The Marathon

Boss: Shuri, you seem awfully quiet today. Is everything alright?
Me: Yes. *sulks*

What I *should* have said was:

Me: NO. I woke up this morning with a smile on my face thinking it's Thursday and lived most of my morning floating in a blissful bubble until someone just told me it was Wednesday.

Several months ago, in the spirit of trying out new things, I signed up for a marathon with one of my (fitness conscious) housemates. This was during the time the new year started when all you hear and read about are  "making new year resolutions". I would have happily put off  "Attempt a marathon" on my list for a few more years if not for the contents of the goodie bag that was promised to all participants of this night marathon. Energiser, the main sponsor, was giving away head lamps! I dislike running and I don't normally run unless I am chased by something ferocious, but I thought it will be cool to own a lamp I can fix on my head. Maybe I can read in the dark, I thought, or wear it going downstairs in the dark so that creepy characters from horror movies don't jump at me or go on night trails or observe night animals (at the time, the possibilities seemed endless). But now, I'm feeling a hint of regret as the day of the 6 km marathon is fast approaching.

Not all marathons are bad. Like these days, I'm on a Big Bang Theory Season 5 marathon, which I'm enjoying very much.


Image: http://www.4shared.com/

Trapped in existence

It's nice when sometimes a movie surprises you in a good way and it isn't predictable like most. Intouchables was one of them.

I've been a little busy attempting a record which is why I have not been able to visit my blog much. When I successfully make my record of working two weeks without a day off, I have a reward: two full days of following an Animal Keeper at the zoo, helping with preparing food, feeding the animals and cleaning their poo. I'm really, really looking forward to it! I know I shouldn't discriminate, but I hope I get to work in an enclosure with furry animals that eat greenish things and fruits because I hear from my zoo buddies, that cutting up loads of fish and meat can be a little overwhelming for a first-timer.

Clean toilets are quiet and peaceful places to be in. Sure, people come and go, but it's a private space and apart from doing the obvious, it's also a good place to think without distractions. As a kid, I used to have a bad habit (I say bad because of the increased chances of spreading toilet germs) of secretly carrying books with me so I can read in peace.

This amusing picture, advising users on the correct usage of toilets, is pasted behind the toilet doors at work. 

Macdonald's hates me

Macdonald's hates me. I can tell. Soon they are going to block my email address from their feedback page.

A morning rant following a repeated event of spilled coffee:

Dear Manager,

I am a regular customer of McCafe and I enjoy the variety of beverages served there. However, I'd like to give some feedback on the plastic carriers used for take away beverages. As these are put in regular plastic bags, I usually end up spilling my coffee by the time I reach my destination or otherwise I have to take extra care to ensure the cup is held upright while travelling, as it is not provided in a carrier-friendly packaging. I have met others who have experienced the same problem. Please use plastic carriers specific to carrying hot beverages e.g. the ones used in ordinary coffee shops as they are far more effective.

Dear Shuri,
Thank you for your email.
We appreciate your feedback on using plastic carriers and we will channel this to the relevant department for consideration. [Read: Go to hell.]
Thank you for taking the time to write in. [Read: Don't you have better things to do with your time?]

Another day, after eating a double cheese burger minus the burger and feeling overdosed with cheese:

Dear Manager,
I would like to suggest an improvement to the Macdonald's food menu which I believe would be profitable as well as promote Macdonalds as fast food restaurant chain that adopts healthier food alternatives.

Suggestion: Introduce a vegetarian burger.

I am a vegetarian. However, I am a regular customer at Macdonalds for good quality French fries, hot cakes, smoothies, ice cream, coffee, etc, it offers. While I lived in United Arab Emirates for a few years, I noticed that Macdonalds Arabia has a vegetarian burger option to cater to a significant population of vegetarians as well as those who like the occasional change in their menu. I think it would be a great idea to implement this in Singapore as there is a significant number of vegetarians here as well as a growing trend in the number of people who like to occasionally opt for vegetarian options.
Thanks and I look forward to your positive feedback.

Dear Shuri
Thank you for your email.
At McDonald’s, we aim to deliver an exceptional dining experience to our customers, every visit, every time.  [LIES.] Your suggestion of adding Vegetarian burger to the menu is appreciated, and will be useful as we constantly look to evolving our menu choices to meet our customers' needs. [Read: Not happening, EVER.]

We look forward to serving you soon again in our restaurants. [Read: We know you are going to come to us anyway because you can't resist our fries, the cheap mocca frappe and the hot cakes.]


18 Aug 2013
Afternote:

I was wrong.

Macdonalds finally decided to introduce a vegetarian burger! *does a victory dance* I'm guessing there were many other potato-loving vegetarians who wrote to them to demand one and Macdonalds saw the economic potential of introducing it.

Surprise!

No matter how quietly I try to pull out my keys as I get out of the lift and tiptoe down the corridor to my apartment, this ball of fur reaches my doorstep before I do, and asks to be let inside.

Ginger - our neighbour's cat

~ ~ ~

The other day, we organised a surprise birthday party for one of my housemates. After many discussions in secrecy, the three of us decided on a gift and a cake and how to go about surprising her. We ordered red velvet cupcakes from the best cake artist we knew in town. Everything went as we had planned; I picked up the cakes after work, another picked up the gift and the card and we all sat at home, waiting to ambush the birthday girl. 

The cup cakes looked too tempting. 

As we waited and waited, we felt ourselves contemplating on many nasty things like tasting one cup cake each, putting off the surprise party till the next morning and even going to sleep and leaving a note to the birthday girl on the refrigerator asking her to help herself to the cakes.

Unfortunately for us, the birthday girl - who was blissfully unaware of the surprise - decided to go out with some other friends of hers and came back home at midnight. By the time she arrived, we were all cake-deprived, cranky and sleepy. One of my housemates, who skipped dinner to have cake, threw a tantrum and spoilt the surprise by announcing the type of cakes we got before the 'surprisee' opened the box. Then, a candle fell off one of the cupcakes and nearly set fire to a bed sheet. The "Happy Birthday" song we sang for her didn't sound happy at all. 

Eventually, we each got our share of the treat and the atmosphere lightened significantly to laughter and giggles.

Pretty cupcakes - one of Katy Kat's specialties. 

Surprise parties are not for everyone.