Back Home 2

Friday

I went shopping at Orchard Road with my mum and sis. I was really curious to see if there were any major changes to the place and also to find out whether Taka had "dao bi" yet. Of course, the buildings were all still there but there were many new shops within the shopping centres. We didn't get to go further than Taka or Wisma since my sis insisted in going into almost every store. She wanted to get some clothes so we went along with her. I did need some new clothes as well. In the end, I bought 3 new skirts (Surprise! Surprise!) since the weather was killing me. Wearing jeans or long pants was like a sauna and I couldn't take it. I hated sweating so easily. Just a few minutes walk to the bus stop was already enough to make my face flushed and dripping with sweat...yucks!

Saturday

Shopping with my mum and sis again but this time, we went down to Tampines. Amazingly, there seemed to be much more changes to this area as compared to Orchard. I guess Tampines is a really fast growing area. I couldn't get used to the crowds with people pushing you from all sides and everyone rushing everywhere. I especially hated the way people crowd around the train doors and not allowing people to alight before boarding. They just pushed as if the train would leave without them. I couldn't help but shake my head at their disgusting behaviour.

I'm already missing my room in Brisbane. It feels so odd without Wan Shi, Tommy and Steph. I really wish I could have my Hyena 1 and 2 with me here so that we can go shopping together and laugh like we don't have a care in the world...

Back Home 1

I'll admit that I should have done this earlier. I do have plenty of things to write about ever since I got back but I've been really distracted. I have been literally going out every single day since I got back.

Wednesday/Thursday
My flight on Wednesday night went smoothly, unlike poor Steph whose flight got cancelled and she had to go home by herself. I requested and got an aisle seat which was really good since I was alone. I had to get some help from the stewardess to put my bags up into the storage compartment. Can't help it!! I'm just too short!!!

I chatted for quite some time to this guy beside me. He had a lot to say so I just listened. It was pretty interesting to discuss matters with an Australian. Too bad I didn't get a chance to talk to the guy sitting by the window. He was just too far away and he slept most of the time. He was really cute though, and I think he's European...hahaha...

I tried to sleep but the seat was too small and I couldn't possibly lie on the guy next to me. Hence I was awake for most of the journey and spent my time watching The Island, Wedding Crashers and Willy Wonka. I also played some games but they made me feel dizzy. The food was good but then again, I always enjoy SIA's meals. Unfortunately, eating the breakfast meant that I was really full when the plane landed in S'pore. Hmm strangely I didn't feel much excitement when arriving. Perhaps I was just too tired from the lack of sleep. I did have lots of anticipation about seeing my family again. I took my time in alighting and went to use the public phone to make a free phone call to my dad. Then I strolled down to the check point and waited to collect my luggage. I always have this fear that I will be waiting and waiting and my luggage doesn't come out as the airlines lost my stuff. Haha this time I was just over-reacting. I got my heavy, heavy, overweight bags and pushed them out to where my family was waiting. At the doors, I ran to my dad and gave him a big hug. Next I hugged my mum and my sis. No tears this time, thank god. I couldn't stop talking and told them all about my flight. Heh...I really missed them...

OMG the weather here is horrible. I just had to come out from the plane and already it felt hot. I was sweating like mad by the time I reached the car and I couldn't stop sneezing. Allergic to S'pore air, imagine that!

We drove down to the Tampines 201 market for breakfast but most of the stalls weren't open yet. After all, it was only 6 plus in the morning. I was pretty full but I was happy to see tau huay once more. I bought 2 boxes to bring home! We also ordered chai tau kuey but maybe I was too tired. I just didn't have any appetite for that which was weird since I had been craving for it quite often when I was in Brisbane.

Coming home to Loyang Valley, everything felt different and yet the same. The house and my room hasn't changed but I guess I have been too accustomed to my place in Brisbane. I keep wanted to lock the main door with just a twist of my fingers but now I have to use keys. The fridge door does not close the same way it does in Brisbane. My room here is too bright, the bed feels wrong and the table doesn't seem to be mine. I can't stop refering to Brisbane as "back home" even though I know that this should be my real home. Sigh...so many things to get used to once more.

I was too tired to do anything after getting home. I gave my family their presents, took a bath and went straight to bed.

Ten Ways to be More Body-Proud

No. 1: Shake your booty
For instant body confidence, get set to sweat. According to psychologist Carol Vogel, from the Cairnmillar Institute in Victoria, "Physical exercise releases endorphins — and that feels good. Dancing also increases the regularity of your breathing and heartbeat, which can have a calming effect on the mind." Turning up the stereo and dancing around the living room is a good start or try dance lessons.

No. 2: Wear clothes you like
Sick of squeezing yourself into tiny hipsters and boob tubes? Then don't. Slavishly following the latest fashions, even if they don't suit you, will only make you feel like crap. The trick is to wear what you feel comfortable in. The way clothes are styled in magazines is for inspiration only, so take the parts you love, then add your own individual style.

No. 3: Get naked more often
Want to feel more comfortable in your own skin? Spend more time in the buff. How your clothes fit often determines whether you feel fat or thin, so without that gauge it's easier to feel sexy and free. Before getting dressed, look at your reflection in the mirror, silence the negative thoughts in your head and smile.

No. 4: Take a bubble bath
According to Vogel, the way the bubbles swirl around your body will help you feel more sensuous and alive. Taking time for yourself, no matter what that involves, will do wonders for your self-esteem. Have a facial. Spend time reading. Get a massage. Doing things you enjoy will only make you feel more positive.

No. 5: See yourself as others do
Do you honestly think your friends are obsessed with your thighs? As Vogel explains, "The people you love and care about in your life know that there is so much more to you than the shape of your body. This is about choosing to value yourself as a complete person, so focus on your strengths."

No. 6: Be realistic
Take a look around you — it won't take long to realise that most women have cellulite, pot bellies and not-so-perfect thighs. "If you choose to distort your view of the world with a constant diet of celebrities and models, then it will be more difficult to feel good about your own body," says Vogel. "Feed yourself an appreciation of the bodies, minds and charms of real women who are out there in the world."

No. 7: Light some candles
Candlelight is flattering and seductive, so keep some handy or have dimmer switches installed. "I have a dimmer light in my bedroom so I look browner when I'm trying on clothes," admits Jessica, 23.

No. 8: Distract yourself
Have catch-ups with friends that don't always involve food or getting dressed up. If you always meet in nightclubs and get anxious about what to wear or in restaurants where you worry about how much you'll eat, go for walks, have coffee or do a course together instead.

No. 9: Get into art
Feel like you'll never live up to society's idea of perfection? Try a life-drawing class to help you appreciate the female form or visit a museum to check out paintings of nude women from the Renaissance period. You'll soon see that what constitutes beauty is determined by time and culture.

No. 10: Think positive thoughts
"If you catch yourself thinking negatively about your body, recognise the thoughts as irrational and distorted," Vogel advises. "It might help to write the thoughts down, then write rational alternatives next to them. Pin up your list of rational, positive affirmations where you can see it and read it aloud every day."

BBQ

The BBQ last night was good. Everyone seemed to be having fun and I hope no one felt left out. Chris and I did our best going around talking to the different groups of people. I guess it's not surprising that there were about 3 or 4 small groups of people and they stuck mostly to their comfort zones. I used to be like that but now I don't want anyone to feel awkward or alone because I know what it's like. I think Chris did lots of entertaining too. Everyone was really friendly and some were more chatty and open than others. The food was pretty good although we couldn't get the grill hot enough so there were a lot of "rejected" meat. The guys stayed mainly at the grill while some went upstairs to watch soccer. At least they were in a pretty big group so I'm sure they were fine. Some people were surprised that there were about 20 people present. Maybe they expected a small and exclusive BBQ? But I preferred it this way. The more the merrier after all, even though it meant more work and socializing for the hosts. Hmm...HH's friends were nice enough to bring chips. Only 1 packet was opened since there was too much food anyway and everyone were pretty full. I loved HH's honeydew sago. It was not too sweet but it might have been better with ice. YJ's friends were very friendly and fun. At least they were the kind you could "suan" and they wouldn't mind. I seem to have seen one of his friends somewhere before but I just can't put my finger on it. Plus he is from QUT. Alamak and I can't remember their names. I just know one of them is doing Business and another IT. Oh well, maybe we'll meet again, either here or in S'pore, then I will get their names right. There was quite a lot of food left over. I still have 1 pack of sausages in my fridge. I hope I can finish it before I leave. I've been trying to clear the perishables but there's still plenty.

The guys went home to play mahjong after the BBQ since they had a car. I decided to go for the second round so I stayed home and bathed. I was pretty exhausted from the whole eventful day and my feet were aching anyway. I couldn't keep my eyes open while watching tv but when I lay on my bed, I couldn't get to sleep. I've been having sleeping problems for the past few days and it's such a pity. Now that I have all the time in the world, I can't get to sleep. Such irony! In the end, when I got to their place for the second round, they took so long and I got even more tired that I went home to rest. I think they played on until about 5 am this morning. I wasn't feeling too good since I had been sneezing and my nose running the whole day.

I woke up around 11 am to go down to uni. I had to photocopy my poly results and pass them to the lecturer. I hope he gives me an answer soon. I don't have much time left.

I came back to heat up some leftovers for lunch and H came and gave me lots of presents! Haha, actually it's because he's going back soon and he wanted to get rid of his stationery. Oh well, at least he decided to dump them on me; I could really use them. Ah Hao also passed me some of his stuff the night before. Yay!!! Free stuff!!! I love it!!!

I slept almost the whole day away. Taking my "sleeping pills" will do that and I was woken up to have dinner with Tommy, Wan Shi and their friends who made this pasta thing. I have no idea what it's called except that it was good, there were lots of tomato sauce and the pasta were stuffed with chopped spinach and cheese.

Surprisingly, even though I had slept plenty earlier on, I was still sleepy. I sat out in the living room by myself watching 30 days. This episode was about 2 people staying at this eco-village for 30 days. Everything done there was done to benefit the earth and reduce pollution. They drove in cars which ran on bio-fuel (made from soy beans) and vegetable oil (purified from the unwanted oils which came from fast food joints and cafes; the dirty oils were so disgusting man, there was even a cockroach floating in it). They stayed in houses either built from sand and water (no cement) or recycled big steel containers, the kind used to store stuff. They planted their own vegetables and spices and the people were mainly vegan and there was no meat. It was pretty funny because the guy who took up this challenge was a carnivour (just like me) and he was going crazy from the lack of meat. So he took this gun and went hunting for rabbits. I think throughout the show he ate and killed at least 2 rabbits. Here's the best part which Steph will LOVE!!! They pee and shit in a bucket! Hahaha, they use these plastic buckets and just put a toilet seat over it. There's a pail of sawdust beside this so after you do your business and wipe your bottom, you take the sawdust and sprinkle it over your waste. Then the next person who uses the toilet will continue to shit or pee over that layer and this goes on until the bucket is full. That's not all. When the bucket is full, they bring this out to the garden where there is a compost pile and dump it there to be used as fertilizer. So there's this big pit of brown stuff which is all manure or "humanure" as they like to call it. Imagine the stench coming from this pit! All in all, I appreciate what these people are trying to do, but taking up their lifestyle seems pretty hard. Installing a set of solar panels for the house would cost like US$ 20,000! Having a car run on vegetable oil means that your car will be smelling of old french fries all the time. And giving up meat??!! That's waaaaaay too hard man!

It was an eventful day. I played mahjong until about 3.30 am this morning and then woke up around 11.30 am in order to start preparing the food for the BBQ. Unfortunately I couldn't get to sleep until 5 am although I was quite tired.

I woke up to cook lunch for the guys who were coming over to help me with the food. As I was about to start cooking, my friend called and I had to go down to meet him and return him some money. We ended up chatting for a while, mostly about school and honours stuff. He's already settled on a supervisor and had just met with the guy to confirm all the formalities. How lucky! I was really envious that he had this burden lifted off his shoulders while I still had to carry mine.

I went home to cook and feed the guys. After lunch, they helped me put the meat on satay sticks. They also fried the rice and cooked chicken curry even though the curry was actually my job. But I was running a little behind schedule. I had to meet with a potential supervisor at 3.30 pm.

I managed to get down to the lecturer's office 5 minutes early. He was still busy doing some work so his secretary asked me to wait. I sat there and waited for about 10 minutes when he finally came out carrying his briefcase. So I was thinking, "What the hell? Is he running away from me or something?" He couldn't have forgotten about the meeting since I was sitting right there. Anyway he told me that we could walk and talk so I assumed that he was in a hurry to finish this with me and take off. Fortunately this was not the case. Here is roughly what happened:

RB: Let's do this over coffee. I've been rushing up and down all day.
Me: OK sure. (what else was I supposed to say?)

RB: Do you like coffee?
Me: No actually I seldom take it since it makes me feel like vomiting sometimes.

RB: Oh ok....*laughes*

RB: So I see that you are from Temasek.
Me: Yup.

RB: I went there a few years ago.
Me: Oh so do you remember any of the lecturers whom you met while you were there? (trying to make small talk)

RB: Erm....(couldn't think of a name)

...meanwhile I had no idea where he wanted to go since there were so many places in the school where you could get coffee...

...suddenly his handphone rings and he spends the next few minutes chatting to the other person. I still didn't know where we were headed and since he slowed down (as most people usually do), I had to slow down too. So we ended up "slow marching" to whereever he wanted to go...

...finally he gets off the phone and leads me to Wordsmiths, the cafe at the main bookshop. We meet up with one of his Masters students there and they talked about casual stuff and a little about their projects. I was not included in this conversation at all although I was introduced to the lady in the beginning and I shook her hand very professionally. The rest of the time I spent smiling and laughing...

...we got into the bookshop to sit down and he gets cups of water for the both of us. I asked him why he wasn't getting coffee but he said, "Not this time". Maybe he was paiseh after I told him about coffee and me??? Here's a summary of what we talked about for the next 30 minutes...

RB: So your grades from last sem are pretty good. You also had 32 credits coming into UQ so your poly results should have been quite good too. I currently had these students under me...goes on to list the students' names, their status (ie. phd or masters or honours) and their projects; he had about 8 students under him at the moment...

RB: I think XXX is handling her project on Flavivirus diagnostics quite well. However YYY might need some help on his Influenza A diagnostics...tells me about the Influenza A projects and I impress him by correctly naming the 2 different subtypes of this virus as well as the number of subtypes in each category. However, I did a small write-up in one of my courses this semester which gave me this knowledge and I explained this to him very modestly. He still looked quite amazed that I knew this stuff anyway but honesty goes a long way, haha...

RB: I think I have about 3 projects that you can do on Influenza A...explains explains explains...

RB: Hmm...I am very tempted to accept you based on these results but I do have to look at this semester's results. However the results will not be out until the first week of December. But you do seem to be very interested in this project. Hmm....ponders and ponders and meanwhile I am feeling so anxious because he can't make up his mind on whether he will take me or not...

RB: Have you worked in any labs before?
Me: Yes. I was on a 5-month attachment during poly and I worked in the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory.

RB: Oh? Yes I have been there on a tour before. There is this lady who is in charge of TLL.
Me: Oh is it an Indian lady?

RB: Yes I think it was and there was also another Chinese lady in charge as well. They have very nice labs there. What sort of work did you do there?
Me: Well I can't remember about the Chinese lady. I was attached to a plant lab, working on Arabidopsis.

RB: What sort of techniques did you use?
Me: Oh PCR, Northern...(thinking hard about what I had learnt and what I can say to impress him)

RB: ...interrupts my thoughts...How was your Northern results?
Me: ...a little lost...oh they were alright, a little dirty though.

RB: How good was the RNA extraction and yield?
Me: Oh err...I don't really know because I didn't have time to do that. You could see the spots though they were a little faint.

RB: I see. Because Influenza A is and RNA virus.
Me: *smile* (no wonder he was asking me about all this, finally I see the relation)

RB: Well I really cannot decide based on these alone. Although you did get 32 credits which means you must have done pretty well in poly and I was the one to access this. I just can't remember your case. Hmm....(well of course you can't remember since it was like a year ago)
Me: Yeah I understand that it's quite hard to make a decision based on just 1 semester's results. Would it help if I gave you my poly results? (trying to be nice and understanding when I am already bursting with the agony of his indecisiveness)

RB: Yes that would be good. Pass AAA your results tomorrow and I'll go over them. I'll try to give you an answer as soon as possible. Do you need this honours booklet?
Me: OK I'll zap a copy and drop it at AAA's. I don't need it, I already had it but I lent it to my friend.

RB: Oh so you have already gone over and know all these details. That's good. It shows that you have initiative which is why I am so inclined to take you.
Me: *laughes* (then why can't you just make up your mind quick?)

...we both leave the place and I feel happy because he kept praising me and giving me high hopes but at the same time, I wish he could give me a definite answer because all this indecision is torturing me...

So the exams are over for this second semester. The few interesting things that really happened during my exam week were the fridge breaking down and me falling sick.

The fridge was a total fiasco. It was such a useless piece of machinery and it HAD to break down when we needed it most and when we didn't have time to bother about it. I mean, studying was our top priority here and then we had to divert our attention to that stupid fridge?? Ok so maybe it was old and long overdue for a break down...but then all our perishables spoilt since the weather has been really hot. So there we were, sorting out the rotten from the good. I had to dump my mayo, sauces, noodles, bread, ham, veggies and fruit. OMG the amount of mold, fungi and bacteria we saw that night was unbelievable! It's probably more than the amount of microorganism cultures I have viewed in the lab over the year. One of the most amazing food spoiling you can see is probably the orange. If you have a spare orange, put it in a plastic bag and leave it out in the open. You will see the entire orange covered in moldy green fuzz and it's so disgusting. Yucks!!! I happened to had a few oranges go this way and so did Steph.

Then I had to catch some stupid virus and started vomiting every time I ate. I felt nauseous and my stomach was really weak. I wasted so much good food puking them out into the toilet bowl. Plus, I was really tired and sleepy so that really affected my studying. I was also sick of drinking soup and eating oatmeal all the time since I couldn't keep anything else down. After five days of puking, I decided that I had had enough and went to see the doctor. The first question she asked me was whether I was pregnant...ahahahhahahaha...well I don't think I would be so dumb to go to a doctor if I knew I was pregnant and puking at the same time! Anyway, my blood pressure was a little low (90/60...the normal rate should be around 120/80) and I was dehydrated, probably from all the puking. She prescribed me some medicine which I couldn't take anyway since it made you drowsy. Sigh...well I crawled through my last paper on Saturday then headed off to the guys' place for mahjong. Heh heh, I ate Indian curry for dinner that night even though I wasn't supposed to. Still it was good way to end my exams although it would have been better if I had won at mahjong...well better luck next time eh?

On Sunday, I felt really bored. After all, everyone else was still slogging for their papers this week while I was free as a bird but without anyone to spend all this free time with. So I did a little cleaning and laundry. At midnight, Steph, Mil and I surprised Crys since it was her birthday. Steph and Mil had made a mud-pie (or is it a mud-cake?) and we got her housemates to open the door to let us in. We sang her a birthday song and proceeded to cut the cake and take lots of lame photos which I will put up when I get them from Crys. Crys made the four of us finish up the entire cake and we played monopoly with the loser having to eat even more chocolate. I love her monopoly set! It's with all the Pixar animated movies such as Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and The Incredibles. Anyway I went bankrupt first. In the end, Crys was the big winner (actually we all let her win) and I had to eat some chocolate. Then we took more stupid pictures and played games like Black Magic. Finally it was time to go home and sleep. The only thing was, we were all too stuffed and high on chocolate to sleep. I tried but I kept waking up and my stomach wasn't coping too well with all the rich stuff especially since I was still recovering. But still, it was a fun night and I enjoyed it!

Yesterday I went down to Indooroopilly by myself for some retail therapy to celebrate the end of the exams...hahhahaa actually I had to buy some medicine and toothpaste. But I also managed to top up my prepaid card, buy a book I've been eyeing for some time and got a pair of nice orange hooped earrings! Now this really cheered me up. Then apparently there was a bomb threat in Brisbane and the public services stopped for 30 minutes. Hence I was left waiting at the bus stop for 1 hour since the buses were all delayed. Anyway, I met a friend who's also from Melaka and she helped me pass the time.

Today, I had to go down to Chinatown to get food for our BBQ tomorrow night. Yessssssss!!!!! This is our real celebration for the end of the exams, the end of the semester and the end of the year but hopefully not the end of our friendships. Many of them will be leaving this semester and going back home to find jobs and start real adulthood. Sigh I will miss so many of them, especially the guys (aren't you guys touched??). Today is probably the last time the guys will be available to carry all my food for me so I made extra use of them. But then again, I really did have a lot to purchase and the drinks were so heavy.

It has been a great year here in Brisbane. I am so looking forward to going home especially when I keep dreaming that I am already back home. But many people have been saying that once I am home, I will miss Brisbane. So maybe the grass is always greener on the other side but I think, I will make the most of my time when I get back. I want to catch up with my old friends, play tennis, get a nice tan, buy lots of clothes and of course, feast on all the local food. Somehow, the fact that my friends miss me and are looking forward to my return makes me feel touched and even more anxious to be home. I was especially touched when one of my friends told me that he would go anywhere with me when I was back.....awwww....he's so sweet....(you know who you are....)

My last exam paper's in about 17 hours' time and then I shall be free free FREEEEE!!!
And when I am free free FREEEEE, I shall take my medicine and sleep sleep SLEEEEEP!!!
Hahahaha...

Self-test

You are HITTING.
Synopsis: Hitting could pertain to hitting yourself
or hitting other (hard) objects to cause
bruises or cuts. This can lead to serious
injury, including breaking bones. After being
angered or mistreated, you probably sit and
stew in it for a while before actually injuring
yourself.
Positive trait: You accept others for who they are
Negative trait: Low self-esteem
Color: Green
Emotion: Tolerance
Animal: Fox
Quote: Dont try to fix me, Im not broken.

What form of self-mutilation are you?

Colours

Black
Black has countless emotional and cultural associations. Symbolically, the colour of mourning, black also implies mystery, power and sophistication. This colour can be depressing and cause fatigue. But on the flipside, it indicates inner strength.It can enhance interior colours if used in contrast with bold tones.

White
White figures prominently in interiors, on its own or as a base for other feature colours. And like other cool colours, it will make a space appear larger.Symbolically, the colour white stands for purity and innocence. Whether by demand or design, it inspires cleanliness and feelings of optimism and hope.

Red
Red taps into our deepest emotions: courage, love, anger, passion and danger. This vibrant colour works well in dining rooms as a strong formal colour that can also stimulate appetite and aid digestion.
On the flipside, red will ramp up your blood pressure and heart rate, so beware if using it in the bedroom. Athough it could stimulate passion, it may also induce restlessness and insomnia.

Pink
Not surprisingly, this pretty candy-coloured hue stimulates a sweet tooth. It also awakens emotions, and is said to weaken muscles. And it's hard not to associate pink with femininity and baby girls.

Yellow
Hello yellow, the hap-hap-happiest colour in the spectrum. So happy in fact that solo around-the-world sailors, like Melbourne's Nick Moloney, have their living quarters below deck painted yellow to stave off the blues.
Yellow is fresh, warm and cheery. It sharpens the memory, encourages conversation and inspires ideas and communication. It is believed to aid digestion and stimulate appetite and circulation.
Paired with its primary partners blue and red, it suggests childlike energy. With its complementary colour purple, opposite on the colour wheel, yellow suggests regal formality. It works well in studies or offices of casual family rooms that don't have a lot of natural light.

Brown
This colour gives rooms a casual, natural feel. And like other earthy tones, it is warming. It works well as a feature wall, but will make a room look drab and dull if overdone.

Violet
Part warm red, part cool blue, this rich colour exudes sophistication.Purple represents royalty, mystery and majesty. It promotes deep thinking, daydreaming, creativity and spirituality.
It is believed to lower blood pressure and soothe the digestive and other organs.Like orange, shades of purple work well on feature walls. Go for lighter hues, such as mauve or lilac, in larger spaces.

Green
Green is a clean, cool colour that works well with neutral and bright tones. Green represents nature, fertility and envy. It promotes creativity and peace. It is also believed to calm nerves and reduce stress.
As a cool colour, it's ideal for rooms that attract afternoon sun and heat. For its inspiration, it works well in kitchens. And for its soothing properties, bathrooms or bedrooms.

Orange
Orange is the ideal colour for winter because it is warm and inviting. Orange suggests vigour and activity and, like yellow, it is a highly sociable colour that promotes a fun-loving atmosphere. Team with other citrus colours for contrast, or earthy rusty orange tones to set the mood and warm a room.

Blue
Got the blues? Well you can't blame blue. Various shades figure prominently in interior colour schemes, because it is refreshing and tranquil. This cool classic also teams well with everything, from white to yellow to orange. You can even match blue with green. Blue represents authority, loyalty and sincerity. It can prompt emotions of serenity, peace and sadness. It is thought to lower blood pressure and respiratory rate and is relaxing.

Your character type
Which colour resonates strongly with you? A survey of your wardrobe might also reveal the prevalence of a particular colour in your life.
Red = aggressive, sensuous, extreme, athletic
Orange = gregarious, active, social, extroverted
Yellow = introspective, innovative, egotistical
Green = traditional, conventional, grounded
Brown = reliable, stable, shrewd, sturdy
Blue = responsible, pragmatic, manipulative, conservative
Violet = spiritual, philosophical, creative
Pink = gentle, friendly, protective
White = idealist, optimist, individual
Black = powerful, aloof, intimidating, worldly, mysterious

The Cow Story

This is an interesting point-of-view; not original though. I copied this from a friend's blog...heh heh...enjoy...

AMERICA: You have 2 cows. You sold one and milk the other 4 times a cow's milk capacity and are surprised when it dropped dead.

FRANCE: You have 2 cows. You go on strike because you want 3.

GERMANY: You have 2 cows. You reengineer them to produce 20 times its milk capacity, eat once a month and milk itself.

BRITAIN: You have 2 cows. Both are mad.

ITALY: You have 5 cows, you do not know where they are. You for a break.

RUSSIA: You have 2 cows. You count again and have 5 cows.You count again and have 19 cows. You count again and have 54 cows. You count again and have 12 cows. You stop counting and open another bottle of vodka.

SWITZERLAND: You have 5000 cows, none belongs to you. You charge others for storing them.

INDIA: You have 2 cows. You worship them.

CHINA: You have 2 cows. You employ 300 people to milk them and claim full employment rate, stable economy and arrest the journalist who reported the numbers.

JAPAN: You have 2 cows. You redesign them to 1/10 its size and to produce 20 times its milk capacity. Then you create a mini cartoon character out of it called cowkimon and market it worldwide.

SINGAPORE: You have 2 cows. The government fines you for keeping 2 unlicensed farm animals in your apartment.