I love school... sorta

Back in school... it's more of sticking to it due to it being familiar rather than really "liking" it... or is that true? Hmm...

I am so indecisive... I am trying to patch that up. Oi.

If that's true, then it's like an old relationship - just having someone because you feel relaxed and ok with them... not necessarily because you really enjoy the essence of them... hehe.

Whatever.

In fact, I have my first exam today, and I'm nevous/anxious... but not really. *to make that worse, I should have straight curly hair with a straight pudgy nose!! Woof*

Actually, I should start packing up to head out...

I called my sis today - she is so stressed about trying to study while having two spoilt and demanding children to do HWs with everyday, a demanding and inconsiderate boyfriend, and a mother who just doesn't understand... she cried hysterically wondering if she could even pass these set of exams and how stressed out she's becoming with worry.

Just then, I counted my lucky stars and said a prayer for her... she's a great soul - but so goes karma: the nice ones get trampled on and taken for granted. Ouch. *God Bless you Suz*

Speaking of karma - I've been battling with this - do you always discard those around who are bad to your karma? I mean, it feels good - like getting rid of stinky trash, or a huge blood-sucking tic... but in Suz's case, where it's her kids and boyfriend and mother... inconsideration rains around her while she is a dear to put up with all of it... but I guess different circumstances here (she cannot abandon her kids... though I kind of got abandoned from my mom - well, she still detests my very breath) - but you got what I mean... Obligations! Where is the line? Hmm...

Anyways, exam time...

*Zuper creeps off to revision land - now how do you chlorinate methane, again?*

BG Challenge-r!

Yep! The big hike days were last weekend... and I'm alive, and thank God every minute for the experience. I laughed, cursed, got bitten, got angry, laughed, slept, ate, cut rope and bamboo and laughed :)
It was superb - or rather - Zuperb :)

Leg 1: Gorges. I got picked up at 3am on Saturday morning and we headed north east to past Valencia, into Cumaca gorges. I did not go on that leg... it was estimated to be 8 hours for the average team - we did it in under 5 hours. We finished 7th out of 43 teams in this leg. The guys came out with cuts and bruises from hurting themselves on the slippery rocks on the banks of these gorges... I cannot imagine 5 hours of that! One man slipped and hit his ankle so hard that he broke it in three different places - woof.

As soon as we finished, we got the hint to go to Lopinot for the other check point. Bam - as we get there, we see stacks of bamboos - the next task was to build a table and seating thingie out of bamboo and rope. There was an incident of a guy hitting the bamboo with his cutlass - only to miss and cut his leg so deep that the blood didn't stop pouring out for a while. Double woof.

After 2 - 3 hours of building (and as for me - rope measuring and cutting), we got the next hint - head to the Caura ridge. Amazing view! I got ready as I was to do that night leg. It started at 6pm with a bang - we were behind and so we had to run to the front of the crowd. I couldn't talk - these guys were so fit and I felt like my heart would pop out of my mouth if I did. Eventually, as the sun subsided, I picked up the pace - after screaming on seeing some bullfrogs in the path, and getting serious stings from horrid insects on my neck! I ran well enough - heck, one of the guy told me that I have balls, and the other screamed out when I began to keep the pace that he could kiss me :) *Zu still awaits this smackaroo* This hike was dark and Zue stayed at front with a torch light in hand and on strapped to my head. I fell so many times... and each time would warn the others "ROOT!" so as to watch out for any roots or stones that would trip them too. I kept hearing the guys in the back "HEAD!"... after some shouts, I asked what that was about. Apparently, there were things to bump your head into as well, but due to being so short I missed all of them :) hehe... That hike lasted about 4 hours run-walk, and included some rivers. We came in about 8th or 9th.

Back to Lopinot for sleepy time. Well, after a shower and dinner, of course. We laughed and talked until we realised that after coming out of the bush at 10pm, and having dinner til 12-midnight that there was only 4 hours to go before we have to be up again for the next day of hiking. Woof. Sleepy time! I slept so well, shockingly.

Back up at 3:50am (I set my alarm), I had breakfast and got ready for the morning hike that I was on... this time through the Guanapo Gorges. Beautiful!! But so dangerous - the guys held my hand so that we could keep speed and I could keep balance. We swam, climbed, anything we could, and 2-3 hours later or so, we were out. That was the most fun. We made it out in great time too!

The final leg I did not go to - it was a steep and horrid hike uphill for about 2 hours - from Patna Village to Chaguaramas.

All in all, the guys were great, we had so much fun, worked hard, and lost some toe nails.

I can't wait for next year!

*Zuper remembers the time in the woods and smiles... then looks down and sees that she's at her desk again... when will Zu change into her Zuperhero (hiking) clothes again? Stay tuned for more adventures of ZuperZue!*

"Fruits are fun"

Rohhh Herro there...

Long time, eh?

Excuse? None... temporary mild insanity - perhaps. Actually, for sure.

By the way, I hiked to El Tucuche two weekends ago... the view! One can see from Las Cuevas to Point Lisas Industrial Estate... it's beautiful. It was a tough hike, but I made out ok. I really detested the run down... it's horrid on the knees, and .... well... just horrid!

The BGTT Challenge - the weekend that I have been training for all these weeks - is up and coming - yep, this weekend. And I feel so unfit and actually a bit scared. Some of the guys on my team are super duper fit, and we have to finish as a team, so it'd be a pull and tug to keep up with them - if possible at all.

I've had it up to here with "it's all about me" people... I meet them everywhere. I had become so grumpy and so annoyed by them... but why? Because I was letting them be in my focus! As I let them slip out of focus - yes, they are still there, I just don't concentrate on them too much - I began to feel lighter and able to function without popping. Eliminating bad vibes has been my new mission. I cannot allow myself to act in any way too negative and confusing anymore. *adventure!*

Have you ever noticed the poster at the back of Chef in the cafeteria in SouthPark? "Fruits are fun" - hehe. Now, we allllll know that fruits are one of the lamest things invented/grown/whatevered in, like, life.

Oh, me gots meself a TV and DVD player - whoop whoop. I slapped a mattress infront that TV, and watched SATC, Southpark and a couple movies. I love it!

I also got to talking this week with a Professor at a local University... he suggested that I do a BEng. Who gets another Bachelor's???? Heck, I guess me. Woof. It's free (God Bless T&T's new free-education thingie), it's on afternoons, and I got admitted already. Is there any other sign that I should do it??? hehe... Thank God.

*Zuper vooms into the air - remembering Cartman - as the toothfairy - to Butters: "keep your eyes closed til morning, or I wil kick you in the nuuutttsss"*

Hey Spongebob!

It's Pat! I love Pat... he's great! So reliable, loyal, innocent... what a great friend! Honestly... have you seen the movie? He was so genuinely happy for Spongebob's supposed 'promotion', that he planned to fly through the sky butt naked with a flag stuck between his butt-cheeks congratulating Spongebob... in public! He was so
appalled when SB was turned down for the Manager's post.. like honestly and genuinely confused.
"WHAT? Why?!"
Too cute. I hope to be just like him when I grow up.

I had mashed potatoes today! Yesh yesh... from a box... but maaaan it's b-e-a-uuuutiful.

Are all men babies? I was talking to a girlfriend of mine - she had a loving boyfriend about 2 years ago... she says he was sweet and almost a perfect match. She wanted to commit - i.e. head towards marriage. He didn't - oh oh, but he DID want to live with her. *woof* Due to this, he broke up with her - she didn't want to live with him without being married. 2 years ago, she was 26 and he was 28. *Now that he's 30, he's getting those 30-something jitters?*

Two years come and go... they talk and lime sometimes. She got a call two days ago - he's ready... he's financially stable, he's ready to commit and ready to pick up where they left off.

Since when it's just on their terms?!? Ladies... honestly, right?

Two years - people change, situations change... there is no "picking up" of where you left off! You left her broken-hearted (that her sweetheart broke it off with her since she wanted a future with him!).. do you reallllly wanna pick up from there? Woof.

Now... the trick is this - he was 'ideal' with one flaw: committment issues. Now that those are gone, shouldn't it be 'better' now?

No wonder God gave woman the job of bearing children - we're the stronger, tougher bunch, and - dare I say - the more mature of the two.

Now mind you - I am one for reformations, and all that... however, to get hurt like that and to go back into it - it's like entering a race as a handicap - or something so.

After asking Nyx whether or not we are just to wait for men to grow up - may it be in breaking up and breaking your heart to try to mend it after they find themselves - she simply put it as this: you meet a guy who's already broken into... you know, like a shoe. I mean... wouldn't you love to have someone else break in your brand-spankin-new leather boots? Avoid the corns and blisters... perhaps it's the same with men. Perhaps. Woof.

A Cruise ship company called me today for a Purser job - however they required an Espanol conversationalist. Oi. I told her that I would do a course, and so that she should keep my name and file on record. This call, however, came through while collecting lunch with the senior engineer sitting right next to me in his car. Oi. He heard, and of course, questioned. Then beans were spilt - I am no longer loyal to my company. Apparently HR sees this position as deadend and plans to keep it that way. He consoled, however, that there are "people behind me" and assured that things would change. Truth be told - I'm indifferent to whether there are or not... it doesn't change the present and I do not trust the future. I would leave here... in a heartbeat. And well, now it's out... now he knows.
I started so enthusiastically... and kept it up for a bit until I spoke to HR - see, functioning is easier when you see a clear future... but when someone 'shuts you down', and the future seems non-existent, flat-lined, and blurry, well, you start a blog! *whops*

I'm now gonna get ready to grab a drink with my girlfriend... TGI :) :)

Weekend - hiking - spending money... oi. Have a good one, though!

*Zu sweeps into her last half hour of toil. Will she find contentment? One day Zu... one day...*

Chefrus maximus

Ahem ahem ahem!

Da zupa cooked! Yesh yesh... I am having my lunch at this moment - my home-made lunch!

Ok ok... PERHAPS it doesn't reeeeeeally look like the picture, but I am having something very similar... let me begin with yesterday's adventure...

Yesterday afternoon it was a pull and tug on whether to go to the gym or not... I was NOT feeling it! I eventually pulled myself together and came to the conclusion - I would go to the gym for the spin class and aerobics if I get half hour grocery shopping done first. Since the grocery was just below the gym, I went upstairs, reserved my spin seat, put my gym bag in the locker and headed back out for shopping - confident as heck.

I got to the grocery, shopped up a storm - from spaghetti, to sopa dish, and tomato sauce to milk. I felt like a woman... a woman who has her stuff together. Confidence still there - maybe showing a lil 'tude in my walk - I placed the bags in the car and headed back to the gym - just 10 minutes before spin class is to begin. I then strotted back into the changing rooms, got my bag out and proceded.... stripped out of work clothes and into my gym suit. "Man, I feel good."

Tights, sports bra and top, socks... shoes? Shoes?! OMG! I forgot my sneakers at home! At that point I burst into hysterical laughter... what a nut!

So, I had to strip - again - tights, socks, sports bra and top... and back into my work clothes... "Sorry, I won't be able to make it to spin today"... I had to try to keep a straight face while I told the gym receptionist... though it was funny, it is kind of embarrassing!

So I got home earlier than expected - and thus, I cooked up a storm! Put the spaghetti to boil *check*, put the veggies to cook *check* and heat up the tomato/garlic sauce *check*. It looked a bit boring, so I added a crunched-up burger patty into the sauce... voila! Lunch! Spaghetti and meat...er...crunch. It's good, though :)

Cooked, read... but it's now 7pm and I am bored and alone. Sleep wouldn't come, and the book isn't really that good (I ran out of good books! See what no-TV does to you!), so I decided to go to the bank and get the rent money out one time. I was feeling lame, so I dressed in a nice cute mini-skirt with my best shoes and a nice tight top... y'know, when you feel lame and you try to appear "cute" on the outside, it should make you feel better, not so? Hmm...

I drove and drove... found a bank, got the money, and still felt lame. So I headed to the gas station for a refill of Premium Gas... hmm... still don't want to go home. I saw a doubles vendor (yes, at 8:30pm... gotta love Chaguanas) and so stopped to get some - though I had dinner already, my roomie would appreciate it (she had never ever had doubles before!!! Who comes to Trinidad and NOT try doubles! Crassy Grenadian!).

When I got out the car, I realised that there were only guys there... hmph, whatever.

"Two with plenty, and two with none, thanks".... and while taking out my four doubles, the doubles-man (well, boy, really) said something. I didn't hear - my mind was far - thinking about how alone and bored I was.

I begged, "Excuse?"

He repeated, "Who vex ah nice lady like you so?"

Though I shrugged it off, I smiled for the rest of the night. What the heck is wrong with me! I tell you... humans... we are insatiable! Imagine a doubles-guy, with a random statement, made me realise that though I tried to pretty-up the outside, I still looked how I felt - vexed. He'd never know what he did :) He made my night, and hopefully I can keep this in mind for whenever I wanna play like "woooooooooe is me!" again.

Oh, and please check this funny story out:

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,408852,00.html

Parrot, you is some serious kix, oui! Presh-uh!

Ok, back to work! Or is it...

*Zupah dupah - as satisfied as ever - continues her excel flogging with some smiling and... togging. TOG!*

Pooped!

Loango! Loango! Loango! That's what you have to shout when you climb the Loango hill (near Maracas). One of the steepest, toughest hills I've ever faced. However - we did ok - it took me 45 - 50 mins from the stream at the bottom before I could shout these words at the top of my lungs. That was Saturday morning. 'Twas a blast.
After this I went for some eats and drinks with my coworkers - again, 'twas a blast. The company can suck ras sometimes, however the department is really a nice group.
Then I met with Maria for QRC's fundraising food-a-thon! :) Again, 'twas a blast! I love spending time with the girl... she has me rolling all the time (remember, Maria: "Hmm...Austrailian homemade ice-cream in Antigua...*places index finger on mouth with puzzled curious look on face* Oh! And what about you having a degree in Philosophy... Psychology... oh darn, same thing! :) :) )

By the time I hit my bed, I was over-exhausted.

Got to shut my eye long enough to rest up before work that very morning - yep - Sunday morning. Though I delayed it, I did the inevitable and crawled out of bed - got the work done so that today is a tad easier - heck, I have time to do this, now don't I? :)

Needless to say I do NOT feel rested. Today is wha? Monday? How??? There was a weekend? You have GOT to be kidding me...

Today - no gym. (OMG - Zuper has OTHER plans? Has the world spun out of its axis yet??) Yesh yesh... Real reason - though I got pots (lovely lovely pots...) I gots nada to cook..... dude! So yuh girl heading to the grocery... my very first real grocery shopping trip. Like, where I buy things like salt (who buys salt??? I thought the salt just like appeared in the cupboard and, like, never ran out) *zu just got blond streaks magically - cause: saying "like" more than two times in one sentence*....... actually, I don't know what else to buy! Well, this would be an adventure, now wouldn't it?! *or like the Jamaicans say "don't it?"*

Actually - skip the salt... it's not healthy anyways.

Ok, back to work... can you believe I have a very important report to complete by - er - now, however I'm waaiiitttinnngg for some contractors to give me a figure or two, and that ain't gonna happen until the next hour or so. Finance awaits! *snickers*

*Zu continues her evil laughing - thinking of the hungry Accountants that just have to sit and waiiiitttt - muah-hahahhaha. How would the adventure of the report and grocery trip go? Stay tuned... *