escapades of the elusive kat

It's been a while, yes. Sorry.

Life's been ok, I guess. Nothing too exciting. Nothing too depressing. Just nothing to talk about.

And I don't want to force any topics, so I dunno.

I had been playing awhile on that new handheld gaming device i wrote about the other time. It's history repeating itself again. I play on something like day-in-day-out for a couple of days, then one day just can't see another minute of it again LOL. Give it some time, I'll want to play again.

It's gonna be pretty festive in the next few days, as it's the Chinese New Year. I don't care if people say say "It's more politically correct to say the Lunar New Year." If political correctness is the target, then it's the Farmer's Calendar New Year (it is called the 農曆 in Chinese).

I've got work all sorted out, so I'm more sitting around waiting to get off work (haha).

I took tomorrow (Friday) off so I have a long weekend and I could go one more day to the pottery studio to spend some quality time alone.

I've been avoiding home. Going to work, going to the library, going for classes, going for dinners. It's making my social life look more busy, but it's been tiring me out too.

I've had thoughts of moving out, getting my own place, but as I've always said, I earn enough to live well, but I don't earn enough to afford my own place. Basically, I'm waiting for the next round of Government Housing applications then I'm going to apply for that. But at the same time, why should I spend more money? And guess what with the me doing my own laundry, they are now starting to like "not finish their laundry." Like, they do their laundry, then don't finish it up, put it in the dryer or hang the clothes to dry. But then I have to use the washing machine, but they hadn't put their load away. Either I will have to just wait it out until they do it, or, I might as well do it so that I can do my laundry. So far happened twice, and OK, I'll be the bigger person and do it for them. But trust me, it will soon turn into "expectations that I do it" and then "why are you not doing it," and then it's gonna be another big fight again.

As mentioned, it's way beyond sibling rivalry. I don't mind my Sis so much. But the preferential treatment for my Sis really gets to me.

Oh now Mom has been really polite and careful. Sometimes they don't want to cook dinner and ask me to order out, before the big fight, it was like a "because they asked, I have to do it and pay for everyone." Now they are all "we'll pay you back." And I keep telling them, it's not the money. It's the expectation that I am the one who always does it automatically.

Even for the Chinese New Year family lunch. I've already booked a place. I told them the price. I know they'd find it a little too expensive. But, the usual parameters required are:
- a place we don't normally go to (because if we go to a familiar place, the staff will all be asking for Lai See/Hongbao)
- a buffet place, preferably

So, I've booked a place, told them that I've booked it, and that if they think it's too expensive or too far away, they can go right ahead and look up what they want instead.

Why should I be the one to spend time researching and then get banned for all suggestions that actually do fit their required parameters? If it were me I don't really want to have this lunch anyway.

Work-wise, I have a business trip coming up in March. Some stuff happened, so I have to make this trip. It's going to make me lose my 100% attendance in Mandarin class, but it's OK. Whatever.

Then it's my South Korea trip for the run in Geongju in April. Then in May I'm reviving my previous year's travel plan to see the Wisteria in bloom in Japan. Well, that's gonna push Mom into "you're always traveling, I need to give a chance to your Sis to travel." You know what, whatever. I should learn not to care anymore.

There goes the first weekend of 2026.

So I did the 108 Sun Salutations on Thursday, Friday I was fine-ish, Saturday I was dead, today I was still so-so. But yesterday I kept up with my ceramics workshop and today I kept up with my 2-hour yoga. My arms are so dead.

I sort of binge-bought a lot of different types of cat sand LOL we have so many boxes and packets of cat sand now! I also scored a nice-ish thermos flask and a pair of shoes. I doubt the shoes will last too long, they were pretty cheap to start with, but I can see from the materials.

I know I said my running friend is a little hard on the travel friend part, but upcoming we are planning to join the run in Gyeongju as I mentioned. I think I've sort of... managed to understand her thoughts and way of travel, so I should be able adjust my expectations. Besides, Gyeongju sounds like a place I wouldn't just suddenly decide to go nilly-willy, so it's a good excuse to see some other won't-easily-go-explore place.

I've got a busy week ahead. Got a few task items to complete so hopefully I can get stuff done.

I should start reading another book, got so many books on my TBR. I'm curious about I want to die but I want to eat tteokbokki... let's do it! Will be meeting my friend J tomorrow for lunch, so won't be able to read over lunch tomorrow, but should be fine for the next few days. 

I should sort through my Japan photos and post, but the fire has passed and I don't feel like doing it anymore.

I spent the Christmas break maximizing the use of my Netflix account. Yeah, I paid throughout the year but only now that I'm binge-playing (notice I didn't use the word watching) stuff. Started off with the Rookie, but once it got serious (Season 3?) I've lost interest. I'll probably wait until end of February, after the Chinese New Year break, then I'll pause the Netflix payment. I don't seem to be watching much anything anyway.

With 2 days left I don't think I have enough time to finish 2 more books (to complete my reading challenge for this year) but I'm good. I set for 24 books, thinking of doing 2 books per month, but I'm already at 22 books, currently on my 23rd which I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish in time. But 20 books used to be my annual target anyway. So I'm happy about it.

I decided to order my own birthday cake this year. What with the stupid jokes (getting me an emoji smiley face cake was a big joke) and inviting others on a trip over my birthday weekend, I don't think i have the patience to be trifled with and decided to order my own cake. I ordered the cake for the 11th because it's a Sunday and also because on my birthday the 12th I have class, and will be home late, and can't pick up the cake beforehand to fridge it, etc. Etc. Etc. And if mom makes a dig about getting a cake not on my birthday I'll give her a comeback about inviting someone else on a trip over my birthday weekend.

Have I mentioned I now do my own laundry? It was really, really, and I mean reaaaaaaalllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyy vexing me when Dad would come by ANY RANDOM day of the week with clothes on a hanger that's inside out and ask me "is this yours?" And no matter how many times I say, "I wouldn't know, the T-shirt is inside out" and "I do not have the time to be sorting these hanger tshirts at this time of the day!" (he'd give me the clothes right before I leave home fo for work - and we have a clean clothes basket where the clean laundry is dumped in and we sort it out on Sunday, so WHY CAN'T THOSE TSHIRTS WAIT TILL SUNDAY TO BE SORTED OUT!?!?!?!?!?!) I got so fed up and ran out of patience one time and just yelled that i will do my own laundry from now on and honestly, I've been so much more happier and at ease since then. I probably have some form of OCD, I guess, unless it's something else. But laundry sorting had ALWAYS been on Sundays so why has my Dad started to bug me about tshirts every day!?

I also hate it when somebody sits at my seat at the dinner table. It's been my seat for the past 40 years or whatever so do not sit on my seat! Even when it's not a full family dinner - say someone is just one person sitting at the dinner table but on my seat? I get so miffed. It's not an issue when we have more than 4 people though. Don't worry, for the table seat thing I have never yelled but grumbled in my head only. I'm not so spoiled and entitled. But it has got me wondering why I'm so inflexible in these small things - hence wondering if it's OCD related. And if it's me being spoiled and entitled, I'll draw the line at spoiled. I was not spoiled. I'm protective of what's mine though, because it has been proven to me that if I do not fight for and protect myself then no one here (I mean the family) is going to.

At yoga yesterday, the master had us do headstands and he helped me to do mine, but then I had so much pain in my neck. He said it's because I started off correctly, using my shoulders for support, but then I probably relaxed my shoulders so the weight went straight to my neck. Heck. It hurts till today too. Do I need my Chinese doctor for her chiropractor or bone setting skills?

I plan to get a new pair of running shoes next year because I promised myself I wouldn't buy new ones this year, despite going on the trial run and really liking those shoes I trialed in (Puma, I think). Ran 2 half marathons and a 17km in 2025 and feeling pretty good about that - so I think I've earned new shoes in 2026. Time to check if there's any newer models since then.

A couple days ago, a colleague told me to check my home internet plan and that apparently the ISP is doing some sort of promotion. We were paying a certain price, for unlimited data at 150M (whatever that means). The promotion now is for loyal customers, the baseline is 5 years of subscription (we've been subscribing since the internet started) and the internet speed would be upgraded to 600M (price and package remain unchanged). I guess it was a gut FOMO reaction, when I told my Mom she said to get it immediately.

That actually reminds me that we should start updating our utilities as the internet is under my Mom's name. But now after signing up for this upgrade, we are locked in for 2 years so oh well.

Anyway, we needed to upgrade our router to be able to support the 600M speed as well, so the ISP guy came over and replaced our router.

The issue I have now it: I don't know what I did before, that I was able to use my existing Apple AirPort Extreme as a Wi-Fi extender and as a connection point for my printer, so I was able to extend the internet a little further, and make my non-wireless printer into a wireless printer.

Either, since my last set up, there has been some firmware update to the AirPort Extreme, or something, but I am unable to get my AirPort connected to the new router network. In fact, after I reset the AirPort, and then somehow connect it wirelessly to the network, the AirPort would suddenly disappear. This makes it looks like the AirPort itself is out of order.

I'm stumped. But since we've also upgraded the printer a while ago to something that has some wireless function, I think I can safely just remove the AirPort altogether.

But the printer is a whole other can of worms LOL. The ink dries out so quickly, so now it can't print. But I need it to at least print its own data out, because, I need the default password in order to be able to connect to the printer wirelessly. (I've tried the age old 000000, no dice)

Why is technology now so complicated? I also don't see the difference of the 150M and the 600M. Maybe when I start watching videos or movies?

Life has been good. I'm enjoying the mobility that I have with the car.

I've decided to go about this unfair situation.... as is. It doesn't really matter. If I throw a fit, they're just gonna say I'm selfish or disrespectful or whatever, and they're just gonna continue to expect I bring the fringe benefits home. Or, they'll begrudgingly cede some things, but then their attitude will be so passive aggressive that then I'll be feeling bad about it.

Today I have to go in to work, but the Boss wants me to go drop off a cheque to a shop. His driver is busy so I'll have to do it myself, so I figured I might as well just go to work later. The shop opens at 10.30am, in Macau. I'm not going to drive all the way over to the end of the earth to work for half an hour and then drive back out to downtown, drop the cheque, then drive back to the end of the earth. I don't get a gasoline/petrol subsidy, so why should I do that.

Mom's currently out in a tour group, touring around Guangzhou. The highlight of the trip is to go through the new.... I forgot if it's a bridge or a tunnel, from Zhongshan to Shenzhen. Ok, did a search, apparently it's both. I suppose it's similar to the HZM Bridge, maybe a bit shorter. I am not sure if I will give a try on that? There's really no real reason for me to go Shenzhen, and first going to Zhongshan from Zhuhai is a bit of a bother, I suppose. I don't know. I haven't researched on that.

I finally got through the China Travel Services system and have a date booked for that new travel permit. This reminds me, I should make copies of my passports and existing visas and such. Let's hope the submissions go smoothly and I can get that travel permit card.

Life has been so busy, it's been unreal. My typical weekday now is: Wake up, dog walk, breakfast, get to work, lunch, afternoon work (depends may have to go to another office), back home, {some free time here}, dinner, post-dinner roundtable family talk, night time dog walk, shower, bed. That some free time is really short and I am so tired I usually doze off a bit instead of doing stuff I want to do.

I really want to put in running again. I've now picked up running on Sundays, but that's just not enough to give me any training. I need more frequent runs.
The weather's been weird lately and we're having sunny days with showers while the sun is still out. And thus, an abundance of rainbows! Before this shot, it was actually a double rainbow.
After running, I would go on this exercise machine. This one, essentially, is a body weight pull-up thing. So I sit in the seat and hold on the bars and pull myself up. This one's relatively easy. There's another one that's similar, but you have to push the bars away from your front, so I guess it's like a push up? But I can say, that one is really tough.
The cat is a really a demon. The cat that we picked up from the street LOL. She would try to climb on us humans, which is fine, until the next time you go out and then start sweating, and then notice, "why is the back of my leg so itchy and somewhat in pain? Oh, there's a scratch." Yes. Demon cat LOL.
I've been diligent and going to the ceramics workshop every week. It's just the master there is not putting my pieces in the kiln. I think they are on a deadline to get certain pieces going to an exhibition to be baked first. But still. I've been diligently adding to my collection!

Work-front, we are moving offices. I did not realize how much crap I had. But at the same time, after I shredded most of the paperwork, I only have a lot of small knick knacks. Huh. Okay. Moving day is next week Wednesday.

I'm coughing less. But when I do cough, I hack a lung out.

I continued to see that Chinese herbal tea lady. And I guessed right, she is a chinese medicine doctor, she just almost never opens the clinic part, only staying in the tea shop.

She says my situation is a tad on the "cool" spectrum, so I shouldn't drink those Chinese medicinal bitter tea anymore. Instead, she gave me another tea. It's not quite as bitter (but it is bitter nonetheless) but also a tad sweet-ish. It's a weird flavor.

Finally we took Boy boy (the adopted orange cat) to the vet to neuter. It's one less thing to worry now when he plays with Marble (the baby cat we picked up from the street) as we don't need anymore cats.

This cartoon just resonates so much truth, I can't help but share.


I don't have a black cat to compare, but I do have an orange cat (Boyboy) and a calico orange (Marble) to say I agree. At the vet today, when the (new) vet asked how Marble is, if she is nice, I just said, "yeah, the orange genes prevail in this one".

Ugh, my head.
Started with one specific point in my throat that hurt when swallowing. Now my throat is burning. Stuffy nose, mighty headache.
Already been to the doctor. Got some meds. Waiting for them to work.
Slept the afternoon away (still got into the office in the morning to sort through a couple emails).

Weather has been dreadful lately. I wonder if I'm sick because I still refuse to switch on the air con at night. Huh. The Chinese say "you let yourself get sick by staying in a stuffy place." I don't know. I just thought with the parents and Sis switching on their aircons and with the cats we don't close our doors, my room is significantly cool with a fan.

Ugh, my head. I'm going to lay down.

So there was this classmate in my Mandarin class, she’s Russian, and I always thought she was an exchange student. I’ve seen her write an email to some local government department, and one time in class when we were learning about professions she says she’s a lawyer. So I was a little confused, but figured that it’s really none of my business.

In the last class, it was some sort of game show event (sans the “show”) and I noticed only half the class was there. I noticed most of the exchange students weren’t there, so I commented that maybe they’ve left town already, and asked if she was an exchange student. It was only then that o found out she’s here for her phd.

I also don’t know if this is her first year (heck I don’t know how long a phd takes), and right before class dismissed I just casually asked if she was going home for the holidays and if she had family in town. She said no to both, and in a spur of the moment trying to be friendly I said we could go out for drinks/tea/lunch/dinner. Added each other on a WeChat (a Chinese IM, with a little more privacy than WhatsApp, seriously, I think).

I finally reached out but then now I’m thinking if I’m being too forward. Numerous times have I simply wanted to sound (lol yes, just “sound”, I don’t want to “be”) friendly and then the other party miscontrues and think I’m looking for more, ugh.

I remember that time there was a male colleague and we were just chatting with a few other people and he said something genuinely funny and I laughed, but then he went, raising and arm to like put distance between us, and say “come on, I’m spoken for” and I’m like, geez sure and congrats.

So back to this case, I’m actually regretting getting her number so to speak, but seriously I just thought she might feel alone.

Of course she could actually have many friends from school so I didn’t have to worry about that either. But really, I was just thinking, if I’m all alone in a foreign land, I would hope someone extended a friendly hand.

So.

We’ll see.

I've developed a new.... bad habit LOL

I'm now almost always prowling Reddit. I am especially partial to the AITA (Am I The Asshole) subreddit. Like to read the ridiculousness of the outside world. Ooops. I'm being nosy.

In prowling there, I also found the Macau subreddit and kind of made some new friends. And the other day they made a Macau Reddit get-together and hey hey hey, I went out to meet new people. Drinks and karaoke night. I even sang a grand total of 1 song (before the big group arrived haha). Totally out of my own comfort zone.

We also have this WhatsApp group and it's rather nice. People don't bombard with messages, but we share useful messages with everyone, such as updates on the current super typhoon that's coming.

There's a couple of more "outgoing" people, one's a jokester and I think we've got a nice mix of people there.