I had another interesting chat with The Monk last night. We talked openly about religion, friendship, relationships, love, sex, celibacy and life in general.
The Monk's advice for me today is: "It is best to marry a friend. Or at least the one you marry should remain your friend." But he also said that one should be so flexible, have little expectations so as to avoid disappointments and thereby head off bitter feelings that may arise.
The Monk explained to me, "We men are not very secure animals even if we seem cocksure and full of confidence. We are all little boys underneath. Our societies tend to produce this because of the sexual repression in our religious codes. It is no different here."
I told The Monk, it would be difficult, I'm too old for that. I value my friends and I don't want to ruin a friendship because a relationship doesn't work. I remember my womanising ex-hubby, Tahir used to tell me when we were still "just friends" and not yet a couple, "No matter what happens, we would still be friends." Tell me, where the hell is he now? Odeth tells me the same thing about being friends - but he's not here when I needed a friend most. Cit Podah!
He said, "Here is some Zen philosopher's advice. It is time to bend like the willow and not to be the stone." Means, I must have the flexibility muscle to change with the wind.
I gave it a thought and replied, "Well, I think perhaps we're not "losing" anything if we just be cool about things, not be too emotional. Perhaps, we'll "gain" a new relationship, on top of the existing friendship." Maybe, I'll give it another try. But I won't push it...
He quipped, "Good idea!"
I said, "I get crushes often, but I don't fall in love easily. I'm too level headed. I don't confuse lust with love." Actually, really, I'm just afraid of rejection.
The Monk said: "I think you have the kind of love and wisdom necessary to do okay in this situation. You have a good heart, and loyal as a dog and quick as a scorpion. I see it in your blog and in our talks. "
He continued, "Be the willow tree. Willows are full of water; deeply rooted; they survive lightening strikes."
I joked, "Hahahaha...you mean a very flexible relationship - we can remain friends, or have a relationship, and if the relationship doesn't work, we can go back to being friends, or better yet, we can just become shag buddies? Oh cool, how lovely!"
The Monk laughed, and being very un-monkly, quipped at my joke,"Very wise! It's the evil twin returned!!! Ahhhh!"
"Always there...Notty Nel." I grinned.
"Nuttin' wrong wit dat!"
"Better notty than nutty!"
"Oh so wise."
Laughing out loud, I said, "I learned that from a monk."
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
The joy of being single
I took part in a speech contest at Promuda Toastmasters Club last night. There were two contests running - table topics and international speech. I contested in the latter, and won second runner-up.
My speech was titled "The Joy of Being Single", taking inspiration from Allia Zobel who wrote a book on the same title. Here's an excerpt from my speech:
In her book, "The Joy of Being Single", Allia Zobel wrote: "Forget rumors about married people living longer. Or that single people are miserable. Or that two can live as cheaply as one. Married people started these rumors out of pure jealousy!"
I agree with Zobel, because if that isn't so, then tell me why one in three marriages ends in divorce. Au contraire, the benefits of being single are myriad.
Being single gives you many levels of freedom, where being married is many many layers of co-dependency. As a singleton, you have the freedom to be yourself, because you're not answerable to anyone.
You can be yourself. When you're with someone, there's always give and take and you lose yourself to a degree, sometimes, completely.
You don't have to look your best like 24 hours a day, because there is someone else living with you. Like when you're pissed you can throw up and fall asleep on the bathroom floor or have a row with your own reflection – and win – and not worry that someone might look at you and think, "Eeeugh! I'm married to her," and, "She's gross."!
The in-laws and the out-laws. If you don't have a mother-in-law, you don’t have to be nice to anybody’s mother but your own. You don't have to deal with questions like “Are you going to wear that to my parents’ house?” from the hubby.
You make all the choices. It’s easier scheduling holidays, parties and gatherings without the pressures of accommodating another person’s agenda. If you are free of commitments, you can completely reinvent yourself, change careers, go back to school, set up a business or sell up and go traveling. You can choose where and how you live and you can be as self-indulgent or batty as you like in your own four walls.
Not having to explain yourself. You can splurge on yourself – and answer to no one. You can just take yourself off and do things on your own, like walk by the river or go to the cinema or read in the park, without having to explain that you're not in a mood or having to convince the other half that you're not sneaking off for an illicit love tryst.
You have your time alone anytime you want it. You don’t have your time alone - it's near impossible to get when you're in a relationship. Relationships eat time and not having one gives you the opportunity to do. The nicest thing about being single is that you don’t have to factor someone else into your time.
You can be spontaneous without feeling guilty. You can go out with my friends at short notice and I don't have to tell or discuss it with anyone. There's no guilt, it's great. You don't have to consider phoning home when you're out late or justify long, legless girls' nights out, which you can have as often as you like. You can change all your plans for no reason. You can go to the country for a night and decide to stay four days and the only person you'd miss would be your cat.
You can flirt with anyone and everyone you fancy. You are perfectly free to reciprocate all male attention, which is marvelous - and you don't have to stop at flirting.
after marriage
No interruptions. The bliss of being single is not having to interrupt shopping, sunbathing, reading, or adventuring because your bloke is whinging, again, about being hungry. You can stay up and watch movies all night if you want to.
On a more romantic note, you can also cherish the notion of the perfect man. Being single means that your hopes and dreams of finding that knight in shining armor are still vivid. Once you're married, those dreams are shattered. Love is blind, marriage is an eye opener!
In concluding, "I'm not saying being single is not better than being attached, but just as good. Being single is fun, but being in a relationship is rewarding. Both have positive attributes.Since a mate should complement your life and not be your life, we should be happy with ourselves before being able to be happy with anyone else. So much in relationships is about sacrifice and compromise. I'll be prepared to do that again for the right person, but until then I'm enjoying myself."
My speech was titled "The Joy of Being Single", taking inspiration from Allia Zobel who wrote a book on the same title. Here's an excerpt from my speech:
In her book, "The Joy of Being Single", Allia Zobel wrote: "Forget rumors about married people living longer. Or that single people are miserable. Or that two can live as cheaply as one. Married people started these rumors out of pure jealousy!"
I agree with Zobel, because if that isn't so, then tell me why one in three marriages ends in divorce. Au contraire, the benefits of being single are myriad.
Being single gives you many levels of freedom, where being married is many many layers of co-dependency. As a singleton, you have the freedom to be yourself, because you're not answerable to anyone.
You can be yourself. When you're with someone, there's always give and take and you lose yourself to a degree, sometimes, completely.
You don't have to look your best like 24 hours a day, because there is someone else living with you. Like when you're pissed you can throw up and fall asleep on the bathroom floor or have a row with your own reflection – and win – and not worry that someone might look at you and think, "Eeeugh! I'm married to her," and, "She's gross."!
The in-laws and the out-laws. If you don't have a mother-in-law, you don’t have to be nice to anybody’s mother but your own. You don't have to deal with questions like “Are you going to wear that to my parents’ house?” from the hubby.
You make all the choices. It’s easier scheduling holidays, parties and gatherings without the pressures of accommodating another person’s agenda. If you are free of commitments, you can completely reinvent yourself, change careers, go back to school, set up a business or sell up and go traveling. You can choose where and how you live and you can be as self-indulgent or batty as you like in your own four walls.
Not having to explain yourself. You can splurge on yourself – and answer to no one. You can just take yourself off and do things on your own, like walk by the river or go to the cinema or read in the park, without having to explain that you're not in a mood or having to convince the other half that you're not sneaking off for an illicit love tryst.
You have your time alone anytime you want it. You don’t have your time alone - it's near impossible to get when you're in a relationship. Relationships eat time and not having one gives you the opportunity to do. The nicest thing about being single is that you don’t have to factor someone else into your time.
You can be spontaneous without feeling guilty. You can go out with my friends at short notice and I don't have to tell or discuss it with anyone. There's no guilt, it's great. You don't have to consider phoning home when you're out late or justify long, legless girls' nights out, which you can have as often as you like. You can change all your plans for no reason. You can go to the country for a night and decide to stay four days and the only person you'd miss would be your cat.
You can flirt with anyone and everyone you fancy. You are perfectly free to reciprocate all male attention, which is marvelous - and you don't have to stop at flirting.
after marriage
No interruptions. The bliss of being single is not having to interrupt shopping, sunbathing, reading, or adventuring because your bloke is whinging, again, about being hungry. You can stay up and watch movies all night if you want to.
On a more romantic note, you can also cherish the notion of the perfect man. Being single means that your hopes and dreams of finding that knight in shining armor are still vivid. Once you're married, those dreams are shattered. Love is blind, marriage is an eye opener!
In concluding, "I'm not saying being single is not better than being attached, but just as good. Being single is fun, but being in a relationship is rewarding. Both have positive attributes.Since a mate should complement your life and not be your life, we should be happy with ourselves before being able to be happy with anyone else. So much in relationships is about sacrifice and compromise. I'll be prepared to do that again for the right person, but until then I'm enjoying myself."
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Horsing around?
I received from a friend this cruel but funny picture of Britain's Prince Charles riding on a horse that looks like his long-time mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles.
engagement picture
I heard in the news - Buckingham Palace said yesterday that Queen Elizabeth II would not attend the civil marriage ceremony of her son Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles - but that her absence should not be interpreted as a snub.
The monarch will attend the church blessing at Windsor Castle after the April 8 civil ceremony in the local town hall and will host the wedding reception at the castle.
Nel thinks...We all love Princess Di, and hates Prince Charles for his affair with Camilla. But for a love story that endures this long, perhaps they deserve to be together. Oh Bullocks! At least someone IS getting married! Just be happy, will ya.
But then again...not that Nel is ready to settle down right AT THIS MOMENT anyways. I haven't found THE ONE for me. I think I will take my time, and take things slowly down that road. Give Nel a break!
Oh...talk about the joy of being single, I'm still practicing my speech for Toastmasters International Humorous Speech Contest that I plan to take part in tomorrow night. My speech will be aptly called, "The Joy of Being Single".
engagement picture
I heard in the news - Buckingham Palace said yesterday that Queen Elizabeth II would not attend the civil marriage ceremony of her son Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles - but that her absence should not be interpreted as a snub.
The monarch will attend the church blessing at Windsor Castle after the April 8 civil ceremony in the local town hall and will host the wedding reception at the castle.
Nel thinks...We all love Princess Di, and hates Prince Charles for his affair with Camilla. But for a love story that endures this long, perhaps they deserve to be together. Oh Bullocks! At least someone IS getting married! Just be happy, will ya.
But then again...not that Nel is ready to settle down right AT THIS MOMENT anyways. I haven't found THE ONE for me. I think I will take my time, and take things slowly down that road. Give Nel a break!
Oh...talk about the joy of being single, I'm still practicing my speech for Toastmasters International Humorous Speech Contest that I plan to take part in tomorrow night. My speech will be aptly called, "The Joy of Being Single".
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Better Notty than Nutty
The Monk asked me what I had for breakfast.
I said; “I had a BANANA”.
He was quick to whip, “A BIG banana?”
To which I replied, “Nah an average one, UNFORTUNATELY!”
“Gotcha!” he said.
“Can I call you The Monk in my blog?” I asked.
“Oh, monk is fine. Monkey is not. Hahaha!”
“Naaahh...I won’t call you that. As long as you promise not to snatch my bananas. I love to have ‘em for breakfast.”
“Your bananas are safe from me, girl.”
“Hehehe...so is yours!”
“Phew! I was scared there for a second. Hahaha.”
Thus began my very interesting chat with The Monk, who is a friend of Va Va Voom.
As The Monk lives in Athens, Ohio, which is the other side of the world, the day is just ending for him as mine is just beginning. He was watching BBC America before going to bed. I was looking forward to lunch - counting the hours.
The Monk is not a real monk, of course. He is one because he lives like a monk, and is celibate too - for the last 15 years! As The Monk puts it, “I am so far as lifestyle goes. I live in a monastery of one.”
We talked about Va Va Voom, and I said she is under a lot of stress and is no longer the same person I used to know and adore. Well, personally I think she was a lot nicer person before. The corporate rat race is changing her immensely. I don’t like the new person she is becoming – an aggressively ass kissing b**ch with eyes fixed on the corporate ladder. She's beginning to become like The Narcissus. That hurts me a lot. What is happening?
Va Va Voom was dog fighting with another man’s ex-girlfriend - despite my advice for her not to get involved with the stupid man with the stalking ex-girlfriend anymore. Gee, I don’t know Va Va Voom anymore. We don't dress in the same colours anymore.
But I didn’t tell that to The Monk – I kept it in my thoughts. I would still like to think that there’s still much left of the old Va Va Voom in her. Will the real Va Va Voom stand up, please? I would still like to adore you – the good real you.
Nel and The Monk both agreed that Va Va Voom needs massage and a hot bath – and more importantly, a MAN. A good one, and not stupid, either.
I told The Monk, I would never fight for a man. And he said, “No, I would never fight over a man either!” I laughed at his sense of humor.
He added: “We are not worth the effort.”
Yeah…coming from a man...I believe him. The Monk has been one long enough to know. He said, “I've been alive for 47 years. It took only 20 to realize that males are dingbats!” and added, “and women who chase after them are dingy too.” No offense to Va Va Voom, The Monk, said.
“Darn, I don’t wanna be a dingy,” I said.
“No way. I think the trick is to make them chase after you and then you control the pace of the hunt.” How interesting…hmmm, tell me more.
He continued, “I think men are deluded enough that so long as you let them think that you are believing the story they are telling you, you will be okay.”
We talked about celibacy. He has been celibate, by choice for 15 years – but not a good choice that he made, he said! But then, he doesn’t want to ever get married.
I said, “Sex and marriage are two different things.”
He said, “You mean they insist the sex be only in marriage and that marriage always include sex?” Well, sometimes, they are not mutually exclusive. Sometimes, people stop having sex after marriage. I've heard that one before!
The Monk said: “Well, in the sociological sense such an ideal makes sense but our world is so globally mixed now that there doesn't seem to be much reason for isolating gene pools.”
I was confused for a moment. Then, he continued, “It is a shame more people are not mature enough to handle distinctions between recreational and procreational sex.” I laughed.
“There is a bit of the devil in you I think,” The Monk chuckled.
I grinned, “Not evil, just notty. The other banana has to come from somewhere,” I replied, when The Monk suggested that I have two bananas for breakfast instead of one.
He said, “Notty is good. It keeps us in balance and away from going nuts.”
I like that, “Better Notty than Nutty”.
I said; “I had a BANANA”.
He was quick to whip, “A BIG banana?”
To which I replied, “Nah an average one, UNFORTUNATELY!”
“Gotcha!” he said.
“Can I call you The Monk in my blog?” I asked.
“Oh, monk is fine. Monkey is not. Hahaha!”
“Naaahh...I won’t call you that. As long as you promise not to snatch my bananas. I love to have ‘em for breakfast.”
“Your bananas are safe from me, girl.”
“Hehehe...so is yours!”
“Phew! I was scared there for a second. Hahaha.”
Thus began my very interesting chat with The Monk, who is a friend of Va Va Voom.
As The Monk lives in Athens, Ohio, which is the other side of the world, the day is just ending for him as mine is just beginning. He was watching BBC America before going to bed. I was looking forward to lunch - counting the hours.
The Monk is not a real monk, of course. He is one because he lives like a monk, and is celibate too - for the last 15 years! As The Monk puts it, “I am so far as lifestyle goes. I live in a monastery of one.”
We talked about Va Va Voom, and I said she is under a lot of stress and is no longer the same person I used to know and adore. Well, personally I think she was a lot nicer person before. The corporate rat race is changing her immensely. I don’t like the new person she is becoming – an aggressively ass kissing b**ch with eyes fixed on the corporate ladder. She's beginning to become like The Narcissus. That hurts me a lot. What is happening?
Va Va Voom was dog fighting with another man’s ex-girlfriend - despite my advice for her not to get involved with the stupid man with the stalking ex-girlfriend anymore. Gee, I don’t know Va Va Voom anymore. We don't dress in the same colours anymore.
But I didn’t tell that to The Monk – I kept it in my thoughts. I would still like to think that there’s still much left of the old Va Va Voom in her. Will the real Va Va Voom stand up, please? I would still like to adore you – the good real you.
Nel and The Monk both agreed that Va Va Voom needs massage and a hot bath – and more importantly, a MAN. A good one, and not stupid, either.
I told The Monk, I would never fight for a man. And he said, “No, I would never fight over a man either!” I laughed at his sense of humor.
He added: “We are not worth the effort.”
Yeah…coming from a man...I believe him. The Monk has been one long enough to know. He said, “I've been alive for 47 years. It took only 20 to realize that males are dingbats!” and added, “and women who chase after them are dingy too.” No offense to Va Va Voom, The Monk, said.
“Darn, I don’t wanna be a dingy,” I said.
“No way. I think the trick is to make them chase after you and then you control the pace of the hunt.” How interesting…hmmm, tell me more.
He continued, “I think men are deluded enough that so long as you let them think that you are believing the story they are telling you, you will be okay.”
We talked about celibacy. He has been celibate, by choice for 15 years – but not a good choice that he made, he said! But then, he doesn’t want to ever get married.
I said, “Sex and marriage are two different things.”
He said, “You mean they insist the sex be only in marriage and that marriage always include sex?” Well, sometimes, they are not mutually exclusive. Sometimes, people stop having sex after marriage. I've heard that one before!
The Monk said: “Well, in the sociological sense such an ideal makes sense but our world is so globally mixed now that there doesn't seem to be much reason for isolating gene pools.”
I was confused for a moment. Then, he continued, “It is a shame more people are not mature enough to handle distinctions between recreational and procreational sex.” I laughed.
“There is a bit of the devil in you I think,” The Monk chuckled.
I grinned, “Not evil, just notty. The other banana has to come from somewhere,” I replied, when The Monk suggested that I have two bananas for breakfast instead of one.
He said, “Notty is good. It keeps us in balance and away from going nuts.”
I like that, “Better Notty than Nutty”.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
An occasional sex column
Just sharing with you a funny article, "An occasional sex column" that I came across in www.malaysiakini.com...
Question: Is it normal for a man to wake up and decide he does not like the look of his dick? Out of curiosity, is there corrective surgery that can change the way your willy looks? I’m not hankering after Dirk Diggler’s, but suddenly my dick looks like shriveled cucumber with weird veins. - Mr Shrivel
Answer: Elementary, my dear Mr Shrivel.
It’s plain ugly. Period.
Now repeat this many times.
You need to dispel all preconceptions about your willy. Unless one suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (one of the symptoms being excessively pleased with his ‘thing’), the majority of men just don’t like how they look below the belt. This, in spite of millennium-old venerated reassurances that men were created out of the image of the higher-ups.
Even thinking of it as a kindred spirit of a cucumber is a little far-fetched. In terms of aesthetics, size, firmness, shape and functionality, it can never ever come close to a cucumber, shriveled or otherwise. So quit dreaming and don’t insult the humble sidekick of our nasi lemak.
- My dick has a complex
- Willy needs a shrink
To read the original article, click on the post title, "An occasional sex column."
Question: Is it normal for a man to wake up and decide he does not like the look of his dick? Out of curiosity, is there corrective surgery that can change the way your willy looks? I’m not hankering after Dirk Diggler’s, but suddenly my dick looks like shriveled cucumber with weird veins. - Mr Shrivel
Answer: Elementary, my dear Mr Shrivel.
It’s plain ugly. Period.
Now repeat this many times.
You need to dispel all preconceptions about your willy. Unless one suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (one of the symptoms being excessively pleased with his ‘thing’), the majority of men just don’t like how they look below the belt. This, in spite of millennium-old venerated reassurances that men were created out of the image of the higher-ups.
Even thinking of it as a kindred spirit of a cucumber is a little far-fetched. In terms of aesthetics, size, firmness, shape and functionality, it can never ever come close to a cucumber, shriveled or otherwise. So quit dreaming and don’t insult the humble sidekick of our nasi lemak.
- My dick has a complex
- Willy needs a shrink
To read the original article, click on the post title, "An occasional sex column."
Di Bawah Rang Ikang Kering
This blog, Di Bawah Rang Ikang Kering is a breath of fresh air, straight from Terengganu. It’s Terengganu-centric, and witty. Anyone who thinks that Terengganu-ites are conservative, humourless brickheads will be surprised to find lucid writing. Pok Ku or Tengku Mohd Ali Bustaman is the writer behind the blog. Formerly in broadcasting and the media, Pok Ku is now retired.
Di Bawah Rang Ikang Kering was nominated for the Asia Best Blog Award 2004. Part personal journal and memoir, Tengku Ali Bustaman, a former civil servant, recounts the idiosyncracies and eccentrities that abound in the East Coast. The personalities and adventures he's had - all these make for compulsive reading.
Click on the title to read.
Excerpt, one of my favorite posts:
TERENGGANU TABOOS
Thursday, January 13, 2005
When I was a small boy, ages ago of course,
I was told not to sit on a pillow or I will get a boil on my butt and whistle in the house or a snake will come
Eat the crispy fish head or I will be stupid
Point a finger at the rainbow or my finger will be crooked
Cut my fingernails at night or the ghosts will use the clippings as boats and come and get me.
Pour a lot of budu (anchovy sauce) on my rice as if it were gravy or it will rain and flood on my wedding day
etcetera etcetera
I am sure you have similar pantang larang (taboos) in your house too. Some of the taboos are just plain common sense clothed in threats to dispense with tedious explanation. Olden Malays did not have scatter cushions. Those things came later with women's magazines. Pillows are for sleeping, not for sitting. The idea of burrowing your face into a pillow that came into contact with a butt (odourless or otherwise) is not too savoury. It might not be sanitary too. Hence the taboo. Reasonable enough.
... Some of the taboos are for the protection of the young. You know how they are. They would never just accept "No!" They have to have a reason. They won't accept that eating fish head might result in the scale or bone getting stuck in tender throats. Scaring them with the prospect of being stupid did the job. They were stupid alright for not asking how come the parents enjoy the crispy fish head so much. Variations of the same excuse is used for chicken giblet, chicken neck and other delicacies.
It is the same with cutting fingernails at night. The prospect of some malevolent spirits coming to shorten your life was enough to discourage impatient vain pots to postpone their manicure until tomorrow's daylight. The underlying reason behind this taboo is simple enough. You must remember that when this taboo was formulated, Tenaga Nasional wasn't around yet and houses were pretty dimly lit with just pelita ayam (oil lamps). Nail clippers too were scarce then. So, cutting finger nails with sharp objects like parangs or kitchen knives in poor light can cause nasty accidents. Flying fingernail clippings too can cause much pain when stepped on.
Young men dreaming of a harem might do well to change seats many times during dinner. It is predicted that you will marry many times, preferably not to the same person.
Now, for the sake of cultural exchanges and global understanding you tell me the taboos in your neck of the wood.
Di Bawah Rang Ikang Kering was nominated for the Asia Best Blog Award 2004. Part personal journal and memoir, Tengku Ali Bustaman, a former civil servant, recounts the idiosyncracies and eccentrities that abound in the East Coast. The personalities and adventures he's had - all these make for compulsive reading.
Click on the title to read.
Excerpt, one of my favorite posts:
TERENGGANU TABOOS
Thursday, January 13, 2005
When I was a small boy, ages ago of course,
I was told not to sit on a pillow or I will get a boil on my butt and whistle in the house or a snake will come
Eat the crispy fish head or I will be stupid
Point a finger at the rainbow or my finger will be crooked
Cut my fingernails at night or the ghosts will use the clippings as boats and come and get me.
Pour a lot of budu (anchovy sauce) on my rice as if it were gravy or it will rain and flood on my wedding day
etcetera etcetera
I am sure you have similar pantang larang (taboos) in your house too. Some of the taboos are just plain common sense clothed in threats to dispense with tedious explanation. Olden Malays did not have scatter cushions. Those things came later with women's magazines. Pillows are for sleeping, not for sitting. The idea of burrowing your face into a pillow that came into contact with a butt (odourless or otherwise) is not too savoury. It might not be sanitary too. Hence the taboo. Reasonable enough.
... Some of the taboos are for the protection of the young. You know how they are. They would never just accept "No!" They have to have a reason. They won't accept that eating fish head might result in the scale or bone getting stuck in tender throats. Scaring them with the prospect of being stupid did the job. They were stupid alright for not asking how come the parents enjoy the crispy fish head so much. Variations of the same excuse is used for chicken giblet, chicken neck and other delicacies.
It is the same with cutting fingernails at night. The prospect of some malevolent spirits coming to shorten your life was enough to discourage impatient vain pots to postpone their manicure until tomorrow's daylight. The underlying reason behind this taboo is simple enough. You must remember that when this taboo was formulated, Tenaga Nasional wasn't around yet and houses were pretty dimly lit with just pelita ayam (oil lamps). Nail clippers too were scarce then. So, cutting finger nails with sharp objects like parangs or kitchen knives in poor light can cause nasty accidents. Flying fingernail clippings too can cause much pain when stepped on.
Young men dreaming of a harem might do well to change seats many times during dinner. It is predicted that you will marry many times, preferably not to the same person.
Now, for the sake of cultural exchanges and global understanding you tell me the taboos in your neck of the wood.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Chocolate Orgasms
All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt! Taking the cue from my instincts, or craving rather, I had a bar of my favorite chocolate Kit Kat last night. Indulging in chocolates have an almost orgasmic effect on me. That was like hmmmm...so heavenly...so divine...so sexy :)
This morning after shower, I almost jumped after I got off from the weighing scale. Gosh...holy macaroni! I lost another kg even with those chocolates I had last night. This means I've lost 5.5 kg in total in less than 3 months. Unbelieveable...because last year it took me a whole year just to lose 5kg!
When I put on my favorite Padini pencil skirt, it is so loose that the waist line slided down to my hip line. I will be needing a new wardrobe at this rate...But hey I'm not complaining :)
Funny how much just adding a lil bit of exercise in my life, a lot of dancing and halving whatever I eat (and having that occasional chocolates and ice creams) can actually work wonders for my body...I suppose I could do better with a little sex and real orgasms, instead of chocolate orgasms. I wish I'm married. Sigh!
This morning after shower, I almost jumped after I got off from the weighing scale. Gosh...holy macaroni! I lost another kg even with those chocolates I had last night. This means I've lost 5.5 kg in total in less than 3 months. Unbelieveable...because last year it took me a whole year just to lose 5kg!
When I put on my favorite Padini pencil skirt, it is so loose that the waist line slided down to my hip line. I will be needing a new wardrobe at this rate...But hey I'm not complaining :)
Funny how much just adding a lil bit of exercise in my life, a lot of dancing and halving whatever I eat (and having that occasional chocolates and ice creams) can actually work wonders for my body...I suppose I could do better with a little sex and real orgasms, instead of chocolate orgasms. I wish I'm married. Sigh!
Monday, February 14, 2005
Keep On Running
The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.
Keep on running is what I'll do until I am well ahead of the race, or at least keep up well with the race. I sometimes see myself falling out of the race, but miracles do happen - and it lets me pick up some slacks and get me back into the race and give me speed to keep up with the race.
Keep on running is what I'll do until I am well ahead of the race, or at least keep up well with the race. I sometimes see myself falling out of the race, but miracles do happen - and it lets me pick up some slacks and get me back into the race and give me speed to keep up with the race.
XOXO :)
Love comes through the eyes that see
And through the ears that hear,
For people are quite beautiful,
And words make feelings clear.
Love comes through the hands that touch
With unabashed affection,
For only skin-to-skin can love
Maintain its true direction.
Love comes through the tastes and smells
Of fresh and well-cooked food,
For in the gift of nourishment
Is much else that is good.
But though love comes through senses five,
Love comes from the heart,
For there resides the greater love
Of which ours is a part.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you!
And through the ears that hear,
For people are quite beautiful,
And words make feelings clear.
Love comes through the hands that touch
With unabashed affection,
For only skin-to-skin can love
Maintain its true direction.
Love comes through the tastes and smells
Of fresh and well-cooked food,
For in the gift of nourishment
Is much else that is good.
But though love comes through senses five,
Love comes from the heart,
For there resides the greater love
Of which ours is a part.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you!
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Date with Nuts and Long Uns
If you want to feel at home when on vacation, why go at all? So during the combined festive holidays of Chinese New Year and Awal Muharram, I decided to stay in town, enjoyed myself and felt at home. It's a lot cheaper, too.
This afternoon, I went visiting friends and Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan and Makan Sakan. So, I went to The Consoler's house for tea, and got ang pow from his mom. Eh dah besar pun dapat ang pow :)
Later in the evening, The Consoler and I went to visit Belle Of The Party's house. We got stuffed with her mom's Vegetarian Meehoon Goreng and chicken curry. It was damn good, but better yet, her mom was really funny - so cute. She was telling me that she couldn't find her favorite brand of agar-agar or jelly, which is Swallow Brand. So she bought Cock Brand, and it was damn hard so she didn't like it. And she quickly added, "but some people like it though." Oh God...I should behave myself but I was trying very hard to stop giggling. Belle Of The Party told her mom, "Mom it's been quite a while for Liza, you know". Hehehe...I think her mom looked quite amused.
Later for dessert, her mom served us Lin Chee Kang. She said to me "I think you'll love this, dates with nuts and longans". Somehow we heard her saying "long ones" instead of longans. I looked at Prince Charming and he was keeping himself from gigling too - so he heard that too lah.
When her mom went into the kitchen, I told Belle Of The Party, "Babe, I'd love a date with nuts and long ones!" to which she burst into giggles. Tony Joseph, the handsome local actor, who is a good friend of Belle Of The Party, giggled too.
I had so much fun today, and two ang pows. Well, one of the benefits of being single. Life is great, just great...
This afternoon, I went visiting friends and Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan and Makan Sakan. So, I went to The Consoler's house for tea, and got ang pow from his mom. Eh dah besar pun dapat ang pow :)
Later in the evening, The Consoler and I went to visit Belle Of The Party's house. We got stuffed with her mom's Vegetarian Meehoon Goreng and chicken curry. It was damn good, but better yet, her mom was really funny - so cute. She was telling me that she couldn't find her favorite brand of agar-agar or jelly, which is Swallow Brand. So she bought Cock Brand, and it was damn hard so she didn't like it. And she quickly added, "but some people like it though." Oh God...I should behave myself but I was trying very hard to stop giggling. Belle Of The Party told her mom, "Mom it's been quite a while for Liza, you know". Hehehe...I think her mom looked quite amused.
Later for dessert, her mom served us Lin Chee Kang. She said to me "I think you'll love this, dates with nuts and longans". Somehow we heard her saying "long ones" instead of longans. I looked at Prince Charming and he was keeping himself from gigling too - so he heard that too lah.
When her mom went into the kitchen, I told Belle Of The Party, "Babe, I'd love a date with nuts and long ones!" to which she burst into giggles. Tony Joseph, the handsome local actor, who is a good friend of Belle Of The Party, giggled too.
I had so much fun today, and two ang pows. Well, one of the benefits of being single. Life is great, just great...
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Fat, Fat, Fat!
So, you thought having diet coke with a BigMac does make a difference somehow, eh? Heh heh heh...NOT! Think again :)
I believe the four major food groups are responsible for making Malaysians get fatter and fatter. The four major food groups I'm talking about are not carbohydrates, proteins, fats and vegetables. They are MacDonald's, KFC, Burger King and A & W. Some are the lesser evils than the others, but evil nevertheless :)
Before The Big Four reaced the Malaysian shores sometime in the last century, we the people were already consuming high fat and cholestrol rich diet - Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai, Murtabak, Nasi Beriyani, Chicken Rice, Satay, all the curries and what not. Malaysia is a melting pot for all kinds of food from around the world - can you blame us for loving to eat? I think a lot of Malaysians live to eat and not eat to live. Hehehe, myself included :)
So with The Big Four, The Weevils, top that with sugared drinks, and our excessive eating habits, I'm afraid to imagine it...we Malaysians will probably have a shorter life span and higher chances of being diabetic and getting cardiac arrests at an earlier age.
Anyways, this morning, the weighing scale showed that I've lost a total of 4.5 kg since the first week of January. I suppose the carbo-less diet, taking the stairs, walking a lot, dancing and aerobics exercises I've been doing is working great.
So, yeah, I'm feeling just a tad bit better than last night. I'm glad I didn't slip into a major depression or was suicidal last night. Just felt a little down and out.
Anyways, I need to lose another half kg by end of March. After losing 5kg, I need to lose another 5kg by end of June. Please God, help me persevere...
I believe the four major food groups are responsible for making Malaysians get fatter and fatter. The four major food groups I'm talking about are not carbohydrates, proteins, fats and vegetables. They are MacDonald's, KFC, Burger King and A & W. Some are the lesser evils than the others, but evil nevertheless :)
Before The Big Four reaced the Malaysian shores sometime in the last century, we the people were already consuming high fat and cholestrol rich diet - Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai, Murtabak, Nasi Beriyani, Chicken Rice, Satay, all the curries and what not. Malaysia is a melting pot for all kinds of food from around the world - can you blame us for loving to eat? I think a lot of Malaysians live to eat and not eat to live. Hehehe, myself included :)
So with The Big Four, The Weevils, top that with sugared drinks, and our excessive eating habits, I'm afraid to imagine it...we Malaysians will probably have a shorter life span and higher chances of being diabetic and getting cardiac arrests at an earlier age.
Anyways, this morning, the weighing scale showed that I've lost a total of 4.5 kg since the first week of January. I suppose the carbo-less diet, taking the stairs, walking a lot, dancing and aerobics exercises I've been doing is working great.
So, yeah, I'm feeling just a tad bit better than last night. I'm glad I didn't slip into a major depression or was suicidal last night. Just felt a little down and out.
Anyways, I need to lose another half kg by end of March. After losing 5kg, I need to lose another 5kg by end of June. Please God, help me persevere...
Monday, February 07, 2005
Nothing Else Matters
I repeat what I've written earlier:
If one falls in love, then one just falls in love. There is no "IF" for love is an absolute sum game. Most people fear their love will not be returned, so they'd rather not give at all. But better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all. I think if your love is returned, you're most fortunate - it will be the greatest gift shared between two people. But if you're unlucky, then consider it "sedekah" or goodwill.
I am in love, I think...but I'm not lucky this time - to have loved and lost when the game hasn't even started.
[Nel's alter ego talking] Yeah, yeah, yeah...Nel screwed up in love big time!
Nel feels sooo fucked up that nothing else matters...Nel just want to throw herself on her bed and bury her head under the pillows. Nel feels soooooo fucking unwanted. Nel is bored with her job, too. Sometimes, Nel feels like a stupid fucking lamp post, an invisible wallflower, melukut di tepi gantang - what have you.
Sometimes, Nel feels just soooo fucking tired of living...too tired, too tired. Sometimes, Nel feels sooooo depressed she cried herself to sleep, wakes up crying. Sometimes, Nel just want to sleep and never wake up...
Oh bugger it...whatever! Metallica is humming in Nel's head right now...
Nothing else matters
So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know
So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No nothing else matters
Today, Nel doesn't feel like she wants to live. Perhaps the disconsolate darkness of gloomy nights caused Nel to feel deeply dejected and dispirited...hopelessly sad. Could this be akin to the Twilight Zone that Odeth described? Bottomless hollow well that spirals down endlessly in the darkness below...
[Nel's alter ego sleeps and takes over] But tomorrow is another day. Perhaps it will be better and if Nel survives tonight, Nel will see tomorrow and beyond...
Nel, sleep now. Tomorrow will be a better day...Have a little faith, Nel.
If one falls in love, then one just falls in love. There is no "IF" for love is an absolute sum game. Most people fear their love will not be returned, so they'd rather not give at all. But better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all. I think if your love is returned, you're most fortunate - it will be the greatest gift shared between two people. But if you're unlucky, then consider it "sedekah" or goodwill.
I am in love, I think...but I'm not lucky this time - to have loved and lost when the game hasn't even started.
[Nel's alter ego talking] Yeah, yeah, yeah...Nel screwed up in love big time!
Nel feels sooo fucked up that nothing else matters...Nel just want to throw herself on her bed and bury her head under the pillows. Nel feels soooooo fucking unwanted. Nel is bored with her job, too. Sometimes, Nel feels like a stupid fucking lamp post, an invisible wallflower, melukut di tepi gantang - what have you.
Sometimes, Nel feels just soooo fucking tired of living...too tired, too tired. Sometimes, Nel feels sooooo depressed she cried herself to sleep, wakes up crying. Sometimes, Nel just want to sleep and never wake up...
Oh bugger it...whatever! Metallica is humming in Nel's head right now...
Nothing else matters
So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know
So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No nothing else matters
Today, Nel doesn't feel like she wants to live. Perhaps the disconsolate darkness of gloomy nights caused Nel to feel deeply dejected and dispirited...hopelessly sad. Could this be akin to the Twilight Zone that Odeth described? Bottomless hollow well that spirals down endlessly in the darkness below...
[Nel's alter ego sleeps and takes over] But tomorrow is another day. Perhaps it will be better and if Nel survives tonight, Nel will see tomorrow and beyond...
Nel, sleep now. Tomorrow will be a better day...Have a little faith, Nel.
Enter The Sandman
Mohandas Gandhi once said, "A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave."
Reflecting on his profound and wise words, perhaps I have been a coward because I was afraid to exhibit my love for a man. I was so afraid of rejection, I still am. So afraid that I told a certain someone that I only want to be good friends with him - because you can dump a girlfriend, but not a good friend. And I dispelled and discouraged any romantic notions or display of emotions, even when I felt we could be more.
But deep down in my heart, I like him a lot and would like him to be more than a good friend if we can hit it off. Hypothetically speaking, perhaps by putting that wall in front of me, I had unconsciously weed out any rhubarbs of romance from developing.
[My alter ego talking] Why Nel, why do this? You wanted to sound cool and unaffected because you didn't want him to think you're so perasan? You're afraid of rejection? You wanted him, don't you? You love him, don't you?
This morning at four past midnight, I had woken up crying like a wounded, scared child. I had that dream again, the same one I've been having for over a week. This is third time The Sandman entered the realm of my unconscious with The Dream.
In The Dream, a man was driving my car on an endless road. We keep passing this beautiful French colonial house, by a river looking over a lush meadow, over and over again. It's like we had been driving in a circle, but in my dream I knew that we weren't because the road was not bending. It was a straight road that goes on miles and miles infinitely.
In my second dream I told the man, "That's my dream home." To which he said, "Hey, let's stop by then."
In my third dream, we actually walked to the front door and was about to knock and then I woke up. It was really strange. But one thing I know for sure, I do miss having someone who loves me and someone to love.
Perhaps for now, I'll take great comfort from former American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's inspiring words, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Meanwhile, here's what's humming in my head...
Enter The Sandman
Say your prayers little one
Don’t forget, my son
To include everyone
Tuck you in, warm within
Keep you free from sin
Till the sandman he comes
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
Off to never never land
Something’s wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren’t of snow white
Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragon’s fire
And of things that will bite
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
Off to never never land
Now I lay me down to sleep
Pray the lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
Pray the lord my soul to take
Hush little baby, don’t say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
It’s just the beast under your bed,
In your closet, in your head
Exit light
Enter night
Grain of sand
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We’re off to never never land
Reflecting on his profound and wise words, perhaps I have been a coward because I was afraid to exhibit my love for a man. I was so afraid of rejection, I still am. So afraid that I told a certain someone that I only want to be good friends with him - because you can dump a girlfriend, but not a good friend. And I dispelled and discouraged any romantic notions or display of emotions, even when I felt we could be more.
But deep down in my heart, I like him a lot and would like him to be more than a good friend if we can hit it off. Hypothetically speaking, perhaps by putting that wall in front of me, I had unconsciously weed out any rhubarbs of romance from developing.
[My alter ego talking] Why Nel, why do this? You wanted to sound cool and unaffected because you didn't want him to think you're so perasan? You're afraid of rejection? You wanted him, don't you? You love him, don't you?
This morning at four past midnight, I had woken up crying like a wounded, scared child. I had that dream again, the same one I've been having for over a week. This is third time The Sandman entered the realm of my unconscious with The Dream.
In The Dream, a man was driving my car on an endless road. We keep passing this beautiful French colonial house, by a river looking over a lush meadow, over and over again. It's like we had been driving in a circle, but in my dream I knew that we weren't because the road was not bending. It was a straight road that goes on miles and miles infinitely.
In my second dream I told the man, "That's my dream home." To which he said, "Hey, let's stop by then."
In my third dream, we actually walked to the front door and was about to knock and then I woke up. It was really strange. But one thing I know for sure, I do miss having someone who loves me and someone to love.
Perhaps for now, I'll take great comfort from former American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's inspiring words, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Meanwhile, here's what's humming in my head...
Enter The Sandman
Say your prayers little one
Don’t forget, my son
To include everyone
Tuck you in, warm within
Keep you free from sin
Till the sandman he comes
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
Off to never never land
Something’s wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren’t of snow white
Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragon’s fire
And of things that will bite
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
Off to never never land
Now I lay me down to sleep
Pray the lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
Pray the lord my soul to take
Hush little baby, don’t say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
It’s just the beast under your bed,
In your closet, in your head
Exit light
Enter night
Grain of sand
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We’re off to never never land
My-KART Series (Round 1)
I took part in MyKART Series (Round 1) in the K3 (80cc) Category at CityKarting Circuit in Shah Alam on Saturday. This first race kicked off the 2005 races.
In my first qualifying heat Khairul @ Devil's Advocate tweaked my kart's engine for top speed, but somehow it lagged so much on the pick up and it dragged at the starting and my kart spun around corners. So I ended up finishing last at 12th placing.
In the second qualifying heat, I asked Devil's Advocate to tweak my kart's engine for pick up instead. I did a lot better and improved my position to tenth placing. It would have been superb except for a couple of spins caused by four other karts that spun in front of me.
In the finals, I improved a lot more and had more control of my kart - I was in tune and didn't spin at all. Finished at eighth placing - a marked improvement from the two qualifying heats.
Anyways, the winner for K3 Category was Henzee - a good racer. Meanwhile, Udi beat my brother Huffiz @ Sub in the K2 Category. Congrats!
Quoting Fazz, our racing "ring leader": "It is clear that 2005 will be a massive challenge in both the K2 and K3 categories. Also clear that some of us have yet to brush of the cobwebs (myself included), but this will change as we get into the rhythm."
[Talking to myself] Nel, if you won't be better tomorrow than you were today, then what do you need tomorrow for? Go go girl! Go beat some more boys at the track!
In my first qualifying heat Khairul @ Devil's Advocate tweaked my kart's engine for top speed, but somehow it lagged so much on the pick up and it dragged at the starting and my kart spun around corners. So I ended up finishing last at 12th placing.
In the second qualifying heat, I asked Devil's Advocate to tweak my kart's engine for pick up instead. I did a lot better and improved my position to tenth placing. It would have been superb except for a couple of spins caused by four other karts that spun in front of me.
In the finals, I improved a lot more and had more control of my kart - I was in tune and didn't spin at all. Finished at eighth placing - a marked improvement from the two qualifying heats.
Anyways, the winner for K3 Category was Henzee - a good racer. Meanwhile, Udi beat my brother Huffiz @ Sub in the K2 Category. Congrats!
Quoting Fazz, our racing "ring leader": "It is clear that 2005 will be a massive challenge in both the K2 and K3 categories. Also clear that some of us have yet to brush of the cobwebs (myself included), but this will change as we get into the rhythm."
[Talking to myself] Nel, if you won't be better tomorrow than you were today, then what do you need tomorrow for? Go go girl! Go beat some more boys at the track!
Friday, February 04, 2005
Happiness to me is...
There is always a certain peace in being what one is, in being that completely. Being who one is and say what one feels. I call this a state of being happy. Happiness is a relative term, it brings different meanings to everyone.
Happiness to me is...
Having people I love around me.
Having someone to love and to love me.
Having a good time with my friends.
Having a good sense of humor.
Being with people who have great sense of humor.
Having everything that I need and want.
Getting what I want and wanting what I get.
Getting more than I expected or hoped for.
Getting a pleasant surprise when I least expect it.
Learning new things and discovering new places.
Achieving everything I set out to do for the day.
Solving a problem.
Having a passion for life and a purpose for living.
Knowing that I have made a difference in someone's life.
Eating my ice cream and not worrying about gaining pounds.
Enjoying a good movie.
Going to the orchestra.
Watching a good play at the theatre.
Appreciating arts at art galleries.
Having time to myself to meditate (my quality time-alone).
Reading a good book.
Reaching the peak of a mountain.
A good race at the go-kart track.
Happiness to me is...
Having people I love around me.
Having someone to love and to love me.
Having a good time with my friends.
Having a good sense of humor.
Being with people who have great sense of humor.
Having everything that I need and want.
Getting what I want and wanting what I get.
Getting more than I expected or hoped for.
Getting a pleasant surprise when I least expect it.
Learning new things and discovering new places.
Achieving everything I set out to do for the day.
Solving a problem.
Having a passion for life and a purpose for living.
Knowing that I have made a difference in someone's life.
Eating my ice cream and not worrying about gaining pounds.
Enjoying a good movie.
Going to the orchestra.
Watching a good play at the theatre.
Appreciating arts at art galleries.
Having time to myself to meditate (my quality time-alone).
Reading a good book.
Reaching the peak of a mountain.
A good race at the go-kart track.
What's in a name?
Everyday, like some 34 years ago, when Emak was carrying me in her womb, she looked at the famous painting "The Mona Lisa" and wished for her daughter to have Mona Lisa's beautiful eyes and smile. She wanted to name her first-born after the painting, The Mona Lisa, which is without doubt the most famous work in the entire 4,000 year history of the visual arts and been famous for a remarkably long, almost uninterrupted period.
I read that when it was still in Leonardo Da Vinci's studio in Florence, and very probably not yet finished, it was already inspiring imitations. By mid-16th century it was being pronounced divine rather than human in its perfection. By mid-19th century it was a goal for pilgrimages and the object of a cult that mixed romantic religiosity with eroticism and rhetoric.
Now, back to the 20th century, when I was born...
When Abah went to register my name it turned out to be just "Naliza" on my birth certificate. Spelling error at the National Registration Department, but Abah thought "Naliza" is just as nice as "Mona Lisa" and unique. So, that's how I ended up with my name, and of course, very human, and nowhere near The Mona Lisa's divine perfection.
Do call me Nel, Liz, or Nelly. Naliza if you want to be formal with me. Liza if you prefer or Lisa, which is fine. But not Mona, please, I'm so not Mona!
I read that when it was still in Leonardo Da Vinci's studio in Florence, and very probably not yet finished, it was already inspiring imitations. By mid-16th century it was being pronounced divine rather than human in its perfection. By mid-19th century it was a goal for pilgrimages and the object of a cult that mixed romantic religiosity with eroticism and rhetoric.
Now, back to the 20th century, when I was born...
When Abah went to register my name it turned out to be just "Naliza" on my birth certificate. Spelling error at the National Registration Department, but Abah thought "Naliza" is just as nice as "Mona Lisa" and unique. So, that's how I ended up with my name, and of course, very human, and nowhere near The Mona Lisa's divine perfection.
Do call me Nel, Liz, or Nelly. Naliza if you want to be formal with me. Liza if you prefer or Lisa, which is fine. But not Mona, please, I'm so not Mona!
Bare it all!
There is an old Indian fable about six blind men and an elephant that I would like to share with you.
In this fable, six men of Indostan went to "see" an elephant though they were all blind. The first man came to the elephant's side and said: "God bless me but the elephant is very like a wall." The second, feeling the elephant's tusk, said: "It is clear that the elephant is like a spear."
All six felt a different part of the elephant and each came to a different conclusion of what an elephant is. Each was both right and wrong.
Moral of the story, if a couple, a team or friends do not communicate openly, clarify things, and bare it all, there are bound to be misunderstandings. Because, each will see only his or her perspective and not all sides of the story.
In this fable, six men of Indostan went to "see" an elephant though they were all blind. The first man came to the elephant's side and said: "God bless me but the elephant is very like a wall." The second, feeling the elephant's tusk, said: "It is clear that the elephant is like a spear."
All six felt a different part of the elephant and each came to a different conclusion of what an elephant is. Each was both right and wrong.
Moral of the story, if a couple, a team or friends do not communicate openly, clarify things, and bare it all, there are bound to be misunderstandings. Because, each will see only his or her perspective and not all sides of the story.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
What I want in life is...
WHAT I WANT IN LIFE is....Spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical, social,and financial well-being.
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