My Cousin's Advice

Excerpts from a following conversation during dinner:

Cousin: So have you given her the signals?
Kev: Yeah, I have, you know, calling her, inviting her out to places.
Cousin: Mate, that's really nothing! You need to be consistent and concerted in your approach. You have to do things for her that are above and beyond what a normal friend would do.
Kev: But the signs aren't there.
Cousin: She's a friend! Why would she give signs to you if (as I see it) you're not giving that clear a sign to her?
Kev: hmmm......

And so on it went. So with this random egging on from my relatives, it's time to step up the fun and festivities.

Kev: So you wanna come round for dinner? I'll cook for you.
Girl: Sounds good!

Now I just have to find that Jamie Oliver cookbook :)

Damn! fifteen cheap calls already:

May I suggest a quality desert wine to help lighten the mood after dinner as well as providing a smooth transition to whatever post-dinner activities that you may have...

Plan, plan, plan.

Oh, and have fun. :)
bOGi - 29 November '03 - 12:18

I was thinking of some daiquiris...it's got taht summer thing to it.
JookBoy - 29 November '03 - 15:45

I suggest you try position 44. It worked for you last time. :)
Dre - 29 November '03 - 17:38

I'm a fan of strong opening gambits. But you might want to defer your endgame and sacrifice your bishop or it just might be a stalemate.
-Stephen- - 30 November '03 - 09:10

So it be awwwwn!!! (hopefully!)

I agree with your cousin. You've got to make sure that she knows how you feel. And some girls still like the guy to make the first move.

I'd suggest to fully know beforehand what you want to tell her. And don't plan plan plan plan plan plan (sorry bogi, gotta disagree with you a little there). just plan the basics (what you want to say, what you need to cook, what you need to drink - kev, u stick with water ok!) and leave the rest to fate. that way you won't have to stress about follow a plan for the whole night. you can just relax and be yourself.

and yes have fun!!! damn it, ok plan to have fun!!!
Anton - 30 November '03 - 20:59

You know what dude, just cook something nice. Other than that, just be yourself, don't hold back (in being yourself. You should probably try to hold back your sexual urges until after your main, but not necessarily before your dessert.) Things will flow their natural course from there. I mean it's not like you two are strangers right? You will somehow find a common field to play (ie flirt) on.

And if you get nervous (which I doubt) just keep saying to yourself 'WHO GOT GAME?!!! I got GAME!!' and you'll be right.
Dre - 01 December '03 - 14:44

I'm getting tips all round!
Thanks for the advice, all, let's hope it all goes well :)
I probly agree with you, Anton, as long as the food is all worked out, everything else will take its own haphazard course.

I've got a recipe for Impossible Pie from my aunty hehe
JookBoy - 01 December '03 - 15:29

wow ... I'm feelin all nervous just reading this page ... and I aint even going to be there!!! :)

What are you doing to yourself Kev!!! :p

btw ... don't forget to plan what you're going to do with Waz for the night :) hehehe
scraps (email) - 02 December '03 - 06:19

It's all about thriving under pressure...but I'm beginning to doubt that :P

Don't worry, Waz will take care of himself!
JookBoy (email) - 02 December '03 - 15:48

Will he be working the video camera?
Dre - 02 December '03 - 19:26

Oh, that's so cheap.....quality :)
JookBoy - 02 December '03 - 20:06

Damn, Wazz is workin the vid cam? Shit. Now I have nothing to do!

Go with the flow bro. If in doubt, there is always Le Ranch 'O Love
PeeDz - 02 December '03 - 22:20

Girl: Why are we going to Macquarie?
Kev: Oh, I'm going for a massage
:)
JookBoy - 03 December '03 - 21:15

What u cooking kev? something spicy?? (ooh it's getting hot in here...)
I'm sure she'll luv whatever u make. Always difficult for a gal to resist a guy that cooks for her.
pskis - 03 December '03 - 22:23

Umm, cocktails, some sort of grilled fish, with salad, and a dessert.
Dessert has already gone slightly askew in trial runs :P

Thanks for the optimism :)
JookBoy (email) - 04 December '03 - 15:33

Good Neighbour 2003

The more I play the sport, the more I realise that I really like volleyball. It's one of the few games that I like even just watching as a spectator sport. I've been playing now since Year 10, but with a few years gap from 1st year uni to 3rd year uni. Now that I regularly play, with a decent team, it's all good fun! Our team recently went to the Good Neighbour tournament down in Canberra, which is a national tournament held once a year. It's the biggest volleyball tournament in Australia, with massive numbers of teams. We entered the Division 3, which was a good choice for us. The competition was quality, I'd rate a little bit better than our team, so it was quite a challenge.
The top ten events:

1. Me realising I had forgotten my wallet as we stop at Goulburn.
2. $2 entry fees for the nightclub we checked out on Friday.
3. Above mentioned nightclub not checking IDs for entry!
4. The 2 min noodles and eggs for breakfast (great way to start a sporting day!)
5. Getting a forfeit on the very first match we had to play, because the stoopid draw was changed after I had printed out a copy :(
6. Losing ALL our games on the first day, and then winning ALL our games on the second day!
7. In one match, spiking good enough as for the other team to put all three front row blockers on me....RESPECT :)
8. There were big white guys (ie 6 foot 2 and above) in every Div 3 team! Sadly, in our team, we just had a guy that was white hehe
9. Watching the AIS team play. Damn, some great players out there. All good inspiration
10. The comraderie in the team. We'll win our Monday Night league one day boyz!

Week In Review

Back to the good old days!
Important Tasks Completed - 1, maybe 2
Things I've noticed:

1. Not really setting out the weekly tasks as well as I would like. Need to get that done on Sunday night before the week begins, to at least get some idea on what's happening during the week.
2. Everyone else seems really busy at work, whilst I have all this free time on my hands. I must be efficient (or some other much more valid explanation!)
3. Getting back into a lot more sports and sporting activities. It's been too long! Surfing is fantastic, anyone who's willing to get to Manly at 9am on Saturday mornings, feel free to join me.
4. I know what it's like to be a manager, having to assess people's performance in the project that I've been involved. The key is to always upgrade the marks in one of the assessed areas when you are talking to them, make them feel that you're being generous!
5. I still like programmming, however sad that sounds. there's something quite tranquil in putting on the headphones, pump the MP3s and code way. However, it's only good if you're making progress. Fixing bugs sucks ass.
6. If someone says in an email that "I'd like to have dinner with you, but only in a group", you know that's a smackdown :)
7. If you like someone, attempt a hug-from-behind-walk-in-lock-step move. Works on me!

Ah, random posts....I love it :)

Damn! seven cheap calls already:

Smackdown number 2) You've been emailing someone and they basically reply everyday or second day, and you then ask them out for coffee and they don't reply for over a week... (and she still hasn't) that my friend is a hardcore WWI Smackdown (I know, you're thinking 'it's WWE fool!' But WWI stands for 'Weakass way to Ignore' someone)
Dre - 18 November '03 - 21:22

Still no call? Damn man, I feel for ya.
I got another one....saying they will call you next week, and then, nothing :)

Oh how bitter we are :P
JookBoy (email) - 19 November '03 - 11:53

law of averages. move to singapore
bjee - 19 November '03 - 15:23

Ah yes BJee, Singapore, the land of plenty :)
JookBoy - 19 November '03 - 16:03

I'd rather be moving to Korea or Japan, but thats juss me
Dre - 19 November '03 - 16:05

I bet Shamu never gets smackdowns from the killer whale chicks.
xtn - 21 November '03 - 11:25

Everyone Has A Story

I think I've read waay too many of those articles at that iiStix site.

Are there other people, like me, who read and read those stories in some strange hope that you will find something that exactly matches your predicaments? Someone who has gone through the same situation, and found the light at the end of the tunnel?
Is this why we read about other people's lives, in the hope that we will stumble upon a "soul-writer" that can show us the way?
Maybe it's just my inability to work out an answer to how I'm feeling that I'm looking for it in other people's thoughts.

.......it's bad to fall for friends. Everything gets that little bit more complicated :)

Damn! seven cheap calls already:

Yes it is. But you usually cant choose who you fall for.
I - 07 November '03 - 08:28

I know. It must mean that they're worth it!
JookBoy - 07 November '03 - 09:27

yes things get complicated, but if they weren't, we wouldn't have anything to talk about late night in hotels at 5 in the morning (let alone have anything to blog about.)
Dre - 09 November '03 - 15:23

Falling for a friend makes things awkward...

Sex complicates things.

That being said, complicated sex can make awkward situations less so...especially when falling.

Okaaaay...I need more sleep.
ricegrains (email) - 09 November '03 - 19:25

I don't mind a bit of complicated sex... you know, the stuff you need manuals for...
Dre - 09 November '03 - 21:23

JB, you spoke about balls on the line. You know where the line is. Now put them there!
xtn - 11 November '03 - 08:47

Ah, the line looks so close, and then suddenly, in a week, it's 50 million miles away :(
JookBoy (email) - 12 November '03 - 08:25

Chung Family Reunion

I got to take a well deserved break from working at Lend Lease and visit my relatives over in the States and Canada. Two stops, LA and Toronto.

Top Ten:

1. 1. When US stores go on sale, they really go all out. There was some "take an additional 50% off the already discounted (it was already 50% off) price." I think I got some $45 pants for $/03! :)
2. Riding in a limousine back from the LA airport. It was bling bling to the max!
   
3. Having Mum, Dad, Yvonne and Claire sat on the couch to watch some TV show. It's the first trip in 7 years that my whole family has gone overseas together, and probably 10 years since we've all been chilling out like that! Just chatting, joking round, learning about my family's past...Brianna (my 11 month old niece) is super-cool! I'm glad to have the opportunity to stay close to them.
4. Spending time with relatives. I haven't seen these guys for ages, so everyone has grown so much! One of my cousins just got married in May, and I met his wife for the first time. My cousin apparently won an award for some of his artwork, which he showed to us....I never knew! I'm just glad that there some creative talent in the family *sigh* It's a shame we all live so far apart...
5. The food! It was banquets every night whilst we were in Toronto. I weighed myself yesterday...I've gained 4kg of tubs :)
6. The insane amounts of highways that criss-cross LA. Every freeway is about 8-10 lanes wide, and exit ramps all over the place. I don't know how people don't get lost!
7. I have to say it, there were tons of hot babes in LA and Toronto! Pity I didn't get to go to da cluubs hehe
8. Seaworld rocks! That Shamu the killer whale is a beast...they have this funky thing called a splash zone where everyone gets wet by the whale splashing its fins. I bought a cool polar bear toy :)
9. The amazing co-incidence that the nurse, who is in charge of admitting new applications to this really good nursing home for my grandparents, knew my Dad when he worked in Hong Kong teaching the nursing school, about 30 years ago! Red tape never got cut so fast :)
10. Seeing my Grandma. She's been quite sick, and to see her in good spirits (and remembering us...sometimes) was worth the whole trip.

On a sadder note, I got to witness a bit more first hand the divisions and bitterness that exists within my dad's side of the family. So many grudges that some have held for so long...it taints all decisions that everyone tries to make. People now nit-pick on other people's mistakes, and don't listen, even if what they say makes sense. I remember something I was told long ago..."Listen to the truth, especially from people you do not like". I hope that some of my relatives can realise that.

The good thing is that what needed to be sorted out, for my grandma, got sorted out. Let us hope that it has a cascading effect.

Damn! two cheap calls already:

Good to see you spending time with family. And I know how you feel about divisions and the like within families. There are massive fault lines in mine, and sometimes, just from the smallest problems the earth will move and our city of harmony crumbles into chaos. But then maybe using fault lines as an analogy probably doesn't capture how deep seeded these issues are, more than just cracks in the surface. But its good to see that at least some things can get sorted out, admist all the grudges and animosity, solutions can be reached.
Dre - 27 October '03 - 09:54

Ahhh Shamu. brings back so many memories.

i went to visit my family recently as well. on the surface all seems well. but theres so much crap going on underneath it all.
xtn - 03 November '03 - 14:45

I've Been Labelled

I've been enjoying the sunshine and relaxation of Port Stephens, during the long weekend just past. Just chillin out at the house, walking to the beach, watching more Virtua Tennis action (I brought the PS2 up), it's what these coast holidays are all about. It's a great opportunity to catch up with friends, and "chew that fat", as it were.

The topic of conversation always swings into relationships, and since it's always the single people that have the more interesting stories, I always get picked out :). It's not like I have that much to hide, and in some cases, I am sure some of my friends are living vicariously through me hehe.

So I told some of my more entertaining woes of the past year, and was subsequently labelled a "serial liker". I thought that phrase was pretty funny! Upon subsequent thought, it's probably quite true.

• I do not believe that there are times when people are not looking for potential.
• I think, everytime you meet someone, there exists a decision making process where you make a call (maybe or no) for that person's potential. Why maybe? Because you can never tell how good it is upon an initial meeting, yeah?
• Hence there are always people of interest, and hence stories of interest, and people that I "like".

The reason for the quotation marks is maybe it's not an established like. It's something that's could be there, but you're holding back a bit because you don't really know how much of a potential that person really is.
So I really could just be a "serial mayber" :)
Lack of committment? Perhaps. Not that many that really stir the emotions? More likely.

I think it takes a lot for me to really like someone. It just always seems that they do not recipricate the same feelings...don't you hate it when they describe their ideal partner, and you fit every criteria bar the most important one ie that the partner cannot be you?

Damn! eleven cheap calls already:

I think the "like" doesn't necessarily mean "leads to love" but more "enjoy spending time with this person, get along with this person". In this case, yes, there's always the question, will i enjoy spending time with them? should i put in the effort to start a friendship with them?
Ding! (email) - 13 October '03 - 16:54

I think I am a serial-'get-treated-like-a-manho'-er. I am beginning to doubt if there are any real nice women left.
Dre - 13 October '03 - 22:45

point 2 has truth...best thing about not having too high expectations about these things is that you've got a free option to reverse the call if its not all good. gotta try, cos u never know 'til u give it a go...right?
its definitely vicarious...but not thru u mate! working up a new collection of stories to share at xmas
bjee - 20 October '03 - 18:18

Hmm..true true, true true. I think you've hit the nail on the head there JookBoy.

BTW, where ARE you? Livin' it up over thurrrrr in Canada? :P
bOGi - 21 October '03 - 21:57

Ding: If you put the effort in to start the friendship, when do you make the call that you want it to be on?

Dre: Ho'ing it up is your specialty mate :P

bjee: Haha, can't wait! I've heard Honkers isn't the hotbed that it once was? :)

bOGi: I was, but back in the west syyyyyiiide in LA now. I saw Ingelwood on the map!
JookBoy - 24 October '03 - 04:50

The call can be made whenever... it all depends on whether you feel something can work
Ding! - 24 October '03 - 16:35

ingleWOOOOOD!!!!
Dre - 25 October '03 - 13:54

damn right mate took the free option to reverse the call, as they say. Same old answer "why you got to go and pull out all this serious shiat?" :) later....

but singas continuing to treat me well, of sorts
bjee - 28 October '03 - 13:07

Dude, maybe you just promote this type of "let's get serious" attitude from the ladies.
More "I'm only down for sum of that" calls :)
JookBoy - 06 November '03 - 19:11

There are stages of like and often the development of a relationship (or divolution dare I say) is just a process of elimination - until you reach critical mass and things breaks up.

Inversely, I hold out the ideal that things can evolve to the point where you decide, hey I want to spend the rest of my life with this person.

I'll tell you if that ever happens.
-Stephen- (email)
-Stephen- - 07 November '03 - 23:15

As A Mexican Soccer Commentator Would Say...

GGGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLLL!!!
I'm back on track...at least, for the next three months! Now it's just a matter of breaking them down into bite-sized 1-week chunks and go from there. Wish me luck :)
I even have "write in the blog" as one of the goals, so that my overseas friends can semi-keep in touch with what is happening in my life. If you're reading this, put in a comment!

On a totally different note, nothing brings people together as much as team sports....the Playstation 2 kind, that is! With the purchase of my new multi-tap for the PS2, it's no-holds barred Virtua Tennis action. I haven't heard that much shouting and high-fives since we played that Puzzle Bobble game all those years ago at Des'. "Hold it, Gobbo"...."I can't!!!" (yes, I know, you had to be there :))
So an inaugural tennis tournament is planned, complete with the SportsTAB action. Should be awesome!

Damn! 18 cheap calls already:

I think i missed something... did u score?
pskis - 30 September '03 - 21:21

Hehe, I wish mate!
Don't you hate it when people don't call you back?

Nah, I've just set my goals a bit more properly.
JookBoy - 01 October '03 - 09:14

Depends on WHO didn't call u back now doesn't it?
pskis - 01 October '03 - 12:29

Anyone who doesn't call back gets no love :)
JookBoy - 01 October '03 - 16:47

Puzzle Bobble, Puzzle Bobble - can we play that at your virtual tennis match - Puzzle Bobble Match!
jen - 01 October '03 - 22:10

'Anyone who doesn't call back gets no love' - Kev
...unless of course they come to see you instead, dressed in only suspenders and a fake fur coat (because like, real fur is just so passe.)

But I digress
Dre - 02 October '03 - 00:10

Get Des to bring it...don't know if it will work on an unhacked PS2.

w00t w00t for suspenders :)
JookBoy - 02 October '03 - 09:14

Don't suspenders need to be suspended from something.
pskis - 02 October '03 - 16:58

Err.... from crotchless panties?
Dre - 03 October '03 - 00:34

seems i hooked into this conversation at just the right time...
bjee - 03 October '03 - 18:30

I second that call BJee...I didn't know you prowled these waters :)
bOGi (email) - 06 October '03 - 21:44

BJee is a cheap calls man through and through!
JookBoy - 07 October '03 - 09:01

I took one set off you! muahahahaha!
:P
xtn - 07 October '03 - 11:52

Don't get cocky hehe
So much emotion invested in that game...I'm exhausted by the end of it :)
JookBoy - 07 October '03 - 12:04

I bags playing as Patty Rafter. :)
Dre - 08 October '03 - 01:59

I shouldnt have played that third set. Shoulda known my thumbs can only take so much :P
xtn - 10 October '03 - 11:53

gday mate, no cheap calls from me, only wanted to say hello as you requested... also since you sound so elated, please elaborate: what GOAL did you score? who did you score it on? and who was the goalie at the time?
al (email) - 18 October '03 - 05:08

Mate, read the previous comments!

I've just been a bit more specific in my goal setting, a bit clearer on where I want to be and where I want to go...there has been no "scoring" in any sense of the word :)

Hope Shanghai's treating ya well!
JookBoy - 24 October '03 - 04:44

Focus Focus!

I think it's time to get on with life and get back on the goal-setting path. Without the weight of Gap on my shoulders, weekends feel so long. I slept in for BOTH Saturday and Sunday, and felt so bad! Still reckon that I've got 18 months of lack of sleep to make up for :)

A friend of mine invited me to an Anthony Robbins seminar. Whilst I have not gone to any of his self-improvement seminars, I did shell out some money to attend one a year or so back. Man, was that an experience! I saw an exorcism with my own eyes :) But I digress...
I very much believe that goal-setting does help you in life. Having read the Stephen Covey books about putting important things first, I have a fear that I'm lacking direction without these goals. I need to start putting time in to dedicate to look a bit more to the future instead of what is happening in the next few days.
Where do I want to be? Where do I want to go? What do I want to have achieved?

An analogy (that I read): A lot of people hack away at the trees to clear a path for themselves, but never realise that they're in the wrong forest in the first place.

So where would I be in five years?
- Steady relationship (hey, it could happen! :P)
- Own a profitable company (go the Indo contacts)
- A high position within Lend Lease
- Still have a six-pack (it's an on-going bet with my sis that I'll lose it by the time I'm 30)
- Financially stable (there's a number in my mind that I had agreed with Jo....bloody looks pretty diffiuclt at the moment!)

Some goals within five years
- Worked in Asia (more Shanghai action)
- Did one Summer Camp in USA
- Skied overseas
- Fluent in Mandarin (and brushed up on Cantonese)
- If all goes well with the company, have a non-profit business that gives people opportunities to get ahead themselves.

But most of all, you have to enjoy the journey along the way. It's all about the number of stories that you can tell your kids when you're old!

Damn! nine cheap calls already:

What a subtle way to tell the world u have a 6 pack.

Enjoy the journey mate.
"The true traveller is he who goes on foot, and even then, he sits down a lot of the time."
pskis - 17 September '03 - 16:06

It's my blog :P

Although at last check, it's not looking quite as good as in the heydays of 3rd year uni!
JookBoy - 17 September '03 - 16:52

Man, that's a lot of goals...but I have to admit, it's good to have goals; solid ones, as opposed to the "yeah, I wanna be rich and famous" ones.

Not that that wouldn't be nice, but...

However, you're right, focus is needed.

Being all action with no theory is just as bad as being all theory and no action.
bOGi - 17 September '03 - 18:06

Let me state here that (as BJee would say) any action is good action :P
JookBoy - 17 September '03 - 18:36

You got a 6pack? Maybe to get your number one on your 'where I want to be in five years' list you should start flashing that 6pac of yours more. In fact, to incorporate all of your goals together, you should design a fitness machine that you can sell (there's your profitable company), use it to get/keep your 6pack, get on tv to do those late nite ads and then get recognised as a buff fitness dude, which is sure to get you the ladies (and hopefully a stable relationship) and then start tae boesque training classes for the rich and famous (which will be your stable income.) Then start selling your product in asia, incorporating into your design the ergonomics of your typical asian male and female. This will eventually lead you to Shanghai (obviously the fitness epicentre of asia) where you will have to learn mandarin to make television ads to sell your KEVPRO3000 (it works your upper abs, lower abs, obliques and even connects to the internet so you can surf the information highway at the same time.) And now that you're a famous fitness celebrity, you can start doing fitness camps in the USA, and you'll even have your own television show, with a special episode shot entirely in the swiss alps (entitled 'my alps are bigger than yours' or something equally cheesy. And you can even have snowmen littered through the set with like, rock hard abs carved out of their bellies.) Using your celebrity status, you could then start up a 'fitness for the youth' campaign that promotes fitness in young people by highlighting and rewarding up and coming young athletes... And finally, (you thought i forgot this one) you could be Lend Leases fitness consultant, working on company health and moral (though i don't know if that would mean you woud be in a higher position that you are now.)

take matters into your own hands and change your life, like me, Andre Robbins!!!!
(to buy Andre Robbins tapes please send a cheque or money order to thisisnottonyrobbins inc. or call 1800 6pack)
Andre Robbins - 18 September '03 - 00:34

"My alps are bigger than yours"....
Quality comment dude :)
JookBoy - 18 September '03 - 08:55

Hmm I dunno about these Robbins things, it seems like his seminars are just about convincing everyone to shell out $$$ for more seminars!
al (email) - 22 September '03 - 22:22

i remember a conversation from a couple of years back where you said your long term goal was to become a dirty old man.

btw kev, youve been linked!
xtn - 23 September '03 - 10:14

What the..?
I swearz officer I have said no such thing! Maybe something about "ho-asis" hehe

Linked back to ya :)
JookBoy - 23 September '03 - 11:44

Heroes

Checking out Boges' quality links from his site, and I find myself in Time Asia. Particularly interesting was the article on Asian Heros. I spent a good hour going through some of those people, and... have you ever had that tingly feeling when you read about people or things that really make you want to achieve more?....it was that over and over again. What was also interesting was the number of times I read in the article that Asian people say that are proud that these "heros" achieve so much, and "are yet so polite". Courtesy and respect takes such a high priority within our culture, which probably explains a lot about how we interact with others around us, and why we have been seen as an ethnicity that is quite often overlooked.
Maybe, finally, being a gentleman is coming back into flavour :)

Whilst on the subject (kinda) of ethnicities (and being gentlemen), that "Fat Pizza" show is damn funny! Pauly's line "I'm a snag, but in a macho kinda way" sums up the fine line us males have to tread these days! The scene at the end, where he's trying to get his keys back from the drunk dude, was all class hehe

Damn! two cheap calls already:

Very cool link mate -just read about Yao Ming ... it's awesome that us Chinese can play some sports and compete - go those Matt Sing's and Richard Chee Quee's.

It'd be interesting to look at how much support these heroes got in terms of parental support to play sport - rather than "go to UNi get a degree" sort of Asian mentality.

Asian parent: "Basketball (or tennis, footy etc.) - where will that get you? How's that going to help your TER mark?" I guess they want the best for us thou.

Would you want a sportsman / son or a educated/professional career son? Hopefully they can balance them both out, but if you want a career in it - you've gotta go full ball.
Dessy - 12 September '03 - 09:05

Yeah, that's a hard question to answer. I think security is something that my parents have drilled into me year after year, so education and a career is always high on the list.

Strangely enough, I'm all for taking a punt and following your passions, and I suppose that would extend to my kids. But as a 4 year old kid, how do you know what passions you have???

Basically, I just don't want my kid to be some lazy-ass :)
JookBoy - 12 September '03 - 17:47

Feels Good To Be Called Special

Finally got my pay review yesterday, and it was all good. Got a 10% increase, and comparing that to the company average of 1-2%, makes me feel like a special boy :) There were some "we see the potential that you have in this place" as well as "this increase is quite out of line with everyone else's", but also came with the more ominous "you'ed better deliver!"! But all in all, I know that the management are looking after me.

People are taking notice of the work I do (even the CFO of our region was chiming in with some calls saying that my project was a "key deliverable"...ooooh!) and so if it all works out, it should be fantastic. If it all doesn't....well, let's just hope it all works out :)

Also got a cash bonus, which sadly will be directed into funding the new tyres I had to get for the pink slip. Registraion sux ass! Now I'm just waiting for the share price to kick up, so that my Lend Lease shares (got as part of the bonus) will increase as well. Go you good thing!

Strangely now, with the imminent sale of the Gap Games business, I have taken a more serious look at where the career is going. It seems a lot of friends are taking opportunities with different companies and really getting out there and seeing what's available. For me, I feel that Lend Lease is a great place to work. The culture here is awesome, and that's half the battle of finding a good job. Throw into that a management team that knows you and a CIO that is taking a personal interest in you (most likely because I'm half decent at the sports our department organises), and what else is there to look for?

And the answer to that, kids, is.......a much higher salary!!

For the foreseeable future, I think I'll stick with this construction company. If I can get a secondment over to Asia somewhere *fingers crossed*, that would be awesome. Let's see how it goes, eh?

Damn! seven cheap calls already:

woot WOOT!
Dre - 08 September '03 - 21:38

Not until the 19th mate :) Show me the money!
JookBoy - 09 September '03 - 09:23

Just an update on meeting famous ppl (or semi not so famous people) I THINK I saw that asian chick from neighbours on the train the other day. So I went up to her and was about ot say 'wassup' when she hopped off at central. She got on at town hall so I thought I had enough time to get my groove on so to speak. Oh well.... if it WAS her, she is much finer in person.
Dre - 09 September '03 - 22:54

who watches neighbours?
pskis - 10 September '03 - 11:53

Dre isn't "Neighbours" filmed in Melbourne?
-Stephen- - 14 September '03 - 22:08

Yeah, but she's already left the show I think. And as I said, I THINK I saw her :P
Dre - 18 September '03 - 00:37

Beautiful One Day, Perfect The Next

How good is Cairns??? Slipping away from the bustle and problems of Sydney, to soak up the 28° rayz on the beach, the four days up in the great Barrier Reef was tres cool. Again, the Top Ten:

1. The scuba diving was sensational. Only my first dive, but enough to want to try again. And yes, I'm a heavy breather!
2. The landscape picture galleries. A new Great Barrier Reef picture hangs proudly on my wall.
3. Spending some quality time with my sis and my cousin from Canada.
4. My awesome tan from the sunny days :)
5. Kayaking around Green Island. Always good fun, and got to see some dolphins and whales
6. The amount of vegging out that I did up there!
7. The Lakes Resort. Very spacious accomodation, we should all go up there as a group one day.
8. The number of basketball players (chicks from Arizona State, and guys from some other uni) that I saw....they're huge!
9. Sitting next to Natalie Portman on our diving trip
10. Yes, sitting next to Natalie Portman on our diving trip! And for you, Des, seeing her in a bikini hehe - here you go KC (just for you!) courtesy of natalieempire.com - awww yeah!

Damn! twelve cheap calls already:

So did you put the moves on :)
Mr B - 28 August '03 - 11:33

Not even close! I was "respecting her privacy", or rather, I was a wussy boy! Throughout the whole time, I still wasn't quite sure if it was her or not. But it was confirmed late in the day with a signing of the name sheets.
My tan is still with me! woohoo!
JookBoy - 01 September '03 - 15:54

I swearz you shoulda taken pics - I think I could've invaded her privacy for a few minutes or given her the opening to chat me up ;p I can't believe you were so close - ahhhhh! I may just have to post a pic to compensate
Dessy - 01 September '03 - 22:36

hey boyz!! have been in office for 2 hours now and gots no work done as i'm reading up on this long awaited blog! luv it! U.Des / KC where are your headsets??
pskis - 03 September '03 - 13:08

hehe, it's all quality mate :)
I'm getting one, one day! It's a bit weird talking openly about what we write on MSN!

And D, change that Natalie Portman photo...it sux! She's hotter in real life :P
JookBoy - 03 September '03 - 13:11

Agreed, there's gotta be a certain degree of privacy which u tend to keep offline. i've updated my site, and more pics of china coming soon too. Hey how was yum cha & photo exhibition?

U.Des - dyou & cheyz get my voice mesg?
pskis - 03 September '03 - 15:00

argh, it was TOO good. So much fun....went for 6 hours. This whole "boyfriend" thing is killing me! :(
JookBoy - 03 September '03 - 15:07

It's Boges here peoples...read the site, liking the entries. Some hella funny stories too...

Let the cheap calls begin!
ricegrains - 03 September '03 - 19:10

You didn't make a move on Natalie Portman and she was sitting right next to you?????????????
Dude, talk about missing an opportunity of a lifetime. The worst that could happen is that she would slap you... oh well, its not like you had much of a chance anyway rite? But I guess if I was in said situation I would have made a fool of myself, making some sort of dodgy lightsaber call that would get me kicked off the boat.
Dre - 04 September '03 - 01:42

i have to agree, that was a huge missed opportunity. potential for cheap ass calls aplenty! perfect timing to mention ur penchant for girls in backless outfits. Worked for anakin.
pskis - 04 September '03 - 02:05

*shakes head* I was respecting her privacy!!!

But there is a tinge of regret. I was just over-awed....anyone seen that Star Wars Kid video? Funny stuff!
JookBoy - 04 September '03 - 09:10

A Theory

Am I unlucky in love, or just looking for the wrong thing? As much as this concept of looking out for someone is laughed at ie Seinfeld's episode with Jerry and that chick's that exactly like himself, I'm become more convinced.

Looking at the three criteria again, maybe they should be amended to "passions for things I also enjoy". I feel that this bias is arising from meeting people in my life who share common passions and that I'm attracted to....damn volleyball! :P

On another note with regards to love, an interesting email from a friend claims that commitment is the key to a solid relationship, not love (as a feeling). choice quotes:

"You can love someone and tell him "I love you" and you're telling
the truth.
But how much do you love him? Enough to let him court you? Enough to
marry him? Enough to die for him?
The greatest test of true love is commitment. And the greatest
indicator of deep love is deep commitment."

Am I commitment phobic? In answer to that question, another interesting email (actually, a response to the first one) from another friend:
However for me love in a relationship, that is "to love someone", is not just a feeling, it involves actions, attitudes and behaviours. It is therefore an all encompassing expression that includes commitment.
The reason I have never come to the point of telling a girlfriend that I love her is not because I haven't felt anything for them, but my commitment, actions, attitudes and behaviours have never reached the levels that would in my mind indicate that I loved that person.

Do I agree? Partly. It's hard to let those walls around you go until you find that special someone, but to find that special someone you have to let those walls go.....
However, I am coming up with this realisation that there are times when all this casual flirting is all I'm after. An email once in a while, a few :)and :P in the email, and that's enough for me!
Sad, isn't it? :)

Damn! fourteen cheap calls already:

JB

Personally, i think that maybe you are looking for the wrong thing and probably someone else has said this before but can you really expect a casual bump n grind from some random chick lead to something more than that. Sure it happens and there is probably the hope that it will but for the things that you say you want from a relationship, i say there is a very slim chance.

Even though the three of us are quite different, i'd still like to belive that when it comes down to it, when it comes to girls we all want the same thing. Casting aside things like looks and various other individual preferences we all want someone who makes us feel good about ourselves, makes us laugh, inspires us etc and i don't think that type of person is the type that is going to come up to you and grind you in a dodgy night club. I'm not saying that the girls that do are dodgy, i'm just saying that those girls will probably appeal to our more immediate "male needs" :p so i'm not surprised that after the initial fling that you find that something is missing. Of course i'm not speaking from experience and this is all thought and i could be and probably are very wrong but thats how i see it.

Just my point of view JB doesn't mean its right or wrong and doesn't mean you need to justify your actions either.

Do you look too hard?
Mr B - 28 August '03 - 11:52

I'm down for some "Male Needs" :)

But I digress....yes, I am certain you are right. However, if you do grind someone at a club, you can still go through the same motions of getting to know them, right?
I hope that there are people like myself who go to these clubs, and are a decent sort. Just because I'm there doesn't *fingers crossed* make me some instant sleaze.

I don't think I'm looking that hard. You meet new people, and obviously there is some assessment (long or short) of their potential. I think it's a natural thing. Maybe the reason I have so many stoopid stories is because I still meet a few people.

As I said about the criterias I have, it's all what you wrote down in your comment. She might not come up to you in a nightclub, but the chances of her being there are the same as her being somewhere else.
JookBoy - 01 September '03 - 16:19

"... there are times when all this casual flirting is all I'm after..." - is this true you think JB (nice nickname)? That a very interesting call, cause I reckon that you can find many reasons for not liking someone - be it that they have no passion, are too cutie, etc - and that may well be not cause of faults/deficiencies in THEM, but in your own desire (for a relationship, for example) Is thaqt a possible reason you are hooked up on Lainey? and now this volleyball chick?(unattainable - depending)

i'm prob agreeing more with the Mad Bundi on that call about chicks - though correct me: have any relationships (current or past) stemmed from night club booty calls? It seems to me from your experience (living vicariously KC!!) you get more of those chicks that just want a bit of action and nothing more (unless that's what you want) I do agree that it's another place to meet more chicks (and get some grinding while you at it) and that's GOOOOD ;p

and finally - yes I think you do look for someone like yourself (as perverted as that sounds) - a few people have thought that Jen was my sister so I guess that proves that theory (as disgusting as that is! :0 !
DT - 01 September '03 - 22:25

Actually maybe all the nice chicks are in church (hehehhe) or at the movies and not out bump n grindn strangers?
Dessy - 01 September '03 - 22:26

You need to let go. Obviously you are not satisfied with teh few emails otehrwise you wouldn't be posting this up rite?
Dre - 04 September '03 - 01:36

Nah hells no with the church activities :P I'm getting none from that department at the moment.

Yes, there have been relationships that have stemmed from night clubs, and yes, it does lack something. Maybe the difference between the night club and some random meeting at a house party or function is that the physical "connection" has already been established. I don't know how that affects a relationship, though.
JookBoy - 04 September '03 - 09:02

I think you guys are all over-analysing something that can't be controlled - love is completely random. You probably have felt something lacking in previous relationships because there wasn't enough love between you to completely fulfill you, not because you are a commitement phobic, or too fussy, or whatever.

Love is utterly and completely random. You can increase your changes of coming across it by meeting lots of people, and dating some of them, but it can sneak up on you after 3 months of what you think is a pointless relationship. You could date blondes all your life and fall in love with a brunette. You could find yourself falling in love with a friend who you have known for 10 years.

As for what to do until love comes along... you wait it out, try a few different people on for size.. trust your gut instinct about who feels right and who feels wrong (uhmm... I think you know what I mean).

And just be patient... wait for it to find you.
Goodlittlegirl - 07 November '03 - 12:26

Look out, people reading the old materials! :)
Totally agree with the points you make...it is random, you can't help whom you like.
I think the article addresses the fact that the "love" will have a higher chance of sustainability if you find a person of similar stature to yourself.

As a guy, though, it's probably tougher to "wait for it" as it is expected for the guy to take the initiative in the relationship. Would you agree?
JookBoy (email) - 07 November '03 - 12:39

But what I'm saying is that it's not necessarily true that someone who is similar to you will be someone you can love or even like. It might be someone who is completely opposite to you.

It's tough for anybody to wait, girl or boy.. but the waiting I'm talking about is not whether or not to wait for somebody else to make a move, it's waiting for love to surprise you.

It's hard to say when a guy or a girl should make a move (btw, I don't think it's always the guy who is expected to!). I think, like I said, it comes down to trusting your instincts about whether you should try that person on for size. I take the stand that you should always go for it, you gotta give it a chance. You never know.

I have a girlfriend who was seeing a guy casually, and 3 months later she realised she was in love with him, while they were watching tele together. So you just never know.
goodlittlegirl - 07 November '03 - 15:42

Ah, ok, I get what you're saying.

I think the article stresses that IF you do find love, it's probably better for it to be a person who is similar to you, for longevity and sustainability.
HOW you find love is what you're talking about.

The question then becomes, if you do always go for it (which I agree with), how long do you wait?
If love does surprise do you stay in what otherwise may be a dead end relationship because you might love them later on? Is this where the gut instinct comes into play?

With regards to the "guy" comment, that is a society standard. Of course it doesn't apply to everyone.
JookBoy (email) - 07 November '03 - 16:14

I have to disagree with both of you. (just to be a biatch.) I myself do not believe love to be random, just totally unpredictable. To say that love is a random emotion takes away from the fact that you are falling for someone for who they are. Love is far from random, it's just such a complex emotion, (sometimes overwhelming, other times subtle,) that sometimes we don't realise we are swimming in it until we begin to drown.

And as for someone being similar to you... well, being a the man-ho that I am, I have dated quite a wide range of different personalities, and although those relationship were successful (but unfortunately usually dismal) to different degrees, the people similar to me where not necessarily the people I felt the closest to. And when I mean similar, I am extending past mere interests (for many people say that like art or design but it is why they like it that defines that part of them.) The persons (all two of them :P) that I truly loved, (as opposed to this blind love I tend to fall into)were in many ways opposites, but also in ways similar. It was like finding a perfect balance. Though the similarities were good, the opposing parts of their personalities were what added the true spark. When (or if) I find my soul mate, I don't want them to be totally like me (because then I would be going out with a dick, literally and metaphysically) I want them to compliment me, and vice versa. I want to learn different aspects about life from them, grow with them, learn with them. I want to be shown things wether they be monumental and intimately small, that I would never have discovered on my own, or indeed, with someone like myself.

ahh but then again... what do I know :P Its not like I'm all L.L. Cool Dre :)
Dre - 09 November '03 - 15:19

Jook: yeah, the gut instinct does come into play when making decisions about whether or not to stay or go. (having said that though, i did get to a stage where around the three month mark I could pretty much call it.)

Dre: I agree.. similarity doesn't necessarily mean a relationship will last. for eg, i'm totally neurotic, and i was seeing a guy who was also totally neurotic. we would over analyse every aspect of our lives together and develop wild theories about human nature. at the time i thought it was cool bouncing ideas off each other like that, but i eventually realised it was really sick. but on the other hand, some similarities are beneficial, like whether you are both stay at home bums, or you both like to party ev-er-y night and ev-er-y day. it is a balance, like you say, it's about finding someone who complements you.

as for random vs unpredictibility, i didn't mean to "take away" the other person's personality from the equation.. i don't mean that it is fate or pre-destined. what i was trying to emphasise is that i don't think it can be controlled.. that is, i don't think you can go seeking for certain personality traits.
goodlittlegirl - 09 November '03 - 19:44

True, I don't think that love is a pre-destined thing, but I do believe you can try to seek certain personality traits, they just don't have to be similar to your own. Having been on the rollercoaster that is my so called love life many a time, I have sussed out if you will, certain elements that I know I should seperate myself from. In turn I have also discovered elements that I do find really attractive, like intelligence, understanding and creativity. Though the person I (will hopefully) find doesn't have to necessarily be creative, I think elements of understanding are fundemental, especially with someone like myself. I have experienced relationships with people who were, lets just say extremely far from being the most understanding people in the world, and I have learnt from those.. no I won't say mistakes because that word would be too harsh.

Experience is a key factor in deciding who you will fall for in the end.
Dre - 09 November '03 - 21:55

Back To The Crew

Feels like I never left it, which is quite sad, really!
But anyways, T and I have broken up. After 3 weeks *shakes head* of trying to get to know her, I just felt that there was no chemistry there. Phone calls were not that great, dinners were ok, but the sparks never flew. The three main criteria:

1. Makes me laugh
2. Passionate about something
3. Independence

This makes me wonder....do encounters at a night club ever work? Is that just the wrong place to look? If I ever grind someone again, I should just leave it there? I needs more action at the bachelor pad! :P
Well, the great search continues...what happened to that chick from your work Bundies?

Damn! two cheap calls already:

sad to hear, kc! I know the boyz are happy to have you back in the crew - but when are we going to do that whole double date thing!! It always so close ... and then it falls to the way side.

one question i want to ask is - do you think you rush things? I mean can you get to know someone well enough in three weeks to know that it's not going to work?? From my own personal experience with jen, things went a lot slower at the start with dates and phone calls etc, but i didn't know at three weeks wether she was the one or not. and there were some pretty bad phone calls in that period too !

and yes i think nightclubs aren't the best place to look - it's all looks first and personality later ... why can't they have it all? I don't know. Where did you meet sus by the way? was she a night club hottie?

anyways - keep plugging along you champ. I'm sure there's more action round the corner for that bachelor pad of yours - is all action good action? ... rightio :)
Dessy - 07 August '03 - 09:26

"Do you rush things?" Possible, very possible. But I think I act on a lot of instinct...sometimes, you know that it's just not going to work. Of course, this instinct is based on priorities, commitments, general feeling. I wonder if I have more time in life (which could soon happen with the sale of Gap Games) that I would try harder?
JookBoy - 09 August '03 - 21:19

The Nunnery

What a party!!
3 emails from myself, Boges and Andre leads to 250 people "nunning it up" at Republic Bar on Saturday 12th July.
Hope you guys had a great time, cause I certainly did! There's some pictures of people at the place at h3nri.com. Dunno how that dude heard about the party!

Top Ten:

1. Me wearing Chester's tight-ass white sleeveless-T
2. Chicks wearing backless tops
3. The pumping R'n'B classic hits, and "Ignition" by R. Kelly (twice!)
4. The reverse psychology of the "Nunnery"...everyone was in for some of dat!
5. Making the $3500 bar tab with ease
6. Friends coming out to party and having a great time, and random people I've never seen also having a great time
7. Waay too many Malibu & Cokes
8. Stu and his chicky!
9. Andre and his encounter with a ball-grabbing maiden :P
10. Me finding someone nice to drive me home :)

Damn! seven cheap calls already:

so was pic 44 the girl that drove you home? Nice work son, should've stayed round to see some of 'dat! bhoooo yeah!
wassup! - 22 July '03 - 23:20

hehe, yes, the same one :) It's all fo sheez calls. Bloody Gobbo and his random spam of everyone!
Jookboy - 23 July '03 - 17:34

ah! The beauty of the internet :)
So was it night club hook up or have you progressed to Stage 2 - coffees, lunches and furniture shopping?
Des - 24 July '03 - 10:12

hehe, go the furniture shopping...you know it's gold!!
Still getting to know each other. It's fairly much on, but whether I want it to be really on or not....yet to be determined
Jookboy - 24 July '03 - 17:24

and that, my friend, is the question - it's the bind - it's wether YOU want it or not! I sense some de ja vu baby :) It's like some weird recurring dream - "every night a different girl, every night stuck in the same pattern" - maybe not every night ;p
Des - 27 July '03 - 21:26

If only it was every night :)
She bought me a Playstation 2 game last night...go Virtua Tennis!
Jookboy - 28 July '03 - 09:03

Friendly Network Gaming

The future of this business could be decided in the next few days. OK, first a re-cap of events:

1. We get approached by Westfield Hornsby to look into the possibility of starting a new operation on the top floor of the shopping centre.
2. Over the course of negotiations, we are able to score a substantial discount to the current Westfield lease prices to go into that centre.
3. We are approached by another group of people who are interested in opening a internet gaming store. They offer to go into partnership with us to open that new Hornsby store.
4. Dad rejects the offer to partner with them, citing , quite rightly, the lack of experience that these two people bring to the table
5. Another option is discussed, namely the selling of the whole business to them, and for Jo and myself to stay on (probably short term) to help with the set-up of the cafe.

So we come to now. It's a matter of deciding what's best for myself as well as for Gap. It has been a hard slog of 1.5 years, and there are days (like last Sunday) when you feel it really just isn't worth going on....your sales are down, computers are dying all around me.

On the flip side though, you see the potential that Gap has in Westfields. Basically the vision of bringing gaming to the mainstream public will be realised with Westfields (the pinnacle of mainstream shopping) having Gap Games in their shopping centre.

Every time I think about this, there's so many positives and so many negatives...it really has been tough to make some of the decisions ie first to take the 3 year lease with Westfields, and now, deciding at what price I am willing to leave Gap behind.

There will be other opportunities, no doubt, but one can't help wondering if this is the change that will take Gap Games to the next level.
Or, by leaving the store, we free ourselves up to look for those opportunities which we've been ignoring due to a lack of time.

Decisions decsions decisions.......

Damn! two cheap calls already:

Very tough call - I think it's always one oft hose things when you look to sell off "YOUR BABY" - cause that's what GAp is right? - It's yours ....

What could be round the corner, you just dunno - I guess is it worth it? You'd still have to re-establish clientele, but it'd be in Westfield and that'd be the bomb, but is it going to fix the current problems now? Is it cheaper than where you are now? does it cost to leave Timezone?

Would the financial side of it be the biggest decision? Or is it a matter of cutting losses and moving onto different "business" (in all senses :p)

I'm sure you've weighed all these factors up - just be confident that you have good advice coming from your dad and that you'll make an intelligent decisioin. hmmmm.... my business knowledge sucks!

hey - congrats on being offered that business opportunity by Westfields and those new boys! Gap must have some connections!!
Dessy - 10 July '03 - 10:09

Yes, cheaper than Timezone.
Yes, more people.

The biggest decision is whether Jo and myself have the "heart" to keep going. That's when you look 3 years forward....can you still see yourself struggling to get this thing off the ground?

These boys are working us over with the deal....it keeps changing, see how it goes tonight, have another meeting with them. Deep down, I think I'm still willing to make a good go out of this thing. So much more potential.....
Jookboy - 16 July '03 - 17:30

Have You Ever...

I should start all my entries with song titles! There will definitely be a "It's Hot in Herre" entry later on then!
But anyways, back to the post.
Have you ever had a meeting with someone, and really felt that connection? I feel that on most dates, I'm the one who's putting in the greater effort to entertain, to make them laugh, listen to their stories.
When someone makes me laugh, I am very impressed. There aren't many people that I've found who have that ability (other than friends) so when you find someone like that, you really cherish it. When you find someone like that who you've only met once for coffee, it's something special.
That someone I met the other night. What makes this turn from a happy post to a sad post is the fact that they're (to my knowledge) not single. *sigh* What makes it worse is the fact that she was saying all this stuff that should not be said from a person in a relationship. Things like "If I don't think there's potential there, I don't want to waste my time" begs the question: Why are you here with me?

• Can chicks be that uncluey as to not know when a guy is after them??
• Am I over-hyping what was essentially just 2.5 hours of coffee??
• Why am I falling head over heels over someone I don't even really know??

Four Seasons In One Day

Well, the trip to Melbourne was awesome. Always great to catch up with BJees and Aives, and good to spend some time with Nuges and Gobbo. I'll put in the top ten:

1. The game on Saturday. 55,000 people, the place rocks!
2. The 45m rolling maul that England did....amazing feat of strength and skill
3. Gobbo's random "G-String" undies action (not really, but for some reason they were just pulled up), leading to a new name "Ben G, G Bang" :)
4. Nuges and I's foolish "loose group" dancing formation, with him and I ending up about 10m from each other. All good!
5. Random chick in a stripey top coming up and dancing in front of me. It was all fun and games, but I didn't want it, I swearz officer.
6. The Crown Casino. The place is huuuuuuge! Didn't gamble though (sorry Nasde...next time we'll go on a gambling tour to Melbourne!)
7. Getting to see the English team when we were out for breakfast. That Martin Jonhston is a beast, at least 6"-10' in height.
8. Random asian dance parties that end up being exactly the same as the ones in Sydney.
9. Buying Myth III, the PC game I've wanted for a while, for only 20 bux!
10. Just spending time with friends....it's really priceless.

Season Of Love

It's so sad! I've been saying to all my friends that autumn is the season of love. A time to build that relationship just in time to snuggle for winter :) And my prophecy (at least initally) had proven true! All these single friends getting their groove on (including myself) and there was good news everywhere (excluding myself).

However, just like with the seasons, things turn from a brisk to bitterly cold! :( People don't quite work out right, and hence no eventuation. Something happens, and people go their separate ways. To all those who feel that they've missed out on something lately, my heart goes out to you. Remember your friends!!

Strangely enough, in all this frosty weather, I seem to have found a little warmth in my volleyball league. It's always been fun to play the sport, and now, there's all the more reason to turn up just that little bit earlier hehe

Mental note: remember to write up more week in reviews. Those things are good for analysing what can be done better.

Aqua Luna

Direct copy from an email I sent...."the boyz" and "these two fools" refer to Anton and Jo :)

...Alright, we got to Aqua Luna and there was this group of asian people outside....I couldn't see her, so we went inside to chill out for a bit.

Was convinced by the boyz to go out there, but was holding back a bit. Anyways, phone rang, so had to go outside to take the call....as I finished the call, saw some people walking in that I had met the night before. So she came out to greet them, and then said hi to me, and then said "let's go inside get a drink"...ok :)

Had a bit of a chat, intro'ed her to these two fools, but then she went back to her friends...ended up all the usual characters were there....hehe
Anyways, I wasn't getting much love during the night (she could be one of them surly drunks :)), and since it was her birthday, surrounded by friends, but these two fools were still egging me on, so in the end, I got digits (it was a blatant "Give me your number so we can catch up" as she was saying bye to me). So that was all good. Found out she was taking a cab home, so I offered to walk her to the cab ranks, which she declined, but I just said "nope, let's go". Respect my authoritah!

So bit of chatties on the way to the cabs and left it at that. I'll call her this week sometime.The balls get just a little bit bigger! hehe

Chance or Choice

Something I got sent today...

"When we meet the right person to love when we're at the right place at the right time, that's chance.

When you meet someone you're attracted to, that's not a choice. That's chance.
Being caught up in a moment (and there's a lot of couples who get together because of this) is not achoice. That's also a chance.

The difference is what happens afterwards.
When will you take that infatuation, that crush, that mind-blowing attraction to the next level?

That's when all sanity goes back, you sit down and contemplate whether you want to make this into aconcrete relationship or just a fling.

If you decide to love a person, even with his faults,that's not a chance. That's choice.

When you choose to be with a person, no matter what, that's choice.

Even if you know there are many people out there whoare more attractive, smarter, and richer than your mate, and yet, you decide to love your mate just thesame, that's choice.

Infatuation, crushes, attraction comes to us by chance.
But true love that lasts is truly a choice. A choice that we make.

Regarding soulmates, there's a beautiful movie quote that I believe is so true about this: 'Fate brings you together, but it's still up to you to make it happen.'

I do believe that soulmates do exist. That there is truly someone made for you.
But it's still up to you to make the choice if you're going to do something about it or not.

We may meet our soulmates by chance, but loving and staying with our soulmate is still a choice we have to make."

On a dime...

"Things can turn on a dime"

How true that statement is! I remember talking to a friend two weeks ago, and we were relating stories of how everything was looking good...
I had gotten a number from VC, was seeing N for coffee that week...he was saying that things were looking good with his girlie.

And at the end of this week....no SMS love from the volleyball chick, and no emails from N. *sigh* Add to the fact that everyone else seems to be coupling up, and it's just not good!
Well, writing this on Saturday, Gap is moving along nicely today, and it's only 11:35am. I think it's going to be a good day.

We move from such extremes. I wonder if having a relationhship makes you any more stable? :)

Passing Away

Very sad to hear that Ben's dad passed away on Sunday. Reminds you how lucky we are to have two parents who are still have good health and are close (well, for my family anyways) to being able to live the retired life. I'm just glad that I got over my angst with my folks a long time ago, and began to appreciate them as adults.

Walter Goh, Passed away 11 May 2003. R.I.P.

Week in Review

27th April - 4th May
Important Tasks Set: 3
Important Tasks Achieved: 3

I've managed to complete most of the important tasks set out for last week. The major stumbling block was the fact that my job at Lend Lease has come to a grinding halt :) With that fact, the hours of my days at work have been spent on doing other activities.

However, the job scene looks set to be taking a new direction, as I should be starting to work for the CIO this week. I have no idea what he has planned for me, but I'm sure it will be better than configuring an application that no one in APAC will use!

I am beginning to see the real need for weekly planning. Without it, I have trouble deciding on what I need to get done. Urgent tasks take over, and important ones are left behind. Case in point is this diary, that I am trying to update weekly, but not that successful. Will keep it as a priority from now on.

Read an interesting passage from my "Story of Philosophy" book. It was regarding Voltaire, the French philosopher whom some say was responsible for seeding the beginnings of the French Revolution. He says that atheism may not be the right frame of mind, because if you cannot comprehend omnipotence, cannot understand how God would operate, it's also a big call to claim that you can comprehend existence without God there.

Yes, I do feel that I lack a spiritual side to me. Philosophy could be my spiritual saviour :)