invitation

One reason I hardly go when I receive an invitation is because I do not like to be there alone. Which usually happened.

As it happened again on Saturday. Of course, if I get an invitation at all, which do not happen often.

Which is better. getting an invitation or not at all? Sometimes I feel I am better off not getting any. The only thing is, I will be disappointed if the person is important to me. I will really like to be there. Even if I am alone there ....

marathon a thorn

From STForum posted on 9Dec09(http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_464059.html)

Dec 9, 2009
Qualifying time will separate the runners from walkers

I REFER to Monday's report, "Next step in the marathon - a bigger people's event".

Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Transport) Teo Ser Luck said he wanted the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon to be a bigger people's event.

I am all for having healthy events, but judging from last Sunday's run, I am against the idea of making it any bigger because it would inconvenience others.

Mr Teo mentioned other countries having smaller numbers for their marathons. Maybe it is because the participants in those events are real runners, unlike in Singapore. From what I saw, many people were just walking most of the way.

The organiser should allow only true runners to participate. Maybe having a minimum qualifying time would separate runners from others who are there for the walk. After all, this is a major event in Singapore.

Also, have the marathon in a place where there will be minimal disruption to other activities. I would not like to join an event that will be a nuisance to others.

Alan Lim

loving the cooking

When I mentioned I wanted to cook, my wife told me it was easier to go downstair to buy. It would also avoid to do the cleaning up. I wanted to cook, so I told her I would clean up. And it would not be a bother to me.

With the convenience of food availability nowadays, it is easy to dismiss cooking. Yes, some may choose homecook food for the health factor. But it doesn't necessary mean the person cooks because of the love for cooking.

Some people cook because they have to, some people cook because they want to. A person has to love every bit in the process, from buying, to preparing, to cooking and finally to washing up. That is me ...

By the way, she enjoyed the dish so much that she wanted the same the next day. I may not be a great cook. but to me, loving to cook makes it worth every minute I spend in the kitchen. If only I feel that same inclination to want to cook everyday, haha. I admit, I do feel lazy often.

Stalking facebook ...

Maybe I am a stalker ...

Recently there was an article in the newspaper about facebook stalker. Yes, there are people who are real stalker, out for mischieve. Facebook is a venue for people to watch people. And keep tracks of their network of families, friends or associates. Facebook helps me to do that too.

Maybe not for others who also are in contact with their friends in person, but for me Facebook is the only venue for me to know what is happening in their lives, those on my list. I don't get to socialise with them personally. So I can only check their facebook regularly to know how they are doing, what they are doing. To know if they are happy, or sad. If that is consider being a stalker, then I am guilty of being a stalker... because I care what is happening in their lives.

To me they are not victims, but friends. A friend that I can never hope to have in reality ...

Who is responsible?

"Take Responsibility"

Funny ... that I should just finished watching the company video about this, and the very moment that I came upon someone pushing the responsibility to others when I brought up a case.

People like to avoid doing things that they can avoid, hoping others will do it. In this case, others can always ignore it too, since they can get their job done using another way. So who will do it in the end? Who wants to be responsible for solving it?

I had brought up the incident a lot of times, this and other incidents, and being a common area of work, there isn't seem to be someone who wants to solve it, being not their "responsibility".

Maybe I should ignore it as well? Afterall, I am not responsible ....

But I know I will not ..... just plain silly me!

Ghost month

When I was young, I used to play with those small flags that they used for offering. Being young, I enjoyed playing with whatever I could get my hands on. There was also the getai, and the food accompanied the occasion. In a way, I looked forward to the hungry ghost month festivity. When I was young.

Now, I only find the smell of the burning of the papers irritating. The ashes also flew all over the area, making it dirty. Why can't these people clean up after their offering? Such irresponsible people. Some also ignore the bin provided and choose to burn on the pathement or grasses. At least clean up after the offering is over.

The smoke contributes to the already hazy sky.

Time of my Life

Patrick Swayse had many movies, including "Ghost", who can forget the memorable clay scene. But the movie that I remember more of him is "Dirty Dancing", for the movie came out when I was still an active dancer.

Many occasions, one gets lost in ones career. "Dirty Dancing" came when we needed inspiration, to motivate us to continue dancing. Seeing him danced, how could one not get inspired? The movie also touched upon the life of a dancer, that it is not all fame, that we are still human being, capable of making mistakes, in wanting to do what we are passionate about.

Thank you Patrick, for giving us "Dirty Dancing". I had the time of my life ... and to this day still passionate about dancing ....