Coolcat's Jottings

[url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080542573X/coolcatalystc-20" target=_blank][img]"http://images.amazon.com/images/P/080542573X.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" border="0" alt="cover" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left"[/img][/url] I was having a gala of a time shopping at the [url=http://www.mph.com.my" target=_blank]MPH[/url] sales yesterday when I spotted this book. The first thought that came to my mind was, "Oh not another boy-girl relationship (BGR) book!" I've read tons of those before and came out without gaining much after the reading experience.

But still, being a relationship book junkie, I just couldn't resist picking this book up for a brief perusal. Instead of the usual "How to Spot and Choose the Right One" or "Courting is Better than Dating" type of titles, it simply zooms into the heart of the matter - Am I the One? The first few sentences got me hooked. This book seems to be different from the rest and I just had to find out what it was. Who knows, I might learn a thing or two. So, I ended up buying it.

As I read it over dinner (an absolutely nice buffet at Oliver's Sandwich - their sandwiches are to die for!), I was amazed at the skillful and humourous way James R. Lucas wrote about this much talked-about subject. Right off I saw that it was written with youth (students) in mind. But a middle youth like me still found it extremely engaging and I actually learned more than just a thing or two from it.

In a very friendly manner, Lucas painted very real scenarios of people who think they are doing things that promote their personal growth and enhance their desirability towards the opposite sex but were actually just kidding themselves. In the same likeable manner, he also talks about people who look hot on the outside but have some real icky character issues on the inside.

Instead of shelling out a list of do's and don'ts, he focusses on getting the readers' hearts and attitudes right with God. He teaches about timeless principles in a refreshing and relevant manner.

Blow me down, I should have read it eons ago! It may have helped me make better choices and prevented me from turning perfectly good friendships into lousy dates. Ah, still... If I hadn't made the mistakes I had made, I wouldn't be the person I am now. Plus, when one is young, reckless and in crush, would one listen to advice from anyone? Some people just have to learn things the hard way, I guess

I am only onto the first few chapters but my bro is hurrying me up to finish the book so that he can read it by this weekend. Yeah, the book is [b]that good[/b]... or was it because of my enthusiastic promotion of it? Heh, whatever it is, I highly recommend it. [b](*****)[/b]

I feel sorry for my boss sometimes.

Last week, Helen baked a chocolate cake for my birthday. It tasted heavenly and I brought it to work to share the joy (and the fats) with my colleagues. After a meeting, Mike came out of the room feeling ravenous. He spotted the cake and ate a piece with gusto. Having tasted it and found it good, he asked the bosses to come and eat it.

My MD ate a piece and declared that it was really tasty and called my other boss (the one I [url=http://www.coolcatalyst.com/index.php?id=P314]wanted to kill[/url] recently) to have the last piece.

My boss took it and asked me, "Is it homemade?"

"Yes, my friend made it for me," I said with joyful pride. "It's really yummy."

He paused for a while to drop this comment before eating the cake, "You know, friends sometimes bake cakes and give them away so that you will then place orders with them in future."

I felt rather offended at that. Why did he have to drop such jaded comments? What does he know about my friend anyway??

I replied a little coldly, "She made it for my birthday."

At that, my boss was taken aback and he actually looked sheepish, "Oh... it really tastes great." For someone that seldom sings praises of anything, it was a rare compliment indeed.

Later on, I found out from another colleague that on his birthday, his wife's friend baked a cake for him but with ulterior motives. She had just opened a cake shop and gave him the cake as a sampler. I imagined that she would have said something like, "You try and see har? If nice, then you order from me next time, ya?"

When I heard that, I felt bad for being offended.

My poor boss... No wonder he's jaded when friends do something nice for each other

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I know not of a sweeter blessing than marrying one's first love. In a world full of break-ups and hiccups and emotional/mental crank-ups, it's nothing short of a miracle to see someone doing just that.

On Sunday, my best friend Florence married her first love, Chee Hong. It was the culmination of four years of courtship complete with 3 long years of conducting it long-distance. It was tough but they both made it through and went through it victoriously.

When Florence was a kid in braids spending many happy hours dreaming about Prince Charming with me, little did she know that Chee Hong was already in the fringes of her life. He is the brother of our classmate, Siew Fun and when he got his driving license, he would come and fetch his sister from school. Although he said he was very much aware of her then, she was blissfully ignorant about him.

About 4 years ago, we started this tradition of visiting a selected few friends' homes during Chinese New Year. One of the stops we made was Siew Fun's house for lunch. It was the first time that Chee Hong had the opportunity to finally converse with the girl of his dreams. Not one to miss out on striking while the iron was hot, he was soon in hot pursuit of this lovely girl and she, knowing a good guy when she saw one, accepted him into her life.

Last Sunday as I stood beside her on the stage during an ice-breaker session, I saw such happiness, contentment and peace emanating from her eyes. Never had I seen her so happy before and the sight made my heart soar.

Congratulations, my dear friend

I've got loads to update but free time was hard to come by these past few days and the internet connection's always erratic at home.

Anyway, I just came back from a client's meeting. The company driver dropped the boss off at another client's place before taking me back to the office. Upon arrival, the secretary asked, "Where's da boss?"

"Oh, we killed him and buried him before coming back."

"So fast?" she looked impressed.

"Yeah, so today we can all cabut (leave) early. Now also can."

Yeah.... if only lah...

Note1: My boss is nice and I have nothing against him. Just feeling a bit wicked today.
Note2: My boss is still very much alive and kicking.
Note3: Thanks for all your bday wishes, guys! They are much appreciated

Am meeting the Editor of a women's magazine this evening to talk about a possible job opportunity.

Everything I've heard of thus far sounds ideal but it requires a possible hefty pay cut. I hope that we will be able to negotiate something that will be acceptable to both parties. I don't mind having a pay cut but the pay should be enough to cover my financial commitments.

But as always, I trust that God will shut the door if it's not His will. Even jobs that are actually unsuitable for me but I would have taken up anyway to escape from my company during a very rough patch were slammed shut on my face.

That has saved me from having lots of sleepless nights, I can tell ya that.

Oh, ya - tomorrow I shall turn a year older. Still a couple of years to go before I hit the big three O but I honestly don't feel ancient. Must be the result of hanging out with my youth cell members so much