tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25284557462209934272012-02-17T09:20:11.666+08:00Life Observations Through A Bear's EyesBeckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.comBlogger2381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-86061030251315351882011-06-22T16:45:00.002+08:002011-06-24T05:14:32.976+08:00

In the animal world, it is a common practice to forage for food until full and satiated, then spend the rest of the time lazing around doing nothing, well, unless one is an ant or a bee in which case, one would be an insect and not an animal. With humans, laziness is always frowned upon. It means one is in full capacity to do something, anything, but is not doing so.But what really is laziness?

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-6973417623348257792011-06-11T00:19:00.005+08:002011-06-11T01:24:13.211+08:00

I was watching the movie Julie and Julia on HBO the other night and remembered a scene where Julia Child was discussing with her husband Paul about what to do in Paris. The husband asked her, "What is it that you really like to do?". Julia answered him, "Eat."I understand that a lot of human go through life not knowing what they really like to do. Sometimes, they know what they like to do but

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-69703594253816044382011-06-04T01:35:00.002+08:002011-06-04T02:04:52.088+08:00

I read in the news today that a 25-year old mother from New Mexico, USA is being sentenced to 25 years in prison for the death of her 3 1/2-year-old daughter. The mother apparently spent a lot of time playing the online game World of Warcraft and neglected her baby for most of the time until she just dies of dehydration and malnutrition.This is not the first time incident like this happened. In

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-69025631499338897682011-05-27T15:12:00.000+08:002011-05-28T03:44:51.595+08:00

I miss London.I miss the street where we lived when Mr. B. and I were on holidays there. There was a store in the corner that never opened for the duration of our stay. I think it was a small neighborhood grocery. Across the street there was an Indian restaurant that never seemed to have any diners. We did see a few but they looked more like friends of the owner. They probably ate for free.A posh

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-27049504870742373612011-05-23T23:12:00.004+08:002011-05-23T23:30:10.294+08:00

Sweet potato is one of the most nutritional foods for humans so instead of the usual potatoes, I am using this to make today's croquette. This deep-fried goodie is originally a French invention but has gained worldwide popularity that every other country has its own version. I hope you will enjoy this one!Ingredients:5 medium size red sweet potatoes200 gm ground beef (or pork whichever you prefer

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-69810412587631034292011-05-18T00:07:00.003+08:002011-05-18T00:21:20.986+08:00

In a short span of 2 months, 2 of Mr. B. friends passed away under unusual circumstances. It made him quite sad."If you knew long before these things happened, do you think you will tell your friends?" I asked him.Mr. B. seemed to be puzzled by my question at first, but he understood what I meant. He thought about it a little and said, "Maybe they wouldn't believe me."Life is strange. We, humans

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-57716639507511630102011-05-11T23:31:00.003+08:002011-05-11T23:52:25.879+08:00

I love lasagna so I was very happy that Mr. B. bought a new (bigger) oven where I can start experimenting. This is my very first attempt to do lasagna. I know this is not the conventional way to do it and I got a bit creative with the use of ingredients. But the result is heavenly! Try this recipe yourself. It may not be the easiest in this series, but it is definitely worth trying!Meat Sauce300g

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-27813024077627470332011-05-09T16:59:00.000+08:002011-05-11T23:29:37.227+08:00

Mr. B. has a house guest this week. Since they haven't seen each other for many years, they spent a lot of time reminiscing about the good old days. They drank tea and chatted until wee hours in the morning about almost anything and everything - about people, events and places they both experienced together.Somehow, Mr. B. discovered that many things his friend said were not quite the way Mr. B.

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-58007463187636077872011-04-30T20:58:00.003+08:002011-05-01T00:23:58.349+08:00

In my world, bears' world, bears are just bears. We all do the same things - we hunt for food, we eat, sleep, have little cubs and just carry on with our lives. That is why I find it quite fascinating that humans, although they are all the same species, do different things in life. Some of them are doctors, or lawyers, or builders, or plumbers, they could be anything they choose to be.I read that

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-84917379819124670042011-04-25T23:08:00.003+08:002011-04-25T23:30:41.611+08:00

"I can't wait to watch the Wills and Kate wedding on TV this Friday!!" I told Mr. B. excitedly."And why would that be on any interest to you?" he answered."Because it's cool. I love the royalty. And also their famous wave!""What wave?""You know, where the royalties wave to people like they were screwing bulbs." I said."They invented that to conserve energy, otherwise waving for a long time would

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-11152280915360000542011-04-22T15:21:00.003+08:002011-04-22T15:33:14.227+08:00

Because this week is Lent, Mr. B. taught me the importance of prayer. He said I can talk to Jesus anytime I want, that I can do not at home because bears are not allowed in churches."What do I say to Jesus, Mr. B.?""Anything. You should thank Him for many blessings that we have in life, like the family and friends we have, the food we eat, the things we enjoy. You can also seek His help if you

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-53300068398997935772011-04-19T23:15:00.001+08:002011-04-20T01:29:40.910+08:00

Once in a while I feel grumpy. No special reasons. I just don't feel happy, or I don't want to feel happy. There are things that worry so I am not happy. I am sure I am entitled to not be happy or feel happy. The same can be said with humans.When I'm in one of these moods, Mr. B. would try to console me by saying "Cheer up!" or "It will be alright!" or "It could be worse!". I am sure you have

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-60205904161309730432011-04-14T22:44:00.003+08:002011-04-14T23:24:10.576+08:00

Many humans are quite sensitive when it comes to aging, which of course is a natural occurence in life. They try everything within their own power and the wonder of science and technology to defer the aging process as much as possible. They also stop celebrating birthdays so others will not have the chance to know their ages. I think it's strangely funny.For many, birthday is a commemoration of

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-32533533587396573592011-04-10T23:08:00.004+08:002011-04-10T23:22:38.702+08:00

"You are making soup again?" Mr. B. questioned."Why not? Soup is good for you." I replied. "Besides this is so different from what I made 2 weeks ago and it's got all the stuff that is good for you!"Indeed, our soup this week has vegetables, roots and pulses. Lentil is one of the healthiest food and is easily ignored in Asian cooking. That is why I am presenting this very hearty soup to you. It

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-15562721415286425012011-03-31T17:21:00.007+08:002011-03-31T17:56:29.460+08:00

Most evenings, Mr. B. would spend hours and hours in front of the computer watching videos after videos of his favorite subject of all time. He would go to sleep dreaming about it. Wake up thinking about it. Plan his days around it, and demonstrate what he learned throughout the week to D. on Friday evenings. You see, Mr. B. is a porn addict. A food porn addict.The phrase "food porn" became part

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-22819516272586657552011-03-29T18:49:00.003+08:002011-03-29T19:21:58.727+08:00

Last Sunday, Mr. B. travelled 138 km to meet 3 of his high school classmates who he hasn't seen for more than 30 years. It was a wonderful occasion where they shared interesting anecdotes of their adult lives, their careers, families and just about anything. They shared a wonderful meal together and took photos. When it was time to leave, they made promises to each other not to lose touch, to

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-44274232439392270322011-03-28T00:41:00.003+08:002011-03-28T00:56:56.342+08:00

It's March and in many countries, like the one where I am, are still experiencing cold weather! So if you are hungry, cold and lazy (which usually go together), I have something super delicious, super nutritious and super easy to make. Inspired by the many kinds of soup we had while in Paris, my version of this Beef and Vegetable Soup is one you will really love!Ingredients:1 medium size carrot,

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-26653841443617587702011-03-22T14:59:00.004+08:002011-03-22T15:48:27.256+08:00

All over the local news today is the wedding of local starlet Barbie Hsu to mainland Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei. Their official press released announced that the wedding will be a very simple, modest and very private affair. So they decided to hold the ceremony and banquet in a small island off China and chartered planes to fly all the guests as well as their wedding crew to the destination

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-71183700870208161222011-03-19T12:13:00.004+08:002011-03-20T02:13:38.680+08:00

The world witnessed two important events last Friday, 11 March 2011. First being the 9.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Japan triggering a series of other disasters - tsunami and nuclear accidents. The second being Rebecca Black's music video Friday uploaded on YouTube.Over the weekend, Black's Friday became an viral sensation with nearly 20 million views in YouTube and managed to garner almost

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-82197628578016314932011-03-17T23:11:00.003+08:002011-03-18T00:01:03.099+08:00

First, a 9.0-magnitude quake that literally change the geophysics of the Earth. Then a 10-meter wall of water that destroyed everything on its path. Now, Japan is struggling to keep its nuclear crisis from becoming a major catastrophe. In the midst of these, millions of people suffering, physically and emotionally. "Japan's nuclear crisis is now in the hands of God." a major politician said today

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-45411622534624766102011-03-13T12:50:00.005+08:002011-03-13T22:19:52.521+08:00

I got a lot of requests from fans to feature something Mr. B. learned from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. So here is something not too French but definitely very easy to do (that is why the recipe made it to Easy Eats!). Something you can whip up at home within a few minutes and also featuring something French - Orange Supreme!Ingredients:2 boneless chicken thigh meat cubed1/2 red bell pepper cubed1/2

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-40892249629088934802011-02-16T11:53:00.004+08:002011-02-17T16:54:57.250+08:00

"When I have done all I ever wanted to do, what should I do next?"That is the thought that has been running in Mr. B.'s mind in the past few days. In the midst of unpacking his 2 large luggage from our trips that lasted for many months, he can't help but think about it. What's next?As a child, Mr. B. wanted to draw big buildings, so he completed his degree in architecture. He wanted to learn

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-58972424142380228992011-02-15T15:03:00.004+08:002011-02-15T15:16:24.684+08:00

Since we came back from our European tour, Mr. B. couldn't stop talking about wanting to invest in good set of knives for his tiny kitchen. Perhaps influenced by the professional kitchen when he attended classes in Le Cordon Bleu, he believed excellent knives would make perfect cuts and perfect cuts will make nice food placement on a plate.On St. Valentine's Day, D. surprised him with a set of

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-34398469035654300402011-02-10T12:34:00.005+08:002011-02-11T17:58:19.938+08:00

Last week, I celebrated my 12th birthday with a group of friends. These are friends I only get to meet once every few years when Mr. B. and I are on holidays. They prepared 4 colorful cupcakes for me, we had nice balloons, photo taking and lots of fun. But I do miss friends from "back home", especially my best friend Russell.While I was having a grand time celebrating my birthday, Mr. B. was busy

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-21833720821706181462011-02-02T22:16:00.002+08:002011-02-02T22:18:46.427+08:00

To all my Chinese fans and friends from all over the world, Happy Lunar New Year! May the Year of the Rabbit brings you health and prosperity!

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-47969734813052136282011-01-26T22:34:00.006+08:002011-01-27T13:53:09.077+08:00

"Welcome Back, Sir!".The burly building security guard said as he deposited our big luggages right by the doorstep of the apartment unit. Mr. B. didn't seem to know him. Perhaps he saw him last year but maybe he hardly made an impression.."How can you not know him?" I told Mr. B. "He greeted us every morning we go out and we woke him up to open the gate when we came home very late at night."."Is

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-29072697371718408762011-01-23T23:12:00.000+08:002011-01-24T01:07:52.301+08:00

Mr. B. has a very strange disorder. It's called forgetfulness. No, it's not the disease as described by Alois Alzheimer in 1906. Since he was small, he has been known to misplace things and not being able to find them after he deliberately tried to remember where he kept them when he did. Everyone in the family knew about this. He does remember a lot of insignificant details from his childhood

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-44211181972895958962011-01-14T21:50:00.006+08:002011-01-15T03:10:23.951+08:00

I feel sad today. Mr. B. and I have officially completed our European trip and going back home tonight. After two and a half months of traveling, I must say that I'm a bit exhausted but definitely very happy! Mr. B. took me to see many interesting places, meet a lot of his equally interesting friends, ate a lot of uniquely delicious food, took lots of photos and posted them for family and

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-15341084158420800092011-01-04T06:18:00.003+08:002011-01-06T06:36:39.612+08:00

"Do you think we can see the Funny Farm from up here?" I asked Mr. B."Don't be silly. Of course not." he replied chuckling.Inside the observation capsule on top of London Eye, it seemed to me like I could see the whole world. Everything became so tiny - the Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the cars in the streets, the boats on River Thames, and the people. I felt like so far away from

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-75066227591547713522010-12-31T07:23:00.004+08:002011-01-01T05:46:02.092+08:00

"I hate shopping!" Mr. B. declared today."Really?" I replied. "Then why do we have all these big shopping bags in our room?""Oh! But they're not for me!" he went on pointing at the chocolate and biscuits from Belgium for his sister, clothes for D., purse for his mom, mobile phone straps for his nieces, toiletries for colleagues, among other things."Did you buy anything for yourself?""No. I didn't

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-30706180975687852992010-12-30T07:00:00.004+08:002010-12-30T07:26:08.287+08:00

One of the most impressive thing I saw during my Paris trip is the Palais Garnier or the Paris Opera. Mr. B. said it is one of the places that he would always come back to when he is in Paris. This grand landmark designed by architect Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875 was the inspiration of Gaston Leroux when he wrote his Gothic novel The Phantom of the Opera in 1910.The highly

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-55954934791686952462010-12-21T22:46:00.004+08:002010-12-21T23:33:15.469+08:00

The pots continue boiling as Mr. B. attended yet another course on Classic and Modern Sauces. Here is his adventure in the world of culinary arts:Bonjour, Chef.Oui, Chef.No, Chef.Merci, Chef.The professional kitchen runs like a military camp, I realized. Everything must be in order, in place, clean, precise. And you always refer to the person with the highest touque in the room as "Chef"

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-40775291990214232962010-12-18T22:46:00.004+08:002010-12-18T23:38:16.158+08:00

Oui Oui. Oui are still in the lovely city of Paris and today Mr. B. attended the Foie Gras Preparation class while I keep myself warm and cozy in the hotel room. I'll let him tell you the whole story. Here goes.The much debated foie gras. What can one say? Since ancient Egypt, fattening of birds by forced overfeeding has been practiced. This gavage method of fattening the liver of goose or duck

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-87643742474308712142010-12-14T16:00:00.004+08:002010-12-14T21:57:48.900+08:00

Strange things happen to humans but stranger things happen to Mr. B. in particular. He is a natural magnet to things strange and unusual.This morning at breakfast in the small hotel we are staying, Mr. B. was enjoying his toast with butter and honey in the empty restaurant when a lady server approached him."Pardon monsieur, est-ce que c'est votre?" she said pointing somewhere in the buffet table

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-85414667491593425732010-12-11T23:36:00.005+08:002010-12-13T00:27:25.853+08:00

Today is the day Mr. B. attended his first course in the world-renowned culinary school Le Cordon Bleu. This is one of the highlights of our European trip which Mr. B. has been planning for a long time. So I shall give him the chance to tell his story in this post. I hope you all enjoy it.The Le Cordon Bleu Paris campus had a very simple facade. So simple one could very well miss it when not

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-58043882236602661472010-12-11T23:24:00.004+08:002010-12-11T23:34:48.818+08:00

Because Mr. B. was really and he needs to sleep early, we decided to buy dinner from the supermarket to take back to the hotel. We ended up in Monoprix which is just across the hotel we were staying at.We had a lot of food for dinner! We had Salad Piedmontaise which is a combination of potatoes, tomatoes, corn, pickles and roasted chicken meat. Mr. B. also bought a big slice of Terrine de

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-14100579473621315872010-12-10T23:28:00.004+08:002010-12-10T23:48:30.123+08:00

After a night of sleep interrupted by dreams (or nightmare) of his former boss in the funny farm, Mr. B. woke up at 4.30am to prepare for our trip to Paris. More than two hours later, the biting cold air of Paris, cloudy sky and the snow-covered streets greeted us. Because the hotel did not allow check-in before 2.00pm, Mr. B. and I took the Metro around the city for my first taste of Paris."

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-91221318117259245232010-12-08T00:42:00.004+08:002010-12-09T07:56:44.662+08:00

Traveling to different parts of the world makes me realize how little I understand about the world of humans, especially when they speak in a different language. During my stay in Belgium, I met two non-human friends who spoke only Dutch. One is a white polar bear and the other a mocha colored one. Since I identify then by the color of their furs, I can only refer to them as "Witte" and "Mokka".

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-42167209328287039622010-12-02T02:38:00.004+08:002010-12-02T02:57:55.660+08:00

I am not a polar bear. I don't live in North Pole. So I am not familiar with snow at all. Before this trip, Mr. B. warned me that we might encounter snowfall, which I thought was very exciting. I had a picture in my mind of children playing in the snow, making snow angels; people making snowmen with carrot noses; throwing snowballs at each other or sliding downhill on a cart; of fireplace and hot

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-7478316474834717752010-11-27T07:13:00.004+08:002010-11-27T07:53:49.155+08:00

There are so many things to see in London. Old architecture, beautiful parks, stores where humans shop and things that even Mr. B. has never seen before. We recently went to the world-renowned Harrod's. Most humans should know that Harrod's, founded in 1834, is a huge store with over 300 departments occupying more than 1 million square feet.Anything that one can think imagine must be available in

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-57316912651058159412010-11-24T04:31:00.004+08:002010-11-24T06:57:20.013+08:00

Mr. B. and I had a relaxing day today, so relaxing in fact that we decided to just buy microwave food for dinner. At the posh Marks and Spencer Foodhall, Mr. B. decided to have Indian with Chicken Piri Piri and Rice Pilaf with some vegetables. For dessert, he bought Sticky Toffee Pudding.Back home, we heat up everything in the microwave and had a fabulous dinner. Fine dining can't get easier than

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-79036749561123673852010-11-22T14:31:00.006+08:002010-11-22T14:59:09.014+08:00

Yesterday, we went to the largest toy shop in the world! Hamleys was established in 1760 so I suppose it should be the world's oldest as well. Just the display window alone was fantastic featuring various holiday scenes of carol singing, family dining, pudding baking and others.The 5 levels of the store were filled with every imaginable toys - stuffed animals, dolls, board games,

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-35873579743827410592010-11-17T00:11:00.004+08:002010-11-17T01:00:29.455+08:00

What makes an entertaining musical?Perhaps one that features all hit songs that you can hum along with, big production numbers, outrageous costumes and make up, then end it with the audience standing up singing "I Will Survive". Well, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert The Musical is all that.The storyline is similar with the 1994 film from which the jukebox musical was adapted from - 3 drag queens

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-53233079986410312010-11-16T22:08:00.006+08:002010-11-17T00:09:08.681+08:00

Mr. B. said I have to go to the museum to learn more about humans because that is where they keep all the different items from the past that tell us the history. Today, we visited two museums: the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum which are right next to each other.The Natural History Museum has a huge collection of dinosaur bones, fossils from strange animals, birds,

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-84951751324861445922010-11-10T04:48:00.004+08:002010-11-10T05:45:36.789+08:00

A small insert dropped from the programme I bought. It says "At tonight's performance, the role of the Phantom shall be played by Mr. Tam Mutu." Who in the world is Tam Mutu? I said to myself. Isn't it bad enough that sitting in the Dress Circle because I couldn't get a ticket for the Stall? Or maybe, this was a sign that I should see this show again on a different day.Mr. Tam Mutu was the

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-80290839045977705552010-11-07T00:44:00.005+08:002010-11-07T01:07:04.825+08:00

Our hosts treated us to a wonderful French dinner tonight. The place is called L'art du Fromage which with my very limited French should mean - The Art of Cheese. Indeed their speciality is cheese fondue which is totally different from any cheese fondue I have seen. Instead of a bowl, it uses a contraption that works like a toaster and actually heat and melt the cheese onto the plate - just pure

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-35088259023813368512010-11-07T00:20:00.003+08:002010-11-07T00:41:24.596+08:00

After 18 hours on the plane watching movies, eating and trying to get some sleep, Mr. B. and I finally arrived London in a chilly evening. Even feeling a bit dizzy as if a bout is cold is coming, the clean air was a welcome treat.Our host gave us a room with a window looking over others houses and flats. Of course we didn't see the view until the following morning after a good night's rest. "Good

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-63451841977817372222010-11-02T23:24:00.003+08:002010-11-03T00:01:46.273+08:00

Mr. B. is bringing 3 books with him in our trip. One of them The Diamond Cutter by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally is a gift from a friend. The other 2, Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul by Deepak Chopra and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz were bought this afternoon."We can sit in the park or lay on the grass and read books. It should be fun and relaxing." he said."

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-85448063669479855652010-10-30T22:11:00.002+08:002010-10-31T02:31:31.565+08:00

Are you ready for another very easy to make and mouthwatering dish? Today I am presenting one of my inventions, the Corny Chicken Delight. As always, this recipe uses very few ingredients but the end result is totally delicious. More importantly, it is very simple to prepare.Ingredients:500 grams boneless chicken meat (you can use breast or thigh meat)1 can corn, drainedChopped green onion (

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-85466251811078653702010-10-29T06:33:00.004+08:002010-10-29T09:28:24.768+08:00

The past few days have been quite busy in our household. That was part of the reason why I wasn't able to update my blog as often (another part of the reason is that I am on "hibernation" mode). The point of all the busyness is that next week, Mr. B. and I shall be embarking in a long vacation trip and we are busy making all the bookings, contacting, arrangements, buying, packing and all the

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-56380100545911102722010-10-16T00:37:00.004+08:002010-10-16T01:04:22.117+08:00

There is corn chowder, there is seafood chowder and there is clam chowder. But I choose to combine them all in one pot to create Corn and Seafood Chowder! This is so easy to make with simple ingredients and short preparation time. Most importantly, it's delicious!!Ingredients:1 can creamed corn1/2 onion, dicedAssorted seafood tidbits (squid, shrimp, clam meat)1 strip bacon, cut into tiny pieces1/

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-79919136415193679102010-10-11T23:35:00.005+08:002010-10-11T23:57:37.662+08:00

There was a time when humans need coins to make a phone call in public. When they need information, they go to the library to do some researches. When they need to buy anything, they go to the shop. That "time" was only about 10 humans years or so ago.Now, it is difficult to imagine surviving without a computer. One can practically do anything with a simple machine and a connection - read, shop,

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-35949472563759697702010-10-10T23:17:00.002+08:002010-10-11T00:12:43.572+08:00

"You need to buy some new winter clothes to wear for our upcoming holidays." I told Mr. B. today."I know that but nothing in the stores fits me!" he replied. "I tried looking but they are either too tight, too long or too loose!"Despite having lost a total of 4 kilograms in the last 3 weeks due his new brisk walking regimen, Mr. B. still has a long way to go before he can fit into any of those

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-46657047562101800832010-10-03T22:02:00.003+08:002010-10-03T22:21:41.422+08:00

Hello my dear readers! This week's Easy Eats feature is quite special, just because this is the first time Mr. B. and I use the Le Creuset cookware he got as a gift to prepare this wonderful meal. Because D. loves seafood, we decided make Seafood Risotto. While Mr. B. said he would need some time to get used to the cookware (in terms of controlling the heat), we nevertheless came up with

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-14510738334615144852010-10-01T10:44:00.000+08:002010-10-02T01:22:31.332+08:00

Today, Mr. B. made me a promise - that he would take me along with him on a really grand vacation to somewhere far and beautiful. He decided that we should "see the world" and not just stay home and sulk. If time allows, Mr. B. said we might even spend the New Year where they have light show and fireworks on a giant ferris wheel! To say that I was excited by the idea would be an understatement.

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-32268413453341192682010-09-28T22:49:00.003+08:002010-09-29T01:15:59.132+08:00

Last night, Mr. B. started a new routine - walking for fitness. For more than an hour, Mr. B. walked the big block around his neighbor and then proceed to walk around the perimeter of the large forest park in the district. He came home all panting and sweaty and complained about his sore legs and thighs. But he said it felt quite good and energizing. It also cleared his mind and was able to sort

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-82833584761321989312010-09-23T23:40:00.005+08:002010-09-24T00:17:41.989+08:00

Mr. B. recently receive a wonderful gift from a group of wonderful people. It has been in his wish list for many years and he was so excited to finally receive it. It is the King of Cookware - Le Creuset!! For those not very familiar with culinary arts, this colorful enameled cast iron cookware is the ultimate in elegance as well as quality.For two days now, Mr. B. has been staring at the two

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-1302167167489199542010-09-19T21:34:00.003+08:002010-09-19T21:49:19.614+08:00

There's a big storm this weekend so nothing is better than staying home, watching TV and making some comfort food! Speaking of comfort food, this is one of my favorite (of course). Easy to make Salmon Fish Cake! You can eat them with side salad or using a Thai hot and sweet dipping sauce.Ingredients:5 medium size potatoes, diced500 grams salmonDried thyme1 bay leafAll-purpose flourBread

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-88657164596015890212010-09-13T20:30:00.003+08:002010-09-13T22:08:20.454+08:00

Today, Mr. B. received a gift. It is a pen with a 0.6 carat diamond floating on top. I reckoned it must be very expensive."What did you do to receive such a wonderful gift, Mr. B.?" I asked him excitedly."I sold my soul." he answered nonchalantly without looking at me."I don't understand.""Well, you spent years and years working your head off and being very obedient. You allowed yourself to be

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-63906251892058841772010-09-05T00:10:00.003+08:002010-09-05T00:28:50.201+08:00

Hello my dear fans! It's time for Easy Eats and today I am featuring a very, very easy recipe that requires no more than 5 ingredients and less than 40 minutes to prepare. Best of all, it tastes heavenly, perfect for that lazy weekend lunch. I know this is not a very traditional way of making risotto but who cares if it's delicious?Ingredients:1 cup uncooked rice (any variant will do)1 cup button

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-87240240436276968982010-09-03T22:03:00.002+08:002010-09-04T01:53:45.174+08:00

I never knew who Dr. Temple Grandin was until recently. She is a 63-year-old professor in Colorado State University, a bestselling author, a consultant in animal behavior to the livestock industry. She has been featured in many television programs, written up in major publications and featured in a BBC documentary called "The Woman Who Thinks Like A Cow". HBO recently made a semi-biographical

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-58366111884297054802010-08-31T22:42:00.004+08:002010-08-31T23:09:12.671+08:00

Wikipedia defines phobia as an irrational, intense and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, animals, or people. In the complicated psychology of humans, there are many of them. There is even fear of phobia itself - called phobophobia.Mr. B. has two biggest fears in life - being in a body of water and driving. He never had any traumatic experiences in his life as far as

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-69409385879026510332010-08-21T23:47:00.001+08:002010-08-25T19:40:02.228+08:00

Today's feature in Easy Eats is not easy at all, but in celebration of Mr. B. and D.'s 7th Anniversary, I am sharing with you the 4-course dinner Mr. B. prepared tonight. Here they are in order of serving.First Course : Cream of Broccoli SoupThe name may sound very simple but I was a witness to how Mr. B. turned 2 (yes, 2) heads of broccoli into only 2 cups of soup! Saute one diced onion and

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-86923578813280914432010-08-20T22:25:00.003+08:002010-08-21T03:01:56.439+08:00

The past few weeks has been crazy for Mr. B. He had loads of work to complete, he had to travel to Canada for an important presentation, he missed the traditional Chinese Lovers Day, he missed D.'s birthday and he missed their 7th anniversary together.I can't blame him because everything was happening at the same time, and all of these at a time when Mr. B. is about to make some life-changing

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-46693096929830724182010-08-14T23:11:00.004+08:002010-08-15T00:03:21.119+08:00

In the past few weeks, I noticed that Mr. B. would pack his own lunch to work. He has this rectangular blue microwavable box that can squeeze in enough food for two people. He would pack pasta, rice, meats and other yummy things in there for lunch. Lately, he also discovered that he can actually pack raw vegetables with sauces and just let it cook in the microwave come lunchtime."You know what,

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-76447928043911310332010-08-08T00:12:00.001+08:002010-08-08T02:42:51.424+08:00

Rainy weekends deserve comfort food, such us warm, fluffy rice topped with golden chicken curry. That's what we had today for lunch! Right after a hearty meal, we all relaxed and went for a nap since it was raining and we can't go out. What a perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon.This simple Chicken Curry recipe is very easy to prepare with very few ingredients involved, perfect for Easy

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-22974045840555839392010-07-31T23:54:00.002+08:002010-08-01T03:16:23.681+08:00

For Mr. B., it was one of the most important events of his life, at least for this year. To finally be able to watch Pet Shop Boys perform live on stage. This historic event occurred 29 July on a Thursday when the British synth-pop duo staged a one-night-only concert as part of their Pandemonium Tour.While Mr. B. understood that British music is not as popular in the country he lives in, he

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-65705070467849699232010-07-24T11:33:00.004+08:002010-07-24T11:55:45.543+08:00

Today I am featuring one of my favorite food of all - salmon!!! In case you don't know, salmon is very rich in protein, is high in omega-3 fatty acids and rich in vitamin D, which is why we bears love it so much. This one dish meal is also very easy to prepare and is very nutritious. You can add other ingredients if you wish but I gave it a touch of the Orient by adding Tom Yum Paste. Tom Yum is

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-15001969254557350642010-07-20T22:08:00.005+08:002010-07-21T21:28:31.999+08:00

Some humans are just annoying. Sometimes, they don't have to do anything to you, or to others. They just have to be themselves and manage to annoy. One fine example is Russell Brand, not Sprout, Brand! One look at him and you want to punch him in the face. I am usually not a violent bear, but that is the effect of Russell Brand to me.It is not hard to annoy Mr. B. There are a few people in his

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-28401208185668271982010-07-18T22:29:00.003+08:002010-07-18T23:16:20.175+08:00

"Why could someone so annoying be so famous?" I asked Mr. B. during dinner."What do you mean? Who is annoying?""You know that young kid who sings Baby, Baby, Baby, oohhh! His video is annoying, he looks annoying, and he doesn't know what German is! I don't like him." I answered."But he has lots of fans and his record sold millions!" he explained. "You have to remember, he already had millions of

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-14630271781554483472010-07-16T21:40:00.000+08:002010-07-18T02:05:10.490+08:00

Sometimes, I am so amazed by the creativity of the human minds. Who can ever tell that an elite army of corn-kernel-inspired characters can dominate the world?If you still don't know, the new 3D animated movie Despicable Me opened in the cinema making US$60 million in ticket sales on the first weekend, almost twice more than Twilight.One of the crowd drawers of the movie is the battalion of

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-47172140554012405152010-07-11T08:33:00.001+08:002010-07-11T08:33:00.388+08:00

I am not an advocate for packaged food. I always believe that food should be prepared fresh using fresh ingredients as much as possible. But then again, this is Easy Eats! It is the fact of human lives that they are so tired after a day's work that they barely have any energy to cook dinner. Today's feature couldn't be easier. It only uses 3 ingredients - instant Japanese ramen (noodles), instant

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-16590222550695853442010-07-10T22:34:00.000+08:002010-07-11T02:51:20.333+08:00

"You shouldn't be turning on all the air-conditioners in the house." I told Mr. B. today."Are you kidding? With this heat?" he said. It was about 38 degrees Celsius outside but the inside of our apartment was comfortable."You are contributing to global warming." I said sternly. "You are only making the weather hotter and hotter until one day even air-conditioners will not be enough!""I don't

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-49986553041624873102010-07-09T23:05:00.000+08:002010-07-10T01:25:13.422+08:00

The world loves Paul Oktopus. Who doesn't? He probably made many people rich in the last few weeks by helping them to choose the right team to bet big money on. You might already know the story. Paul is an English-born octopus who grew up in Germany. He is said to be almost perfect in predicting the winning team in football matches. He is presented with two clear plastic boxes in his aquarium,

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-68438927219802391842010-07-05T23:18:00.003+08:002010-07-05T23:37:49.926+08:00

After two weeks of recuperating from his post-travel syndrome, Mr. B. finally showed me the photos he took while he was in Prague."It is such a beautiful city." he said with relish."Don't say that when you didn't take me there!" I retorted. "I can see that for myself!"Like Mr. B., I like traveling a lot. I like to see different places, see different people, try different food. But Mr. B. has this

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-55322007648671654532010-06-26T00:13:00.002+08:002010-06-26T00:32:13.240+08:00

What are you hungry for this weekend? Mr. B. enjoys a hearty rice dish, so I am making my very own version of Jambalaya! Purists may frown upon my use of ingredients or cooking method, but let me tell you that this dish came out really, really great! So go ahead and try it, I promise you'll enjoy it.Ingredients:6 - 8 large prawns, shelled2 Andouille sausages, cut into tidbits1 - 2 boneless

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-45134684041654157992010-06-23T22:58:00.002+08:002010-06-24T00:13:29.755+08:00

"Welcome back! did you enjoy your trip?" I asked Mr. B. as he dragged his oversized luggage into the living room and threw his computer case (gently of course) on the sofa."I am so exhausted! 16 hours of flying and 8 hours of layover!" he said in an exagerated manner and threw me up and down the air a few times. "And I missed you!""So tell me about Prague, Mr. B. Show me photos! Show me, show me

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-83509408368838033992010-06-11T21:29:00.006+08:002010-06-11T22:29:07.573+08:00

Are you hungry again? Welcome to the second installment of Easy Eats, where I will share with you some of my easy to make yet super delicious recipes straight from Mr. B.'s kitchen!!! Today, I am featuring penne pasta with all-meat sauce for all the meat lovers out there! I am dedicating this recipe to my loyal reader J.T. who is in search for the best pasta in town. Here it is!!!Ingredients:Half

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-83292146121766603302010-06-02T22:58:00.003+08:002010-06-02T23:41:06.889+08:00

Unless you are someone out of this world (and I don't mean that as a complement), you probably know Glee, the popular musical-"dramedy" series that is a big hit in the U.S. Although it has been compared to the very successful High School Musical series (which I was never interest in), it is very much different from the juvenile TV show.Glee follows the lives of 8 kids in a high school show choir

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-57735043787500384352010-06-01T22:38:00.004+08:002010-06-01T23:18:25.719+08:00

One of the most difficult things humans are ever required to do at some points in their lives is to respond to evil with kindness. Some say it is the noblest of human acts - forgiving. For how can one just put aside the hurt, the torment, the humiliation and go on with life as if nothing offensive was ever done to him/her.I learned today that a good friend of Mr. B. was recently falsely accused

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-41405519876350048452010-05-29T00:02:00.005+08:002010-06-11T21:52:44.911+08:00

Hello and welcome to the first ever post of Easy Eats!! This new fortnightly feature will offer some great ideas on easy-to-prepare meals perfect for all the busy bodies! Today, I am featuring one of Mr. B.'s favorites - Quick Tuna Melt! This creamy and filling open sandwich is perfect for light dinner or weekend brunch with a tall glass of ice cold lemonade. Enjoy!Ingredients:1 can tuna in

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-52813428609217782192010-05-24T22:22:00.004+08:002010-05-24T22:44:21.505+08:00

A few days ago, a friend of Mr. B. sent this photograph via email. It said, "...passed by Adelphi today and thought of you...".For those who do not know, Adelphi is a London West End theatre located in the Strand. Since opening its doors in the 1800's, the theatre housed a number of plays, operettas, musicals and other performances. In recent years, it was the home for Evita, Chicago, Joseph and

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-81320730336157633632010-05-22T01:06:00.000+08:002010-05-23T02:11:53.466+08:00

Mr. B. is a very lazy person. He doesn't like to move if he can help it. He lets others do the moving for him. That is why he likes massages.Okay, I am not telling the whole truth. He is not that lazy, but over the last few years, he completely given up going to the gym, and over the years, he came up with excuses from legitimate to outrageous:1. I am too fat. I will only hurt my ankle and knees

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-24771965880025643912010-05-18T22:40:00.004+08:002011-05-12T00:22:34.178+08:00

Mr. B. came home tonight looking all stressed out. More stressed out than most evenings. I watched him heat his dinner in the microwave and ate silently while flicking the TV remote absent-mindedly. I sat next to him thinking he probably wanted me by his side. After a few minutes, he decided to throw away half of his dinner and lit a cigarette."Go placidly." I told him."What?""Go placidly.

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-30056808715635148952010-05-13T21:04:00.005+08:002010-05-13T23:39:10.546+08:00

In continuation of my musings about humans not being able to live a life by him(herself). it is interesting to know that they also created virtual communities. One of the more popular of these intangible groups is Facebook.Since its inception in 2006 by a group of Harvard students, this social networking service has become a tool to stay in touch with friends and family, reconnect with long lost

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-30026573942867411332010-05-11T21:15:00.003+08:002010-05-11T21:47:16.801+08:00

I learned that humans are not designed to live alone. Of course there are people who eventually live solitary lives (example: monks), but I am sure they never intended to do so when they were young. Also, I found that many humans equate being "alone" with being "lonely", which is not the same if you ask George Merriam and Noah Webster. Kermit says it's not easy being green, but being single

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-79463214788765731532010-05-08T22:11:00.002+08:002010-05-09T11:41:58.143+08:00

I came across a very beautiful song today. It is from the musical Aida by Elton John and Tim Rice. Elaborate Lives talks about the unrequited love between Radames and Aida (go check your history). What I like about it is that it speaks so real not only about love of these two historical figures but also the lives of humans in general. Lives made complicated, I believe, by their own doings.

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-16536171889273220262010-04-30T00:14:00.005+08:002010-05-01T01:49:03.864+08:00

"You must be an evil, evil boss." I told Mr. B. after he announced that someone just quit on him today making the body count 5 out of 10 in the past 3 months."Thanks for making me feel better." he said dryly. "I don't think I am that evil.""Well, someone must be then. Otherwise, why would they quit?" I said thinking he might feel better if I put the blame on someone else."I really don't know.

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-38364065462178911822010-04-27T21:56:00.002+08:002010-04-27T22:46:26.253+08:00

Lately, there have been tons of video clips and media reports circulating around regarding the much-awaited comeback of Whitney Houston, who is considered one of the best vocalist and artist of the generation. Her world tour Nothing But Love started in Russia, then to Korea, Japan, Australia and now in the UK. All of a sudden, there were many Simon Cowell wannabe's putting their two-cents

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-2966116030906545262010-04-23T23:12:00.004+08:002010-04-24T13:44:13.413+08:00

"It's true, Mr. B." I said excited by my new discovery. " I just finished watching this film and it says I was once a bacteria, like all the plants and animals and humans on Earth!""Some science fiction movie?""No! It's called Home, a film made this French moviemaker called Yann Arthus-Bertrand.""I've seen that one, and believe me, you were not a bacteria before. You were born a bear." he

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-34369638983962876892010-04-21T21:00:00.004+08:002010-04-21T22:37:00.495+08:00

"I've got a hole in my head. I am so stressed!" Mr. B. proclaimed.And as if I haven't notice that button-sized bald spot he has been trying to hide for the past 2 months, I tried to console him. "You know it will go away," I replied. "Give it a few months.""And I have this horrible eye infection! I am so stressed!" Now his eyes he can't hide unless he wants to go around pretending to be a pirate.

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-16934497749972024822010-04-15T23:07:00.003+08:002010-04-16T00:42:47.468+08:00

In many ways, the human workplace is like a mini country. This I gathered from Mr. B.'s many stories about the pfunny pfarm. First of all, the success of this mini country is very much dependent on the type of leader, or government, it has - which could range from be a democracy (where power is shared) to a dictatorship (where only one individual takes control).Then there is the citizenry, the

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-56898057080268854512010-04-05T22:04:00.005+08:002010-04-06T01:19:35.585+08:00

It was supposed to be a 4-day holiday for Mr. B. but he told me he never felt he was able to rest or do anything much. He attended a cocktail/dinner organized by a friend who is selling his flat very soon (the last party). He had tea with a friend who just purchased a new flat (who also invited Mr. B.'s former colleagues, people he haven't seen for many years). He also went to his uncle's to pick

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-91568157989987291802010-04-01T21:18:00.006+08:002010-04-01T22:36:40.844+08:00

"I do not understand this," I asked Mr. B. tonight. "How come humans do these things during Good Friday?""What do you mean?""Like, I read that some people do not eat, some whip themselves or carry a big wooden cross around or even have themselves nailed on the cross. Is this the way they show their love to God?""Yes, I believe that is what they think they are doing." Mr. B. answered."But why

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-47846386510290434672010-03-27T14:31:00.003+08:002010-03-27T15:48:50.218+08:00

In the last few months, Mr. B. has been contemplating on moving due to the fact that the pfunny pfarm will be moving its location. Instead of having to commute long distance for 4 times the amount of time to get to work, Mr. B. thought it will be better for all of us to move to somewhere near the place he works. There is only one problem though, the new office location will be out in nowhere

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-16143208743673411502010-03-20T00:54:00.005+08:002010-03-20T01:24:00.747+08:00

Last night, Mr. B. had a strange dream. Two wild arctic foxes wandered into the house and everyone was scared of the fierce-looking creatures. They gave the foxes some food and after eating, the two went into hiding behind some furniture where no one can see them. The household had a discussion on how to get rid of these two foxes. They eventually decided on luring them out with more food but in

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-33239261456396982902010-03-13T11:21:00.003+08:002010-03-13T12:22:57.646+08:00

As they go through their lives, humans make friends along the way. There are many types of friends. Some they knew since their childhood, others they know from school or from work. Some are friends of friends and others are former partners. There are friends that you talk with or meet very often, others you see only on special occasions like birthdays or Christmas, still others you get to

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-61644492736113166042010-03-06T13:11:00.004+08:002010-03-06T15:30:07.166+08:00

Last week was quite stressful for Mr. B. The head farmer of the pfunny pfarm together with his entire executive staff were in town and Mr. B. had to give a big business presentation. He only had about a week to prepare and an evening to rehearse. If that was not stressful enough, the group also had to be taken out to field visit, then wining and dining. I think humans call it corporate

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-85154107333057731842010-02-28T22:43:00.003+08:002010-02-28T23:18:00.679+08:00

"Mr. B., when you were young, what did you want to be when you grow up?" I asked."I think I always wanted to be an architect - to design buildings, homes, that sort of thing." Mr. B. answered while washing the dishes. "Why do you ask?""Because you are not an architect now so which mean you never realized your dream." I replied hesistantly."But that is fine. A lot of people set out to be

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528455746220993427.post-77008412426186149032010-02-23T21:52:00.002+08:002010-02-24T23:41:16.918+08:00

"I met my high school classmates tonight!" Mr. B. declared one night during our trip. "I haven't seen them for decades!""Did you recognize them at all?" I wondered."Oh yes, I did. They are all very successful now. Doctors, dentists, businessmen, making lots of money, with kids in high school or college." Mr. B. added.With that last statement, I saw a hint of melancholy in Mr. B.'s eyes. "I miss

Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249140454935966384noreply@blogger.com6