random stuff

I'm done with my major proposition! I had my first committee meeting last week, and they decided that I overprepared for the first meeting, and no changes need to be made. I really can't describe how relieved I am. The major defense is a big deal to me, and if I don't pass it, I can advance, and now, I can do away with it!

Been redeeming a lot of free stuff lately... used up my northwest miles to redeem a trip to chicago in two weeks to visit Nicole together with Wenqi and Yvonne. Also, used up pretty much all my thank you points to redeem 175 bucks of statement credit on my citicard account.

I just moved into my new place last week, and it's been hectic so far. Been buying new stuff for my room etc...

My bedroom


The part adjoined to my bathroom, with closets on the side


And my sink cramped with all my perfumes...

I like it so far... if only I'm in better spirits to enjoy it. At least now, the gym is like 20 steps away from my place. Need to cancel my gym membership...

Been having a lot on my mind, and I've been so distracted at work. I can't seem to focus cuz I'm thinking about something else, and for some reason, I've been feeling nauseous lately. I think it's either 1) due to the algae, mold and fungi infected Brita pitcher I've been using 2) my lack of high spirits. Oh well, maybe I'll lose some weight this way.

In love with Whisk n ladle

I am in love. With Whisk n ladle in downtown La Jolla. I think if I tally the average number of times I went there in the last two months, it'd be about 3 times per week. The desserts, appetizers and cocktails are the best I've ever had in my life. Not all of them, but the ones I like, I luuurrrrveee...

I've already wrote about the panna cotta cake, and it's blah now cuz they have a rotating menu, and it's not due for a reappearance anytime soon.

So I tried the next best option on the menu, the fig crisp, with a salty almond crust, and figs and berries underneath, topped with goat cheese ice cream. I like it, the crust was awesome, and the sourness of the fruits complemented the sweetness of the crust and the ice cream. I think fans of goat cheese should definitely try this.

Went for brunch there the other day too! :D I had two entrees because I am a greedy greedy girl.

The granola pancakes. It comes with fresh syrup with soaked berries. Very fluffy, not too sweet, melts in your mouth. Not sure that I like the idea of the granola tho, I kinda liked the pancakes on its own...


The eggs benedict was disappointing. I hate to badmouth my fav restaurant, but they used their own cured ham instead of canadian bacon, and it was wayyyyy too salty. The spinach was really good tho, but the one at Brockton Villa still remains my favorite.

The servers and hostess and bartender recognize me now. It's kinda embarrassing, cuz I was there the afternoon before with Renee, and they were all like "aww you're here again!" when I walked in the door...

This is the remnants of my London's burning cocktail. It's like the lemonade version of a bloody mary. Packed full with flavor, with a little jalapeno juice, lemon juice, gin, lemongrass extract and stuff. It was my favorite drink before...

my favorite drink called the Keiraroyale! I don't have a pic of it cuz I always thot I had a pic of it, but I'll take it the next time. It came about when I saw tomato juice on the counter, and Jenn and I asked the bartender if he can make a drink with tomato juice. And it was soooo good, it became my staple drink, hence the name. The bartender's gonna put together all the regulars' favorite drink and come up with a menu based on that. Yay, my own cocktail! :) Renee loved it too, so I'm sure it'll be a winner out of all the regulars' drinks. Heh. It has tomato juice, passionfruit, vanilla bean, vodka, lemon juice (they squeeze it fresh) and raspberry.

I'll put up a picture of it soon.

Jenn and I shared the diver scallops appetizer the last time we went, and it was topped with a saffron foam and accompanied by fresh salsa and corn. The scallops were huge, and very lightly seared. The best scallops ever.

She had the heirloom lasagne, which was mediocre.


And the creme brulee, which was equally mediocre. Ha. The sugar coating was waaaayyy too thick for consumption.

A few of the lab peeps went out for lunch. We ended up going to Sbicca, in Del Mar. The seafood paella was the BEST I've ever had, and everyone agreed. The seafood were very very fresh, and the shrimps and scallops were HUGE! I've always thought it is very hard to cook a good paella, because a lot of cooks overcook the seafood, leaving it dry, or overseason the paella, or undercook the paella such that it's hard and dry in your mouth. It's such a complicated dish that a lot of things can go wrong... but this one was perfect. The seafood was soft, well seasoned, cooked perfectly. The sauce was delicious, with a strong seafood taste but not too salty. The best paella I've ever had.

The penne with artichokes, corn, feta cheese, and roma tomatoes was oookay, it'd have been better if I am a big fan of artichokes though..

The lobster bisque sucked, in my opinion. It was way too creamy, and I can't really taste any seafood taste in it, and they didn't add cognac at all.

Last week, the lab peeps went to this place called the Tractor Room in Hillcrest. It's mostly hearty food, and if you like game, you'll love this place. They have a great selection of cocktails too...

The black skillet cornbread was sooooo yummy. Hot, fluffy, sweet and just amazing with the layer of honey on top of it.

The wild boar stew was equally good. The meat was tender and not too dry. Very yummy.

The honey sweet squash was a-okay. But if you like squash, this should be kinda nice.

I've been procrastinating for so long about these food blogs, sorry this post's so long. :)

First day of my life...or has it been longer?

This is the first day of my life
I swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach

Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don’t know where I am
I don’t know where I’ve been
But I know where I want to go

And so I thought I’d let you know
That these things take forever
I especially am slow
But I realize that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home

Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up
And you said “this is the first day of my life
I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you
But now I don’t care I could go anywhere with you
And I’d probably be happy”

So if you want to be with me
With these things there’s no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I’d rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery
Besides maybe this time is different
I mean I really think you like me

I heard the best version of this song today...It's almost like you came and topped me up with happiness. Hee. I feel so loved. It's like the first day of my life every day ever since I met you. ^____^

Yay I found a place!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Finally my woes are over! Finally I have found the perfect room to rent! And I lurrrve it, even though it's more than twice my current rent now. Boo.

I'm going to reside in the Lucera Condominiums, which is so sprawled out, it reminds me of a country club more than a condo. It has two clubhouses, two beautiful swimming pools and jacuzzis, tennis courts, squash courts, sauna, gym blah blah blah. And the thing I love most about it is that it's a gated community, and security is good with the guards, and the gates and locks. :) And it overlooks the canyon.

So it has been a painful two weeks, finding that perfect room. I admit my expectations for a room has expanded shamelessly in the span of the last two weeks.

At the very start, it was
1) Cheap Rent
2) Own room

then it evolved to
1) Own room
2) Own parking lot

And then it evolved to
1) Own room
2) Own attached bathroom
3) Own covered garage lot

And the final product....taadaa!
1) Own room (at least 12 by 12, with full windows)
2) At least two big closets
3) Own bathroom with marble tops
4) Nice roommate
5) Covered garage lot
6) Washer and dryer in unit
7) Gated community
8) A/C and heater
9) Gym facility

And of course, my budget for rent went up and up and up *dreamy look*, but I figured that this money is more well-spent than on shopping...I must be getting old. Ha.

So YES. I have found a room which fits all of the above, and I love the fact that the bathroom is connected to the room through a walkway with the closets on each side, with full length mirrors. :) And my roomie is uber nice. We're gonna get some new stuff to decorate the living room and kitchen too!

I am very happy. Heehee.

Things that I've never quite figured out:

1) The existence of toilet bowl seat covers. How does a piece of paper that is easily teared by fluids actually protect us? It's not even anti-bacterial. -_-

2) Why planes turn off all lights during take off

3) Why luxury sports cars are always owned by old peeps who drive like snails.

4) Why small convenience stores here are more often than not, owned by Indians

5) Why girls are called "shawty" in hip hop

6) George Bush as president

7) Why people on Jeopardy know absolutely everything

8) Why gas prices are rounded up to 9/10 of a cent