I know I posted this entry March 2008 - http://trishawisha.livejournal.com/39963.html - not knowing that Patrick Swayze would pass away a year and a half later....

This is my tribute to him...

Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing

Sam Wheat in Ghost

But I loved loved LOVED you most as Vida Boheme in To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar

Miss Vida Boheme opened my eyes to the complexities, philosophies, and beauty of queenhood when I first saw the movie at the age of 12 years old - thank you HBO (although I'm not queer myself, but you know what I mean). I loved her so much, and I thought she was the prettiest queen I have ever seen (and still is!). 

She wasn't ghetto-chic as Miss Noxeema Jackson... 

and not trashy as Miss Chi Chi Rodriguez (pre-strawberry festival!!).

She was just the elegant, refined, Miss Vida Boheme, and I absolutely adored her!

So, Mr Patrick Swayze, thank you for putting life to Miss Vida Boheme.

Thank you.

Things are slowly falling into place.

• I have started an absolutely fantastic job that I actually enjoy. I feel a bigger purpose in my career that I never quite expected to happen. It's challenging alright, but one that I've actually started enjoying. I'm glad and grateful.
• My foodblog has picked up hits and it's been getting quite a bit of attention! Again, it's hard work but I'm glad it's all paying off.
• Slowly eased back into my old gym routine. When I was unemployed, I went into an exercise slump and significantly decreased my gym visits, but since starting the new job I've managed to return to my usual gym visits.

Anyway, it's still early days but I'm really happy with how things are turning out.
It's still 3 months away from Christmas, but with all these blessings, I feel like my Christmas came in early. To all those who stuck with me when I've almost driven everyone insane... big big big thanks.

I don't know why some people have to steep low when they're hit with intimidation.

Case in point: a very marvelous girlfriend who happens to be one of the smartest and funniest chica I have known. Some people get intimidated, and for whatever reason would try to copy and stalk her.

Ah but imitation simply is a form of flattery, I'm sure? I find it very amusing that some people feel the need to dismember their dignity for the sake of what? Winning the competition and emerge the victor? I don't think so. More like pretending to be someone you're not... but with bad grammar and even worse writing skills.

Anyway, to you my dear sweet sweet friend - you are a brilliant person, with a quick wit, a delightful sense of humour, a diligent and dedicated soul, and a compassionate heart. Just keep doing what you're doing, because I and the rest of the world know that you are so much better than her. Plain and simple.

I know everyone's probably sick and tired of my City 2 Surf posts in Twitter & Facebook, so I'll just put everything under the cut.

(  City 2 Surf 2009 official time is..... )

GREEN START in 2010 BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hahaha.

Ok. Did my last outdoor training today. MAN WAS IT HARD! Joseph really pushed me to jog that extra 500 metres around the Opera House when I was already giving up, and I suppose it was worth it. 

So, training today was a 45 minute Body Attack class and a 6 km jog around Hickson Rd, The Rocks, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House and Botanical Gardens. I have a blister in my right foot but I'm hoping this will heal up before City 2 Surf on Sunday.

Am I ready for the 14km run? Maybe. Am I scared? Totally!!!

Oh, and my right ankle's twitching right now. I have two more Body Attack classes to do this week before Sunday and I hope this ankle holds up!

Amidst all the ugly things that are happening right now, all the stress, all the tears, all the heartaches, one and only one person remained a constant in my life. And for that, I am very grateful.


Thank you, my dear boy. You are the only thing that's still keeping me together.

I love you always.

PS. That was a photo taken when he cooked dinner for us ALL BY HIMSELF. Yes, he was quite proud of it. I was too. :)

I can't believe I am in this situation again. Exactly last year, I was in this career hole with nowhere to go. Finding my job was my salvation, and I vowed I'd do everything to excel and prove to the company that they didn't make a mistake in hiring me.

12 months later, I am in this situation again.

I can't believe it.

Now I don't know what to do with all this free time. I still keep returning to the office, eventhough we were all terminated as of Friday last week. However, there are still things to do in the office (cleaning up all the junk I've accumulated in the past year), forms to fill out, goodbyes to be said, etc etc.

I'm not too worried about myself. Ok, I am worried, but I think about the predicament of my other workmates and I just feel sorry for them.

I can't believe I'm in this situation again.

I NEED A MASSAGE*.

Also, I'm about to go through a complete meltdown. Joseph's the only person that is keeping me sane and intact right now. And I just vent out all of my anger, frustrations, and worries towards exercise.

Hence, I need a massage.

*This week's City2Surf training: 12 kms run, 2 Body Attack and 1 Body Pump classes. My shoulders are in constant pain, my legs feel like dead weight, and I could barely walk properly. Even the grandma in Bankstown Food Festival this afternoon walked faster than me. Pffft.

I don't think I can remember working out like this except for my day-before-marathon training last year (where I did a Body Attack class in the morning and then a 3km jog that afternoon). But that still isn't compared to the training I'm proposing on my last 3 weeks before this year's City 2 Surf.

I jogged 12km this week, with the 6kms done during lunch today and a Body Attack class after work.

I was planning on going for another jog tomorrow, but hot diggity damn my thighs are sore sore sore.

I'm glad that I'm able to do a 6km run nonstop, but I know I still have a long way to go.

Ooooh dear. I think I'm going to need a Thai massage after City 2 Surf.

Yes. I'm a slacker. 3 weeks into City 2 Surf and I've only just started outdoor running.

Apart from my gym sessions, I haven't done any proper outdoor training to prep myself for City 2 Surf. 14 kms in 90 mins or less is what I am aiming for, but to do this I need to do proper training.

So, tomorrow I will jog again. And tomorow, I will aim for a better time.

I did enjoy jogging with the boy though and basking under the warm, refreshing Sydney sun. It was such an awesome sunny day that it didn't feel like winter at all!

I hope we get the same weather tomorrow!! It'll be maximum 23 deg C but windy... hmmmm... bring it on!

I am grateful .

Grateful for family...



Friends...

 

...and all the blessings God has given me.

Just a few bits and pieces from my birthday tea party over the weekend...

( Food photos under the cut )

Shame I wasn't able to get a photo of all of the guests, but towards the end when it quieted down I managed to grab a few of the remaining girls for a photo.

sushi_star i_kissthesky , me, and lala0range



Again, thanks so much for coming and for eating my cooking!!!!! Hahaha it was an epic kitchen adventure and I'm just glad everything worked out in the end.

Here's to the next 24 (and more) years! :)

...

I'm officially a bad person and should be strangled. I forgot to thank the hosts of the party! Thanks Pia for pointing it out! ARGHHH I can't believe it. My brain's buggered to the core and I have no excuse.

So.... a big big BIG thank you to lilmisswanderer larochka173 and coolbananas for letting me use their house as the venue of my tea party.

I owe you guys a tocilog breakfast/lunch/dinner, promise. One weekend, I'll rock up with tocino for you guys.

WINNER!!

I've read the book, I've cried in the book, and now this...






I saw the trailer, I cried in the trailer, wait til you see me watch the movie (Joseph, honey, pass me the tissue box please?).

Oh and who wants to see these movies with me:

1. Julie & Julia - this is a foodblogger's biography movie. IT IS! Oh and Meryl Streetp and Stanley Tucci together again post The Devil Wears Prada? I like!
2. Sunshine Cleaning - another Amy Adams movie, with another The Devil Wears Prada connection - Emily Blunt. One word: FANTASTIC!
3. Obsessed - I like a good "thriller" bahaha!

And lastly....

HARRY POTTER! I have tickets already for June 17 and reserved seats too so WOOHOOHOO!

I just posted a long as email and then it disappeared. I hate it when that happens.

Bullet points because I am lazy to retype them:

• Did double classes Body Step & Pump tonight because of guilt of skipping gym yesterday. I didn't cool down enough because now my arms feel like lead.
• Hot girl in Pump was lifting 22.5kg during squats track - a good 10 kgs heavier than mine or the other men in class. WHAAAAT! She's really hot though.
• July officially starts my birthday month. Yes, I get a month, not a day, but the boyfriend will disagree. ("You only get a day, hon! ONE DAY!"). Haha I kid I kid!
• 2 hen's night, 1 bridal shower, 1 Blue Mountains trip, 1 Shoal Bay trip, a tea party, a wedding, City 2 Surf marathon, and Good Food & Wine Show this July/August = booked out weekends.
• I am craving for mud cake. The Woolies kind that you pour with thickened cream and eat infront of the telly while watching your favourite prime time show eg NCIS on a Tuesday night. ARGHHHH I hate these pms cravings!

Exercise talk again. Pardon me... but apart from work, gym has pretty much taken over my spare time. Which is fine because I'm totally enjoying it.

But why is it that my thighs are still big? Siiigh. Ok, they are definitely musclier and stronger, but they are still big.

HAAAY.

I blame it on my mum's big Chinese thunder thigh genes. Why didn't I inherit dad's long, skinny legs which my younger sister luckily has as well?

Oh well. These thunder thighs have taken me through lunges & squats, star jumps and jacks, up kicks and flicks, and down to leg balances, aeroplane moves, and stretches. I've learned to live with them for the past (almost) 24 years, I'm sure I can hack 24 more :)

I am officially at my lightest in 7 years...

I weighed myself last night and it read 70 kgs. The last time I was 70kgs was 7 years ago, when I used to starve myself, eat junk, don't exercise, and lived an unhealthy lifestyle.

Which means I am only 2 kgs away from my target weight.

Which means it is still attainable (which I initially thought was mission impossible!).

Which means if I reach 65kgs I should be in the middle of a healthy BMI (I'm currently on the heavier side of a healthy BMI...).

Which means all the pain, sweat, and tears of exercising is finally working! All the lunges, squats, chest presses, tricep push ups, star jumps, running, crunches, clean & presses, and everything else were worth the pain.

Ang sakit ng exercise, ano!

Haaay. Thank you Lord.

...

I always have a yearly birthday ritual. I don't go to a spa for pampering (although for this year I will be going to Shoal Bay with a bunch of girls for a hen's night weekend pampering woo!), I don't shop til I drop during EOFYS (yes, sucks to have your birthday fall under the major sales because that means an extra effort of NOT buying anything drastic), I don't binge out in a 7 course degustation dinner in a fancy $200 per head restaurant...

I get a haircut.

Last year's haircut was the worst. I was sick and tired of my long hair so I went "under the blade" and got it chopped off. BAD IDEA. Why? I have a round face, and it just didn't go well with the style and cut of my short hair.

Remember: Round chubby face does not go well with SOME haircuts! Trish, don't be delusional that you can just rock any hairdo, because you can't.

Anyway the boyfriend has banned me from having short hair. He made me promise to grow my hair and in the event that I do want to visit the hairdresser that I keep the length of my hair long.

I suppose he has a point.

So this weekend, because the boy is working overtime in the city, and because I will have the whole afternoon to myself looking for a christening gift for his basketball teammate's son, I've decided to get an early birthday haircut from my favourite local hairdresser's, Yvan of Salon d' Art in Parramatta.

And then, I have a date with myself at Border's, sit down, have a cup of coffee, read up on magazines because I want to be shallow sometimes, and just relax.

Ahh yes. Me likey the weekend plans already!

I love Japan, you know I love Japan, but I love the Socceroos more.

2-1! 2-1! 2-1!

As everyone know, my sister and I love everything Japanese. We grew up being huge fans of Japanese anime (trust me, we were HUGE fans - a whole bookcase dedicated to Japanese anime paraphernalia). She loved everything Japanese too much she even went as far as studying it as her major in university; I, on the other hand, went as far as impulsively buying plane tickets to Osaka and finding myself even more inlove with Japan once I ate, breathed, bathed, and slept on the wonderful Japanese land. Oh yeah.

So to reminisce my Japan holiday and prepare for our big trip (oh it's not until 2011 but we're just really excited), my sister made some green tea mochi balls with a red bean centre.

I told Joseph if I'd turn lesbo for anyone, it would be her.



Woooohooohoooo GO SAM!!!