Curtain Call

Blegh. It's that time again. Year-end.

The air is dense with reflection. No, the heavens have not been engulfed by a swarm of mirrors; the atmosphere of late is just heavy with intense thoughts of deliberating folks.
Folks who take time off to look back on what they've achieved this past year (blah, blah), and to set new goals for the coming one (more blah, blah).

In case you haven't got the gist yet, i'm not all that big on this reflection business. I'd much rather hop a ride on my big, fat cloud of denial and wave princess'ly while (whilst?) I float gloatingly past those miserable contemplators.

But this year I was kinda co-erced into contemplation. A friend brought up the topic and invited me to join in her speculation. Now it's just rude to say "Thanks, but I'd much rather watch your goldfish poop little poop-strings," so i begrudgingly slid off my cloud.

"So what has changed for you over the past year?" she asked wistfully. "My shampoo," I wanted to say, but I decided against it. Apparently sarcasm is still my forte'.

So I gave this looking-back concept a shot. Hmm..what had changed?
Well, in the beginning of the year I was studying like mad for my Recombinant DNA-Technology exam, and now i'm nearing the end of my probation at a PR firm. At the start of the year, my brother was still in school, and now he's finished his first semester of college. One of my best friends is now engaged, my cousin gave birth to her first child, and I've shifted my sweet-tooth craving from chocolate to cheesecake.

Maybe this annual mulling-over is not so bad an idea after all. Now, what would I want to change for 2009?

Zilch. Nada. Well..nothing that I can think of anyway. I'm not saying i'm the perfect human being (i'm not saying it, but you're more than willing to go ahead); I just don't believe in waiting for the start of a new year to want to improve. Might as well resolve when the fault is fresh eh?
So yea..i'd much rather handle situations as and when they present themselves/punch me in the face. I'll deal with them then.

We stress too much, we do. We all want to change so much, too much at a time. Sure, some things are a given (get healthier, stop biting nails, must see the good in Paris Hilton, etc.), but let's just take it easy for 2009 shall we?

Life's too short to add on to the worry wrinkles. Why waste good money on botox when you can have cheesecake instead?


Happy New Year everyone. Here's wishing you the best of everything. *clink*


Cheers.

Happy New Year?

Disgusting. Heartless. Mindless and Brutish. Oh..i'm being nice here. If i didn't make it a point to censor this blog I could come up with a few more terms befitting these barbaric animals.


250 people were killed yesterday. Within the space of a few minutes, 250 Palestinians were gunned down like they were worth nothing. 250 families lost a family member/lover/friend. Child-bearing women, guiltless children, aged parents; either dead or paralysed to a point of no return.

How anyone can sit back and order bloody murder of another human being, let alone 500 is beyond me. What is it you want and didn't get? Land? Money? You perverse children.

Think of your own. Think of the family you get home to everyday, and imagine them burnt to a char in a second. They don't deserve it. Nobody does.

I flaunt a peace pendant but now I want to throw it away. I'm grateful to be living to see this day, and now i'm ashamed to. We read the papers, shed a tear and get on back to our daily rituals. While on the other side of the world, grieving souls pay their final respects to the ones they loved the most.


To all those who suffered in the recent attacks, and to all victims of terror across the globe. One day your time will come.

Toon Tutors

It's true when they say that most of life's lessons are taught outside the classroom. Most of mine I've learned from my fav. cartoon characters.


- Wile E. Coyote taught me the importance of perseverence. One day he will get that damn bird!

- Daffy Duck taught me that people will still love you even if you have a speech defect.

- Bugs, Jerry and the Road runner taught me that the bad guys never finish last.

- Garfield taught me to not stress. Wait for things to come to you.

- Elmer Fudd and Sammety Sam taught me that nothing good can come out of guns...or bad aim.

- Marge Simpson taught me that life goes on even on a bad hair day.

- The Ninja Turtles taught me to always have respect for the Sensai.

- Batman taught me that it doesn't matter if you can't fly or sprout nets out of your wrist. As long as you have a Batmobile..you're cool.


Consider this a tribute to Hannah Barbara, The Warner Brothers and Jim Davis. I owe you guys.


Cheers.

The True Hero

28 year-old Iraqi journalist, Munthadar Al Zaidi made it to the wall of fame last week when he pulled out his shoe and hurled it at President Bush. Naturally he was restrained, and jailed immediately after.
The man turned into a hero overnight. He made the headlines in every newspaper, worldwide protests were staged for his release, and the facebook support group launched in his honour reached a membership of 50,000 within just a couple of days. Before you know it, he'll be in the running for Time Magazine's next Person of The Year!

So you hate the man. Is throwing foot apparel at the object of your hatred the way we handle social fallouts these days? So what is it then that sets us apart from animals, if we've lost all ability to think our actions through? Al Zaidi deserves to be locked up if you ask me. And I honesty cannot conceive even the slightest hint of martyrdom in an act so childish.


If anything, I believe it is President Bush whom we should be glorifying. At this point in time, I admire him than I ever will Al Zaidi.
Munthadar was lauded for his inability to keep his temper in check when Bush is the bad-guy for being the one able to control his fury.

George W. Bush gets himself out of bed every morning despite being completely aware of the fact that he is despised all over the world. He goes to work, and visits those countries where he knows he is not welcome. People have written and published books centering around his many gaffes; and yet he is not discouraged.

Now tell me; what is courage? Which of the two has more dignity?

I'm not saying that I love the man, nor am I stating that can do no wrong. As the President of a very influential superpower, he has made some pretty terrible descisions, sure. But I'm taking into account the Man, and not the President.


So to all those hero-worshipping a man with enough decorum to fill Barbie's teacup; get your priorities sorted!
For: "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)



Cheers.

The Mollycoddled Offspring

So my brother's back for hols after a 5-month stint in Malaysia. Now let me tell you, if you want to have the folks at your feet...leave home for a considerable duration of time.

We're all glad to have him back of course. Naturally his favourite meals are prepared ('Poor boy, he must miss home-cooked meals'), and he's being taken out to his favourite restaurants ('Poor boy, he must miss Crispy Chilli Chicken from China Town').

But since when is he allowed to get away with being sloppy. And since when did his sloppiness become 'cute!?' 'Haha..he's left his coffee-mug to rot in his room again!' Or 'Haha..he still leaves his clothes all over the floor!'

A friend of mine warned me of this phenomenon before the arrival of bro. She too has a brother studying abroad who comes down occasioanally for a session of pampering/smothering. 'Just wait and watch shaz,' she cautioned. 'There comes a point where they'll even do somersaults at his bidding.'

This is not jealousy talking. I'm more than happy to have the rents out of my hair for a month..ideally more. I'm just intrigued at the immense power my sibling holds at this point in time.

Wow..i think an experiment is in order. Watch this space for updates on my acrobatic parents.


Cheers.