Of Giant Trees and Decors

Here in Malaysia you'll know it's Christmas season, not by the decorations that adorn the streets, nor by the Christmas songs that flood the airwaves, or the Santa clones who walk among the peoples, but then who doesnt know that the season comes around this time of year?

Thank goodness for shopping centre management around major towns and cities who loyally stick to tradition of putting up giant Christmas trees and decors, and trying to outdo each other in creativity and style and size, while some repeat the same decor as in previous season.

Of course most educated and well-informed people know Christmas isn't about decors and trees and Santas, and everyone knows shopping centres are just routinely capitalising on commercial attraction. Christmas is a spiritual experience, a dawning of new hope, a re-birth of Christ among us, a building of new kingdom of love and friendship and joy.

But still I am grateful for all the secular expression of what the world think of Christmas, cos if, for a minute, I would imagine our country would do without such giant trees and decors, or anything that would signify the coming of Christmas, I feel the season would be rather bleak indeed.

We need only to allow these external secular expression to stimulate our inner spiritual understanding of the true meaning of Christmas and we'll be alright, instead of constantly feeling threatened by it.

Driving License Renewal

Good News Malaysian drivers and non-citizens of Malaysia! Now you can renew your driving through the JPJ portal. No more hassle of taking time off, endure long queue, etc..

Click here : http://jpj.myeg.com.my/JPJSERVE/

The Greatest Gift Of All

D-A A A A A AA A Bm
1. Dawn is slowly breaking
GA A A A A AA A AA A A A D
Our friends have all gone home
DAAAAAAAA Bm
You and I are waiting
EAAAAAAAAAAAA
For the Babe to come
D AAAAAAAAAAAABm
There are presents by the tree
G AAAAAAA AAAD
Stockings on the wall
A AAAAAAAAAAAAADAAAAG
Peace on earth, goodwill to men
AAAAADAAAAAAAAC
's the greatest gift of all.

2.
The fire's slowly fading
Chill is in the air
All the gifts are waiting
For children everywhere
Through the window I can see
Snow begin to fall
Peace on earth, goodwill to men
's the greatest gift of all. AAAAAA-B-E

E AAAAAAAAAC#m
3. Just before I go to sleep
A AAAAAAAB AAAAAAE
I hear the church bell ring
E AAAAAAAAAAAE7
Merry Christmas everyone
F# AAAAAAAAAB7
Is the song they sing
E AAAAAE7
So I say a silent prayer
A AAAAAAAAAB AAAAAE
For creatures great and small
B AAAAAAAAAAAAAE AAAA
Peace on earth, goodwill to men
AAAAAE AAAAB AAE
's the greatest gift of all.

Finale : Peace on earth, goodwill to men (girls)
(slow..) 's the greatest gift of all.

Exercise - it's now or never!

Today is a happy day for me. Bought a treadmill for only RM189 from Carre-Four. Actually I was eyeing on another similar treadmill last Tuesday and it was on sale for RM319. But the cheaper one looks better and even has the same function.

That very night I assembled it and started to burn 15 calories just walking on it. Not enough? Well, that was only for starters. Felt really good. Now I'll just need to prove to my wife that I'll use it everyday.

Moments of my life

Happy

• When I finally get to buy the stuff I've been saving my credit for
• Travelling home alone on a highway
• Early morning on a free Saturday
• Holiday, Pay day and Friday are the best

Sad

• When my credit overshoot and having to wait for pay day
• When I couldn't afford the stuff my kids are dying for
• When any of my kids fall very sick
• Sunday evenings dreading Mondays

Angry

• When drivers don't use their signals
• When the Powers That Be force impractical policies down our throats
• Having endured 20 minutes of blabber to questions without getting the answers in the end
• Taking leave and ending up in crowded shopping centre
• Finding a strand of hair in my food after a few mouthfuls
• When friends say, "Let me give you some advice.."
• When my skillful solution goes unnoticed

Nostalgic

• Just listening to oldies music
• During twilight when I'm outdoor
• Visiting smaller towns that resemble my hometown

Busy

• All my time spent in office

Free

• Any time not spent in office

Scary

• Being unprepared for a meeting
• Sleeping alone in my bedroom
• Watching horror movies
• Encounter with a spider

A Very Gay Encounter - Mini Story Part 2

While his grin was locked I turned around and looked at my wristwatch - it was around 5:10pm so I told him the time. Just when I thought my encounter was going to last I turned back around and lo my saviour bus came to a turn into the lane.

Without hesitation I quickly joined the throng of people moving towards the bus and quickly got onto it, found an empty seat by the window and settled myself in. A lady in her late 50s was about to seat herself next to mine when she was rudely pushed aside by the another passenger. When I looked up, gosh, it was the same guy again pushing his way towards me, impervious to the old lady who was already almost out balance, and mumbling some remarks at him. I stared at him in shock at what he just did but he maintained his seat next to mine, grinning with complete satisfaction.

As the bus started to move he smiled and said (in Bahasa Malaysia), "Very nice bedroom set there." That was when I realised my stupidity preceeded me cos when I looked down I was still holding the bedroom set catalogue with the images of the bedroom in full frontal page. Every senses in me told me if I was not careful enough the bedroom would indeed be where I might end up with this guy! I just nodded my head in response. Why the heck did I even paid attention to him, let alone responded? Somehow I guessed the air of uneasiness would linger on during the whole journey.

Good thing Brickfields was just less than 10 minutes bus ride. And thank goodness I was in such a tense state that gave me the opportunity to think a lot during the journey that I alighted the bus one stop away from my actual destination. Once my foot touch the ground I made no hesitation to walk away as quickly as I possibly could without showing it. After a minute or two I was confident that he was still on the bus and was not trailing me. What I did when I got back to my apartment I have no recollection whatsoever, but even if I did maybe it is prudent I do not outline them here for your pleasure..

Three months later saw myself roaming in the city heading for Kota Raya, one of my favourite hangouts. The episode mentioned earlier was long forgotten as many episodes tend to occupy you especially when you were a bachelor still enjoying your newfound freedom away from home. Besides Kota Raya my other hangouts were usually Sungei Wang Plaza and Bukit Bintang Plaza. Friends were always amazed (suspiciously) at me roaming around all alone. I spent a lot of time hanging around the railings in the shopping centres just looking at people, window shopping, browsing at bookstores, walking here and stopping there, doing practically nothing useful except killing time that doesn't seem to die.

Anyway, as my bus purged me out onto the steps of Kota Raya I happily made my way up into the shopping centre and started my window shopping. Ground floor had too many shops selling clothes and accessories, boring. Made my way up the escalator to the 1st floor and after looking into some of the shops, decided to just hang out at the railing overlooking the ground floor. Saw some interesting young shoppers groping at some of the clothes being displayed. Saw a Raquel Welch look-a-like, couldn't get my eyes off until the figure went beyond my vision. Next, swinged my vision to a bald-headed guy, what? Oh no, no, no, he was staring up at me, that same guy I encountered 3 months ago! He must have worhipped my image in his mind for the last 3 months and now had his eyes locked with mine, and with a very wide scary grin on his face! Heaven knows where he had appeared from and how my position was triangulated right down to this point in a big city like Kuala Lumpur!

The next thing I know he was already finding his way up the escalator and at that very moment I knew I was the prey..

To be continued..

Big company, poor management

You know what sucks? When big company makes big money from you and me and even more money from poor management at our expenses.

My Astro decoder went bust last month and a technician was dispatched the next day. After confirming the unit was faulty I had to pay RM160+ for a new set. That's okay with me considering the 5-6 years it served me. But what irks me was when I received my next monthly bill I was charged a RM10 registration fee! When I called the customer service she quoted that it was for the re-registration since I had changed the decoder. I argued that everything had a lifespan and not like it's my fault it went bust. She again repeated the same reason and I was tempted to tell her I was not ready to communicate with a parrot.

I am already a registered customer and I don't need to be re-registered again. I know that they have to re-register the new decoder to my account, so just go ahead and punch in the required commands in the system to re-register it. It is a matter of whether you know how to use the system function, not a matter of new subscriber. And it's not like they replaced my spoilt unit for free. Watch out, it could happen to you too..

Side effects of medicine

It has been one week that I am having a blissful and uninterrupted sleep unlike the past 8 months, ever since I've had my blood pressure tablet changed to a different brand.

Before, I have been waking up 2 to 4 times during the night just to go to the bathroom and I was worried that it might have something to do with my bladder control. It went on for about 8 months before a colleague told me he had the same problem when he was on that same pill. So I went to another clinic and related my problem to him but was cautioned that it could be my sugar level cos it was not documented that the pill I was taking has side effects. Anyhow, I opted for a change in brand more than a week ago. Since then the frequency to the bathroom at night reduced the first 3 days, and now I could sleep straight into the morning. Thank God for that.

Twilight/New Moon/Eclipse

There, she did it again.. This morning while driving to the cemetary my daughter, Rach, told me she had a dream last night. She said she was in a bookstore with me looking for a book Twilight/New Moon/Eclipse. Okay.. well, I just nodded my head and smiled. Then, 20 secs later, it hit me.. I just recalled that just several days ago she'd mentioned that she was interested in getting that novel!

Checked out a forum and internet sites this evening and found the review very favourable. Story is for the teens and seems exciting. Well, time to go shopping this weekend..

All Souls Day

We couldn't go to the cemetary on All Souls Day (Nov 2) cos it was a working Friday. So we took the holiday today (Deepavali Day) to go Cheras Cemetary (about 20km from home) early morning with my wife and 2 girls, together with my sis-in-law and her daughter Evie. Paid a visit to the graves of my brother-in-law Albert (very good musician), my mum-in-law and dad-in-law, God bless their souls. Lighted some candles, burned incense and placed flowers, then said some prayers.

The view was somewhat appealing to Sarah so she took some pictures with her K770i, she loves photography. Here are some noteworthy pics:

Stairway to Heaven?

Imploring..

Linda and her Surroundings: Spider Story

Linda and her Surroundings: Spider Story - Click to read ..

Phew! Not easy to find someone who shares your phobia in spiders. When I read Linda's story I literally shudder and forced myself to read her post till the end.

Why am I afraid of spiders, I do not know. When I was a young living in Brunei I used to be terrified of daddy long-legs and spiders that camouflaged themselves on long weeds where I had to cross about 10 meters before I reach the main road for my transport to school.

My teenager life was spent in Labuan, Sabah and big spiders would ocassionally crawled out from under our wooden shelf. These I had the pleasure of letting my sister exterminate them while I conveniently sprinted for safe haven.

Now, in KL, every morning when I have to open the front gate to bring the car out, I had to place my hand up before my head all the way to the gate just so I don't get spider web caught onto my face. It always happens when I least expected it and I really hate spider webs.

Earlier this year as I was travelling home along the highway from Bangi (38km from home) I felt a spider running along my right arm. Instantly I flicked it away with my left arm, pulled over at the side and quickly got out and started to blindly chase it away. I wasn't sure I was successful cos the road were lit only by street lights. Cars were just whizzing past by but I didn't care. Anyway, it took me some moments to gather my courage before I started back into my car and drove home hoping and wishing it wouldn't appear again.

7 Hours of Sleep is all we need

After work I thought of paying the doctor a visit - to check on my blood pressure after changing tablets last week. While waiting for my turn I noticed that the clinic had 2 new health mags, well some improvement there as there had never been any mags past 2 years.

Anyway, there was a short article quoting a well known professor (couldn't make the effort to jot down the name) revealed his latest research the frequent less sleep or too much can put one's heart at risk. Therefore, he concluded that the optimum hours of sleep would be 7. And I always thought as we grow older our bodies could do with 4-5 hours of sleep.

Well, I guess I'll start tomorrow as it's 1:30am and I'm still surfing..

Who can predict?

You gotta give high marks to your kids nowadays - they can really psycho you with their innocence. My elder daughter, she just loves shoes and last Sunday while getting ready to go for Mass she innocently threw a question, "Who can predict that we would go to Vincci after Mass?" For a moment my wife and I just looked at each other before we burst into laughter when we realised just how cunning our girl was, hinting without asking directly! Talk about sweet innocence!

A Very Gay Encounter - Mini Story Part 1

For a moment I felt like a sardine in a school thrown about in the rolling waves; I could hardly steer myself on course. This happens all the time when a throng of crowd react to the opening of any exhibition at the main entrance. I was lucky to be alone else I would have to report a lost companion. Then again, maybe I wouldn't go to all that trouble..

It was a Building and Construction exhibition on a grand scale that was long awaited for us who were anticipating the opening for almost a month. I was then at college back in 1981 taking up Architectural Draughtsmanship course and this event was told to us by our lecturer to visit. With a friend’s help I was able to secure a room in Brickfields and was glad to have moved out of Tayton View, Cheras. Going to the exhibition in KL was only 7-minute bus ride to Klang bus stand and from thereon another 10 minute walk to the exhibition centre.

Booths were everywhere and bodies moving (and sliding) all over the floor, milling from booth to booth and getting their hands on every leafets and any colorful catalogues they could managed. Latest innovations from glazed tiles to Spandek roofing were tops in their adverts while non-construction sales were pitched on new security systems to Gypsum ceiling boards, and here I was busy spotting glossy catalogues and freebie pamphlets. Events filled with throngs of professionals and lay people like myself can make one’s objective turned upside-down. Such was the case with me when I walked out of the centre mustering all my strength to balance several plastic bags filled with non-relevant catalogues and useless information printed on expensive pamphlets, while carrying several loose catalogues in the other free hand. Talk about impulsive shopper!

With regards to those glossy catalogues with bedroom sets on my other hand, I honestly have no memory whatsoever as to why I collected them all, but I cannot deny the salesgirl was pretty hot! Spending 25 minutes next to the beauty pageant listening to her boken Enggris was hardly my everyday leisure.

It only took me 15 minutes to reach Klang bus stand, after discreetly discarding 2 bags full of worthless information into a public dumpster along the way, while retaining the bedroom sets catalogue, for the purpose of which I hoped would be revealed to me in due and appropriate time, which I predict, would be revealed to you readers imminently.

It was almost 5pm when I reached the designated bus lane and blue collars were starting to join me after having secretly clocked out before their bosses even had the chance to throw last minute assignments at them. This was the only time when people of all races would synchronise the heads every time a bus came into view, straining their necks up. Local vampires would love the gesture.

Being among crowds at bus stands was something I was quite used to but that afternoon it made me see it in a different perspective. From my peripheral vision I could sense there was something about the stranger behind me, like a feeling that my privacy was gradually being encroached upon. Not that he was doing anything to my back.. Turning my head around was one wrong choice too late as my gesture was misconstrued as an invitation, not to a friendship, but a relationship. Oh yes! A relationship that might have been an answer to his quest! That was when I’d wished I hadn’t spoken about a lost companion earlier with apathy.

He was like twice my size, some local guy with crops of hair struggling to survive around the sides. You could call him bald and I wouldn’t even be offended. The only thing we both had in common was height. When our eyes were visually locked (glad to say they weren’t locked in tight embrace) he was wearing a distasteful grin with locked jaw when suddenly, as if I was caught offguard, something came out of his mouth! At that same moment his mouth was moving with upper and lower lips parting and closing, and this was repeated over and over again, before I realized he was pointing to my wristwatch and asking me what the time was! And he was still grinning..

To be continued..

Simple Quiz

Tell me, which of the 2 moons depicted in the night sky shows a true representation? Left moon or the right one?

A' Famosa Experience #1

Now this is one resort you should never let pass. But then again, different people have different taste and class, right? Me, I'll say I wouldn't mind spending my money on another 2 to 3 nights' stay at A'Famosa Resort, Malacca, Malaysia. Typing in "A Famosa Resort" in the search engine will get you all the details on this holiday resort. Great especially for families wanting to get away from it all!

We were lucky to get a single storey 3-room bungalow. Each room is furnished with 2 beds. You can even have 2 average families staying in on of these bungalows. Every bungalow has its own private swimming pool. We really swam as much we could.. What I don't understand is that there is a b-b-que stand outside but we were prohibited from using it! Cooking in the kitchen is also not allowed! I've not the faintest idea what impression the management is trying to project to tourists..

Cowboy Town promo was a little over-hyped but then again I don't deny it was also exciting to a certain extent. Couldn't resist going for archery the minute I got the opportunity (it was still slightly drizzling at the time). Paid RM10 for 15 arrows, had a crash course by the guide, made some impressive shots initially, but by the 6th arrow my arm was already wobbling, and aching crept into my bones at the 10th arrow. Had to pretend to check on the arrows and taking time to aim carefully.. wouldn't want the family to know you don't have the muscles to finish the game, would you?

Feast your eyes on the score! Whaddya say, not bad for an amateur, huh? Can't compete with Xena, I know, but give me 3 arrows and I'll plant at least 1 on your bald spot! Look, in the first place the arrows are not even straight at all..

Learn from Adertisers

Yesterday as I was driving in the city I tuned in to the traffic report from a local radio network. Instead of traffic info all I could hear is the loud drumbeat and cymbals beating and the vocal announcement being in the background! Previously I used to get annoyed with the background trash the deejays put in while announcing the report but at least then the vocal was still audible. But now...
Advertisers always make their jingles clear, precise and audible so listeners can hear and understand their messages. Deejays, please, learn from the advertisers!

Stars! Have you ever wonder?

Have you ever behold the wonder of stars? I mean 'actually' wonder how stars looked like, how celestial they are to our mere existence? When I was a teenager living on an island (which conveniently disappears in any world map!) and the night sky is usually clear, I used to spent my time looking through my bro's binoculars lying down on my dad's makeshift bench (oh yes, I do put the binoculars to good use, well, after the day's voyeuring!). The awesome feeling that overcame me couldn't be described in words. Really makes you feel you are out there, somewhere, so alone, yet so serene..

If you live in a city all this while you'll hardly get to appreciate the night sky cos it's always reflected by the city lights obscuring the heavens beyond. Well, don't fret, here's what you can do to get to see your very own stars:

• go and annoy someone next to you till you get whacked - that way you'll get to see stars happily chirping around your vision! Well, they don't make cartoon characters see stars out of baseless fact. In fact when I get up immediately from squatting too long or from crawling on all fours too long I do see stars blinking. If you don't that's because you're better off healthier than me.
  


• you've already seen one up close when you look at the sun. A star, by definition, is a celestial body that emits light due to its nuclear 'burning', unlike planets or moon which only reflect light.

It's not important if you don't have the time to look at stars like I did, I don't blame you. But whoever you may be don't be like the moon or planets that reflect light from others, but rather, be the source of light that shines out to others. Keep your fire burning, it may someday light up someone else life!

Computer Tip of the day

When you have 1 or more applications or folders opened and you need to go to your Desktop, you can either :

1. click on the 'show desktop' icon on the taskbar; or better still,
2. hold the Windows key with your thumb and hit the 'D' key.


+ D

Voila! all opened applications or folders will be minimized!

Drivers you'd love to hate

Been driving for the past 16 years, including the early 6 months without license. Bet you have on many occasion loose your cool on the road though no fault of the Malaysian climate, nor your air-conditioning. Anyway, here's my top list:

Potong-masuk (Cutting in without signalling)
Ever hear of the song titled 'Something in the way she moves..'? Well, some cars move that way. You'll know from the way they try to maintain their lane but you could 'feel' they.. Then suddenly, before you could even finish your sentences, they swerve right in front of you and continues on your lane! These are the type of drivers who believe that signalling will deprive them the chance to cut lanes. These are certainly the kind of drivers I'd rev my accelerator and drive along side them and only then will they admit defeat and start signalling. How I just love to give them driving tips, and for free!

Mindless drivers
Then there are those who drive like they've been cooped up at home for too long and need to savour their freedom, taking a slow drive around impervious to the already impatient drivers behind. Don't know what they're thinking, or if they're actually thinking. Just mindlessly driving with no purpose..

Road litterer
Seriously! Like they have this compulsive desire to keep their cars immaculate and bacteria free, you see tissues, crumpled paper, and whatnot mindlessly tossed out of their windows right smack in front of you. Don't you wish you had earlier applied for a post in the police academy? At least then you could summon the culprits to pull over and issue them a coupon or two. Me, appalled though I am, I'm just as guilty for disposing of my cigarette butt out the window. There, no points for me..

Mobile drivers
As if driving ain't mobile enough, they have to have a mobile phone manually stuck to their head while expertly maneuvering through the traffic. Especially those driving expensive cars, don't want to look any more extravagant buying a bluetooth headset, cos money already spent on high car maintenance. Tried that last month, just once and was instantly rewarded with a hefty summons! Currently looking for sponsors to settle the fine..

Lovebirds
I know we've all been there, done that. But pleeze... not while driving. These types are so much into each other, heads swinging to and from each other, blood rushing in excitement, but behind cars pitifully at snail's pace while, on your left and right, cars buzzed by you.

Accidental tourists
Tourists come, see, and go. After the long and tiresome pumping exercise on the brake and accelerator you finally get to see the reason for the long traffic jam. That's not so bad. What's worse is when the accident actually occurred on the other side of the highway!

10 commandments for husband

1. There is only one wife.
Unless your religion allows more than one wife, you should not have any other. She is the only one you must love and adore as you do yourself.

2. Always communicate.
Because non-communication can mean a thousand reasons for not loving her. Silence can be like a wedge that drives a marriage apart. It means you are getting less interested in the relationship when you stop talking.

3. Do your share of housework.
She is not your maid. It means a lot to her if you share control of the house work instead of making yourself another item at home. Live together with her, not with household items.

4. Forgive and forgive again.
To forgive is human, to forget is divine. But if you cannot forget, just forgive and let God do the forgetting. Remember your own mistakes she has to forgive and forget too.

5. Listen and hear.
Trouble is when you listen and listen but don't hear that's when she starts to nag. So who's fault is it when wives start nagging?

6. Argue and agree.
No point there trying to avoid argument for you are just building up your rage inside. Go ahead and argue but be constructive and put ego aside. Disagreement can lead to compromise when articulated by both parties. Else, choose the lesser of two evils.

7. Never complain behind her back.
More often than not men tend to complain about their wives in the company of friends and colleagues. Know that putting your wife down in public is much less humiliating than you who are married to her! Friends mock you behind your back for your inadequacy and misfortune. Speak well of your wife and you will be the envy of many.

8. Be her knight in shining armour.
Prepare to defend and protect her from the claws of in-laws. If you listen to your own mum who constantly finds fault in her daughter-in-law, one wonders why you are deemed ripe for marriage in the first place. Perhaps you need to play tea-set with your sisters first as basic education.

9. Allow her personal time.
Never be possessive. There are times when each of us need our own time to do the things we like to do, if not for the satisfaction, then for our own personal growth. Growing and living together means not only inhaling but also exhaling the breath of life. As long as our personal time is not a selfish act.

10. I love you.
Last but not least, tell her the magical and romantically proven words - I Love You! Cough if you have to, clear your throat or whatever it takes, but say it. And say it loud and clear. It's not easy as the years go by but wives still need to hear it. As long as they are spoken from the bottom of the heart, there is nothing more to prove beyond the spoken words.

Remedies for cold & sore throat

Hate having the common cold and fever and having to stay in bed? Here's some proven remedies that works well for me..

1. Take lots of garlics, preferably chopped up garlics. You can take them with food.

2. 20 minutes before you go to bed, apply some ointment (that you normally use for cold) on cotton swabs and place them at several places in your bedroom. Close all windows and door. If you have air-conditioning, adjust to minimum fan speed. When you are ready to retire to bed, you'll find great comfort in inhaling the 'conditioned' air into your lungs.

3. Alternatively, you may apply some ointment into a bowl of hot boiling water, cover your had with a towel and inhale the steam or vapour. Just be sure not to get you face toasted! For stubborn phlegm, get someone to smack your back with cupped hands in intervals while you cough ocassionally to loosen the phlegm. Really works for me. For maximum result, do this exercise 2 to 3 times daily until you feel better.

4. At the first sign of sore throat quickly gurgle with warm water mixed with salt. This, I can assure you, will prevent you from having further sore throat and getting into fever just to have your body fighting all the bacteria around your throat. However, you will need to repeat this action another one or two times to really prevent all the bacteria from multiplying.

5. Latest reasearch says that taking lots of Vitamin C when you are already having cold will do little to cure it. But then again, it is good to take some of it in order to give strength to your immunity system.

Pet dog

Aww... look at those eyes.. those ears.. Look at the big smile on my girl's (Sarah) face having got a pet dog finally! Cocker spaniel, pure breed, was told. Been with us past 4 days now and it's a wonderful feeling to have. I don't know much about dogs so you guys out there, drop me a tip or two, k?

10 bucks and 4 chickens

Here's a classic whenever I think of my sis, a year older to me and living in Sabah. When we were like 8-9 years old and living in Seria, Brunei, mum sent us on an errand to buy 4 pieces of chicken wings with B$10.00, from town less than a mile from home. Good kids that we were, we happily and proudly carried out our task.

But guess what awaited us when we reached home? A BIG SLAP **SMACK!! on both our cheeks, left and right, topped with 120 dB of vocal abuse followed by the inevitable showers of baby tears rolling down our cheeks! I don't blame mum, you see, cos' instead of chicken wings, we walked home each carrying 2 packs of frozen whole chickens, and even had the extra to reward ourselves with a cone of ice-cream each, which we were still licking before we even realised what hit us! Yea... come to think I missed that kind of smacking..

When fiery desire drains, keep it alight

You know, I might see my daughter, Rach, the elder of my 2 girls, a successful fashion designer one day. At 16 she has a passion for fashion designing. Even bought herself a self-taught fashion drawing book priced at RM97 from her hard earned savings. Today she produced a professionally looking fashion sketch, colored with water-based color pencils and she modestly confessed she copied it from her book. But so what, I said, some can't even match the picture shown in books!

Thing is, when desire burns in you, don't dampen it even if you don't have the means to pursue at this time. Keep it alight as long as you can, day dream about it if you have to, till the right opportunity comes along. You'll find yourself more than ready to grab it, and, who knows, it'll change your life, the life you always dreamed about - you'll wake up to that reality! Good luck!

How goes my Monday

Another uneventful day at office. In case you don't know, day in day out I've been working my butt out to clear other colleagues' work problems and build a heap of outstanding for myself. Why they look at me as their problem solver guru I have not the faintest idea and it's really depressing to see others of the same or higher ranking than me able to leave their workload (if they really have any) behind before sunset and set out for home. Me, well, I would sure wish at that same time I could go round and distribute my heap among those who have nothing better to do than wait for the 5:45pm whistle.

Give a man a fish..

Funny that some people can claim to be an expert in this field. They'll readily offer advice and expert opinion after I handed some small cash to beggars who come my way. And they'll bank on the famous Chinese proverb, Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

What the beggar does with my money I do not care. Friends may eagerly depart their 'wisdom' before realising that you are not born yesterday. Sometimes they follow a code but do not realise its meaning, as long as it does not involve dispensing with their hard earned cash. Oh they'll get to keep their money and claim to have spared the beggar from further destruction on cheap alcohol or weeds. But which part of assistance have they rendered? Nothing! Blatant ignorance of those who seek help!

As for me I will continue to offer some form of cash, if I'm not able to assist long term, and hope whatever little help I give will go a distance.

Dreadful Mondays, don't you agree?

Moan-day, that what's it is, moaning on an otherwise wonderful Sunday evening, not looking forward, but being drawn every second, towards Monday. How I loathe Monday, not the day though, but the prospect of going to office. I tell myself isn't 17 years of being someone's or some big corporation's employee a little tiresome? Then I tell myself it will all end. I will make something of myself, my life, my family's life. Enough of having to juggle with multiple credit cards, my rolling financial pins. Enough of waking up drooling from my day dream. I am setting my foot down and doing something about my life.

Where is my Rose to embrace?

I always believe that life is a rose garden. No matter if you are in a bad situation or you feel that life is just not workin' out for you the rose garden is where you'll always be and will be until life takes a 180 degree turn and stops.

Are you one of those people who doesn't like roses because of the thorns? Well, I'm one of them. They bother me, I mean the thorns. My wife would prune our rose plant every Saturday and pluck the best rose for our vase. Most of the time I don't give a hoot about its beauty but would readily agree when asked upon. In fact, I find it very difficult to stop and adore its beauty without being mindful to the thorns, always ready to prick on those who dare defile it!

I know some people, of which some are friends, who are living a life seemingly surrendered to everlasting pain and suffering. I don't mean those in real physical pain and medically suffering, may God bless them. I mean their lives are not that bad actually, but they constantly see themselves as suffering. They loathe at me and reiterated that life is never like a rose garden. But you see, they fail to realise that amidst the thorns are the beauty and majestic rose, unfolding petals of blessings to those who lovingly embrace it, if, and only if, they can look and see beyond the seemingly insurmountable thorns.

Just have to look for your blessing, is all. It's out there, only waiting for you to recognise it for what it truly is, and to reach out and grasp it, and when you have grasp it, embrace it like you never want it to go away. It will stay with you, and within you. For if you are truly grateful for even the smallest blessing you will be ready for the full bloom of the rose that which lives in your rose garden!