On Holidays....

I started my holidays on thurs, and its been a pretty full on weekend..... I dont think i've been out this much since my early uni days, where an 18 yr old's energy levels are unsurmountable. But i sit here now, after a sunday sesh and bumming around a dead Heat Nightclub, pretty exhausted.

I think back to my early uni days..... how on earth did i ever manage to go out as much as i did? Nowadays, i go out once a wkend, and that's enough! Nicole summed it up nicely tonite,"We're getting old."

One may ask, why the sudden need to go out so much this wkend? Trying to relive one's youth? Trying to feel young again by hanging out in these places? Just wanna have a good time? Too much time and money on your hands? (the last one definitely does NOT apply.)

I'm leaving for Europe 2mrw.... well actually today. I leave this afternoon for london, where i'll commence my European adventure for the next 3 mths. I'll be back in April, but until then, i wont be updating this blog anymore, till i return.
For those who know me and wish to recieve email updates, drop me an email and i'll put u on my list. I pretty much have everyone, but if u think i dont have it, give it to me anyway.

Au revoir everyone, and Bon Voyage to me! :)

There is hope yet...

In light of the Tsunami catastrophe, now more than ever, i feel there is hope yet. How so? Well.......

There's been SO MUCH fund raising stuff for the tsunami victims, u cant get by without seeing an ad on tv, newspaper, billboard, beer cartons, or hearing about it on radio. Yet, i'm amazed at how generous and caring ppl have been. When i saw Eddie Maguire on that telethon thing, i cringed and thought," not another plug by Eddie..." But the general public are unlike me. They looked past that. They are bigger than that. They see the real issue here. That is, helping the victims. And I'll admit, i was humbled by this.

Noone has really dwelled on the past. It's happened. Get over it. Let's focus on what we're left with, help the victims, fix what needs fixing. I've only heard a minority of reports on "WHY". Usually in times like these, i notice ppl like to ask "WHY" or "Who's to blame". I'm glad that hasnt been the bulk of the news.

I wonder if god allowed such a travesty to occur as a spur for mankind to unite & show care for one another for once, no matter who they are or where they're from. I mean, we had a impromptu concert/telethon thingy on sat nite that raised 15 million dollars in a few hrs. The cricket match (World XI vs Asia) raised over 10 million during the match. Coporate businesses from everywhere are throwing in millions and hundreds of thousands in. I'm thinking,"how come everyone's got so much money all of a sudden?"

In a world that strives towards and seeks profits rather than gains, it so warms my heart to see some humility return to the world. Where the starving children in africa, war in iraq, abusive govts of millitaristic regimes failed to raise an eyebrow yesterday, today this one catasrophe has managed to bring together the WHOLE world and show love for humanity. Love for one another. Love for our fellow human being.

Exquisite beauty

I came across a odd sight tonight....

One of the most beautiful women i have seen for a long time graced me with her presence tonight. She strode by me, just as i was shovelling the mixture of curry lamb and rice into my oral orifice. Initially, she did not captivate me, rather i was more intent on completing the shovelling procedure so i could satisfy the wonton desires of my gut.

As the mixture seared the inner lining of my throat as i swallowed, only then did i notice her across the room, being seated at her table. Then, "Whack!". I was slapped hard across my face. I nearly fell over from the force of the strike, but my jaw was not so lucky. It dropped and hit the table hard. As I tried pick my jaw off the table, i found it difficult to avoid the blows of beauty that radiated from her presence.

She exuded class, elegance and beauty as she sat there and placed her order that would satisfy her appetite. As the waitress left, only then did i notice what was amiss from this perfect scenario...... She was dining alone. Table set for one. Uno momento..... WTF!? What is such an exquisite specimen of the female gender doing ALONE? That's not right.

People ask, "what did u do about it then?". I did what any gentleman would've done of course. :)

Tear Jerker

3 posts in one day is a record for me, but i just HAVE TO share this post, dated the 4th Jan 2005, with everyone.

It's a really amazing story that really tugs at the heart strings, but for me, it really struck deeply in me for some reason. 2 points she writes really STICK out to me...... (1) the grace of God, and (2) "reducing stress and enjoying the everydayness of life"

2 things that i too believe strongly in.

Are u for real?

Outback Jack is in Perth next wk! I had a bit of a chuckle when the girls were given a reprieve from the outback to return to civilisation and be allowed to shop in a metropolis. And they picked Perth. !?@?#?

Out of Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, which is more of a metropolis with all the facillities to quench any shopping desire?

Things are never as u planned

In recent times, i havent been a big fan of planning things. This is coz i have been bitten too many times in planning events, only for it to crumble to dust and/or ppl not turning up. I get my hopes up or get amped towards something, only to be disappointed. And this doesnt just happen with women either. It's EVERY thing in life. Even down to catching up for a coffee with someone, borrowing a book, asking a favour, maintaining friendships.................

Today i knew i had a slack day. I mean, looking at the appt book yesterday, i had this huge 3 hr lunch today. So i thought, "what will i do for 3 hrs? Why play xbox of course!" So i brought my xbox to work, all ready to tackle my game of the moment, FIFA 2005. (For those thinking of getting it, GET IT! Its fabulous!)

But what do u know? My 3 hr lunch break got whittled down to 30 mins, and i ended up having a full-on day. Never got to even kick off..... Sigh. So i lugged my xbox all the way to work, for NOTHING.

Outcomes of the long weekend...

Rather than dwell on what i PLAN to do in the new year, i might try something different and write about the "Outcomes over the New Year long weekend festivities."

1) Where everyone and everything else gets to kick back and relax during this period, my gastro-intestinal system has had to pick up the pace, especially since xmas.
2) Consumption of alcohol, even in a responsible manner, for consecutive days, gets u dehydrated. My mouth is like a 5 yr old dried prune.
3) I came to re-live the nightclub life, and why i have such a "love-hate" relationship with it.
4) For once, i didnt mind being squished in an extremely hot, humid, sweaty dance floor wif hundreds of other strangers, counting down the new yr to some african drumbeats....(only they werent actually african ppl!)
5) There is one restaurant in Northbridge I will NEVER recommend to anyone. It was appalling and i vow never to go again (unless it was free of course!) If u do not want the worst dining experience of your life, just ask me and i'll tell u which one it is.
6) Found a new place in northbridge worth going to, The Shed, seems like a great venue for a sunday session or catchup drinks.
7) Playing 18 holes of NY day golf after 4 hrs of sleep is NOT easy. (especially when the day is 35 degrees)
8) I've got MAJOR bogan tan lines due to 5 hrs on the sunny fairways. I'm a little annoyed, coz this summer i've tried to maintain an "even" all over tan.
9) sunburn hurts
10) chicks spewing in public is still NOT a good look.
11) greek-macedonian dancing is fun. Any cultural enrichment is cool.
12) I've eaten and drank way too much. The gut has returned.... :(
13) Returning to work is not going to be pretty......

dampeners...

Being out on the last nite of 2004 was great. Northbridge was a lot quieter than i'd ever expected (is perth shrinking!?) but there was a decent enough crowd where we were anyway. Afterall, all everyone wants is to have a good time with our fellow human beings and see off 2004, right?

It came to my attention last nite there were the odd idiots that are ever present. What goes thru these ppl's minds i dont know. I thought that the crowd around me were pretty good, everyone was just doing their thing. But my friend had her boobs grabbed by some random dipshit, which scared the crap out of her, all whilst he smiled n sniggered. Understandably, she was quite upset.

Why do ppl have to do that? It's guys like this that give males a bad name, and that pisses me off. Then "ALL" guys in that place become seedy. Cant ppl not control themselves? Maybe they should stick to grabbing themselves instead.

Judging a book by its cover...

U know how they say "dont judge a book by its cover"? Well i dont know about u, but i still do sometimes. Especially when it comes to choosing books or wine. What catches my eye about a wine is what the label on the bottle looks like. Sounds bad right? I of all people should know this, but i still fall into this trap.

Well tonight, i brought a bottle of merlot that someone had given me for my b'day last yr to a barbie tonight. I thought it wouldnt be the best wine i'd ever brought, since it looked like a really average bottle. But once i poured it into the glass, took a whiff and taste, it was awesome.

Because of this tonight, i have fallen in love with organic wine. Havent heard of it? Well neither have I, until tonight. I'm a big fan of organic wine now, especially this one, i'll be looking out for it on the shelves.........

Tsunami Terror

It struck me this morning as i picked up the front page of the newspaper the enormity of the situation. I mean, for it to make front page news, it would have to be quite important, right? I remember last nite my dad telling me there was a big earthquake near indonesia, extending to india and thailand. At the time, i was too engrossed in my xbox game, Splinter Cell; Pandora Tommorrow. (Mind u, it is an awesome game requiring much concentration!) I sort of nodded and showed some kind of acknowledgement to him, but inwardly i was cursing the fact he was interrupting my gaming! Doesnt he realise i could die, and i would have to start the level again!?

We hear of disasters on the news all the time. The media covers everything so well nowadays, i dont even take notice of them. But this morning as i read the full story, i realised i know some ppl that are in Phuket and Penang as i type this. Then i read on, realising that Phuket is one of the worst places hit, and the a number killed in Penang. My heart sank a little. My thoughts of the 3 ppl i know there come flooding in, and i pray that they would be safe.

When the bali bombings occured, it was a shocking incident, yet i could not not fully empathise. Now, i can associate the panic and concern that family would have over the ppl in the affected areas. Guys, if u r out there and read this, pls let me know ur ok! :)

Scrooge

I think i'm pretty close to being a xmas scrooge. Dont get me wrong, i dont go saying "bah humbug" to everything and everyone, but i'm really not at all excited about xmas at all. If anything, its an opportunity for me to kick my legs up and chill.

A few of the girls at work are all excited about the day and everything, but i'm not too fussed about it. I dont know if it comes across as me being moody or a scrooge, but xmas just aint a big thing to me!

I mean it is important in the fact that it celebrate's Jesus' birth, but I consider easter a much more important date/time. I think easter is the most important event on the christian calendar, not xmas. People may disagree with me here..... :p

I think back to when i was younger, whether xmas was a big thing then..... I dont believe it was. So maybe that's where my view comes from...... At the end of the day, it seems like most are getting overly excited for what is essentially a long wkend. But i definitely enjoy the excuse to get together with friends and family, laze about with a beer in one hand, food in the other, and watch the boxing day test.

Merry xmas.

Have u ever noticed how...

- In the bank, there are like 8 teller counters...... Have u ever seen more than half the counters manned at one time!? I was at the bank today, and had to wait 30 mins to be served. All the while there were 8 counters, and only THREE people attending. What the heck do we pay all these bloody bank fees for? Where do the million dollar profits that we hear about go to!? Why close at 4pm when it takes u so bloody long to see your customers?

- We live in dangerous times....... the bank i went to had security sliding doors to get INTO the teller counters. So basically the line was facing a door, until the teller inside pushed a button to let u into the area where they were! Talk about HIGH security!

- Courtesy does not exist...... On my drive to work and home, I let about 5 people in front of me How many thank yous did i get? Nil, nada, zilch, zero, none, bugger all.

- kids are maturing sooner....... more so for females, but schoolgirls nowadays look so mature, i have difficulty differentiating them from 15 yr olds or 25 yr olds! Such was the case today in the shopping centre... so many young chicks out today, wonder why..... Oh yeah, its school hols... Woops, that means they must still be at school!....

- some people dont know much about their own job...... i went into a shop, wanting to apply for something. The moment i ask questions outside the square, the guy has got no clue, and starts fishing for answers out of his arse. That annoys me, coz if u dont know, just say so and get me someone who does!

sport & psychology

U know how sometimes u have that unscratchable itch in u, where u just cant wait to get out and get to that itch? Something that has been building up within u, with no sense of resolve? Well one of those itches for me has been the desire to play sport again.

Ever since my injury, i have been incapable to play any sort of sport. In fact, i could barely twist around to reach over to get anything! But after a month of physio, i've been put back on track, and have reached the point where i may resume an active lifestyle once more.

So today i managed to have my 1st swing of the golf club in a LONG time. I must admit that i was quite apprehensive in going to the driving range, as i did not want a recurrence of my injury. So the 1st few swings were definitely very ginger, so tentative that i missed the ball completely! (Much to the amusement of my golfing wannabe companion ;) Then again, i dont know if she was laughing at my golf skill or just me...)

It definitely took awhile to get going, and i started middle-ing the ball more, although in my mind i was constantly thinking i was feeling pain or tightness from my back. This was definitely a case of "mind over matter". The back is fine. Surgery has fixed it. Now i need to get my mind over it. And stop being so scared. Who says sport psych doesnt exist?

Beach or shopping?

Seeing that i didnt start work till 3 in the afternoon, i had a variety of options as to how to spend my half day off today. One was to go to the beach. The other, xmas shopping and errands. I chose the latter. Now i regret that decision.

The shops were packed. And not just packed, but filled with smelly teenagers (sorry to all those nice-smelling teenagers) Finding presents was like trekking thru densr jungle, using my arms as machetes, chopping and fending stray arm-like branches blocking the way. The bright signs vying for your attention simply brings on more confusion, especially an unseasoned shopping campaigner like me. And it was HOT, so going from store to store was taxing..... Xmas carols were ingrained into my brain that i found myself subconsciously humming it by the end of the day. I was drawn to the "sale" signs like a bear to honey, picking and poking at it until my cravings were satisfied.

When i finally got home, i thought,"I could do with a swim about now". Then i realised it was time to go to work, and i had missed my chance. I love going to the beach when its stinkin hot, i love the ability to sweat the instant u step out of the water, just so u can hop back in. And i missed all that so as to mix it with the best of the material world.... sigh.

Reflections

I'm in a kind of a reflective mood today.... I guess it was a lazy sort of a day, where it was a cruisy morning at work, had coffee with a friend in the arvo, got a haircut, went to the physio, then dinner with some friends.... Life just passes by..... has my whole yr walked by me like that? It's kinda hard to explain, but my day sorta just happened. The sun rises, then it sets, and here i am, its dark, & i'm blogging. Just seems like we get so blase about all we do.... I guess as the end of 2004 approaches, we all look back in retrospect to what we have achieved or gained out of the yr, and i guess upon reflection, here are a few moments of 2004 that made it the yr it was for me....

- I cut my hair (for those that remember, it was quite long)
- I hurt my back at basketball
- The pain of my back for 3 mths
- The incapacitated "me" for the majority of this yr!
- My baptism
- Back Surgery
- Progress of my professional career
- starting & continuing lap swimming
- 1 week wonderful whirlwind holiday of Singapore, thanks to gracious hostess... :)
- consolidation of real friendships

I'm sure there'll be more when i have more time to think of it!

Most hated people....

As i was driving to work today, something on the radio got me thinking as to what is the most detested occupation in today's society is. Depending on what kind of person u r, occupations such as policeman come to mind, perhaps even the dentist?? Ppl always rave on about how they HATE the dentist and cant understand how anyone could do it or how they cause constant pain.... How about real moronic bouncers who dont let u in for no good reason? Lollipop men/women that take their sweet ass time in getting off the road! One occupation that is really annoying, but i'll admit is bloody hard work is telemarketers. Even phone sales ppl..... they must get so much abuse from the ppl they call, i dont know how they do it.

But i reckon i've found the one occupation that would be THE MOST HATED. Even more than the dreaded dentist. An occupation that could earn u scorns and hisses from the general public should u reveal yourself. One that u would not be mentioning to impress the ladies. One that could result in violence should it be revealed to its innocent victim.......the multinova cameraman.

multitasking

For those in the know, the Subi Street Party was on over the wkend. The closing of Rokeby Rd and Hay Street added a new dimension to subi i thought...... It was wierd walking on the road meant for cars..... It sorta shifted perspective looking around from the road rather than the footpath!

It was a pretty good setup i thought, and gradually the streets got packed. The music of some of the bands were great, some not so great :) I found it amusing that they chucked the heavy metal band at the far end of the party, away from the masses.... :)

There was free rock climbing, food, drink, rides, games...... kinda like a mini-fair of sorts. And the weather was great for it too! I was tempted into paying 5 bucks to play the popgun game, where i have to shoot rabbits. But I figured that even if i were to hit the maximum number of targets, the prize u get wasnt worth the 5 bucks spent in the 1st place, so i passed..... :p

And of course, what would a party be without animals!? There were the token sheep, lamb, cattle, turkey, chooks and 2 goats. Wot a zoo huh? And the goats were most impressive...... able to multitask the duties of peeing & pooping & eating, ALL at the SAME time. Quite a feat..... I dare u to try it! :)

Killing time

How does one waste a day? Just observe me today. I had practically nothing to do today, had a handful of patients to treat, otherwise i was bored stiff. I really racked my brains as to what i could do to kill time, but i kept drawing a blank.

One option is to go shopping, again! But i thought better of it, especially from my previous blog about this. I also tried sitting around reading my lonely planet, but got pretty bored of it.

One of the advantages of working where i work is the ability to sleep on my workstation. For those who know what i do, my workstation is convertible (in a sense) into a neat package for lying back and having a snooze. Boy that kills time alright, and i didnt realise how tired i was, till i laid back and closed my eyes......

Cheesy

I had a Ham-tuna-cheese sandwich for lunch today. But even that was not as cheesy as wot was on tv tonite. Dancing with the stars was on, and it's the 2nd time i've ever seen it, and it was the finale. For starters, how the heck did Pauline Hanson get into the final 2!? And wot was with the big choreographed dance with Daryl Sommers singing? So not good....... Thank goodness justice prevailed and Bec Cartwright won...... I may have slit my wrists if Pauline won, i think the quality of Australian tv is on the slide......

On the flip side, american tv never fails to entertain. I've never seen a full episode, but i always managed to catch the last few mins of this show called elove. Yes, it follows the trail of 2 internet lovers meeting for the 1st time. They show how they met and communicated over chat rooms, then finally arrange to meet beacause they believe they've met they're true love.

Dont get me wrong, i reckon its sweet and would be awesome for ppl to find their soul mates, lovers, husbands, wives, life partner over the internet, espeically in this day and age. Modern tech allows us to reach millions of ppl around the globe, so eventually dating and romance would have to conform too!

But the stark reality of this show is that from the limited last bits i've seen, none of the couples actually end up together. Admittedly, i havent seen many, but it always seems to end with, "HE/SHE is not exactly what i thought they'd be". In the end, I guess some things never change......

Retail Therapy 2

Femine urges are pervading my masculinity. In other words, i think i'm starting to enjoy shopping.

Today, i had a 3 hour lunch..... havent had one of those in awhile. :) Anywayz, i tot i'd go into carousel to do some shopping for a top hat and cane for the formal on saturday nite. Wot did i end up doing instead? Went into different stores, looking, trying on, buying stuff. Ended up buying stuff, feeling pretty good about it, until on the way back to work, i realised i was supposed to get the gear for the formal. Hmph.

Then just now, got a call from a mate who got invited to Mainpeak's member-only sale. I just HAD TO check out the stuff on sale and the specials. Ended up getting this wicked travel towel and the cool blue carrabina with combo lock.

What's going on!? When has this sudden change hit me? (Or more importantly, what can i do with a blue carrabina with combo lock??) What happened to that typical blokey attititude of having to shop only when necessary? When the underpants are so well-worn that u have to peel if from your epidermis to get new ones on?

Return my manhood please.....