Happy New 2006!!!  How did you ring in the new year?  As for me, it with a wide variety of food served on the table available for anyone to eat.  In addition, a clean, well-organized, nicely decorated   with a sparkly clean kitchen!  Everything was washed and cleaned!  I also managed to cook a wide variety of dishes to enjoy while waiting for the clock to strike 12!

It was really windy the whole day and nearly all night.  Fortunately, the wind died down to just "isolated winds" that we were able to go on with the fireworks. 

New Year's Eve was spent with channel 8 and right at 12am, fireworks went off, auld lang syne came on, everyone hugged and cheered to welcome 2006 with a great bang!  The fireworks were  unbelievably exhilarating!  Extremely BEAUTIFUL!!! 

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year! 

I'll talk about my new year's resolution later...  gotta take care of the laundry and lunch. 

Well, first part of the day wasn't great as I had to deal with DR Horton once again, went to work and then went back home.    Ahh...  I won't waste my minutes on that.  SO!  Movin' along....... 

The other day, there was this aroma in the air that I just can't resist.  It smelled some kind of a shrimp dish that my Grandma used to make.  Unfortunately, it's one of those dishes that I don't usually make nor bothered to find out how she made it.  I was just one of the most cooperative consumer!    Anyway, this aroma has been stuck in my nose that I knew I have to HAVE some of it FAST! 

So, there I was in my kitchen, took the time visualizing how such a dish looks like and though I can remember some of the ingredients, I don't know for sure what else I might be missing and approximately how much of each ingredients I should use.  So, I decided to take a stab at it and made a concoction of sorts and made my version of such dish.  Wellah........ 

My version of "shrimp puff w/ sweet spicy sauce" looks something like this except the shrimps I used were already pre-shelled.  Oh well...  It's nummy nonetheless!

Tomorrow, I'm off the diet and we'll find out how much weight I lost.  I was finally able to get with my friend and she gave me a copy of what we can possibly eat next.  There's nothing super special about the program as you can eat anything you want.  The bottom line is knowing and only eating just the adequate amount or portions of food and drink lotso water! 

BTW, incase you're wondering if I fell off the wagon as far as eating only the rabbit food stuff, I didn't.  Today is the third and last day.  Despite how tempting it is to eat and eat those puffy shrimps, I'll stick it out until I complete 3 full days.  Yes, I did have a taste of what I made but I'll burn it off.  I'll drink an extra 16oz of water and work on some cardio. 

This is it for now....  Take care!

Oh man!  I haven't had such a long, draggy week such as this!    It also doesn't help that I'm on diet --- another !  I made a pinky pact with a friend of mine that for the next 3 days, we'll only be eating green veggies, 64 oz. water, meat and 2 oranges a day.  I can use to lose 5 lbs. of flab anyway. 

Today is our second day and for someone who eats rice DAILY, this is NOT easy!  I crave rice!  Rice!  Rice!  Rice!    Gotta eat rice!    

One more day of this rabbit food and we're done?  She's yet to give me a call to let me know what's next.  Hopefully, we get to eat something a bit more interesting.  Ahh...  I can't complain...  atleast we're eating something that doesn't taste like cardboard.    

Man!  There's this piece of rich chocolate cake in the fridge and I'm so tempted to pinch it!    Hmmm...  I wonder if a quick lick is ok?  [shhh...  What you see here, stays here.]

Onto other news --- can you believe 2005 is about gone?  How was 2005 for you?  As for me, I had better years.  There's so much drama that went on this year.  I told myself that either these people's antiques STOP or I'm just movin' on all together.  Geez --- can't we just get along? 

Any plans for the new year?  Any new year's resolution?

Considering I'm off today, I got up earlier than usual this morning to play tennis.  YEY!!!!  It's a very windy    day but I still played and sweat.

I really enjoy tennis    and hopefully, be able to play in our local tournaments someday. 

Next year's wish list will be anything and everything --- take a guess --- !!! 

1.  Tennis Balls
2.  Rebound Net
3.  Ballhopper
4.  Hip Hopper Ball Holder
5.  Tennis Practice Hit
6.  New & Better Tennis Racquet
7.  Meet Venus & Serena Williams(?)  Hey....  who said I can't dream? 

Ok...  Christmas is here and I still don't feel Christmassy.  Hmmm...  I wonder if this is the end of such a feeling.     Oh well....

Christmas morning has come and gone --- uneventful.  I went out to play tennis and took my dog to run around at the park as well.  While he's out cold snoring, I thought I'd post a little update before I start my laundry then take a nice, long, hot bath.

I wish days off are longer...    For the most part, since Friday afternoon, all I can remember doing is feeling sick and going to sleep.      I'd like to continue and catch up on my reading    and few other things.  It feels like time   is ticking way too fast that I might won't even have as much time as I thought.  

I'm goin' out with a friend this evening to go see a movie  .  We don't know yet what we're watching. 

Well, this is it for now...  I might add more later. 

Wishing you and yours the very BEST of this holiday season.  May you have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous Happy New Year!   

My weekend has come and nearly gone.  Here's what I got out of it...

Friday
I went to "First Friday" which is a stage for local galleries held at the downtown Las Vegas.  It's a place to meet friends, rejoice in the preservation and innovation of a historical neighborhood.  I've seen all sorts of art made my super creative artists.  So, what was so bad about it?  Well, I didn't know that wine is available along with cookies, biscotti and some other light snacks.  A friend of mine who invited me to go with her met with other people there as well and started drinking.  The whole thing that ruined that entire experience boiled down to "wine spirit".   

The art stuff already closed and she still wanted to paint the town red which I didn't sign up for.  She didn't wanna go home and it's late. She went with 3 other people who decided to go dancin' after. I'm not one to stay out late and I don't drink.  She knew that about me.  Besides, I have tennis early AM the next day and couple other appointments soon thereafter which she also knew before hand.

Long story short, I got so uncomfortable of her behaviour that I left and hitched a ride from someone else.  With how drunk she was, I don't think that she'd even realize the shit that came out of her mouth and some of her actions.  I asked a friend of hers how much a drunk would remember and I was told that they most likely wouldn't have recollection of it.  Ugh! 

I'm not used to her being drunk and that was the first time that I've seen her drunk.  I didn't like it and I choose not to be around it.  I have no problem with people drinking but when they do not know their limits, it's not very cool. 

Saturday
I played tennis for an hour then went home to pack.  I went to the spa and spent the night away from home to avoid phone calls and just have some time away from it all.

Sunday
Because of what happened Friday, I still carried mental and emotional baggage with me.  I was hurt and extremely disappointed.  Therefore, didn't have all that great of a weekend. 

Anyway, I got home this afternoon and decided that since the only thing I truly have control over is myself, I'll snap out of this rut and move on.  So, I then turned to my comfort zone --- work.  I worked on a newly assigned project and squeezed in some time to catch up with my reading. 

Monday will be a better day --- a new week, a new beginning....

Just droppin' by to greet everyone a very "Happy Thanksgiving".  Anything specific to be thankful for?  What's your day like today?

I'm thankful for a lot of things and some people, too.     I'm thankful for my family, friends, health, my dog and ofcourse, my life.  Life has its ups and downs but it's very much worth living. 

I was extremely surprised that I woke up at 10AM this morning!  It's soooo UNLIKE me to wake up that late.  I must have been really tired and already, my body is catching up on   Zzzzzz's since  I haven't had much sleep in the last couple weeks.

Anyway, I started my day as soon as I got out of bed.  I started cooking and it only took me 2 hours.    I made some eggrolls, marinated some meat for this afternoon's grill, some vegies and for dessert, I'll be making pumpkin pie.  I'm still debating if I should make an additional dish made with some noodles.  I don't know yet.  I don't want to get stuck with tons of left over food since I'm already making quite a bit.  No turkey though... and I'm not about to go to the grocery store and fight the crowd and traffic just to get one.  I also refuse to spend hours cooking. 

BTW, I'm watching Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on channel 3.  I just might go to New York and celebrate one of these festive holidays one of these days and watch the parade from my hotel balcony as I eat breakfast.  Ohhh...  that would be very nice.   

Final exams took place and grades are posted.  I'm very happy with the results of my test.    My GPA is still 4.0 --- YEY!!! 

The only thing that sucked was my experience at the airport.    They took my 1 inch foldable SCISSORS which was in my small supply pouch burried inside my rollercase.  I've been in and out of state with the same stuff but no one ever said anything about it in the past.  They told me that I can keep my scissors if I was willing to check in my rollercase.  I agreed.  However, they had to escort me out to check the rollercase in and then I had to go back in line which was only 10 miles long!  So, I was like...  ahhh...  you can keep the scissors.    Oh well...  I miss my scissors but I guess it's a weapon and they were afraid I'd end up killing someone with it.   

Enough about the scissors before I fall into manic depression. 

This week has been a drag because it's Thanksgiving week and everybody's just waiting for the day to come when we'll be released early from work to start enjoying the holiday.  We're looking at a 4 day weekend here...  [grin]  Wow!   I can certainly use the time off.  It will give me some time to catch up on my reading among other things. 

Work environment still sucks but that's beyond my control nor the idiot [errrr...]  factor(s) that's making it suck.   Did someone say this person has a Masters Degree in Business Manipulation?    Hey, some people have such talent...  they get the Golden Napkin award.   

When it comes to these kind of political games, I only take control over myself which in reality, is the only thing I truly have control over.  I just put in my time and do what I'm getting paid to do --- Work. 

On a serious note, I've been looking.  I believe that if and when it's time, I'll eventually move on and take on new challenges where I can share my gift elsewhere and help others.    I need something fresh and work on something that I do best!  Build new processes and ideas.  Besides, I need a resume builder and career progression is a definite plus that can give it an additional boost!   

Since it's been a slow week, I should be able to post atleast one more time this week.  So, what about you?  How's it goin'?  Anything new?