What to do when caught in heavy rain & flash flood.

It's the rainy season again & I can't help but notice a generation of drivers who seem not to know what to do in times of flash floods. While driving through floods in heavy rain can be a daunting task especially to new drivers, it is important to know how to react in such times. Here are 4-steps handed down to me by my dad  to brave such situations. 

Dear New Drivers, 

What to do when caught in flash flood areas :

1. OBSERVE YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Assess depth by method of observation. If the sedan car in front of you can go through, it is quite possible that  yours can too.

2. DO NOT PANIC

If you are already driving in the flood lane, keep driving at a steady pace. Manual car operators, do not attempt to change gears at this point. It is wise to lower your gear prior to entering flood waters. Automatic car drivers, don't panic and step on the brakes. You are already in the water, it's too late to turn anywhere so just keep driving and pray for the best. 

3. SOMETIMES, IT'S OK TO COPY

If you can't see the conditions in front of you, but notice the cars in front of you avoiding a particular lane, it's best to follow suit. It is quite likely that there is an obstruction on that portion of road.

4. BE RESPONSIBLE 

Finally, always remember that it is your responsibility to keep yourself and others safe on the road. Be in control. 

Happy driving. 

Awesome 5-minute microwave Red Velvet Cake

I have been a huge fan of making my own food & I have been doing this for close to a decade now. I believe that food should be healthy, delicious & most importantly, respected. My recipes are simple, rustic & packed with flavor. And, I will always opt for a healthier alternative whenever & wherever accessible. 

I have developed quite a sweet tooth, of late. To me, the day would not be complete without the addition of a something sweet to end it. I come from a family with diabetes encoded in my genetic configuration. Diabetes & desserts don't get along very well together. Hence, I started developing dessert recipes that are friendly to my health without having to offend my taste buds.

This first, of my many recipes I intend to share (beyond all the tempting images I post on my Facebook wall) was developed for my husband & his love for Red Velvet Cakes. It's a bonus that this recipe takes almost no time (and very little money) to make - the perfect solution for busy weeknights!

How to make a Red Velvet Cake in 5 minutes (cooking & prep time)

This recipe serves 2. You will need 2 microwave safe ramekins (or 2 microwave safe mugs)
Tip : Be sure to get all your ingredients measured out & equipment ready for prep time!

Ingredients :

55g      Self raising flour (or add 1/4 tsp baking powder to all purpose flour)
75g      Unsalted butter
30g      Brown sugar
1          Large egg
1Tbs    Milk (more or less; can be substituted with water. I use low fat milk)
1tsp     Super Sprout Beetroot Powder (Buy here)
1/2tsp  Vanilla essence (I use Organic vanilla essence, not flavoring)
1Tbs    Cocoa powder
(opt)    Chocolate chips
(opt)    Cream cheese
(opt)    1 shot of low fat milk

Steps :

1. Mix butter, flour, sugar, cocoa powder & Super Sprout Beetroot Powder (Buy here) until you get a coarse breadcrumb like texture.

2. Add eggs into mixture & beat. If you find the consistency a little stiff, add in the milk (or water, if you so choose) a little by little to loosen the mixture. We are looking for a even and smooth consistency.

3. Pour the mixture to fill half of the ramekins. I like pushing down a couple of chocolate chips into the center of my mixture. This helps keep the cake moist & gives me a little "molten chocolate" center to look forward to.

4. Pop the ramekins into your microwave at high for 1 1/2 minutes. Poke the center with a fork to know if it is cooked. (The fork should come out clean).
**Microwave maximum powers vary from model to model. So if your cake is not done in 90 seconds, continue cooking at 30 second increments until cooked.

5. Serve with a dollop of cream cheese & a shot of milk each, to go with.

Copyright ©lobaksoup 2015-2020. Any use, reprint and republishing of this material online and offline is prohibited without the clear consent of the author of this blog.

Adele - Someone LIke You [Lyrics and Piano Cover]

"It has been some time since I have sat down to record some music, let alone blog. The hectic schedule that came along with my new job has been exhausting; though I must say the challenges are exhilarating.

I have always loved Adele and all her songs in both her albums, Adele19 and Adele21. One of her numbers that strike close to heart is one entitled Someone Like You. A singer with soul, she tugs at the strings close to my heart; and I believe close to many as she carries tales and emotions of pain and hope.

Someone Like You is a song I have been working on for quite sometime - a year perhaps - trying to perfect my version of it. Do enjoy and subscribe to my youtube channel for more piano pieces. And now, may I present you my latest piano cover, arranged and played by ear - Someone Like You originally performed by Adele. Lyrics included." 

-Lobak-

 

"Someone Like You"

I heard that you're settled down

That you found a girl and you're married now.

I heard that your dreams came true.

Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.

Old friend, why are you so shy?

Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited

But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.

I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded

That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you too

Don't forget me, I beg

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,

Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts inste-ad, "

You know how the time flies

Only yesterday was the time of our lives

We were born and raised

In a summer haze

Bound by the surprise of our glory days

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited

But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.

I'd hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded

That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you too

Don't forget me, I beg

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts inste-ad."

Nothing compares

No worries or cares

Regrets and mistakes

They are memories made.

Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?

Never mind, I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you

Don't forget me, I beg

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

Never mind, I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you too

Don't forget me, I beg

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,

Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts inste-e-ad." 

Leading Right

I came across an interesting article which speaks of the gist of leadership. Take a five to read this:

One of the many things I’ve learned over the years is that most leadership “wounds” (problems) are self-inflicted. After all, supervisors are human … they aren’t perfect … sometimes they shoot themselves in the feet. And of all the mistakes we can make, two stand out as the most common and the most problematic.

The first mistake is relying almost entirely on authority and control to get the job done – telling employees what to do and looking over their shoulders to make sure they do it. Described conversationally, it’s “I talk, you listen … I direct, and you comply. “Described attitudinally, it’s I’m the boss. No matter how you describe it, IT’S A PROBLEM! Why? Because most employees don’t like being bossed around. They resent it and they resent you for doing it. Worse yet, authoritarian approaches typically stifle team member initiative, creativity, commitment, and satisfaction. Eventually, employees turn off. Some quit and leave … others quit and stay. Either way, you’re toast!

The second supervisory mistake is the opposite extreme of the first – being (or trying to be) “one of the guys or gals” and then trading on friendship in order to get the job done. What’s wrong with that? Lots of things – including the increased potential for favoritism and loss of objectivity when dealing with issues and problems. Then, there’s the blurring of your role and authority – which leaves team members with the task of figuring out which “hat” (friend or supervisor) you’re wearing at any given moment. Finally, there’s the reality that it’s just plain tough to manage your buddies. Too often you end up having to choose between doing your job and keeping a friend. Either way, you lose!

So, here’s the deal in a nutshell: Your people don’t want a “boss” and they undoubtedly have more than enough friends. If you’re looking to get the most and best from your group, don’t be a dictator or a chum, be a LEADER – someone who motivates, inspires, and models top-notch performance and conduct.

Does that mean you should give assignments or hold people accountable for their performance and results? No, it doesn’t. Does it mean you can’t have positive and friendly relationships with the members of your team? No, again. What it means is that your primary mission is enabling and empowering your people to succeed.

Lead well ... LEAD RIGHT,

Little things mean much..

A woman. Small, clad in an over-sized dress with untamed hair swept up in a clumsy pony tail walks up beside me at the elevator lobby. She looked tired, perhaps exhausted from a long day's work. After all, it was Monday evening - possibly the worst day of the week for most.

Having a rough day myself, I chose to ignore this petite lady. The elevator displayed LG2. The doors open; the first thing that greeted our eyes was an empty 1 liter carton of apple juice. "Idiots!", I thought. "Why can't be people be more responsible in throwing their trash?!"

Yes, the apartment I lived in lacked one thing we so often ignore - trash cans along the hallways. People had to go to the communal bins (which are un-strategically placed in garbage rooms at the end of our hallways) to get rid of even small things like a piece of tissue paper - or in this case an empty 1 liter carton of apple juice.

Judgmental as I was, it didn't cross my mind to even pick the empty box up and put it into the trash on my way out. Yet, this tiny lady, in her unkempt look and exhaustion bent down, picked up the box and brought it out of the lift when her floor arrived. The last thing I heard was the slamming of the garbage room's door as the lift door closed once again to take me to my floor.

Word. Actions speak louder than words.

It has been two weeks since what most would consider as a menial incident, happened. Yet the impact that woman left on me has imprinted something into my very soul - to not judge; and to practice random acts of kindness. Maybe these small things lead a long way - it may be a long shot, but it's definitely a shot at making the world a better place.

Oh Joy!

"Good things attracts more good things, and vice versa". I'm sure you are familiar with this so called saying.

Personally, I believe it's the aura/energy we exude; plus a factor of how our mind perceives things when in a certain state - either positive or negative - which when combined, makes the law of attraction hold some value of truth.

This past few weeks have been an uplifting series of joyous events which, when put together on that huge canvas we call life, looks fantastically marvelous.

Congratulations to all who have made this masterpiece so beautiful!

I wanna live life AWESOME!

There's a reason why it is called history. Many history teachers would remind their students that history meant his-story. Take a closer look at the word history, and how his story fits in. To tell a story, one would have to have had experienced a moment, no matter big or small. To have experienced this moment, one would have to pass that moment in in time. And having passed that moment in time, the only way one could talk bout his story would only be to look back in time and reminisce the experience based on what memory his 5 senses and emotions had logged into his mind.

Looking back at past victories and hurts is very tempting. And sometimes we get lost in that moment, reminiscing the things that have come to pass. While looking back is not bad - if we use those instances as learning material to improve ourselves in the future, dwelling can be a dangerous task to endeavor.

I like this quote I found "Live out your imagination, not your history". It reminds me of how sometimes we tend to physically stay alive while our minds cling on to the past, robbing us from one of the most beautiful gift from God - LIVING. It is not enough to merely stay alive, but to be alive.. that is living. Why not fill our thoughts with new challenges, new ideas and color them with imagination? Why don't focus on these things and make living awesome!

The past cannot be changed... but the future can.