Blog Closure

Yea, sorry to be flashing this sign so late only after all these months of silence. I have been debating for several months with myself on whether I should really do this. Really felt heavy hearted to close this blog. But deep down inside I knew I had to.

It's not that I have truly lost interest in blogging altogether. It's just that my current work schedule does not give me the luxury of taking my time and composing regular length blog post anymore. Nor could I find the time to catch up on other people's blog as much as I wanted to. Furthermore, I am really not like those who could write a post within minutes. So, I was effectively in a dilemma.

I am really thankful for those lovely friendship I have made during my 2 years plus in the blogsphere. Thank you all for your support *hugs*. It really means alot to me. Appreciates the encouragements you've all given me especially during my downtime for you have truly given me strenght to go on during those dark moments of my life. Thank you so much.


One last catch tho....



I am not exactly going to be gone from the blogsphere for good *grin*. As I have found another way of continuing what I enjoy doing. Yes I am still not done with blogging yet. In fact, I found that I have been trully missing it especialy these past few months. Hence, I have decided to start what other called 'micro-blogging' at another site.

My new blog address is at Kleio.Tumblr.com. TUMBLR is a somewhat new blogging site dedicated to micro-blogging. Some calls it Tumblelog, it's a new trend of blogging. Sort of like an evolution of blogging. Things would be short and brief there. And that's exactly what I needed for the time being - Fast and easy way to blog. To share. To express.

Without further ado, I am saying bye to this blog and hope to see you all there at my new venue.

HAPPY BLOGGING TO ALL!

This blog was started on 15th July 2006 and I am now ending it as of today, 24th March 2009, Tuesday @ 8.48pm.

Plurk Me If You Want

I am tearing down my Twitter corner (it's located on the right side panel of my blog. You would not be able to see it by now cos I am replacing right this moment as we speak) to make way for Plurk. Cos, I've just found out it was kinda addictive and easy to use than Twitter. More interactions between friends.

With Plurk, you could share your thoughts anytime anywhere and also keep up with what your friend's updates. In a way it's just like what Twitter does, but seems like Plurk has better control over the interaction feature. Makes it an ease to send messages to your friends on their updates and vice versa. I am still very much a newbie on Plurk but I shall remedy that soon.

If you like, you are all welcome to Plurk me :D

Butterchoco Blunder Cake

Just to let you all in on my latest foray... cake baking. I was suddenly ambitious enough today to try baking a simple Buttercake. Or so I thought was simple enough for me not to foil it.


Here is how it first looked like.

Looks quite innocently decent enuff eh?

Here's when reality hits....

It cracked up pretty bad. Starting to doubt if it would end up edible at all.

Reality really is a BIATCH!!!...

I dunno. You decide. I have already given it my all. Sigh..

My desperate attempt on a cover up.... to destroy all evidence of my incompetency even as an amateur baker.

I sliced up the ugly overdone top part as evenly as I could manage with a blunt kitchen knife.

Then I decided to flip it back over cos it still looks just as bad as before. Sigh..

End product...

Hmmm... who knows, maybe I could just pass it off as Chocolate Cake?
Think that would work??

I guess I just had to live up to the fact that - I REALLY CAN'T COOK. And I just screwed up this simple recipe "big time".

I was actually quite happy with the batter I made cos it really looks very fluffy and creamy. There are quite a number of blunders made during the batter mixing time tho. Like I freaking forgotten to sift the salt together with the flour as per the recipe and ended up just chucking that 1/2 tsp salt into the batter last minute.

Then the second blunder was one I could not undo - I forgot to grease the cake pan as I am supposed to before putting the batter into the pan. Well, at least the cake didn't get stuck in the pan when I extract it later. Although I do suspect that all that ugly cracks was due to me failing to religiously follow this last part of the 'simple' instruction.

I have yet to truly taste it as I left it now on the chair to cool off before cutting it as I am typing this post.

Farewell My Beloved

My beloved grandma passed away last Saturday evening. She died in my very arms. I was alone with her together with my son. We saw her slipping away right in front of our very eyes and was helpless to do much to help her. The question on whether I could have done anything more or differently that could have saved her kept haunting me. I kept seeing her whenever my mind is free.

Others kept telling me and my family that is was a good way to go as she does not need to go thru long period of pain or sufferings. For she had left us while having her dinner (she ate halfway) together with my son by her side. Perhaps it was.... but we are still trying to wrap our mind around the notion that we did not get to say farewell to her or to hear her last words.

Deep down inside, I know I should count my blessing for I am the last person to have held her, sooth her and spoken to her during her last moment. Nevertheless, the experience was one that's going to follow me till the end of my days. It was traumatic for me and my son yet, it was one that one memory only I alone could have to cherish.

We missed her dearly as she was the magnet of our family. She pulls us all together as an inseparable family unit. Without her we are lost.

Though I wished to say more, my heart does not have the strength yet for me to carry on.

I would like to observe a moment of silence in the loving memory of this beautiful woman, my dearest grandma.

This is the memorial message we are engraving onto her resting sanctuary,
for it was one that truly reflect our love for her:

Gone yet not forgotten,
although we are apart,
your spirit lives within us,
forever in our hearts.

Licence to Play

Currently in a pretty good mood eversince the the last 2 days back. So light and breezy, almost felt like a child again.

So without further ado, here's the story behind my bliss:


A GIFT OF JOY AND GUILT

I was pleasantly surprised by my hubby on last Monday evening when he came to pick me up from work. As I adjusted myself for a more comfortable ride back home, he quietly slipped onto my lap a small white plastic bag.

What I found in that small plastic bag blew me away. I felt a mixture of joy and awe but it was also tainted with a bit of guilt. For he had given me something which I had always wanted and what he thought I have yet to have. When in fact I already own a couple lower capacities ones well hidden away. What's more ironic is that, a few days ago I had just secretly bought another one exactly the duplicate of what he had gotten me now.

If you are now wondering what kind of gift my sweet ol' hubby had given me. I'll like to say that it's an apparatus that'll give me ample joy of making luve with my obsession. To have long and lengthy intercourse. To upload and download stuff. Lotsa stuff.

Here it is...

Kingston Data Traveler 100 [ 4GB ] USB 2.0

Yup, it's a flashdrive. What else did you think it was in the first place? Lol. And, computer is my obsession.

Now that I have two of these handy drives. Meaning 4GB x 2 = 8GB, I am so going to get myself busy. Busy uploading stuff. Packing it full with my goodies. Not bad, not bad at all *evil grin*.

I have just finished uploading this new one with loads of USB portable applications yesterday. Hmmm... I guess the rest of the space calls for more mangas, ebooks and audiobooks. Way to go baby.

Yes, I am touched and very much happy with my dearest hubby's gift. Like what I had always been telling my friends... I'd rather he buys me gadgets than flowers. I certainly don't mind a bouquet of thumbdrives! *chuckle*. It's not that I don't fancy or like flowers at all. I do like em. Just not as much as I adore IT gadgets, that's all.

By the way, my favorite flower is the white lilies. Roses are so old fashion. Lilies are forever pure and fresh.



CHILDHOOD DREAM TOYS

Right after that surprise gift, he suggested we go grab dinner at a local shopping complex.

Just when we are leaving the shopping complex after dinner and a bit of window shopping, we both saw an electronic toy of which have been on my wishlist since childhood. It was yet to be fulfilled up till now.

My hubby looks at me and smile knowingly. As I gasp and delights over the said item on display. As the toy unwittingly woo me over and over again with it's cute antic on display.

Needless to say, he bought it for me. And I am on cloud 9 literally. It's so sweet of him. I felt like throwing myself into his arm there and then and to kiss him silly.

Here, let me introduce you to my current #2 obsession...

Penguins on Slide

I play with it everyday. Switch it on every morning when I woke up to prepare self for work and when I came back from work.

Right now I am keeping my fingers crossed that my son wouldn't destroy it when he comes back from visiting his grandma (it's school holiday now).


Ahemm......

I just had to show you another toy which was also on that long pending childhood toy wishlist of mine. This one was granted during this year's Chinese New Year (February). Yes, again, it's a gift from my hubby.

Here it is...

Wooden String Toy Horse

Wasn't it the cutest? It is now my constant companion at work.


I know you would all laugh at me for being such an overgrown kid. Well laugh all you want cuz I don't mind it. As long as I am happy. That is what counts. Cheers!



NOTE:

Just in case anyone of you are interested to know what software I use for editing the above pictures it's called PHOTOSCAPE. You could get it free here. Well it's a freeware afterall. A really good one at that. Totally recommend it to all.

PICASA from Google is just as great too. Both are worthy image/photo editors and both are free. What more could one asks for?

I really dig PHOTOSCAPE's large templates library for collage making. Another feature which I adore is the ability to append text and also bubble talk diagrams. Oh yea, it also offers the ability to frame up your photos digitally. There are so many to choose from I am literally spoil of choices.

Kleio's Personalised CNY Greetings

Just a quick post. I had to do this. Cos' it's Chinese New Year the biggest festival for us Chinese. It wouldn't stand well for me to going on long holiday without first wishing all my friends here a very Happy Chinese New Year.

As you are all so very special to me, I have decided to personalised my greetings to all of you by means of a short audio clip recording. Yes, you get to hear my voice, the ever elusive and mysterious hermit has decided to talk, literally.

Just did this recording over lunch today. Hiding quietly in my superior's room with the MP3 player/recorder which I bought with my hard earned money last year. I must say, I sounded very nervous in it. Cos' I am, I am so nervous that my tongue felt so thick and clumsy. Lol. Gosh.

So, here's my dedication to all my fellow beloved blog pals:

Hope all of you have a joyous and eventful Chinese New Year. I know I am going to spend my CNY holidays uneventfully and boringly at my in-laws. Again. Sigh....

NOTICE: Time-out from Blogsphere

I believe I owe all my dearest blogsphere friends an apology for neglecting my blog and for not updating regularly. Plus, I am also feeling pretty guilty for not paying frequent visits to your site/blog as I used to do.

Please don't write me off yet. Yours truly is just too wrapped up in work. It could be sometime until I could truly get back to blogging full force. Sigh....

Missing you all alot!