For a lot of people, this is not quite possible.
How can we be friends? No way!
Well, I know a lot of my girlfriends find it hard to have a platonic relationship with guys.
Now, I find that so strange. I have several guy friends who are, well, just friends.
We are not physically attracted to each other. Neither sexually. Emotionally? Hell no!
At least, not on my part. And I am pretty sure, not on theirs either.
My girlfriends tell me that given half a chance, they'd go to bed with me anytime.
I am insulted by that remark. They're talking about my (guy) friends as though these guys are sleazeballs masquerading as platonic friends.
Besides, I have never got any "signal" from them.
Yeah, yeah, I have been accused of having thick skin.
Ok, ok, my girlfiends may be right. But that is really stereotyping men.
Whoops, and I am so guilty of that too.
But, not in this case.
I'm pretty weird in that sense.
In college, I was never attracted to my classmates. Even the gorgeous ones whom other girls would be having a crush on.
I have no idea why I am like that.
It's like it's so incestuous to be having anything romantic, physical or emotional or all of that, with one's classmates or colleagues.
Yes, colleague! He maybe the world's sexiest hunk but I probably see him as, er, just another colleague, of the male variety.
However. in case, you have any doubts about this issue, read this interesting article here.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Old Money & New Money
One of my favourite pastimes is people-watching. Yeah. The old-fashioned kind.
I have made some of the most accurate assumptions and conclusions about people just by watching them.
Sometimes I get so carried away that Antonio has to tug at my sleeve to remind me that I was so being obvious.
I can't help it.
I don't like to make a conclusion about people but I have found out that I am usually right.
With more and more Malaysians acquiring new-found wealth, you can see so much affluence around you.
I'm always tickled by "affluent" people whom I see at social hang-outs in and around the city.
Oh. I aint a zillionnaire. But, I certainly aint from the gutter.
Let's say that I am not unfamiliar with wealth and trappings of wealth, and the wealthy -- the rich and famous. Particularly, old money.
So, it always amuses me to see ladies in severely-tinted or highlighted or dyed hair, wearing gaudy skimpy designer (original, excuse me) tees, tight designer jeans, high-heeled designer shoes and LV handbags. Oh, did I say dripping with designer jewwllery? And this is just at the supermarket.OUCH!
It is awful. Designer top-to-toe. Plain awful.
I know, I know. She's loaded. Rather, hubby is a filthy zillionnaire.
I'll bet it's the new crony contract he just laid his hands on.
Oh. I have seen dozens of these ladies. You can tell that they want YOU to know that they are RICH.
Now, therein lies the difference between the cheapo rich look and the old money rich look.
The cheapo new money wants the whole world to know that she has arrived. My point exactly -- just arrived. And loudly too.
Now, old money? My aunt Elsa is really old old money.
She has tons of cars because she has tons of money, having inherited from her rich granddaddy who was a tin miner.
Aunt Elsa is no lazy lady of leisure. She runs a family company. Rather well too, given her accountancy and business background.
But, she goes around in an old Honda Civic. She wears a simple white shirt which you could only guess is expensive because it looks expensive on her, a jade bracelet and she carries a luxurious-looking handbag, the brand of which you can't tell but it sure looks expensive.
She is often in a simple pair of light-coloured trousers and a pair of mules in neutral tones.
Aunt Elsa's hair is in her natural dark-brown. I think she colours her hair to disguise the grey strands. Her healthy, exuberantly glossy hair is styled in a simple shoulder-length cut.
And she looks a million dollars.
I'd want to look like her anytime than a dolled-up tart.
Do I sound bitchy? I apologise but this is just my honest observation.
You see, Aunt Elsa so often tells me that her handbag she is carrying is the one she got from a flea market or somewhere exotic because she likes going to these places to get old stuff and such.
Her blouse was made by her long-time tailor and her trousers were bought at Edmund Ser. Sometimes at a boutique in Paris.
But, sure makes no difference to me.
Aunt Elsa buys things she likes whether they are cheap, moderately-priced or expensive.
But, they have to be of qood quality.
She has been so rich for so long that she cannot fool anyone.
A classy lady that she is -- she is ever so polite to waiters, doormen, car jockeys and just about anyone.
Now, that's class. That's old money.
I have made some of the most accurate assumptions and conclusions about people just by watching them.
Sometimes I get so carried away that Antonio has to tug at my sleeve to remind me that I was so being obvious.
I can't help it.
I don't like to make a conclusion about people but I have found out that I am usually right.
With more and more Malaysians acquiring new-found wealth, you can see so much affluence around you.
I'm always tickled by "affluent" people whom I see at social hang-outs in and around the city.
Oh. I aint a zillionnaire. But, I certainly aint from the gutter.
Let's say that I am not unfamiliar with wealth and trappings of wealth, and the wealthy -- the rich and famous. Particularly, old money.
So, it always amuses me to see ladies in severely-tinted or highlighted or dyed hair, wearing gaudy skimpy designer (original, excuse me) tees, tight designer jeans, high-heeled designer shoes and LV handbags. Oh, did I say dripping with designer jewwllery? And this is just at the supermarket.OUCH!
It is awful. Designer top-to-toe. Plain awful.
I know, I know. She's loaded. Rather, hubby is a filthy zillionnaire.
I'll bet it's the new crony contract he just laid his hands on.
Oh. I have seen dozens of these ladies. You can tell that they want YOU to know that they are RICH.
Now, therein lies the difference between the cheapo rich look and the old money rich look.
The cheapo new money wants the whole world to know that she has arrived. My point exactly -- just arrived. And loudly too.
Now, old money? My aunt Elsa is really old old money.
She has tons of cars because she has tons of money, having inherited from her rich granddaddy who was a tin miner.
Aunt Elsa is no lazy lady of leisure. She runs a family company. Rather well too, given her accountancy and business background.
But, she goes around in an old Honda Civic. She wears a simple white shirt which you could only guess is expensive because it looks expensive on her, a jade bracelet and she carries a luxurious-looking handbag, the brand of which you can't tell but it sure looks expensive.
She is often in a simple pair of light-coloured trousers and a pair of mules in neutral tones.
Aunt Elsa's hair is in her natural dark-brown. I think she colours her hair to disguise the grey strands. Her healthy, exuberantly glossy hair is styled in a simple shoulder-length cut.
And she looks a million dollars.
I'd want to look like her anytime than a dolled-up tart.
Do I sound bitchy? I apologise but this is just my honest observation.
You see, Aunt Elsa so often tells me that her handbag she is carrying is the one she got from a flea market or somewhere exotic because she likes going to these places to get old stuff and such.
Her blouse was made by her long-time tailor and her trousers were bought at Edmund Ser. Sometimes at a boutique in Paris.
But, sure makes no difference to me.
Aunt Elsa buys things she likes whether they are cheap, moderately-priced or expensive.
But, they have to be of qood quality.
She has been so rich for so long that she cannot fool anyone.
A classy lady that she is -- she is ever so polite to waiters, doormen, car jockeys and just about anyone.
Now, that's class. That's old money.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Working Out Right
I'm not young. Well, anyone over 40 aint young. So I am not young.
Ok, this is not about age. I am going to talk about staying youthful.
It was not very long ago that I was sitting at a cafe with a girlfriend who happens to be also over 40.
We're no Angelina Jolie or Halle Barry. But, we're ok. That's because, I think, we're fit. We have pretty trim bodies. Not too bad skin too.
The point is -- and this aint bragging, really, not bragging -- we don't look our age. We didn't know that, at first. People kept telling us that.
So, how does an over-40 woman look like? I'd say she would look like me because I am over-40, as well as some of my girlfriends.
Apparently, not.
But, let's take this a little further.
Like I said. I was at a cafe with my girlfriend and we were talking, sipping latte, talking and then two young ladies walked past.
I repeat two YOUNG ladies. They looked like they were in their 20s.
They were wearing what most young ladies would be wearing -- tight-fitting bare midriff t-shirts and hipster jeans.
Sexy, eh?
Afraid not. They looked like a pair of overfilled cupcakes. Swear to God! And I don't mean to be mean and cruel.
They shouldn't be looking like that. They're young, youthful and they should be taking care of their health, and therefore, their bodies.
What have they been eating and drinking? All those fat-laden fast food, I bet.
But, heck, I have that too, occasionally.
I had my time when I was young. But I never never looked like that. I had a very trim and slim and fit body.
And I was a smoker, too! That was probably the only bad thing I ever did. Smoking.
Don't know whether it's genetic. Perhaps I had (no longer now) a high metabolic rate. But I know I was conscious about my health.
Perhaps too I liked sports. So it was not difficult for me.
When I got married and had kids, I told myself that I had to keep fit so that I could take better care of my kids. You know, go to the park and play games with them.
Of course, with kids and work, you need to organise yourself. Keeping a keep-fit routine needs a strong willpower. And that is an understatement.
But, I have kept to a routine. I slack sometimes. I make up for that, other times.
I have to also watch what and how I eat. Oh yes.. I do indulge but see, I work out.
I stay focus. I have to.
I also tell myself I don't wanna look like ..... oh never mind. That always works.
If you're interested, here's something to read. It's all about working out. Click here.
Ok, this is not about age. I am going to talk about staying youthful.
It was not very long ago that I was sitting at a cafe with a girlfriend who happens to be also over 40.
We're no Angelina Jolie or Halle Barry. But, we're ok. That's because, I think, we're fit. We have pretty trim bodies. Not too bad skin too.
The point is -- and this aint bragging, really, not bragging -- we don't look our age. We didn't know that, at first. People kept telling us that.
So, how does an over-40 woman look like? I'd say she would look like me because I am over-40, as well as some of my girlfriends.
Apparently, not.
But, let's take this a little further.
Like I said. I was at a cafe with my girlfriend and we were talking, sipping latte, talking and then two young ladies walked past.
I repeat two YOUNG ladies. They looked like they were in their 20s.
They were wearing what most young ladies would be wearing -- tight-fitting bare midriff t-shirts and hipster jeans.
Sexy, eh?
Afraid not. They looked like a pair of overfilled cupcakes. Swear to God! And I don't mean to be mean and cruel.
They shouldn't be looking like that. They're young, youthful and they should be taking care of their health, and therefore, their bodies.
What have they been eating and drinking? All those fat-laden fast food, I bet.
But, heck, I have that too, occasionally.
I had my time when I was young. But I never never looked like that. I had a very trim and slim and fit body.
And I was a smoker, too! That was probably the only bad thing I ever did. Smoking.
Don't know whether it's genetic. Perhaps I had (no longer now) a high metabolic rate. But I know I was conscious about my health.
Perhaps too I liked sports. So it was not difficult for me.
When I got married and had kids, I told myself that I had to keep fit so that I could take better care of my kids. You know, go to the park and play games with them.
Of course, with kids and work, you need to organise yourself. Keeping a keep-fit routine needs a strong willpower. And that is an understatement.
But, I have kept to a routine. I slack sometimes. I make up for that, other times.
I have to also watch what and how I eat. Oh yes.. I do indulge but see, I work out.
I stay focus. I have to.
I also tell myself I don't wanna look like ..... oh never mind. That always works.
If you're interested, here's something to read. It's all about working out. Click here.
Friday, April 6, 2007
LOVING AND LOSING
Oh Man! I know I haven't been dutiful. Ok, ok. That's another way of saying I have been so lazy. Haven't been updating my blog.
Actually, I have been away. Working. So tired at the end of the day.
But here's a posting, courtesy HeraldnewsOnline, on love that's turned into a lawsuit:
"It's better to have loved and lost, unless the woman keeps your 50 grand engagement ring and threatens to sell it.
And that's just what the former fiancee of Naperville businessman Richard Phebus did, according to his attorney.
Phebus popped the question to 43-year-old Renee Mingilino of Naperville in December and presented her with a 5.03 carat, center pear-shaped diamond engagement ring.
Altobello Appraisal of Wheaton put the ring's value at a cool $48,000.
But the love affair soured soon after and, by February, the couple was meeting with a counselor in hopes of saving their rocky relationship, according to court papers.
The counselor's guidance apparently provided no remedy for the ailing romance and the two threw in the towel, with Mingilino agreeing to return the ring, papers show.
From there things between Phebus and Mingilino went from bad to worse, according to a complaint filed by Phebus' attorney, James J. Laraia of Wheaton, as Mingilino refused to return the ring, then demanded money from Phebus for it and even threatened sell the token of his affection.
At some point, Mingilino went so far as to claim she had already sold the ring, Laraia said, but Mingilino's 24-year-old daughter revealed it was being kept in a safe deposit box at an undisclosed bank.
But the fear of Mingilino cashing in on the ring was very real, as the complaint alleged she recently declared bankruptcy and was unemployed.
Phebus filed suit against Mingilino on March 22. The case went to court, and he obtained an order for Mingilino to surrender the ring to the sheriff's department.
In exchange, he had to put up a $100,000 bond until the squabble was sorted out. Now, it's all taken care of.
She gave up the ring, he got it back, and their love story has come to an unhappy end.
"He's a sentimental guy and this has affected him," Laraia said of his client, who failed to return calls for comment.
"He really loved her and, for whatever reason, it didn't work out, and he's pretty shaken up about it."
Neither Mingilino nor her attorney, Chris Spesia, could be reached for comment.
As for the ring, Phebus might end up recycling it.
Laraia says his client told him, "Right now, I'm going to hold on to it. Maybe someday, if I fall in love again, I'll give it to her."
Sigh.................
Actually, I have been away. Working. So tired at the end of the day.
But here's a posting, courtesy HeraldnewsOnline, on love that's turned into a lawsuit:
"It's better to have loved and lost, unless the woman keeps your 50 grand engagement ring and threatens to sell it.
And that's just what the former fiancee of Naperville businessman Richard Phebus did, according to his attorney.
Phebus popped the question to 43-year-old Renee Mingilino of Naperville in December and presented her with a 5.03 carat, center pear-shaped diamond engagement ring.
Altobello Appraisal of Wheaton put the ring's value at a cool $48,000.
But the love affair soured soon after and, by February, the couple was meeting with a counselor in hopes of saving their rocky relationship, according to court papers.
The counselor's guidance apparently provided no remedy for the ailing romance and the two threw in the towel, with Mingilino agreeing to return the ring, papers show.
From there things between Phebus and Mingilino went from bad to worse, according to a complaint filed by Phebus' attorney, James J. Laraia of Wheaton, as Mingilino refused to return the ring, then demanded money from Phebus for it and even threatened sell the token of his affection.
At some point, Mingilino went so far as to claim she had already sold the ring, Laraia said, but Mingilino's 24-year-old daughter revealed it was being kept in a safe deposit box at an undisclosed bank.
But the fear of Mingilino cashing in on the ring was very real, as the complaint alleged she recently declared bankruptcy and was unemployed.
Phebus filed suit against Mingilino on March 22. The case went to court, and he obtained an order for Mingilino to surrender the ring to the sheriff's department.
In exchange, he had to put up a $100,000 bond until the squabble was sorted out. Now, it's all taken care of.
She gave up the ring, he got it back, and their love story has come to an unhappy end.
"He's a sentimental guy and this has affected him," Laraia said of his client, who failed to return calls for comment.
"He really loved her and, for whatever reason, it didn't work out, and he's pretty shaken up about it."
Neither Mingilino nor her attorney, Chris Spesia, could be reached for comment.
As for the ring, Phebus might end up recycling it.
Laraia says his client told him, "Right now, I'm going to hold on to it. Maybe someday, if I fall in love again, I'll give it to her."
Sigh.................
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