Aaah....

Hope this year will be better.

All That Love....

Tell me....would you allow your spouse or partner to have a very close...closer than close....relationship with someone of the opposite sex?

You know...so close that he never ever tells you what's been going on.
They're so close that you can't be blamed for thinking they've had sex.
And then, you start suspecting that they've had sex. That's for sure.
And then you imagine that they really must have had sex.

Wonky imagination. Damn!

Your Prince Charming andTell Tale Signs...

I was told the other day that if I were looking for my Prince Charming, then I should be attentive and detect tell tale signs of his hidden characters or personality.
You know, some things will not be known to you until you get to know him better by which time it is too late. Or maybe not.

It seems, according to an expert whose name I forget --- one of the things you need to observe is how the man of your dreams talk to a third person.

It's like this. When he talks to, say, a waiter or waitress...is he curt, rude and obnoxious to
that person?
Now, if he is, then, chances are he will be that way to you.
Did you know that?

I've been thinking.
Experts don't make sweeping generalisations. And I reckon, this expert whose name I forget is a well-known expert in the science of behaviour and love.
She knows what she's talking about.

I've been reflecting.
It does seem to hold a lot of water.
Take Antonio, as a case in point.

He has never been mean to me, in the way he speaks to me. He is always polite to waiters, jaga kereta boys....you know..

When waiters are slow or take the wrong orders, he never gets irritated. He is usually so calm and composed and patient.

So, girls....watch and observe when you think you've got your Prince Charming. He may turn out to be an ugly old toad...

The Danger of Loving....

I don't watch Hindi films. I have nothing against them and I am not deriding them.
In fact, I try to avoid watching them because they are addictive and incredibly magnetic.
You see, Hindi films bring you to a subliminal level where you make-believe that you are living in a planet inhabited by beautiful people.
The combination of ingredients in Hindi movies is lethal, lending to the characteristc high drama -- good-looking screen heroes/heroines, tear-jerking-heart-wrenching plot with yoyo climaxes and several sub-plots, composition of rich and poor/wealth and poverty elements, mesmerising music plus dancing, and amazing cinematography bordering on fantasy.
Now, you see what I mean?

Anyway, while visiting my friend the other day, the TV was on and guess what? A Hindi movie was playing.
I shuddered.
I wanted to look away. To look the other way.
But, as you and I know, Hindi movies are potent in its appeal. And at that point of time, I must admit, I was willing to be devoured.

Oooh. How could I look away. ooh... what a hunk of a hero and, ooh... what a hunk of a crook. Yummy!
And when they showed the leading lady or heroine....my heart stopped. What a beauty. So ethereal!

You see what I mean? You get hypnotised. And I always tell myself that I am never gonna go that way! You know, becoming a Hindi movie junkie.
Some of the most sane and sensible people I know have turned over, and never ever able to turn or look back.
It is crazy, I tell you.

But, I digress.
Here's what I got from a dialogue. What a gem....
A woman attending her girlfriend's wedding. And this girlfriend of hers is marrying someone she does not love. She left the love-of-her-life (a hunk of a guy, I swear) because of a stupid misunderstanding. A little misplaced and unsubstantiated mistrust ( from what I could gather...)

And she was sad on her wedding day when she realised the folly of her action.

This friend told the bride:

"You must not love anyone too much, too deeply.... that a little misunderstanding between you both can be so misconstrued to be an unforgivable act of betrayal..."

My mouth was agape.
Was that a pearl of wisdom or whaaat?
I felt as though someone had slapped or pinched me, knocked my head even.

Yeah, lady.
Too much love can really go awry.
Too much love really blinds you.

Too much, Way too much.
Pain. Ache.

Love. Love. Love....

Dang Those Selfish and Idiotic Motorists....

Here's the thing.
I am not the world's most patient driver. When you're driving in Malaysia, you either have to be very patient or you have to join the sport.
I chose to be a little of both because that's the smartest position to take.
If you're too patient, the stress will eventually take its toll on you and, trust me, people, you're gonna go down with a slump.
And if you're as crazy as the next driver, trust me here too, you're gonna go down with a crash.
So, what's it going to be?
The middle clever road.
Not easy in the beginning but once you've got the hang of it....a breeze and it will get you out of very sticky and tricky situations.
Now, I am so digressing here.

Like I said, I am not the world's best...most patient.... most considerate.... driver. Whatever.
So excuse me if I tell you here that I do hate it when people break the traffic signages and directions because they just want to and because they can and because they are so *#@*&** inconsiderate.

Now, take Ikea/Ikano centre.
We all like to go to Ikea for the friendly place that it is. The entire place is conducive. The kids love it too!
People-friendly, I always say.
And the parking areas are great. Wide and open.

And there are clear "arrows" to make life all that more convenient for motorists -- that's you and I -- looking for parking bays.

There are lanes for you to enter and exit. Clear signs to guide you.

And unless you are an imbecile, an illiterate neanderthal or a wretched inconsiderate nimcompoop, you would unhesitantly go your own merry way so you could get that vacant spot.

There is a reason for all the arrows and signs. Do you want to know?
So that we all won't get jammed up in a chaotic chock-a-block in the parking area. That's why.

Can you imagine if everyone decide to enter and exit any which way they want?

Of course, if it is very quiet morning with hardly any motorcars in sight, you may be tempted to just take that short cut because nobody's around and no one's gonna get hurt. Still....

I just wish the security guards At IKEA/IKANO would be more tough. I know one day, someone's gonna get hurt.

And another thing. Don't we love the Ikea Restaurant? Reminds you of a typical self-service restaurant in Sweden or even, Switzerland, huh?
Besides, the prices are not bad, for the offerings on the menu. Right?
And they tell you why they can give you good proices of great food.
Right?
Like, they request that you stash away YOUR OWN TRAY!
People.... why is it that when you overseas, you can stash away your own tray, follow the traffic obediently? Blah blah blah...
And when you are in YOUR OWN COUNTRY, you screw up.

I have watched and I have seen well-dressed and well-heeled Malaysians at the Ikea Restaurant, leaving their trays on the table. Just like that. Without a care.

And, let's not get started at McDonalds, Burger King, A&W...

Oh... you didn't know that you are supposed to dump the remains into the bin and stash the tray away?

Oh...if you did that, there won't be menial jobs for Malaysian school-leavers?
Give me a break, will you?

You know, if we all do our part, maybe we don't have to depend of foreign labour.

Anyway, all I can say is -- typical of Malaysians! And they complain about other Malaysians being "so Malaysian, break rules, so inconsiderate and all that..."

Bah!

Dato Lato Mato Bato.....

What does it take for one to be made a Dato in this country?
I'm sorry I cannot answer my own question because I am not qualified to do so but if I were to make my own substantiated assessment, I'd say either nothing OR a lot of dough.
I'm sorry for sounding so pathetically cynical, accusing even, but someone I know had just been made a Dato.
It was so utterly shocking. My gardener might as well be a recipient!
What had this someone done to EARN him a datoship?
So, that's why I'm saying that a lot of dough can get you a state award because I am shamelessly very suspicious of the circumstances leading to his receiving the title and award.
Highly suspicious.

It has become a brunt of all jokes, this datoship awards.

I thought one had to have contributed SOMETHING to the state (if it was from the Sultan) or the country (if it was from the Agong). I mean, that's my understanding since time immemorial.
I know that civil servants and military or armed forces personnel in key senior positions will eventually be awarded datoship.
Moving along the nation's progress, business tycoons had been nominated to receive awards and titles.
I suppose this was inevitable as some of them have helped develop the country.
And then you have "outstanding" sportsmen and women being made Dato.
I think we can win some points in arguing that some of them were undeserving. I shan't mention names.

Then, those who successfully climbed the highest mountain, crossed the seven seas and the English Channel.
My oh my....

I find that the selection process, in recent years, to have degenerated.
The criteria seem to be careless because you get **&#@ people being made a Dato, it is so shameful.

Where is the honour? Why have they belittled the title and the award?
Young punks who have contributed zilch to the country but on the strength of their service and servitude to powerful politicians are getting to be called Dato.

And I haven't even touched on the crooks and the crooks!

Boy am I glad YOU are not a Dato! You'll find yourself in BAD company.....

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.