Call Him Squirrel

Heavens! It's been more than a month since I last posted anything in this blog. If you must know I have been away on holiday. A luxurious holiday where the day is always bright and beautiful - not necessarily hot. Wish you were here!
I was, of course, with Antonio. If you don't know, Antonio is the love of my bittersweet life.
We've been together oh-so-long. There's the bitter, and there's the sweet. Nver in that order, of course.
So, there we were in one of the most romantic places in the world. And we would be crazy not to have a great time (together) at a great place.
And he behaved. Oh! What am I saying. Of course, he would.
I returned home a few days ago.
Got over my jetlag. Pampered myself at a spa.
After that, called up a couple of girlfriends for an update of everybody's life.

One of the people I called up was my pal, Selena who is a vivacious, attractive single mother, involved with a married man who is a father of three.
How stupid is she?
You know, she is not stupid at all. She is intelligent. But well, yes, so she is so stupid to be involved with this SOB for the past 10 years.
Yet, when she talks about him, she makes him sound like some hunk who was made-in-heaven.

Selena could and can have anyone she wants. But she is so stupid that she has been so stupidly faithful to this SOB.
Oh. I told her so. I told her to leave the SOB who's been nothing but a pain to her.

No. She doesn't think so at all. The SOB whom we shall call Romeo, may seem to be a pain to her in my eyes but he isn't at all, she avers.
She, Selena, is the love of Romeo's life.
Like hell, she is.
So why is he still married, eh?

Anyway, a quick update on Selena and she tells me that she does not trust Romeo.

"You're kidding, right? You trust that bastard all this while even though he is still f----ing married and had another child with his wife while declaring his undying love for you.
You need to have your head and heart examined, girl!" I said to Selena, over the phone the other day.

Well, what happened was, that SOB Romeo has been doing little "innocent" things behind her back.
God! Doesn't that sound familiar.
They're not innocent.
Well, not as bad as when she found about his little fling with this car salesgirl. Exchanging little come-on text messages and emails.
She saw those text messages and emails which were forwarded by this girl to another person whom Selena knows.
I told her to leave him. Much like what I was told when Antonio had his little escapades.

Actually, SOB Romeo, I found out, is a squirrel.
Selena tells me there is a Malay saying about how nobody can be that smart to get away with deception and lies.
Literally, it says that no matter how smart a squirrel is in jumping and climbing, that animal will eventually fall down to earth.

Hah. Not so clever, after all, you little cheating squirrel.

So, is Selena leaving that SOB of a squirrel?
"Oh...maybe. He may not be worth my love, you know.."
Now, you're talking, sista! Now you're talking.

Can You Trust Your Best Friend...With Your Husband?

Hmmm. Here's a tough one. I know I'm not naive. But sometimes you just wanna believe. You just wanna believe that bad things don't happen. That shit don't happen. That best friends don't betray one another like having an affair with the other's husband or lover or whatever!
I know they do. I've seen it and I don't like it. I think when your best friend has an affair with your husband (or whatever), you have a damn good reason to kill her.
Because, there is a clear line there which forbids such a thing.
However, the reality is that when people fall in love, they just fall in love. And it can be with your husband.
No, no.... my best friend is not getting laid by Anthonio. No no, anthonio aint humping her.
Come to think of it, I don't have a best friend. Should I thank God for that? Such small mercies...
It's just that I recently met an old friend at a party. Lost touch with her. It's been some 30 years. Didn't know she was divorced. So, didn't know she remarried.
Now get this... I've been rambling about best GIRL friends, right?
Hmmm... my old friend dumped her husband and married HIS best friend.
For a good 20 seconds, I stood there with my jaw dropped six feet to the ground.
Sorry, guys. I should have made it clear from the start. But hey, I am as shocked as you.
You are shocked, aren't you?
But, you know what, that kept me thinking. And thinking..

Anyway, , at least I know that it is not always a man's world.

Bring Back My Safe World

I weep for our kids today as I have been for little Nurin Jazlin who died in the hands of a maniac. A beast. Maybe more.
Her death was senseless.
And the beast is still out there.

There used to be a time when kids could walk around their neighbourhood without fear of being abducted. Without fear.
Today, the fear is tangible.

Therefore, I weep.

Lord, bring back my safe world.

Get More By Doing Less

You know, once in a while you read something about keeping fit that makes you think that "it makes perfect sense".
You've been getting that heavy dose of advice on how much exercise to do that will break down that darn fat in you body and the protein and good carbs to consume to keep that darn fat away that a simple sensible advice on how to be fit and healthy without any hint of torture, sounds so so heaven-sent! I swear.

The fact is I do not subscribe to any exercise or diet regime.
Over the years, I have developed my own system, as it were. Because I know my body and myself.
Oh. That doesn't mean that I dismiss all that has been written about the subject. It's from reading the expert views that I decided that I should modify and adopt my own.

First I don't diet. Never have and never will.
I just don't overdo eating. And I don't over-exercise either. I do a lot of walking, a little aerobics, pilates, cycling and swimming.

Ok. So I shan't ramble. Just read Debbie Rocker's piece which I have highlighted.
She 's very sane and sensible.

"Strive for Paradise. A small nook within its bliss is better than the whole world ..." --The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by Abu Hurairah

Today is the first day of the holy month of Ramadhan when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and refrain from doing things that could spoil their "ibadah".

I wish my Muslim friends a holy and happy Ramadhan!

Rising Early Aint Good No More!

That's what they tell me now!
So much for the age-old belief that rising early is good for the health. Apparently, it's not good for the heart.
A new study tells us just that.
What about that adage: "The early bird catches the worm"? It still holds true, literally, I suppose.
You'd still catch your worm but you'd be quicker on the road to hypertension.

What other ancient health remedy or panacea will they find to be bad next?

Here's the story.
TOKYO (AFP) - Generations have praised the wisdom of getting up early in the morning, but a Japanese study says early-risers are actually at a higher risk of developing heart problems.
The study, conducted by researchers from several universities and hospitals in the western Japanese city of Kyoto, revealed a link between wake-up times and a person's cardiovascular condition.
"Rising early to go to work or exercise might not be beneficial to health, but rather a risk for vascular diseases," said an abstract of the study.
The study, covering 3,017 healthy adults aged between 23 through 90, found that early risers had a greater risk of heart conditions including hypertension and of having strokes.
However, the study also noted that early risers were usually older.
The study is being presented this week at the World Congress of the World Federation of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine Societies, being held in Cairns, Australia.
A separate study released in June by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania
found that chronic sleep deprivation adds stress to the heart, putting a person at greater risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

Showing Off the Big Belly

Ok. So I'm not that young. But after seeing some pregnant young women these past weeks, I am convinced I'm from a distant era, a distant time.
I am so out of whack with the latest trend. Fashion for expectant mothers, to be exact.
What is it with young pregnant mums that they have to wear the tightest clothes that hug their belly and the shortest blouse so that they can show off their belly.
I think being pregnant is the most wonderful feeling ever. Most women are over the moon and want to share their feeling.
But, really, you don't have to be wearing the shortest and tightest t-shirt to show of that big belly -- belly button and all.
Why oh why?
Whatever for?
I can only guess why these young women are doing it.
Because it is trendy?
Because Demi Moore showed all of hers on the cover of Vogue aeons ago?

Well. I have something to say about being trendy....it makes you a mere follower. Sometimes, so blind. Very blind.

Frankly?
I don't think these pregnant women should be showing their belly.
I think, without showing off too much, the world can tell that they are pregnant. Unless, of course, they worry that people may think that there is something else inside.

It's not about being old-fashioned. Or dated.

Oh well.
Just my opinion.

(Photo is of a pregnant woman at the beach. She probably has an excuse. Even then...)