tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58921470246438076152024-03-14T02:13:25.091-07:00Hollywood TaitaiFrom the sunny island of Singapore to the sunshine state of California. Always remember sunblock!Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.comBlogger596125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-31097740818662756212010-08-21T21:03:00.000-07:002010-08-21T21:31:07.369-07:00A Chloe PartyI'm in love with a bag that doesn't exist.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs-6i_HqCJIKwVHsajn2JvGTtawoHviJiEFuPZjcMqacIkMbBYmNCe9xfC0sHkd2q-S1sMFf-evCQ6OnOKWM9uTslDGvETXiqmY7y97Shga68hj1vNqAUsgDZIZSsH_dFEIgD14xisReN/s1600/Chloe's+Chloe.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs-6i_HqCJIKwVHsajn2JvGTtawoHviJiEFuPZjcMqacIkMbBYmNCe9xfC0sHkd2q-S1sMFf-evCQ6OnOKWM9uTslDGvETXiqmY7y97Shga68hj1vNqAUsgDZIZSsH_dFEIgD14xisReN/s400/Chloe's+Chloe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508080881798274418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.thechloeconspiracy.com/2010/02/outfit-of-day-paraty-party.html">Source </a></span><br />Isn't this the most luscious shade of pink?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwxMKEpCgnnZCQHX629SbY059kRYwjjDPuUbhKpHvt8umppsHNQJXr_NASDdQdN731yARSJZ-YzLkyJh02phiWjvKzFckvztWNPQmBvaVDw_zTrQNWFVgGQNsLe_nHjnTEyhAjGhOo1mq/s1600/Chloe's+Chloe+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwxMKEpCgnnZCQHX629SbY059kRYwjjDPuUbhKpHvt8umppsHNQJXr_NASDdQdN731yARSJZ-YzLkyJh02phiWjvKzFckvztWNPQmBvaVDw_zTrQNWFVgGQNsLe_nHjnTEyhAjGhOo1mq/s400/Chloe's+Chloe+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508080873716759394" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.thechloeconspiracy.com/2010/02/outfit-of-day-paraty-party.html">Source </a></span><br />Unfortunately the Chloe Paraty in Rosewood is a much darker shade in real life.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1HVDpwLx6gQ-Fb27E2lLMDZdg7so8OEY5Nya40qwPGoQQEZ2Sep7TrwwWSEHiwMMxZETr-EgVI27tIXp3yCIHwOPuonKuxvxi3ft3GGjsCFt0P-EhQoDESVp_zCkW5DwOpwStWTpQNdM/s1600/Chloe+Elsie.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1HVDpwLx6gQ-Fb27E2lLMDZdg7so8OEY5Nya40qwPGoQQEZ2Sep7TrwwWSEHiwMMxZETr-EgVI27tIXp3yCIHwOPuonKuxvxi3ft3GGjsCFt0P-EhQoDESVp_zCkW5DwOpwStWTpQNdM/s400/Chloe+Elsie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508080866354017698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/unger_fashion_chloe_shoulder_bag/thing?id=18160317">Source </a></span><br />The Chloe Elsie is a nice piece of work too. I love light-coloured bags especially pink and cream but my practical side wins every time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGirdOskGKLePQiBRUVsPC4Wr0bUQAIf2BRoDksSkS2Jbq6sSuVTxZHXGCvokz029GJsAxGlQ55YjN9eVeAqdcZWF5ggdf_fdRM1ojsY7Z5KV-wOHCL8yOVJe1bxut_W-KO5MZhngO9_xm/s1600/RM+MAM+Peach.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGirdOskGKLePQiBRUVsPC4Wr0bUQAIf2BRoDksSkS2Jbq6sSuVTxZHXGCvokz029GJsAxGlQ55YjN9eVeAqdcZWF5ggdf_fdRM1ojsY7Z5KV-wOHCL8yOVJe1bxut_W-KO5MZhngO9_xm/s400/RM+MAM+Peach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508083215312299490" border="0" /></a><br />Except today I succumbed to this Rebecca Minkoff satchel in Peach Nude online. I hope the real bag doesn't deviate from the pic.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-10877617626547174722010-08-21T20:45:00.000-07:002010-08-21T21:03:27.720-07:00Voracious appetite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QZ03Y5zm10f0Ar73gOtQKyWycGYVZbmTc0JQuDKYrvyH6HZfTTKtxMMVL9Hwv3S-YGIV9A0lYbtPWIMgrkU9j5jxsnmIxGADFvZUgNAaxwNDfWUpbA8V8HUK-kgkRRRS4l8bL8zyxSCF/s1600/Bookshelf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QZ03Y5zm10f0Ar73gOtQKyWycGYVZbmTc0JQuDKYrvyH6HZfTTKtxMMVL9Hwv3S-YGIV9A0lYbtPWIMgrkU9j5jxsnmIxGADFvZUgNAaxwNDfWUpbA8V8HUK-kgkRRRS4l8bL8zyxSCF/s400/Bookshelf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508075335140740978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://thelovelylist.blogspot.com/2010/08/bookshelf.html">Source </a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Such a cool bookshelf is it not? Tho it would be a hassle to search for a particular title.<br /><br />I'm the middle of selling some books to clear the clutter on my shelf. 6 hardcovers and 2 soft covers only gets me $20. Such a sad number considering that I spent more than $100 on them.<br /><br />One book I can't bear to give away is this charming title, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elegance-Hedgehog-Muriel-Barbery/dp/1933372605">The Elegance of The Hedgehog</a>". Which has nothing to do with hedgehogs and makes a good read for one lazy afternoon. The story is simple but I have been tiptoeing through each page to savour the whimsical and at times, pompous prose. Read it.<br /><br /><br /></div>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-4544071004133448322010-08-21T20:24:00.000-07:002010-08-21T21:36:04.267-07:007/28/10<div style="text-align: justify;">I was spending time in the Bay area with my friend when my kind neighbour called to say that Hunter was busy scarfing down the catnip she had laid out for <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HER</span> cats. Of course those were not her exact words. Needless to say, I was shaking my head in embarrassment over the phone. The kind lady even offered to escort Hunter home so he won't become coyote dinner. I gratefully declined knowing the cat had a finely tuned antenna on danger and that Kelly would be home soon.<br /><br />5 days and nights later, I returned home but Hunter was nowhere to be found. On an excellent hunch, Kelly and I set off for kind neighbour's house. As expected, we spotted furball near the crime scene. Kelly was nearer to him than I but when I called his name, the cat shot right past his daddy and halted next to me. My heart fluttered with pride and joy at that moment. With our contentious relationship, I did not realise he might have miss me too. Alright kitty, you are more than forgiven.<br /></div>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-70842657927082211852010-07-18T16:15:00.000-07:002010-07-18T16:20:34.818-07:00Song about the flash floodsOh gosh, I feel so bad about the businesses badly affected by floods, the people living in those areas, people who are trapped on their way to and from work.<br /><br />And since<a href="http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100628-0000085/PM--We-cant-be-flood-free-but-can-limit-impact"> it's our own fault</a> for clogging up the drains and the maker's fault for bringing down the torrential rains, we all need a little levity in this gloomy situation.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mDupDDlpsdU&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mDupDDlpsdU&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="385" width="500"></embed></object>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-18509187422460495652010-07-15T01:01:00.000-07:002010-07-15T01:20:52.819-07:00I'll rather have rat please.<div style="text-align: justify;">Rats, bugs, centipedes and even a broad-footed mole. Those are the reasons Hunter wants to go out and play. The same reasons that start the nightly ritual of a million "NO"s before I locked him in the bathroom for time out.<br /><br />Tonight as I opened the door and was about to launch into a lecture when I spotted a spider on the rug. Hunter saw it too and disinterestedly gave it a few swats. Astonishing! Isn't hunting why he begs to be out every night? The spider shaken up, paused, then scurried in Hunter's direction. I think "Great, easy kill for you." Instead, the cat gingerly lifts its paws to let the spider pass. I roll my eyes and let him out. After which, he tried to sneak past me. Back to the loo he goes.<br /><br /></div>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-83669675715726594662010-07-13T02:10:00.000-07:002010-07-13T03:10:02.145-07:00The joys of parenting or lack of<div style="text-align: justify;">Taking care of a pet is a thankless task.<br /><br />Kelly stalks the cat every evening. The stupid thing is so focused on its prey that it will plonk its ass right in the middle of the road, remaining there when cars approach. Thank the heavens for alert drivers. Even after the car came to a complete stop, the cat refused to budge. Only after realising that the vehicle would not vanish did it grudgingly walk to the side of the road. Having witness Hunter's harrowing escape with death, Kelly now tracks the cat and goes to bed worrying that it will be killed by a fast car.<br /><br />At night, its mummy has to repeatedly call for it to come home. I so wish cats knew how to use cell phones. When the cat finally decides to grace me with its presence, it also proceeds to throw up whatever meal it caught. Thankfully its poor suffering mother has well-honed reflexes that catches the vomit in napkins before it hits the floor. Even if it happened 3 times in a row. Other times, I'm not so lucky and out comes the cleaning solution and mop.<br /><br />All these just for him and does he learn? No. Every night, it tries to sneak past my watch towards the door. I give warnings, shake my finger, yell and finally haul it into the bathroom for time out. Amazingly that always works. Dawn comes and the whole process begins again.<br /><br />Sure, the snoring amuses me and I melt when he rests his little head on me. But mostly, it's "FEED ME. GO AWAY. I WANT TO GO OUT. ME ME ME." You can't reason with a pet. You can't make it a better animal. It is what it is. And it makes me wonder if this joy of parenting thing is overhyped.<br /><br />My overactive imagination then extrapolates this to a mother-baby relationship. Perhaps it is not an accurate portrayal. I'm sure there are more amazing moments and logic can be taught as the kid grows. Yet, a human lives longer and is in a way more vulnerable. Words and emotions are absorbed and experienced more acutely. I can't tell if it's worth it.<br /><br />So tell me, are we all suckers? Or have I yet to experience the miraculous joys that parenting purports to provide?<br /><br /></div>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-9018091632523178762010-07-04T03:16:00.001-07:002010-07-04T04:06:28.714-07:00How to hide your womanly bitsI'm amazed at the ideas people come up with to get women to purchase rubbish products.<br /><br />First <a href="http://hollywoodtaitai.blogspot.com/2010/05/bib-for-sexy-woman-who-loves-crabs.html">Cami Secret</a>, now the <a href="http://www.myhip-t.com/">Hip-T</a>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.refinery29.com/cover-your-assets-with-these-buttcrack-blinders-from-hip-t.php"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwILjOlq88rc1MFtXu9cvffSBpN-HhbJjRRC3sCVuSrHE31VMs4A4dfHvfii05hJkBn9stz7353o-9wG50Nx6xGfLc9moz0Ef9IqQ6SEbMF346-y0j3mMZQIcVg6Kkx5b3YFaK-BuiX4-A/s400/hip-t.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489993254675822418" border="0" /></a><br />It purports to cover bum cleavage, hide spare tyres,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.refinery29.com/cover-your-assets-with-these-buttcrack-blinders-from-hip-t.php"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8i16QElvfhY9R0zIbokzVUcoZRQqJrNelX1Wc7N2I_i5nprUVy9f2D9uCD558GIV1VuXPxv9lrjTTeWtmz-6zlc4CAhRyMicfZPTputx_QMj5lL3Ttfsk2j5EE0QjofPnCOWcMrOvf4s/s400/hip-t+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489993248145772786" border="0" /></a><br />lengthen tops and creates layers without bulk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.refinery29.com/cover-your-assets-with-these-buttcrack-blinders-from-hip-t.php"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2I31IPtPFR0qfB8V7UUcNu43smoSjxtvdAXMjRYw5DvCMyrWg153z15qSDODhqsYbqRIwlrT2e7hLb4qLxBD0Qrnvg_RI04lRWRutFZ8IpQ5kXUwBgeeVrXckCpThZTV9yFfZb4QgNpV3/s400/hip-t+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489993243947831586" border="0" /></a><br />I say, save the money! Why would anyone wear an ugly bandage around the hips? In the first place, you shouldn't be buying tops that are too short or jeans that are too low.<br /><br />Next is the <a href="http://www.camelflage.com/">Camelflage</a>. As you can infer, it says it can prevent cameltoe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37QUCeI7gWXDy1KbLCH4RGGYKXasCc6TouRx1Kbz9_g2M841yalO5-YkCrovC_3rHYm20FXRfioKq4x7zQFhVt6jzKEe4yLz-rFGY6nOluGQyKK6a9RWPgrJYM__Egj1OQ3BtCcBVrrG2/s1600/camelflage-before-after.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37QUCeI7gWXDy1KbLCH4RGGYKXasCc6TouRx1Kbz9_g2M841yalO5-YkCrovC_3rHYm20FXRfioKq4x7zQFhVt6jzKEe4yLz-rFGY6nOluGQyKK6a9RWPgrJYM__Egj1OQ3BtCcBVrrG2/s400/camelflage-before-after.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490002045199980210" border="0" /></a><br />Finally something useful? Again, you can easily prevent the painful situation by avoiding pants that are too tight and string thongs.<br /><br />Haiz, these remind me of those <a href="http://www.nikibrown.com/designoblog/2009/11/01/funny-strang-japanese-inventions/">funny Japanese inventions</a>. Highly amusing and in one word, bo liao.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-23457162250810331272010-07-03T04:28:00.001-07:002010-07-03T04:39:13.510-07:00Shoes for big feet and small feet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6eDZdTPlaAZo05whk5t2HCFq88sTHh8Eb6K0uc0Ajh6Nof-HS2kSL9fljzzodoUsjVjAlIN7cwUk7WbuAHYkHZacHndPzFC4v0R0T6QWyyr1YaFP8bnQI1EQgMWCV0ViGLNiHGVimSJQ/s1600/Wedding+Shoes.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6eDZdTPlaAZo05whk5t2HCFq88sTHh8Eb6K0uc0Ajh6Nof-HS2kSL9fljzzodoUsjVjAlIN7cwUk7WbuAHYkHZacHndPzFC4v0R0T6QWyyr1YaFP8bnQI1EQgMWCV0ViGLNiHGVimSJQ/s400/Wedding+Shoes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489640750660223010" border="0" /></a><br />My beloved wedding shoes now come in mini sizes for little girls and babies!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ecouterre.com/19129/vivienne-westwood-melissa-shoes-introduce-mini-melissa-for-babies/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjm9MJunJ1zarFVTOPbpW41t-NmK45DUJXN7bPSvX3JjbW6zGg5007F_S_-BT5pCniq5NCKle9usKvTXrYpV4jHSYGu8Xb7CM3_cEIaDaN6obStpqZdV8H6h1QxHiwvXX13mX4BXeVOmP7/s400/Mini+Me.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489640741502561634" border="0" /></a><br />The heart tugs at the ones with bows though. They cost $100 each *whew!* Would have been kinda sweet to get a mother-daughter(future) pair otherwise.<br /><br />Oh, the unbearable cuteness of them all!Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-59191648622323028132010-06-29T03:36:00.000-07:002010-06-29T03:38:31.166-07:00Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows<object classid='clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000' id='eijanef2' width='596' height='425'><param name='movie' value='http://images.video.msn.com/flash/customplayer/1_0/customplayer.swf' /><param name='bgcolor' value='#ffffff' /><param name='wmode' value='transparent' /><param name='base' value='.' /><param name='flashvars' value='configCsid=msnvideo&mkt=en-US&brand=&player.v=f2822d1e-af61-45f5-b674-f3f697170e3d&from=sp&configName=syndicationplayer&fg=&' /><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always' /><embed src="http://images.video.msn.com/flash/customplayer/1_0/customplayer.swf" width="596" height="425" id="eijanef2" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" bgColor="#ffffff" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" base="." flashvars="configCsid=msnvideo&mkt=en-US&brand=&player.v=f2822d1e-af61-45f5-b674-f3f697170e3d&from=sp&configName=syndicationplayer&fg=&"></embed><noembed><a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&from=sp&vid=f2822d1e-af61-45f5-b674-f3f697170e3d" target="_new" title="'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' Trailer">Video: 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' Trailer</a></noembed></object><br /><br />A whole myriad of emotions. The overwhelming feeling is that of sadness. It's ending.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-57726393959977478512010-06-24T00:41:00.000-07:002010-06-24T04:21:47.269-07:00All it takes to make this girl happyOne Manhatten Marmalade,<br />One Mint Julep,<br />One Whiskey Sour,<br />One sleepy guy at home and<br />One purring cat.<br /><br />Despite a desperate need to sleep off three strong whiskey cocktails, I felt the urge to get dirty. Rolling and steaming Ngoh Hiang, that is. I just couldn't stomach the possibility of my defrosted pork going bad. Even if it's 2am and I am inebriated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjMBpQu1Gw01C_4lEGPLNTJjlhX968rbuDL9YmD2gyifomtGkUOjvOI6rpfxl7r4A4p5O_K6QmjupP1ICtXadVGEQO5Srl5z-gDDxgpCirWi_aQwYJaDKvaCdq9dKDLuOPzHdGPuywJi8/s1600/NH1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjMBpQu1Gw01C_4lEGPLNTJjlhX968rbuDL9YmD2gyifomtGkUOjvOI6rpfxl7r4A4p5O_K6QmjupP1ICtXadVGEQO5Srl5z-gDDxgpCirWi_aQwYJaDKvaCdq9dKDLuOPzHdGPuywJi8/s400/NH1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486294467558089106" border="0" /></a><br />Some long, some short.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJvFoFJVkTvBt7Lt1b3wEkFHbUP63otd4ydxgTnh3fHFLBmNdA62PfZ1DjoEW5rM2PxZMU_een0UaGlfodJNX9LRxmqRpUwl3Tl4iJOdTjC9SXnehMVwr4qgXQj2OMn-Kwpn1ueAjLk-W/s1600/NH2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJvFoFJVkTvBt7Lt1b3wEkFHbUP63otd4ydxgTnh3fHFLBmNdA62PfZ1DjoEW5rM2PxZMU_een0UaGlfodJNX9LRxmqRpUwl3Tl4iJOdTjC9SXnehMVwr4qgXQj2OMn-Kwpn1ueAjLk-W/s400/NH2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486294478451059778" border="0" /></a><br />Had a little supper at 4am. Goodnight now.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-23622421132147632072010-05-20T03:19:00.000-07:002010-05-20T03:26:00.143-07:00SnoresHow can it be the most irritating noise a guy makes when you are trying to sleep,<br />But the cutest little sounds when it comes from your kid.<br />Or pet cat in my case. Which I think of as my kid anyway.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-41467847798663802342010-05-10T22:27:00.000-07:002010-05-10T22:31:57.580-07:00A bib for the sexy woman who loves crabsEating crabs is a messy affair. Bits of meat flying all over the place, sauce splattering. What if you wanted to wear a low cut top while cracking those chilli crab claws? Relax, CamiSecret to the rescue!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DZFY2I-EWQY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DZFY2I-EWQY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-51460859447013630542010-05-09T03:14:00.001-07:002010-05-09T03:33:47.592-07:00I love you Mom.<div style="text-align: justify;">I am so proud of her. A rather odd statement since it's usually said the other way round. But this is the exact sentiment that's making my heart swell. <br /><br />My mum is a traditional person. She never imagined in a million years that her only child would not be by her side or at least on the same island. And I never imagined in a million years that she would be alright alone. With no one, not even my dad, by her side on Mother's Day. I felt such pangs of sadness when I called home to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. Even more so when she told me she was making a simple dinner of soup and watching TV on a day when we should be celebrating together. Yet, she was so filled with joy at my call I could hear it miles across the oceans. It broke my heart and made me smile at the same time.<br /><br />She worried about me when I was young but the tables have turned now. I often wonder what would happen if she did not have a job to occupy her time. She has little friends and didn't relish travelling by herself. But she is stronger than I expected. When she was told to stop work for 6 months, she strolled around the neighbourhood, cleaned the house from top to bottom and to my great surprise, found a part time job. It paid peanuts but it made her happy to be busy. Consequently it made me happy too.<br /><br />I'm glad we have gotten to this point together. I miss you and Happy Mother's Day.<br /></div>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-51829420328478157342010-05-09T02:23:00.001-07:002010-05-09T02:55:11.546-07:00Midnight Mee Rebus<div style="text-align: justify;"> N invited me and J to visit and enjoy home cooked Mee Rebus. I was on the phone with N to arrange a lunch date the next day when she received a text from J who decided to take up her offer right there and then at 11pm!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKClpmET9AQZ2_AhLrZfvgjXmXPafZzHs5IHaJZs8HWwFeZiS_BHmJpJ98C4jXw7HSiIqlvOqmZIoyTH-57Ua2SFMBnHv4T93v4oykF8IGE0ql04rOIXFuCtlO3PcHyz-nOZtp1veuBzzt/s1600/Mee3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKClpmET9AQZ2_AhLrZfvgjXmXPafZzHs5IHaJZs8HWwFeZiS_BHmJpJ98C4jXw7HSiIqlvOqmZIoyTH-57Ua2SFMBnHv4T93v4oykF8IGE0ql04rOIXFuCtlO3PcHyz-nOZtp1veuBzzt/s400/Mee3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469198761247569026" border="0" /></a><br />Since J would pass by my house on the way to N's, I jokingly asked if she would picked me up. The result was this delicious supper!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxcY0UlvzJbQSUkVga33tCFVFMo-2S1jIOiqZh-ZYcNuf63yvFHHbPC2ebNphZA82okF1deZDa9hpa7BW_UTCyf4ZGkH9UpVSmSiQDPEfs2bDQMponkhspf-J_yM34N362_eqY5ihuvKe/s1600/Mee0.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxcY0UlvzJbQSUkVga33tCFVFMo-2S1jIOiqZh-ZYcNuf63yvFHHbPC2ebNphZA82okF1deZDa9hpa7BW_UTCyf4ZGkH9UpVSmSiQDPEfs2bDQMponkhspf-J_yM34N362_eqY5ihuvKe/s400/Mee0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469200673736848258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Mee Rebus was followed by a depressing Kate Winslet movie, The Reader, at 2am. I do highly recommend it. After that, we chatted till 7 in the morning!<br /><br />Did I mention that it was a Thursday night? J's boyfriend had accompanied her for supper . While we all didn't plan on staying up all night, there wasn't a single complaint from him even when he hasn't slept for more than 24hrs. He even went into work without sleep. Iron Man...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H2rQJ5EiU56FwDabdcPUGnNYNYSiBsci-kAk9uH0OrXGbqxkeii1NxsovPACn-MNwJisNj3jAQ2Kn5ZPawJxlN5witMX5xM8ASY6TuIn_VjaO-7HWdyKQI5zCxUZyQ3pMK0q01KbhSOX/s1600/Mee4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H2rQJ5EiU56FwDabdcPUGnNYNYSiBsci-kAk9uH0OrXGbqxkeii1NxsovPACn-MNwJisNj3jAQ2Kn5ZPawJxlN5witMX5xM8ASY6TuIn_VjaO-7HWdyKQI5zCxUZyQ3pMK0q01KbhSOX/s400/Mee4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469198746100628082" border="0" /></a><br />During supper, N's very smiley baby woke up for his feed. Maybe he wanted Mee Rebus too.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-44319013615090892892010-05-03T03:41:00.001-07:002010-05-03T04:45:51.246-07:00And you wonder why I don't like vegetables<div style="text-align: justify;">I hate vegetables with a passion. Growing up, you couldn't get me to eat anything green. Over the years, I've become more sensible. As long as they are cooked with meat or flavourful spices to mask the taste like sambal belacan, I'll eat it.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKM3hu_fr-QTqgxLdJwLV61YPj3SNYMgNFlzoiQN63FNw02QaPTAM8j2fVSwczBVoJEhyphenhyphenjrBuswAwFw3aQqBE6P7UqKUHEcz9yAltMf64AtFC5hM1PL6XH6rYAFNJjAao0QVNtfsCnK0n/s1600/Spinach9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKM3hu_fr-QTqgxLdJwLV61YPj3SNYMgNFlzoiQN63FNw02QaPTAM8j2fVSwczBVoJEhyphenhyphenjrBuswAwFw3aQqBE6P7UqKUHEcz9yAltMf64AtFC5hM1PL6XH6rYAFNJjAao0QVNtfsCnK0n/s400/Spinach9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466998220582492914" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I decided to make lamb saag for dinner one day and the recipe called for 2 full bowls of spinach to be shredded into ribbons.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbkY8riZphfOAMwmdMOI6arcJ0SYpPmeBwvYkpmvB5D4pRu26SAXIumOsnUovNE975nw19js9YMGIXjPMCp_l195viHAGmZnZXiFZPHmKucGQJFlfN80zca_OT_ARy5wYkU_DMxgj_Fpx/s1600/Spinach1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbkY8riZphfOAMwmdMOI6arcJ0SYpPmeBwvYkpmvB5D4pRu26SAXIumOsnUovNE975nw19js9YMGIXjPMCp_l195viHAGmZnZXiFZPHmKucGQJFlfN80zca_OT_ARy5wYkU_DMxgj_Fpx/s400/Spinach1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466998092608886626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">To save the extra step of plucking leaves off a bunch of spinach stems, I did the easy thing of buying pre-packaged spinach leaves. Though the box says 'washed and ready to eat', I don't trust industrial cleaners of doing a thorough job. For a <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">very </span>good reason. Look at the number of bugs I found while washing the vegetables!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP65vS7dEO-5ZtJ0-rzlAUESEssbmWHOP8s4mxS01bHrLxtm5ERZwkG_9FUImrdQxV43-kS7gRW40JnHxvSNa5wdZb0gTcsIN1jw39nC4OYdyLx6-A3gj7tSZUlKfcR9Bog1zUI5YVDIEJ/s1600/Spinach2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP65vS7dEO-5ZtJ0-rzlAUESEssbmWHOP8s4mxS01bHrLxtm5ERZwkG_9FUImrdQxV43-kS7gRW40JnHxvSNa5wdZb0gTcsIN1jw39nC4OYdyLx6-A3gj7tSZUlKfcR9Bog1zUI5YVDIEJ/s400/Spinach2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466998082564031458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffmRODNmHRSaAHWSIYC4dhI1nUXIUD6LmHxx3surhMhx0yER1-1sv7oSU8X34sFrfV-jhZM0XQbuIrE8CrfxZsVkbBrz5-FqBWxIn1rlsvhsJ-fDavf-mmkt7lusneIom8yJ84d_HNbGn/s1600/Spinach3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffmRODNmHRSaAHWSIYC4dhI1nUXIUD6LmHxx3surhMhx0yER1-1sv7oSU8X34sFrfV-jhZM0XQbuIrE8CrfxZsVkbBrz5-FqBWxIn1rlsvhsJ-fDavf-mmkt7lusneIom8yJ84d_HNbGn/s400/Spinach3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466998075010998946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKp_wE_Yawxf0M7UUU3voNVvzRlbFKm28-SIRBEyCsz3p_RuvoVag2i0DBe2Rye-Y5FtnKJqRoSIfOCNryCd8QoIulILNSF7fGIgqNYTXm9qL81PDxbPykaGuv3dOqgrPTa5ql-pxhyphenhyphenGW/s1600/Spinach4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKp_wE_Yawxf0M7UUU3voNVvzRlbFKm28-SIRBEyCsz3p_RuvoVag2i0DBe2Rye-Y5FtnKJqRoSIfOCNryCd8QoIulILNSF7fGIgqNYTXm9qL81PDxbPykaGuv3dOqgrPTa5ql-pxhyphenhyphenGW/s400/Spinach4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466998070785385522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7ADizkIVLKMi6FcOhqUJ9HiinnCyL-BSSB0ZAPGOzC3nIfSNhJX7Mze0NsN_iSDgtu9m2n4xEVj_-bXKh4EkWMvMkSrr0AmxuoGObZkBsU91ZvOV26pyM1eNmOPERllEhDWA8wt1kOCD/s1600/Spinach5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7ADizkIVLKMi6FcOhqUJ9HiinnCyL-BSSB0ZAPGOzC3nIfSNhJX7Mze0NsN_iSDgtu9m2n4xEVj_-bXKh4EkWMvMkSrr0AmxuoGObZkBsU91ZvOV26pyM1eNmOPERllEhDWA8wt1kOCD/s400/Spinach5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466998061408684914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Still have appetite for lamb saag?<br /><br />All packaged vegetables states they are 'washed and ready to eat', which would be great if I wanted extra protein! My regular brand was sold out so I bought the store's in-house brand thinking it wouldn't matter. This was the worst cleanup job I've seen. Even with the soiled bunches of spinach from Asian supermarkets, I've never encountered bugs. I'm never buying the in-house brand again.<br /></div>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-17678723165161702962010-05-03T02:48:00.001-07:002010-05-03T03:33:00.467-07:00Botak Tree<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://hollywoodtaitai.blogspot.com/2010/04/door.html">Strong winds last week</a> snapped a huge branch off the oak tree growing behind our house. It landed on our roof which was impeccable timing since we were expecting fire inspectors to show up anytime.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BncP1A_bt-oHVKHYV4wDap0btvXhJjzvvYsTsK-6imPgSi5I1UBGnP1V5kpzlWAxfn9_lEx1DaUQyBtPe6uMHTBa9LE8F_uT7cUqYNBByXVxogaXLglVUb0RfXIPjiA5hBUfGTCO38X3/s1600/Gale1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BncP1A_bt-oHVKHYV4wDap0btvXhJjzvvYsTsK-6imPgSi5I1UBGnP1V5kpzlWAxfn9_lEx1DaUQyBtPe6uMHTBa9LE8F_uT7cUqYNBByXVxogaXLglVUb0RfXIPjiA5hBUfGTCO38X3/s400/Gale1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466978503239068930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Every year in May, the <a href="http://lafd.org/brush/basic.htm">LA Fire Department sends out inspectors</a> to check if your house is free of debris that can start fires. If you fail the first inspection, a letter of warning arrives to tell you to clean up before the second inspection. Fail again and you will have to pay a hefty penalty.<br /><br /></div><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EiUeNqSCx98&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EiUeNqSCx98&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed><a class="pqkplgpdypjgwxgysthe" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/EiUeNqSCx98&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></a><a class="pqkplgpdypjgwxgysthe" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/EiUeNqSCx98&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></a></object><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We urgently called our handyman to help remove the offending branch. It was so big that he had to saw it into smaller pieces before he could toss it off the roof.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7UvDZCRfA4FYq7QEAGyt7LYl-6L2KfuFvQ6neLZyVUcQX-YIf8YUDtC98lbFfedoNUeEhRJSCi7Dzv6TPu9PGZuy2s6ZopXQY849tM2s55Olarqi9tfBVKy6vzhz64ex1A5oBEq3qvgD/s1600/Gale5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7UvDZCRfA4FYq7QEAGyt7LYl-6L2KfuFvQ6neLZyVUcQX-YIf8YUDtC98lbFfedoNUeEhRJSCi7Dzv6TPu9PGZuy2s6ZopXQY849tM2s55Olarqi9tfBVKy6vzhz64ex1A5oBEq3qvgD/s400/Gale5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466978494065253586" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">All the pieces lining the street, see how big it is? We don't even have enough bins to throw them out. Since garbage collection takes place once a week, it will take us a few weeks to clear this green mess. That's not the end of it. The branch didn't split off cleanly and its remaining part looks like it might break anytime. If it doesn't, we will have to chop it off once we have empty bins. Poor tree is going to be botak for a long long time.<br /></div>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-42107170301476949942010-04-29T04:25:00.001-07:002010-04-29T05:15:54.285-07:00The Door<span style="font-weight: bold;">4am</span><br /><br />I was in the bathroom when the door suddenly swung open with a click. But no one was standing in the empty space of the frame. I walked out and was momentarily petrified to see the front door wide open too. No one except me and the cat which had been slumbering peacefully a second ago was now awake and confused. Nothing seemed amiss. I closed the door and sat down to still my beating heart.<br /><br />It was a moment straight out of Stephen King's mind. The real reason though were the ferocious gales of wind which had been blowing through the house at 15mph or 24kmh. Thank God I was awake to shut the door and not leave it open to intruders.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-56430468616682939892010-04-28T05:56:00.001-07:002010-04-28T06:24:57.153-07:00Rambo V: Rat Killer<span style="font-weight: bold;">5.30am</span><br /><br />For the second time, we found Hunter in the garden feasting on a dead rat. Naturally I went ballistic since he got very sick the last time he ate a whole rodent. Kelly grabbed the cat who was not happy at being intercepted. Then I made Kelly pick up the dead rat and toss it out so Hunter doesn't return to finish up. I suspect his hunt-kill-eat activities are what's been making him throw up nearly every night. Let's see what the vet says.<br /><br />My next question is 'Why are there so many rats?' I'm sure those rodents can sense a rat killer living nearby plus we don't leave edibles lying around. So far, Kelly's been adamant about not setting traps around the house cos he deems it inhumane. Which would make Hunter the perfect solution if only it didn't cause him to get sick. What to do now?Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-27930026942495245092010-04-28T00:24:00.001-07:002010-04-28T06:26:13.892-07:00I love Zara!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWwtXrSRRqTZbXyTIxi6BwQyivmPBw2oAizNmc_8pYdwR1gRH7hqbU5WJNsgYEG5j07HPMWhyRSlSmEXp41PtO26OLmYdOwmOswanTYeldeYPxV3czls-oeXmree3mHi52bL28hyphenhyphenM-BlE/s1600/Zara1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWwtXrSRRqTZbXyTIxi6BwQyivmPBw2oAizNmc_8pYdwR1gRH7hqbU5WJNsgYEG5j07HPMWhyRSlSmEXp41PtO26OLmYdOwmOswanTYeldeYPxV3czls-oeXmree3mHi52bL28hyphenhyphenM-BlE/s400/Zara1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465086096896277730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP8J5fo3MKGDgRQYIpd5fjOcExvo6VlyJpQOxGhGm3FERiIuA1g90lKpboeLHQns3FxedpgxdAk7hgvhg_Ad0_hdqOnO21hnBEUXj0XQbUN0VUV4tHIsMcgy4sDAyDu7XQ1svOPHjPKpo/s1600/Zara2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP8J5fo3MKGDgRQYIpd5fjOcExvo6VlyJpQOxGhGm3FERiIuA1g90lKpboeLHQns3FxedpgxdAk7hgvhg_Ad0_hdqOnO21hnBEUXj0XQbUN0VUV4tHIsMcgy4sDAyDu7XQ1svOPHjPKpo/s400/Zara2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465086094066553554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyEbOAiVCPr3jIk0Oq1yngs14Hzdjys2I8R1ZcKZwYKCZlhfVVCtJ_LK88IEPhid1SeeLxPSwZjxKmDwBsMfBivcfhGTDmdQlmfE2oNfXeD7eaf_rixa-sU9rW7KPvu3P-YKKmop74AOw/s1600/Zara3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyEbOAiVCPr3jIk0Oq1yngs14Hzdjys2I8R1ZcKZwYKCZlhfVVCtJ_LK88IEPhid1SeeLxPSwZjxKmDwBsMfBivcfhGTDmdQlmfE2oNfXeD7eaf_rixa-sU9rW7KPvu3P-YKKmop74AOw/s400/Zara3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465086082116009042" border="0" /></a><br />There's so few Zara stores in LA that popular items fly off the shelves as soon as they arrive. I can never find the clothing I want and if I'm so lucky to find it, they never have my size. Oh well, I'll just take it as saving money.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-35933728467874483432010-04-27T00:06:00.000-07:002010-04-27T00:32:19.265-07:00To make it big in Hollywood, you need1) A pretty face.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjI97-YeiUrhSMobzQ7DHA2O6MpbT51ulzVyYD0i7xQYGzX9KFGVjCyFP717cYK5RrO-DnD5WjzXlit4Hn5TV52gPTrOmYRd-wT20G6z5CHoW_j0eC0NWW0-8lL9ua58uhh4nmi1mLuxt/s1600/TVcat1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464710363951458082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjI97-YeiUrhSMobzQ7DHA2O6MpbT51ulzVyYD0i7xQYGzX9KFGVjCyFP717cYK5RrO-DnD5WjzXlit4Hn5TV52gPTrOmYRd-wT20G6z5CHoW_j0eC0NWW0-8lL9ua58uhh4nmi1mLuxt/s400/TVcat1.JPG" /></a><br /><br />2) To study and be better than your competition.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingXC9OQe2M6AYmhp9Y60YiHr9z-n85ZdWcN3d5sLYl1L3W18ZGGonT_pvQWprcagRCIsGaeJgBQOyOuR4cVF0KaYkk5VphYazphjwqS7bqUK3UAOUwIAJ8QrxmrcXOfAMwSJeblzxVlsl/s1600/TVcat2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464710356319320066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingXC9OQe2M6AYmhp9Y60YiHr9z-n85ZdWcN3d5sLYl1L3W18ZGGonT_pvQWprcagRCIsGaeJgBQOyOuR4cVF0KaYkk5VphYazphjwqS7bqUK3UAOUwIAJ8QrxmrcXOfAMwSJeblzxVlsl/s400/TVcat2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />3) Determination.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1OPvHpkdBPW0yNXkP-Dhbx2mlvY-iAgviVAf5xTClYUxu8O1UzNfrE8rhx4VFIr0lbftdfP4YxIKFvvMFtQWrVi_c_gyErxbPEpyiOzpb75LeMrShftGUSHEar6RdFsO3YQ8dIja42Hl/s1600/TVcat3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464710348796313794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1OPvHpkdBPW0yNXkP-Dhbx2mlvY-iAgviVAf5xTClYUxu8O1UzNfrE8rhx4VFIr0lbftdfP4YxIKFvvMFtQWrVi_c_gyErxbPEpyiOzpb75LeMrShftGUSHEar6RdFsO3YQ8dIja42Hl/s400/TVcat3.jpg" /></a><br /><div> </div><div>Most importantly one needs talent and you are looking at him. </div><div> </div>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-15864364756941872812010-04-21T23:22:00.001-07:002010-04-22T03:30:15.957-07:00Happy Anniversary!<div style="text-align: justify;">To celebrate our second ROM anniversary, Kelly told me to pick a restaurant, <span style="font-style: italic;">any</span> restaurant. I'm the go all out or go good and cheap type when it comes to food so I was hesitant with making a decision.<br /><br />After some discussion, we settled on the 1 Michelin star molecular gastronomy restaurant, <a href="http://www.thediningroom-langham.com/index.html">The Dining Room at The Langham</a>. Bonus for this TV addict, the Chef de Cuisine was winner of <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef">Top Chef</a> season six.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tlxLSZhFJRg16RQyGIqb0X9H9vbAoPKor_359HwraOlCptTfaTdLMqfp6qseVyU7VheMrPmx-Eyyhy5dHXbqvemcb8VZWlBlU-AkIn0ADlGJYzVPprSlzDJqhh4wTkclUr9FSKNdbg-J/s1600/a1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tlxLSZhFJRg16RQyGIqb0X9H9vbAoPKor_359HwraOlCptTfaTdLMqfp6qseVyU7VheMrPmx-Eyyhy5dHXbqvemcb8VZWlBlU-AkIn0ADlGJYzVPprSlzDJqhh4wTkclUr9FSKNdbg-J/s400/a1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462845183488977826" border="0" /></a><br />I happily got my makeup professionally done and straightened my hair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2bnI3EUfK8NGCJowR_iJTd8Joz0GxFbwzxEYEMzITxCnXsPVxMlv1zFt3D1yOlpyndIT2xhN3eU4fiv0IR1zvTuJn64FMsW9z_Fk0USJTIbNk9F6sTsEpceweTSWZJxEUtefPBpvBXQW/s1600/a2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2bnI3EUfK8NGCJowR_iJTd8Joz0GxFbwzxEYEMzITxCnXsPVxMlv1zFt3D1yOlpyndIT2xhN3eU4fiv0IR1zvTuJn64FMsW9z_Fk0USJTIbNk9F6sTsEpceweTSWZJxEUtefPBpvBXQW/s400/a2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462845176994290626" border="0" /></a><br />Kelly thinks I'm fussing but I didn't want him to see me looking like I do everyday. At least must look extra hot on our anniversary right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6u9dZvY8Gm_iB7mWng_IsHBXeWMJ-5dwvVVy18NtpPgY9DSCtZei3mWBBMn43bA_iTKSZ_M_ZvJ5PTNTX5Jz8LyACGYvdCLpbASw37XCFLuFeAKrmWuNnyDTJcQAp7BGsCASfKIIuJDg/s1600/a19.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6u9dZvY8Gm_iB7mWng_IsHBXeWMJ-5dwvVVy18NtpPgY9DSCtZei3mWBBMn43bA_iTKSZ_M_ZvJ5PTNTX5Jz8LyACGYvdCLpbASw37XCFLuFeAKrmWuNnyDTJcQAp7BGsCASfKIIuJDg/s400/a19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462886652283363474" border="0" /></a><br />I really wanted the Chef's menu which has to be ordered by the entire table. Because of Kelly's aversion to seafood, we asked if certain dishes could be substituted. The answer came back negative and our server suggested we do the 4 course menu and added ala carte dishes.<br /><br />Even though I told Kelly I was ok with their recommendation, he decided to indulge me. Imagine hearts popping out of my eyes. By the time we placed our order, we were starving.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFf5diRoIgJhzyYLnTjYbLwWERGmxU2heKzt9O6piCJTudk9xH6oJCuBa35_UN21L2GUvLs6lBc4wpPnMx-WZOG8dZV5gbxJ8OGz_LeaXRrqmYLXR4rZr_YSMyoNNEo3OKWSQmJqnDV3i/s1600/a3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFf5diRoIgJhzyYLnTjYbLwWERGmxU2heKzt9O6piCJTudk9xH6oJCuBa35_UN21L2GUvLs6lBc4wpPnMx-WZOG8dZV5gbxJ8OGz_LeaXRrqmYLXR4rZr_YSMyoNNEo3OKWSQmJqnDV3i/s400/a3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462845157589861122" border="0" /></a><br />Our dinner started with an amuse bouche. The parfait of powdered salmon, horseradish and cream cheese had an interesting texture but I found 3 powders too dry on the tongue. Poor Kelly took one spoonful and contained his urge to spit it out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixim3JCLp1vaB6sT6p_b13zsNGIKliJnKtrSD22OQEQn_ha3mNQl5viNZR5wUONZiVUR9sKnDMCueilddIrfyAcEJIWYejtCon-GJMSDURaEZlBhTzuiNOepjlh4cbeZkC1Jj3naqy-ii7/s1600/a5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixim3JCLp1vaB6sT6p_b13zsNGIKliJnKtrSD22OQEQn_ha3mNQl5viNZR5wUONZiVUR9sKnDMCueilddIrfyAcEJIWYejtCon-GJMSDURaEZlBhTzuiNOepjlh4cbeZkC1Jj3naqy-ii7/s400/a5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844798222516562" border="0" /></a><br />First course was a perfectly cooked piece of langoustine on a bed of white asparagus in a delicious bouillabaisse bisque that I mopped up with my bread. Strangely, the calamari crisps reminded me of papadum.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WuBXeiANTf56CvLNX8_GV_3pg8SOWtlmOOG7_fIusg8WhuAByMpVrQiauiTYMg-mEz7MjspgfNc4l5w6qzEBVbTDPsqGbRsZz2FzQ4a3xegGikB39JJXtaXLiYFZFcVuz8Wo4NNki_UP/s1600/a4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WuBXeiANTf56CvLNX8_GV_3pg8SOWtlmOOG7_fIusg8WhuAByMpVrQiauiTYMg-mEz7MjspgfNc4l5w6qzEBVbTDPsqGbRsZz2FzQ4a3xegGikB39JJXtaXLiYFZFcVuz8Wo4NNki_UP/s400/a4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844807693205810" border="0" /></a><br />The chef compromised and substituted Kelly's first course with a colourful harvest of garden vegetables. He gobbled everything and paused to mumble "It's <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> gooood" when I asked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7rANvPIUnheQpCPriTCFzgnCQ2OpCC8mvYPhUxlsM5ONA2CIBTpqo88Ala1scZWOdICjIwsNZsufNqmk3Cx5ZKBPHEv4FbZpfPHxp4kTB2gPuDx3CbmGgcImRkQgVI8kFmTupH9k82uW/s1600/a6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7rANvPIUnheQpCPriTCFzgnCQ2OpCC8mvYPhUxlsM5ONA2CIBTpqo88Ala1scZWOdICjIwsNZsufNqmk3Cx5ZKBPHEv4FbZpfPHxp4kTB2gPuDx3CbmGgcImRkQgVI8kFmTupH9k82uW/s400/a6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844791336353010" border="0" /></a><br />Our second course was a pretty presentation of foie gras terrine with wild strawberries and rice crispies. Salty, sweet and tart, it was sublime.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSUeG-vGLQb3uqmXxq5seurPRHoUcPXH5PPIqtC9QLLpGY_JWThX8j8IZUYV-bKwKcRJ9DlUwfmT1QUJJI2jHf64Q_ecULH2Vo2WtNKlSAyChlwhbdta9DU6BlW1YcIhyphenhyphen_iobtq09Kv4W/s1600/a7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSUeG-vGLQb3uqmXxq5seurPRHoUcPXH5PPIqtC9QLLpGY_JWThX8j8IZUYV-bKwKcRJ9DlUwfmT1QUJJI2jHf64Q_ecULH2Vo2WtNKlSAyChlwhbdta9DU6BlW1YcIhyphenhyphen_iobtq09Kv4W/s400/a7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844772180976722" border="0" /></a><br />Next course was trout topped with porcini puffs and a sweet hibiscus foam which would not be missed in this dish. But that fish was the best I had in my life! It melted in my mouth like butter. I was the happy recipient of Kelly's intense dislike for seafood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFs9aYXje9SXHFr6WjuhD3PVaHHmrAY986aq88Cle9OpMWTRRT8qHGotinx8MXwmoldN1uEmF_F9SV2Zy-e-hNPwD-x7PBZlC0Ot8RYu48WtlvfErzexdA5Kdsplg2jqxTF1dJstosu_x/s1600/a8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFs9aYXje9SXHFr6WjuhD3PVaHHmrAY986aq88Cle9OpMWTRRT8qHGotinx8MXwmoldN1uEmF_F9SV2Zy-e-hNPwD-x7PBZlC0Ot8RYu48WtlvfErzexdA5Kdsplg2jqxTF1dJstosu_x/s400/a8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844765219355330" border="0" /></a><br />A deconstruction of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuben_sandwich">Reuben sandwich</a>, our fourth course featured pastrami pigeon, sauerkraut gelee, cheese crisps and rye sauce. The pigeon was chewy and a tad salty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4imuSKoAPQC_4NefXhHDROhip9hoQKjPcyXh3CJL8iN6bQfeByt84N5T0OxnPoMV0OYNNQr8dBtEn_MeLV3Om5qzaNfhQ18xkOYlZ8_d5srBJ4sJBi815z1HmTcBAZo0gRhPnnEusJ4F/s1600/a9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4imuSKoAPQC_4NefXhHDROhip9hoQKjPcyXh3CJL8iN6bQfeByt84N5T0OxnPoMV0OYNNQr8dBtEn_MeLV3Om5qzaNfhQ18xkOYlZ8_d5srBJ4sJBi815z1HmTcBAZo0gRhPnnEusJ4F/s400/a9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844472450690882" border="0" /></a><br />Doesn't Kelly look like Mona Lisa here? In between courses, we had divine bacon rolls with goat cheese butter, butter from Vermont and butter from France.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnge1z-rGXVratxHmai5XVeDAxsOzeehTNwdKgrAVbnd_8zoaDDNRlyTlwFg7kvV11vmd27q3WyZ8MGlImj3j9Me2h_TcPw_s_ov24GvoseS0nQ2YhUO7e8qaUU5olf5usTxzchrvp4fo/s1600/a10.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnge1z-rGXVratxHmai5XVeDAxsOzeehTNwdKgrAVbnd_8zoaDDNRlyTlwFg7kvV11vmd27q3WyZ8MGlImj3j9Me2h_TcPw_s_ov24GvoseS0nQ2YhUO7e8qaUU5olf5usTxzchrvp4fo/s400/a10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844464467401378" border="0" /></a><br />Lamb shoulder confit and coffee cardamom soil. I can't remember all the components of this dish but I remember the lamb was perfectly cooked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatAQE71WzmjadRKUoPg1h8u9Ibi90ILTqbzK871ltsg_k_ZS2z1K3XrvlaSkrbI3xwmSrWPzrcHDs5CJ_JQt-_s0nSKOMuts5AIGHXP-pX47Mz8j8RARW72wcQ7BbTqAUkLY_B815TuCO/s1600/a11.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatAQE71WzmjadRKUoPg1h8u9Ibi90ILTqbzK871ltsg_k_ZS2z1K3XrvlaSkrbI3xwmSrWPzrcHDs5CJ_JQt-_s0nSKOMuts5AIGHXP-pX47Mz8j8RARW72wcQ7BbTqAUkLY_B815TuCO/s400/a11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844453076415842" border="0" /></a><br />Mmm mmm mmm, Japanese Kuroge beef with marrow toast, a pea roll, matsutake mushrooms and Bordelaise sauce. I savoured every bit of it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZL936dZ9Ijf303Npbledk-BLcKQYwWYzqY_80hYVRT1wCWIn3clXa4V1zXsV9vNM0-ggZHAXP5Dr78H8braRU-R1CKcDvHOdaj7R-ACOPmwu96x6c62m1zSjC32_fLZZrWHse9Ro4I_zD/s1600/a12.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZL936dZ9Ijf303Npbledk-BLcKQYwWYzqY_80hYVRT1wCWIn3clXa4V1zXsV9vNM0-ggZHAXP5Dr78H8braRU-R1CKcDvHOdaj7R-ACOPmwu96x6c62m1zSjC32_fLZZrWHse9Ro4I_zD/s400/a12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844449688432002" border="0" /></a><br />Isn't the presentation wonderful? Kelly was so full by the time this dish arrived that he didn't take a single bite. This was one of the highlights of the night, such a pity!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P_n0YtsBFzWehPXuR9XPyPeT-PMg_LWNkTcNmpplrTXHPByItpbOsfoF5qZar1yk5A9EJFgGuExKqm2jCpX1T1i8sj0XbecCMEoT6FxqVazKv_Uhwnbzmi9QIvjb6sSl8gkc2rxifOen/s1600/a13.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P_n0YtsBFzWehPXuR9XPyPeT-PMg_LWNkTcNmpplrTXHPByItpbOsfoF5qZar1yk5A9EJFgGuExKqm2jCpX1T1i8sj0XbecCMEoT6FxqVazKv_Uhwnbzmi9QIvjb6sSl8gkc2rxifOen/s400/a13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462844441951238146" border="0" /></a><br />After the savoury courses, we were served a palate cleanser of peanut butter and jelly which had been blasted with nitrogen to form tiny icy dots.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqwexIWMJa8RwBGZy8f80NRhWx4Iwhyphenhyphenqvu0l76JoPcZo7QVqD15xQjvQbwqEI_rL06Qy0g4lhTP67K2Y8ACKz0Svu9eu6LupIA64DmNb-OJXdFpXMWPi9IFenDAgzrWslov_VjNi5cJ8Q/s1600/a15.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqwexIWMJa8RwBGZy8f80NRhWx4Iwhyphenhyphenqvu0l76JoPcZo7QVqD15xQjvQbwqEI_rL06Qy0g4lhTP67K2Y8ACKz0Svu9eu6LupIA64DmNb-OJXdFpXMWPi9IFenDAgzrWslov_VjNi5cJ8Q/s400/a15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462843796473021442" border="0" /></a><br />The guy who cannot take another bite has space for desserts and it's written all over his face.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9TKLea6tIEp_QPJqEivBQqoaRQuuXNp12L2XFcitGOy-5HWPrhgj7iojaDjZlyHM7U_GXFtGyvkGZVznshmkkcCsKRr5zr2JIQ_4YIp7zm4n5vH11vor7rEfONof_zy6ELJoHHXr_acH/s1600/a14.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9TKLea6tIEp_QPJqEivBQqoaRQuuXNp12L2XFcitGOy-5HWPrhgj7iojaDjZlyHM7U_GXFtGyvkGZVznshmkkcCsKRr5zr2JIQ_4YIp7zm4n5vH11vor7rEfONof_zy6ELJoHHXr_acH/s400/a14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462843786857623138" border="0" /></a><br />So eager that he cannot snap a clear pic of his Baba Au Rhum with pineapple, kiwi and coconut. Verdict? <span style="font-style: italic;">Really really</span> good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QRBfiwyly9a4badQBIp00MK7YPBe_E_qdewzCXvONCZ6P9fIF39oa8EF1L6GaZwEKaWjSpZMp9RDnxlkamryLxZeh-FE4bsKzHLWCv5i5g5MtfNVO6dT24j_kkVrH-Rvuz6qC_IY0zLd/s1600/a17.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QRBfiwyly9a4badQBIp00MK7YPBe_E_qdewzCXvONCZ6P9fIF39oa8EF1L6GaZwEKaWjSpZMp9RDnxlkamryLxZeh-FE4bsKzHLWCv5i5g5MtfNVO6dT24j_kkVrH-Rvuz6qC_IY0zLd/s400/a17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462843778698960290" border="0" /></a><br />My pic came out blurry too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfqjeDj-AHJSFnet10HVsI-K-SNCWBhQTxkQOfW0_lkzg7jJC10Cv_95S1D21o6BY6CBHqrNNeyLiZRM5MxSfSL-07EAd19j-9zNJ4jxDQjz-RPAeTn9VWB9QyvQESQU7DZUThvrjpNJC/s1600/a16.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfqjeDj-AHJSFnet10HVsI-K-SNCWBhQTxkQOfW0_lkzg7jJC10Cv_95S1D21o6BY6CBHqrNNeyLiZRM5MxSfSL-07EAd19j-9zNJ4jxDQjz-RPAeTn9VWB9QyvQESQU7DZUThvrjpNJC/s400/a16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462843771611995538" border="0" /></a><br />My dessert went by the intriguing name of Fool's Gold. It composed of a salty hazelnut praline sprinkled with gold pieces, a chocolate sorbet and cocoa tuille. This is perfect for chocolate lovers but it was too much for me after a heavy meal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsV6fkkBttt1m-DFahy7OQbdGhGoCtoHv4oSg0GYXEQ0W_YUawdIMYgeL0r8oH5VdWbiD3RAQQ0JapYUh_w68TcnCDkjBL-4OzcyVnhVS0jPhhqYaRe5415Mv6nQ0UxtAUF7ylHh9ENBZ/s1600/a18.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsV6fkkBttt1m-DFahy7OQbdGhGoCtoHv4oSg0GYXEQ0W_YUawdIMYgeL0r8oH5VdWbiD3RAQQ0JapYUh_w68TcnCDkjBL-4OzcyVnhVS0jPhhqYaRe5415Mv6nQ0UxtAUF7ylHh9ENBZ/s400/a18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462843756491382546" border="0" /></a><br />The 3 tai tais seated next to us were invited to meet the Chef de Cuisine in the kitchen. After their turn, the same invitation was extended to us! It must have been a long tiring day in the kitchen but Chef Michael Voltaggio was very personable. Arrgh, where are the fake lashes I had bought for tonight's occasion?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsdsdaeYaZPVL-kripN2SI5782gduJbr2LLp3ZKFk9VkyVpoHNlRWu5ALRjUYgMCPSPaz5AuXcp2zlsjpJSeCYHnaXkM3yAVnKtIPrbDr067jPH7RzwSmRT7J-4LTbEzxCfbRHrSG07As/s1600/sweets.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsdsdaeYaZPVL-kripN2SI5782gduJbr2LLp3ZKFk9VkyVpoHNlRWu5ALRjUYgMCPSPaz5AuXcp2zlsjpJSeCYHnaXkM3yAVnKtIPrbDr067jPH7RzwSmRT7J-4LTbEzxCfbRHrSG07As/s400/sweets.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462864709875479202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.hungryhungryhanh.com/2010/02/the-dining-room-michael-voltaggio-comes-out-to-play/">Source</a></span><br />Awaiting our return was a trio of mignardise. The lemon curd was too sweet after my dessert but I love the passion fruit candy with its edible wrapper, reminded me of <span id="result_box" class="short_text"><span style="background-color: rgb(235, 239, 249);" title="white rabbit">白兔</span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text"><span style="background-color: rgb(235, 239, 249);" title="candy">糖</span></span>. The chocolate lolliPOPs lived up to their name. Hidden inside were pop rocks candy so you heard and felt them pop in your mouth.<br /><br />This was my first molecular gastronomy experience and it was a subtle introduction which I would definitely like to explore more of. It was also the first time I have whipped out a camera at an expensive place and I was kind of embarrassed. Since the tai tais were doing the same, I feel slightly more justified. All in all, it was a wonderful culinary experience for me.<br /><br />Thank you and happy anniversary!<br /></div>Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-10423144169874178622010-04-15T20:57:00.001-07:002010-04-15T22:14:03.634-07:00A walking city.One cannot get very far in LA without a car. <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Driving_in_Los_Angeles_County">Wikipedia</a> says residents spend 4 days a year stuck in traffic and no wonder, LA has the highest per-capita car population in the world. I don't know where the statistics are culled from and its veracity but it's a fact that LA is car city. And precisely why people forget it is a great place for walking too.<br /><br />The weather helps, most times it's neither too warm or too cold. Plus a sprawling city gives rise to neighbourhoods with unique character. The other day, I took an hour long walk and spotted some interesting things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a0OcH0PJ1A91BECdPNyVEbFsrbsUBpctyl3s1LquGm80hydur1f4ahPSxgURwqNzDE1fNcqdhYDlmg60I79te6TWWbJAWsGPiIviCg9luzXMh-Y8ltAWpPqkH5LmKoS47easOGRBDdH6/s1600/EP.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a0OcH0PJ1A91BECdPNyVEbFsrbsUBpctyl3s1LquGm80hydur1f4ahPSxgURwqNzDE1fNcqdhYDlmg60I79te6TWWbJAWsGPiIviCg9luzXMh-Y8ltAWpPqkH5LmKoS47easOGRBDdH6/s400/EP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460579901759820162" border="0" /></a><br />I love how they bother to embellish the humble utility boxes<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> with <a href="http://hollywoodtaitai.blogspot.com/2008/04/strange-and-wonderful-in-america.html">serious art</a>. This particular one has been painted with (my guess) colourful <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec">Aztec</a> people.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSt6AMG4QairySUaP1M0q-VXdhL_3beVzsOshFWTTMDVoEToa9PvLxU2Uhyphenhyphen1SJ-ssu2fZSI3zfB5l0UWp9QoxhX8TpB2CB68Kul2RmE7YoiskSNx-QdcRTnpWLJwjaREXfBbOUVMg38zH4/s1600/EP5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSt6AMG4QairySUaP1M0q-VXdhL_3beVzsOshFWTTMDVoEToa9PvLxU2Uhyphenhyphen1SJ-ssu2fZSI3zfB5l0UWp9QoxhX8TpB2CB68Kul2RmE7YoiskSNx-QdcRTnpWLJwjaREXfBbOUVMg38zH4/s400/EP5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460579899336371858" border="0" /></a><br />Looking up yields unexpected finds too like this cute <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune_cat">Maneki Neko</a> painted on the side of a building.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5K0G0ha5de-VkegPVueWsSSKhOG1NY9uKCBDmJYf7UYUmBQYpFyx2vv-vIEmLVYxrZ-d8sGMY5xo3VAZkxTBD0riRfIN414bwjmr4smi39r2gPyAeEQNUoXh_eqtUR157qdoyplw5olF/s1600/EP6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5K0G0ha5de-VkegPVueWsSSKhOG1NY9uKCBDmJYf7UYUmBQYpFyx2vv-vIEmLVYxrZ-d8sGMY5xo3VAZkxTBD0riRfIN414bwjmr4smi39r2gPyAeEQNUoXh_eqtUR157qdoyplw5olF/s400/EP6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460579895113955666" border="0" /></a><br />Who doesn't like a cat mural on the exterior of a school? This feline by the name of <a href="http://www.explorehistoricalif.com/room8.html">Room 8</a> is so famous, he's been in magazines and has a children book written about him. He's long gone to kitty heaven now but his story is read to new students each year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhdxjo9SWc-z5EIRNdKHyQj-FWEiGflWM3b1XtBb0muRdJqXyId81Z9XK7KwN_afcu4odn2M6j9gwbOSeWT6oeLYTcHH1Mf9kffAnPUOTLzt3Qf4kl5gYXtD8zcMrr37BJpwuDAjrsqYn/s1600/EP1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhdxjo9SWc-z5EIRNdKHyQj-FWEiGflWM3b1XtBb0muRdJqXyId81Z9XK7KwN_afcu4odn2M6j9gwbOSeWT6oeLYTcHH1Mf9kffAnPUOTLzt3Qf4kl5gYXtD8zcMrr37BJpwuDAjrsqYn/s400/EP1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460579884219067730" border="0" /></a><br />Have you seen such beauty flowering from a cactus? I love the symmetry and lilac shade of the bloom. There are also lots of beautiful houses with nice gardens but I can't feature them on a public blog. Hopefully I get to explore more fun neighbourhoods when I get there, by driving.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-57676298959088196872010-04-15T05:25:00.001-07:002010-04-15T05:27:23.096-07:00Crazy glasses.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.refinery29.com/taylor-tomasi-hill-style-chic-nyc-home-1.php"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QCVf-VorSjGBk47DnFmp4NiqOzBurjmnmF85QbBPX6SAcu9o_Aq_sQIfx81IrMo5u_v8kIYyFw2HV2l79U_4s1uvP2Sl_9IlIFlnafK0lXD_eyVnYNDgjXL6BRTzv1F_06tj3QQWRkFn/s400/Sunglasses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460339516898355954" border="0" /></a><br />Is it weird that I like these glasses? And that red hair. It's calling out to me.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-91375663390568633792010-04-14T20:40:00.001-07:002010-04-14T20:42:18.801-07:00Speechless.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYwTbY7T6ZI9cqDItsHG4mkpJ5IUd3gZZvj-iHCzrvqBiiJqVRQxaiAlCx3kJANVULsamgiKPq8QZFCRFpcbdSKS-9uv1x5ZaVg5RnCzmLzOAgYrxnCcc7Lq56c1uMafUNcVIIs6sJJXS/s1600/MCQ+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYwTbY7T6ZI9cqDItsHG4mkpJ5IUd3gZZvj-iHCzrvqBiiJqVRQxaiAlCx3kJANVULsamgiKPq8QZFCRFpcbdSKS-9uv1x5ZaVg5RnCzmLzOAgYrxnCcc7Lq56c1uMafUNcVIIs6sJJXS/s400/MCQ+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460204201015212178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE720yI20Xv_qd2OCvzJ6MVfuo1FY5YoZpZ7KFbBI5MEHyVOnEIFnsBm0TqRGsJkoPsZF-fbcXDRqGkFuoG1-egg8dujy4cb9qda_Rt8EyECC4-hmMG2i9mRoOtuo-unRIYzwJ0ZvCHHFK/s1600/MCQ+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE720yI20Xv_qd2OCvzJ6MVfuo1FY5YoZpZ7KFbBI5MEHyVOnEIFnsBm0TqRGsJkoPsZF-fbcXDRqGkFuoG1-egg8dujy4cb9qda_Rt8EyECC4-hmMG2i9mRoOtuo-unRIYzwJ0ZvCHHFK/s400/MCQ+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460204165143891298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nitrolicious.com/blog/2010/04/14/alexander-mcqueen-fall-2010-shoes-bags/">Alexander McQueen Fall 2010</a>, I dream of the day I can own the pair of winged shoes.Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892147024643807615.post-2807969063517774262010-04-13T16:45:00.000-07:002010-04-13T17:49:42.192-07:00Fab health, flab body, fab mindSince early Feb, the doctor has cleared me of hyperthyroidism. And I wish for those I know who have had it and myself that we will continue to be in remission for the rest of our lives.<br /><br />I should be happy, instead I'm upset that my body hasn't shrunk to its former self. 50% of my wardrobe remains unwearable including all my jeans and pants save for 2 pairs. In a fit of pique, I tossed a large amount of clothing into the donation bin. Though I kept a few to remind myself that I will fit into them one day. I also scrutinise the hell out of every photograph and only look at the weighing scale after using the bathroom. <br /><br />How whiny can I get? Stepping back from the scale and taking an objective look in the mirror, I think I look alright. Of course I wish my thighs were smaller, tush perkier and boobs bigger. Thought, why does fat only migrate South? What was I talking about? Yes, I should remind myself "I am just fine." Certainly, shopping for new clothes help. Right, Kelly?Hollywood Tai Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447352418797874394noreply@blogger.com0