Bye Bye Republic

Got a message from Van on facebook, sending me some photos of the "new" HR tea packaging.

*sigh*

After twelve years, this is what "the Herb" finally came to - a paper display box at London Drugs, next to bags of chips. $7.99 per tin of tea.

And that new label - it's darn freaking ugly. A cheap mutation of our signature tin cans and our designer pyramid t-bag boxes.

It's sad to see so many years of hard work, design revisions, brand building, to come to this. From the pages of Elle magazine and the presidential suites of Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel to... London Drugs.

Why spend so much money to buy the brand only to trash it afterwards?

I'm clueless, and somebody is tasteless.

Maybe I should've closed the damn thing instead of selling it.

-AM

Gone were the good old days....and minimalist packaging...

Yes! Tinsel!

We did it!

All it took was a paradigm shift on my part, and Tinsel's back on track again.

Yes! Yes! Yes!!

After discussing my recent "set-back" with Pete, I came to the realization that I've been handling Tinsel differently from other dogs that are not mine, which made all the difference in the outcome.

When I handled other dogs, I would be calm, assertive, prepared, as well as non-attached. If the dog did something wrong, I would issue a minor correction, and kept moving on. But with my own kid, I would issue the correction and then wonder what went wrong or why she misbehaved. And that's all it takes...a slight negative thought in my mind, and Tinsel would sense it and react more severely.

When we took our walk this evening, I detached myself from the role of "Tinsel's Mom" as best as I could, and handled her just as I would handle other dogs, and it worked brilliantly. At first she would still try to challenge other dogs, but she sensed the indifference in me and calmed down quite readily. Our walk became enjoyable again, just like that!

It was so nice to be back on track again.

Thanks Pete, for your patience and invaluable advice.

And thanks to Tinsel and Kimba, for sharing and learning along my side. :)

Luv ya all,
AM

Rooted

I'm exhausted. Aching all over. Trembly legs, sore bum, achy arms.

And I wonder if I can get out of bed in the morning.

This is not the "oh I'm tired" kind of sore. This is hardcore. Deep inside every muscle, every tendon.

All because of one, one-hour Anusara class with Patrick.

Un-believable. I am so out of shape. I couldn't imagine how I could've done those three-hour classes with him just a few months ago --??!!

But I had to say, I'm really glad I've finally gathered enough determination to go again. It's been, how long? Four - five months since I last took a class with him? Panda-Ann have been avoiding his classes as they're really kick-ass tough. I've been thinking of going again lately, but didn't feel I was fit enough to survive the class yet. Somehow, last night something snapped, and I decided to sign up and just go. No more if's and but's. Just go and give my fullest, and enjoy whatever the outcome.

And as I was sweating my heart out on my mat this afternoon, I was filled with this feeling of wholeness, of belonging. Like I've finally gone back to my roots. Grounded. Rooted.

I'm so-oooo glad to finally free up my time from the office so I can spend more time with things that I enjoy doing or should be doing.

Like spending time with the kids. Walking, training, hiking. Quality time that is much needed to stregthen that bond between us.

Like, for instance, Tinsel. It seems that we have reached a point of resistance with her rehabilitation, and she's even relapsed a little into her old self at times. It is understandably, quite discouraging, and I have to admit that I was a bit disheartened at first. But I'm not going to give in. No-no. Now that I've begun learning and experiencing training other dogs with Pete and Cindy, I am much better prepared to push forward instead of giving in.

If we were able to do it once, we will be able to do it again.

But I have to say, that I am truly grateful to have Pete as my teacher, for his guidance and encouragement when I most needed them. A strong grounding force when I fell adrift.

And to my mentoring teacher, Ada, who has shown me the path of Yoga that has helped rooted me when I grew afloat.

I bow to you, my teachers,

AM

What's with bells?

Imagine a narrow pathway with a crowd of off leash dogs, large and small, including a pug, and two big dogs running and humping each other.

A bit of a commotion, isn't it? No problemo. Tinsel's walking right beside me, looking happy and even interested to explore a bit more.

But then....here comes Fido with a bell, and Tinsel goes berserk.

What's with bells, anyway? I've been walking around with a bell on me for the last two hours and she doesn't even lift an eye.

Put it on a dog and she just goes off like that.

Guess Kimba, Mokka, and Latte will all be wearing bells on their walks from now on then.

Or better yet, Tinsel should be wearing one herself too.

Not a bad excuse for going shopping - for bells. :)

Sweet dreams everyone,
-AM

In Love

I'm in love.

With Mojito.

Yeah, not just regular Mojito's, but Mango Mojito's.

Ended up having dinner with the girls at the studio last night at this new tapas bar called Uno Mas. It's a nice comfy place with yummy tapas and nice looking people, sort of the "to see and to be seen" kindda place but with a lot less pretence than those LKF or Soho digs.

But boy-o-boy, they make one of the best Mango Mojito's in town.

Like I said, food was good, but I could've skipped all the tapas and kept drinking, glass after glass. It's just.. seductive...lingering ...hmmm ...drooling ...

I'm already looking forward to going back there again for another round of my Mango Mojito's, and maybe, just maybe, a couple of bites of the tapas too.

Darn.

I'm getting to be an alcoholic.

Where's the next AA meeting again???

Cheers,

AM

Wine and Dine: Apr 1, 2009

Nothing beats spending time in the company of friends, enjoying good food and delicious drinks.

More so when I've finally wrapped up my last day at the office!

So I had a great evening catching up with a long time friend, having yummy Korean BBQ and sipping to this really nice sake that he brought along for sharing. Hmmm.......

And if anyone's thinking of a good bottle of sake, try this one: Okunomatsu Adatara Ginjo. It's light, crisp and floral. Very palatable and pairs well with all kinds of food. It's available at Sogo, I think.

Anyways, gotta thank Philip for such an enjoyable evening. You've always been great company and I cannot imagine how "tasteless" life will be without you - my best wine and dine buddy!

Geez....guess we shouldn't be doing this too often or else it will soon become an AA Meeting - only not Alcoholics Anonymous, but more like .....akem........ Alcoholics Assembly.

So, what are we cooking this weekend again?

- AM

Okunomatsu Adatara Ginjo:

The Vet difference

Hey Hey, Tinsel here again!

Mom says I should post an update on my and Kimbie's recent condition as our Aunt's and Uncle's will be worrying about us.

Well, I'm doing much better already. My ear is still a bit irritating but it has calmed down a lot. I still scratch it a little from time to time, but it isn't bothering me as much. Mom washes me with this saline solution and it feels gooooood.

As for my tummy.... I'm no longer having the runs but my poop is still a bit soft, and Mom says it's probably due to the yucky tasting canned food that I have been eating. Yeah, about that canned food. It tastes BAD, but I have no choice coz Dr. Yim says I should eat it for a few days. It gives me really itchy paws and bum too, so I know I must be allergic to something in it. Can't wait till I get my regular food back... one more day to go....!

And Kimbie.... *sigh*, don't know what's wrong with him, but he's still got those nasty pimples all over him. Mom found two new ones today, one on his arrr... his.... thingy, and one at the corner of his eye. The meds that Dr. Yim has prescribed for him seems to relieve his itchiness, but the pimples are not really going away. Mom says we will give it another day or two and if the pimples are still here, he will be seeing Dr. Yim again. Hmmm... I wonder if I can tag along, just to say Hi....

Oh, Dr. Yim. She's a very nice lady and I think I really like her. She was calm, firm and quite reassuring when I visited her the other night. She's so nice that she even called Mom up personally to check up on us, and to tell Mom that my stool test was negative. Mom says she belongs to a different breed of Vet, as she truly cares about her patients, and not just her pay cheque. Personally, she reminded me of Dr. Susan back in Vancouver. Hmmm... Vancouver. How I missed it. And Auntie G., Dr. Susan, Bug, Jodie, Lisa......Ollie. *sigh* and rabbit......yummy... (I'm drooling....)

And Mom. Wow. She's growing into this tough alpha bitch and I am really getting to admire her. Whenever we go out for walks, she will be in control of everything and everyone around us, even other doggies and their humans. I felt so darn proud and safe! The only one complaint that I have is that I can't get my ways at home anymore. No more couch privileges, no more this, no more that. And when she wants me to go over to her, it's like, snap (her finger), point at her feet, and I'll have to go over right away. Otherwise....ha! I'll be in trouble.

But I gotta say that she's taking good care of us. The first and last thing she does everyday, is taking Kimbie on her lap, and slowly wipe him down with the solution that Dr. Yim prescribed, toe by toe, paw by paw. Then she will tell me to lie down and clean my ear, wipe down my itchy paws and itchy bum before checking me all over to ensure that I'm not getting any of those horrible pimples that Kimbie has.

Thanks, Mom, and sweet dreams....(Mom's snoring high on the couch again!)

Tinsel