When: This morning at 8.30a.m.
What: Waiting at Caulfield train station for pickup.
Feeling Rather: Groggy. Cold. Blur.
Car pulls over. Guy waves. I look at driver, thinks: "Hrm... looks like my ride. Different car though."
Guy waves again. Now look closely, thinks: "Yea, could be the guy."
Opens car door, "Hi, good morning."
'Friend' replies, "Morning. How are you?" and clears space for me to get in.
"I'm good." Has a closer look at him. "You look different. Did you do something different to your hair (or maybe face)?"
Guy looks back. "Yeaa... changed my glasses. Say is Mike coming?"
Pause. "Who's Mike?"
Two teen girls approaches. Look at me. The car. At each other.
"Er..."
Long pause. "Wait... are you Johnny?"
"Er... no."
(Thinks real fast: shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit...)
"Oops. Sorry. Wrong guy. Ha. Ha. Ha."
(... shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit)
Quickly exits.
Real friend turns up.
I swear. They had the same voice. Same accent. Same sort of face. Any guy looks identical with baseball cap and glasses.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
Eureka
This evening I made baked pear, strawberries with melted chocolate over filo pastry. Spread the filo on a baking tray. Spread and sprinkle with milky love. Chop juicy pears up, bits of strawberries and finally, lavish it with Cadbury dairy chocos. Fold up the pastry corners. Pop it in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes or until pastry puffs up like a goldfish. Embrace with fork. Absolute heaven on a chilly winter night.
Would be even more fantastic if you softly sift a snow of icing sugar on.
Magic.
Would be even more fantastic if you softly sift a snow of icing sugar on.
Magic.
A Bite More of Perth...
... From my phone camera
Reads beneath the clock face: "Do minute gone comes ever back again? Take heed and see ye nothing do in vain."
I *heart* Corica's footlong apple strudel
God gave me Rainbow Colours
Reads beneath the clock face: "Do minute gone comes ever back again? Take heed and see ye nothing do in vain."
I *heart* Corica's footlong apple strudel 
God gave me Rainbow Colours
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Running Through
This is why I love keeping old emails. They're like old letters you find in an old shoe box hidden in a musty old room for many old years until you stumble on them again looking for the faded memories of your good ol' days. Ah... Nolstagia sounds like the name of a beautiful Russian doll.
> Here's something I found from an old book. Can't remember the title.
> Book of Etiquette I think. Published in 1941. I'm not one for all the
> self-help rubbish, but this kinda spoke to me.
>
> "There are certain plants so sensitive that their leaves close the moment
> they are touched. There are people like these plants who are so highly
> sensitive that at the least slight, fancied or real, they close up
> tightly within themselves.
>
> Sensitiveness is a form of pride, and pride offends and irritates
> people. It is an exaggerated form of self-consciousness. It is the
> result of too much thinking about self.
>
> If you are sensitive you build a barrier about yourself. People are
> afraid to talk to you for fear they may hurt your feelings. They must be
> forever on guard. They do not feel comfortable in your company.
>
> Tear down this barrier! Don't go about with the injured air of martyr.
> People may sympathize with you, but they will not welcome you and be
> glad to see you. If you see two persons talking together, don't be sure
> that they are discussing you. They are not. Don't imagine that you are
> the center of observation, that people are criticizing you, that every
> careless remark is meant as a personal affront.
>
> It is selfish, this sensitiveness. It reveals sooner than anything else
> that you are bound up in your own little world, that you are not
> interested in things outside of yourself. The way to overcome it is to
> mingle freely with people and to be as impersonal as you possibly can.
> Do not brood over simple remarks and magnify them in your mind. Refuse
> to accept an affront. Force yourself to overlook the trifles that you
> are inclined to take so seriously."
> Here's something I found from an old book. Can't remember the title.
> Book of Etiquette I think. Published in 1941. I'm not one for all the
> self-help rubbish, but this kinda spoke to me.
>
> "There are certain plants so sensitive that their leaves close the moment
> they are touched. There are people like these plants who are so highly
> sensitive that at the least slight, fancied or real, they close up
> tightly within themselves.
>
> Sensitiveness is a form of pride, and pride offends and irritates
> people. It is an exaggerated form of self-consciousness. It is the
> result of too much thinking about self.
>
> If you are sensitive you build a barrier about yourself. People are
> afraid to talk to you for fear they may hurt your feelings. They must be
> forever on guard. They do not feel comfortable in your company.
>
> Tear down this barrier! Don't go about with the injured air of martyr.
> People may sympathize with you, but they will not welcome you and be
> glad to see you. If you see two persons talking together, don't be sure
> that they are discussing you. They are not. Don't imagine that you are
> the center of observation, that people are criticizing you, that every
> careless remark is meant as a personal affront.
>
> It is selfish, this sensitiveness. It reveals sooner than anything else
> that you are bound up in your own little world, that you are not
> interested in things outside of yourself. The way to overcome it is to
> mingle freely with people and to be as impersonal as you possibly can.
> Do not brood over simple remarks and magnify them in your mind. Refuse
> to accept an affront. Force yourself to overlook the trifles that you
> are inclined to take so seriously."
Enough for a Lifetime
I was reading an email I sent everyone on my last day of work in 2004 (I resigned twice from the same company), and I forwarded them this message which I thought was a very meaningful one. No matter how many times I've read it, and you've probably read it too, the meaning still holds true. 'Enough' is enough for a lifetime.
"Recently, a Mother and her daughter were overheard in their last moments together at a regional airport. They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and she said, "I love you. I wish you enough." She in turn said, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and she left.
She walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"
"Yes, I have," I replied.
"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked. "I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.
"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"
She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused for a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, she smiled even more.
"When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them," she continued. Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."
She then began to sob and walked away."
"Recently, a Mother and her daughter were overheard in their last moments together at a regional airport. They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and she said, "I love you. I wish you enough." She in turn said, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and she left.
She walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"
"Yes, I have," I replied.
"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked. "I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.
"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"
She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused for a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, she smiled even more.
"When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them," she continued. Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."
She then began to sob and walked away."
Monday, August 21, 2006
Wake Me Up When September Ends
It's almost September.
Did someone hit the fast forward button?
Unbelievable.
It never stops. Or slows down. Most of all, it sweeps you off your feet when you're looking the other way.
I have a brother who's getting married this month. I ought to be there. But I'm here.
I have friends who are getting married. I ought to be there. But I'm here.
There's a baby popping out into the world, having her first breath, giving her first cry. I ought to be there. But I'm here.
My monkeys are growing up having birthdays and I ought to be there. But I'm here.
Am I missing out in life? Am I the missing jig saw in somebody's life? Am I living life the fullest when I'm not in the view?
I ought to be here because I'm here.
Did someone hit the fast forward button?
Unbelievable.
It never stops. Or slows down. Most of all, it sweeps you off your feet when you're looking the other way.
I have a brother who's getting married this month. I ought to be there. But I'm here.
I have friends who are getting married. I ought to be there. But I'm here.
There's a baby popping out into the world, having her first breath, giving her first cry. I ought to be there. But I'm here.
My monkeys are growing up having birthdays and I ought to be there. But I'm here.
Am I missing out in life? Am I the missing jig saw in somebody's life? Am I living life the fullest when I'm not in the view?
I ought to be here because I'm here.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Perth: From Rags to Riches
"Perth is now the 2nd most expensive city after Sydney. Sleepy town Perth property market has been soaring thanks to its mining and migrant activity."
Four days in Perth and those words were buzzing ALOT - pretty much like its flies in summer. Weather was mild, nothing as cold as Melbourne (so it was a very pleasant winter for me). People, as friendly as a flock of lambs, no wait, that's the simile for gentle. I met good people everywhere. Warning: Adult women are prone to Big Hugs and Big Smiles. Might Tickle occasionally too.
So yes, Perth left me with a very beautiful impression. Is it a place I want to visit again? Yea probably. I didn't get to see much this time because I was too focussed on other matters. But I'll say this: It has the greatest, most incredible, most fantastic, 'once-you-chew-you-can't-stop' apple strudel in the world. Go To: Corica, Nth Bridge, Perth. Damn good.
Four days in Perth and those words were buzzing ALOT - pretty much like its flies in summer. Weather was mild, nothing as cold as Melbourne (so it was a very pleasant winter for me). People, as friendly as a flock of lambs, no wait, that's the simile for gentle. I met good people everywhere. Warning: Adult women are prone to Big Hugs and Big Smiles. Might Tickle occasionally too.
So yes, Perth left me with a very beautiful impression. Is it a place I want to visit again? Yea probably. I didn't get to see much this time because I was too focussed on other matters. But I'll say this: It has the greatest, most incredible, most fantastic, 'once-you-chew-you-can't-stop' apple strudel in the world. Go To: Corica, Nth Bridge, Perth. Damn good.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Tip of the Lifeberg
If you had to give an advice to a younger person about Life, what would it be?
NooNiaN said...
"Life...is like a box of...cikulet...."
Nadhirah said...
"Life is not always fair. Kill yourself or get over it."
kid said...
"Life is like a game... it can be over any time."
Nadhirah said...
"You start dying the day you are born."
Chunky Munky said...
"There's a difference between dreaming and pretending."
GiLLieBeaN said...
"Life is all about growing up ... and growing sideways."
NooNiaN said...
"Life...is like a box of...cikulet...."
Nadhirah said...
"Life is not always fair. Kill yourself or get over it."
kid said...
"Life is like a game... it can be over any time."
Nadhirah said...
"You start dying the day you are born."
Chunky Munky said...
"There's a difference between dreaming and pretending."
GiLLieBeaN said...
"Life is all about growing up ... and growing sideways."
Sneak Peek
Over lunch, I read some interesting snippets in mXnews that had me very entertained. So if you're having a down Friday (for whatever reason), hope you'll cheer up after this.
Story #1
HEADLINE: Oh Bollocks, This Makes Me Testy
A CROATIAN man got a nasty surprise when he tried to get out of his deck chair and found his testicles were stuck. Mario Visnjic went swimming naked in the sea at the Valalta beach in western Croatia.
His testicles shrank while in the cool sea and slipped through the slats when he sat on his wooden deckchair. But as he lay in the sun they expanded back to normal size and got stuck between the slats. He was freed after he called beach maintenance services on his mobile phone and staff cut the deck chair in half.
Story #2
HEADLINE: Bummer
A US fire station had to close yesterday after it became infested with felas. The station house, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was overrun after hundreds of fleas latched on a crew answering a call to a condemned home. They sprayed the station down with pesticide but had to call an exterminator to get rid of them, spokesman Brian O' Connor said.
Story #3:
HEADLINE: Punchy End to Freedom
Two Italian prisoners released under a national pardon celebrated freedom with such gusto in a bar they were back inside within five hours.
Freed from Macomer jail on Sardinia to relieve prison overcrowding, Massimiliano Formula, 32 and Raimondo Muntoni, 28, were arrested for punching police.
Story #4:
HEADLINE: Urine Real Trouble Now
There was a comedy, and there were toilets, but any humour was purely unintentional.
An Indian film crew shooting Keep At It, Munnabhai ran into trouble when filming in a snazzy blue-and-white tiled toilet in a popular suburban mall.
The problem: automatically flushing urinals.
"At one point, with so many unit members inside the loo, all the flush sensors went berzerk and started flushing simultaneously," director Raju Hirani said.
Story #1
HEADLINE: Oh Bollocks, This Makes Me Testy
A CROATIAN man got a nasty surprise when he tried to get out of his deck chair and found his testicles were stuck. Mario Visnjic went swimming naked in the sea at the Valalta beach in western Croatia.
His testicles shrank while in the cool sea and slipped through the slats when he sat on his wooden deckchair. But as he lay in the sun they expanded back to normal size and got stuck between the slats. He was freed after he called beach maintenance services on his mobile phone and staff cut the deck chair in half.
Story #2
HEADLINE: Bummer
A US fire station had to close yesterday after it became infested with felas. The station house, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was overrun after hundreds of fleas latched on a crew answering a call to a condemned home. They sprayed the station down with pesticide but had to call an exterminator to get rid of them, spokesman Brian O' Connor said.
Story #3:
HEADLINE: Punchy End to Freedom
Two Italian prisoners released under a national pardon celebrated freedom with such gusto in a bar they were back inside within five hours.
Freed from Macomer jail on Sardinia to relieve prison overcrowding, Massimiliano Formula, 32 and Raimondo Muntoni, 28, were arrested for punching police.
Story #4:
HEADLINE: Urine Real Trouble Now
There was a comedy, and there were toilets, but any humour was purely unintentional.
An Indian film crew shooting Keep At It, Munnabhai ran into trouble when filming in a snazzy blue-and-white tiled toilet in a popular suburban mall.
The problem: automatically flushing urinals.
"At one point, with so many unit members inside the loo, all the flush sensors went berzerk and started flushing simultaneously," director Raju Hirani said.