Sometimes, it's all about the right moment presenting itself. =)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
A and W
The name and its faithful colours beamed brightly from the top of the slope. Nevermind that the name of the mall was a lot bigger and brighter. It just couldn't overshadow the brand name of the restaurant.
Lisa could barely conceal her joy when she saw it: 'Let's eat A&W for dinner!'
Lisa could barely conceal her joy when she saw it: 'Let's eat A&W for dinner!'
We used to have it here. But no more.
A&W's signature Root Beet Float. Don't we all miss it?!
The curly fries tasted as good as before - crispy and oh-so-tasty
Saturday, February 23, 2008
online affair
So much of our life seems to be conducted online now. In the virtual world, that is.
I've procrastinated for so long, but somehow tonight i simply went through my mailbox and opened up emails that i wanted to reply but haven't got down to doing for the longest time. So i replied to Irene who's in Australia, who last emailed me in October. I replied to JG, that lucky guy who's probably enjoying his time in UK now. And i replied to KV, my university friend whom I've not met and spoken with for nearly a year.
Out of spontaniety, I emailed 1-0, whom i bumped into earlier, tried *coughing* unsuccessfully by her side to catch her attention, only to have her colleague/friend prompt her - 'your friend' - before walking thoughtfully away. I know i can always expect a response from her in the shortest time, for she's always efficient and thoughtful and prompt.
I also finally created a Facebook account, though i suspect it's going to be neglected, for i ain't actively 'adding' contacts. But like everyone else, i presume, I also ploughed through friends' friends' and their friends' friends' profiles, in the hope of spotting someone familiar. So I came across secondary school classmates, JC classmates, army friends, friends of friends whom I know but never ever spoke to. There's a certain sense of surreal connection in coming across these people who at some point in your life, have crossed paths with you.
And maybe our paths will cross again. But this time not in the classroom or on campus, not in army barracks or along corridors. This time it's online. Through words and pictures that flash on the inanimate box staring at you right this moment.
[After note: Right after posting this, i refreshed my mailbox and, voila, Ms Super Efficient 1-0 has replied my email. Hats off to her!]
I've procrastinated for so long, but somehow tonight i simply went through my mailbox and opened up emails that i wanted to reply but haven't got down to doing for the longest time. So i replied to Irene who's in Australia, who last emailed me in October. I replied to JG, that lucky guy who's probably enjoying his time in UK now. And i replied to KV, my university friend whom I've not met and spoken with for nearly a year.
Out of spontaniety, I emailed 1-0, whom i bumped into earlier, tried *coughing* unsuccessfully by her side to catch her attention, only to have her colleague/friend prompt her - 'your friend' - before walking thoughtfully away. I know i can always expect a response from her in the shortest time, for she's always efficient and thoughtful and prompt.
I also finally created a Facebook account, though i suspect it's going to be neglected, for i ain't actively 'adding' contacts. But like everyone else, i presume, I also ploughed through friends' friends' and their friends' friends' profiles, in the hope of spotting someone familiar. So I came across secondary school classmates, JC classmates, army friends, friends of friends whom I know but never ever spoke to. There's a certain sense of surreal connection in coming across these people who at some point in your life, have crossed paths with you.
And maybe our paths will cross again. But this time not in the classroom or on campus, not in army barracks or along corridors. This time it's online. Through words and pictures that flash on the inanimate box staring at you right this moment.
[After note: Right after posting this, i refreshed my mailbox and, voila, Ms Super Efficient 1-0 has replied my email. Hats off to her!]
Monday, February 18, 2008
Ever tired of making new friends?
I am hardly what one would label a sociable person. While (I like to believe that) I am not socially inept in terms of mingling and speaking with people, I readily admit that I don't bother to know more people, make more friends, or even reconnect with old acquaintances and long-lost friends. Not that I dislike making new friends; it's just that i am apathetic and prefer not to. Various factors may have contributed to this state of affairs, the least of which is not the age factor.
With growing years behind you, you kind of develop a weariness and often prefer that things stay the way they are. Not everything in life, but almost certainly it extends to your social circle. Content with the pool of friends whom you've grown comfortable with, you somehow become less amenable to making new friends - unless these strangers share with you certain traits which make either sides click right away.
Making new friends, developing a friendship - this takes time and requires both committment and sincerity. After all, most of your current good friends became good friends after you've spent a long period of time (likely to be during your formative years) together. The friendship didn't establish itself over night.
A certain level of cynicism also seems to accompany age. As the trite saying goes, it takes two to clap, two to tango. A clap can only be as loud as each hand makes it to be. Partings, faltering, flourishing - these are as natural in relationships as death is certain in life. More than anything else, I realise reciprocity is necessary in making a friendship last. I think i did let some friendships go because after some time, i grew so tired of being the initiator. Not that these people stop being your friends, but you know they've become just like any other friend: not so close as before, if they are ever considered close in the first place.
And those long-lost friends, acquaintances, ex-classmates - I sometimes would rather our paths not cross again, because i often feel lost at what to say or do - at least what to say or do without being superficial and disingenuous. I hate putting up appearances, but you know what, we all have to put up appearances in life - not all the time, but in some situations, quite often in fact. That's the way things are. But its inevitability doesn't make it any more palatable.
The flip side to all this cynicism? (And you wonder if there is a positive side!) You treasure and appreciate existing friends, you genuinely enjoy their company and friendship. And you don't grow weary - not if there's reciprocity, mutual understanding and concern. Perhaps some things (including relationships) are just not meant to be. You don't dwell on them, but you focus on others that can enjoy a meaningful outcome, those that are worth your pursuit.
So now, i did say i'm not a very sociable person, didn't I? ;)
With growing years behind you, you kind of develop a weariness and often prefer that things stay the way they are. Not everything in life, but almost certainly it extends to your social circle. Content with the pool of friends whom you've grown comfortable with, you somehow become less amenable to making new friends - unless these strangers share with you certain traits which make either sides click right away.
Making new friends, developing a friendship - this takes time and requires both committment and sincerity. After all, most of your current good friends became good friends after you've spent a long period of time (likely to be during your formative years) together. The friendship didn't establish itself over night.
A certain level of cynicism also seems to accompany age. As the trite saying goes, it takes two to clap, two to tango. A clap can only be as loud as each hand makes it to be. Partings, faltering, flourishing - these are as natural in relationships as death is certain in life. More than anything else, I realise reciprocity is necessary in making a friendship last. I think i did let some friendships go because after some time, i grew so tired of being the initiator. Not that these people stop being your friends, but you know they've become just like any other friend: not so close as before, if they are ever considered close in the first place.
And those long-lost friends, acquaintances, ex-classmates - I sometimes would rather our paths not cross again, because i often feel lost at what to say or do - at least what to say or do without being superficial and disingenuous. I hate putting up appearances, but you know what, we all have to put up appearances in life - not all the time, but in some situations, quite often in fact. That's the way things are. But its inevitability doesn't make it any more palatable.
The flip side to all this cynicism? (And you wonder if there is a positive side!) You treasure and appreciate existing friends, you genuinely enjoy their company and friendship. And you don't grow weary - not if there's reciprocity, mutual understanding and concern. Perhaps some things (including relationships) are just not meant to be. You don't dwell on them, but you focus on others that can enjoy a meaningful outcome, those that are worth your pursuit.
So now, i did say i'm not a very sociable person, didn't I? ;)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
It's been quiet of late coz...
Over Emails...
K: you free for dinner anytime this wk?
Me: Meeting up this week...afraid not. I nearly had a panic seizure yesterday when the enormity and urgency of the work i have ahead of me suddenly struck me.
K: no problem about dinner - perhaps next yr? hahah
K: you free for dinner anytime this wk?
Me: Meeting up this week...afraid not. I nearly had a panic seizure yesterday when the enormity and urgency of the work i have ahead of me suddenly struck me.
K: no problem about dinner - perhaps next yr? hahah
Monday, February 11, 2008
Tennis
I played tennis today (Sunday). And proved to be completely inept. Can't do backhand, balls went out of the court, eyes were stung by sweat, making it harder than it already was to catch the ball.
But boy, was it good fun. Thankfully Francis and SP weren't masters at the game yet, though they obviously played better than I. So we promised to play more frequently - hopefully. Practice aside, i shall go do some theory research. The last time i played tennis was, after all, donkey years ago. I played crap then - actually, no, I was only learning how to play. Now, so obviously playing crap. But the thing about such games is that you want to improve, you want to play better; because you really enjoy the game the better you are at it.
So there, maybe my resolution for the Rat year could be to learn and play better tennis. How difficult can that be right? ;)
But boy, was it good fun. Thankfully Francis and SP weren't masters at the game yet, though they obviously played better than I. So we promised to play more frequently - hopefully. Practice aside, i shall go do some theory research. The last time i played tennis was, after all, donkey years ago. I played crap then - actually, no, I was only learning how to play. Now, so obviously playing crap. But the thing about such games is that you want to improve, you want to play better; because you really enjoy the game the better you are at it.
So there, maybe my resolution for the Rat year could be to learn and play better tennis. How difficult can that be right? ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)