A Time for Everything

Making Heaven

We are all engaged in a rat race in one way or another, pressing towards the delusional goal supposedly leading to felicity. More power, more income, more consumption.

While the world obsesses itself with Gross National Product and Gross National Incomes being representations of how close we are to the ultimate utopia, Bhutan is in pursuit of Gross National Happiness! The government creates the conditions that would enable every citizen to pursue happiness with a reasonable chance of success.

Don’t you think that’s cool?


"Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Is that an idealist's dream? A cloak, veiling something the "happy" people refuses to admit? Or a reality?
Oh boy.... I think I will turn schizo trying to find my place in either stance....

John Milton, a 17th century author (actually, I didn't know who he was until I searched for that name, so I hope this is the correct guy):
The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make heaven of Hell, and a hell of Heaven.

I think I should start making heaven.....
*
*

An Unsated Saturday

Saturday. Sleep, sleep, read bimbo magazine, and sleep more. Online in the late evening, I realize that nobody is on, except for TY (xiao-pang), who’s working like crazy – as usual. Must be another fellow leading not so exciting life. Is everyone else leading happening activities out there on a Saturday evening, or is the list in my MSN contacts too few to count?

Hong came online a while later and asked what I was doing. Actually, I was perpetually doing nothing, except replying to her messages. She mentioned something about her reading xx’s blog.

(I’ll just use initials here. Read on the bimbo magazine earlier today that we have to blog responsibly and to be discreet. I think I’d better to add a disclaimer too – to be doubly sure.
Disclaimer: No animal was hurt, nor characters meant to be slandered while writing and posting this. Readers will be liable for their own interpretations.)

And so, in my ennui, I keyed in the search for the blogs of both xx and DYeoh. I remember having read them when they first hogged limelight on the national papers, but their works left little impressions on me. Now that Hong brought xx up again, and I’ve got nothing to do, I took some time to just read them.

Except for the different blog layout most of us use (which are from the templates provided), the long blog writings held little content. Quite obviously over-rated. They are just little crass and unrefined observations, peppered with grammatically wrong phrases and tenses. None of those points spoke any depth nor volume. Only superficiality. (I shouldn’t even say there were points!)

Why the popularity, I really don’t understand. I am not trying to be depreciatory (I know I can’t write well too), but the fact that such works have gained popularity seems to point to something being grossly wrong. I seriously hope such blogs do not become the literary representation of this century.

I mean I would have enjoyed reading satires with points or humors holding up human vices and follies, ironies and struggles. But works that assumes no point? Tsk, tsk, Waste of time.

I think anyone can write better…. Meanwhile, I will just stick to Mr Brown….

Ermmm…. Am I being quirky again?
*
*

Cupid's Choice of food

The food correspondent on last week’s Sunday Times, Lifestyle’s taste column was writing on the hip eateries when out of the blue, she used boyfriends that come and go as an analogy to the hip restaurants scene in Singapore. At the end of her write-up, she ended with the statement that one would need to take a few attempts before hitting long-term material.

A day earlier, I met up with two of my girlfriends, Hong & Kong for dinner.

When three 25+ year-old single girls gather at the meal table, the common topic yet again was more lamentations on the lack of good, eligible men & single-hood. Cupid has yet to strike (rightly) for any of us and Hong was saying that he should just strike once and most accurately. Misses or any less than precise hits are most un-welcomed.

Like I always say, only the best need apply. Self-unaware applicants can stuff their applications elsewhere. It is not my fault. I will be too busy if I take second looks at spams…

Oh, by the way, please do not try getting me to patronize any restaurant a second time if I’ve had an unimpressionable first experience…Even when it seems absolutely necessary, I’d rather walk an extra mile to search for the next best. It is better to have the palate spoilt with the best than to spoil it…
*
*

The Torturous News

I received an email in the mailbox informing of the demise of the parent of someone I knew.
Much as I share the grief of the family (since they are most likely the people I know dearly), I have problem responding with something right for the occasion. That, without appearing hypocritical. Hence, I decided to feign ignorance.

The last time I received such a notice, it was a text message on the phone. I guess the notices were sent with the sole motive of adding attendance to the wake services. Due to work and other reasons, I am always not found at those services. Okay. Okay. The real reason is because I don’t know what to do and/or what to say at such times. So, the best strategy is to “siam”.

For the text message, there is almost no escape. A response is expected and has to be sent, even if I can attempt to cook up an excuse for my physical absence. “My sympathy” sounds too short and remote. And so is “My condolence”. That sounds so…

Might as well skip that altogether.

But I do share their sorrow. Really. I know how it is. After all, it did take me some time before I got over my granny’s passing years back, and understand (as all Christians may claim, but possibly not truly understand) that she is at a better place.

Oh yes. Back to the text message: I replied the message with something like “I understand how you feel, but at least we know she is at a better place, and we will meet again one day…” I’ve always thought that she is more a Christian than I am, but the recipient of the message obviously doubted me, for I have never received another message from her henceforth.

So, can someone tell me what to do and what to say? What on earth is politically right?

This is so torturous. Never shared anything good with me, but the sorrow after letting me know of the news, and yet ignoring me thereafter just because I don’t know how to respond.

Since I get penalised either way, the oddball has thus decided to keep to the “siam”-ing strategy, while nursing the sorrowing heart in my own corner...
*
*

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....
*
*

For a start...

Something’s wrong with my thought trends. They come as wildfires at the most unexpected times (during meetings, whilst I am supposedly talking to people, and even midway through church sermons....of course, there are also times they came when I was simply lazing in bed and cannot bring myself to jot myself out of consciousness...). However, they never really spread. Instead, they whizzed off like a breeze at a blink. There have been a lot of things that I’ve meant to put to words, but when I truly sit down to gather my thoughts, everything just goes blank.

Yes. I am an oddball, or so, I suspect.

Physically, I am neither svelte nor lumpy. Taller than some, yet shorter than others. Plays the piano, yet cannot claim any musical inclinations. Personality-wise, ermmm… I am still trying to find an exact term to describe myself. Below is a list of traits I’ve found that are typically used to describe personalities, but I do not seem to be able to fit perfectly into any of the specs:

[1] Sociable or Unsociable: My smile is probably my prized weapon. I’ve always made a conscious effort to make everyone I come in contact with comfortable. Networking and talking to people is part and parcel of my trade. This is an art, you know. Aside from being glib, your associates have to receive your vibes of sincerity. Okay! Okay! Before you roll your eyes… I do enjoy being in good companies.

There are also times, however, when I simply switch off and become totally anti-social. Those are times when social phobia creeps into me…and that happens even when the moon is not blue...

With that, I really cannot cross my heart and swear I am a social animal or not…

[2] Intelligent or Unintelligent: I definitely did not graduate with a first class honors in University. But I am still able to hold conversations with the numerous doctorates I have came across. Does that make me intelligent enough?

[3] Unstable or Stable emotions: Some people would think me as a sturdy dependable. And I would not deny that. Afterall, how many times would you get so crossed and fed up with inefficient people and still not lose your cool? Scream at them, and not let it affect your being altogether? Yes. I would not let just anyone affect me. Nonetheless, there have been times when I became so cranky; I did things that I myself have problem comprehending in retrospect. You need not know what…

[4] Self-sufficient or Submissive: Mum says I appeared too intimidating for any man’s liking. But really, a part of me does want to eventually be a submissive partner. In fact, I do enjoy being in company with people who would look out for me. It can be blissful to be led, without having to tough it out alone… But of course, I am sane enough to only submit to the most worthy…

[5] Imaginative or Practical: “Someday, my prince will come…”
Yes. I do live in a dream – one that Hong has been questioning if it will ever come true. He is to be sensitive and attentive – a man who is capable of loving and to whom I can engage with. No. I never thought it is a far-fetched imagination. Just that such men whom I have come across are taken.

So, you see, those are actually practical criterion for the search of the better half. Such people do exist!

Uh-oh… I hear some "tsk-tsk"s and see some heads shaking. Okay. The better ways of describing the possibly practical side of me is that I’d walk more and eat less so that I can save up for that million dollar the financial advisor in the papers say I would need so as to sustain myself when I grow old.

Hmmm… is that a practical imagination? Or an imaginative practicality?

Nevermind. I think I’ll just go for a Cartier watch or another Omega or the likes…

[6] So, Bimbo or Bitch?: Not pretty enough to be a bimbo leh.... how? But too pleasant to be a bitch too...

That said, I think I am most likely a distinctive character of my own. My own oxymoron. Someone once commented that I probably have not lived long enough. Before you nod to that, that remark was passed by someone who is barely a few months older than me. Oh yes! Those few extra months probably did more harm to him than to me. Cos’ I really do not think that there is going to be any significant change in me within the next few months. After all, I have lived as thus for the last 25+ years….

After reading some works by my friend, Hong (who I really think have a great flair for writing), I’ve wanted to try my hands at writing too. Unlike her, I’ve gotta confess I cannot write as well. I hope the last 700+ words have not put anyone to sleep.

In fact, it took me quite some time to decide on what to write for the first piece. Then I decided that I should give it up altogether. Then again, I think I should start writing - even though it is just a "who-cares?" little introduction (that got too long) to why I named the blog Oddball's corner.

That, at least to kick-start my neuro-motors that have hibernated long enough since graduation from school.

Oh well, the least to do is to check that the neuronal connections are still there and right. You see, the oddball needs a little more effort than the others when fitting to the angular corners of the norm…

*

*