R.I.P. Malaco!!

It's a bad omen. What a bad start for the new year!

I had another bad omen dream before the holidays and it sorta became true.( *sigh* I've given up any hope on that one for now.) Even though 13 is my favourite number and so forth, in a way, I'm superstitious sorta in more of an intuitive way. For instance, if something leaves me a bad feeling in my mouth, it usually will be true and it's not the good truth. Hmm.. I dunno. Damn Chinese superstitions can be creepy though! Many Feng Shui fanatics believe that this is just an old wives tale, but amongst the Chinese, we believe fish brings good luck and represents fertility. So when a fish dies, it represents something bad was supposedly happen to the owner but the fish "absorbs the bad luck" and sacrified itself instead. Not very reassuring for someone who is about to make a huge change in her life eh? Yeah... EEP!

My purple/red betta fish named Malaco (named after the company who makes Swedish gummy fish) of 3 years has been ill, he was given to me from a dear friend, Ryan, couple years ago as my birthday present. Betta fish's lifespan is 2-5 years. Recently, Malaco has been hanging out at the bottom of the bowl and lost appetite for food. I goggled up the interweb that he might be suffering from depression?! Fish does that? That they might starve themselves to death. Also been noticing that his fin has been shrinking as well, might have indicated that he was suffering from an infection...

I was suppose to be seeking potential new parent(s) for him but instead when I got home an hour ago, I found him completely flipped over on his back but didn't float up on top like a dead fish suppose to do. Instead of his normal red/purple colour, his body was pale and turned almost white. When I tapped on the bowl and swirled around it a bit, Malaco had shown no reaction and had no sign of breathing.

When Malaco first got sick, Amy has been consoling me that maybe he knows that his owner is leaving. I dunno. I don't deal well with deaths. I certainly don't want to flush him down the toilet. I might "free" him tomorrow to the pond in the park across from my house tomorrow morning. Returning it back to nature is the best way I can think of doing right now...

*SIGHHH*

Becoming British: Part III

THE WAIT IS OVER!!

WOW. That was quick!

The British Embassy in Ottawa sent me an email today informing me that my visa has been approved and will be mailed within 3 business days. Talk about speed. The whole process took less than 3 days!!

Best of all, I made it to the Air Canada seat sale before it ends tonight at midnight!!

Becoming British: Part II

For the first time I'm actually impressed with Canada Post. Okay, so i paid $9 for my Xpress Post (that's including a signature $1.50 extra) yesterday, and I've been informed today that my passport/document package has arrived to the British Embassy in Ottawa safely!

I've finally completed the one-two-three steps to apply for my holidaymaker visa. Now I just have to wait 10 business days for the processing. This is what it's going to kill me, it's the wait. It possibly could take longer, as it's closer to the holidays, hopefully not. What if they reject me?? I'm thinking any possible ways they could have reject me, I can't think of much... I'm not sure what the turnover rate is and if they have a limit of how many visas they're entitled to give out each year. They don't recommend to book flight until visa has been issued. ARGH but the Air Canada seat sale ends tomorrow night!!

I should book it anyway, if not i'll just take a vacation in Europe, then come back and start a new life...

Cooking: Quicky Green Curry Dinner

Green Curry Tofu with Udon & Veggies
(Serves 2-3)

1/2 to 1 tbsp	Green Curry Paste
1 can	Coconut Milk
3 tbsp	Fish Sauce
2 tbsp	Sugar
2/3 cup	Water
2 packages	Udon Noodles
1 package	Fried Bean Curd
1-2 cup(s)	Master Choice Frozen Oriental Mix Veggies

1. In a medium saucepan with med-high heat, brings coconut milk to boil, add green curry paste, fish sauce, sugar and water. Turn down heat and simmer for 5 mins.

2. Add tofu, cook until tofu is softer, about 15 mins.

3. Add udon, break a part a bit, 2 mins. Add frozen veggies, covered and cooked until heated throughout. 5 mins. Cover and let stand for 2 mins to thicken sauce a bit. Garnish with Thai basil if desired! Voila!

The Bluetones Slight Return?!

I was reading this week's EYE on my way home just now. I spotted this tiny, tiny ad on the Emerge section. I freaked out, Noooooo it cannot be true!, I thought to myself. I must be reading it wrong.

The Bluetones
October 6 // Lee's Palace // TM RT SS

I had to resist myself from screaming on the bus, I'm soooooooooooo excited about this! Last time I saw them was prolly 10 years ago. I remember I saw them at the Opera House a week after I visited Julian in NJ/NYC and he sent me a The Bluetones stir-stick and napkins from their NYC show. Wow! That show was from the Expecting to Fly album from 1996!! Okay, so I'm really dating myself here but OMG this is soooo exciting!!! I was actually going to go to their show when I was in London for some reason I didn't end up going, I forgot why? Prolly was too heart broken... but anyway, I'm not missing them again!

THE BLUETONES! WOW!!!!
BRING ON THE TEEN YEARS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EXPECTING TO FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know he lives in Montreal now, I wonder if he'll drive here for the show.. hmmmm... but that will be so weird!

Musical: Bombay Dreams

Bombay Dreams
8PM 03.16.08.06 @ The Hummingbird Centre (1 Front Street East)

Shakalaka baby, Shakalaka baby, Come and shakalaka with me...
It was openning night for the Bollywood Musical Bombay Dreams. As I arrived to the outside of the venue, it was packed with people and there were street performers, also vendors selling samosas and chai tea. The promotors really created a good buzz. After I found Amy, we checked in and recieved my "media" pass, we headed downstairs for the reception. The reception was very nicely done. Not only it was open bar, it was also fully catered by a local Indian Restaurant. During the intermission reception, they even served traditional Indian desserts completed with chai tea, and more alcohol of course.

Our seats were very decent, it was Row G, slight off-centre to the left facing stage. The musical is a play within a play of a young man's dream of becoming a Bollywood star despite he was from the slumps of Bombay. Everytime Akaash (lead character) has a solo, we would hear this gleeful cheer from behind us, we later found out it was actually Miss India-Canada 2006: Sonia Singh! The show was fabulous, entertaining and full of surprises! Of course, there was also the fabulous choreography and the sparkling costumes! We left the theatre with their catchy single "Shakalaka Baby" stuck in our heads for a few days. No kidding. Go watch the video! Ha! Now it's your turn!