Successes and Blunders

Success#1 We got new chairs
Carla and I have new computer chairs in the office. It actually came in early as we just ordered them at the start of the previous semester. Yeah, I think it came early, since I expected them to come at the start of the next semester. Don't have photos of them yet. I assure you that they're better than the old ones. At least my back isn't going to suffer anymore from the diagonal recline angle of my old chair.

Success#2 I made some great Puttanesca
The name originated in Naples, Italy after the local prostitutes, Pasta alla Puttanesca meaning "Pasta in the way a whore would make it". The reason why the dish gained such a name is debated. One possibility is that the name is a reference to the sauce's hot, spicy flavour and pungent smell. Another is that the dish was offered to prospective customers at a low price to entice them into a brothel. -Wikipedia
Anyway, I think this new version is better than what I cooked on Alan's birthday. I still used white spaghetti (any white pasta will do for red sauce based dishes), garlic, onions, and sliced tomatoes. I just made the flavor more Italian by using Italian flavored sauce and another kilo of tomato sauce. Also, I made it hotter by making all the tunas used "hot and spicy", plus I added chili powder. Instead of using the cheaper black olives that needed to be sliced, I used the sliced canned ones. The ten pesos difference gave me a three hour headstart. I am now more confident in my cooking, because my estimates both in ingredients and in time are now becoming more accurate.

Success#3 I'm feeling better
Yep, I'm losing weight (again), and it does feel better. I'm currently running 4 laps of figure-eight tracks around the lower and upper grounds of the Freedom park. That's 6.4 kilometers a day. I am also more aware of running do's and don't's now. Last week, I focused my diet on buildng up my resistance. This week, I focused on fiber and digestion. This week hasn't been that much of a success as I instantly felt the decrease in my resistance given the lower calorie intake (1200-1400 a day). But still the same. I'm feeling better (compared to when I was in my physical slump).

Blunder#1 I've got no control at home
Yes, a contradiction to my last enumerated success. Well, there are many factors. There's a lot more food here in our house (compared to the apartment where I had to do groceries for the week); home spells out rest and recreation plus eating, eating, eating; I didn't bring my running shoes; more pollution, though our village is somewhat less polluted than the whole metro. But yeah, I am still putting some control. A while ago I ate two donuts instead of the usual three. I try to stay away from rice as much as possible. And I still have my usual dose of calcium.

Blunder#2 I've got boils
Boil or furuncle is a skin disease caused by the inflammation of hair follicles, thus resulting in the localized accumulation of pus and dead tissue.Boils are generally caused by an infection of the hair follicles by Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis, a strain of bacterium that normally lives on the skin surface. It is thought that a tiny cut of the skin allows this bacterium to enter the follicles and cause an infection. This can happen during bathing or while using a razor. People with immune system disorders, diabetes, poor hygiene or malnutrition (Vitamin A or E deficiency) are particularly susceptible to getting boils; however, they also occur in healthy, hygienic individuals, due to over scratching a particular area of the skin. -Wikipedia
My first reaction was, "Oh my, I have a biblical disease". Yeah, I sounded like a Sweet Valley High villain. But what really pissed me of is its location. It's located in my head. As if boils weren't pissing enough. This particular boil is a result of the hot weather, my increased activity due to my frequent running resulting to more perspiration, and me always scratching my head. Voila, a boil, made specially for Mykmyk. Mom had to cut some hair, "Pag si Dr Sha yan, mas marami pa tatanggalin nun" (my mom's a nurse), and sleeping had never been more painful.

Blunder#3 Bad bad dreams
I've got bad dreams lately. The last was me performing a Katon Goukakyuu No Jutsu (Grand Fireball technique) that failed no matter how many times I tried. Anyway, so much of reading Sasuke and Itachi's grand battle (Sasuke "won"!!! <-- haha, spoiler!). Now that I've mentioned it, I really can't remember who I was using the jutsu against. And my dream continued on with me looking for a new house. But the setting is here in Marikina. I'm supposed to be looking for a better house in LB. I hope it's not a premonition that I will no longer work in LB. No!!! Bad dream! Bad dream!
Blunder#4 My eyeglasses got chipped
Alas, my ultra light, "frameless", mid-rib glasses had one of its lenses chipped. This happened just before we went to the airport for my mom's departure to Saudi. Erg, this is the best glasses that I had (all because of the description I mentioned earlier). Now I have to buy a new pair. Not that I can't afford one, but it came with bad timing as I face more financial obligations this summer with the moving thingy. Anyway, just to update you guys, we may not be moving at all. Long story. I'll just update you more in another post.


I guess that's it. Three successes to four blunders. Blunders win. Erg!