More unpacking ensued, reminding me yet again of the annoyances of travelling. Vacation is great. Travelling is not.

The sleepy polar bear emerged on my boulevard with a six-pack of mochi donuts - on his own accord, of course. Donuts have never been an item of fondness for me, and even those bearing limited knowledge of my preferences expressed surprise at the selection: "Not Gong Cha?" No, I would be served sugar instead of coffee jelly and luscious Oolong milk tea.

I had explicitly expressed no intentions of leaving my humble abode until all physical and digital content materializing as a result of the trip had been sorted thoroughly. Perhaps I ought to have vocalized that donuts weren't my style either, though it wasn't too difficult a deduction should critical observations been made.

​While I would never have bothered to invest in such costly fad snacks, I will admit that the chewiness harnessed within offered better texture than regular donuts. That said, this chewy consistency was sustained only when fresh, with the cross sections revealing themselves stale and rigid the next day.
Obnoxiously sugary on the first day, I experienced an instantaneous headache. I wanted nothing more than to strip them of their colourful dip and solely munch of its base - the Old-Fashioned Plain Timbits are my go-to for a reason. They were acceptable the next day, with the Sea Salt Honeycomb proving the best overall. Hong Kong Milk Tea bore no resemblance whatsoever to the its name, while Ube was vaguely similar, albeit masked within sugariness.
Nevertheless, I wouldn't hesitate to pass them up next time around. It was an interesting taste, but not a comprehensibly enjoyable one.

​The gift had been poorly timed, for little was it known that I had assembled a Chocolate Mousse Cake just in advance of the donuts' arrival.

​With a penchant for curbing cravings from the evening prior, I proceeded to realize my true item of affection, starting from the base utilized in Sunday Baking's Rich Chocolate Mousse Cake.

To my dismay, the cake disintegrated upon touch. The gluten content was severely lacking, as it had also been in the seven-layer Pecan Chocolate Mousse Cake With Chocolate Ganache. I only realized later the absence of flour - neither all-purpose nor cake flour had been added, meaning that stability relied strictly on the inclusion of cocoa powder. I re-watched the video twice afterwards, just to confirm my understanding. Visually, the cake was identical to the slab shown in the video. On the other hand, the same degree of sturdiness was not to be witnessed. Consequently, any future chocolate cake layers shall revert to roll cake formulas - or maybe the inclusion of cornstarch? Brownies rely on aerated eggs and cornstarch after all.

Whipped cream and melted Surfin formed the middle layer of chocolate mousse, with a small portion of melted chocolate reserved for ganache. Alas, in my haste, I had omitted the heavy cream entirely, yielding a firm block of chocolate on the surface. It weighed down on the components underneath, causing the mousse to ooze and the fragile cake to crumble even further: Chaos.

​Rapidly cleaning up the edible catastrophe, I readied myself with my first outing since return. Donning freshly tinted treads, a new AIRism tank, recently acquired accessories, and a spritz of Maison Kitsuné x James Heeley's Note de Yuzu, I set off to re-familiarize myself with the conditions of 401 and the Gardiner after 3 weeks of involuntary dependence on Vancouver's up-and-coming Translink system and Uber.

The reservation at Yuzuki has made just three days before, and actually as a backup to Shinobu at Yonge and Lawrence. The York Mills sushi spot was discovered to operate a total of 13 hours over a seven-day span, making calling the establishment quite a challenge while still on a time difference. I opted for the cozy Yonge-Bloor destination instead, for it was responsive to calls and a receiver of consistently positive feedback.

Journeying downtown on a weekend was just as I recalled: a tad frustrating at times, given the increased number of weekend drivers, but otherwise decent. Parking was found at the Green P garage adjacent to Tokyo Kitchen. The neighbourhood was exactly as it had been several years ago: grimy, bustling, and questionable. Furthermore, places I had flagged as mediocre (Tokyo Kitchen) and despicable (TIKA, WISH) were still standing, shockingly enough.

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​One of the first things to emerge from the awestruck demeanour of the Thai ahgase was that the city seemed reminiscent to a different country, that it didn't feel like Canada anymore.

​Naturally, I was surprised to hear this, for I lay eyes on a similar enough setting each time I return. The SkyTrain platforms are, admittedly, a dissimilar setup to that of the TTC, or even the designated path of the Mississauga Transitway, but the transit system in itself is still very much reflective of suburban Canada.

We found an impressive number of budding flowers along our path: striking, saturated, and worthy of marvelling. Black and grey bunnies were another common sighting in Richmond, even on my solo treks after the Thai ahgase's return.

​After analyzing our hotel situation (microwave not found, but mini fridge confirmed), we drifted onto the streets once more for continued exploration. A trip to So'O Salon was made to obtain a quote for my desired hair transformation. At hearing the duration and cost, my travel buddy stood, mouth agape. Despite initial considerations of her own appointment, the thought was banished given the prospect of her short-lived vacation.

In response to my suggestion for egg waffles, I suggested checking out The Bubble Tea Shop on the ground floor of the Superstore building. Along the way were accessible pedestrian signals that, beyond audible and tactile features, included the ordinal positioning of the signal at the intersection.

​Nearing Lansdowne Centre, we caught sight of the infamous Japadog truck. It appeared to be permanently stationed in the asphalt lot, for within close proximity were tables for dining, a designated Drive-Thru path, and even curbside pickup spots! - just like McDonald's Mobile Orders.

As it wasn't quite suppertime as yet, we continued to our original destination. Suffice to say, not much has changed about the Superstore plaza.

At 4 AM, I reluctantly lifted my eyelids in response to the dreaded alarm. It was time to prepare.

Only dawning on me at bedtime was Larry's absence from my daily routine for the next little while. I had bid a lengthy farewell to him the evening prior, yet still wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to his cozy, furry presence amidst last-minute packing.

"Hey I'm on the Uber (heading) to the airport now." came a text from the Thai ahgase at 4:33 AM. She had departed earlier than I thought necessary, especially given her limited quantity of carry-on baggage, and arrived just short of 5 AM, just as I begun to close the trunk.

Within 15 minutes, I arrived at Pearson. The scene wasn't particularly chaotic - nowhere near as incredulous as news articles had made it out to seem. I printed my baggage tags without issues, then realized the calamity that awaited me: The baggage drop belt was malfunctioning.
I waited with inquisitiveness, initially unsure of the issue. After fifteen minutes of mistakenly joining the line for international departures, a member of staff gestured towards the side for domestic travel. There was no improvement to be witnessed, however, for the automated system was stalled for both international and domestic sections.

The queuing would only continue in the meantime, with crowds forming at each line and more passengers struggling to weave through the queue to access the kiosks. Suddenly, chaos had prevailed. The articles hadn't been mistaken after all. Even more amusing were the words of another member of staff that had passed us by: "It stopped once when I started, at 4 AM. This is the second time." It was shocking that, not only was the issue one of recurring nature, its priority for rectification was so low on the list. A manual override would have resolved the congestion while the technicians worked to rectify in the background.

​The delay ensued until around 6:30 AM, where the belt accepted the baggage of 3 customers before ceasing functionality once again. It sputtered various error messages before working again - this time long enough for my luggage to be scanned and transported to the main belt.

Pre-vacation periods are never easy. In the working world ensues a mad rush to hand over one's duties - or provide a crash course for them to the unlucky delegate. Behind the scenes are last-minute situations that arise for attention, for they too must also be resolved a long hiatus.

​​"Nonstop chaos" is how I would depict the my post long-weekend, pre-Pearson phase. Worries were partially drowned in Chocolate Churro and Injeolmi Turtle Chips, which entailed a feeling of guilt so great that cardio became a no-brainer for calorie compensation.

About 1.5 years since my last purchase. Since then, the pita quantity has diminished, the tzatziki blander, feta noticeably saltier, and the portion size less extravagant than I recalled. ​The Chicken Souvlaki bits were dry and tough, while the Beef and Lamb Gyro slices chalky and salty. Frankly speaking, the meal, on an overall note, was far more sodium-laden than our palates could handle. The yearning for garlicy, crunchy tzatziki also failed to be satisfied.

Other meals spanned a Tomato & Egg Soft Scramble (not pictured), Stewed Eggplant and Meat (not pictured either, but capable of being visualized as a soft, savoury pairing to steamed rice), and tidbits of Lazros, with frozen veggies mixed in to neutralize obscene saltiness.

Creations of the week included:

1) Apple Ginger Juice

Inspired by my local ahgase, I took to peeling and coring a weighty bag of golden delicious apples with the intent of preparing a juice concoction of sorts. Unlike her though, I had no juicing apparatus readily available. To the blender I went with roughly seven teensy apples, some unmeasured quantity of ginger root (peeled, for once!), a squeeze of lemon, water, and honey. The formula was too thick for homogenization at first, thus water was incorporated gradually to assist. Pulpy like oversaturated applesauce, I took to straining the mixture once to obtain a partially filtered juice (15% solids).

​The combination was revisited a second time in the latter parts of the week, with more water and lemon juice from concentrate, as seeds had accidentally made their way into the mix previously. Blending was made simpler with more water, yet the lowered viscosity made filtration of solids more difficult. Now finer, the solids streamed into the final product, escaping the sieve. The second batch was cloudier, at roughly 20% solids.

In hindsight, the Golden Delicious variety is likely best reserved for pie-making due to its relatively moisture content. The flavour is barely present in the juice, and the yield is quite minimal.

2) Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

Having been made aware of this recent addition via the weekly smitten kitchen digest, I hesitated not at seeing the mention of "yogurt" and "chocolate". Really, the reasoning was simple: I had yogurt in need of using before my vacay and the sleepy polar bear's talks of chocolate had echoed in my subconscious.

​3) Ultimate Banana Bread
​
At the end of a week-long wait were five spotty bananas residing in the warmest part of our dining room. I took to another iteration of banana bread, but this time The Ultimate. The decision may or may not have been made during the time of banana acquisition, after being reminded by orangecane of the most extravagant rendition of banana bread to grace SK territory.

With the knowledge that each of my bananas would weigh in at roughly 130 g each (less if bruised patches removed), I meticulously assembled the peeled specimens over my scale, watching anxiously as the number neared the specified 510 g. My first attempt at The Ultimate had not entailed such a weighing process, proving far too moist as a result. SK's bananas are likely at the smaller end of the spectrum, for 4.5 bananas had been sufficient in attaining the required weight. The last was stashed into the fridge for later use, probably consumption.

My last trip on public transit dates back to the first quarter of 2020 - and on the Translink system no less! On the GO Transit network, I would make my final, unmasked trip on March 5th - the good ol' pre-COVID days.

Since the notorious surge in gas prices though, I ran a cost comparison between options of driving or GO Train-ing, including parking fees for the former. Results were then evaluated against constraints such as transfer period between PRESTO taps, route considerations based on parking locations, as well as the distinct and definitive tremors towards driving maneuvers beyond my control. In discussion of my analysis with a like-minded companion of orangecane, I was made aware of discount passes for unlimited travel on the GO network: $10 for a single weekend day and $15 for entire weekends (inclusive of 3-day long weekends). It removed the hassle of parking altogether, along with rushing to make the transfer period.

​We departed in the direction of Clarkson at the early hour of 10 AM, with me, unsurprisingly, scrambling until the very last second. The forecast was predicted to be rainy and humid, yet we saw clear, sunny skies for majority of the morning.

​"Exhibition" came the announcement overhead; onto the concrete walkway of the CNE we disembarked, and through the underpass towards Atlantic Avenue.

​Sauntering through familiar paths in Liberty Village, I saw familiar buildings bordered by new construction - a neverending phase of the City, it seems. A variety of floral attractions lined the north side of Liberty Street, as roadwork took place on its south side.

​SCHOOL was the brunch destination of choice. At 11 AM, a short lineup was found huddled about the restaurant entrance. The sight was in line with expectations, for reservations were not accepted. An approximate ten- to fifteen-minute wait had been declared by recent visitors given their 10 AM. However, an early bird I am not, and will willingly accept my fate in exchange for sleep.

Originally to be seated in a two-seater with lower noise pollution, I requested the same dining conditions as my previous visit (339), in the open area underneath the clocks. Despite tighter seating, space was sufficient for two sharing plates, two mains, water glasses, and additional drink beakers. There was ample opportunity to add sharing plates to the spread, unlike Papa Giuseppe's patio spots.

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​Instead of the brunch classic of mimosa, I yearned for the refreshing qualities of juice instead. My supposedly "freshly squeezed" Pineapple Ginger was sweeter than preferred, revealing similar qualities to storebought, filtered pineapple juice with fine bits of ginger pulp at the bottom. Constituting of 75% pineapple-y essences and 25% ginger, there was simply not enough of the anti-inflammatory root in its composition. The sleepy polar bear's Mango Tangerine was far too sugary to be natural, exhibiting no more depth beyond mango juice from concentrate.

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

Congestion creeps up when you least expect it. Countless weeks have I traversed the same route on the 401 to Studio Bon without issues, yet the days that are not executed solo entail issues.

With a late departure and notification of all Express lanes closed for who-knows-what, a delay of ten minutes befell upon my drive. Distractions were plenty, but from the passenger seat as opposed to the vehicles surrounding me. Disturbing the driver with non-constructive opinions is ill-advised, yet it happens frequently to those unaware of the implications of their actions.

Facing perpendicular to the Bosu ball with one foot placed atop, we proceeded with twists of the upper body with arms in genie position ("shoulders down!" was reminded of all of us), side crunches, and, finally, the "speed training" lateral steps guaranteed to raise one's heart rate. Instead of aiming to cover greater distance, I tried to keep the body as still as possible, bouncing from one foot to another without extension of the legs or drastic shifting on the body. A safe landing on the other side of the Bosu was crucial, for any instability in the ankle could lead to injury by rolling. The move was executed slightly different by each class participant: my neighbour placed heavy emphasis on the bounce-off, while the other girl kept her body fairly upright.

​Lying on the Reformer, we took several deep breaths to calm the body. The legs were sent to the left and right to release any lower back tension. From that point, we would engage in a core routine with a partially deflated ball placed between the inner thighs. Squeezing against the ball at all times, we completed hundreds, toe dips to the "wood plate", leg extensions, and leg extensions with a crunch.

Continuing with more thigh work, both feet were threaded through the tension straps. Remaining in a lying position on the Carriage, the legs were lowered to the point where a neutral spine could be maintained. With the resistance of two red springs, this was quite the challenging starting position. The partially deflated ball was placed between the calves, slightly above the ankles this time. While squeezing against the ball, we would lower the legs with an imprint spine and lift back up to neutral. Scissors and Double Ds - in both directions! - were also executed while attempting to keep the Carriage as still as possible. Finishing this segment was the stretching of the inner thighs by extending the legs beyond the Reformer in a V-shape and pressing them down towards the Carriage.
Tension cable-bases exercises are particularly interesting in that they expose lack of mobility. Where flexibility is lacking, the range of motion becomes limited. Where strength is lacking, the cable quivers as the body moves. My left side, the infinitely weaker side of my body, struggles to resist the red springs, such that even maintaining the neutral starting position is a challenge.

​Flipping over to a high kneeling position on the Carriage, we gripped the loop of the tensions straps for upper back exercises. An additional white spring had been added to our usual blue, increasing the level of difficulty. I was reminded to keep the tailbone tucked on many occasions, for the imprint pelvis was apparently not pronounced enough. Grand efforts were made to keep the chin lifted and shoulders relaxed while isolating the back and triceps.
Rotating 180 degrees to face the footbar, arms were threaded through the hand straps and raised from hip height to slightly above the shoulders. We would then extend the palms outwards while inhaling, and contract the pectoral muscles while bringing the hands back to the raised position before bending the elbows and lowering to hip height once more.

​More lower body exercises would be executed while standing. The Reformer Box was obtained from the wall and placed in the Long Box Position on the floor next to the Reformer frame. One foot was placed in the centre of the Box, while the sole of the other was slid against the shoulder rest. The knee of the standing leg would be bent while the other foot pushed out against the Carriage. In the lunge position, the body was hinged forward slightly; the glute of the resting leg was to be squeezed to maintain squareness in the hips. Constant reminders were made towards all class participants, for failure to isolate the correct muscle rendered the exercise significantly less effective.

Wrapping up the class were several stretches, ranging from a tension-affixed child's pose on the Reformer, a standing rolldown, and shoulder rolls - three in each direction.

​My path reconvened with the girl whom I had unintentionally matched leggings with several weeks prior. It was learned that our paths would cross again in the future, though regrettably not within the same class slot.

Lunch was slated for 1 PM at Terroni Price, prompting a speedy change of clothes and rushed brushing of compressed strands.

A popular pick for Hallmark holidays, the table had been secured weeks in advance via OpenTable. Across Price Street was the familiar asphalt lot we had encountered during the last visit. The minor road was still uneven with more rutting and utility cut patches to count, while construction was still ongoing just east of the restaurant. Beyond these elements, the neighbourhood was quite serene, as expected of the affluent Rosedale-Summerhill district.

We had requested the patio, and were gestured towards two flights of stairs to the rooftop. There, another hostess table was positioned. One of the members of staff, dressed peculiarly in a Sherpa-lined jacket and runners, greeted us lethargically before impatiently revealing our seating options for the meal. The tables in direct sunlight were dismissed in favour of a round table with high stools by the bar.

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Tension in the neck, shoulder, back, and wrist are not atypical in office workers. Grueling durations before a screen, intense typing, and extensive mousework are the common culprits of biomechanical discomfort, becoming more prevalent in the new-age work-from-home model.

Occupations offering insurance coverage for paramedical services serve to alleviate a small portion of these damages, though fail to rectify the issue at the source. Training modules surrounding musculoskeletal wellbeing and proper ergonomics is great was awareness, but useless if never utilized in practice. The corporate world exhibits favouritism towards their resources, placing highest priority on the inanimate - funding, growth, and profit - consequently cutting investment in human resources and preventing an environment for progression.

A long-awaited massage appointment assisted in reducing pains temporarily. Leaving a stronger impression were the horrendous stench of the oil used at the facility and discussions ranging from the annual salmon run along the Credit River to abhorrence against "urbanization" of the GTA.
Strong opposition was heard in response to the development of Mississauga, for the addition of high-rise residential buildings and late-night establishments had supposedly stripped the city of its suburban nature, rendering it closer to the likes of downtown Toronto than its original identity. While never one to disapprove with positive change and infrastructure improvements, I listened intently to these concerns. The Hurontario LRT was noted to be disruptive - an aspect I cannot deny as both a driver and pedestrian, yet even more so by residents along the corridor.

"Why wasn't it put along Dixie?"
I withheld my irked reaction to this question, further stifling the obvious answer of "To promote foot traffic along the Hurontario corridor to business development and connect to both Miway and GO Transit services". Being primarily industrial, Dixie needs not transit, but a wider path for transport trucks and industrial teams.

​The proposal for a lofty condominium with an 8-level underground parking area adjacent to an older affordable apartment complex was met with much criticism. I visualized the impacts of utility relocation and pile driving for such an extravagant concept. With the work area being limited to start, the addition of stakeholder complaints and challenging ground conditions would only further the headache of the developer.

Later that evening, the sleepy polar bear brought over our - yes, our - newly acquired Codenames set. Neither of us succeeded in upholding a poker face; instead, I utilized the opportunity for advancing understanding. Parallels could be drawn from the game in the terms of planning and production: dropping keyword hints and analyzing responses was much like the act of seeking feedback from the general public during PICs. The tiny cards are great vocabulary builders (associators?), yet, at a deeper level, prompt us to target society's issues more comprehensively from an infrastructure and development perspective.

Breakfasts comprised of blue sky bran muffins and ginger-laced Banana Bread - on demand from the freezer and toasted to perfection. An inkling of interest re-emerged towards the forgotten Green Tea Hoddeok pre-mix, but was ultimately not pursued.

​The midweek acquisition of fresh mint paved the path towards mocktails: mojitos with Ribena, lemon juice, and Perrier.

​With the unexpected failure of our ten-year-plus microwave, reheating of sustenance was conducting via steaming. The old-fashioned method was organic, yet far slower than my schedule is accustomed. From assembly to ingestion, the entire process spanned up to thirty minutes, excluding cleaning time for the steamer itself. Never had I previously considered the microwave to be a privilege, when, in reality, it was. Heat distribution within a matter of minutes had been a blessing. Only now have I realized its pivotal post in my daily routine.

My COBS Bread half-birthday reward was finally claimed: the recently launched Strawberry Passion Fruit Scone was rigid and dense, very sweet overall but decent for satisfying the munchies. White chocolate-like bits were found within the scone itself,while a uniform glaze on the surface revealed tartness.

Creations of the week included:

1) ​Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispies

Perusal of the SK feed and recollection of my leftover Christmas Krispies spurred this creation. With just under one third of the tri-colour cereal remaining and more than enough mini marshmallows reserved for post-hot chocolate season, this decadent dessert came together in about the same amount of time as the standard kid-friendly batch. Salted browned butter heightened its complexity, while the substantial portion of marshmallows kept it plush with signature stringy strands. Flakey salt in the form of smoked Maldon topped off the treat.

​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.