September 2 2008: A Faux Sense Of Independence
Despite all my posturing about my independence, the fact remains that if I were to move out of the family home, I would fail miserably and possibly die a long and lingering death. Finances isn’t a problem. I earn more than enough, and I know how to be thrifty. It’s the everyday practical things that I’ll fail at.
Cooking and eating balanced meals would be a problem. I can bake cookies and cakes better than anyone else I know, I make a mean salad, excel at plain soup noodles, can handle a simple pasta dish, and my sandwiches are to die for. When it comes to the well-rounded meat and three veg, any seafood dishes, or anything else though, I’m less than adequate. For someone who grew up in a household run by two former cooks who rarely let their progeny invade their ’space’, I’m used to excellent cooking provided to me by others. There’s only so many cakes, cookies, salads, soup noodles, pasta dishes, and sandwiches that I can eat before yearning for something more sophisticated.
Cleaning would present a problem as well. I can wash dishes, dust, and vacuum with the best of them, but when it comes to the down-and-dirty cleaning, I’m a bit hopeless. Scrubbing soap scum off showers, and cleaning toilets? Erm, what? You mean it’s not just magically clean? (Laundry won’t be a problem, I’m excellent at laundry.)
Automobile maintenance would be a problem. I drive and fill up the petrol tank - that’s about the extent of my automobile knowledge. My father takes care of checking both cars for wheel air pressure, changing engine oil, etc. If I were to move out, my wheels would be entirely flat and the engine would fall out onto the road before I even realised that anything was wrong.
With all that said, I’m going to have to move out at some point before I go batshit insane. A long and lingering death would be preferable to continuing to live under the strict traditional Asian parental roof.
Filed under Family & Life with 14 Comments
September 1 2008: It’s Halloween Soon, Right?
That can really be the only excuse for the amount of orange around these parts.
Still fixing up little quirks here and there. Criticise me and tell me I’m an idiot.
Filed under Online with 23 Comments
September 1 2008: Reviews In Ten Words: August 2008
Non-Fiction
- Charlotte Chandler - Not The Girl Next Door (Joan Crawford, A Personal Biography): Complete opposite of “Mommie Dearest”, read both for full portrait.
- David Mendell - Obama: From Promise To Power: Definitely a pro biography, with not much balance in cons.
- Sean Smith - Jennifer, the Unauthorised Biography: Light and inconsequential, most details taken from tabloids and Wikipedia.
- Xinran - What The Chinese Don’t Eat: Collection of Guardian articles exploring the modern Chinese female identity.
Fiction
- Cecelia Ahern - Thanks For The Memories: Like all subsequent novels, not quite “P.S. I Love You”.
- Elizabeth Aston - The True Darcy Spirit: Barely related to canon, portrait of an independent Regency heroine.
- Louise Candlish - Since I Don’t Have You: From ink on pages, loss and grief enters your soul.
- Leslie Carroll - Choosing Sophie: Questions of genetic connections and environment, amongst burlesque and baseball.
- Georgette Heyer - Pistols For Two: Short stories give quick soundbites of happily cliched Regency romance.
- Nicola Kraus & Emma McLaughlin - Citizen Girl: Sacrifice your morals in the big city and corporate world.
- Paul Magrs - Never The Bride: Bemusing combination of supernatural elements and lively senior citizen frolics.
- Christine Matthews (editor) - Deadly Housewives: It’s true: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
- Fidelis Morgan - The Rival Queens: Excellently discreet tongue-in-cheek references for the modern reader.
Movies
- 12 Monkeys (1995): Mind-bending plot twists, straight from the dark imagination of Gilliam.
- Baby Mama (2008): Suck shit Christopher Hitchens, who says female comedians aren’t funny?
- Employee of the Month (2006): Mindless entertainment of the physical comedy variety. B-list Frat Pack.
- John Tucker Must Die (2006): Coterie of B-list actresses star in a B-list teen comedy.
- Just Like Heaven (2005): Much better than the short chick lit novel, believably sweet.
Filed under Reviews with 2 Comments