surprise (me)

It comes easily what to get my brother for his birthday and Christmas--or any other occasion. Somehow, I get what he likes.

Getting the right size though had always been tricky.

Throughout the years specific brands had adjusted how clothes fit, not to mention that clothes today are not cut the same way they were the last decade.

Retailers are more flexible now too. There is no issue at all swapping sizes as long as it is done within a certain number of days, the tags are intact and you have the receipt.

Yesterday, I went to the store, browsed and decided on what to get. I asked the seemingly-uninterested-to-help sales person to get me a new stock--those that people had not tried on.

It took a very loooooong time. And finally he walked lazily towards me and handed me the item.

I go to the cashier and paid for it, telling the cashier that I may need to swap sizes because it is a gift. He reminded me of their policy and then I was off.

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When I saw my brother, I gave my present to him.

I was quite excited too because I love it when people like what I get them.

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My brother said thank you and that it came at the right time because he can bring it with him when he goes off on a trip in a few days--this was before he opened it.

(I think he did good guess work on what was inside.)

When he opened it, and put it out...

SURPRISE!

It was a (hideous) sleeveless top!

He must have figured out that the (lazy) sales person got it wrong because he started laughing.

When I was able to recover, I told him I will go back to the store the next day and get him what I really intended what to get him.

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If you know my brother, you won't be surprised on what he did next.

He tried on the (hideous) top and said "This is perfect", laughing the whole time.

Golden

As I was making myself a nutella sandwich--yes, at midnight after I gave my all attending a Bikram class despite my recovering left glut. No judgement ;)

Back to my story.

I was making a sandwich when I noticed a golden cup--tumbler.

It was one of a pair. From what I know, the other had been, well... throw away years before. After intensive use, if it is any consolation.

This set was, when I think about now--maybe some sort of beginning.

In fact, if a book is to be written, two chapters will mention the cups. And, one chapter will start--or end with one of the cups.

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I never really used mine, that's why it still looks new. And also came as a surprise that it is suddenly just THERE.

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I am suddenly reminded of an old poem I once had to memorise...

Drink to me with thine eyes,
And (I forget this part)
Or leave a kiss within the cup
And I'll not ask for wine.

If you want to know, for no other reason but the cup reference :)

when it rains

It was not too perfect waking up to find out that I had an "eyeless" zit on my chin. I'm not sure if people know what I mean by that--unless they've had one before. It is the seemingly invisible bump that hurts like crazy and takes a very long time to heal.

There are more important thing though, beyond clear skin. Like breakfast. Which was good. Mandarins, yogurt, bread and butter while chatting with my parents through Facetime--which is great. You won't imagine how much that saves overseas call fees!

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Fast forward to yoga class. Good class. A lot of stretching. Great set.

I was feeling really well until I got up from the last shavasana and realised that my left glut seemed strained. It was so painful that I limped the rest of the day.

Oh well, no pain, no gain.

I kept telling myself, it meant I did as much as I could....

If the pain doesn't go away till Monday, I'll have it checked.

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Then there was the lovely lunch :)

Then I spilt the soy sauce all over the fish.

Hello kidney stones.

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I was loking forward to the movie we were watching later that night. I had been waiting for months to see this flick.

As we were walking out to go the theatre, it suddenly poured! Really hard.

There was no escaping. We were at the middle of the intersection an any covered area was at least forty meters away.

We settled under a huge tree--which was not a lot of help.

I was offered a (clean) hanky, so I had some semblance of protection or shield--at least it kept the water off my eyes.

The cabs won't stop.

Calls to the cab companies went unanswered.

Thank God my drenched mobile survived the "storm".

Soaked, we decided to run back home for shelter.

The reality though, was I was not able to run. More, unwilling.

There was no way I could get more wet and I was not about to risk injuring myself if I slip. Remember the left glut?

Did I mention that the road back was at a good thirty degree incline?

We got home thirty minutes before the movie was starting.

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Made some calls.

Threw stuff into the dryer.

Took a scalding hot shower.

All in fifteen minutes.

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After that mad fifteen minutes, we were in a cab.

My clothes still damp.

In rubber flip flops.

And a dinner dress.

With dripping hair.

And a borrowed jacket--man's jacket.

Mustard dress. Silver flip flops. Black jacket.

I looked homeless.

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We were late.

We missed fifteen minutes--maybe ten.

I blame queuing for popcorn and soda.

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Wonderful movie!

Delicious dinner. Lovely dessert.

Good conversation over coffee (tea for me) afterwards.

Overall, enjoyable Saturday.

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On the way home, my dress strap broke.

Then, the person I was with, sneezed.

down time

Blogging for me had reached its all time low in August.

Lately, I find a lot of things to write about but somehow never find the time to actually do the entry.

For example, I had been dying to write about Sports Guy--I think he is someone who could get me into basketball stats.

Don't get me wrong, I like watching games and all but I can't really be bothered to much about the nitty gritty details. Really. I know. Unbelievable right? :-p

It is clear that this entry won't be that entry. Though it will not come as a shock it this actually, is it.

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I'm not sure this is about anything.

Top Coat

I recently bought two bottles of nail colour.

I was drawn to a certain "shatter" polish. Basically, you apply one coat and the polish sort of...cracks. Think errrr, drought.

Obviously, I needed something to apply as a base, otherwise it would look as if I just had my nails done a month ago and didn't bother to take them off.

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Toes are easy enough. But...

I must say that it is hard work painting nails, especially the right hand. I am no way ambidextrous--it seems.

My penmanship doesn't change so much using either hands--I had been told more than a few times that I write like a doctor, but painting my nails highlighted my left hand's short comings.

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I don't know it I'd ever be able to apply nail colour without my nails looking like I didn't do it myself.

Even with the shatter top coat.

Booo.

burst of colour

I was trying on a "look" this afternoon, so I had brought out a couple of pigments. A pigment is a...well, a highly pigmented loose powder that can be on the face and body.

I was done with the eyes and ready to do the rest of my face when I thought that I should close the pigment jars before I knock one over.

And i was doing just that, when my finger slipped.

And there was a loud gasp--accompanied by yellow smoke.

Then, everything...shimmered.

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I spent a good amount of time "fluffy brushing" everything.

My pillows, the jars, other brushes, my clothes, my hands (oh my hands!), my arms and legs even! Golden.

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Half the jar, gone :(

Not that I'd ever finish one jar. But there is comfort knowing that I can turn myself gold entirely, if I wanted to. Honestly, I think quarter if a jar will do. Still!

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I would never forget this day.

The day everything I was touching, turned gold.

King Midas?