesterday afternoon, weather was about 16 degrees, high by mid-jan standard. Still, i was shivering as my body hadn't adjusted to this temperature after having enjoyed high twenties for the last 2 weeks.

Anyway, too many things happened on the trip, but i'll pick 2 highlights for now, the 2 weddings that i've attended. the main purpose of the trip back.

In chronological order...One to end the year and the other to begin it.

Eugene and Esther- 25th December 2007

Location: Bride and Groom's home, Shangrila

Photo/slideshow: Gabriel Mendes

Music: Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

These are the highlights for daytime. I must have watched it for the 10th time now, and i can keep going. As i recall that day, waking up at 530am was no small feat after a night of christmas eve partying, but still every minute awake was worth it. I got to witness and be part of my first JIE XIN NIANG (picking up the bride), and i saw 2 of my best friends finally tie the knot...

Anyway, the lucky numbers bride and groom picked strike 4D 3rd prize. What a good follow up.

Mark and Heather- 6th Jan 2008

Location: The Sentosa

Emblem Design: the groom himself

I was late and missed the walk-in, but thankfully just in time for the vows. 10 seconds into the wedding, i was crying buckets of joy. Uncontrollably.... I cried when the groom said his vows, i cried when the bride said hers. Then i cried again when heather's mom dedicated a song to the couple. Then i cried again when i hugged the bride and groom.

I knew they were writing their own vows, in fact i could more or less expect the content, but i didn't expect the effect to be so overwhelming. It was very sincere and really really touching.

Our most sincere best wishes to both couples.

ADDTIONALLY:

On top of the personalised emblem design, mark also created their own slideshow. Its unlike any other slideshow we watch during dinners, its just very THEM. The subjects in the pictures move...super trippy. If anybody wants a slideshow this style, i would be happy to accept referral commission. ha ha.

(FYI Mark is a graphic designer at this sporty channel we all watch every week).

00.00.00

Happy New Year to all...I am currently spending my new year in Jakarta for the last time as a singleton, and its going exactly the way i expected it to, and it's not a bad thing.

Indonesians love to spend their Old and New at the hotel. It's how i'd been doing it almost every new year in JKT. This year was bit more special cos i sang Karaoke with my mom, and i also witness her dancing, sorta reminds me of John Travolta in Hairspray....

Cousin Irena took a nice picture of the countdown clock. What a nice way to preserve a fleeting moment.
Happy 2008 everyone...