Peeling My Onion One Layer at a Time

Shrek: Ogres are like onions.
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes. No.
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.
Shrek: No.
Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs.
Shrek: NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.
[sighs]
Donkey: Oh, you both have layers. Oh. You know, not everybody like onions.

When the effervescent Ruby Ahmad asked if I would like to give this meme a shot, I was more than happy to oblige. This looks like fun, my childlike side declared.

Personally, this meme business harks back to my time in school - primary and secondary - when we got into the habit of exchanging our 'Autograph' books for others to scribble their well wishes and biodata. The latter was the fun part since you'd be able to concoct information which you deemed - at that young, naive age - worthy to be shared with the whole wide world, err, I mean school.

At times, on the premise that someone you liked might get hold of your profile, you'd try to jot down the coolest possible stuff for his consumption. Or, when you'd want to be considered as part of the 'in-crowd', the biodata therefore aids in plugging your credible persona onto paper. Whatever the agendas behind your own scribble (or dare I say, drivel), the autograph books were a nice touch to safekeep your fond, adolescent memories. It enables the average reader a glimpse into your soul.

Fast forward to the present, I find the revival of this 'old-school' camaraderie style in electronic form not only refreshing but also timely. It helps by forging friendships (or quasi-friendships) across the cyberspace and reinforcing our attachment to this incredible blog that we have started.

Like Shrek encapsulates it perfectly, "Ogres have layers". One has to strip away the manifold layers of another person, one at a time. One must not based one's judgment on the outer, deceiving appearance. An ogre may look fierce and typecasts as menacing, but once you get to know the real him, you will come to the deduction that he is like the rest of us - a human with feelings and wants and needs.

In a similar vein, my peeling process begins:

Layer One: On the Outside
Name: X X. Depending on the degree of closeness, people either call me T*ta#, X, or X. The last one is not advisable when you are in the same room with me and my siblings since all our names start with Mas. I chose Theta as an online pseudonym because I was affectionately referred to as the symbol 'θ' back in Muar's residential school. At that time, Cosine, Cotangent and all things Trigonometry ruled our world.
Birthdate: End-December. Hint: Year of the Tiger ;-)
Current status: Married with one ravishing toddler.
Eye color: Black to dark brown
Hair Color: Used to be light brown as a kid but now it's basically black with a tinge of brown. I'm more worried about the few strands of white hair sprouting out!!! I'm getting old!
Righty or Lefty: Mostly right.

Layer Two: On the Inside
My heritage: Mom's side - Javanese and Bugis; dad's side - Siamese and Malay.
My fears: Losing my loved ones; cicak (or geckos)!, anything reptilians, failing to stand by my convictions.
My Weaknesses: Coffee, Internet, Cafes
My perfect pizza: I like the Beefeater from the old Shakey's Pizza, way back in the '90s. Now I settle for Pizza Uno's Mexicana Pizza. Yum, yum.

Layer Three: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
My thoughts first thing when I wake up: Need to change Sadia's pampers.
My bedtime: Depends on my energy level. It can vary from 11 pm to 3 am! *it's not what you're thinking*
My most missed memory: My laidback lifestyle while studying in the States.

Layer Four: My picks
Pepsi or Coke: On most days, Coke but I have my Pepsi moods.
Mc Donald's or Burger King: Mac-Dee for Quarter Pounder and Bee-Kay for Whopper Cheese. I love them all!
Single or Group Dates: Single but of course!
Adidas or Nike: No preference since I'm not into sportswear. However, given the chance, I'd like to give Adidas a try...
Tea or Nestea: Nestea
Chocolate or Vanilla: Cacao!!! (Chocolate)
Cappucino or Coffee: Cap

Layer Five: Do I
Smoke: I can't say lest my parents and relatives read this...hahahaha....Okay, it's time to let the cat out of the bag. I tried it once out of a dare curiosity but it was a yucky experience, to say the least. What was I thinking?! Only one puff and I was gagging - serves me right!
Curse: The occasional S- and F-word regrettably escapes my mouth in the heat of the moment.
Take a shower: As many as I can! ;-)
Have a crush: Does a movie star count?
Think I've Been In love: Huh? Every single day....
Go to school: Finished at Bachelors.
Want to get married: Already hitched.
Believe in myself: Less so than I like to, but more so than I should...depends on what's for dessert!
Think I'm a health freak: I think not!

Layer Six: In the past month
Drank alcohol: Never applicable.
Gone to the mall: I'm a mall rat, 'nuff said.
Been on stage: Nope.
Eaten Sushi: Yeah, it's an acquired taste every time I ingest one.
Dyed your hair: Yep, the DIY kit.

Layer Seven: Have I ever
Played a stripping game: I strip, but not in the context of a game.
Changed who I am to fit in: On some levels, yes. But not up to point where I can't recognise who I am anymore.....

Layer Eight: Age
I am hoping to be married: Already am. Tied the knot at 29-going on-30. ;)

Layer Nine: What was I doing
1 min ago: YM-ing my hubby doing his thesis downstairs.
1 hour ago: Surfing the Net.
4.5 hours ago: Putting Sadia to bed.
1 month ago: In Groningen *uurgghh*
1 year ago: Preparing myself for our (cancelled) trip to the Netherlands.

Layer Ten: Finish The Sentence
I love: my family.
I feel: sleepy.
I hate: hypocrites.
I hide: under the pillow.
I need: long hours of sleep.

Layer Eleven: Tag 5 people
Newbie, Aidan's Mama, Rizby, Simah, AZ Haida and last but not least, Dr. Ina.

# According to old folks' lore, the nickname Tita came about due to my inability to properly pronounce (in Malay it's called pelat) Liza. Several failed attempts at articulation later, Liza slowly morphed into Tita.

note: Shrek's quote taken from here