I met someone last Saturday whom I know owns a yacht before I even know his name! To tell the truth, I am not impressed. Rarely am I ever impressed by material wealth or movable assets. I go for intellect, character and personality more than anything else.

But this incident made me wonder - has society become such that men assume women are all materialistic, and they must show they have lots of assets before they deem themselves worthy of going after a woman? To be honest, with the society being more equal nowadays, women can stand on their own and have just as many (or more) assets than men. So they do not need to depend on men solely.

Gone are the days where women are subjugated to their husband's treatment. If one was lucky, they got to marry a wealthy man from a good background. If one was unlucky, they married a bum and then had to endure the rest of their lives. Nowadays, women are almost equal with men. They do not need men to buy them expensive gifts or for men to show how materially wealthy they are.

Which is why more women are getting pickier. They do not marry for the sake of marrying or for financial dependency anymore. It has to be a very good reason for them to be married. Which makes me wonder, I do not need someone materially wealthy, neither do I need someone high-flying. I just like someone nice, intellectual and committed. So am I really that picky? Or is it really something about me that turn men off?

Being single has its advantages, like doing anything and going anywhere anytime I like without needing to cater to someone else's schedule or revolving my life around someone else. But then being with someone is good too. At least it beats the loneliness I feel at times. It helps when I am feeling down and there is someone to comfort me, to tell me everything is alright, to let me cry and rant. It's still better and more fun to do things with someone you know who's committed to you and vice versa, someone you can carve a lovely future with.

Looks like I need to go "husband shopping" soon before my mum's incessant nagging and endless tirade starts again, on women my age who are still single and soon going downhill if we still do not find a man! Hmmmm.... meanwhile, I am still living my life as per normal, doing the things I am always doing, trusting that God will bring someone into my life soon. No big deal being single, but if I get attached, it will be one that leads to marriage, so I am not settling for just anyone!

A lesson learnt - not to eat too much during lunch, otherwise the office will be too comfortable a place and the desk will be a bed! Arrrrgh! I can hardly keep my eyes open now ....

Is it June already? June used to be my hated month, because even though it was the school holidays, my mother would make me do advance preparation for the next semester, thus I could not play like the rest of my peers. When December comes, she would then make me prepare for the following year. And one wonders why I used to hate studying so much.

Now that it is June, I wonder how did half a year go by so fast? What have I done for the half year? Besides being more involved in religious work and having a change of environment, there is nothing much I have achieved.

But that is life. Either I go out and make a difference on my own, or else have to stick to being mundane and routine. Which is why I yearn to make more of a difference, to the people around me, to myself, to what I need to do.

Hopefully the next half of the year goes by without a glitch!

I came across this sign on SMRT Bus 67 : "Be Courtesy. No Loudspeaker Allow In Bus". Besides the obvious grammatical error, who will actually notice the sign since it's right on top by the driver's seat? Furthermore, even if people do notice, will anyone really bother? It is sad indeed that people need to be reminded for proper behaviour in public places!

Now I know why man take a girl's number or email and do not bother following up after that. But then again, if he has no intention of following up, then why bother asking for the contact in the first place? If he asked for her contact, then she will kind of have a false hope that he will contact her, right? Otherwise why bother?

So, if he is really not interested and never intends to keep in contact, then just end the date or outing on a polite note with a firm handshake, and that is it! No need to even ask for her number! She will get the message! However, if you ask for her contact, she will kind of expect you will contact her, so do not give her false hopes if you have no inclination of doing otherwise!

I always wonder, why do people go for a networking event but remain so silent? The reason people go for such events is to get to know others, so why bother going if one is going to remain lonesome, anti-social and uncooperative? In this case, one may as well save the time and the money and just stay at home by yourself!

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend by the name of Common Sense who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such value lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge).

His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student; but, could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a bit in her lap, and was awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by two step-brothers; My Rights and Ima Whiner.

Not many attended the funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still know him pass this on, if not join the majority and do nothing.

I realise the older I get, the more experience I gain, the more exposure I get, the higher my expectations are. It is not necessarily bad, but then at times, it may mean I am not satisfied with anything and keep craving for more and things will never end.

There are a number of aspects in my life I am not impressed with, mainly due to my own fault, so trying to rectify them within my control. Recently, I have friends asking me, exactly what it takes to impress me, especially for a guy?

Hmmm... I admit I am not an easy person. When I was younger, I was more idealistic and simpler, so would just take anything as it came. But now at this stage, after the experiences I had, after the kind of things I discovered I like, it is like a "been there, done that, experienced these", so nothing much really impresses me anymore.

Thus, it takes a really extraordinary person to impress me. I am not impressed by people who try hard to impress me. I prefer people to be just themselves instead of putting up a farce. I am impressed with those who can impress me without even trying to impress me in the first place!

So there. Impressing someone is not trying to impress; rather just be yourself. If the person is not impressed, then so be it, because it is not possible to click with everyone.

With the influx of foreign talent, at times I cannot help wonder if we are living too comfortable a life? Our society has made us such that we do not have the hunger and thirst to strive for something better and just rather be stuck in our own comfort zones. Which makes me wonder, if this goes on, how are we going to compete with the driven, goal-getting, motivated foreigners who are already infiltrating our companies and jobs?

080808. A special day. Tonight will be an unforgettable event in China's history, the opening of the Bird's Nest and the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the first ever to be held in China. The past week, unforgettable events have happened to me as well, the first being the pressing problem I had is finally solved! All thanks to my family who helps me out in a jam! The second unforgettable event is that something happened which made me wonder why, if people are unhappy with me on issues, do they not just speak to me directly, and I have to find out from a third party?

I am not that naive or simple-minded to think that everyone should get alone well. There will always be people you have affinity with, and those you simply have no chemistry with. I accept that, which is why I never impose myself on others or try to get into anyone's good books, because I always feel if people like you, they should take you at face value instead of needing to do any favours to get into anyone's good books. Neither do I feel I need to explain myself to anyone, especially those I am not that close to. All I am asking is that if people really feel I am a thorn in their flesh, they can tell me straight, and we can thrash things out, no need to go round in circles and letting me find out a distorted or exaggerated version from anyone else!

I am never one for someone who does not keep promises. No matter how big or small. It may not be a big deal to many people, but to me, a promise is a promise, even if it is a small one. If one promises something, it is giving the other person hope, and what better way of making the hope come true than to actually dish out what you promise? Instead of just talking and no action, actually doing it will warrant one's sincerity and integrity.

Promises may be small and big. Small things, like promising to run an errand, or buy something for your family or loved one. Or even promising to help with a favour. These things may be small, and many people I know will not do it because to them, they view these as minuscule. But the thing is, if you promise something, then jolly well do it, because the person depends on you once you have promised. If you cannot even do something small, something minuscule which you promised, then how can anyone then trust you or depend on you for big things?

Promises are not to be taken lightly. For instance, with the recent spate of trouble I had, there have been people who promised to help me out by certain actions. However, these same people just call me up and ask about my day, without actually doing anything. What is the use of calling me up when my problems are not going to be solved? If they do not wish to help, then do not promise anything in the first place! If they promise, then one will kind of expect them to dish out what they promised, is it not? This shows how "sincere" they actually are!

Big promises can equate to commitment. If you are not willing to be committed to anyone, then do not promise anything, like wanting to be with the person or taking care of the person. Is it any fun playing with one's feelings and emotions? So please do not give empty promises if you are not able to do it. Rejecting a person or being unable to offer help is still much better than making an empty promise.

Wonder if it is a coincidence, or do those celebrities only get recognised for their acting ability after they "uglify" themselves? For instance, Hilary Swank became a man and won an Oscar. So did Charlize Theron, who became a plain, ugly, psychotic killer and won an Oscar. Now, the late Heath Ledger poured on lots of paint on his face, making him look like a freak with bad hair, and all of a sudden, people sat up and took notice of the fact that he can act.

Maybe if those celebrities were not that good-looking to start with, like Tom Hanks, people would then focus on their acting ability instead of just a mere pretty face? In people's minds, pretty faces are synonymous with those who cannot really act, but that is not true. There are many artistes out there who can act despite being good-looking, but just a pity most people are not able to look beyond their physical appearance.

This happens in human relations as well. Men always go for a girl who is good-looking, but then they will never go beyond her looks to see her actual being. She can be selfish, self-centred, demanding, unreasonable, and whatnot, but as long as she is pretty, she will have lots of suitors who go all out to woo her and giving in to her whims and fancies. Whereas those who are not that good looking will never stand a chance, despite having a heart of gold. They will always be on the outside, looking in, just like me.

People always say one should look forward to the future and not live in the past. To me, I feel if there is no past, how can there be a future? We learn from past mistakes, which make us more experienced and mature, making the future look brighter and better. At the same time, some of us cannot help but get scarred from past events, treading more carefully and not put our whole selves into it.

For instance, if we have been cheated by people close to us, we tend to be more wary of people around us, whether they have a motive in trying to get close to us. Perhaps some do have motives, some may just get close for the sake of getting close, because we can get along. I used to believe that people were just being friendly, but after being betrayed, I realise that people can turn against you just by the blink of an eyelid. Which is why now I tend to be more wary where to place my trust.

But sincerity shows. As long as a person is genuine and reliable, that is all that matters. There are some people we can just trust and there are some people where we just have to keep our distances. I believe everyone can tell who are those that are more trustworthy and who are those that are simply not worth our time.

The ever perennial question : How do you know this person is interested in you, and how do you know this person is the right one? After a couple of false starts, I do not dare to hope or ask for too much anymore for fear of reading all the wrong signals again. And honestly, if the person is not interested in the first place, then please do not string another person along, right? But then again, it is also hard to determine because when someone does something, at times you really have no idea whether it is because the person is interested or just being friendly.

Human relations are really the worst and most complicated things to handle!

In life, one should adhere to the motto, "Live simply but give generously". So when natural disasters are abundant, one should help as much as one can. So why show favouritism? Are the people of one country more worthy to save and help as compared to another country? In the situation between Sichuan and Myanmar, both places suffered casualties. Yet from what I know, more are willing to help the former than the latter. If one is really willing to help, why not help both? Why choose one? Imagine if we are in the shoes of the victims. How would we feel if we realise that people are not willing to help us yet turn around and help someone from another country instead?

Imagine when you were born, you had your parents and elders to fuss over you. They taught you how to walk, how to read and write, raised you to the best of their ability, inculcated in you all the best values. Then you spent six years in school, influenced by your teachers.

Then you went on to a higher level, and you started thinking you were old enough to do things on your own, to take responsibility on your own. So you started listening to your friends, because they were so much cooler than your stodgy, old, stick-in-the-mud parents, and you started quarrelling with your parents all the time as you thought there was a generation gap.

Some parents continued to control strictly, some relinquished control, hoping that the children would learn on their own. But at the end of the day, parents were there all the time, in the background, looking out for us, catching us when we fall. And when mistakes were made, tears were shed and fire was spewed, it was the parents who in the end looked after us, when all our friends disappeared.

Then we fell in love, and after the angst of first love, realised that the journey to true love was never a bed of roses. We grew and learnt along the way, and then settled down with someone who may not be the one we loved the most in this life (and vice versa) but just happened to be the one who appeared at the right place and the right time.

So we got married, had our own lives, and put our parents at the back of our minds, again thinking them stodgy and troublesome if they so much as dropped by unannounced, or kept hinting about grandchildren, or wanted to spend more time with us. But we took it as an invasion of our privacy as a couple.

Then when we had our own kids, we called our parents to help us, yet kept interrupting the way they tried to help discipline and take care of our darlings. We pushed them away when they so much as gave us advise on child rearing and upbringing of children, preferring to do it our way, without first considering it was our parents who first brought us up and made us who we are.

Then they got old, weak and sickly. And when they needed our care and concern the most, we chose to put them in a nursing home to be well-taken care of buy healthcare professionals, yet always too busy to visit them.

When the time comes for our parents to be called back to Heaven, we put up a great show by spending on an expensive funeral procession and crying bitterly, then after all the thank yous are exchanged and the money counted and ashes scattered, we go back to our normal lives, forgetting the very people who were the most important in our lives, and our children grow up not knowing their grandparents exist.

Then when our own children grow up and do the same thing to us, we start to lament, cry and be hurt. But we never once consider, our children reflect our actions. So ask yourself, do you want your children to take you for granted and forget about you, just like how you have done the same to your own parents?

I just came back from the doctor, second time in three days. Thank goodness it is not dengue fever! I was feeling so sick on Monday that I wanted to ask for a house call. And the nurse told me mechanically that it is $250, COD.

I only had $100 with me then, so I asked if I could pay by cash cheque instead? And she said, "No, the policy is COD, no other mode of payment."

So I said, "I can't drive, I'm feeling really weak, I'm having chest pain, fever, body ache and I'm feeling really giddy. I think it's a bit inconvenient for me to go to see a doctor, so can I ask the doctor to come to my house instead? I'm willing to pay more even, except I don't have enough cash at hand, so I'll write a cheque instead."

And she said, "No, the policy is COD, no other mode of payment." To which I replied, "Is following rules more important than someone's life?" She answered mechanically, "That's the policy. If you are really so sick, then call an ambulance to bring you to A&E."

I was too sick to argue so I just dropped it. Makes me wonder, has people become so rigid and inflexible nowadays that money and following the rules and regulations set by humans are more important than treating a human and saving lives?

That we are encouraged to get married earlier, yet the cost of a flat and other living expenses are so high?

That we are encouraged to have more kids, yet the flats are getting smaller and more expensive?

That parents can take their seven-year-old to court over a minor thing like not attending school?

That there are more and more dating websites and agencies, yet it is getting harder for people to meet their respective other halves?

That people are getting more affluent, yet morals are getting lower?

That we are told to cut down on cars, yet the cost of public transport is getting higher and higher?

You know how in networking events, people always exchange their contacts and emails, but in the end all are just for show? Most do not bother to keep in contact, not a single phone call or email, and not even a single chat.

Which makes one wonder why bother getting a person's contact if one does not intend to keep in touch at all? We end up having so many numbers in our phones and address book and contacts via MSN, but how many do we call, email or chat with, really?

You know how people tend to stare whenever something happens? Stare at a person dying in an accident, at someone fainting at a departmental store, at someone feeling sick.

All these staring incidents can culminate into the loss of lives. Is it an interesting thing to stare at someone on the verge of death? Like what my best friend Lynn says, she can tell her pastor not to have the need of any healing ministries; all people need to do are to stare and stare and perhaps by some miracle, people will be healed.

The selfishness of man really sickens me at times.