March 30, 2012
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I got tagged.
Ok, so thanks to @beowulf222, now I have the OBLIGATION to share more information on myself to the world to show them what I’m really like as a person. Not that I think anyone would care less. Anyhow, I have been tagged as a Versatile Blogger and the rule of the game is I have to share 7 things about myself and tag more people to continue this chain-letter game.
I have an awful feeling about this, though. I hope what I’m about to share will not be the ingredients to embarrass myself, or I may have to disappear from xanga and come back with a new identity. Nevertheless, I will try my best to make a fellow xangan happy. So bare with me, this is going to a long one. Here we go…
1. I was raised in a Chinese Buddhist family, grew up in a Muslim country, and educated in various Anglican, Christian, and Protestant schools. My upbringing in learning all three major religions made me realized that ALL religions are basically the same. They all have the same goal – to live in peace. However, I have decided to go religion-less and live life being spiritually instead.
2. I own >40 fountain pens and >60 bottles of fountain pen ink. All in different brands and colors. My favorites are wooden and lacquer fountain pens loaded with either brown or grey ink (yes, I’m boring). I use my fountain pens daily with a monthly rotation of 2-3 pens per rotation.
3. I own >400 books. From fictions to photography to cookbooks to textbooks. I have read only about half of my collection and yet I still buy more. I have always dreamt of having my own library.
4. I know how to ‘throw’. A term used in the world of pottery for handling/shaping clay. Yes, I have done pottery in the past and made some pieces that I still keep and use. I was inspired by Japanese pottery. And I happened to also like the Japanese remake version of the movie ‘Ghost’.
5. I have a fetish for all things Japanese. I collect their sake cups, tea cups, tea pots, bowls, wooden chopsticks, and fountain pens. I read books by Japanese authors (English translated). I even wear Japanese-brand underwear.
6. I have earned two bachelor degrees during my long youthful college years, in Human Resources Management and Culinary Nutrition. Yet none of the knowledge I have gained from the two degrees are used in my current job. Go figure.
7. Last but not least, food makes me happy. Enough said.
People I’d like to tag (simple because I have not heard from them in ages here on xanga) are:
@binakwan
@epup
@fongster8
@orchidgrass
@Rm2046
@thetemptor
@whyweare
Comments (14)
Fascinating... I love the idea of fountain pens but wonder if they wouldn't pose problems when I'm out and about.
Very interesting. But ... I have a few follow up questions. LOL
What Japanese branded underwear is there that's so special? Fair enough, I wear some Korean undergarment (simply because it was cheap).
How do HR Management and Culinary Nutrition go together anyway?
@christao408 - Yes, when you are out and about, a pencil is a much better choice. Many times while on the road, I would run out of ink. Airplanes travel is usually a recipe for ink soup (esp. in vintage fountain pens due to the pressure change).
Oh, how interesting, I guess we share a couple of items here. But I 'll have to reveal this later since I'm tagged too.
You have a fetish for all things Japanese... ^ ^. Don't be shy - tell us more!
Jimmy (RM2046) - moved over to tumblr http://theroom2046.tumblr.com/
Food makes you happy ? Hell man, I would of thought sex came first !
Ooh. You know how to cook?
You should do more food posts
As for pottery... it's so hard. Everything I made in ceramics always cracked while it was in the kiln
@beowulf222 - @christao408 - it all depends on the type/brand of fountain pen you get. i have good ones and not-so-good ones. the good ones give me endless pleasures and keeping me being in love with fountain pens. currently, i'm using TWSBI brand that i have brought with me on an overseas trip. it behaved nicely during the trip and i did use it during the flights to fill out forms. no leaks and ink flowed nicely. i'm currently have 3 more (different brands) that i look forward to try out during my future flights to somewhere, just to test how they are compared to TWSBI.
@beowulf222 - it's not the brand that makes it special. it's the fact that the quality is of a premium but with a reasonable price. quality is always to be found on japanese products. as for my bachelor degrees, nope, they both don't go together. well, unless one plans to manage and run his/her own food related business.
@CurryPuffy - i'll look forward to read your "7 things".
@ElusiveWords - more? eerr... maybe not here. via email, perhaps?
@catstemplar2 - it's a common misconception. i have actually had more satisfaction from eating than from sex. well, maybe i just haven't had a good one yet
@Devilzgaysianboi - yeah, i should. however, i rarely cook now a days. as for pottery, i don't have enough knowledge on pottery making to explain the reason behind the cracks, but i can safely assume that it could be the combination of the temperature of the kiln, together with the the thinness of your ceramic piece. i think it also possible that how the clay was kneaded also contributes to the factor. if you don't knead the clay enough, you might have some air pockets inside. also avoid debris or small stones getting mixed in the clay. all these could lead to a possible crack.
@christao408 - by the way, thank you for the recommendation
A very interesting read!
1. Chinese are syncrenistic, they try hard to appease the various things and get along with all of them so to be practical and live well. I should know, I am rediscovering things Chinese.
2. I used to have a rapidiograph pen that comes from Germany. You refill the ink and can make fine lined drawings and such. Pens with nibs and others I haven't done much with them. I should work on my brushstrokes, it is a part of being Chinese and I should able to have great calligraphy.
3.I am trying to downsize. Maybe someone nearby would want my manga books and yet I can still get access to them....
4.Get a pottery mentor. Someone out there are still great potters. Experiment and record different clays available. Experiment with the glaze. Good luck with your experiments.
5.That is a whole blog for me, things Japanese that I experienced. I did marry a Japanese wife, my daughters were raised by a Japanese Grandmother and they turned out pretty good.
6.Does my degree in Botany show? If you have spare time we can blog about nutrition and all sorts of stuff.
7. Why do the Japanese like Char sui bow (pork buns)? That is some addicting stuff.
@andreas_d - thank you for the recommendation, andreas.
@rudyhou - Right, I forgot Chinese and their sense of culinary entrepreneurial ambitions. I can be the desert cook or maître d' ... but I am unionized.
@beowulf222 - lol.
@PPhilip - well, i think you should post all that as a blog. you've got enough materials to share and for your fellow xangans to further know you. as to your comments, this is my first hearing about "rapidiograph" pen, i don't know how to do calligraphy (i should), i would love to be the trash can for your manga (though i'm thousands of miles away), love the idea of glaze experiments, and last but not least, EVERYONE loves char siu bao.