Summer of 2008

As the summer approaches to an end and though it seems that turbulent will quietly cease, I still don't feel the relief, relaxation, or excitement. To be honest, I hope the future don't come as I regret this summer's existence. The mixture of anxiety, stress, doubt, soreness, responsibility, resentment, and drama. They were all subtle. I could not and can not, for a single moment, stop to face the stuck feeling that is hunting me every day. I could not feel comfortable enough to sleep sufficiently. And I HATE people telling me to relax, to take it easy. Though I know life will turn out alright as these are all part of God's plan to consolidate my ability to be a grown up, I must say - either God has the confidence in me, or that God is simply suffering from heatstroke.

The past few days had been a blast. I was at war with the aged apartment - faucet with dripping water, water heater that does not provide hot water, bathroom fan that does not turn, straw mattress with inelastic spring and tilted surface, and non-woven closet that had shrink after washed. Funnily, everyone concluded the landlord's personality fitted perfectly with his previous profession.

---one week laterAfter a week of struggle, things are finally on track. The apartment looks more like a home now. The living room is decorated with my style; there are always food in the house, and I try hard to make sure there are always dessert in the refrigerator.

Yesterday, the couch broke while my sister sat on it (well, another guy and I were on it too. So really can't blame her for the broken sofa). All in all, after a day of sitting on the floor and a trip for "concrete block/ tire/ tree trunk" shopping in the street, I decided to use a stack of my sister's books (I did contributed Calculus) to solve the problem. The couch is really a crap now and I can't imagine it getting any crappier, but if it really get any worse, I have decided to let it be.

Tomorrow is Labor Day and the summer is official over. The feeling is wonderful, I have made it to the finish line; every day is a new war, the struggling continues, and the summer is over!

Oh, and did I mention that I love the place!

Chocolate Cake & Banana Cake

Chocolate Cake A

1 1/2 C flour
1 C sugar (cut down for less sweet taste)
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbs cocoa powder
6 tsb oil
1 tsp vanilla powder (add more or less for desire taste)
1 C milk (or use milk and
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda

Bake 175 C for 30 minutes

Chocolate Cake B
2 C flour
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cocoa
1 C oil
1 C hot coffee
1 C milk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

375 F for 30 minutes

Banana Cake

1 C white sugar
1/2 C butter
4 bananas
2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Vanilla
2 eggs

* Banana continues to ripe even if they are in refrigerator. My experience is when the banana is too ripen to put outside, peal the skin and put it in airtight container and store in the refrigerator. The best banana cake is made with ripen banana with its brown juice. (Although it looks terribly gross, it is really worth it).

1) beat butter and sugar until white and fluffy.

2) add egg and vanilla

3) add mesh banana

4) add rest
190 C for 30 minutes

Chocolate Frosting cream - best with banana1 1/3 C sugar powder 3 T cocoa powder3 T butter2 T and 1/2 tsp milk powder1/2 tsp vanillasome liquor
I tried with various proportion of the ingredients. Because it is really easy to make, it is hard to go wrong. I replaced milk powder with fresh milk and it taste fine.