The Whore of Mensa

Have you read Woody Allen's "Without Feathers"?
It is such a fantastic read, you'd be surprised. He had me in stitches.
One of the mini sections of the book was entitled, "The Whore(s?) of Mensa".
It is a story about how men go out to look for women prostituting, not their bodies, and certainly not for sex, but their minds, for intellectual stimulation.
Which brings me to a question for discussion: at which point is 'talking' considered an act of infidelity?
My cousin enlightens us with her opinion when she says, and I quote:
"Infidelity is committed when there're feelings involved. It doesn't matter whether these feelings are sexual or not, as long as the attraction is there..."
Is this true?
But then, isn't all attraction based on sexual feelings?

Illusions

There isn't an unselfish deed done in the world.
Love does not exist, only illusions of love.
Friendships are stepping stones, friends need another hand to clap with, just for a while.
You help them, give them a hand, so to speak, and they slap you hard on the face. You fall. Unconscious. And someone picks you up from off the ground. He smiles, not because he's glad you're okay, but smiles because he's done that one good thing that is his quota of "nice thing to do for someone else" for the day. He's completed his goal. He sleeps soundly tonight.
You think you've fallen in love with him, love at first sight, the sweet, caring, knight in shining armour, the whole shebang. But you only think you love him because he picked you up.
It's all a charade. Don't trust yourself.

FIONA

So much to say, so little time....
Just finished my practical exam. Good enough. Got stressed for a bit. Sms-ed Harith, thinking he was Hariz and after a brief mix-up, all is well again.
But the episode reminded me of the time when Harith kept my spirits up that one time I needed someone to. He is very supportive and very smart. I love him to bits!
'The universe will always give you what you want...'
Hmm...
So last night I prayed. I prayed that whatever it was that got me upset earlier that day would disappear.
And funnily enough, I got it. Hooray! Mwah, mwah Harith! Thanks for the advice!
And because of the stress mounting up like God only knows how high, we went karaoke-ing. It was so much fun! Note, we ONLY sing Malay songs, and we only sing GREAT malay songs!!!!
Had 'Awan Yg Terpilu' on. Was very the impressed with that song. Sms-ed Loloq, conveying my appreciation for his type of people in our entertainment industry. Really, its THAT good! I'm so proud of all involved in the making of that song...
Had 'Fiona' on too. For all times sake. Sigh. Jo, if you're reading this, bahu turun dulu baru slide ke, kaki ke kiri dulu??? Hahahahahahah...
Tu la, org suruh nyanyi hari tu tak nak, kan kitorg dah carik sendiri video clip tu...
Eh, Jo, nak pinjam baju pink menyala tu boleh? Dengan rantai CD sekali....Hehehehe...


I have to learn to focus. Get the exams over with, then push head on towards finishing the book. Man, I've been procrastinating so much... It's so frustrating...
Okay, will do it when exams are over. That's it. I've decided. And I WILL finish it by my target date. Damn it! I'm so lazy!

Just got an sms from Amir! He is SUCH a genius!!!!! Thank you, thank you!!!!! Hah, you're a life saver!!!!! Mwah, mwah, thank you!!!! Nanti I belanja lampu cincang!!!! Hahahahaha!!!!

Okla, dah mula merepek ni, dah tak tau apa nak cakap... OUT!

Sigh

Ya Allah, frustrating nya!!!

I was at a shopping centre earlier and had to walk up and down the foyer a couple of times coz I tend to get lost very easily anywhere anyway, but then I started to notice that three different sound system blared across the whole stretch of the foyer, playing three different songs, simultaneously.

And here is where my frustration built up:

The first sound system was playing 'Jujur' by Radja and the second was playing a Peter Pan song. Now although these songs are great and the bands, talented, I find it difficult to accept that Malaysian songs,in Malaysia, played/sung by Malaysian bands do not get as much airtime compared to the Indonesian bands.

Cause and effect: play Malaysian songs on air, (on radio stations, in shopping malls, etc.), they get recognition, people start to enjoy them for what they are (which is great music!), and thus Malaysian songs get played even MORE on air.

Do the same with Indonesian songs and you get the same results. But why do we need to do that when our songs are just as good, our bands/singers are just as talented (some even more so)?

The third sound system played a Christmas song (okay fine, I understand, you want people to get in the spirit of Christmas, bla bla, bla, or maybe the management of the shopping centre wanted mat salehs to feel 'at home' or something-which is kind of stupid, cause if you go overseas, they won't celebrate Raya as festive as we celebrate Christmas, so why do we need to do that???-but okay, takpe, I'll let that one slip), but here's where I had to take a long breather: the song they played had the following lyrics booming in and all around the third end of the foyer: "...praise Jesus, our Lord..."

These words were played repeatedly as they were part of the chorus (very convenient)!

And little kids were mouthing these exact words, without actually comprehending the meaning!

I was, and still am, speechless.

And what got me even more frustrated was the fact that when I went to comment to the management of the monstrosity of the effect the music they were playing for their customers had to the Malaysian people, all they could muster in response to my disappointment was to ignore the point totally but (tried to) encourage empathy in the lack of cds they were given to play! Apparently, these were the three cds they had and so these had to be played on and on and on in a loop, repeatedly, the whole day long!

Should I just give up?

Life's Lessons

Life is all about learning. Some people learn fast, others are slow-learners. But everyone learns.
Sometimes you have to learn how to unlearn and relearn. Sometimes things that you think you know may have been true and appropriate at the time of you receiving this information, but as time passes by, the data changes and things you think you know are no longer true. That is why you should never stop learning. If you learn something new that contradicts with your old belief, just unlearn and relearn.
I learnt a new thing about friendship today. I’ve always thought that a friend was supposed to be someone who accepts who I am.
This is no longer true.
A friend is someone who expects the best of you. They expect you to do what you say you’d do; hold you accountable, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally; expecting you to perform the best and provide the best. A friend expects you to challenge them with your example.
Somebody whom accepts you as you are doesn’t really care about you.
There are people out there that you know, who’d call you in the middle of the night and you’d be able to help them with whatever they need, and vice versa, and yet these same people will not give two hoots about the things you’re excited about. This is when you know you need new friends.
We act like the people we hang around with. We tend to do the same things, eat the same things and believe in the same things.
Friends are the most influential individuals to you.
I learnt that I have to make the right choice in making friends, because what I’m actually doing is choosing the person I want to become.

Ramblings

I'm so frustrated. No, disappointed. I am disappointed. Sigh...
It's sad. So sad. How could this have happened? How could have everyone just watched and not have done anything about it?
I hope it's not too late to make a change.
I'm ready.

The 90/10 Principle

Have you heard of this? I got this through an e-mail a couple of days ago.

Discover the 90/10 Principle. It will change your life. What is the 90/10 Principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How?
By your reaction.
You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.
Let's use an example:
You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terribly. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter. Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?
The answer is D. You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.
Here is what could have and should have happened:
Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time." Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.
Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same.
Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED.
You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.
Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle:
If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.
How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off! Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive? Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.
You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.
The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.
Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

I hate my IT classes. I often skip it. I see no point in someone wanting to become a chef learning the definitions of ROM and knowing how to spell it. No doubt we'd be using computers, and the practical classes are deemed informative, but the theory classes I find useless. Last week we were assigned our first ever coursework for IT for the final exams in December.
It took great effort, sleepless nights, determination, procrastination, then back to "let's just get this over with!" for me to finally finish the 37 pages worth of crap.
I got all excited all of a sudden, tried to print the document and found that, to cut a long story short, the printers weren't working.

Breathe...

Apply the 90/10 principle.

Breathe...

I couldn't do it.

Tomorrow, I plan to go to the cyber cafe downstairs to print my document, hand it in, and hopefully, never have to see it again.

Oh, and I hope someone will eventually clean up the smashed up printer pieces from off the floor, for I'm sure as hell not going to do it.