random ranting...

I have 11 more episodes of House 2 to go! Thanks W :)

But I need time to finish up a lot more other things...

I need time. I need time. I need time!

新年快到

陽光普照.回暖一點.18C

原來還有兩個半星期就過農曆年,可不知怎的一點都不覺得有新年氣氛.其實還是這幾天才開始覺得新年逼近,那是因為一眾經紀銀行開始派利是封來給芬佬們.其實這一兩年的節日都是這樣子.經紀們給芬佬們的禮物彷彿是提醒我們節日來臨的alarm clock.

這些利是封輾轉流到我們手上...當然給我的那些最後就會轉運到我媽的櫃桶中啦.

Apivita 3 - cleansing face mask with pink clay

天色良好.比較沒那麼乾燥了.16C

繼續試用Fruits in the Box裏的面膜.今天晚上試的是清潔用的粉紅泥面膜,屬於express系列.這好像是新產品,官方網址上還沒有資料呢.不過在一些討論區上有人提起過,但不是很詳盡.因為我買的不是正式的包裝,所以並沒有詳細的成分清單.好,先記一下包裝上的資料:

- 適合乾性和敏感皮膚
- 含粉紅泥(但,是甚麼東西呢?)、維他命(沒寫是那一種)、玫瑰精華、小麥蛋白
- 有清潔、保濕和「煥膚」作用

一打開的時候還覺得那香味不錯.可是聞多一會就出事了--因為那味道越聞越似三星級酒店的洗手間用的香精!聞久了是會惹頭疼的...

不過,除了那味道我有點受不了以外,其實這面膜是不錯的喔.份量依然十足,比green argile面膜薄一點,所以我把整包塗上臉也不覺得太厚.(厚,就是敷很久還沒乾,洗的時候那面膜還是軟軟的.)可能今晚我的臉有點乾,所以敷嘴唇附近有點刺刺的感覺.不過我敷了好一會整張臉也沒有繃緊繃緊的,我想因為這是為乾性和敏感皮膚而設的面膜吧.

洗清了之後,也沒有甩皮的跡象,似乎保濕也頗稱職.鼻子上的黑頭粉刺也不見了.有時候做完清潔面膜,臉是滑了,死皮好像暫是不見了,可是粉刺卻沒有真正的去掉,只是毛孔放大了後浮出來而已.這個面膜倒是能把這一點做得不錯.但我還是比較喜歡那綠泥面膜,起碼那味道比較好!

至於那個粉紅泥,也不是很粉紅,是比較接近膚色的蝦膏色.我的耳朵比它還要粉紅呢.

Challenge

Fine. But it's definitely cold.Dry!14C

Saw this on today's Apple Daily. I wonder why no one has given me this challenge. I'd gladly take it too!


originally from The Garfield's archive.

的士

天色良好.15C

我一向都不會選擇撘的士,並不是我討厭坐,只是因為:

1. 我窮!撘的士在我心目中是頗奢侈的行為!
2. 我孤寒.
3. 我覺得不夠環保
4. 我要去的地方通常都有巴士、小巴等公共交通工具可以直達(甚至「11號巴士」也可以!)

雖然我住的地方給很多人的第一印象就是交通十分不方便,可是大概我已經習慣了吧,因此的士通常都變成我快要遲到的時候的殺手鐧.

我曾經被我的同學說過:「嘩!呢到返你屋企好近之嘛.咁都唔撘的士?駛唔駛咁慳呀?!」

哇~聽完真的想哭!$35和$3.4的分別...省下來的錢夠我平日一個午餐加一杯凍飲了!(雖然我是不喝凍飲的.)那為甚麼要那麼浪費呢?大概是這位同學他平常撘的士時都已經是夜深時份,可以回去跟公司補錢,所以覺得撘的士是至理所當然的事.可是我沒這個優待呀.撘的士的話得我自己掏腰包賴付的呀!

可是我發現我近來有點變質了.當然不是我變得富貴了而是我現在對撘的士這回事比較不猶豫了.當然,我以前心理面也暗暗羨慕那些上下班都是坐的士而面不改容的人.不是虛榮!只是我真的很羨慕他們不用排隊等車和預算車程多久、要多早就得出門等等.

以前我總會左思右想的才決定去坐的士.但現在可能一來早上我越來越遲才出門,如果再等下一班的巴士的話,就會遲得很離譜.還有,就是我越來越懶.有時候,真的很不想走那麼遠到巴士站去!而且,有時候下班時已經是八點半(如果是要回家吃飯的話,八點半算是很晚了.回到家,我媽肯定變成「包婆」了),要是時間沒算好剛剛走了一班車的話,可能又得等上二十分鐘才有車.那就是說,要四十分鐘後才能到家.可是如果坐的士的話,沒塞車,十五分鐘就到家門口了.這樣子算起來,那額外的三十大圓應該是蠻值得花的吧.

雖然的士叔叔們現在生意難做(跟他們聊天,他們都說是好一點了,可是還是難呀),不過,就算我多坐也幫不上多少的忙.而且,熱愛/需要/一定要坐的士的人大有人在.所以我想呢,我還是不要染上那撘的士的癮.否則,我看也是不容易戒掉的呢.

求人不如求己

早上那蘿蔔頭芬佬無端端要些頗為難找的數據,用作後天見客用的資料.霎時之間要找那些東西有點不容易,而且我用慣的那個數據庫又沒有這些東西,因此有點徬徨.其實Bloomberg是一定會有的,可是我不太會用啊!在這種關頭,「書到用時方恨少」的挫敗感迅速浮現.可恨我之前怎麼沒有把握空檔去上上那些免費的培訓.因此,我只好向全組唯一比較會用Bloomberg的同事求救.

是我自己不好,要向人求救又不早一點開口.拖到五點多的時候(因為想把其他功夫先做完嘛)才問這個原來大家都不太知道怎做的難題.其實.也不是很難啦,只是大家都不熟怎樣運作罷了.而這位同事平常也是很樂於助人的,可是...我今天真的被他氣炸了!

我想要的是一些(大概有二十家)公司的股價和trading volume歷史(是很簡單嘛!),可又不想一家一家的去找.我肯定在Excel是有些甚麼function可以很輕易就拿到的.可是,同事也不知道該用哪一條formula.糾纏了好一陣子,磨到七點多了,我於是決定一家一家的去找,然後再用這些數據做一些計算.我想,在這情況地下這是唯一的方法了吧.起碼我拿到了數據以後,縱使要花多一點時間,我還是會得到我想要的東西!

可是,好心的同事居然還在揣摩甚麼才是可以直接拿到我要的數據的最佳方法!當我告訴他我的決定時,他還再問我是否確定要這麼做!

天呀~要是這個request沒有時間限制,我一定會跟他磨到底,找出這個「最好的方法」.因為我相信以後還是用得著的.而且,多學一點新的東西也沒壞呀.可是,這不是適當的時候呀!這時候已經很晚了,我已經很不好意思的要他留到這麼晚(通常他六點多就走,要趕著回家與子同樂去也).而且,我實在很累,很想回家!於是求人的我居然向人家發脾氣,怒哮了一大下.當然,話出口了之後自己也不好意思,現在想起也會臉紅(不,我沒說髒話.好心的同事也很好人,他也(應該?)沒甚麼反應啦).可是,我真的很急,我真的很需要快點拿到那些數據,因為之後還有好些calculation要做呀.

後來我當然就著阿好心同事趕快回家,然後自己就用那最愚蠢但直接的方法拿到我要的東西.還要很感謝陳生(另一同事,他經常都很晚才走的)請纓替我做了一部份,真的省了我不少時間呢.

我從來都明白「求人不如求己」這個真理,今天更是深深體會到.如果自己懂得做,不單省了自己時間,免卻了向人討教的麻煩,還可能不用浪費了時間去繞了一個大圈呢.

突然想起你

電台竟然播著久違了的突然想起你,勾起了以往二十四小時長開mp3煲歌的日子.

新聞還是傳來許瑋倫車禍去世的噩訊[早上看報時還認為她有活過來的希望呢],勾起了以往瘋狂煲台劇的日子.

這些日子裏都有著你的影子,就算之後你已經擺脫了我好好去過你的生活.但當我的思緒回到那些日子,我還是會想起你.

今天在婚宴上看見了你,跟你打了招呼,然後大家都無言了.我們都尷尬得馬上轉過身去找找看還有沒有其他認識的人.雖然打招呼時你的眼神好像沒有任何殘餘記憶,但畢竟有些事情發生了就不能當作沒發生過.任憑你有多好的修養,一條刺還是一條刺.還是,只有我忘不了我對你做過甚麼?是我沒辦法原諒我自己?

今天的你很帥氣呀.沒有了那時候的稚氣,埋起了我最後跟你說話時的傷痛,今天的你過得很好吧.

牙刷

天色良好.嚴重地乾燥(濕度39%!!!).15C

一向是用O牌比較簡單(亦即比較便宜)的牙刷.那是因為我用牙刷的速度好比刨西瓜,如果用太複雜的牙刷實在有點兒浪費.電動牙刷也曾經試用過,雖然牙醫也推薦但不喜歡就是不喜歡,所以到現在還都是用普通牙刷.

不過上一次入貨時卻看到這枝高牌的防敏感牙刷,我馬上就把它買了.也不算貴,而且毛是最軟的(即super fine.牙醫推薦用軟毛呀.而且我也不能用中毛或更硬的了,肯定會牙崩血流唷!).還有,看!那設計居然可以cyber得那麼典雅,顏色可以清淡得那麼的有氣質!

天生麗質的我(嘔!)當然要配一枝那麼獨特的牙刷囉.

獎勵自己

天色良好.逐漸轉冷.17C

算是學期終結吧,所以我們有個十天的假期.原本還打算把書桌上的雜物、沒看的雜誌錄影帶VCD、和還沒寫的blog清一清,當然最後還是甚麼都沒做.準時回家吃飯散步看電視(yeah!不是看錄下來的!),也頗優哉游哉的.就當是獎勵自己吧.只是想做但還麼做的事情一直在腦袋裏團團轉,煞是惱人.

連續兩個禮拜天都得去高級酒店赴喜宴(真慘,荷包乾塘了),因為平常疏於打扮裝身,家裏並沒甚麼上得大場面的衣服鞋襪手袋.上次買了一條雪紡的半截裙也是為了去喝喜酒才買的.可是那次配襯的上衣卻有點殘舊,於是前天放假時就去找衣服.幸好找到了一件.不過還沒全身試穿.希望可以吧.不過那件上衣平時逛街也可以穿,而且減了價後也很相宜,也不算是很奢侈啦.

至於最麻煩的就是手袋.因為出席這種場合不能拿平常上班的大手袋,也不大可能配逛街用的斜揹袋.太隆重了又顯得有點沒見過世面,太隨便了又好像不是很尊重場合.又不能拿著過時的包包(怎麼說,去這種場合也有種被「看」的成分.雖然通常我一到就會躲起來.),可我又沒錢買最流行的款式(也不符合我的經濟邏輯呀).不過,家裏確實欠了這麼一個包包,所以今天還是買了一個.

款式跟我想像的差不多,不過顏色並非我喜歡的.[圖片中的顏色比較淺,而我的那個也不是suede的.]但這已經是全線的最後一個,我也沒甚麼選擇了.(除了不買或到別家店去找.其實買完後我們到對面的店看到另外一個也很可愛的.不過,媽經常說可愛的、漂亮的東西,妳買得完呀?!)可是,我一直就渴望擁有一個這個牌子的包包,(對,我是如此的虛榮.但我真的很喜歡這店的包包,只是我從來沒有一股衝動去買.或者我只是喜歡她那個蝴蝶結商標.不過,之前在街上看到一個女生拿著的款式和顏色我都很喜歡的,但到店去找的時候已經換季了.又一次的蘇州過後事件.)於是經過母親大人的同意下,還是買了這個可以拿著吊帶或變成clutch bag的小手袋了.

這是得償所願也是(另一種)獎勵自己.一舉兩得.非常高興.

巴別塔

天色依然良好.但開始冷了!14C

[Photo from Official Website]

*注意:可能會含有劇情*

和Sandee去看了《巴別塔》.Sandee說《巴別塔》其實和Crash很像.我沒看過Crash,所以不知道有多像.之前讀過有關Crash的影評後,也沒甚麼興趣去看.因為有些道理不是光說就有用.當然,不說的話,可能更加沒有人會去正視那個問題.但說了之後又如何呢?所以我對那種很煞有介事地說教的電影非常抗拒.我總覺得那些電影只是為了掀起話題而拍的(好讓人注意那電影而不是那issue).

《巴別塔》在這方面大概跟Crash是相近吧?所以,我並不喜歡這電影.而且,我覺得電影裡很多事都是自找的麻煩,愚蠢的決定.電影很沉重,看了之後我只感到很無奈,可是並沒有一丁點的感動.原以為這樣的題材我該又哭得唏里嘩啦的,但沒有.我連在眼眶打轉的眼淚也沒有.一滴都沒有.

電影想說因為語言的阻隔而使人類無法溝通,導致種種誤會,帶來無必要的麻煩、懊惱、痛苦、意外、悲劇... ...

所以,導演放了四條在不同地區,操不同語言的故事線,用一個頗牽強的原因把它們連繫起來.日本的那一段我覺得很無謂.除了因為日語跟英語很不一樣以外,(但並沒有英語人和日語人溝通的場面呀.)可能導演想要用聽不到的語言來做一個更強烈的對比吧.

但不.即使人類擁有相同的語言他們還是會沒辦法溝通.因為人類溝通的最大隔膜不是語言,而是人心和偏見.

電影裡也處處滲透著種族歧視,還有一個種族自認為比另一個有支配能力的荒謬.這也是偏見的一種罷了.

Richard和Susan在旅途上鮮有談話,一開口就充滿火藥味.可是,不是到最後Susan可能快要熬不住的時候,兩夫妻才能剖心相告?

在摩洛哥的三父子和警察對峙的場面,不也是因為各自先入為主的偏見而導致最後那無辜又無奈的結局?

Amelia本來高高興興的回家參加兒子的婚禮,也過了美好愉快的一天,卻因為姪子對邊防警察的偏見和衝動魯莽,帶來了極之意外的後果.那種族歧視的意識在這一段也最表露無遺.

言語不通,身體語言大概是男女之間最好的溝通橋樑了吧?可是Chieko到最後還不是表錯情,心痛地看著本以為會是自己的「獵物」變成了好友的玩伴?

即使是Chieko和她最好的朋友能用手語互相交談,但到利害關頭,朋友還不是以自己的快樂為上,重色輕友地把Chieko棄之不理?

還有太多太多「沒法溝通」的例子了.而且有時候,語言本身就是溝通的最大隔膜.誰又能完全的相信對方的話?有多少是真的?有多少是用來安慰的白色謊言?就算是說了真話,說了的話又佔了全部想講的多少?

我們到底能收到對方想說的多少?

幸福的一天

天色明朗.有點煙霞.16C

不用上班,本來就很幸福了.不過,今天覺得幸福的不只我一個.

首先,年終花紅終於到手.第一次有這麼一大筆錢存入戶口(你話我大鄉里都係咁話),實在非常感觸.雖然是很高興,但有時候會想,如果那時候努力一點找一份更高人工的工,大概我也不會覺得這是甚麼大數目了吧.但回頭想想,其實也算真的很幸運,這筆錢可能是有些人一年甚至兩年的收入.我該知足吧.於是也就覺得現在的我其實也是很幸福的.

然後,我跟媽到銀行把她跟爸的「花紅」也交給她.以往就算是人工加不少的時候,可是因為不是以年終花紅的形式發給我(是把升幅分攤十二個月),所以今年是第一次出「花紅」給爸媽.即使去年我的花紅也不少,可是也只有能力請媽回綿羊國去遊玩一週.今天媽一直笑不攏嘴,不停地說很幸福.她說,今天收到這些錢雖然不是天文數目,但她覺得比我爸給她的時候還要幸福.曾幾何時還是抱在懷中的小娃娃,今天居然會拿錢回家了.(注:我是一直都有給家用的.百分比還算不少呢!!!)

我媽其實不是貪錢的人,也不是算死草.其實她是很疏爽的人,只是,她很沒有安全感.

我不在身邊時,她會胡思亂想.爸不在身邊時,她會一直埋怨為甚麼那麼多事情都得她一個女人來扛.存摺裏的數目往下掉時,她會發脾氣,睡不著,然後覺得很不安全.

其實媽很可憐.而我能做的就只是在我能力範圍之內給她多一點的安全感.希望這樣子她會覺得幸福一點.

走在街上,媽突然說想要吃煨番薯.已經往前走的我們於是折回到地鐵站口的煨番薯炒栗子小檔.拿著黃色的糖心番薯一邊走一邊吃,那時候我們都覺得很幸福.

最愛豆腐花

天開始黑了.16C

我並不嗜甜,但對於某些甜點我卻情有獨鍾.豆腐花是其中一樣.

在我家附近其實有好幾家甜品店都有賣豆腐花.很幸運的是,其中一家賣的特別滑,特別好吃.即使不用跑到窮鄉僻壤或大海中的小島也能嚐到一碗入口即溶的山水豆腐花.我想應該不是自家作品吧,但也無傷雅興.小店生意好得不得了,每天只賣那固定的一大木桶,有時候晚一點去就買不到了!

小店除了豆腐花,還有賣各式涼茶、蒸粉粿、牛肉和我的第二最愛:魚肉燒賣!

嘩!口水都要流出來了!

Wow!

Very cloudy and I feel cold.17C

Wow, I just found out our prize for the performance. It's HK$3,500!

That is seriously very generous. If people have known how much the prize were, I think the competition would have been more fierce.

We (9 ppl) are discussing how to spend it now.

Do you like me for who I am?

*Warning: Might contain spoiler*

I'm on a TV/movie spree again. Just watched Happy Birthday yesterday and Blood Diamond (abbreviated as BD below) this afternoon. I have cried a bit for both movies... actually more for the latter. Well, I'm a big crying baby when I watch movies, so there!

DiCaprio has grown up a lot and his acting in the BD has greatly matured and improved. He was a bit show-offy in The Aviator, but he's doing just right in BD. Gosh, I love his accent! It is strange that the movie has a white person as the lead because it's all about the life and stories of the black Africans. But if the movie doesn't have DiCaprio, it will not arouse much interest despite the controversial topic. Anyway, Jennifer Connelly was as attractive and beautiful as ever and her character was her usual tougher type of woman. (I'd definitely say Alicia Nash is a very strong woman!)

There are so many other movies that I want to see these few weeks! But unfortunately none of those are HK movies. In fact, there aren't any HK movies showing except for Happy Birthday! I want to see Babel, Fur, Marie Antoinette, and The Perfume. The Perfume has been on my reading list for years but I have never gotten around to it (not that I have gotten around to any of my class reading). Now that the movie is showing starting next week, I guess I'll either have to watch the movie first and then read the novel later, or... screw the novel. There's been a lot of adaptation lately (from novels to movies). Is this a trend showing that screenplay writers are running out of ideas with new plots and stories? Or is it simply because there are too many good novels and the best way to bring them out under the spotlight is to transform them into a movie??

Prison Break was action packed as expected. But too many people died. I was so sad that Charles couldn't make it and it ended like that for him. Ah well, too many sad things happen all the time.

Urgh, I was so mad that I've forgotten to tape the first episode of Hotel Babylon. Actually this is another novel-TV adaptation creation. The TV CM looks pretty good but don't really know much about it. Hopefully it's not like Las Vegas. I don't like LV much, the style of the series is rather strange.

I was catching up with last week's 4400, (there are only 5 more episdoes left!) it was rather heartbreaking to see that Maya was still having trust issue with people. "Do you like me for who I am?" I guess it hits her really hard because of her "gift" and she's still too young to figure out if people are treating her well because of the gift or not. Not that I have any special gift like vision-seeing, but it's also a question I ask myself often enough... the you could be a friend, a colleague, a... I guess I just have issue with self-confidence. Maybe I shouldn't care about what other people think that much, and just concentrate on what I think about myself. That'll be very hard!

讓我們成為比好朋友更好的朋友

有微雨.17C


我不知道這是哪門子的傻話.

既然找到了,既然是那麼的愛... 為甚麼要拖拖拉拉?為甚麼還要讓不安全感打垮?

灰灰白白的色調蔓延了快兩個小時.雖然偶爾有調皮的片段,但那揮之不去的無奈和傷感還是...沉重的.

We ARE the Champions~

my friends~~~~~

wow... NEVER would have thought that we would win the performance competition at the annual dinner. Yes, there were 3 prizes for the 6 houses, and yeah baby, Britney was the FIRST!

I didn't get to watch the other groups' performances because we were the last group to perform. So I was either busy eating or in the dressing room cheering each other and get us into natural high. The group before us was WAY too long. I'm sure it's much longer than 3 minutes!!! [but they got 2nd anyway.]

We haven't opened the prize yet as we just shoved it to the other girl, so we'll find out on Monday. Apparently it's some handsome amount of cash. I wonder how it'll be divided!

So, I suppose the 15 inch skirt really worked. Combining with obscene moves like body touching, dirty dancing, BUTT SHOWING, etc. (um.. only the guys did. and they were wearing something underneath so it wasn't too revealing) and keep the thing crisp and short, I think we have the (unfortunate) golden triangle rule to a successful performance at company annual dinners!

4 down!

i start to think that i'm a brainy box. i think if i take the classes of this course long enough, i certainly will be able to convince myself that i am one.

anyway, i'm so happy that the grade for the last class was finally out - it's been, what, 5 weeks after we handed in that bloody odd take-home exam.

and i'm very happy with the grade i've got - i thought i was going to fail!

ok, back to study!

出賣色相

冷!16C

病情好像忽然變壞,現在喉嚨不疼了,卻變成好像有東西卡住了.頭有點繃緊,聲音也好像慢慢消失似的.大概是因為昨天三點半才睡吧.今天工作時大部分時間都在忙明天表演的事情,正常的工夫倒是都給丟到一旁了.

早上忙著試錄音的設施,因為不想好像昨天到錄的時候才出亂子.然後,試完就去錄音.一大群人錄完又錄,最後花了一個小時才把一首兩分十七秒的歌錄好.雖然最後仍是有點瑕疵,但還是收貨了.大家都已經快撐不住了.之後午飯時間又要跟另外那個女生出去作最後的costume shopping,就這樣又花了一個小時.完了我還得去把我負責的最後兩份抽獎禮物買回來.再之後呢,一整個下午就是因為老闆一封電郵而都花在加一些無聊的插圖在我們那份PowerPoint了.[我老闆也跟我們一起表演.]到弄完時,都已經是五點半.休息一會,勉強擠一點時間出來整理一份報告,然後就上樓去練舞了.

真的不敢相信我居然明天得在三百人面前穿起一條15吋長的半截校服裙(改過了才有這麼短嘛),還得在台上搔首弄姿.別說要在那麼多人面前跳舞,我平時是不穿裙子的,更何況是只有15吋長的半截裙?!算了,起碼我比我們組的那些男生要好一點,我穿裙子怎說都是比較正常的嘛...唉,可是,只有15吋...

我想,要是那學校的人看到了後,恐怕要來告我們影響他們的校譽了.

The talk of the week

The talk of the week is BONUS.

I got to know about it at last week's annual dinner party committee meeting. The chair was making a comment that some people maybe happier, or, not so happy, because by the time of the party, we would have known what we're receiving for our bonuses.

So, yes, after Monday's big email about this stupid special award, I'm talking about money again. $_$

I saw people from other departments went into meeting rooms, some having poker face in the meeting, some when they left the room, and some beaming brightly for the rest of the day. For our team, we didn't know our numbers until around 5pm. By 3pm, I started to think that maybe the rest of our team has already received the announcement and I have just missed it because I'm not getting any. It was such a relief (yes, I need money to pay tax and tuition) when the first teammate was called into the room to have the talk. Most of us took about 5 to 10 minutes to receive the letter and leave. My conversation with boss was crisp and short. He asked if I have any complaint about the raise. I mean... well, what can you do anyway? It's all fixed, isn't it? But 妙品 probably talked for at least 20mins and she looked like she has been ranting for the past full 20mins! Anyway, I won't know what other's getting because they won't ask me. And of course, I would not initiate any conversation like "so, how much is your bonus this year?"

This year's raise was actually less than last year's. But if I count the bonus into the whole package, the increase is, I have to admit, actually quite generous. I just did a very stupid spreadsheet summary (yeah, I kept all my payslips), and to my surprise, I found that what I've made in the past year and a half was actually more than what I have earned in my first three years of work. In fact, my annual compensation has doubled in 3 years.

But then maybe all of this is just a mathematical illusion? I always thought that my raise at my old company was phenomenal (always double digit growth, not in the teens but 2x or 3x%) even during economic downturn. So, I reckon that the numbers were so great because my base salary was lower when I first started. This means that the absolute change was high, relatively speaking, the percentage change would be even greater. So, I played around with the numbers and found that, in terms of percentage growth, my ex-employer was indeed comparably generous as my current one. And up to a certain point, given the same percentage change, absolute change would be greater than before. (argh... I'm not expressing the idea clearly , but anyway, I know what I mean!)

Anyway, my bonus this year has a portion that is vested and I won't be able to receive them until two years from now. What's worse (or could be better) is that they will not be received in cash, but in company shares (again!). My boss said that when the bonus reaches a certain bracket, a portion will become these stupid vested shares. Mine's not that much so it only takes up 10% , but it's still a lot to me! :'( He then emailed later saying that this is not to be discussed openly with other staff as not everyone will have this. Anyway, I wish they could be all cash. I mean if I really want to leave, will this 10% of the bonus make a difference? And if I'm joining a much better job, wouldn't the prospective company be willing to cover this "cost"? And maybe, I wouldn't care about this at all if I found my dream job? Using vested benefit to keep employees eventually will turn out to keep only the lemons. But oh well, companies will do all they could to protect themselves and their "resources".

Despite all the whinings, I am very grateful about my jobs. I didn't get into the job of what most of my college classmates did and I earned much less than they do/did, but I was lucky how I landed on both of my jobs. Yes, I whine/d a lot about this in the office and that about my job, but I am very grateful, still. Both of my jobs pay very well (in my own standard) and the workload is relatively light. People that I have to deal with are in general nice and I am not involved (not senior enough, obviously) directly in any of the office politics. The only thing that I'm not so happy with is - is this really something that I want to do? I always think that if I were married and my children were grown up so I no longer worry about my career path, this would be a fantastic job. But am I doing it at the right time in my career life? (Or, do I have a career to start off with?! And seriously, what do I want to do?)

If you are reading this, please don't read it as if I'm showing off. No... I never thought that someone would actually read my blog from the very beginning, so these are my real thoughts. It was supposed to be a place where I can nag and whine and babble and complain and make all sorts of mean and silly comments when I couldn't in real life. (Either no one will listen/want to listen, or I'll scare them away by showing the meanie and whiny me.) But if you've read up to this far, you might have already noticed that I talk about money quite often. Well, I admit that I'm somewhat misery (Mum has always said that I'm a miser "孤寒財主"). But when I don't have rich parents who will leave me a handsome inheritance or a wealthy husband who will provide whatever I want, I'll have to make plans for myself so that I won't regret later on about all the money spent and opportunities missed. And since I'm an only child, I would be having the sole honour to take care of my parents when they grow old (well, yes, they do save, but that's a different matter). Is it a burden? It could be, if I don't plan well now. But if they could have raised me when they were having a much more difficult time back then, why can't I now when I'm much better off? I know money isn't everything but I also know enough that "the more the merrier" works very well in every way when "the more" is referring to money.

Argh... enough of money talk and enough of side-tracking. I reinstate that I am grateful about my current situation and happy about my bonus and pay (tax, tuition, exam fees, insurance premium, and even Arts Fest tickets are all well taken care of!) , but there are a lot to think about what I really want to do in terms of career. So maybe, afterall, the talk of the week for me isn't really just the bonus, but something that requires far more contemplation.

Don't hit me anymore!

Still drizzling.15C

Urgh, I was cutting the original song to a shorter version, skipping the bridge and the last chorus, so to save us from humiliating ourselves on stage for another minute. To have the bits connecting at the exact place, I have to listen to the song over and over again. On top of the practice since Monday, I think I've heard the song for over 40 times within these 3 days.

When I close my eyes, I can hear Britney sing "Hit me one more time!!!!!!!!!!....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" ringing in my ears over and over and over again... And at one point, I thought that song was actually quite good.

I think I'm intoxicated with the song!

But at least the 2'17" version was were received and I'm super proud of myself doing such a seamless edit!! Bravo to myself! :)

House rulez!!

RAIN!!!!!17C.Humidity - 100%?!?!

yes, i know i'm slow. i haven't read newspapers for a whole week. but it's never too late!!!

YEAH!! House won the best actor (whatever category that was...)!!!

See? I've got good taste! I knew he's gonna win. :P

[1/20/07: just want to post a picture of Laurie in Tux and the Golden Globe. :P]

I am a MEANIE!

I started to have flu symptoms late afternoon yesterday and I'm worried that I'll get sick again (because I felt like the same as I caught the cold a few months ago). There were so many people being sick now in the office so air quality is really bad.

This morning when I first came back to office, I heard this really nasal woman voice talking loudly on the phone. I immediately recognised that (1) the woman has a cold and (2) the woman was the horribly annoying boss of our front office IT team. Her teams have moved over to our back office in MK and only come back occasionally for meetings. But whenever she comes, she'll take the seat in the aisle next to ours because those were the empty seats reserved for this purpose.

Seeing that it's someone who really annoys me (her voice - when it's in normal state, it's absolutely abominable. And well, we don't have any dealings with each other. But she's purely the type that is 「雖無過錯,面目可憎」 to me. See, I'm mean!), I asked Mr. Chan for a mask (he bought some the other day because he was coughing, but he only put on once so far!). So, I'm happily wearing one right now.

I'm not sure if she'll notice or understand, as she was standing quite close to me. I felt really sorry to her subordinates whom she was talking to. They couldn't turn away from her nor ask her to cover her mouth!

I mean, if you're not feeling well (and when you're feeling THAT unwell), you really should go home and get some rest or wear a mask to work!

十月芥菜夢

應該是會晴朗但現在也有烏雲.19C

大概是最近見得太多人(女性朋友)突然戴鑽戒,收得太多紅色炸彈和看得電視太多,我星期六晚做了一個很奇怪的夢.

我居然夢見我有個未婚夫!還有個未來奶奶!

好,「劇情」是這樣的:

我跟媽在家,突然間「未來奶奶」到訪,還帶著家傳鑽戒一同到來,一定要我戴上.就在擾攘間,未婚夫也氣喘喘地趕到,好像很急忙的樣子,不知道是不是發覺家傳鑽戒不見了.(但他又怎會知道不見了呢?)我覺得很奇怪為甚麼他好像很害怕的樣子,於是就故意把戒子戴起來,還一直在他面前揚呀揚的.

之後是怎樣就不太記得了.醒過來時只覺得這夢很是好笑,但感覺卻又很實在.

不過,好笑的是未婚夫居然有名字,叫Sunny!(哎呀!看得《高朋滿座》太多了.剛剛星期五好像就是阿Dee向蘇花求婚.可是,我並不特別喜歡這套劇或這個人物啊.)

還有,那家傳鑽戒居然是我最喜歡的princess cut!

還有還有,就是雖然未婚夫有名字卻沒有樣子.夢了那麼一會,完全沒看到他是甚麼模樣!

看來,平時口說不嫁不嫁的我,心裏還是想嫁.居然還把埋藏在那麼深的潛意識的東西都仔細無遺地投射在這麼一個的十月芥菜夢裏去.

特別獎金

今早一回到公司,打開收件箱就看到大大大大大大大老闆寄給全世界的電郵,宣布因為去年業績實在非常良好而頒發一個一次性的特別獎金.電郵題目非常簡潔但完全能吸引人注意 – 特別獎金 $400 (當然是用英文寫的).

看到這樣的標題大概會以為全世界都能收到這四百大圓的美金,但看下去才看到原來有很多附帶條款,根本就不可能是真正的回饋員工.條款包括:

1. 必須在發放獎金那一天已經在公司服務滿三年.如果在那天還未滿三年的話,將以等同價值的股票代替(以發放獎金那天的股價作換算).到滿了三年之後,將會得到那一筆股票當時的價值以及在這一段時間內所發放的股息.
2. 必須在宣布這計畫的那一天(即今天)已經在公司服務一年或以上.
3. 獎金不能超過薪金的百分之五或指定銀碼(這一點我完全看不懂).

還有,最重要的一點,也是令很多人不可能享受到這獎賞的一點就是:員工於去年全年的現金酬勞(包括薪金,花紅和其他津貼等)不得超過五萬美元(即差不多是三十九萬港幣.把花紅也攤分下去的話,就是等同月薪三萬兩千五百港幣.)

月薪港幣$32,500一點也不算高薪!你看,IBD第一年的分析員的月薪也遠超這個數目了.就算是我們這種被視為是後線部門的也應該沒有人符合資格了.單單香港就已經是這個情況了,更何況是一相比香港更高薪的東京、紐約、倫敦和其他歐洲國家?

那,這算是哪一門的回饋公司和對員工的鼓勵?!

Temper

Sunny.21C

I just lost my temper over a very small thing, which I know I really shouldn't have.

But the people around me suddenly seemed very annoying to me and I just want them to shut up! Stop complaining, stop making mistakes and stop making a big fuss out of everything!!!

Gosh, I really need a break from this workload, annual party performance thing and studying. There was this reunion dinner tonight with a few of my high school friends (HK) that I have been looking forward to. Suddenly it no longer seems appealing and actually I think it's going to take up my time. Argh... am I going to have enough time tonight studying?!

忙碌預告

雲.風.17C

未來一週將會非常忙碌,因此未必可以堅持每日一篇,甚至連其他網誌都未必能夠每天讀了.下禮拜的電視節目也要錄起來然後通通等禮拜天才看了(噢,我的PB finale要等很久才能看到了.)為甚麼?

因為下禮拜六要考試!今天我們親愛的教授才跟我們講另外一本課本裏有甚麼是我們一定要知道,有甚麼是他推介可以讀的.然後,還有他自己寫的那本有好幾課也要讀!當然囉,如果平時有做reading的話,當然不用擔心.可我就是沒有嘛!哎呀,慘了,這禮拜要乖乖地啃書了.

但最慘的是,考試前一天居然是公司的週年晚會!而我今年很不幸地被阿哥「推薦」去當委員會成員之一(I was volunteered by my boss to be on the annual dinner party committee).其實當委員也沒甚麼關係的.大不了就是要去開幾次會而已.可最糟的是,每一個house都要表演(我們把所有部門分成六個house).這可乖乖不得了!因為我們這幾組都沒有甚麼特別表演慾旺盛的同事,所以招募特別困難.結果是甚麼,當然就是身為委員的我和另外一個女生都要表演囉.唉,下禮拜還得禮拜一到四天天「留堂」排舞!我到現在還不敢跟媽說我也要表演呢!唉...中間還發生了一些不愉快的小插曲,我等比較有空的時候還是會寫一寫.因為我也要發洩呀!至於要表演的就是極度惡俗的歌舞表演另加自改歌詞.歌呢,就是這首:



我唯一能慶幸的就是我不用當女主角!

唉,祝我好運吧!

第一次...相認

雲呀.寒風呀.17C

做了網民也有好幾年,在網上交友卻沒試過,也沒想過會做.即使以往幾乎是24/7的在線上,但與網上聊過天的人見面的發生率是零.更姑勿論最後能否變成朋友了.

不過今天卻做了這件自己認為不大可能發生的事情:就是和網友Vicky見面!

之前在鬧情緒,碰巧Vicky也會去今晚的那個音樂會,於是她就很仁慈地約我在中場時見面.(真的很多謝妳呀!)

今晚相認的情況很好笑.我們事先又沒說好彼此的特徵,因此我一直在盤算到時候要怎樣把她認出來,唯有見步行步.Vicky比我早到,我一走近時已經猜到那個女生是Vicky了,因為我想不大可能有其他人也在這時候等人,除非是朋友在洗手間還沒出來.(我們相約的位置就是在洗手間旁邊嘛.)但是我又膽子小,唯有等呀等,左看看右看看的,兼拿電話出來看看有沒有人找我.等到差不多,我想如果再不問大概就見不了,因此還是硬著頭皮問:「妳係...Vicky?」

哈哈哈...就是這樣了.Vicky頭髮長長,斯文又靚女.不過就是目不轉睛地看著我. :P 其實我不是很容易害羞的人(唔,當然得看是對著誰啦.),不過給妳這麼看著,自不然也會害羞起來啦.

十分鐘真的不能聊太多,不過聊得很愉快呀.依依不捨的又得進場了.大頭蝦的我居然忘了交換電話!哎呀,這還是到進場之後才想起來.不過,總有機會再見面.下次啦!下次去看音樂會前要是有時間吃飯的話,Vicky,妳可以找我呀. :) 噢,還有,古思哲,你去Arts Fest時,大家(=Vicky+我)要不要也見個面? :P

p.s. 音樂會很棒,雖然曲目都不是我所熟悉的.只是Gerstein只彈了兩首,真的有點不「夠喉」.不過始終不是他的個人演奏會,因此也不能奢望甚麼了.他真的很厲害,彈奏那麼難的曲子也是那麼的從容.不過我坐在他背後,因此看不到他的表情.那也好,要是他跟LL或LYD一樣的話,那我寧願回家聽唱片好了.

p.p.s. 因為我坐上面balcony,因此看得到樂團後面的樂師.哎呀,要出去了.回來再寫我覺得好好笑的事情. :P

p.p.p.s 回來了.續寫p.p.s.每次鼓掌總有好幾分鐘,迪華特先謝幕然後會請其他主要的樂師逐一謝幕,到最後就會示意整個樂團起立謝幕(和享受一下掌聲.其實所有指揮都會這樣做啦).只是,我看到那位(比較年輕的)亞洲巴松管樂師總會第一時間滿臉笑容地彈起來.每一次都是如此.非常可愛. :)

早上好

天色亮亮的但佈滿了灰濛濛的雲?!16C

今天一早打開碗蓋就看到碗裏裝了四個可愛的小柑.真的很感謝上天讓我生在這個家,有個這麼細心又無微不至的媽媽.

其實每天早上她去打太極之前都會為我準備好早餐.水果一定都是切好了或是剝了皮的.讓我可以賴床到很遲才起來,但仍然可以享用豐富的早餐.

那我有可以做些甚麼讓媽媽舒服點呢?

Calbee大搜查(六):蜜汁燒雞翼味薯片

有點暗暗的.17C

為了要提媽換7仔的吉蒂貓東東,於是剛才就到樓下那家去買點東西和雜誌.居然讓我看到這個看起來很美味的包裝,而且兩包賣$14,當然就第一時間把它買下來!

一打開的時候就已經很失望了.因為偌大的一包原來還不到半包的滿!平常原味的真的好像比較多呢.

聞起來是有香香的甜味.可是是蜜糖味嗎?真的不大肯定.那有燒雞翼味嗎?可能是我鼻子壞了,索了好一會都察覺不到!!!

好了,那味道呢?拿起薄切的薯片聞到似乎是蜜糖的甜香,放進口居然是完全另一種味道!是有些甜啦,但那種甜好像是代糖的味道.吃下去就很不好受,就是那種連真正的糖都吃不到的感覺.而且,吃著吃著舊約發覺它像粟米片!(天,我最討厭就是吃粟米片了!)

沒有蜜糖味,那有燒雞翼味吧?沒有,完全欠奉!我只知道它有鹹味囉!

哇~~~珠玉在前呀(KFC或旺角路邊攤的真正蜜汁燒雞翼就算不是十分棒,但也非常不錯!)~~~這回Calbee怕是要呼應三色台的《爭霸》,所以也來一個東施效顰吧?!

星:這次我不給了!!!好難得是薄切的卻弄得那麼不三不四的.太失望啦!

小狗之二三事

天色依然良好.風有點大了.16C

媽不讓養寵物,但她自己每次看到家附近在飯後散步的小狗總會雙眼發光.我家附近又確實很多人養狗.一到晚上十點過後在那酒吧、甜品點對出的小公園都會聚滿了大狗小狗和牠們的主人.就算是平常走在街上也會看到很多菲傭在蹓狗.有時候,真的當狗比做人要幸福...

以下幾則是我們在散步或在附近走動時遇到跟小狗有關的事情...

(一)

媽一直碎碎唸說如果她養狗的話,一定會替牠織襪子然後讓牠上街時穿上.她說因為就這樣的赤腳走在街上實在太髒了.我一直覺得這玩意對小狗有點殘忍,不過我相信一定會有這種商品的(特別是日本製造的)!前幾天,就在我們散步的時候遇上了這麼的一條小狗,穿了四隻很可愛的襪子.我不知道牠有甚麼感受,好像沒相干的,甚至有一點點的得意.可是牠穿起來就是很可愛,媽和我都忍俊不禁.

今天我們走上面的路散步時,看到一對也是小狗的襪子掉在地上.兩隻襪子是同一個款式,不過卻相隔頗遠.看到的第一隻腳背向上,我們只看到黑紫兩色相間的花樣.第二隻呢是腳底向上.嘩!原來還有防滑的塑膠腳印!!!

還是那句,我不知道那些小狗對這些襪子有甚麼看法.但如果只是把它看成一樣商品的話,它是超可愛!還有還有,小狗穿上的時候...你要是親眼看到了就會知道是有多可愛了.

(二)

因為我們經常都會遇到某些小狗,於是我就給牠們起了些名字好讓我跟媽說起來知道是那一隻.照片裏的那隻就是我稱之為小魔怪的小狗.其實牠也沒有很搗蛋或怎樣.可是,我分不出牠是甚麼品種.而牠的長相也非常奇怪.雖則我知道以貌取狗是很不應該,可是牠是真的不太討人喜歡.

哦,我想起來了.牠走路的時候,總是扯著牠的賓賓一直跑,而且牠十分喜歡貼著牆一直走.就算不貼著牆的話,頭也會歪著一邊的走.

這是去年夏天的時候在街市趁牠的賓賓在談電話時拍的.那一陣子好可憐,要戴口罩呢!不過現在好了,又可以自由自在地貼著牆邊一直嗅著跑了.


(三)

這一隻不太一樣的金毛尋回犬是我媽首先注意到的.平常的金毛尋回犬乖巧聰明又不會胡亂跑,偏偏這一隻卻橫衝直撞,主人越叫牠越跑,最後還給車撞到.幸好也不是很嚴重,可是也把我媽這個旁觀者嚇飽了.大概是牠跟牠主人不太夾吧,而且牠的狗帶還是很粗很像麻繩的那種.今晚散步回家時看到這隻金毛尋回蹲在那很有名的糖水店的門口,一副硬要進去的模樣,煞是好笑!後來還索性坐在門口動也不動,害得牠主人要把牠抱起來繼續他們的散步.當然,是不成功囉.當我們走近一點要過馬路的時候,我聽到牠的主人跟牠說:「走啦,呢啲嘢你唔食得o架!」

哎呀,可憐的金毛尋回還是不願走,連看也不看牠的主人一眼.終於有一個女人拿了一袋外賣出來,金毛尋回才動身離開.初時我還以為那個女人是他們在等的人,怎知道原來是不同路的!只見到金毛尋回不停地嗅著那一袋外賣,讓我感覺到牠可能很久沒吃過東西了...

***

還有很多很多其他的小狗呢,要說真的一整天都說不完.我看到的只是牠們每天出來散步時的模樣.牠們在家裏的時候肯定有更多更好笑、可愛的時刻!

It's about time

Cloudy.18C

We finished the performance review form before the year end, but never had the time to do the face-to-face session. So I thought it was all over, because I heard during the annual dinner committee (yes, I was unfortunately one of the members) meeting that our bonus will be announced next Thursday. Of course I already knew that the performance review was really just formality and paper work, and have no impact whatsoever on the determination of our bonus. My colleagues who have been around in the team since it's started (over 8 years now) all complaint that this is a waste a time because the same comments were made every year. Nonetheless, I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a chance to get (or give) some feedback from my boss.

Well, yesterday he came and said that let's do it this afternoon.

OK. Now I start to think what my boss will say to me. Please try to come to work a little more on time? Please don't blog in the office when you're supposed to be working? Please show some efficiency? Please do what you have said last year that you would do? Urgh, maybe I should have just wished that we were not going to meet at all.

Apivita 2 - Aqua Plus Face Mask with Cucumber

天色良好.依然寒冷.12C

既然有新產品,當然要立刻試.於是昨天晚上就做了深層(欸...又是深層??)補/保濕的青瓜面膜.

很多補/保濕面膜都是透明的gel mask,但這個卻是cream mask(看左圖).通常cream mask都會是比較潤的.面膜有淡淡的青瓜香味,也有和Origins的Drink Up有點類似的牛油果味但絕對沒有那麼濃!雖然都是cream mask,相對之下這個就沒那麼油,質地比較清爽 - 那感覺幾乎有點像Biotherm的Aquasource的那些面霜.

10ml一小包但份量十足,可以塗得厚厚的.可是這變相成了一個挑戰!因為不是那麼厚(或硬身)的mask要塗得厚的話,就很難塗得均勻.有些地方可能明明已經塗了,卻因為用手指去試圖抹均勻時而被擦走.其實這也是平常塗面膜的困難處.我想如果用掃子應該可以解決吧?可是誰又會在家裏塗面膜時用掃子呢?

面膜塗得厚厚的第二個麻煩處就是洗的時候要洗很久才能確保沒用殘留物質眷戀著我的臉而不願離開(之前用deep cleansing mask時也有這個麻煩呀...).不過,用這類的清潔面膜我通常都會用面紙先把面膜擦掉,到最後才用暖水洗臉.

包裝上寫敷10-15分鐘,但我差不多敷了20分鐘那面膜才好像比較被吸收多一點.(這個包裝上寫的是希臘文,不過有阿拉伯數字,所以還是能猜到).洗完後,臉好像是真的滑了,死皮失蹤了.不過呢,毛孔好像有點擴大(為甚麼?!).大概下次要用前先做個磨砂把黑頭粉刺消滅.效果可能會更好.今早起來感覺還是不錯,而且不會滿臉油油的.(臉會出油是因為缺水!)好,看一下今天上班到甚麼時候才開始滿臉油光. :P

Lost & Found

Sunny.Freezing Cold OUTSIDE.12C

Feeling a bit happier this morning. Probably because I wasn't as late as yesterday and I finished all the taped TV programmes (aka i'm up to date :D, except for House 2...).

I was trying to tape 4400 so that I could take a shower and somehow the VCR didn't work. Then I found out it the output thingy to the TV reception box wasn't plugged in correctly by the mechanics when they set up our TV after they fixed it and sent it back. And... I found my Lilo & Stitch tape!! It has mysteriously gone missing for some reason and I couldn't watch it over the summer (and yes, I was too lazy to rent it and too cheap to buy the vcd). And guess where it was? It's somehow tucked behind the VCR!

Anyway, guess that's something to cheer me up despite the loner issue is still here and piles of work waiting for me.

I'll try to squeeze some time today during lunch to finish off my Apivita masks post!

Loner

Sunny.Doesn't feel so cold now.16C

I wanted to go to the Gerstein plays Gershwin concert this weekend, but I had a difficult time trying to find someone to go with me. As I've said (somewhere) before, I don't understand why I didn't/couldn't find friends that would have more common interests with me so that we can do things together more often instead of just having lunches or dinners. In fact, when I think more clearly, I hardly do anything with my friends anymore except eating.

I go to movies alone (or with my Mum. Well, this is probably the thing that I do most with my friends except eating).

I go to gym alone.

I go to concerts alone (or with my Mum, who is rather reluctant and tends to fall asleep).

I go to Canto-pop concerts with friends, who are not so close (and a few who have become a little distant).

I eat lunch alone (or at my desk. Mum joins me for lunch sometimes as well).

I watch TV (mostly the piled-up TV drama) alone or with Mum who sometimes dismiss herself half way through the show.

I mean all of the above can be done alone, and I sometimes enjoy doing them alone - you don't have to make plans with another person, check schedules, ask the other person's preference for seats/price/location, etc. But if I start to do everything alone, I will become more and more isolated with the people I know. I mean, there are other people out there that like watching the movies I like, listen to the music I listen to, plays badminton and squash, but why aren't those people someone I know?! I start to think this mismatch is some kind of a joke which is to deepen my belief that I am a loner.

I don't know. I have been doing things alone throughout my life.

I think I am a loner. I am an only child. I learnt a musical instrument which is mostly played for solo performance, and the learning and practising is a lot of solitude work. I played alone when I was a small child and I didn't mingle with children from my age or classmates after class. Even when I grew older, during my teenage years, I didn't get any chance to go out with my friends in the weekends. In college, I had a roommate but she's almost inexistent because most of the time she would recede to her boyfriend's place and I had the whole place to myself. Right now at work, I didn't have to work with anyone and I didn't really get to know anyone very well. They all seem to have their own friends and circles already. I might seem to have many friends, but I never got really close with any of them. Most of the time it seemed like I was tagging along so that I could hang out with people but it was really just me trying to push away the loneliness and I didn't have to be by myself all the time.

On this very cold day, though sunny, I feel like a loner. And because there isn't anyone to share the joy of the good weather with me, I feel even more like one.

Apivita 1 - Deep Cleansing mask with Green Argile

陽光普照.17C

昨晚買了Apivita的Fruits in the Box後馬上試了深層清潔的面膜.

一包10ml,份量我嫌有點太多了,但如果留下下次用的話,又怕會乾掉.所以還是狠狠地把它全部塗上臉.淺泥綠色的面膜香香的(它是屬於Aromatherapy系列的),稠稠的.因為不是稀巴巴的所以塗完一層薄的再塗一層上去也可以塗得很均勻.但因為塗得厚了所以原先提議的10-15分鐘就得延之20分鐘了.

時間差不多,面膜也有點乾了.可是其實也只是表面乾而已,下面的面膜還是泥一般的.雖然做面膜是件很享受的事情,可是到了要把它洗掉卻是苦不堪言.大概洗了五分鐘吧,才完全乾淨.下次我會在洗澡的時候做這個面膜!!

洗完了之後,鼻上的黑頭好像也除掉了.堆積在下巴的角質層和粉刺也相繼消失.最主要不會像有些清潔面膜用後連會乾得扯住扯住．感覺十分良好. 不過是否真的有效還得再多用幾次才知道.

其實我在買面膜套裝時也有把這個塗在手上試試.因此也買了平時賣的包裝...順便可以拿Apivita的永久會藉嘛,(買滿HK$500就可以了)以後要再買就有9折囉.

Apivita - 盒子裏的水果

寒冷天氣警告現正生效!!天色良好.12C

打完甂爐(這是看完「最緊要正字」學到的字!)就和寶儀同學一直走到海港城去逛街.怎知已經太晚了,差不多所有的店都打烊.於是我們一直走上去,樓上的店只剩下LCX未關.原來頗寬的通道都設了一個個不同品牌的小攤檔,大概是之前的聖誕/新年購物活動的安排吧.原本我是要堅持這個月不花費的,可是當我經過 Apivita 的檔子時,看到了Fruits in the Box我還是忍不住買了.

Apivita是一個來自希臘的護膚品牌子,她剛來香港時我已經想要試了.一直到最近在報章雜誌上(1, 2,還有我剛看到的舊U Magazine也有提到 - see pic below)看到了這個Fruits in the Box才下定決心要去試試.Fruits in the Box其實是一個repackage的聖誕優惠套裝.$380的包包裏包含了18包不同功用的皇牌產品.其中5樣是新產品,包括了紅酒面膜:

- cleansing tissues 3 in 1 with chamomile (aromatherapy)
- every day face scrub with apricot (aromatherapy)
- deep face scrub with olive (aromatherapy)
- cleansing face mask with pink clay
- deep cleansing face mask with green argile (aromatherapy)
- calming face mask with dittany of Crete
- skin renewal night mask with carrot
- 2 x revitalizing face mask orange & vit. C*
- oily skin balance face mask with propolis
- age management face mask with green tea
- instant lifting face mask with red wine
- firming face mask with grape seed (aromatherapy)
- 2 x aqua plus face mask with cucumber*
- skin food face mask with honey*
- whitening face mask with fruit acids

- eye zone mask with ginkgo biloba

沒有連結的是新產品.還有不得不提的是那個sales姐姐非常好人!我不停問這問那,她都非常仔細地解釋,雖然我現在都記不清那一樣有甚麼功效了.而且當我問她自己有用甚麼時,她也作出了中肯的介紹.打了*就是她個人推薦.買滿了$280可以從金魚缸裏選一樣產品試用.我去付錢時她就替我挑了潤手霜,size剛剛好放手袋裏.她還另送了面霜的試用裝.不過,因為是age management的系列,所以我拿了給媽用.她說很潤但又不會太黏.有點香味但又不會濃得討厭!

剛好今晚輪到做清潔的面膜.等我馬上試一下那個深層清潔面膜再寫!

口不對心

要刮大風囉. 16C

明天要小測,但我一直都還沒有溫習.其實這幾個禮拜都沒有禮拜二晚上的課,但就是沒有心情拿起課本.白白地就把一個禮拜這樣浪費掉.

上一次小測其實不難,不過還是以為會當掉.發回來原來成績也不錯.五分滿分,就被扣掉半分而已;我已很心滿意足.可是有些同學還是為了半分跑去跟教授「理論」.站在他們的角度,半分也是很重要呀.說甚麼也是真金白銀付的學費,嘔心瀝血的啃課本,那半分實在意義重大.而且能多拿半分,就能領先其他人多一點.所以,把它討回來,說甚麼都是應該的.而且,他們堅信他們是對的,那更非討回不可!

對這些緊張自己所相信、所理解的同學們,我是既欽佩又慚愧.雖然我覺得好像是有點小家子氣,但畢竟那自信和勇氣實我所缺乏的.可是,我很容易滿足嘛.而且,我也知道自己只付出了那麼一點點.到底自己寫了甚麼也不大肯定!那,我憑甚麼去跟教授要回我那應該被扣掉的半分呢?

不過有些人,口裏說沒所謂,只求個合格就可以,說又不是要拿獎學金或怎樣的.其實他們不知道有多緊張分數.有時候我也分不清他們緊張是因為怕會不及格還是其他原因.不過當我一聽到他們說,「噢,隨便啦,合格就可以啦」,然後轉頭就埋頭苦讀或跟教授據理力爭的時候,我真的很想吐.

而且,是向他們身上吐.

I am New York?

Cloudy.17C.But I'm freezing in my office.

Sandee suggested to take this quiz as I was trying the other one on her blog yesterday. I thought I was going to curl up somewhere in the mid-west. So, Sandee, don't be upset (if you were), coz I say this quiz is not totally true! :P

You Are New York

Cosmopolitan and sophisticated, you enjoy the newest in food, art, and culture. You also appreciate a good amount of grit - and very little shocks you. You're competitive, driven, and very likely to succeed. Famous people from New York: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Tupac Shakur, Woody Allen

What American City Are You?

It's only 4.55PM?!

But how come it feels like it's already 7pm?

It's only Jan 3... but it feels like... the end of the year.

urgh. i think i'm still in holiday mood!

a little bit of TV...

I didn't watch Prison Break tonight but I've taped it, so I could earn some time to blog. Mum and I did catch up on last week's The Medium, though. I think it was a good episode. The show is developing so the ability to "see" is not only with Allison, but is somehow hereditary and Ariel can also "see". There was a slight hint in an earlier episode when Ariel gave fortunes to her friends, but this episode became clear that, maybe Ariel couldn't see ghosts yet, she could definitely communicate with spirits/beings that were not seen or heard by the "normal" human. A side note: the telepathic psycho doctor murderer, who has long disappeared into another world, was quite smart that he gave Allison misleading hints and almost reached his goal. But of course, righteous US TV would not allow such evil act to happen on domestic screen in the end. [And while searching on Google, I just realised that Allison DuBois and her family are REAL in life. -__-' ]

Anyway, I'm so happy that my colleague has lent me his final season of Alias, so I can watch the last two episodes which I have stupidly missed. But actually, I'm still contemplating (a rather heavy word to use in this occasion) whether I should buy the complete set or not. It's so tempting! But I must give serious thoughts about it before taking any action.

超能膠面膜

今晚輪到做清潔面膜,因此想起櫃桶底有枝去年夏天買的價值七十大圓的DHC面膜,名曰蘆薈淨肌面膜, Peel-Off Pack.包裝上面寫著:

用途:含透明質酸及蘆薈精華,清除毛孔內污垢,抑制過盛的油脂,舒緩補濕.

成分: Water, Polyvinyl Alcohol [this sounds very plastic], Alcohol [double alcohol?!], Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA [this looks dangerous], Placental Protein [placenta!!], Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate [??!!]

可能已經距離上一次用的時候已經有好一陣,因此扭開蓋時竟然有如打開很久沒用的超能膠膠水瓶子的感覺!

猶記得上次敷這面膜時已經感覺不太良好,沒把它丟掉是怕浪費,而且也想再給它一次機會.可是...

敷上面的時候已經覺得有點不對勁.塗得稍厚一點的部分猶如兒時玩的吹波波膠一樣的黏.既然已經敷了,就跟著指示「等面膜完全感透再自下巴處往額頭方向輕輕撕除」.

好,等那面膜乾了之後,就慢慢地把它由下往上地撕掉.我已經儘量輕輕地撕,可是那是不可能的呀!因為那膠面膜黏得實在太牢了.慢慢撕的話,根本就撕不掉.我唯有快刀斬亂麻地把它解決.嘩!痛死了.而且還不只一次呢,因為撕到一半就斷掉了.撕下來的「面膜」是這樣子的:

面皮好像變滑了但不知道是不是因為死皮給硬硬地扯走.而且,不大有清潔過的跡象.鼻子上型型式式的粉刺黑頭還是賴死不走的縮在毛孔裏.塗面膜時不小心讓頭髮給黏在臉上,硬扯了一下,好像要把頭髮給整片扯下了.哇,唯有用清水慢慢的把它洗掉.

好可怕呀.這產品為甚麼會是這樣的?我不是要故意把它貶低,可這七十元也花得夠冤了.

照常營業

多雲.19C

新一年開始了,一切照常.

早上「摸」到八點才考慮要不要洗頭.任憑我怎樣努力地加速,出門的時候都已經是八點五十分.幸好今天並不塞車,所以也沒遲很多.

照常的還有八卦的同事依舊八卦.大聲的同事依然大聲.

雖然我昨天很不節制地把一包卡樂B幹掉,而且也跑出去吃晚飯了(因為小韻下午突然來電約晚飯,把原本要做肉醬意粉的計畫打亂了),但我有早一點睡!(12.04 am!!)可是為甚麼...今天還是依舊釣魚?!

幸好現在已經醒了.希望今年好的事情依舊,壞的(例如上班釣魚)通通消失!

Calbee大搜查(五):歐洲特別版 - 德國腸仔味

終於開了其中一包之前買的歐洲薯仔特別版-- 德國腸仔味(原名要回去找找看).薯片是薄切,有點像原味的質感,但厚一點.樣子是這樣的:


味道呢,是帶點燒烤過又有點煙過的腸仔味.聞起來很香,味道不是太濃或鹹.其實跟有些牌子的培根味有點像.

星:3.5粒.不是我喜歡的味道.吃了一包雖然還撐得住,沒有想獲利回吐的跡象.但也沒有讓我再三回味,欲罷不能的感覺.純粹是為了好奇而試的. :P

不過很奇怪,在Calbee日本公司的網頁是找不到這個版本的!在香港的(原來四洲也做了一個網頁給Calbee!)也沒有!!

New Year Resolutions for 2007

Windy.Brilliant.18C.It's New Year!

I usually don't put down new year resolutions because I know I'll never get myself to completing any of them. But because this year has been such a failure, I think I should put my thoughts down on paper to force myself to face them and realise them.

Anyway, it's still within the first hour of the New Year. I just got back from an early, FREE show of The Holiday (It won't be on until next Thursday, officially). It's brilliant and I love it!! Well, maybe not everyone would like it. And, OMG, I never realise how "insanely good-looking" Jude Law is!

Back to where I have started, here are the things that I MUST/MUST NOT do in 2007:

1. Pass that goddamned exam that I have failed 4 times, which I won't name. It's really getting onto my nerves.

2. Lose at least 20 lbs. Actually, 25 would be perfect.

3. Sleep earlier. Change must take place in a progressive manner. Aim to sleep before 12am by mid-year, and before 11pm by end of year.

4. Exercise regularly, at least 2-3 times per week. Should try to play badminton or squash instead of JUST running like a white rat on a treadmill/cross-trainer.

5. Pick up Japanese again so that I can take the final exam, and so I won't forget what I have learnt.

6. Stop buying/borrowing books and not read them.

7. Same goes for CDs.

8. Ditto for DVDs.

9. AND ditto for skincare products.

10. Speak LESS evil so I won't hurt other people. It's impossible for me to speak no evil, so I guess that's the best that I can ask myself to do.

Ok, I think that's a good list. Any list longer than 10 items will start to lose its real meaning. Let's see how many of those I can accomplish!

Happy New Year, everyone!