Influenced Thoughts

I have been reading 'Pride & Prejudice'. I've been partaking it slowly and leisurely (for I can easily finish it within a free day if I wanted to). Perhaps it has gone to my head for I am starting to see parallels of the much admired Mr. Darcy in real life... and in an unexpected venue. I laugh at such fanciful thoughts.

A friend once concluded that I must be rather unromantic generally (Note: I sought obliteration of this remark by playing her romantic love songs continuously and appearing to be enjoying them estatically for consecutive days until she surrendered in exasperation), and another announced that he finds me so cold when I am seriously at work. Well, those people may be truly surprised to find the unlikely thoughts actually emerged during my time at work.

I never thought romance novels improved the mind much, but Jane Austen is more than romance. She writes about life, with the struggles and happiness of average people, so very well. It does soften the heart and turn one's mind towards the family for her books do revolve around the family. Of course, there is romance in all her books, but they are very far removed from the garish type with very gawdily expressed affections. What one finds in Austen's books are more typical - very often people do fancy each other, but are held back by various things, which may include commitments, embarassment, fear, self-denial, etiquette, lack of confidence, pride and/or prejudice.

Some places where her complete works may be found:
http://www.online-literature.com/austen/
http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/janewrit.html

Ho Ho Hometown!

Going home next Saturday. Yupe! Have not been back to my hometown for... How long is that? Was it May the last time I was back? Did I go in August? I think I did spend about 24 hrs there at some point. Anyway, the bottom line is: I haven't seen my dearest granny in a long time nor our apartment there. Sigh...

I want to buy something nice to bring back. But what? Almost everything can be found back home too. My granny is diabetic so the usual things people will buy for the elderly (edible stuff) is severely limited. There are several things I know she'd like and I'd readily get them for her (she usually reserves what I like for me... doting gran) if it wouldn't aggravate her health.

I'm in such a good mood, I even thought of buying something for my pretty cousins. For your information, I have many. You may not believe me, but I have a number of cousins who are tall, leggy and pretty (2 or 3 bear some resemblance to certain celebrities, but I won't say which one). Relatives used to worry that they wouldn't be able to find men who are tall enough for them, but that proved to be a waste of time. Men these days see enough of tall, slim, leggy, fashionable women daily to not be intimidated, and they are definitely far from being turned off by my fair cousins. If you're nice to me, I'd introduce to you the ones who have yet to be snapped up (NB: bribery of all forms accepted). As for my male cousins, they are still young... young heartbreakers *grins*. Yes, the eldest two are still in high school, but I am sure they are not short of admirers (rumours do spread) or guts (sisters do discover secrets). I recall that when one dashing cousin got transferred to his father's school, news went round that the Headmaster's son looked like Takeshi Kaneshiro. That happens to be one of my favourite cousins but we grew apart due to distance and him arriving at puberty. He was always a very good boy. Too bad he is rather shy around me nowadays. Maybe I could offer him some girl-catching tactics to snare him into conversation. That's a good plan.

Come next week, we shall see. Hope the reunion lives up to expectation.

She Who Laughs Last...

We'll see who gets the last laugh. Enjoy while you can.

Wonderful Life

I spent most of Saturday night crying over Korean drama. It was exactly the type that would really get to me. I don't necessarily cry over tragic or soppy scenes, but I find it hard to resist those about family bonds.

The story started off as a romantic comedy about how two people who were soon off to start university met quite accidentally, had a whole day of adventure together and drank a bit too much. They woke up the next day, shocked to find that they have had a one-night-stand. The woman discovered later she was pregnant and there was much tension, as can be expected. They were both still in university and the guy had reconciled his relationship with his ex-girlfriend before the pregnancy was discovered. She was still determined to keep the baby and resented him for many things, especially his feelings for his girlfriend and him "dumping" the responsibility of bringing up the child on her while he went for National Service. Many things happened and the story fast forwarded to five years later.

At five years old, their daughter was very adorable. Sadly, she was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Her parents went through hell, along with the extended family. Differences ceased being important as they struggled to remain strong while watching the little five-year-old suffer painful treatments, vomit, lose hair, lose friends in the hospital to Death, etc. Even previously jealous ex-lovers (both his and hers) tried what they could to help, going for tests to see if their bone marrow was compatible. It was during such troubled times that the young couple in their early twenties admitted and proved their love for each other and depended on one another for the strength to carry on.

What was most heart-wrenching were the things the little girl said and the what she did as she discovered a whole new experience most five-year-olds do not have to go through. She learnt about being sick, about death, and wondered aloud about many things. Very often her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncle were reduced to tears but tried their best to hide it from the innocent child. She even told a priest to tell God that she was not a good girl because she cried very often during treatments, made her mother cry and her father very tired, and asked Him not to take her because she knew he liked good children.

"Wonderful Life" - The story may not be completely unique, but the effect was no less powerful.

Thorn

There is a huge thorn in my side. It would cost my much to remove it. But I have decided steps must be taken to remedy this unhappy situation. I am going to try. It may hurt more. Hopefully, it will be temporarily before the pain is lessened. The thorn may be more firmly pushed in to cause greater pain. Even it is isn't, and is successfully removed, bleeding may ensue.

Pain.

It is a gamble.

Let it be more, or let it be less, but let it not be constant.

So It Carries On...

Well, the new year has rolled in. I hope those who wanted to go party and be merry succeeded, while those who wanted to make some new resolutions actually did so too.

Everything is going on as usual. I returned from 2 days of (semi) rest and find a mountain high pile of work to clear. I knew it would be so actually. We weren't bothered enough to make things a tad better for ourselves last Saturday but took our time over new year's eve dinner (at our desks as usual) chatting away, then, the left the office after 8pm. We even took some photos with an Idol finalist (the first batch) who came to our office with the manager and entourage. Most people weren't very impressed with her and weren't even jealous when I won an album by her (out of the 11 she autographed and left behind) during the lucky draw.

All I can say is, "Well... at least I got something..."

I am disappointed my expansion pack did not install properly. I shall have to wait until I have the time (uh... yeah) to go and exchange it.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.

My new year greeting is coming a little late because I was using the two days of rest to run some errands, do some things I've not done in a long time/forgotten how to do, and... rest!

Oh... and to play computer games a lot!

P.S. Just bought an expansion pack! Bwahahahaha...!