The Ego Episodes

Friday, Aug. 05, 2005

Joycie and the Chocolate Thoughts

My 22nd birthday was a blast. I got what I wanted--I got surprised and pampered--although the last one happens quite often. I think it would be best to wait for the pictures before I detail my birthday celebration. Hay, I wish I had a digital camera already. All in good time, self, all in good time.

A thought occurred to me last night while I was trying to fall asleep (I know, the joy of having nothing to do!) about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wait, for those who have not watched this movie, you can skip this part since you might not understand half of what I'm going to say and it contains spoilers. Willie Wonka doesn't realize but his father played a big role in his success as a chocolate manufacturer. You know how the more you are forbidden to do something, the more you want to do it and when you finally do experience that forbidden thing, you fall in love with it MORE than an average person who was never told that this thing is forbidden? You get my drift? Basically, what's not allowed becomes more attractive to us.

Willie's father is a dentist and being a lover of teeth, he did not want his son to be eating cavity- and tooth decay-inducing chocolates. He strictly forbid Willie from touching those nasty stuff. But one time, he found an innocent piece of chocolate lying around the house (I won't tell you how) and tasted it like it's the most wonderful food he's ever tasted. For Willie Wonka, it was love at first sight.

So that's how he became passionate with chocolate and he became a very successful chocolate manufacturer. Successful in a sense that the demand for his chocolate bars is unprecedented all around the world. Now I'm thinking, if Willie Wonka had been allowed to eat chocolates like a normal kid, do you think he would still be passionate about chocolates? I think not. For anything that you deem ordinary or anything that does not fascinate you will not stir up any sort of passion within you. So that's how I see it. And even if Willie hated his father, I think he actually owed him a lot.

And now the question is, why is that? Why do forbidden things intrigue us? Maybe humans are programmed to derive more satisfaction in achieving something that is thought to be unachievable. Although many people want those things given to them in a silver platter, some would prefer working hard for it. For example, most guys don't want easy girls. Or do they?

I think it's also because of our curiosity. Or the fact that most things that are forbidden are those that we REALLY want--freedom, independence, indulgence. It's human nature. Because I only have the remotest idea on human psychology, I shall stop here.

Another thought occurred to me while I was grocery shopping for the second time in two days and I'll be shopping later, AGAIN! (I know, the joy of having nothing to do!) I realized that I may have overshopped when I bought running shoes, leather shoes, socks for both shoes, 2 pairs of pants, 2 tops, and underwear. I mean, THAT IS A LOT in a span of two shopping trips! So I told myself yesterday to stop shopping. It's good to buy one piece of clothing at a time, rather than go on a rampage and get a new outfit ensemble (down to underwear) in just one trip. So there, will not shop until I get my life stabilized. My first paycheck is still ages away.

Because I have nothing urgent to do (or so I think) these past few days, I am becoming lazy. I don't like getting out of bed even though I've been awake for about an hour. I don't like doing laundry even though my hamper is overflowing with clothes that are just dying to be washed and the washing machine is less than 10 steps away. I don't like to rearrange my unpacked stuff to clear up some space so that I can conveniently close the windows without the risk of pulling a muscle near the ribs. I don't like to clean the bathroom or all the common rooms in this house even though I'm the one with the most free time. I am still making excuses (blogging) so that I can delay my grocery shopping for tomorrow's Sentosa outing, even though I love shopping, food or otherwise. I am just lazy to walk to the MRT, I guess.

Huh. What do you know? I just listed the things that I should be doing today. Okay, I'll TRY to do a couple of them.

Oh, the only thing that I never fail to do is to clean the stove and the sink after I cook. Yesterday for lunch, I bought some clam meat and cooked a pasta dish with olive oil, garlic, pepper flakes, fresh Italian parsley and clam meat steamed in white wine. It's very unique and very flavorful. Will do it again, maybe with shrimps next time. Then I drank some of the white wine to go with my lunch. Then for dinner, I made chocolate fondue with sliced strawberries, oranges, marshmallows and a bit of the Whisky Mud chocolate barrel cake from the V Tea Room. Oh, what a treat! I really love being home alone.

{ joycie at 10:31 a.m.}