Feedback tends to generate a wide array of responses. Constructive criticism isn't always met with a positive, contemplative reaction. Yet, the same can be said about praise.

When chancing across new species of humans, I was dumbfounded to find them fishing for praise, that mindless commentary from those irrelevant to their lives held so much power over them. I also grew wary of those seemingly allergic to feedback, any negativity or disagreement from their preferred practice or habits, and, conclusively, change.
On the contrary, rarely do I respond positively to praise, instead seeking out areas of improvement that can be addressed constructively. While a firm non-believer of perfection (beyond GOT7 and Park Jinyoung, of course), I've strived to achieve objectively good results by taking into consideration the perspective of a variety of users. Further constructive remarks are also welcome, with each iteration enabling growth and progress.

Many, many attempts at Soy Braised Eggs have honed a time-consuming, but worthwhile procedure. The eggs ought be cooked to a soft-boiled state, where the whites have solidified but the yolks remain runny. The soy-based formula is brought to a simmer, reduced, and let cool to at least room temperature. Too many times have I submerged cooled eggs into piping hot braise, leading residual heat to remove the translucent, gooey properties of the yolk. One cannot rush the steeping process: forty-eight hours is the minimum chill time required to obtain umami goodness.

A replacement microwave reinstated the ability to quickly reheat food and beverages, eliminating the 30-minute heat-up period and reducing the chance of steam burns.
Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate and Coffee Frappés were enjoyed as mid-day pick-me-ups, while a soju float combining Green Apple Soju and Hazelnut Gelato from Nani's Gelato sealed off a relaxing post-stretch session.

A gentle buzz set off my phone around lunch hour on a sunny Tuesday - it was McDonald's announcing their new McNugget dipping sauce. Without a moment's hesitation, I was persuaded to embark on the trip.

Temperatures had dropped since the previous day, casting a chilly veil on the park I had ventured towards. The skies were vividly blue, yet cloud cover was unmistakable. Occasional gusts had me questioning my choice of attire: nylon Adidas track pants and the white short-sleeved tee from Jay B's first Represent collaboration.

The spread consisted of a Big Mac ($3.49 on Mobile Offer!), Peach Passionfruit Smoothie, and 10-piece McNuggets. Alongside the chain's newest Honey BBQ sauce was the classic choice of Barbeque.

Entry into the working world has solidified the importance of events that never truly garnered much interest in my teen and young adult years.
Politics matter, whether you believe true democracy will prevail or not. Familiarizing oneself with the various parties may be a hassle, but these respective platforms, supplemented by general public opinion, are deciding factors in the government's future investment(s) and job availability. Every instance of tax relinquishment reflects our investment back into the system, so thorough contemplation of these matters isn't entirely optional, as much as the act of voting is made out to seem.

​Spendings have been striking this quarter, spanning utility bills, vehicle maintenance, small appliance replacement, and special occasion dining ventures. Adding to the financial burden is a pending vacation (at long last!!) and GOT7's comeback. VICTON and ASTRO are also releasing EPs within this month, though their impact is negligible in comparison to OT7.
It is with much dismay to note that my quarterly review is delayed. The corporate class is frustrating, with an insatiable appetite for prosperity and ascent on the social ladder; what is more: these circumstances are consistent across majority of companies, with the same woes being expressed by those simply looking to survive, and maybe strive towards their career goals.

The week commences with Dalgona Lattes, one with espresso and one with a concentrated dose of genmaicha. Sickeningly sweet are the shards when incorporated in generous handfuls. In small doses though, they are quite enjoyable, contributing a caramely robustness to the iced beverages. ​Granola with vanilla Greek yogurt subs in for blue sky bran muffins on a few breakfasts.

​In the absence of a functioning microwave, creativity continues to be employed for the delivery of weekday meals in a timely manner. Sourced from the freezer are frozen vegetables and a mini pizza, which is elevated with additional cheese cubes and a few strips of Arirang takeout bossam.

Creations of the week included:

1) Marbled Banana Bread Feat. Mini Marbled Loaves

​As with the most stubborn of adrenaline junkies, I find myself constantly testing the physical limitations of time in order to achieve more. For workplace duties, I am often provided more tasks than physically capable (and reasonably reimbursed for), thus strive to automate processes in order to earn back some breathing space. The plan backfires again and again, for upper management cares not of the wellbeing of their junior employees, but the milestones attained at a corporate level. Greed and pride are the dark drivers of ambition, leading countless to exploit both living and inanimate resources to rise along the social and economic ladder.
​
There is little to be negotiated in the corporate environment, for endurance is a matter of survival of the fittest, supplemented by underhanded compliments to establish shallow working relationships. In what remains of my personal time, I make steadfast attempts to portion it out with the aim of achieving the most. The habit, while rational in its conception, is dangerous over extended periods of time. It involves pushing oneself to the brink of death, and quite possibly into a somber territory of lifelessness before retreating a few steps, then doing it all over again. Burnout lies at the end of this all-too-familiar path to exhaustion. Yet, despite knowing the consequences, I unconsciously default to it anyway. And now, my calendar is filled till mid-summer.

​Having earned a throbbing headache and burning eyeballs at the end of each work day, I began to push away those seeking sympathy. It was never my strong suit to start, but a further reduction in sanity hours only worsened my reactions.
Schedule regulation was an act I had kept at the back of my mind, occasionally dabbling in it as needed. My routine had stayed relatively consistent over the past few years, especially given the dreadful, health-wrecking work-from-home situation, but the introduction of new priorities (needs?) demand a change. Frequently do I preach the importance of taking matters into one's own hands to yield the preferred result; I shall not be the hypocrite this time, nor any other time.

The week starts with unofficial meetings: Teams call after Teams call to address various issues. A mid-day boost is crafted from Paragon's Oolong tea powder and a few drops of ube extract mixed with sweetened condensed milk. The result was a two-toned Oolong Ube Latte with stronger notes of smokiness than sweet purple yam.

​Meals of the week comprise of takeout from Magic BBQ, Pork with Onions in Tomato Sauce over Rice, Baked Salmon and Choy Sum, and mini frozen pizzas for convenience.

​Constructed in the latter half of the week was a Coffee Castella with Chantilly Cream.

​Desires for a fluffy cake matched with airy whipped cream sent me in the direction of Sunday Baking's Taiwanese Castella recipe. Its texture was advertised similar to sponge, though the procedure was more forgiving. The low-and-slow baking process entailed minimal effort from my part and, furthermore, enabled dashes to the computer and unexpected requests. Swapping oil for melted butter and incorporating several tablespoons of Nescafe Gold into the batter at the egg yolk stage, the cake resulted a little denser than I would have liked. Nonetheless, it was delicious. Although a bit firm at first touch, the texture had not been comprised: air pockets were largely uniform in size and the cake emitted a light bounce when subject to pressure.

Within the span of one hour, my Monday evolved from a leisurely acquaintance of design documents and tutorial files to a rapid review of background information, including an eight-page SOP, and the second speediest production of a draft I've ever completed. (The first was a Project-Specific Health and Safety Plan spanning eleven documents finished at 11 PM on the date of assignment.)

Having received exclusive training in capital projects, many of my proposals and/or solutions are formulated to function regardless of scale. Automation and efficiency are prized elements in the realm of project management, though it hadn't occurred to me that this value would vary amongst smaller projects.
The teams - or team, rather - was compact, as was the project budget. The pace was noticeably slower, from the meetings to the processing speed to the comprehensive of data familiarization. That said, there lies opportunity in tasks of all categories and calibers. A condensed crew meant more frequent communication, along with room for error and experimentation. The comparatively more forgiving nature corresponded with reduced stress levels, for while deliverables would be as per the contract, there was greater tolerance for slowness, stupidity, and slipups.

​The days were filled with Oolong and Earl Grey Lattes with homemade ginger syrup retained from the prior week's frozen glutinous rice balls from T&T. ​Only minor differences were perceived between the two stone-milled tea powders: the Earl Grey was a bit more savoury, and the Oolong smokier in profile.

​Soft-boiled eggs and Pecan White Chocolate Chip Cookies were also prepared for easy consumption.

​Glorious, double-digit weather nudged retrieval of the bike once more. Feeling intrepid, I embarked on a longer journey than usual, opting to wind through a portion of the Sawmill Creek trail section before taking an unexpected detour onto Belvedere Crescent. The path joined the Burnhamthorpe MUP, leading over the Credit River for, arguably, the best view in the city.

​Travelling southbound on Culham Trail, I dodged many a fishing rod and persevered over the craggy aggregate used to salvage the trail from washouts. Eventually, I made it to a calm clearing comprising primarily of dirt trails with the occasional puddle.

​Erindale Park came into view, and, with it, a number of pedestrians and dogwalkers. Speed was reduced to accommodate more trail users. Not sure where to head next, I pulled aside to review my options: to loop back into the park towards UTM or continue eastwards to Confederation Parkway, where an on-road bike lane was confirmed exist. With nearly an hour until sundown, I bit the bullet and began dragging my quivering thighs up Dundas Street.

​There is an indescribable anxiety that comes with inactivity: a feeling of lost opportunity due to lack of productivity. Thoughts of rest and recovery normally take a back seat until the fatigue can be postponed no longer. To be engaged in work is a day well spent, and clearly I've been engaged enough this past week to automatically forego rest.

​Pilates (feat. Teaser Tuesday) was slipped into my self-declared weekday lunch break in order to accommodate a post-work visit to the sleepy polar bear.  Forearm planks were executed with much difficulty following a nasty elbow scrape from the overzealous dive at Nerf Challenge from the weekend prior.

A Grapefruit Yakult with Coconut Jelly from CoCo rewarded my exercise-and-cake-finalizing efforts, bringing about invigoration and zing to an otherwise incredibly hectic day.

Meals of the week comprised of 粟米斑塊, a Cantonese classic, and last-minute additions from Taza Xpress for iron needs.

​It was regrettable that the Beef Shawarma was not only tough and dry, but also peculiarly sour. The hummus was soupy and similarly tart, as if lightened with lemon juice (likely, to be fair). Black and green olives had been plopped onto the surface, enabling a brief period of infusion. The accompany Pita wrap was as dry and rigid as the shawarma. It should also be noted these observations were made following a ridiculously lengthy delivery period, exceeding the UberEats estimate of 10-20 minutes and extending it to 40 minutes instead.

​The remaining Black Sesame Purple Glutinous Rice Dumplings from T&T were served as a mid-afternoon snack with homemade ginger syrup - crafted with yellow rock sugar rather than the typical dark brown to draw emphasis to spiciness instead of nutty, caramel notes.

A sudden penchant for 2020's coveted Dalgona Latte propelled me to recreate the specimen with a 1:1:1 ratio of decaf Nespresso Gold, granulated sugar, and hot water.

​​Nighttime saw the release of Jinyoung on Youngjae's radio segment, where I relished in the all-too-familiar chuckles and characteristically GOT7 goofiness with a side of Waterloo Craft Lager. Yacha ("Yaksha" on Netflix) was slated to premiere worldwide the morning after.

​As temperatures soared to double digits in the latter half of the week, I opted to adopt active transportation for my post-work plans. Navigating about my community on foot is often the best way to identify areas requiring infrastructure improvements, as well as areas deserving commendation.

Discussed in the second year anniversary recap of COVID-19's official entry into the global healthcare scene, I lean towards pursuing the "Quarantine Update" titles no more. They take up a greater character count, and furthermore do not accurately depict our existing society and gradual re-opening attempts.

​The work week passed with a kerfuffle of Change Order documentation, speedy digits over the keyboard, and an intro to the Alignment dialog box in Civil3D, which remains an item demanding a deeper level of comprehension.

​A longing for minty hot chocolate guided me in the direction of an expired After Eight packet gifted to me by the sleepy polar bear. Dating back to pre-pandemic times, I was surprised to find a persistent mintiness mixed with the tackiness of age. Half the mug's content flowed down the sink. Little had I known that more ancient foods were in my future.

Creations of the week included:

1) Stale Barley Rice and Kidney Beans - as I have yet to restock my multigrain blend
2) Blue Sky Bran Muffins, which have been executed countless times before and proved as durable of a formula as ever with a buttermilk substitute.

The project stemmed from a hankering for fluffy sponge and a sudden increase in soon-to-expire cream cheese supply. Opting for my 6-inch cake pan instead of Sunday's sheet tray eliminated any asymmetrical cake scraps from sugar cookie-esque cutting. The swap also meant a prolonged baking time due to reduced surface area, though a straightforward conversion had yet to be developed. The temperature was maintained at 350 F for fifteen minutes, then dropped to 325 F for an additional ten. As the surface began to brown nicely, I attempted to remove it from the oven. The delicate jiggle, though, in conjunction with a collapsing top, indicated rawness. Back in the oven it was returned with a greased piece of foil on top.

​In spite of the meticulous step to prevent adhesion, the centremost section of the cake peeled away relentlessly. In spite of it all, the toothpick returned damp and sticky. Nearly admitting failure, I returned it to the oven, uncovered this time, for an addition five minutes. The top emerged an alarming shade of brown, nearly to the point of charring. The top layer was removed (and devoured instantaneously), while the rest were portioned into three layers of relatively uniform thickness, notwithstanding some choppy edges.

​The middle and bottom layers had cooked thoroughly; as such, they were readily layered with an espresso-infused cream cheese-and-whipped cream mixture to form a Tiramisu Cake. The centre of the top layer, being raw, was disposed of. Remaining was a ring of sponge that was partially ripped up for snacking, then placed into a glass dish for pairing with unset filling. This creation was decent, dare I say so, despite being inferior to the "proper" cake.

Impeccably smooth and luscious was the final result. A generous dusting of cocoa powder had accentuated the bitter notes of Kahlua, then shifted the spotlight to distinctly plush layers of sponge and a sweet yet sturdy cream filling.

"You know where I've had the best tiramisu?" I posed a question to which even I wasn't entirely sure the answer.
"Yours." came a firm response. "Yours is the best."
"But it's cake! Not proper tiramisu, mind you." I hesitated not to correct the statement while in contemplation of my next impromptu invention.

Snow arrives when you least expect it, just like the influx of work requests robbing me of hard-earned periods of spec and drawing familiarization time every Friday.

​The despair ought be apparent in my utterances: Week 104 (aka 52 x 2) has arrived. While a multitude of COVID-19 restrictions have been eased - and continue to be eased - there remain several aspects unchanged since its first appearance:

• My work-from-home situation persists, upholding my title as an involuntary homebody
• My professional license remains unattained, despite the tremendous degree of hell I've somehow survived and lived to tell the tale of
• My next concert has not yet happened, nor have I seen GOT7 since the summer of 2019

I've debated continuing with these titles as the world gradually regains its pace. No longer is every day a quarantine day, masked with fear of the scientific unknown. These thoughts hinder us from moving forward as individuals, as a society, and as a global community. Inflation and supply-demand issues prevail, their impact undeniable in our daily lives, but, if anything, I hope for these comparatively minor struggles to be less daunting than the past two years endured by the Earth and its inhabitants.

Can we possibly leave it all as pawprints in the show? Let's learn, digest, and forge ahead.

Creations of the week included:

1) Genmaicha Japanese Cheesecake

The entirety of the GTA was met with the first major snowstorm of the season (and the year, for that matter) upon confronting on Monday. Any residual weekday blues were replaced with anxiety and awe - for either you calmly observed as a work-from-home-er (myself) or were already knee-deep and digging yourself out of the house.

​In the face of a rippling blizzard, there were still some that took to the 401 for work and non-essential travel. It was ill-advised, and many were left stranded on the highway or trapped within snow banks.

​As the once grey skies began to dim, I could withstand a bread craving no more. Digging a path just wide enough for the wheels of my vehicle, I dashed out onto the partially ploughed streets, heart yearning for COBS.

​The dangers had not been cleared away in their entirety, for while major streets had been mostly cleared, lanes were reduced tremendously and plaza parking lots remained inaccessible. Extra caution was exercised to navigate safely within the plaza and back onto arterials.

​A Country Grain Loaf, two Hot Cross Buns, and six-pack of Butter Tarts accompanied me for the ride. Though, the latter will likely never enter the household again: excessively sugary with the unnecessary addition of raisins, we deemed the palm-sized pieces edible, but far from enjoyable.

​Witnessed the next day were glorious blue skies, as if the previous day's mayhem hadn't occurred at all.
​I remained within, observing all from my ever-consistent, second-floor window.

​The sole creation of the week was a second attempt at the Oat Fudge Bar.

​Although undeniably scrumptious during immediate consumption, I won't deny that Chicken Plus left my stomach feeling quite wonky for the ensuing week. Loss of appetite and irritation of the digestive track were not uncommon.

​Obtained after munching on leftovers for lunch and dinner was excruciating bloating, which was appeased only slightly by mild, "safe" snacks (read: contributing no further greasiness). The Rose Tteokbokki sauce, in particular, was a component to wary of, in spite of its addicting palette.

​Naturally, the squirmy repercussions and overall lethargy founded grounds for thorough contemplation of any potential revisits.

Creations of the week included:

1) Whole Wheat Bread

Despite a flawless turnout last time, odd imprints were derived at opposite ends of the loaf. A member of King Arthur's social media team responded that the phenomenon may have resulted due to excess flour when shaping, leading to the dough's inability to adhere during the second proof and, later, in baking.

​From past experiences, it appears that while whole wheat loaves do not expand in volume to the same degree as white bread, they readily adopt height once exposed to heat. Ultimately, the quantity was unable to fill a square loaf pan and proved quite damp even after 35 minutes at a high temperature.
Removing the lid for even distribution of heat would serve to contribute colour to the surface. Lowering the temperature and covering the top with aluminum foil assisted in removing excess moisture in the bottom third of the loaf.

The floral essence of honey remains to be a stunner in this recipe, along with the barely-there, crispy crust. Breakfast slices were commonly adorned by margarine and/or homemade strawberry jam, though could be incorporated into sandwiches as well, if desired.
I was also fond of the uniform height, achieved by nestling four large sections into a single loaf pan rather than dividing between two shallower ones. Extra heed shall be taken in the next iteration to ensure excess flour is dusted off after shaping.

​2) Mexican Hot Chocolate

​On a particularly chilly, dreary afternoon, I sought out a spicier rendition of our nation's favourite winter beverage. Google results were quick to rectify my perception of Mexican Hot Chocolate being no more than a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat.
Instead of the sweetened drink mixes, the traditional treat relies on unsweetened cocoa power for depth and is then sweetened with sugar and, of course, marshmallows. Vanilla, cinnamon, and chili powder (in my case, gochukaru) were other flavours used for distinction between the typical Timmie's creation. 

3) Oat Fudge Bar - Bettered and Nearly Remastered!

When the same instigator of Cranberry Bliss Bars sent a video for Oat Fudge Bars my way, the next steps became all too clear. Little is required to motivate me in the direction of the kitchen for the next experiment, especially when all of the bar's ingredients were on hand and available.

​Beyond simply remaking the Starbucks bakery item, I was on a mission to redeem it. Flat and mushy it would be no more! The chocolate would be firm, offering a toothsome first bite and luscious centre, while the oats would have height - not the rigid slab I had excitedly ordered in the past and received sheer disappointment from.

Breakfasts of late have not strayed far from Cold Brew and Hoddeok. I've been watching my stash of Bran Muffins warily, given their depleting inventory and contradicting availability of freezer space. I finally defrosted one quarter of my purchase from Red Bean Waffle House, concluding a distinct, sweet custardy-ness sandwiched between comparatively thin layers of oil-based batter. (I'd be lying if I said reheating didn't entail greasy fumes filling the air.)

​More of my post-Black Friday purchases arrived: The Bodum Bistro is more finnicky than I had pictured, with plastic parts offering minimal tolerance for locking and detaching. Yet, it served its purpose as a speedy, economic solution for bean grinding.

The year cannot possibly end without reference to the one and only GOT7 - my religion, in other words.

I relished the moments where my fingers could glaze across the pages of Jinyoung's charismatic beauty, where my eyes could familiarize themselves with the contents of the tmrw magazine that arrived unexpectedly before Christmas.

Appearances of the group were rare in physical format. The tangible qualities of the photobook were the closest I would get to any form of interaction for the time being. I don't mind at all the absence of physical albums, as it spares me the dreaded international shipping costs, but would love nothing more than reunion of the septet - be it in digital song format or performance special.

​While majority of the workplace opted for time off, I remained positioned before my laptop. Departures from my desk comprised only of errands and paramedical checkups.