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A hodgepodge of books that I’ve bought in the past few weeks…or months? Anyways…will update the list in the ‘library’ soon…but for now…

A Good Wife - Elizabeth Buchan (7/10)
Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman - Elizabeth Buchan (7.5/10)
Kane & Abel - Jeffrey Archer (8/10)
The Prodigal Daughter - Jeffrey Archer (6/10)
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (6/10)
The Ice Queen - Alice Hoffman (didn’t finish…!)
The Pact - Jodi Picoult (7/10)
The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella (5/10)
A Season for the Dead - David Hewson (5/10 - found it boring)
The Constant Princess - Philippa Gregory (7.5/10)
Love Rules - Freya North (6/10)
Everyone Worth Knowing - Lauren Weisberger (5/10)
Lipstick Jungle - Candace Bushnell (5/10)
How I Stole Her Husband - Liz Ireland (5/10)
Life Swap - Jane Green (5/10)
Princess of Park Avenue - Daniella Brodsky (5/10)
The Vampire Chronicles Collection Volume 1 (Interview With The Vampire/The Vampire Lestat/Queen of the Damned) - Anne Rice (still plodding along…)

It’s no wonder why toilets in M’sia are so dirty…even highly-educated people who work in MNCs don’t know how to use toilets properly.

Example 1: You think you’re an wannabe-extra for Waterworld?
Oh why oh why do you have to wet the toilet seat when you use the hose? And why do you have to freaking wet the entire floor as well?!? Do you think that you’re doing a big favour for the cleaning lady by wetting the toilet seat first so that she doesn’t have to do it when she comes in to clean the toilet?

Example 2: Yes, women do pee standing up…
Aim for goodness sake, if you do! Go take lessons from your bf/husband/f-buddy. But DO NOT spray all over the toilet seat like an un-neutered cat. And if you do, WIPE before leaving. No one wants to come into the toilet and see yellow stains all over the seat. Yuck.

Example 3: You know that little hook beside the toilet seat? That’s where you HANG the hose.
You do NOT leave the hose lying on the floor, or worse still, half-submerged in the toilet bowl. And even worse, half-submerged in the un-flushed toilet bowl. Double yuck.

Example 4: Having your period? Go ahead…let the whole world know.
Stop dripping your menstrual blood everywhere. You think you’re Hansel and Gretel, leaving breadcrumbs to find your way back, izzit?

Example 5: Having your period? Go ahead…let the whole world know, part II.
I know you have lots of things on your mind, like whether you should pee standing up or sitting or squatting…but please do try to remember not to leave you used sanitary pad lying around for all and sundry to see. Especially on your ‘heavy-flow’ days. Yuck.

Example 6: You think your shoes damn clean izzit?
You wanna climb on top of the toilet seat, do a balancing act and pee? Go ahead. But please do have the courtesy to wipe the seat after that instead of leaving your shoe imprints there. Are you that worried that you might fall into the bowl and accidentally flush yourself down into the sewerage pipe that you have to leave clues behind for the CSI team to investigate your disappearance?

Example 6: Flush. After. Use.
There’s nothing worse than stepping into a toilet cubicle and find out that someone has left you a souvenier. You know that shiny lever/button close to the toilet seat? No really…it’s not for decorative purposes.

…I feel as if I’m taking two steps forward and one step back.

Will get there in the end, I hope.

Listening to: �?�说�?次.�??�?�� by Andy Lau from the movie All About Love. Makes me cry, everytime.

I just remembered I made some New Year resolutions at the end of last year/beginning of this year (yes…it doesn’t bode well that I forgot about my NY resolutions…)…so without further ado…here’s what I’ve planned/achieved this year:

1. To think about what I really want to do. Not just right now, but a few years into the future. Can i realize my dream of opening my own shop? Time to do some research!
Am nowhere near to even knowing what I want. I’m just happily floating along at where I’m at right now…fleeting thoughts of changing jobs, changing companies, working in Singapore/Australia comes and goes, but I haven’t given much thought to any of those options. Yet.

2. To be less critical of others.
I’d like to think that I managed to do that during the second half of the year. So…consider it accomplished!

3. And less sarcastic.
Unfortunately, my sarcastic streak went up two fold during the 4th quarter of the year…which probably nullifies the above accomplishment. Darn.

4. To be more patient when driving.
Ahhh…this was easily accomplished cause I didn’t drive much…heheh…

5. To continue my yoga classes. (failing failing! haven’t been yoga in weeks! blaming it on work…)
Eeeps! ‘Nuff said!

6. To take up at least one dance class. Preferably salsa.
Didn’t happen. Amazingly, this was on my 2004 pseudo-resolution (pseudo because on principle, I don’t make resolutions. 2005 was an exception) list as well. And 2003. So now you can imagine what a master I am in procrastinating…

7. To take up one language class. Preferably Japanese.
Yes! I managed to do it…only to drop out halfway…grrrr…

8. To spend less and budget more.
Almost managed to accomplish that. Until I felt I needed MNG’s entire Autumn/Winter collection to update my wardrobe.

9. To take my parents out for dinner once a month. Feel so guilty….*blush*
It started off well…until I started spending more and budgeting less…

10. To save enough money to continue my feng shui and bazi modules.
Technically, I didn’t have to save money cause I put it all on the credit card and took an 0% installment plan. Am waiting to pay it off before going for another class.

11. To start cooking again…! At least once a fortnight!
Ha! I did this! I did this! Every day during my break, too! Well, Mondays to Wednesdays, at least.

12. To start baking again as well! (here are some of the things I’ve already marked down in my recipe books to try!)
Accomplished this at the beginning of the year…and everything just died off when I quarreled with the oven…

Well, there ARE 19 days more to go before 2006 arrives…anything is possible in 19 days, right? Right? Ahhh nevermind…resolutions are made to be broken. Oh wait…that only applies to promises…

*hangs head in shame*