Coolcat's Jottings

I've been experiencing allergic reactions to unknown substances on and off recently. The most recent episode was after a very fun company dinner and karaoke session. As I drove home that night after being happily filled up with food, carbonated drinks, a little beer and fun memories of belting out funky songs with my colleagues, I realised that my whole body felt heaty. In a matter of minutes, I had rashes all over - from head to toe. Big raised red bumps that screamed to be scratched.

I've never been allergic to the subtances listed above - food, gassy drinks, beer and loud off-key karaoke singers - but there I was, driving in the most uncomfortable of situations. Of course driving with a scratchy bum is quite tolerable compared to driving with a full bladder which I experienced once before and hopefully, never again. Always empty your bladder before starting on your merry way home, folks, that's the trick.

Anyway, back to the itchy situation on hand, the minute I arrived home, I popped in an antihistamine pill and within an hour, all the rashes subsided. Thank God for Zyrtec!

This is the second time in four months that I had rashes like this under mysterious circumstances. A friend said that I could do with a detox - to rid my body of toxins that will react (or has been reacting) to various factors which I had not been allergic to before. Sounds like a good place to start.

Any good (and proven) self-served detox programs to recommend, anyone?

Ooooh, I love this...

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become REAL."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and are very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

~ Excerpt from: The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams.

This year marks the third year that I've been blogging. The anniversary date is slightly fuzzy. I suppose October 2003 would be the month that I officially started archiving my online jottings. But I started quite a few months before that.

Since I've forgotten the actual dates, I thought, "Aiya, what the heck, now's a good time as any to pay tribute to the two ladies who got me started and who kept me going on.

As the words of a song from my favourite movie ever goes, "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start" - so I shall start with the girl who inspired me to start penning my thoughts and feelings in digital format for all to see.

The Start Plug

This warm and benovalent girl has an appetite for love and life. This is evident in her rich trademark laughter. I still remember the first time we met. I heard the sweet contagious sound of her laugh and thought to myself, "That must be Irene!" It was very uncanny because I have never met her nor have I ever heard her laughter before. But sure enough, it was her. I introduced myself right there at the church foyer and we were delighted to have finally met and put a face behind the blog that we frequently haunt.

Before I 'went public', I did my research by exploring and reading other blogs first. It was Irene's blog that tugged my heart and inspired me the most. Her deep and intellectual insights on difficult issues wowed me. Her honesty in sharing her struggles humbled me. It is a rare thing to meet such a bright and intelligent person who does not have an arrogant bone in her body. And the cool and professional way she handled harsh and uncalled for flames by trolls on her blog is nothing short of astounding.

I was, put simply, inspired. If she can do it, then so can I. And so, I got started.

The Chugger

What is a girl without her faithful sidekick? Someone special who doesn't mind being blogged about or have her cute photos splashed all over in all sorts of crazy poses. Someone who trusts me completely. Someone who believes in me and to whom I bounce potential ideas to.

The first time I received a nasty flame, she was the one who soothed me and assured me that she still thinks I'm cool and have valid reasons in saying what I did. I dunno but when I received that kind of encouragement and assurance, it just frees me to blog from my heart on things that I strongly believe in. And to allow my crazy and zany part to peek through in my post sometimes. Who cares about the flames from those who do not matter anyway?

In times where I felt like I should stop blogging altogether, she reminded me of the bits of my blog and my life that inspired her when she was down. And that kept me going on.

So there you have it. My two main bloggie inspirations. Thanks, girls! Along the way, there were countless other inspirations. The many encouragement emails and comments (some were darn wacky ones which had me in stiches!) I receive. The precious friends I made. My blog has come and evolved quite a way thanks to you. Thank you faithful readers and commentors.

It's been a good three years. Cheers!

I guess it was no coincidence that I found a kindred spirit in the two of them. I love you two!

Met some new friends the other day.

"You're a lawyer, aren't you?" a friendly girl asked.

"No, I'm not. Why, do I look like one?" I said, tickled pink. I've been called many things before but never a lawyer.

"Yes, for some reason, you do!" she grinned at me.

Another guy echoed her sentiments. "Yeah lor, you've got the lawyer look. Like can really talk like that."

Wah. Compliments are always accepted. Heh heh.

I guess part of the reason why I have evolved into a 'lawyerish' look is because over the years, some of my close pals are either lawyers or lawyer-trained. Even my evil twin, Pebbles. I genuinely find my lawyer friends to be such stimulating company to be with - delighting in word-play and banter of the wits. So yeah, maybe that's why I now have a lawyer look.

Soooo, do I look like a hot-shot lawyer or what?

Have you ever saw something really funny and it got stuck to your brains for years? Well, there's this picture which I have been telling friends about but somehow couldn't find the link to it. Thanks to my best friend Google, I've found it. And just in case the link gets moved again, I'm posting the picture here.

If I have the time, I might just do a female version of these emoticons