Tag: dailyprompt

If I had to break it down, I would say that I love Chinese food without the sugar and the MSG. It is hard to find because most Chinese food do contain added sugar and MSG (although MSG is not the norm nowadays) but sometimes they still do add it to make the food taste great.

There was one restaurant stateside run by a Malaysian couple and it was always full and people were queuing up to get a taste of the most delicious dishes to come out of that restaurant. I was one of those people. I later found out that the secret was in what they added to every dish. It was none other than MSG. It goes by the name “China Salt” in some countries and has been linked to different forms of toxicity. The food was great nonetheless.

I love Indian food. Biryani is at the top of the list and the other flavor profiles are not that bad either. I am in love with Masala Dosa. A pancake stuffed with spicy potatoes. Simple and yet mouth-wateringly delicious. There is one restaurant here that serves this dish, authentic style, meaning it also comes with all the side dishes including a dhal curry. Finger-licking good!

Indonesian food is spicy but they, the Indonesians, have a knack for taking the simplest ingredients and turning it into a feast fit for a king or queen! Egg sambal was one of my favorites and the other, an eggplant dish that was sweet and sour but out of this world!

I stay away from heavy carbs so noodles, pasta, thick sauces and anything that is not good for my health are not on my list of favorite foods. I do eat it now and then or let’s just say once in a blue moon. I’m not a fan of Sushi either, it tastes great but raw fish is not my thing. Pizza belongs to the not so often category. Nothing against the food types or the cuisine, they are just not in my healthy lifestyle way of living and so it is delegated to the sidelines just like cheesecake is for the time being!

I think I am not picky as far as food goes. I’ve tried some stuff that I don’t want to talk about here and though tasty, I wouldn’t do it again! Chinese, Indian, and Indonesian are my favorite picks as far as food goes. Veggies, fruits, proteins mainly fish and grains but I cut back on meat. Meat shows up once a week but I don’t crave it. A healthy lifestyle requires sacrifice but I don’t see it as such. Just a way of living that helps with keeping your body and mind running like a well-oiled machine!

Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite types of foods?

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I’m not a jogger. When I was younger, I used to jog but I stopped it because I read somewhere that it was hard on your joints and has a tendency to cause problems later on.

Then I started walking. I realized that I loved walking especially in the early morning hours. When I was 14, the neighborhood kids would meet up at my place and we would go walking, sometimes as long as 3 miles. It didn’t seem that long because we were among friends and with the talking and laughing, it seemed much shorter. After the walk, we would lie on a meadow and watch the sun come up. Wonderful days that I would love to repeat again.

These days, I walk almost every day. When it rains, I put it aside and do something else. However, not a day goes by without some form of activity. Indoors I stick to my workouts which include yoga, fusion, Pilates or whatever is in but it is a daily affair. Coming back to walking, I love nature and whenever I’m out there walking, it not only helps me to stay fit physically, it also helps to clear my mind, gives me a new perspective on things and “problems” do not seem as large when compared against the majesty of nature.

Walking is a beautiful thing and I do it daily, well almost, depending on the weather.

Daily writing prompt

How often do you walk or run?

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I don’t see myself as a leader anymore as I have stepped back and I am leading a recluse lifestyle currently. My days are my own and I don’t answer to anyone or have to lead a team to success.

I used to be a leader. Working at the university, I had staff who directly reported to me. I think I was a good leader at that time. At least no complaints and the team was motivated and did well.

Later, I was a Fashion Editor and there I had people I could rely on to do the things that needed to get done. Problems of the tech nature were handed over to someone else to handle! Someone who knew what they were doing. I don’t have anyone who can help me with it anymore. Handling tech stuff is now my own thing and it is a headache and a half but I am learning and I also have a student I call on to help me when help is needed.

I would say that I was a good leader and motivator. My diligence at organization, delegating, and troubleshooting helped to keep everything running smoothly. Staff members were basically happy and so I would say that I have good leadership skills. However, now I would turn it down in a heartbeat if it was offered to me on a gold platter! The stress levels were high and bringing calm to chaos was part of the job description. Nothing for me these days. I love my low-key lifestyle and I have enough stress as it is.

Daily writing prompt

Do you see yourself as a leader?

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Didn’t we have something like this on the Daily Prompt not too long ago? I’m running out of ideas BUT the DP is a challenge so let’s see what I come up with.

One favorite word? I would say it is LOVE. Okay, I’ll admit I haven’t had much luck in the love department, I’m always picking the wrong guys and suffering the consequences. However, I am not giving up on love yet. I think the right kind of love is out there. Not the cheating, lying variety but the kind that demands and gives mutual respect and the “forever” kind, not the here today and gone tomorrow variety either!

Love is necessary in this world of ours. Where would we be without it? A lot worse off than we are now. We need it to thrive, to bolster our self-esteem and we need it to tell us we are worthy, well for some of us anyway. However, I think it is the kind between the sexes that keep us enthralled and makes our hearts skip a beat and it often takes us on roller coaster rides whether we want to or not!

One source says, “love is an important word because it encompasses powerful positive emotions and social bonds that are essential for human well-being, health and fulfillment. Basically, love is something you can’t live without.

Doomed? It depends on how you look at it. It’s a four-letter word that is a powerhouse. One that can make or break your daily existence AND it knows it! So maybe “doomed” but I’m not giving up on it that quickly. Trudging on….

Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite word?

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I have the candles going, dinner is on the stove, the house is smelling wonderful and I have a nice outfit on for a change. The sweats and baggy tops are taking a break and I am all ready.

Got you didn’t I? How did she get a DATE?! She’s the one who doesn’t give a “whatever” about being on a date and is now prepped and ready?

Nope, I don’t have a date. I was just kidding.

My evening will be like any other evening. It will be quiet, pleasant and relaxing. No wondering if the guy is going to like the meal, the conversation and most of all no anxieties about what is going to follow after dinner. I don’t have those worries anymore (maybe one day soon) and I’m NOT missing them either. Life is nice without the “dating niceties” and being on your best behavior.

What am I really doing this evening? Well, my date just walked in. He is wearing his usual furcoat, has the cutest smile on his face and a waddle of a walk that can capture any woman’s heart. It looks like he just had his bath.

HIM: “Ready?”

ME: “More than ready!”

HIM: “Isn’t this so much nicer than any of those losers who used to show up here? It should always be this way.”

Hmm….that is the little Pharoah talking. He thinks he was some kind of Egyptian God in a previous life and knows more than most about relationships anyway. What about Einstein? He thinks he was him too. Remember they have nine lives! God only knows what the rest are! I’ll find out soon enough if things keep going this way.

Coming back to the topic at hand, we are going to play a game of hide and seek. It is his favorite. He hides and I find him. If I do, he gets 10 kisses on his forehead each time. Either way, he wins every time!

It is going to be a wonderful evening with my best buddy in the whole wide world by my side. No ifs. ands, or buts about it! For those of you not in the know, I am talking about Chachi, the cat, my little love and my 24/7 companion who has a mouth on him but I love him to bits!

Daily writing prompt

What are you doing this evening?

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This is one personality trait that stands out like a sore thumb to me. I’ve encountered several people who came across as the nicest people but after awhile I found out that the “niceness” was all a form of play-acting to get what they wanted.

I met a woman who seemed really nice at first glance and continued to be so after a few meetings. We had a friendship thing going. She was in a bad place in her life and needed help. I helped but at one point, it just got to be too much. That was when the real person stepped out and her mask of niceness was gone in an instant. I recall the numerous tweets accusing me of being heartless. Then one day I just blocked her!

I’ve met men who are in the same category. They come across as being overly nice at first meeting. I met this one guy who was a cheater, liar, and a narcissist all rolled into one. I didn’t find out about all his personality traits until much later. There was also a total lack of empathy and compassion and he kept playing the same games over and over again all the time wearing his Mr. Nice Guy mask. Things came to a head when I told him that I was pulling whatever fed his ego from him. The thing is, it didn’t affect him. He was off and running to his next victim! That is what narcissists do.

My mom lost her life to someone who came across as a very nice woman from another land. In the beginning, she was nice and won over my mother’s trust. I think that’s how they work. Once that was established, she went to work. Her goal was to find out as much as she could especially about the monetary stuff. My mom obliged thinking she was dealing with a nice person. Then one day, this woman took her life for some money and jewelry and left my mom to die in her bedroom with her head bashed in and her life seeping away. Horrific but it happened.

Beware of people who are overly nice especially those with their sorry stories. Scammers do this routine well. I’ve lost my wife, I’m raising a child on my own or there is a family emergency and I need money! The romance variety sometimes want money as well but I think they are into scamming you in another way. The ones who cheat and lie are after what they can get through emotional manipulation. They always have their eyes open for the next victim and the one who will comply to their demands! Unfortunately, the internet plays both ways. Information is at your fingertips but on the other hand, people with no good intentions are out there in masses, so tread carefully. Too nice? Ask yourself why before you venture further.

Daily writing prompt

What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?

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Have I ever had an ideal week? The answer is a definite NO! I have good intentions all lined up in a row at the start of a brand new week but I’m still not where I should be as far as letting things roll over like water off a duck’s back so getting an ideal week is still an uphill battle.

Take last week for example. It started out just fine. Then I had the all-important test that turned out negative and that was good news. I should have been happy as a lark but no, life stepped in wearing bells no less. I had a problem in the house that needed to be fixed. That took time and effort. The air was slowly being let out of the balloon. Needless to say, when something happens it doesn’t just stop at one thing. It comes in threes! That has superstition attached to it but since I swallow all those sayings and predictions hook, line and sinker, it wasn’t long before I had another thing looming up and hissing at the fringes!

Ideal it was not. So I would say that my ideal week if it ever happens is one where I have nothing to fix, take care of or having to do circles around the impossible. It is one where life goes smoothly and I can sit back, take a deep breathe and let the world go to pieces!

Daily writing prompt

Describe your ideal week.

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I’m not into professional athletes but there is one name that stands out not because I respect him the most but for another reason. The name that jumps into my head or comes to mind is David Beckham.

It only did that because I had done some write-ups on him especially when he did the H & M underwear campaign. YES!! That was something else. The man was ripped in all the right places and he looked, well, let’s just say he looked fantastic in his next to nothings. The campaign was a huge success for H & M since Beckham was one of the most marketable men in the world at that time. The collection focused on quality and comfort and it included briefs, boxers, vests, and pyjamas. Who cares? That’s right, no one cared what he had on, the less the better! I had forgotten just how fascinating the man looked with that inquisitive look plastered on his face. The launch caused a mass hysteria and rightfully so. No one could look this good? Well, he did.

He still looks good and has gone on to advertise more products. He is brand ambassador for Tudor watches, Tempur mattresses, Nespresso coffee machines Pepsi and so on. His diverse advertising and brand ventures have earned him hundreds of millions.

Just goes to show, looks matter in a world that is obsessed with the beautiful people. Add prowess to that and they’ve got it made!

Daily writing prompt

Name the professional athletes you respect the most and why.

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I use “stop” a lot. It is in my arsenal of most used words. Chachi, the cat, gets the brunt of it and I use it with friends and sometimes when I’m talking to myself. Yes, I do talk to myself since I’m best friends with my inner me. It usually goes something like this:

“Tia, stop doing that stuff!” or “Tia, you need to stop doing this over and over again.” This word has negativity attached to it but at times it spurs me on to do better as well. However, with Chachi, “stop” has a definite negative connotation or rather he takes it that way. The munchkin does not like the word, “STOP!” He often gives me this look that says, “You are not the boss of me!” Oh well, that is not going to stop me from using it when he is up to something or when he leaves cupboard doors open after exploring in them!

My son also gets the word “stop” quite often. It’s because young people and especially my guy seems to think that unloading on mom is a great thing to do! He was this sweet kid that grew up into young adulthood and found that mom is an easy target to vent his frustrations on. A normal conversation quickly turns into something else when one single word has the power to set off a minefield! Case in Point: We were talking about shirts for his new job and suddenly it went off the rails. According to him, I was doing everything wrong so before it went further, I said “STOP!” This word also has the potential to derail conversations that I don’t want to be a part of. It comes in handy at the right times.

It is a four letter word that is like the caped crusader, it swoops down to save the day. It jumps in when needed, it fights the battle you don’t want to fight and when all is said and done, it steps back and sits and waits till the next time! What’s not like?

A great word to have in your pocket when you need it but I find that I tend to use it a lot. I would like to get rid of it at some point and come up with something else that is less “bossy” and one that comes across better without irritating people because it does. However, it does the job well and for now I am going to hang on to it!

Daily writing prompt

If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be?

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