8.1.09

血壓1/2

自從轉職後持續每天工作12小時以上的鐵貓模式,休息嚴重不足,血壓低的問題每況愈下,為了健康著想,結果還是跑去萬寧買了個電子血壓計,好了解一下自己的血壓低問題有多嚴重 (..。)

Google Search 一下,網上有關血壓高的文章多得嚇人,倒是血壓低的成因或調理方法相比之下相當有限,尤其要定義血壓多少才謂低的就更乏善可陳。

只知道,根據世界衛生組織(WHO)專門委員會所定的基準,正常血壓上限是﹐收縮壓在139以下﹐舒張壓在89以下。而貓今天晩上錄得的高低壓分別是:

83/56mmHg
84/54mmHg

記得住院期間,血壓一直在6x/5x mmHg上下徘徊,嚇得護士不斷換血壓儀,誤以為是儀器壞了才會出現這麼低的讀數。那時候不明白護士們怎麼那樣緊張問貓要不要緊,是否感到頭暈,起床要不要攙扶,原來是因為貓的血壓已低至正常人的一半!難怪去年看中醫,醫師也嘖嘖稱奇,說不明白因何貓的血壓如此低仍能像個沒事人般走動 ( ̄∇ ̄+)

貓擁有這種"特殊體質"多年,一直沒有出過甚麼大狀況,可是近年患上淋巴怪病要住院開刀,如今又開始感到暈眩不適,看來實在不能再對這低血壓體質坐視不理了 (..。)

辭職休養可是唯一的選擇?畢竟在黑洞工作,別說運動,就連最基本的充分休息也不可能......

6.1.09

New Moon

Book title: New Moon
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Status: Finished

Synopsis:
Things are heating up between Bella Swan and her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, in this sequel to Twilight. Bella is injured at her birthday party, and the Cullens' reaction to her blood sends Edward's family packing. Bella is inconsolable until she discovers that reckless behavior allows her to hear Edward's warning voice in her head. To keep him close, she decides to live as dangerously as possible, acquiring two motorcycles and developing a close friendship with Jacob, who helps her rebuild them. Romantics will miss Edward's presence, but the suspense created by a pack of werewolves bent on protecting Bella from a vindictive vampire will keep them occupied until the lovers can be reunited.

Review:
Warning! Spoilers ahead.

I have to admit that I like this sequel so much better than the first book (Twilight). I could finally "feel" Bella's love for Edward through her grief and pain, and witness a relationship developing between Bella and Jacob, teetering on the brink of romance.

It's difficult NOT to like Jacob. He is the boy next door who'll always be there for you, with a big grin on his face, like a revitalizing breath of fresh air.

I couldn't help laughing while I pictured this image in my mind: Mike on one side, Jacob on the other, both laying one arm on the armrest like some animal trap, "open and ready". That one is hilarious!

But what's it with that adrenaline stimulated hallucination? I'm so sick of Bella putting herself in harm's way just to summon up Edward's voice. Totally annoying.

Again, the writing is a bit melodramatic, the literary references to Romeo and Juliet is horrible, but the story is somehow entertaining, so I can live with that.

5.1.09

期待已久的"暴肥日"

對上一次到 JW Marriott 吃自助餐已是好幾年前的事了。聽說該店近年水準大跌,可是一日未親身驗證,仍無改它在貓心目中"最美味暴肥"的地位 (焱口焱)/

本來計劃在去年生日當天重臨 JW Marriott 吃"暴月巴"的,奈何貓男早一個月訂位仍只落得在 waiting list 苦苦守候的下場,水準真的有在下降嗎?要是真的那麼不濟,怎可能還有那麼多人耐心輪候啊?!不解。

望穿秋水,終於等到這一天......

放眼那排得滿滿一桌的美食,真不懂該從何入手啊!(星星眼)

貓最關心的當然是甜品,但總不成頭盤還沒吃便先來一客甜品吧?況且外表鮮艷奪目的也不一定美味,還是先挑自己最常吃的那些吧!

貓不吃生肉,魚生刺身一概免問,反正最後總落得嘔吐不止的下場......唯一能叫貓破戒的只有 JW Marriott,還記得初次嚐到那兒的生蠔,意外地鮮甜,絲毫不覺腥也沒有反胃的感覺。今日再嚐,雖然不覺腥,但已不及原來的鮮甜,只淺嚐了兩隻便放棄了(另一隻是貓男的) (..。)

貓男大讚的龍蝦仔貓也嚐過,蟹箝肉汁鮮味呢!不過為了預留空間給主菜(甜品),只好量力而為,淺嚐即止 (..。)

雖然用料明顯不及貓媽媽平常弄的那些(貓上繳的家用全都敗在這兒!),不過作為"暴月巴",有如此水準的花膠供應已算不俗

即點即做的 pancake 乃最受歡迎食品之一,加上自選配料,貓自不會放過當前美食 о(ж>▽<)y

每款只嚐一點點好了,好戲在後頭呢......

凍蟹只是一般,尤其對貓男這種懶拆蟹殼的人而言(嘿)

最初見到類似新加坡炒蟹的菜式還滿心期待,結果大失所望......味道差太遠了 ( ̄w ̄+)

倒是翡翠螺意外的鮮甜彈牙,值得一讚!

主菜時間:輕怡芝士蛋糕夠香軟、蘋果批很一般、麵包布丁相當香濃但太膩了......

Häagen-Dazs 吃個夠且能任意在上面撒滿杏仁片乃吃暴月巴的終極享受!о(ж>▽<)y

像貓這種不吃生蠔刺生的人吃暴月巴一向就是蝕本買賣,明知道吃暴月巴不該碰麵包這種飽肚又便宜的東東,但看到卜卜脆的烤餅和香濃的丹麥藍芝士就忍不住一嚐再嚐......


>> JW Marriott 暴飲暴食相簿 Go Go Go! <<

4.1.09

Twilight

Book title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Status: Finished

Synopsis:
Bella Swan moves from sunny Phoenix to Forks to live with her dad, she isn't expecting to like it. But her biology lab partner, Edward Cullen, surprises her with his preternatural beauty, strength, and speed. Edward is just as fascinated with Bella, whose mind he cannot read. As Bella discovers the truth about Edward's nature and his family, she is thrown headlong into a dangerous adventure. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret, but now, nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

Comment:
The novel is better than the film adaptation, in greater details and all, but it's far from perfect. It's no literature, not even close, and Edward's portrayal as godlike perfection and how Bella found him irresistibly attractive can be annoying sometimes (..。)

This is so shallow, way sexist, to fall in love beyond redemption simply out of physical attraction.

Though Edward's inner struggle is better featured in the novel than in the movie, something's still missing, I still can't feel it, why are they so madly in love?

Don't take me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe in love at first sight, but one needs something beyond that love sparkles to make it work.

You don't need a reason to fall madly in love with a guy you just met, but constantly appreciating ONLY that guy's dazzlingly good look? Sorry, this kind of skin-deep "love" simply couldn't last, and it gets more and more boring. Fortunately, when it gets to Bella being formally introduced to the Cullens, of whom every single one of them stood out (in terms of character and ability), had a history of their own, the storyline gets a bit more interesting. The hunt is predictable but entertaining regardless, as compared to Bella's endless mumble of how perfect Edward was ( ̄∇ ̄+)

There are flaws, of course, and inconsistencies here and there. Didn't Meyer always emphasized that "Jasper had more trouble sticking to the Cullens' diet than the rest of them -- he hadn't been trying as long"? I just don't get it, Edward told Bella that after her vampire conversion, Alice saw in her vision that she was to find Jasper then came to live with the Cullens, why then, the difference in "special diet" adoption period between Jasper and Alice? Well...never mind......

3.1.09

The Legacy of the Drow

Book title: The Legacy of the Drow
Author: R.A. Salvatore
Status: Finished

Synopsis:
Life is good for Drizzt Do'Urden, better than it ever has been for the beleaguered dark elf. His dearest friend, the dwarf Bruenor, has reclaimed his throne, and his adventuring companions, Wulfgar and Catti-brie, are to be wed in the spring. Even the halfling Regis has returned. All the friends are united in the safety and prosperity of Mithril Hall, where streams of silver mithril run deep and dwarven hammers bang out the solemn rhythms of ancient and unending songs.

But Drizzt did not achieve this state of peace without leaving powerful enemies in his wake. Lloth, the dreaded Spider Queen deity of the evil dark elves, counts herself among them and has vowed to end the drow's days of pleasant security.

Review:
Warning! Spoilers ahead.

相隔了好一段日子,終於忍不住把 R.A. Salvatore 的黑妖系列翻出來繼續追看。暴風雨前夕的平靜實在有點悶場,大概幾位主角是注定要在冒險旅途和無數驚險萬分的戰鬥中發熱發亮吧。

一向不大看好 Cattie-brie 跟 Wulfgar,總覺得她跟 Drizzt 才是天生一對。Wulfgar 的過分保護和妒意實在叫人吃不消,那種小心眼跟之前大碗酒大塊肉的豪邁形象實在差太遠了。

到底是貓太敏感還是伏線太明顯?實在不明白聰明如 Drizzt 怎可能看不出來"突然"身手不凡的 Regis 實由 Entreri 假扮。雖然打鬥場面一貫的精彩,然而 Entreri 誓要打倒 Drizzt 的執着叫人生厭,且最後一幕,Wulfgar 的犧牲也有點畫蛇添足。

讀畢首部曲後竟然沒有即時追看下一部的衝動,是對這系列太失望?還是受不了 Drizzt 注定要當孤獨的悲劇英雄那種灰暗的人生?

2.1.09

海獅會咬人

還記得上次到海洋公園時看到那個「海獅會咬人」的告示,跟貓男互相取笑說千萬別觸摸動物,因為「海獅會咬人」啊!(捧腹)

當時還覺得這告示實在搞笑所以特地拍下來!沒想到海獅會咬人竟‧然‧是‧真‧的!

讀報,海獅媽媽 Jumanji 在逾百觀眾面前突襲訓練員,幸而訓練員送院敷治後並無大礙。據悉事發當時訓練員伸出左手擺出歡迎姿勢,然而意外拍中 Jumanji 的頭部,懷疑她因受驚失控,一口咬向訓練員的左手臂近手肘位置,訓練員受傷流血,現場觀眾也目瞪口呆,甚至有小朋友尖叫「海獅咬人呀」( ̄□ ̄; )!!!!

海獅是智慧相當高的生物,殺傷力也十分驚人。要是 Jumanji 當時存心施襲,恐怕訓練員受的就不止那麼一點點傷了。報載,Jumanji 咬了訓練員一口後,並沒有像廝殺獵物般死口不放,只在訓練員左手手肘附近留下兩個小血洞,未有進一步施襲便鬆開口,然後迅速跳回水中。

大概 Jumanji 也明白即使出於條件反射,但"咬人是不對的"這件事她心裡還是很清楚的吧?希望她不會受嚴懲吧。


昨夜接到友人來電,問貓若她跟家人真的鬧翻了,可否暫時收留她數日。

貓的答案是斬釘截鐵的:NO!

貓最最反對離家出走。

無論出於任何原因(除非遭家人虐待或侵犯,應立即向有關機構求助)、發生甚麼爭執、錯在哪一方,離家出走都是不成熟、不負責任的行為。這只會讓家人進一步確信你思想幼稚、行為不負責任,對你的信任大打節扣。

離家出走的目的是甚麼?為了逃避?抗議?要脅?抑或只是單純氣在頭上的一時衝動?

逃避,要逃到甚麼時候呢?離家出走,問題就會自動解決了嗎?不見得。
抗議,是否有更具說服力、令對方無從置喙的方法呢?
要脅,讓家人害怕失去你因而順從你嗎?
一時衝動,那麼衝動過後呢?要如何面對?待口袋裡的錢花光光便回去繼續當伸手黨問父母要零用嗎?只會讓家人更看不起如此不負責任又無力自立的你吧?

即使朋友給你借宿,要如何處理接下來的問題?你有足夠的經濟能力自立嗎?衣食住行由誰來負責?家人若往學校/公司尋人,你要如何向校方/上司交代?

離家出走很容易,但總離不開走向墮落或灰頭土臉跑回家兩個結局。

也許離家出走的人都有一百個理由,也許他們會認為只是貓不明白。可是貓也經歴過在家裡難受得快要窒息的時期呀!假如家裡真的待不下去了,那就想方法自立呀!

貓是反對離家出走沒錯,但絕對支持離家自立。

假如那個家真的待不下去,就好好計劃如何自立吧,你若有自立的能力、能為自己的人生負責、學費生活費皆能獨力承擔,自然沒有人能阻止你遠走高飛。

逃避從來不是解決方法,想想自己需要甚麼,又能付出甚麼樣的代價吧。

沒付出過自立的汗水卻企圖享受自立的自由?世上會有如此便宜的事情嗎?

1.1.09

あけましておめでとう~

2008年,貓的人生出現了許多重大的改變,例如轉職,例如加盟花千樹(可惜至今尚未完成新作),例如置業。

踏入2009年,除了往年許下的 New Year Resolutions,今年多了一點責任、一點債務(供樓嘛!),許多原來的計劃亦隨着往年的重大轉變而被迫中止或作出相應改動,先檢討一下去年的 New Year Resolutions 吧:

New Year Resolutions 2008:

1) Quit procrastinating;<-- something to work on in 2009
2) Better time management;<-- something to work on in 2009
3) Stick to my deadlines;<-- somehow made impossible by the long hours I work
4) Write at regular intervals;<-- thwarted by my job. Even with superb time management, there is no time left to "manage", so how am I supposed to achieve this goal? Really gotta do something about this......
5) Finish refining and renewing all fictions;<-- again, thwarted by my job
6) Enter a new journal entry every day;<-- something to work on in 2009
7) Exercise;<-- somehow made impossible by the long hours I work
8) Eat a healthier diet for the sake of my immune system;<-- failed, something to work on in 2009
9) Travel more;<-- fulfilled in 2008, unlikely in 2009......
10) Renovate my condo.<-- failed, but bought a condo instead, doesn't sound so bad: a new home in the making!!!

2009新增事項:

1)完成新作 -- 發神經地寫了2萬幾字的大綱,要加把勁動筆寫內容了 ( ̄∇ ̄+) 雖然海嘯後出版社未必願意冒險出新書,但先完成自己的責任再說吧;
2)裝修新居
3)計劃如何能在覓得足以供樓+還款+生活的穩定收入下撥出時間來修讀法律;
4)整理2008年台灣+日本電波之旅的照片和日記;
5)整理昔日的電波之旅的照片和日記;
6)補回尚處於"儲存"階段仍未發佈的日記

2009年的1月1日,貓&貓男相約了地產經紀到新居量度尺寸,好計劃如何佈置和該買哪些家具 -- 新年新開始嘛!煩一點也值得 o(^-^o)(o^-^)o

あけましておめでとう~今年もよろしくね!