While you were out
There is a new show on TLC called "While you were out". The concept is somewhat based on Trading Spaces, but without the "trading" part. Basically, it's one partner surprising the other by re-doing a room in the house while the he/she is not home. The cast is similar to that of Trading Spaces, a host, a designer, a carpenter, and two friends who are helpers, plus the usual camera crew of course.

I'm going to give it 2 1/2 out of 5. The concept is pretty interesting, but maybe because it's a new show, the host, and editing and lots of other elements just don't seem to come together as well as Trading Spaces. Give it some time, I think the show will improve.

In the mean time, I am inspired to go on a hunt for new window treatments for my window and the sliding door to my patio. Hmmm, my saturday plans is falling into place now: Linens N' Things, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, Pier 1 and Pottery Barn. *double clicking the PC clock to check today's date* Gosh, it's another 1/2 month till payday!

Lunch Coma*
Is it just me, or is the weather, or does this happen to everyone? It is 3.45pm now, and I'm still in the middle of my lunch coma.

I've had this symptom for about 2 months now, ever since the weather turn warmer. About half an hour after lunch, my brain will just automatically go into 'Sleep' mode. *argh* I know sometimes I'm guilty of eating heavy lunches, with a full servings of burgers and fries, and maybe my body just got tired of processing my lunch. So today I scaled back on my meal: I had glazed carrots and mash potatoes. That's it! So why do I still want to doze off in the middle of the afternoon when I have tons of work to get done?

Caffeine, unfortunately, is not an option for me, coz that'll keep me up all night, which'll result in a even more vicious cycle. Heh.

Speaking of how little I eat, I'm hungry now. It's always one thing after another.

* Thanks to Peter C for introducing the term to me. *wink*

Crystal Ball says: Bankruptcy?
I dug deep into my wallet today and splurge on another plane ticket to Pittsburgh for Labor Day weekend. It could've been $100 cheaper if I were to fly into Cleveland and drive to Pittsburgh, which is only about 100 miles away. But I decided to choose convenience over $$, and therefore I am couple hundred bucks poorer. Again.

I realized that in more and more situation I'm willing to spend more money in order to save time, to make things more convenience, less hassles, ...etc, a concept that I never quite applied when I was in college. I suddenly understand why my mom never goes to Sale/Clearance event. She'd rather shop during non-sale days and pay full price for stuffs, rather than getting all tangled-up in a web of crazy shoppers during store clearance and giving herself a headache (online shopping does not exist back then).To her, that was worth it.

The enlightenment was kinda scary though. Especially for a person that didn't expect oneself to turn out like mom, I sure did quite a good job.

Sisters, hate 'em, love 'em.
Who has a sister or two? I know I do.

I have one sister, 5 years younger than I am, and helluva tomboy. She used to dress in my dad's old cargo pants, huge t-shirts, plays drums really well, does well in school and whatever she sets her mind to.

We used to bicker a whole lot when we were younger, yelled at each other for insignificant things that I can't even remember now. It came to a point where I was glad I was leaving for college, because it meant getting away from it all.

As we grew older, we changed. Now that she's in college, and a tad more mature, we can actually have decent conversations without jumping at each other's throat. In fact, I tend to call her sometimes when things happen at home that completely drives me up the wall. I used to hate the idea of letting her into my inner-self, my emotions, but sometimes she's the only one that'll understand, because she's part of the family.

I try to call her once or twice a month just to catch up and see how she's doing, how's her exams, astronomy class... etc. In fact, we chatted on the phone for 1.50 hours this past weekend, and actually had a pretty nice conversation. (which prompted me to write this blog).

For right now, she's still my sister, and I can still tell her that "I'm older therefore I'm right" :p. Maybe one day, we'll be really really good friends.