Posts (page 2)

We started this project with many official, politically-correct reasons that I really hated. I hated doing an otherwise meaningful project with such deliberate agenda. So I thought I would hate the farce that was to be played out tonight.

Surprise, surprise. Tonight, I was moved. For despite whatever convulated intentions we started out with, what transpired at the event was so simple, it touched me. We made an old man very happy, walking him down memory lane. As I watched him examine each piece of memory (with such tenderness you knew immediately he truly cared), I could see the light in his eyes, just like the lights in your eyes and mine when we flip through old photo albums or yearbooks.

It really didn't matter who he was - man on the street, man on the stage. The way those eyes lighted up - it made all our efforts worthwhile.

我会想念这份感动。

We were hit by a ferocious storm today. The teacup shook violently, from eight to five. Or maybe a few hours more, I'm not sure - I'm not too good with numbers. Anyway, the good news is, I survived. The bad news is, I'm now stranded on the Sea of Migraine. I have also lost my best friend, Appetite. Oh, this solitude... it's real, I feel it right there in the pit of my stomach. *sob*

I'm now putting this SOS message in a glass capsule, and hope the waves will carry it ashore. If you read this, please call Patrol Panadol to let them know someone needs to be rescued from the Sea of Migraine. It's really choppy here, and I'm feeling awfully queasy. I really don't want to pollute the ocean - come quickly, please.

It would be really great if Patrol Panadol could find my friend Appetite as well and reunite us.

With lots of love and gratitude,
Koalacling  

Have I mentioned how I frequently meet old folks who would stop and chat? Maybe they are lonely, or maybe they think I look lonely - who knows? Anyway, I enjoy most of these conversations coz' many of these grandpas and grandmas are refreshingly candid -  being pretentious is no longer fashionable at their age. They often share their stories and insights without expecting anything in return - all I have to do is to listen.

Some encounters leave deeper impressions than others. This morning, on my bus journey to work, I met this Grandpa to whom I tried to offer my seat. He gallantly insisted that ladies should remain seated, and from there, hanging on for dear life from the handrails, he began chatting with me. In the short span of 10 minutes, I found out where he lives, where he used to live, where his son lives, how old his granddaughter is, and his schedule every morning, in case we meet again (!). Finally, some guy alighted and Grandpa sat down in the vacant seat, a few rows in front of me.

Three or four turns later, it was time for me to alight and I made my way to the exit. As Grandpa was seated rather far away from the exit, I didn't think it was necessary to alert him to my departure. After all, it was just casual chatting between strangers, right?

Wrong. Grandpa saw me, and called out very loudly to me from his seat (in Mandarin), "Miss, you are alighting here ah? You forgot to say byebye to me leh...byebye ah! Take care, ok?"

I smiled very sheepishly and waved a timid byebye as the rest of the passengers stared at me. (^__^)|| But the encounter with this bubbly personality added some cheer to my otherwise dreary work day. Thank you, Grandpa! :)

借张惠妹的歌, 谈谈自己对“来世”的感想。

从小就听父母说要好好修行，积德，往后才得以升至“极乐世界”， 或是这个天，那个天， 什么来着。
基督徒的朋友们也常说，要相信主， 归于主， 死后才能升到天堂去。

说真的，我对这一切，都满抗拒的。 并非想入地狱，但对于天堂，也没有憧憬。
死后，就不能是 ”无“ 吗？Nothingness. Poof. 就这样从所有的空间蒸发。什么都不想要，哪都不想去。

并不是消极，悲观。 只是觉得把希望寄托在 “来世”，并以“积德”，“信念” 来换取各个天国的“入门券”，是一种变相的追求。和追求人间的种种，真的有那么大的区别吗？

（我指的 “来世”， 并不局限于六道轮回。就算超脱了轮回，没有了实质的存在，精神还是存在着的，也是 "a form of existence", 对吗？） 

*仍在沉思中*

• spending some quality time with the Mister (after yet another week of constant OT)
  
• sleeping in till 10.30am! *snuggle closer to my beloved stinkilicious bolster*
  
• savouring yummy ice-cream flavours and teasing a goldfish gaping at us from his tank with a spatula-ful of the delicious stuff ("Hey fishy-fishy-fishy, want some?")
  
• a new handphone that reminds me of Paddington Bear, Mini Coopers and ang-ku-kuehs.  :heart:

Sanity is about three weeks away. I can't wait!
But I know I'll somehow miss this state of madness, somewhere in the depths of my dreams.

I was pretty peeved today at how closed some people's minds were - how judgemental they were being just because others were not part of their pack. "I can't stand these petty lil' people", I thought to myself. But soon after that thought flashed through my mind,  I realised I was being equally judgemental. I'm the pot here, calling the kettle black. Everything is relative - closed vs open, generous vs petty. Why should I judge? 

But taking this "Zen" stand feels uncomfortable sometimes, like sitting on the fence not because I like sitting on it, but because I lack the courage to fall off either side. Like I'm a wimp who can't make up my mind, you know?

Of course, wimpishness isn't the true spirit of Zen. I'm just not enlightened enough to get it right.

Another boat has come my way this week but I'm going to say no again. While I'm sorely tempted to seize this ticket out of misery, alarm bells are ringing at the back of my head. I'm not sure what's triggering the alarm, but I'm going to follow my gut feeling. Better stranded on a deserted island than to end up with Captain Hook and his crew, right?

So, for now, it's back to watching the horizon.  

Didn't work this weekend - didn't pop by the office, didn't bring work home. For the first time in a month, I had the whole weekend to myself and I spent it bummin' around, most joyfully. Watched loads of TV/DVDs, caught up on some sleep, and spent quality time with the mister, finally. Even doing housework was therapeutic, fancy that. Liberation in finally being able to mop the floor and smell that lavender in the floor detergent! My life is complete. *grin*

(I just read Magjunkie's post on environmental consciousness and this is my super-belated response)

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We try very hard to be green, but it can get pretty...trying, if you would pardon the pun. For one, I have a low tolerance for clutter, so keeping recyclable items in the house has to be systematic and neat or I'd be sorely tempted to throw them all out. Also, being green comes with an extra workload. Yes, extra workload:

- washing and drying used plastic tubs/glass jars instead of throwing them out

- patiently peeling envelopes open instead of ripping them apart, so that we can recycle them for internal use at our workplaces

- sifting through our junk mail to salvage flyers with only one printed side, so that we can use the blank sides as note paper

- recycling old newspapers, magazines, junk mail

- recycling punched out paper - yes those little paper polka dots can be recycled too!

- sorting old bills and letters and bringing them to the office for shredding

- saving cardboard packaging from products that we buy, and flat-packing them for easy storage (we don't have much space in our home and whilst waiting for collection day we can't just chuck all these in the storeroom  - we have none!)

- saving pretty fashion tags for re-use as bookmarks or gift tags

- sorting our recyclable stash into paper, plastics, fabrics

- bringing our own shopping bags whenever situation or cargo permits

- I also avoid buying products with unnecessary, excessive packaging. Have you seen how much plastic and paper some manufacturers use to box up one thumbdrive? Enough to box up 20! My pet peeve, for sure. To be truly green, we can't just rely on recycling alone - we need to cut waste at its source. Why consume what we don't need in the first place?

I think that's about all. I realise I have not done much in conserving electricity and water though. Gotta work on that.