How I Handle the Wait

Not well, apparently. I'm a complete basketcase. I've tried not to think about it, but this week has been tough.

My full manuscript is currently sitting on the desks of four agents (let's call 'em Agents #1, #2,, #3, and #4). And each one of those agents (or agencies) has been in the spotlight this week, for one reason or another. So I haven't been able to forget about them as easily as usual.

I'm really biting my nails now. Agent #1 , a new agent, has been sending form Rs like crazy this week (I've been watching the response times thread on the blueboards), and most of the people receiving rejections sent manuscripts the same day I did. All week I've been thinking, Well, obviously Agent #1 has read my manuscript, and is obviously not interested or I would have received The Call, right? So that means my R is on its lonely way back to me. It should be in my mailbox any day now. Poo.

Agent # said he would get back to me weeks ago (he's the one who sent me the nice little note awhile back). That could be good news, because if he hated it he would have sent the form R right away, right? But it's not really good news, either, because if he loved it he would have contacted me right away, too. Right?

The third agent has now signed three people since I've sent off my full manuscript. And all three people sent their fulls either the same week I did or after I did. Does that mean Agent #3 isn't in love with my manuscript? If Agent #3 was, then I would have heard by now, right?

And Agent #4 has been sitting on my manuscript since February. Oddly enough, this agent has had my manuscript the longest and it is the one I'm least angsty about. Go figure.

Yes. It's stupid to be so nutsy about this. But I confess I am. And the worst part? Yesterday Inspiration struck in a big way. I now have at least 6 or 7 story ideas for sequels to said manuscript, and one in particular my brain is already fleshing out. But I don't dare write any of them until I know the fate of this book. What's the point in writing a bunch of sequels to a book that may never sell?

Gala González con 'elena cruz'


Gala González (directora creativa de U de Adolfo Domínguez, estilista, it-girl, colaboradora en varias editoriales de tendencias y estudiante de moda en la Central Saint Martins, un portento, vaya) ha incluido algunas de mis piezas en su 'look of the day' #41 (más concretamente una rondette y un baguine)...

¡Gracias Gala!

Podéis verlo aquí: http://www.amlul.com/


My Creation Part 18

This is my bentos for last two weeks. Below is the first week, after i just back from HK holiday trip, still tired and still in holiday mood, so just prepare some simple simple and not so colourful bentos for the kids. Usually Saturday when i prepare for the "two little tuition teachers" bentos, i always rushing, as they got tuition class at 12noon, means i have to finish the bentos by 11.30am, in order for them to finish the food in time. Me, still not really good in bentos, normally take up at lot of time to prepare it. Now i start worry, i have to prepare for my son's school friends and teachers, about 50 bentos how am i going to do it. :(


this three bentos for the "little tuition teachers" and the brother
since one of them don't take cheese, so i don't use cheese on her bento.



my sons bento, same menu as the cousins. But my sons got mickey
luncheon meat, grape and meat balls in a teddy bear silicon cup, i just got it from
sie choo during my recent trip to HK. Nice?






Sunday, they prefer to have roti canai as lunch, easy for me hahahhaha!! Lazy me!
Roti Canai, sauce in a "wilton silly feet silicon cup" cute?
sweet plum, grapes and some snacks.



This is last week bento for the cousins. Bake beans and pork chop cut in stripe, and apples. :) Simple.





Didn't i said on Friday night, i go and "hijack" 100 yen shop in taman desa? To hunt for my sons school birthday party bento boxes? To my surprise i see so so many bento tools/accessories in 100 yen shop at Taman Desa!! I so excited till i don't know which one to pick! Will post on my loots on another post. :)
I do something different for my boys. I got more time to do ma. Baked beans and pork chop and rice, with additional one quail egg with a little bird & a teddy on it.

see the hot weather, before i can take the picture, my cheese melted!


another box for the oranges, with variety picks!


Sunday, i try out my new loots from 100 yen shop @ Taman Desa, i decide to do a "bird" bento for my boys. Rice in bird shape, meat, anchovies and bird shape dragon fruits.




This is my last two weeks bentos.

One more month!!

Today not a post about my Hong Kong trip, i think everyone get bored on my long winded and never ending Hong Kong trip story. hahahhahahahhahahhahaha

Today mark my sons turn 47 months old! One more month they will be 4 years old!! How time flies huh...I have no plan for them yet, maybe just a small birthday party at home? I will let them have a small birthday party celebration at kindy with their little friends. Yesterday while talking to the teacher about i will do a small celebration for them in school, teachers told me i just need to prepare something simple like "fried mee hoon", nuggets, fries and fish balls then i will get a cake, sound simple.

When i reached office, i told my colleagues about it, then one of them ask me, how come i don't do BENTO for the little kids, then that will be great! At first i was like "HUH? Do 50 bentos?? Mad?" But think twice i think why not, it's a good idea! Instead of giving out "party packs" i will give "party Bento packs" Firstly i think getting those normal plastic tupperware to store the food and add some deco to the box. Second thought, since i don't prepare any party packs why not i just give a nice bento box and as a gifts to give to the friends? There, my BIG PROJECT in my mind, i will try to get bento boxes from 100 yen shop or Daiso, then food i will do rice instead of "fried mee hoon", then add some fish balls, drummets or some other menu (still thinking) with little deco, i think i still can manage to do it, with the help from my mum and my maid, since my mum will be in town at that time, good idea? hahahhahahhaha. I'm getting excited, hopefully i can make it and manage to find 50 bento boxes. Told hub about this, he said "good idea" rather than everytime is either toys or snacks or colour pencils, at least this is something different. :)

Now back to my boys development. I notice after they come back from the Hong Kong trip, they grown up a bit, i mean when i tell them something, at least they listen to me and more independent because during Hong Kong trip, i make them wear the shoes & socks themselve and take off the shoes and make sure they put them back to the place where it suppose to be. At home, got "kakak" helping them to do all this, too spoilt. Sometimes two of them can be a sweet boys but sometime still drive me up the wall.

Cruz as usual still the chatter box, always talk non stop, and sometime long winded too. When he cannot get the things he want, he will keep said "please, mummy please, please please please". Love to sing, now he love to sing " my friend, trigger and pooh!" Didn't i said when he was at Hong Kong airport he sing "satu, dua, satu, dua, tiga, empat" in "are you sleeping" song tune real loud?? *slap forehead* Teacher told me, now Cruz improve on his reading, he can read Peter and Jane book 1 for about 20 pages? Which i am not aware at all?? I can see that, Cruz is interested in writting now, and has more patience. When he learn some new words, he will want me to repeat and repeat and repeat till he got it right.

On the other hand, Fearles become more cheeky and more naughty. Everytime when i scold him, if he know that i'm not so "angry" he will open his eye widely and raise his eyebrow up and down and look at me in a cheeky way, how to scold him like that??? Teacher told me, now Fearles not really paid attention to the study, always day dream or thinking something on his own. 0_0 She ask me how come my sons character will change/rotate one? Few months ago, Fearles doing good on his homework and paid attention to the teacher, but now looks like he is slowing down. Even when i coach him on his homework, he is also not paid attention. I have to tell him, he must study, he must learn how to write, then only can play with the cousins. I try to make him speak more, he does speak but not as chatty as Cruz. When you ask him question he will just nodded his head, he won't answer you yes or no. Last two days just had a chat with the teacher, she said Fearles do change a bit, reading part also improve a little bit already.

Lately, i make them to sleep on their own. They still sleep with me in the same room, but now i don't need to sleep together with them. I will off the light, on the music, let them sleep, i will either do my things or sit in front computer, they will sleep on their own. At least i can have sometime for myself. :) When they older a bit, i shall move them to their own room, that is another challenge.

Two more challenge is, quit them on their "jut jut", napping/sleeping can diaperless. Hmmmm, i think this is the hardest part! Haih.

Anyway, happy 47 months old to my boys.

Back in the studio

It's Visual Arts Festival time again at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. This year the theme is "Roots" with the size of each entered piece not to exceed 8x8inch. Every year I try to submit the maximum of 3 pieces with the hopes that one will make it in the show. I risked the odds this year and only had time to submit one piece. I like food....and eating.... and painting food I am about to eat. For this years festival, I went with the very literal edible root. This photo is of the work in progress. I turned in the finished piece last Monday, and in fear that I would miss the deadline, had no time to snap the final finished shot. The opening for this show will be held at the BMOA on May 14th at 6pm.

Hong Kong Trip - Day 3 (12/4)

Day 3 is more on food, food, food and more food!!! We meet up with Misha and her parent for brunch at Lei Garden located at New Town Plaza in Shatin. From our hotel to Shatin, we change a few MTR, after that we change to below this "typical" train to Shatin. We are about 10 mins late.


this is the "a bit old" train to Shatin.

New Town Plaza, still early, that's why not so much people.

This is my second time meet up with Misha and Sie Choo, but is my first time to meet Mr.Mah, at first i am a bit worried and a bit "paiseh", i always thought Mr. Mah is a "very serious" person. After met up with him, he is a nice and funny guy, so at least two men can click and talk. hahahhahaha.

We had "dim sum" for brunch, heard Lei Garden food was nice and $$$$ also very nice!!! Sie Choo and Mr.Mah order a lot foods! After feed the two boys, then i stuff myself with the foods while everyone almost stop. Didn't i said, having meal in HK must eat fast? We only got 1.5 hours to finish our food? Especially it's on weekend some more, the reservation always full, if i'm not wrong Sie Choo make the reservation one month ago??? hahahahahhaha


Lei Garden @ New Town Plaza, Shatin






fried taufu...


this is really yummy! So different from ours.


char siew


pigeon!! Yummy!!!




this is very unique, a pot of hot soup then add in some "fried rice"
like those pop cereal, then it make "sssszzzzzz" crispy sound!

tada! this is they call "pow fang"? Yummy!
roast pork - all square and with same size. o..o

Misha Princess!!!
When Mr. Mah settle the bill i had a "peep" on the bill, i nearly faint! It cost about RM 700!! tsk tsk tsk, it's really not cheap to have a meal in HK! After we left Lei Garden, my hub said he want to see some electric gadget, so Mr.Mah bring him shopping around at the shopping mall, and i read from the tourist info (do a lot homework before i go to HK) and Misha's blog about there is a "Snoopy's World" on the shopping mall itself, it also become a tourist spot now, so me bring the two boys together with Misha and her mum, we went to the playground. Sorry, no pictures from this place, because camera was with hub, i thought he will join us shortly, but he is too enjoy his shopping!! We spent about 45 mins at the playground, quite a lot kids, maybe because it is a weekend. The weather on that day was a bit warm also, so we left after a short while. My boys definitely enjoy themselves so so much and so do Misha, all of them are sweating !
After join my hub and Mr.Mah, there we went for a drink at a dessert shop (sorry, no picture again) then walk around for a while then Sie Choo want to bring us to Ladies street. All of us took two cabs to Ladies street. Hmmm, nothing much in Ladies Street, just like our petaling street, but they got some small cute little thing that we don't have here.Bought two Thomas and Friends tees, very good quality and two costumes for my sons and two punchers for myself. Quite a long street and with lots of people also.

Mong Kok
Ladies street


Fearles's full set spiderman costume.
Cruz's Batman full set costume.
Chau taufu" - aka smelly taufu
After Finish "shopping" at Ladies Street, we saw this "chau taufu" - "smelly Taufu" !The smell is really really smelly, Mr. Mah said this stall very famous for the smelly taufu, ask us want to try or not, hub go and buy ONE piece, and i had a bite also, hmmmm..taste not too bad, but a bit salty. Even my boys when stand near there, they told me, "mummy, what so smelly!!" hahahhahaha, at least i did try the famous "chau taufu"! :)

Mr. Mah show us to a shop that sold all RM5 shop, just like Daiso, but it called "Jusco" in HK. Sie Choo also never been there before. :) We three ladies go shopping at RM5 shop and the men bring the two boys for some games at one level below and wait for us. I didn't get much things there, most of the thing is like Daiso, bento thing that sold there i can get it here also, but i get myself some anti bacteria sheet and some snacks. Finish our so called "shopping", then joined hub and Mr. Mah, they are at nearby "char chan teng" having drink again! This round i got the chance to try "chu par pau" - pork bun and their luncheon and egg sandwiches. Yummylicious!!! While i enjoy my sandwiches and drinks, yes u get it right, my boys diapers are overflow!! It's TOILET time again, bring two boys to change and squat in a super small and wet toilet to change them. Very challenging lei!! hahahhahahah After changed them, back to my place i continue with my tea break again!

Nathan Road
Two boys enjoy their game while mummy doing her shopping


After tea break, we invited Sie Choo and family join us for dinner, we would like to buy them dinner, but she said they all are tired, ask us to go ahead. There, we bid good bye and thanks again for their warm hospitality, a wonderful breakfast and the toys she bought for my boys and i collect my bento purchase from her too. :) Thought of shopping around again, but think of night time have to go to Central for dinner, so we went back to hotel for a recharge and change Cruz's pant, due to the "overflow" hahahahha. While on the way walk back to hotel, i saw a small boutique selling kids clothes, some damange on my pocket again.

Refresh ourself, we went to Central, want to try out Yung Kee Restaurant for their famous roast goose and century egg. We didn't make reservation, just try our luck, we heard the restaurant always full!!! From Central MTR walk to Yung Kee quite a distance. Finally reach Yung Kee, they told us have to wait for 20 mins for the table, then we said "ok", so we waited. A lot people are waiting for the tables, i keep my boys occupied with their Nintendo while we are waiting. We waited for about 1/2 still not read out our number yet, i thought want to leave, but just when i had that thought, the number is calling, but still got two more numbers is our turn. "die die" also waited for the two more numbers. Nearly one hour waited, finally it's our turn, that is already 8.45pm!!! We are so so hungry, my boys are saying they are hungry too! Lucky, the food was served shortly, not wait too long. Finally i got the chance to try out their famous roast goose and the yummy yummy heavenly century eggs!!!

while we walking we passed by this...
this......
this...........




Yung Kee famous roast goose

heavenly century egg....yummmm....


vege
sweet and sour meat again....


Finish dinner at around 9.30pm, i thought i can go for a quick shopping at H&M or Esprit, but but but, when we reach there it already closed!!! Sie Choo did tell me in Central area most shop close quite early, and night time at Central a bit "quiet" compare to Tsim Sha Tsui or Mong Kok or other places. Nothing to see, so hub said he bring us to "Lam Kwai Fong" have a look since we are at that area. So four of us, make funny faces, cam-whoring at "Lam Kwai Fong" most of the people at "Lam Kwai Fong" are "mat salleh", they must be thinking, this family so noisy and crazy. hahahah It's drizzling so we also make a quick move.



mummy and sons monkeying, cam-whoring around
at "lam kwai fong"




lam kwai fong

father and sons.


another view of lam kwai fong


our hotel entrance view
hotel lobby
That's our third day, sound tiring?? hahahhahahha