Any Other Wednesday Morning

                                                                               photograph by FillyBlynn

He walked into the cafe and scouted the joint. Not too many broads. At the corner he spotted a decent looking bird, a blond in a cute blue dress. He walked over to her table.

"This seat taken doll?," he asked.

"Umm...." the girl said.

"It is now," he said again. He slid himself to the seat opposite and made himself comfortable. He leaned forward and held both of the girl's arms.

"The name's Harry. What's your name doll?"

"Mary...Clark."

"Mary. Mary. Sweet name. Look into my eyes, Mary. Aren't they the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen? You're just falling in love now, aren't ya."

"Err...," she said, not sure what else to say.

Mary looked around to see anyone was looking at their table. Everyone seemed to be carrying on with their business.

"Tell me, Mary. How would you like to be my date today?" Harry asked.

She shifted in her chair and did not know what to say to him. She steadied herself.

"No...no. I can't. I have something to do," she said.

"Come on, now. Surely you have time for ol'Harry. It ain't everyday you meet a handsome stranger in a joint like this is it. Come one now. Come with ol'Harry, he'll show u grand time."

"But I..."

"No. I won't take no for an answer now. Let's go."

He flashed her a wide grin and a wink and led her by the arm outside. Mary grabbed her handbag just in time with a swipe at the table.

---

Mary swung once around the table, then slumped back into her seat. She looked at the other people again. They were all still chattering away. She let out a deep sigh. Nobody even bothered that she was talking to herself, no one noticed her friend Harry. What a boring bunch.

The Pomodoro Technique

by Francesco Cirillo

I read this by recommendation of one of the other PhD guys. You can get this book in pdf form for free here. It's a book on how to manage time, what time means and how you can use it in a way to do work effectively. The main point is not to only get the most out of your time but also remove the anxiety and stress associated with time. It gives very simple and easy to use techniques that seriously would not add to the amount of work you need to do to begin with. It rather allows you to focus and prioritize on what is important and what is not.

I have tried using the technique throughout the day and early signs seem to be encouraging. I felt absolutely stress-free, and for today out of all days that was odd given that I was given news that I have even more work now over the next 2 months. But the Pomodoro technique gives the task perspective and breaks it down into manageable activities. Also I was focused throughout the day and was not fatigued at the end of the day. Till now after hitting the gym for an hour I still feel pretty well vital. The technique removed a lot of the negative energy generated through the constant criticism and doubt in my internal dialogue. 

highly recommend this to anyone who like me find it difficult to work for long periods with high levels of concentration. If you are the type of person that when reading halfway through something, then find something you don't understand goes and Google it, which leads to checking football news, which leads to Facebook, which leads to checking the email and leads to IM'ing several people, and when you look at the time an hour has passed and you wonder what you were doing and where the time has gone; if you are that sort of person, you really need this technique.

Meeting the quota & Expectations

related repost from other blog.

I have for the past few months tried to read about a book a week, and well, although I enjoy it, I have been reading books that are fast-paced and thrilling. But I have been neglecting the more substantial, meaty books. So I think I shall give up on the 1 book a week and go with whatever books is beautiful. I mean there is no meaning to pressure myself to finish reading quick if I don't enjoy it. Say like eating, some foods you just need to eat slowly and savour. So reading Tess of D'Ubervilles and Dante's Divine Comedy, I will read this very very slowly to get the full effect of the beautiful words. And be totally immerse in that world. I mean, the important thing is not the amount I read but the quality of transportation to that dimension and how it is there. Reading fast will make it a horrible experience.

I guess the same goes for my story writing. Stop with the expectation on myself. I should just stop thinking of what I think people will accept and what is nice, what is cliche what is not. If my story is cliche so be it, but I need to have it be totally organic to me and be acceptable to me to be a story that I myself would read again without the apprehension that this story is pretentious, not genuine. There needs to be my heart, soul and honesty of my writing. Be it twisted or horrible, it is still my story. If I am happy with it, all I can do is hope other people appreciate it. I rather have fewer people appreciate my work than be a sellout.

The Cooks' Book: For the Cook Who's Best at Everything

by Louise Dixon

Read this book on Sunday. Well, it's not fiction obviously. It's a good book for understanding the basics of how to use ingredients, cuts of meats, how to prepare seafood etc. It gave me ideas of how to cook better with minimal amount of effort. I'm trying to move away from processed foods. And this book really helps in that. For instance things like sour cream, Hollandaise and mayonnaise are so easy to make, I think I'll just make my own next time.Anyways, it's better to do the processed yourself, ensures the nutrients are kept and have higher content in the food eaten.

Also teaches how to decrease the waste that would be generated from produce. Like for instance the leftover from 1 recipe can be used for another recipe. And if some fresh herbs are going bad what you can do. Also the tips for preserving produce. For example, I did not know some produce cannot be placed with some others, because they make them go bad faster. Also, some should be put in the fridge, some should not, and ways to preserve freshness in your ingredients.

Overall, a good guide for cookins basics. It's probably a sort of Cooking for Idiots kind of book, but for me, very informative.

Windmills of the Gods

by Sidney Sheldon

This story is about Mary Ashley, a university professor who is selected by the newly-elected president of the United States to be the ambassador to communist-ruled Romania. This is during the time of the Eastern and Western blocs, when the Iron Curtain was a massive issue. Book 1 follows the story of Mary Ashley's journey from being a university professor to becoming the ambassador. Book two goes to her life in Romania, the challenges she face and the dangers that ensue. There are many political enemies to the US, and also more specifically to the new administration who do not want to see Mary succeed in opening Romania to the world. Some would even go to murder to achieve this end.

This book is as always thrilling. But in book one I really did not like the feeling of the book. Mary Ashley is portrayed as quite dumb and arrogant at times. I do believe she could be more independent and a stronger character. She is a university professor and would be more suited to be a stronger woman. Also her reason for selection did not seem to be carried through to her job role much. I get the feeling the reason she was chosen, because she was an expert in Eastern European politics did not play into the considerations and actions she made later on. This is sort of an overall criticism.

In book 2 the pace picks up more and all those criticisms though I think valid, I simply did not care anymore. The pace was thrilling and the action was wonderful. I love the political issues she were faced with and how she overcame them. At moments, they seem a bit self-serving, the issue and solution format but I do not really care. And of course the ending has a wonderful twist. So overall a lovely book.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

I've gotten some freebies this year. Like the tickets to Eros and Psyche and tickets to Splice. Well, they were both pretty crap but this one really was quite amazing. So the story is boy has prophecy to fulfill and is trained by a wise teacher etc. Well, it's all in the execution isn't it. I mean the plot is pretty standard fare, like a Percy Jackson or Eragon. But this one was really good, I was admittedly pleased with how good the movies is. Well, this year has been good with movies. I loved Prince of Persia, A Team and How To Train Your Dragon. Yay for freebies and Reading Cinema is awesome.