29 July

Watched 'Lady in the Water'.
Hmm, M.Night Shyamalan never fail me.

You know, I think it's the lowest-budgeted movie he has made.
But still, it's just as impactful and meaningful as his previous movies.
I'm glad I watched it.

# # # # #
When I think about it, I really don't feel that life is short.

Our memory span is.

not yet a woman

I bumped into an old friend today.
She looked very different.

After our brief 'hello-s and nice to see u again-s', I marvelled at her, thinking that it was not too long ago we were tossing the netball at each other.

As she walked on, I turned to have one last glance at her.

She has advanced fast into being a WOMAN.

I looked at my own reflection...

Timing

Timing is everything.

I've been longing for it for so long.
And finally when I have it in hand, it doesn't feel like it should.

All I had longed for, was an illusion. I had believed a lie.

Perhaps if I had it the moment I wanted it, and not left it in my 'for later' list. Would it be far more gratifying then?

I won't be eating Ramli burgers for a very long time.

remember

There are things I remember, and there are things I don't remember.

Because I don't know the things that I don't remember, I don't know which facts are more important.

Even if the latter should be more important, I can't do much about it, simply because of ignorance.

I fear more about the facts that I DO remember.
Do I remember them correctly?
Do I put emphasis on the proper areas proportionately?

The fortune teller is right, I think TOO much.

Sports

I must say, at the moment, SPORTS is the strongest unifying language we have.

I played badminton with Bangladeshis today.

Although we did have minor difficulties in understanding each other, there wasn't any uncommon mistakes that had taken place during our game.

I'm sure they did enjoy the fact that their employer sucked big time with the racket, and they beat him in all games.

A friend told me that certain people are just talented in sports.
They are very inclined to have the agility, instincts and stamina.

It's true. Those Bangladeshis only started playing badminton when they worked here and yet, it was obvious that their position in the court differs from their employment.

I really had a great time.We understood the same jokes and tactics.. despite being so different..Amazing what sports can do, eh?

Malu lar

I had a customer who wore this cool shirt with this message,

"No, thanks. I rather masturbate."

I couldn't believe my good fortune when this exact same customer approached me for assistance. I had to control my composure the whole time.

Badminton

Just came back from a badminton game.
It's really great to have known so many absolute strangers who are now my friends/acquaintances.
I don't know which category to put them under.
We're not close because all we do is just hit the shuttle to each other over the net and yet at the same time they have given me so much joy.

Although we live in the same materialistically-demanding world, they have many times helped me mentally-escape from the 'real' world for the precious few minutes of game.

During those few minutes, everyone is equal.
Only your badminton skill determines who YOU are.

As simple as it sounds, I also see the naked truth about myself.
I can't ignore my flaws in the game, both technical and emotional.

Just as how I hope to improve my badminton skill,
I also hope to better improve myself as a whole.

Hey

I was at The Star's library.
Flipping through the papers in the 80s, I was overwhelmed by the immense feeling of the 'old times'.
Assasinated leaders then still alive, history that were then frightful wars and conflicts, implemented policies then still at deliberating stage; the most entertaining was the advertisements; for movies shown in cinemas.
Ah, back then we had only cinemas, not cineplex.

#####

I was shocked that the security guard thinks that people who work in the bookstore are 'smart' people.
I tried so hard to convince him that he could do the same work .
He thought I was merely trying to be polite.

This conversation reminded me of a previous one I had with a lady who wanted to take a 9-5 job in order to spend more time with her children but is unsure about paper work. No matter how simple.

You should have listened to my motivational speech.
Although it was sincere, upon self reflection, I can't help but feel that I was hipocritical.

I was trying to advise people things I don't even dare apply to myself.

Indeed, something to ponder.

Moleskin for your Thoughts

Moleskin notebooks are well known for their quality and PRICE that er... somewhat 'assures' you its service to you.

I always ask the WHY the buyers are so willing to spend such money.
And the answers are all the same.

"It's for my writing. My own stuff. Not any just other sort of scribblings."

Fair enough. I must agree. After all, didn't I persuaded AhKit to value his drawings?

But my mind was challenged by another question,
"Are our documentation of our thoughts valued based on the exterior condition? What if you had this fantastic idea or phrase that came to mind but your MOLESKIN notebook was too fancy to be available for your disposal at that magic moment, what happens then? What do you do? Where do you write it down; knowing well that if you lose that moment, you wouldn't be able to remember"
Have you ever feared that our over-reliance on the exterior assurance, might overshadow the depths of the inner subtance?

Wow.... suddenly so deep...
I should have this printed on my T-shirts!
Great excuse for bad fashion sense!! HAhahaH!!

Kelfer

Have you ever felt like lyrics of certain songs were meant FOR YOU, or certain dialogues from movies were MEANT FOR YOU, or certain phrases or pictures WERE MEANT FOR YOU?

You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design....
You look like you do for a reason.
Our God makes no mistake....
You're just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose.
And no matter how you may feel.
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,....

No, that trauma you faced was not easy,
And God wept that it hurt you so,
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.

..............Russell Kelfer

I no MC

I'm ILL.
Why didn't the doc give me MC, I don't know...

Wah!!!...

Still have to go to work tomorrow.

You know those moments where you just want to die?

I feel you....

Measurement

I do very much agree that a person's character is best judged based on how they treat their inferiors.

Now, I come to a higher stage of character judgement which is,

• under what circumstances do you label others as your inferior?

Oh come on, don't you even dare to pretend 'holier than thou'.

Each one of us do carry a psychological measuring tape.

I openly admit that I do.

But I constantly double check its validity and accuracy.

I don't trust it.

Truths & Jokes

I saw an ex-colleague.
She was once a very gung-ho journalist.
Yes. - WAS.

Another victim burnt out due to the establishment.

*Chuckle* ... The word establishment does sound fancy, doesn't it?

So does the word, 'management'.

The superiors in my work place are addressed as the , yes THE -management.

The word 'management' gives the impression that they actually know what they're doing.

Sigh.

No wonder Scott Adam's Dilbert sells so well.

The best humor are based on hard core truths.

The right to have haunting memories

There was a series on late Sunday which raised an interesting issue.

The setting of the series was in year 2030, and technology is constantly challenged by emotional/ethical issues.

There was a case where the father wish to erase the dark memory of his traumatised little boy.

The mother, the abuser, the cause of trauma to the little boy objected; with the argument to the right of the mere MEMORY of her, good or bad.

In the end, the father won the court case.
The lawyer who won the case for him had mixed feelings.
She questioned herself, her own dark memories.
Without it, would she be who she is today?
Would she have been better, or worse?

Indeed, an excellent question to ponder upon.....

She Wrote back

I wrote this back in March.
The writer of the book I had reviewed responded to the comment my friend had left in my post.

Please read...
Cendolicly Yours: Seek first to understand

Learn the lesson

I typed this months ago.
http://cendolais.blogspot.com/2006/03/familiarity.html#links

Now, I'd just want to add that

'you learn best when the lessons are unexpectedly taught'.

A colleague sensed my frustration and disappointment with my uni.

When I asked, "what can you learn from uni where you can't learn from books, or real life experience?"

She gave the question some thought. "Hmm, that's interesting. Do you ask yourself that question each time you are in a different environment? I mean, each phase or experience in our lives has its purpose and meaning. How do you weigh and compare them?''

I've asked the above question several times.

I must admit, this is the best answer I've received.

part2

I saw an ex-colleague.
She looked very different.
So different that I wondered if I still know her.

# # # #

Dr M just stood up and walked to the restroom.
I whispered to the stranger seated next to me, "So, he doesn't need a bodyguard now?"
He whispered back, "Nah...My son tells me that he's always seen hanging out at Starbucks in MidValley"

Ah... things we never knew...

Perdana4Peace

Perdana for Peace forum.
Had the utmost great fortune to dine with two Iraqi men.

One of the gentlemen told me that the media had portrayed Saddam as a monster. But he reminded me that no leader is perfect and that we must not forget his contribution to Iraq.

Learnt three interesting fact.

1. Iraq was the first Third World country in the 80s to achieve 100% literacy rate.
2. Iraqis had free education from the age of 6 till PhD level. The Iraqi told me that his father only needed to give him money for snacks. He also reminisce the clean water he could drink straight from the tap in school.
3. Iraqis had loads of intellectuals back in the 80s.
4. Iraqi was united under Saddam's rule.
   

I asked him another question, he laughed.
He shared with the whole table.
“This young lady asked a very innocent question. She asked where do we Iraqis run to when the bombs come. Where else can we go? Just run home and pray the bombs don’t reach you.”

Actually, I wanted to know where do most Iraqi refugees go (country), but nah… that’s a good answer.

Ah… that nice gentleman loved our otak-otak. Funny, it wasn’t spicy at all. Considering the way it was served, I thought it was a localized version of lasagna.

# # # # # #

During the entire forum, everyone ,both the panel speakers and audience, admitted the fact that something is very wrong with the entire global governance.
I almost wanted to voice this question,

“There are men and women who possess intelligence, conscience and courage. But obviously they are not governing the world. Why? Where are they?”

The stupidest questions are the questions not asked.