A Sneeze That Leave Her Cold

Coldness of the world got her to speak her mind about it, but instead of just spitting it out, she sneezes.  For her, it is impossible to sneeze without sounding (and appearing) ridiculous.  

As you grow, your jawline might change, your hair style will change and you can even change the way you hail a taxi but your sneezing style, it stays with you, for life.

The build-up and release of some sneezes is worth a book, I think.  For instance, there are those gentle sneezes that sound like birds, hardly get noticed.  There are some geniuses who seem to be able to swallow their sneezes, an envious style I cannot master.  Then we have the "achoo" variety - almost universal in its impact, something really honest about this and most people readily respond with a "bless you".  

And there's a type called a blast.  It begins with a contorted face, moves on to the shoulders shake and rolling eyes and sometimes, is given greater emphasis by the flapping arms, followed by the outburst.  This, sadly, is the category in which I belong - the kind that will cause bystanders to jump out of their skins and rush into bomb shelters.  

Oh well, I have been frank.  

What about yours? 

Who's My Valentine?

Can't believe Christmas and new year celebrations have come and gone and the fact that I have not been blogging since last year, is just beyond me. 

I chose to write today, not to express how I am a Valentine’s Day acolyte, very much to the contrary, I never get excited about it weeks in advance the way I do with Christmas.  

I believe relationships are healthier when couples are romantic all year round and not just one day of the year.   Shouldn't just glorify romantic love on this day but all kinds of love. 

Sometimes the fact that I haven’t found that special someone yet brings up a fear that I’m not loved.  I do have a date today and have rediscovered a guy who loves me.  He just happens to be my dad.  Worth all the ink isn't it?

No romances with lashings of extravagant meal nor sumptuous fine wine tonight (no sexy talks either).  But love is all around. 



Happy Valentine's Day to all you fine people!  

A Game of Hide and Seek

It was hide and seek: A game we used to play, in which you enjoyed. 

It wasn't hard to understand why because I always let you find me: Our precious memories.  

You are not dead.  Just hiding. 

Life goes on.  And so as our gaming.  

On your birthday, let there be rain. 
so we can feel you once again.

Happy birthday son.

Walk Beside Him

Dear friend,

You have always been a bit chubby, wear a natural glow on your face, generally happy.  We met recently and you have become quite the contrary which prompted my immediate concern.   

"Do you think it is mid-life crisis?" you asked. 

I know if you can still tell jokes, you can't be feeling that bad.  What a relief.

As far as I can understand, you have been trying very hard to wear a couple of hats while juggling with several balls.  From being a responsible employee, a daddy's girl to a supportive wife and a pleasing daughter-in-law - ambitiously aiming to strike a chord all at once.  

Exhausted by the look of things because from what I gathered, you are dissipating your effort on things you can't control.

I say if there’s absolutely nothing you can do to impact the person or the situation, then it is probably best to leave it there.  It's a different story if you have will-power but you don't, right?  

There are so many important things in your life, in this world, that you can affect.  First and foremost - your own well-being is priority number one.  If you are unhappy, how can you expect people around you to be?

In your case, you have to swallow the fact that every family works differently and so when it comes to your husband's family matters, all you can do is to stand by your husband because whether you like it or not, you have chosen him to be your man.  Trust that he knows best and focus on what you can change, where you can have the most impact, make a difference, and let the rest go. 

I remember I once read something from Albert Camus' "The Stranger", which was a recommended read from you and I quote, 

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.  Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.  Just walk beside me and be my friend."

Give that a try.  I certainly hope to be seeing a happier and healthier you next time we meet. 

Terrible Twos, Sweet Sixteen, What Not?

I am looking at the calendar and realised 2012 is ending and it suddenly dawns on me that my friend's daughter will be 3 soon. 

I can still remember how tiny she used to be at birth, cute eyes, little fingers and all of a sudden she has grown to become a little toddler.

People often refer to these precious little 2-year olds - terrible twos, because as I come to understand, they can be quite terrible human beings, horrible at that age.  

I was just joking, no they are not!  I think they are just discovering their personality at this stage.  The bad news is, depending on the personality they are choosing, they can become "Troublesome Three" the following year and remain troublesome for their whole lives!  Kidding again.  

I think calling them terrible twos is just an excuse for parents because each time their kids misbehave, they can just shrug it off and say "Oh Terrible Twos". 

Wouldn't it be great if we adults can have that sort of excuse too.  Say you were fighting with your partner in a restaurant and you turn to the waiter and go "Fussy Thirty-Twos"!

I can never quite understand Sweet Sixteen either.  Not sure many parents would agree their kids are exactly - sweet - at that age.  My 16 was donky years ago but I can't recall anything rebellious in my then existence, but looking at my auntie's son at dinner time, I really think the 16 year old these days should be genetically called:

"Texting-tweeting-no-I-won't-pull-my-ear-plug-out-of-my-iPod-during-dinner-I-hate-you-I-wish-I-was-never-borned-by-the-way-can-I-have-some-cash-cuz-I-have-used-up-my-cash-advances-sixteen". 

The name is a bit long but there you go. 
 

What A Brilliant Life

I thought my life is brilliant because...

I tend to wake up when the Sun wakes up and I have no complaints about that.

I have just left a job that was envy to many and soon entering the kind of business, which again is - envy to many.

Lately what goes in my calendar appointments are generally meals instead of meetings.

I thought my life is brilliant because...

What I have in my to-do-list right now, consists of things from watering my sis' plants next door every other day, to registering online for an iPhone 5 daily until they decide to grant me a purchase ticket!
  

My life is brilliant still, with a 2-year old iPhone 4 (iOS 6) by the way.

And someone asked this lady of leisure nicely to be a lecturer.  

Did I hear myself correctly?  I think I did.  

I admire what teachers do, I do.  They all seem to have this fascinating will to make students behave and incent them to learn which, to me, are just beyond plain respectful.  I don't think I can do that, ever.  

Nonetheless, I can probably just about handle being a guest speaker in the form of a stand-up comedian, delivering course materials every now and then.  No problem.  

My life is brilliant not because I have the ability to buy a meal or purchase a commodity but because I have the ability AND opportunity to share my life-long learning with people I care and hopefully make a positive impact.   

I am sure your life is brilliant too, if in doubt, read this to yourself:  The world is your classroom, each day is a lesson and every one you meet is your teacher. 

Hayden's Last Wishes

Do not mourn me in sorrow

but paint me a rainbow.

Shedding a few tears is fine

but do remember me with a smile.

Forget the suffrage in the past

and think only of the joyous part.

Take care of those I leave behind

for they are wondrous, forever mine.

Be comforted to know I couldn't have lived any better

I am very sure we will soon reunite in heaven together.

Tears In Heaven

This is in memory of a wonderful young boy who fought cancer for almost all of his life.  I believe he has lived more in his 5 short years than many of us have in a lifetime.

His spirit and love of life moved all of those around him, and we have truly lost an amazing child to this terrible disease.

No matter how bad
he might have felt,
He always knew how
to make your heart melt.

It's certainly not fair
the battle he fought,
All those who knew him
took in what he taught.

He fought hard to beat
the disease he had,
And would never complain
of feeling bad.

For someone so young
his heart was of Gold,
You would never have known
he was just 5 years old.

Some say silence is golden. 
Others say tears are words the heart can't express.

I don't even have tears run down at the moment, but rest assured that you are in our thoughts - always.

It Is Good To Wait

The fact that we inhabit time with a past and a future, we end up sticking our neck out, waiting for something, someone, all the time. 

Standing in line, waiting to be served. Often to our disappointment and frustration.

I wasn't sure I had much to say about waiting in a positive light when really - waiting is a painful consequence of someone's bad decisions, is it not?    Doesn't help when our fast food culture of two-in-one shampoo or three-in-one skincare treatments are making us more and more impatient.  Yes.  They even managed to stuff seven years of high school into six nowadays! 

Oh Wait.  We Forgot.

We forgot how notoriously romantic it can be when you are in the wait.  

"I turn on my computer. I wait patiently as it connects. I go online."  Do you remember that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movie - set precisely in the era of using a 56K modem to get hooked online?

And what happened to the anticipation for a snail mail to arrive?  Do you recall that excitement when the postman handed you with the one letter you have been waiting for?  And does anyone remember the relish of queuing up for a movie ticket?   Anyone does that any more?   Anyone still with me so far?

We certainly have more conveniences, not a doubt.   I mean, all I need is a smartphone and I can order my groceries, grab my movie tickets, check-in my flight, saving me heaps of time queuing in various places for all these otherwise. 

The paradox is...if the fast food culture we are living in represents time efficiency and instant gratification, why are we constantly feeling the lack of time?  

I stumbled upon this paradoxical thought when I was stuck inside a plane (with no 3G or Wi-Fi network).  The amount of time one spent in "queuing" and "waiting" in airports is indeed - an incredible amount of time.  Worsened of course when you have no internet to fiddle with. 

We should appreciate the beauty of idle time - use that wisely to pause and reflect on our priorities and what is the most needed.  Waiting - won't appear to be so bad after all. 

My 8 Quirky Things To Be Thankful For

Oh it has been a terrifically hectic month for me and while writing out a cheque just then, I realised we are already four days into the month of June.

I want to stop and pause for a moment and be thankful for a few things before I forget them.

I am choosing to enchant you with my positive outlook instead of boring you to death with my whining - because - you are worth it. 

1. The bad times, because without them the good times would have no perspective.
2. Rain. It washed my linen but so as the streets, the trees and occasionally our soul.
3. Good and bad side of my father, both taught me something about me.
4. The enchanting creativity from young kids I met with.
5. Solitude. Because when am I ever alone?
6. The ability to fall in love - with a hobby that is.
7. The fact that my first edited book has been published and on sale is just pure exhilarating.
8. The much needed silence like - now.  A chance to reflect on this last month and all the things I have to smile about.

Go make your list and check it twice.  You don't have to wait till Christmas, you know?

Not Eating Properly?!

A patient walks into a doctor's office. He has a cucumber up his nose, a carrot in his left ear and a banana in his right ear.

"What's the matter with me?" he asks the doctor.

The doctor replies, "You're obviously not eating properly!"

"I see. Lately I observed that I have been talking with my fingers too. Is there a cure for that, doctor?"
 
The doctor replies, "If you can discard your smartphones and revert back to your good old analog phone, that helps and you could be talking again in no time!"

In this era, email and texting are just plain handy isn't it?  You allow the recipient more flexibility in answering, usable amidst noise and even allowing to a certain extent, a medium of flirtation less invasive than a phone call but quicker than a snail mail. 

If you think about it, very few among us yearn for a world in which the only music is classical, the only dance is ballet and daily clothing requires corsets and waistcoats.

As such, we don't necessarily have to take the drastic approach like the doctor suggested above.  We might as well embrace a brave new world where we can both talk with our fingers, and our mouth.  And trust me - it certainly won't hurt to revisit the formidable letter-writing every now and then, should romance be missing in air. 

My Top 10 Blog Posts

There are pet peeves in life that can really get to my nerves, but on the other hand, gratitude - is generally how I feel about life in general and equally so -  how I feel about your support of my blog - alampy's space. 

However much I hate to have to announce this, I am going to be away for a much needed body repair work done.  And before I drag my bag of bones to the operation theatre where they knock me out for a good few hours, it is time to do the laziest blog post ever!! 

I have pulled out my 10 most-read blog posts from the past 6 months and listed them below, in order of popularity.  Feel free to have a bit of a munch during alampy's extended absence and perhaps you can amuse the would-be bedridden me by identifying your favourite piece.


Musings At A Cafeteria
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2011/11/musings-at-cafeteria.html

Angel of Love
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2012/01/angel-of-love.html

The Various Friendship Kinds
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2011/11/various-friendship-kinds.html

Small Things That Make You Smile
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2012/02/small-things-that-makes-you-smile.html

Met With AIDS Affected Orphans
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2012/02/met-with-aids-affected-orphans.html

Lucky To Have You Mom
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2011/10/lucky-to-have-you-mom.html

Have A Big Heart
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2012/01/have-big-heart.html

Blogging Is Graffiti With Punctuation?
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2011/09/blogging-is-graffiti-with-punctuation.html

Can't See Can Tee?
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2011/12/cant-see-can-tee.html

Just Like It Used To Be
http://alampy.blogspot.com/2012/02/just-like-it-used-to-be.html

Just Like It Used To Be

We can get attached to people, things and places, you know...the tangible stuff. 

One can also get attached to feelings too if you care to admit.  

I do.  I would deliberately take a journey down memory lane and revisit places where I once belong, just to recollect.  I went back to a frequently-visited coffee house near my old office today, in search of something, a feeling rather.

It has been ages since I last stepped feet there - a spot where I used to watch people, hear politics talking, a station for reminiscing and bonding during my lunch hour get-away.  And today, I went back to purposefully look for Francis - the shop manager - whom we have become friends after a friendly bash regarding their appalling services years ago.

Good old Francis still remembers my name despite my sudden disappearance without bidding farewell.  Delighted to see me, I was welcomed from afar as soon as I approached the counter.  Not only did the lovely drink smells of wondrous gold and prepared just how I wanted it, a complimentary cake was thrown in for us mortals as well.

The lunch hour stretched long into the next hour without me noticing.  As if time has stood still.  

Everything is just like it used to be, but only better!  

Words Just Came Out Wrong

I thought I had a bad start at work today.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that my morning was one big mess, but very soon, I realised it was nothing as bad as what you guys have been through.

In my self-centred world I have ignored the vague hints that I should have called you earlier or something.  I decided to write a line or two in here to express my regrets.  I was looking for the answers and searching for the truth, which didn't even come close to expressing what I wanted the lines to be.

And when that moment came, the moment when we met, all words just came out so spectacularly wrong. 

Has anyone any faintest idea what I am talking about? 

Some say silence is golden.  Others say tears are words the heart can't express.  I don't even have tears run down, but rest assured that you are in our thoughts - always. 



 

Angel Of Love

You see an angel if someone picks an eyelash off your face. Simply because they don't want you to be seen looking like a fool. They notice these things because they really pay attention and are the first to notice if something is amiss with your beautiful visage!

You have just found yourself an angel if they don't mind running errands for you or cleaning up your messy apartment, or if they can order your food without having to be told what you want.

Somebody loves you like an angel if they don't mind the quietness in the air.

"Hey baby. I think I like you okay. Do you wanna grab lunch together? I think we have just enough to talk about to fill two hours!"

That's not love.

Somebody loves you if they don't care about how much or how little money you earn. It is a relationship where no one is selling something to the other.  No one is the prostitute.

Somebody loves you if they assume the role of caretaker when you are sick. And depending on what they say to you, you will know how much they care about your well-being.

"That is terrible. I hope you will feel better soon!" - earns you a stay in friendship jail;

"Do you need anything? I can come over and bring you get well remedies!" - gets you a cozy friendship suite.


Somebody will always love you and be your angel of love.   If you don't think this is true, then you are probably not paying close enough attention to the people around you.

 

This Time Last Year

I wish I could be more forward-looking but do you sometimes want to recall where you were and what you were doing at this time last year?  I do.  And how I wish I was more like Anne Frank who didn't seem to have a problem keeping a diary as a daily ritual. 

I can no doubt refer to the electronic version of my memory keeper but that's not what I really want. Until I found this one line a day: a five-year memory book! 

This 365 daily entries appear five times on each page, allowing users to revisit previous thoughts and memories over five years as they return to each page to record the current day's events. Nothing comes neater than that.

I highly suggest this to anyone who has always wanted to keep a diary but somehow cannot seem to stick with it. I also love the fact that each year you can look back and see what you were doing on that exact day the year before.

There is no pressure on this page to be absolutely brilliant, or to prove that every day was an amazingly life-changing day in order to make it worth jotting in your diary.   A line or two suffice and looks like keeping a diary won't be that off-putting from 2012. 

Have A Big Heart

I watched a documentary recently about blood donors and receivers.  It illustrated blood supply and demand are not always in balance and showed how some people, even with heaps of money, wouldn't have been fortunate enough to live an extra day without these selfless blood donors around. 

We all know how great it feels to do something you enjoy and have people appreciate it, even if you are not getting paid for it. 

Don't get me wrong, I am not to say you should give in order to get.  But if you think about it, the moment you put in more wood in a fire place, the fire will give off more warmth.  Give and give and you will surely receive.  Perfectly fine if you don't, but just don't be surprised when we look back on to our lives at some point and found out - it has been nothing but ash. 

Don't go set off a fire now.  I can suggest you with something less drastic to start with, such as - giving blood!   

Happy New Year + 6 Days!

Six days into the new year and it seems everybody has a plan for 2012.  A fresh, dazzling plan for the sparkling New Year. Splendid.  

What about me?  Do I have a plan? 

I do in fact. 

The idea popped up when the clock stroke 12 at midnight hour on new year day.  That was when everybody was furiously trying to get online, sending messages in Whatsapp and what not, only to find out hours later that none of the messages you intended to send got sent!  I then realised the majority of us forgot something very fundamental - hardly anyone cared to pick up the phone that minute and do the "I just call to say I love you" thing!  

Remember a few years back when we all tried to get through the line on the dot, trying hard to impress that special someone?  Well, my sis and I dialled home to our folks on that smashing first minute of the year and the line wasn't jammed at all.

It's never too late to do it now, I mean, it's only 6 days into the new year.  To attend to those you love, you don't absolutely need a reason to call them, really.  

We all know what to do from now on, don't we?  Just what ARE you waiting for?

At this very moment for me though, it is definitely about time to detox after the excesses of December.  During hibernation, I realised with introspection not being a strong suit, I shall not attempt making any New Year resolutions.  Not for real-life, and not for blogging-life.

Same old, same old.  You readers deserve much more than that, so please keep your arms and legs in the cart at all times and remain seated until the train has come to a complete stop.  Hang on. Alampy shall continue.   

Wish you all health and happiness throughout the year!  

Wrapping Up

2011 is drawing to a close, and that means it is time for me to gaze back into the past year and see how I flair with my 2011.  What better tool than Facebook when all one needs to do is to go back to one's wall and it chronologically flashes back the year in review for you just like that.  It boils down to a few things it does.
      

My year started off with a surprise birthday party of a lifetime and ended with an enjoyable month-long vacation.  That just about sums it up nicely doesn't it?  And in between, I have been on snowy land, burnt like a lobster, witnessed the autumn foliage and cruised sandy deserts. Simply can't ask for more. 

The greatest achievement of all time has to be the success of conquering the fear of heights.  No more sweaty palms as such when I stood tall in the world's tallest buildings.  The fact that I was invited to be the editor for my friend's book has been the most honourable thing I have engaged myself in.  Producing blog posts on a regular basis becomes quite a chore but I am glad blogging remains purposefully fun and that my readership has doubled compared to the year before.  Oh...and by the way I managed to change my favourite password "letmein" to something less predictable!!

On the less glorious ground, I have played numerous games of golf and still struggling to find the sweet spot! Wore killer dress which barely fit and managed to trot with a pair of 3-inch heels on for an entire night - now that's a record.   Reunited with some friends whom I haven't met for two decades and realised just how old I really am.  My alcohol tolerance level has also been an obvious aging indicator of mine throughout the year, which reminds me - I am not to embarrass myself any more in front of anyone in the coming year - I promise.

Thank you for sticking with me and lent me your generous support when I was most in need of constructive advice (you know who you are).    I am super-duperly grateful to the year, granted with good health, great food, surrounded by ultra kindliness and that I have friends and family around always to share life's little treasures with.

Before I sign off, I would like to wish you all a happy and prosperous new year of the invincible Dragon!  Cheers!

What's Worth Going Under The Knife For?

Here is a disturbing trend: Between 1996 and 2010 the number of teenagers aged 13-19 having elective cosmetic surgery has increased by 548%.  From around 14,000 procedures to 76,841 last year, according to American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

I was most perplexed to read news about some parents offering their kids bigger eyes and larger breasts as Christmas gifts!  Our society is fast becoming a cookie cutter and not one person has a unique image.

Instead of the pure obsession with breast augmentations, can we ask for a bigger soul to love each other?

Instead of the sheer hollowness in eye enlargements, would anyone care to ask for a widening in horizons?

We are all making a list and checking it twice.  Gonna find out who's stupid and wise!