Dog Hunting

I'm tired of looking for a dog. There are too many requirements, and not many breeds available here.
1. It has to be a toy dog
2. minimal shedding
3. does not bark much
4. family-friendly
5. Less than RM1500
6. healthy and minimal health weaknesses
7. good temperament
8. fairly easy to train
9. not too active as I am keeping it indoors
10. does not need professional grooming

The Pug's too big. I saw one yesterday at the doggy obedience show. His name is Hugh and he's bloody heavy too. So much for sitting on laps. Will crush my kneecaps. And what's more, Pugs have a lot of problems with their eyes and overheating and I don't really find the constant grunting and snorting for breath charming. No Pugs for me then.

Then there's the Silky Terrier, or any terrier in particular. But it's snappish and more of a one-owner kinda dog. I don't want it snapping at my housemates. That would be hell because it'll mean looking for somewhere to board it when I go outstation or something since it's so unfriendly to others.

Aunt suggested the Pomeranian. I called up some breeders and the price is the killer. Around RM2000-4000. There's a nice breeder who told me to get my Pom pup from the petshop if I'm not interested in showing the dog. I thought of that, but most petshops do not let their pups outta their cages and they are confined for weeks. That screws them up bad and makes them into little nasty bundles of fur for the rest of their lives. And the Pom needs professional grooming. One trip to the groomer is about RM120-150. I don't think I can afford a high-maintenance dog like this. So no Poms for me either.

I could adopt an adult toydog. Yes, that would be great since it's not as active as a puppy. But that would be hard to find. I'll just keep my eyes open, I guess.

I'm so tired. I need to be restored and rejuvenated before entering my next phase with God. I need to soak up on His Word and His presence. There seems to be an extraordinary effort involved for the things that are going to happen in the future. Truly truly, when the next wave comes, I want to be prepared and be buoyed up instead of drowned.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Quitting the Relationship

I have broken up with the boyfriend, and ended the 7-8 years of relationship. For the rest of life's journey, I'll be taking separate paths from him. It is not through mutual agreement and it is somewhat ugly, due to the suddenness of it all. I'm sorry to say I cannot be involved in a relationship in this stage of life when I need to focus all my energies onto my religion and family problems. I cannot afford to be emotionally drained by a relationship. Yes, it is a selfish decision I made alone without the consideration of others.

So, for the very first time of my adult life, I'm single, as I was involved with him since highschool. It's unnerving and intimidating to be alone, after so many years of his constant companionship. I'm just sorry that this could not make it to marriage. It was not realistic in the first place. I should've ended it sooner.

I'm all into dog-hunting nowadays. So far the most promising seems to be a Pug. If i really get one, I'm so not naming it Puggsly, or Puggy or anything resembling it's breed name. I'm gonna name my new dog Cowboy.

Cowboy and I...we're going to ride into the sunset together.

Haggard 'r' Us

Yesterday in the office was awesome. The Boss walked to my cubicle and in a very business-like manner told me to see her in her room. Usually in such cases, as soon as the door is closed on your back, you'll get the most scatching earlashing ever; normally due to a stoopid mistake you unwittingly made which causes a small department to suffer downtime, or get paid zero dollars for their monthly wages, or worse so, gets overpaid. So yeah, I bit my lip, and trudged bravely into her room. The door closed behind me.

First thing The Boss blurted was, " What's wrong with you?!"

"Ha?.."

"You look so haggard! You've lost weight! Are you okay?"

"Uh...."

"If there's anything you need, we as colleagues can always back you up as you take time off. Now c'mon tell me what's wrong."

ANd it went on. The Boss cajoled me to tell her all my personal problems and I could tell she was a bit dissappointed when all I said was that the heat was making me lose major sleep during the nights. As not to let her concern go to waste, I also briefly admitted to my recent family problems and stress. Her eyes grew big and she got that I-am-gossipping look on her face. Haihhh.

Why ah? Why everyone must demand to know. I'm pretty tired relating the same tale again and again to them. Their mouths fall open and say things like, " WAH! Really meh?!" Like don't believe like that. Like I'm purposely lying/entertaining them with a story. Oh man, when will all this end....when will I pick up my tablet and draw again....not that I'm missing drawing much....SIGHH... and that worries me. Being haggard with sunken cheeks and all is fine, but losing passion for drawing is not. All that I used to enjoy, is so bland and meaningless now.

I think I'm going to adopt an imaginary Jack Russell and talk to him (yes he's a boy) all the time. He's going to frolick and play in front of me and nobody will see him except me. I'll name him Cowboy and he'll sleep at my feet at night. Since he's imaginary, he'll eat imaginary dog biscuits, go get imaginary jabs at the vet, and yes, give me lots of....imaginary joy. (Seriously, I've even got my aunt to recommend a good and cheap vet)

I'm stupid.

Better

Know what? I feel so much better right now. So so much better.

Calling it Quits?

Random Phone Photo from yesterday (I should stop taking photos in zoom mode...to bloody blurry...)

Fat pair of twins sitting right opposite me busy clearing up their plates. They are almost as adorable as me when I was a kid.

I've been entertaining thoughts of quitting ROMB these past days due to the amount of pressure and stress I'm facing. Lately, I've been succumbing to pseud0-depression and heaviness, and everything around me is fading ummistakeably into dull gray. My room is in a mess, scattered with unpaid bills, unfiled letters and other similar crap. And everyday is the same old routine of rotting in the office, sitting around in the heat and waiting for bedtime to come. I'm tired of arguing with people and tired of taking care of others. I'm running out of resources but a huge burden perches on my shoulders.....and right now, even at 10am in the office, I feel weary and heavy-limbed.

The boyfriend recommended computer games...I think that would work, but when I start playing, everything else will tone down into a soft blur and I'll be locking myself up in a room while I'm at it. Before I know it, the dust bunnies will grow larger, the papers in my room stack higher, and there will be millions of things waiting for me to do. Numbing it for a short while is okay, but the aftermath might be much worse than now.

I wish I could get a dog. Gone are the days when I go ga-ga over huge hunky dogs like Rotties and Labs. I want a short-furred mutt with extreme good looks and a good temperament. I say, that would be a great way to battle listlessness and depression. Even when I'm Googling about them I feel cheered up.

I know I've already abandoned 2 guinea pigs to my dad, but I swear that was the only case. It's because my dad was retired and mom told me to bring those pigs home to keep him busy in the house. Beats going to the racing turf and betting mahjong, it does. But after a while dad got a MinPin too, and I'm too lazy to drive them pigs back to my house. So I'm currently petless and no animal to talk to. :(

But just for the hell of it, what about a Boston Terrier? ARGH, ugly, but ugliness grows on you, and what's more, they are well-mannered and not noisy, as well as affectionate. Good points. Hm...tend to overheat in extreme hot weather and might have respiratory problems though. Very drooly too...uhm...the boyfriend might not like that...


OMG Look! Beagles!...but beagles need lots of companionship and exercise. Besides, according to some sites, they have this really loud baying bark that might irk the hell outta everyone within howling distance.


Hm..after all this, the Miniature Pinscher is still a pretty good breed of small dogs. It requires minimal grooming (i have no money for monthly haircuts) has no known health problems. (but some sites say they do) And darn I always wanted a Dobermann Pinscher but a MinPin will also do. Maybe I'll get another MinPin like my Dad... ;__;


Obscenely cute. I wouldn't want to clip their ears.

Oh maybe Fox Terriers, or Jack Russells....hm...

I wish I can really get a dog...

Going Korean

My boss commented that I look tired and strung out. I told her it's because of the heat. Sometimes it's so much easier to give an excuse rather than to launch into a full-fledged explanation of the reasons. But all is good, no worries, everything is good.

Been watching a pretty amusing Korean drama called My Little Bride or Sweet18. The Taiwan version is called "18YearOld Bride" or something, and the official site is here. It's about a marriage arrangement between an 18 year-old gangster schoolgirl with a 28 year-old elite district attorney. So both of them entered into nuptials just to please their elders. A marriage of convenience of some sorts, only that the 18 yr old girl has some other ideas. She's determined to make her new husband fall in love with her. Her antics are hilarious, especially the facial expressions that she knead up on her face. This Korean actress Han Ji-Hye, reminds me a bit of another Chinese actress Teresa Mo.

All the kimchi consumption in the drama has made me crave for Korean food. I'm thinking of Kim's for dinner today. Korean food is so good, and has such a distinct flavor of its own. Not to mention, I have a huge fondness for soups and meats and little small sidedish plates. Reminds me of them adorable petri dishes in my school science lab. If only I can afford the grill beef/seafood. It always smells so bloody heavenly from the next table. I'm drooling even when as I type this.


A meal I'm going to have when I save up enough for the grill


Korean HotPot "Shinsollo". Similar to the Japanese "Shabu-shabu" I guess


Kimchi, glorious Kimchi

But I guess if I can still have the appetite to eat, I'm still not beyond caring. And maybe after dinner, I'll go back home and try to do the new ROMB page. Is absolutely aware that I will need to do battle with the vicious heat. Yes, folks. El Nino back with a vengeance. Like a damned curse. SIGH...

Bad Photo Day

Just several photos i snapped with my mobile when I was bored. Most of them were taken when mum made me wait in the car while she braved the sea of aunties to snatch some CNY goods. Mommy is the best. Naturally.


I have this love for old Chinese apothecaries and grocery stores, or sundry stores.


The very lovely clutter and bustle pre-Chinese New Year. Well, it is not lovely if you're the one doing the shopping. Me, I was just the driver.


Horror of horrors, a pink Mercedes Benz. Only in Ipoh.


The MiniPinscher, or affectionately known as the MinPin, showing off her goods to the world. Her name is Bobo by the way and her favorite food is pamelo. My dad is mad about her....or I think it's the other way around. Bobo adores my dad. Everynight, she waits for dad to come home from his mahjong, sometimes even until 2am. The little idiot actually falls asleep waiting for him. Ish. But she's so cute and so human and her eyes so bulgy and you can pick her up with one hand. How can you not fall in love with a dog like that. So I was suckered into spending some bucks on the little demon. Got her a camouflage shirt yesterday in Atria (ala American Soldiers). Oh gawrsh I can't wait to see her in it. It will be so fun poking fun at her while she stands there looking like a disapproving old fart.

Too bad I didin't get much photos. Sad. Still have some dog pics of my aunt's. Will post later.

Back from the Dead

I'm back to work. Reality sucks. For awhile there, CNY celebrations had buoyed me gently in a cloud of deceptive well-being. Now I fall back with a loud splat onto the hard ground of cruel truths. Crappo.

Mails spill from my office inbox, paperwork piles high, my pc at home went dead, and the weather is still freakin hot. But there is one cheery thing. I found Satoshi Kon's "Tokyo Godfathers" DVD yesterday for RM10. Bootlegged, of course, but my poverty made me do it.

I don't have the heart to type much, for family problems is growing at an exponential rate. Like what us Chinese says "One wave not down, another wave come oledi". But still, the family will persevere and soon, all will be calm again. This is a battle we must win.

Anime Alert!

Yesterday was a good day. I finally got around to watch Satoshi Kon's Sennen Joyu, or Millennium Actress.



Millennium Actress is an epic love story, made like marvelous poetry where reality and fantasies merge seamlessly; it's a story of Chiyoko, a girl born in Japan at the brink of WWII who became an actress for the sole purpose of searching for a man, an anti-government painter. For the full treatment of the story, get it here. **spoiler alert**

Why did I enjoy the story? I am mostly captivated with the way the simple storyline was fleshed out in such vibrant tableau of storytelling mediums. It was artistic without the drowning the storyline, and the novelty never dulled. As the pace of the movie smoothly builds up, we see Chiyoko growing up in her movies from a young naive girl to an actress in her prime. Her emotions also evolved along the years; her simple determination to return the key to the man slowly blossomed into a complex longing love for him, despite the fact that she has never seen his face or known his name.


Fateful Meeting



Running after the Man



Chiyoko's first Movie


One of the more memorable scene for me was in one of Chiyoko's movie where she played the teacher. Her students teased her about her boyfriend, oblivious of their teacher's shaky smiles, and asked her if he's handsome. Chiyoko's character (but more so of Chiyoko) burst into tears suddenly as the pain of the years seeped through the cracks. She had never seen his face, nor can she remember how he looked like after so long.


He's in Kyoto! I'll go to him!



Growing up in her Movies



Still searching



We must rescue my lord!


Similar to this, we see Chiyoko's mother nagging her to get married, as her daughter will not remain in her prime forever. I had to applaud the seiyuus for the superb voice-acting. Chiyoko's voice actually cracked and she hid her face behind her hands, muffling her replies. She said that the man is still alive, and that she will find him, and all this is amidst quavering courage in the face of very real fears.

All these very tangible emotions jump off the screen and grab the audience. All this accomplised with uncomplex dialogues and intricately-designed scenes that comes off as "of no importance" to the viewer. I am at awe with the writers with all this deceptively common scenes, sometimes portraying Chiyoko in normal day-to-day activities, wearing normal clothes that normal people at that era would wear. Also, kudos to the design team for not making her eyes too sparkling or huge, nor gave her gargantuan boobs. I'm happy to report that I'm pleased with what I see. Some of Chiyoko's outfit makes her look dull and complacent, which is how people look in reality no matter how glamourous they may be in front of the screen.

If you're a big anime buff, or if you're into artsy-fartsy flicks (like WongKarWai's 2046, for instance), you should catch this. It is an entirely beautiful experience watching the Millennium Actress. My only complain is the ending, as it is slightly unsatisfying and sad. In the end, I also disagree how Chiyoko expressed that she actually loved the journey of chasing after the elusive man. How could that be true, when she was so depressed and upset all her life? Especially when she actually believed that she was cursed forever to burn in the flames of eternal love. That's pretty hard to understand, if you ask me.

But anyway, it was a very good day yesterday as I said. I'm going to hunt down Tokyo Godfathers and Perfect Blue now.