The Ego Episodes

Wednesday, Oct. 08, 2003

Afterwork Agenda

You would think that after three months of working, I would've killed myself gotten used to the waking hours already. But I haven't. You would think that by now, I should have saved some money from my monthly sal -- er, allowance. But I haven't. You would think that after about 57 trips (or so) to the mall after work, I would've gotten bored with it and stopped. But I haven't. And just when you think I'm getting a lot more sleep now that I don't have exams and I don't need to study -- think again.

It's always something to complain about, isn't it? Lost hours of sleep. Insomnia. Eye bags. Pimples. Oily skin. Zombie. Incomplete sentences. Severus Snape-like disposition. Confusion. Unstable train of thought -- huh?

This morning was not too bad. Outside was cold, with a bit of a drizzle, but not too dark. In other words, I'd rather stay curled up in bed than work today (make that everyday). As I debated about the possibility of calling in sick for work today, I sneaked in about half an hour more of sleep, before finally tearing myself off the bed. But that didn't help. My eyes still hurt. And it hurt some more when I got them wet in the shower. Maybe it's an act of protest. I could just see them carrying cardboards that say, "WE WANT 7 HOURS OF SLEEP -- IN 1 DAY! NOT, IN 2 DAYS!". Okay, it's not like I'm not clamoring for it myself.

I work a full shift and I always feel that my day does not start until I get off from work. Because a day's not supposed to make you feel like a kid in school, waiting for your mom to pick you up and take you home. I mean, where's the fun in that? So off to the mall I go. Or, if I had a really, really tiring day from non-doing (i.e., sitting, reading, sitting), I would go straight home and spoil myself with yet unwatched tv episodes and a bowl of Tom Yam noodles. My eyes would go heavy at around half past 9 and an hour and a half after that or earlier, I'd be in bed already, trying to fall asleep.

But of course that's not always the case. Side trips could also be in the form of reading Life of Pi inside The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, one hand holding the book and the other holding a fork helping itself to a mean slice of coffee cheesecake. (Aye, that's the life!) Or, a piano concert. I wouldn't know about piano playing technique and stuff but world-class pianist Konstantin Sherbakov played complicated Rachmaninov pieces like he had more than 10 fingers. Seriously, my heart would beat faster with every fast tempo in a piece; I could hear note after note almost simultaneously, like the sound of a glass window shattering. Simply amazing, that guy.

Then yesterday I went on a mission. I walked around Bugis Village searching for a local pastry with semblance to my beloved hopia back home. The target: Mini tau sa biscuits. Shaped like little round balls, mini tau sa biscuits have a salty green bean paste filling covered with flaky skin. I bought one box containing 16 pieces for $3 which, I later found out from a friend, is about $0.60 more expensive than in Malaysia. Although the one I bought was made in Malaysia, the one my friend gave me that was really made and bought in Malaysia tasted better. I think the one that I got was not as fresh but still, yum! Suddenly I feel like making my way to Bugis again ...

(Because) Other than mini tau sa biscuits, there are loads of other local food stuff you can try at Bugis. I made a mental note to get me one of those banana-filled waffles, afterwhich I shall move on to the blueberry-filled waffle. And maybe top it off with soap ice cream in cookies and cream ...

And while we're on this topic, you know what I miss the most? Those freshly-baked, warm monay sold at the NCCC bakery. Yu-uh-um! And pan de sal, Dunkin' Donuts ... [sigh] I want to go back home.

{ joycie at 10:07 p.m.}