Completing what love is...

With V'day looming near on the 14-Feb, I thought I'll turn advertising script-writer and complete 14 "Love is..." statements. Here goes:

(1) Love is devoted patience... like hong*'s gramp who would travel distances and repeat the same sentences over and again when her grandma cannot hear. Not grunting in impatience.

(2) Love is being supportive in action (even when perplexed).... like beng* not understanding why hong* feels down about not having lunch kakis, and yet drives down from east to west just to be a company and support. Not protesting she is nutsy.

(3) Love is gentle respect... like rich gal Ching* who talks to her less accomplished husband in meekness. Not turning haughty at the least of any achievement.

(4) Love is putting another above my own desires... like I am careful not to be an inconvenience to another. Not harping on extra miles taken. (yes, I am learning & trying to love with concrete action)

(5) Love is forbearance & chivalry... like ALow* walking with his wife to the train station early every morning so that he gets to spend time with her even though that means he will reach work an hour early. Not emphasizing that special efforts was made.

(6) Love is thorough honesty... like TAw* telling his wife every little detail. Not hiding nor seeing the need to.

(7) Love is empathy and anxiousness to protect.... like Auntie Lian*'s husband refusal to let her take care of his grandchildren so that she will not be tired out. Not muttering against another's disability to stretch.

(8) Love is regardless of education & status.... like Dr. Tan* submitting without contempt to the directional instructions of his wife, a high school grad. Not looking at her with disdain.

(9) Love is re-assurance... like XL*'s dad giving his mom a tender touch when she gets emotional. Not suppressing emotions.

(10) Love is sharing lives... like HShan*'s husband who would not cease to tell her of the days' happenings so that she will not miss out. Not having had to be prompted relentlessly.

(11) Love is seeing another happy... like Irene*'s husband surprising her on her birthday even after being wedded for years. Not making a dread out of occassions.

(12) Love is hope... like people who dashes towards shared dreams. Not dashing them for any fear.

(13) Love is missing each other's presence... like the multiple phone calls that hong* gets. Not going on life without missing each other's absence.

(14) Love is being fiercely loyal... like PHo* when he refused to engage in ragging activities that puts him in compromising positions with the girls in the name of fun, even when his girlfriend is nowhere in sight. Not giving a chance or compromising. (yes, i am a prude)



EKH* posed queries to my expections of relationships and love when we talked yesterday... It's not that I have never gone through cogitation. I have thought through it hard too. Whenever the rational water in my brain wins over the emotional fire of the spirits and repossesses the mind, i'll start wondering if i have been building expectations on fancy, floating clouds of fluffy cotton candies...

But those I've listed are nothing out of disney channel. Not inspirations drawn from TCS, TVB, TBS, KBS, Bollywood nor Hollywood scripts. Nothing show biz. All real lives, in real inspiring love. i am not amplifying the actions per se, but considering the love behind the actions that get amplified... and I link it all to 1 Corinthians 13:3 that says "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

Really, actions are superficial. I am not about to be dishonest and garb myself with deceptive nobel masks by saying that I do not care for nice gestures. In fact, I do. I do so much so that I identify them with the love that goes with it. It's like, love causes actions, but actions do not correlate to love...

Love is complete not over a gold-plated cover, but a metamorphose into what it is, exactly as written so long ago....

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

(1 Corinthians 13:4~7)

Haha.. i think i am starting to blabber again... anyway, Happy V'day, my friends. To all of you and I, may we immerse in love & bliss everyday of our lives ! I hope someone will provide my cotton candy clouds with enough aerodynamics to float.... someday....

Thomas Trahern

Love is the true means by which the world is enjoyed: our love to others, and others' love to us

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Spotted on Merriam-Webster: Obaman

Oba is (an African) king / ruler.
That makes Oba-man his supporter.
How apt!

Now think of what a supporter of yours might be called if you'd ever have any....

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Taking leave...

As children, we loved holidays. School's out, and it's time free to own... ok, except for the holiday assignments. The best times were those breaks in kindy and uni. No homework, no holiday assignments... basically, just time on our own - simply to relax and recharge - then start everything afresh.

Growing up, taking leave from routines are no longer as carefree. The people in the adult world take leave from routines, only to satisfy other's expectations. They flock away from home, rush through places, taking pictures. Don't be mistaken. I have nothing against picture taking. In fact, I like taking pictures. They are memories to which are extremely valuable especially for people like me who's showing early signs of alzheimer... Neither am I against going on overseas trip, taking time to explore the world, away from the familiarities and being intoxicated in THE mood.... ah.....

But some people do not share the same reason. The pictures, are to them, evidence of having spent the bucks. All so that the "so, where have you been?" question asked at the pantry may be answered with pride. They shoot quizzical looks when I say I am staying home on my leave days.... Adults are weird creatures...

Nontheless, I took leave from work today as I did not think it a good idea to start the 27th year of life half-panting in the rat-race. It was nice to be able to wake up without the alarm clocking crying above the head, laze about, select and read the papers, have lunch at time past noon, take a cuppa, fiddle the piano, gamed a little, nap a little, and basically just let the day pass in leisure. No fuss, no faze. Simply nuah....

It might have been just a little more perfect if there were no emails, and reports to send.... and I can start everything afresh when I return from the break.... Taking leave from routines sure ain't the same anymore.... there can be no fresh new starts after the break. (Hopefully) Just a refreshed spirit. And now, back to the same work again.....
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The people most difficult to work with...

While Yin thinks that the most difficult working environment is one where people are rude to one another, I think the worst environment to work with will be one infested with opportunists. As a matter of fact, I have been plagued by just one, and that was enough to drive me up the tallest wall imaginable. I am even willing to call myself ungracious in the face of dealing with The Opportunist. Really cannot imagine being in the company of more.

The Opportunist is lethal, and potently imbalanced. The Opportunist marvels at problems. No, they aren't perfect challenges for The Opportunist to drive solutions. Problems are best chances for The Opportunist to jump into bitchy email writing mode, copy everyone that can be thought of, and start the "it's your fault, her fault, his fault, and it's also ITS fault, (basically the whole wide world's fault). Please check all the problem, and revert to me (so that I can use them as blackmail chips). I am boss now (yeah... the self-deluded who still cannot find a footing in the next rung) because I am NOT (must highlight, bold & underline) the cause of the problem. And yes, I want to have what I want because my boss (whom I think is great cos she can let out loud shrills that resonates through rooms and is probably also capable of breaking windows) says that I am the control hub."

Bwahahaha...

Yea, right! Who can pay when the pocket's empty?

To think that any gains may be reaped from finger-pointing exercises, The Opportunist must be either down-right naive, or is a big-time laughable loser who had been highly repressed.

I'll opt for the latter. Who else would do sneaky things like block others in their messenger contact list, and in turn, run unidentified programs to check who blocked them? People who had some deviant virus, i guess...

Trust me, having one Opportunist is definitely enough to be more than a handful. It is almost asphyxiating. I can do without one. Really cannot imagine being in a company of more than that... drop dead.

The giant Giant

Ikea, Giant & Courts congregating their mega malls in Tampines.... With all the space, it feels like I am back in the States... kinda nice walking from building to building... guess I like all things big...

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The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart

Last Sunday's sermon topic was "A Season for Marriage". Even as I thought I'd probably be falling asleep over such a topic, the preacher has sensitively started the sermon with talks of how the singles should approach courtship and such. Okay... I've probably not been so touched by anyone worthy thus far, but who knows? It may become applicable one day... I think I've still got some charm, right? (I'd hope) Better straighten my back and listen well...

In the sermon, he mentioned something about the traits to look for in the search of the better half.

One of the traits he mentioned was that of self-sacrifice. He encouraged the single ladies to look out for the single guys who would later stay back after the service to help move the chairs (we are at a borrowed school compound currently, you see, so it is essential to be considerate and return the place in its original conditions after Sunday).

The interesting phenomenon that followed thus was unbelieveable: A lot more people than usual stayed back after the service to help move the chairs. There were so many people hanging around the hall that I have a bit of problem maneuvering my way out of the place. (I've never liked staying in crowds, you see...)

Anyway, I think these people have missed the whole point.

The actions of self-sacrifice should find its springhead from the heart, without any ulterior motives to gains of anything in particular. The heart of the matter is really, the matter of the heart. It is really not what one does at that instance to prove anyone anything. Fact is, I never believed in proving anyone anything. Whatever one does, it should be because he/she really think he'd want to do it. Else, one may turn grossly disappointed or bitter because an un-met expectation was involved.

A good friend had a huge crush over a colleague some time back. That experience kinda weighed her down a lot then. Along the way, she realised however, that there was yet another colleague who is always patiently listening to her, and admolishing her at other times, but out of genuine concern and care. I believe it was this relentless TLC that made her go kinda "warm and fuzzy" (quoting her today *wink*) inside over time.

No. It's not easy at all. Human being humans, we are more self-centred than we'd like to think we are. More oft, we have our own little hidden agendas when we make efforts to execute what seemed a good deed. But how long can it persist?

That is why I am sometimes very put off by people who sashay around in the holy-joe garb. Everything that was done just have a double wham of negative vibes cos they were never that convinced of doing it. Weird how I do get pretty sensitive about such negative vibes... hah!

It is the works that spring from the commitment and motivation of lifting another person up that can stand through circumstances and time. What comes in return will be a gift in itself, sweeter than if hoped for or expected, I suppose....

Perhaps, I really do have a pretty high expectation on people, but please, there really is not need to crowd the hall if anyone is not really convinced of the obligations....

Take time to look up

I have always marvelled at the wonders of nature when I am on holidays. The skies overseas always look so enchanting. Actually, I never realised that it is not that bad at home.

I took the picture this morning as I was on my way to work. Look! Actually, our skies are just as nice too. Sometimes, all it takes is to look up and give thanks for the things we have been given... Even though it is a Monday....

Thank God for the new day!

High prices for a Super Budget Production

Watched the worst, budget musical today.
And yes. It cost me $80. Not very budget.
$80 can last me 16 workdays, if we work that on a $3 budget meal, with $2 for transport. Considering that we are working a 5-day week, 16 workdays works out to 3 weeks and a day.
And what did I do with that? Splurged that on watching some (not exactly handsome) man engaging in sexual acts with some (equally lousy) actresses without the sizzle.

Oops!

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Love, Love changes everything:

Hands and faces,

Earth and sky,

Love, Love changes everything:

How you live and

How you die...

Love will turn your world around,

And that world will last forever...

Aww…. Don’t you think those lyrics are utterly romantic?

Having had a busy and hectic workweek, I was kinda looking forward to the Aspects of Love musical this weekend. But lo and behold, I was slapped with disappointment after disappointments during the show.

How bad can it be? Let’s just say it’s REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BAD!

#1: Entering the theatre, we were slapped with an unusual silence. That’s weird, cos usually, you will have the orchestra doing their tuning prior to the show.

Needless to say, there was no orchestra. Only two dull pianos.

No doubt, the pianists were pretty good. However, having just two pianos simply fail to swell the atmosphere. The mood was just not right – and I mean through the entire show!

If that is not bad enough, we have #2 to (gasp!) #6.

#2: The lead man singing those lines above were quite obviously devoid of the emotions & passions those lines are suppose to convey. He was obviously unable to feel what the character ought to feel. He’s just….. not into the character! And it seemed to me that he was not the only one… (not that there are a lot of characters to begin with.)

#3: No backdrops. No costumes. Set in the 1940s, how can the cast dress like any o’ Filipinos you see on the street today? How can the furniture from Barang-Barang stands as prop to set the French scene at that time? (And mind you, they are sponsored) My gosh! What audacity they’ve got to come on stage with just that, and claim it a musical (and charge $80 for the cheapest tix)!

#4: Off pitch singing. What can be worse in a musical production, especially when it did not only happen only once or twice? Without an orchestra, the burden will be on the casts to sing even better. But… but... but the singing of the casts were like… not the least melodious or in tune - often missing beats and pitches!

#5: Lousy storyline. This is the first time I am watching Aspects of Love. Having heard and read the lyrics on “Love changes everything”, I’ve imagined it to be a really romantic one. Well, even the Sistic synopsis says it's "one of the most romantic and passionate shows in the world". More than being over-rated, it's sad to say, however, that the plot did not drum Aspects of Love at all. On the contrary, it seemed to me that “Aspects of Lust” appeared to be a more appropriate title.

#6: Sitting beside a couple (I guess) on a getting-to-know-you date, where the boy kept shouting “Bravo!” when I was dreading to get over and be done with with the extremely lousy show. Interestingly, the girl (quite pretty one, ok?) was still positively polite towards him. If I were her, I would probably have dug a hole and dived into it asap to avoid being caught dead with anyone who associate boo-boos with bravo!s…. I mean, that's probably okay, it's just that he was like speaking of all the high & might arty stuff prior to the show and during the intermittent, as if proud that he's some arty-farty... well, quite obviously he's not...

Okay… should stop my bitchiness…

Anyway…


Even Ivan Heng’s The Visit of theTai-tai, through it’s many glitches on the first night managed to bring on litters of comic relief amid the dark plot. Okay, even if Hong disagrees with that, they at least had a backdrop and better costumes! (And Ivan Heng was funny.) The Aspects of Love show was expensive in comparison, and totally without any saving grace… okay, except perhaps for the upgrade of seats from Circles 2 to Circles 1. And that’s because of the poor turnout.

Now I know why Aspects of Love, though being one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s early works, had remained so relatively unknown. Quite obviously, there’s a reason for everything…

Haiz… I should have put the money to better use.

Overall verdict for the show? No star. I will give negative stars, in fact, if there were such rates.

What have I paid for thus?

$10: The show +
$10: The 2 pianists
$60: Lead’s uninteresting sexual actions
= $80

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Lowest cost EXPRESSION program....

Show casing the Costless weight-loss & work-efficiency booster program:

"Hello, Expression... "

Okay, Expression is probably passe.... I think it is Cenosis or Philip Wain nowadays... Just a week or two ago, ting2 asked me on my views towards the effectiveness of slimming programs. Ermm... I don't suppose she thought I went for any of those.... and I obviously cannot be a spokesperson for any of those trades.... I would probably be the right person to ask if she needs queries answered on expansion.... That will definitely be much, much easier.

Anyway....

The method shown above originated from my colleague, DF who sent me an email with much excitement out of the blue to inform of the latest weight-loss program he found. He claimed that it would also increase work efficiency. (Well, I hope he didn't mean to question my work efficiency or to imply that I am fat!)

I have not tried it out, but SSF (above) soon got wind of it and had started out on the program sooner than I did... Yes, I think I will try that out someday.... but before that happens, I need to first look for prettier looking boxes to prop up my notebook... talk about being ai swee...

** Please note that the above picture was suppose to be a candid shot, taken with the sole intention of showcasing how the program is to work. However, my Sony Ericsson phone's loud "click" sound was a dead give-away. After assuring him that he will never be identified and pointed on the street, generous permission has been granted for this picture to be featured on this site. Hence, please do not point him out if you happen to recognise him on the street. Thank you.

Singapore, The sleepy City

In most gung-fu shows, when the baddie who is no match to the hero needs to knock him out, he lets in some magic tranquilizing fumes into the room. I’ve always suspected that I might have inhaled some of those likes that have everlasting effect. It is too often that I feel so very tired and restless. Then I realize that I may not be the only one plagued with the symptom. Most Singaporeans are no different!

This morning, I actually saw a new colleague walking to the pantry with his eyes closed. Sure, that was a broad path, with little obstacle, but how does he not know that a clumsy being will flash out of nowhere and bump into him? Hey, he should be thankful my eyes were open. For God knows what will happen if my hot water starts dancing…

Then there was this girl I saw on the bus who cannot help but nodded off while texting on her phone. Barely before she finished her message sentence, she fell asleep. My kay-pohness overcame me and I squirmed to see what she was messaging. But my poor eyesight and the tiny font on that nokia phone was not helpful in reading the contents. But I swear that the sentence was incomplete when she fell prey to the spell. Only when the bus jerked, did she come into consciousness and finished her sentence, before slumbering yet again.

While on the 40 mins journey on the tube in Taiwan, my boss fell asleep. When he awoke at the destination, he asked for the washroom. Someone actually comment, “What’s with him?”

Though I managed a smile, I must admit I was drowned in grogginess then too.

Yes. What’s with us? It is not uncommon, while at work, to receive msn messages from people who tell you they are sleepy. I’ve got to confess that I have sent out several of those myself…

This seems quite phenomenal, especially when I am dormant most hours of the day. Something must be wrong. We are actually in a national sianz mood!

Or is it just me again.... *yawn*

Forgive me... it's Monday....
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