Stop that munching!

Eating is a joy, but of late, I've gone beyond my usual limit! Before I am hungry, I'm being fed again. It's a continuous cycle - more input than output. Yup, I'm like a stuffed turkey, all fattened up for Christmas! The witch in the Hansel & Gretel story would love me! lol

So, the long weekend of Raya holidays were spent on sit-down dinners & lunches, lots of other open houses, snacks, afternoon teas, and more snacks ....

I was so busy running up and down, not being able to sit still and have my own time for own things as I can't turn down any of these invites who range from good friends to bosses. Don't get me wrong, I truly did enjoy myself with the food, the company and the travelling. Every house boasts of it's specialty, and the foods were of lip-smacking quality! I just kept getting my plates piled up involuntarily - yeah... 'Angela, you could do better than that!!!'... that's what everyone says... what am I? A whale?

Thanks to mommy's training of 'finishing every morsel on the plate as an indication of good manners'... it seems to the Malays that I'm still hungry if I clean my plate! So... food and more food are scooped onto my plate. I always had to run off with my plate... can you imagine my friends and their parents running after me with more food? It's not funny!

Well, all these eating is not 'the end' yet. I already have invites to Zorah's sister and Linda's mom - more belated Raya dinners this weekend, and my presence is mandatory. Oh no, food again!

I even turned poor Rajin & Asmah down tonight for dinner as I couldn't take the sight of another plate of meat. They were very disappointed, but what to do? I even had to go to the extent of lying to them that I have a prior invite to someone else's house for dinner despite saying 'yes' since sunday *Guilt*. However, I made it up by visiting them this afternoon, brought butter cookies for their beautiful kiddies, Murni & Kamal. Asmah still couldn't resist feeding me, 'Try this cake Angela, I made it myself... Angela eat this, Angela eat that... ' ANGELA NEEDS A BREAK FROM EATING!!! *Sigh* but at least both Rajiin and her were empathetic and sensible enough to give me very non-meat & non-rice foods since I was complaining to them that I've been eating too much and I haven't felt hungry since I woke up (I went to see them at 2pm in the afternoon and had not eaten a morsel, just dunking down water like a camel).

After the 3-day-eating-spree, I have decided that I will not want to hear another word that's linked to Rendang 'anything', Kari Ayam, Kari Daging, Kurma Ayam, Laksa Johor, Serunding daging, Nasi Palas, Lemang, Ketupat, Sup lembu... NO MORE! I'm scared of rice and meats now, I'm going full swing into just plain vegetables for the next few weeks and lose all those extra pounds I've packed on! I might go macrobiotic! lol

The only good thing about going to these places are that alcohol is prohibited because these friends are muslim. Can you imagine if I had to drink as well? I've been alcohol free for days, since the big hangover two sundays ago. So, this time round, it's just munching business lol...

Ok, enough talk on Raya and food, I shall start my dieting and move to the gym tomorrow! Maybe camp there for good? What d'ya reckon? lol It's the only way to stop munching!

2nd day of Raya with Zorah & Linda - ok, me still in the same Malay garb, as it was the most decent and grand piece I have for all these visits.  

More of Murni and Kamal! I love these two little darlings!  

A pix taken on the 3rd day of Raya. My 'guilt trip to Rajin's place after I've turned down their dinner invite for tonight). Anyway, in the pix, you can see Rajin's & Asmah's bundles of joy --> 6-yr-old Murni (in front) and 8-yr-old Kamal. These two are a riot, rattling away in Mandarin and English with me! Cute! 

That's still Dr. Nor's house, and my colleague, Anderson + his fiance, Grace. I'm seen taking the picture in the reflection of the mirror... hehe... just trying to be artistic there! lol 

2nd day of Raya at Port Dickson (My Vice President, Prof. Dr. Norfadzillah's holiday house). She bought the piece of land for just RM38K, and 'designed' the bungalow for herself and had it erected for just RM130K!! What a great deal! It's a nice place! 

Betty's beautiful orchids! Yeah, I'm just diverting from the topic of food here! lol 

Look at all those goodies laid out on the table - barbequed lamb chops, herbed mashed potatoes, steamed collards, meat loaf and Hot & Sour soup! That's a second dinner for Lee Lin & I after we went to Zorah's less than 1 hour before we sat down at Betty's! (L-R) Lee Lin, Betty, Phillip, my bro (Francis) & yours truly 

That's Betty, she made a pot of yummy Hot & Sour soup - dishing out for each of us. We went to Betty's right after our '1st part of dinner' at Zorah's place! Shocking - we ate too much! 

That's my good friend, Zorah - us posing for a pix. 

Don't be fooled by the 'small amounts' of each plate, as there's lots of refills from the gigantic pots in the kitchen! This is taken at Zorah's place on the 1st day of Raya!  

Talking to the wall...

This is getting unhealthy, I'm once again caught in the cycle of being pissed with my brother. Of late, he doesn't even answer me when I call him and talk to him, and he comes round to scold me when meals are not on time! What's wrong with my brother? I'm so good natured and nice and so is everyone from the family except for this stupid fellow!! My sister, who has the best nature amongst us all also ends up jumping up and down in regards to my brother when she was staying with him.

My temper blew tonight after being patient for days with his stupid attitude. I'd talk to him, follow behind him and he won't even acknowledge that he heard me. I even had to text message him like I did for every other evenings recently and even for lunch today, and no replies. When he came back over the last few evenings, I'd ask him, "Did you get my text message?", he'd totally ignore me... for no particular reason!

My blood began boiling this afternoon as 'enough's enough!!!'. I went to the market and called him if he wants lunch at home, he said, 'cook more, Shanice is coming over' and he puts down the phone before I could answer! My blood started to simmer at that point. He came back home before I did from the market, and he snapped at me 'showing off his "man of the house" behaviour' - "Why is the food not ready? I shouldn't have come back at all". I got frustrated, and still managed to control myself and said, "I just got back, what do you expect? You can help me some to hurry up the process". He acted as if I didn't say that, and he ignored me again, switching on the TV really loud and started reading the papers - completely in his own world!! His girlie at the side was a little uncomfortable seeing this. I could see that she's trying to help as she got up really quickly to stand by my side since it's obvious that he is refusing to lift a finger. I couldn't let this go, and I stood my ground and asked him to help me with the groceries, he pretended not to hear me again.

Finally, he lift his head up like it was the hardest thing to do - and guess what he did? HE did a silent gesture to ask the girlfriend to help me!!! What a rotten, ill-mannered egostic bastard!!! I got really pissed this time seeing this and raised me voice at him, "You do it because I ask you to, and don't ask Shanice!". His girlie, looking to and fro many times from me to him, feeling the tension growing... quickly ran out to my car to lift all the things from the car - while he sits there with his legs up and reading away at the papers! I wanted to stop Shanice from doing it - but that's going to make things worse... it's like there's no ending to it. I can see it in the future, that Shanice would become as frustrated as I am one day... my brother needs to learn a lesson, and it makes me wonder when will he ever learn...?

When we got to the kitchen, I asked him again to help me. He snapped back, "Isn't Shanice with you? Ask her to help". I got so mad again when I was just about to cool down, knowing that there'll be no end to this and decided to just drop it and get on with things. I began to tire... and there and then, I told Shanice, "Have you ever met anyone who'd scold his sister for cooking for him? I'm so good natured as you can see, and he has never failed to be ill-mannered and egoistic and scolds me for no reason? Tell me have you ever seen things like that before? Do you ever wonder what is wrong with this whole thing? Make sure that you don't spoil him by doing everything for him because he will not thank you. He could even do this to his own sister... so, makes you wonder, doesn't it? After lunch, please leave the dishes for him to wash and let him do some work". Shanice smiled and kept quiet, and I think she knows what I mean... and it does look like she's going to let him do the dishes... untill....

When lunch was ready (took me less than 30 mins to prepare and dish up everything), he continued sitting there, and I got really mad and snapped, "All the complaints earlier and now lunch is ready and you're not even at the table!" He came over and gobbled everything up hungrily, dishing out everything to his and his girlfriend's plate and left hardly anything for me! I almost burst into tears seeing this - what an insensitive IDIOT!

After lunch, I said to my brother, "You clean up, because Shanice helped me in the kitchen". He said, "Ask Shanice to do it, I'm not doing it". I got pissed off again, "No, you do it, because you have not done a thing today". He ignored me, and went back to his spot to read the papers, burping away, while his girlie didn't no anything better to do and tried to make things better by quickly running to the kitchen to clean up and wash the dishes. I had to intervene and said to Shanice quietly, "You leave the dishes and let him do it, my mother has spoiled him enough and put expectations on the sisters, and it's time for you to train him and not let him get away by being so egoistic". Shanice smiled, and left half the dishes there and went to the living room to tell my brother, "I'm tired, I'm going to lie down". By and by, he trotted off to the kitchen to clean up. Good for him this time, and good for Shanice too! I don't know how could Shanice stand him and would do all these? I didn't want to say more, as I don't want to make my brother's relationship sour... already, he doesn't like Shanice talking to me as he has indirectly said something to the effect that he wouldn't want me to influence Shanice to be like me because I talk too much and know too much of my rights as a woman!!! Bloody hell, I'm like a perfect sister - still cooks and love my brother even when he's a selfish bastard! I deserve the Sister of the Year Award!

Tonight, I had a major period cramp and had to stay in bed most of the day and took some muscle relaxers to help me sleep - being pissed earlier didn't help me to sleep well earlier, as my adrenaline was pumping. I finally slipped off to oblivion around 4.00pm - thanks to the muscle relaxers. I was woken up by Betty's phonecall at 8:00pm, and got a dinner invite for the whole family to go to her place for dinner. I slept for 4 hours and I could sleep on without waking if the phonecall did not come through! I crept out of bed, finally... and went downstairs to see the whole house in darkness. So, I had to text message my brother to make sure that he doesn't have things planned tomorrow night. No replies that he got my text message. Fine... I am beginning to get used to this.

When he came home, I asked him nicely whether he received my text, and he walked past me as if I wasn't there, and I repeated several times and continued walking away towards his room and closed the door without acknowledging! Bloody ill manners! I got so pissed and saw 'red' and I ran up the stairs and kicked the door with one loud bang that could probably be heard all over the neighbourhood... and still no answer! Followed by the kick on the door, I started screaming 'What the hell is wrong with you? Answer me when I talk to you!!" Seconds went past - silence... I could hear myself breathing in gasps... I was so angry!!! The answer finally came from behind the door in a very taunting manner, 'I got the message lor... so?' I banged the door again with my clenched fist, "Was that so hard to answer? Why didn't you answer earlier when I speak to you? Do you have to make me angry unecessarily, you ill-mannered lout!!!"... and I walked away feeling better after letting the steam off.

When he came downstairs, I couldn't let the matter sit, and I confronted him again, "Why aren't you answering me these few days? Where are your manners? Everytime I talk to you, you should answer". He didn't even want to look at me, and continued to walk, I screamed, "Answer me!!!" He finally said, "I always answer, you just never heard". I got even angrier, "I never heard it, and who could hear it when you answer in your own head, you idiot! You can't rest in peace without getting me angry?" He walked downstairs and said, "Who asked you to be angry? I told you I answer you everytime, so lay off" and he ignored me. I said in a parting shot, "I don't know where your manners went". WHAT a BLOODY idiot... I am really tired now, completely pooped and having a sore throat.

While blogging this, Martin popped up surprisingly out of no where - online. Like a blessing at the most unexpected times! This got me really happy - and at least cooled me down big time when I saw his smiley face. Why can't my brother have a smiley face and good natured demeanor like Martin? *Sigh* That's like asking for the sky, aye? Anyway... I feel tons better now after venting about my brother, and denitely after yacking with Martin. If you are reading this, Martin - endless thanks to you! ;). Am going off to bed now.... in peace after going through unecessary turbulence today...

Finding 'justice' with our naked eyes

Our eyes coupled with our minds, are the perfect partners in crime in processing and analysing 'justice', putting selective visions in colours and forming supported meanings and reasons to help us further carve our opinion in stone. Yes, we are judgemental, and we play 'God' in countless situations, discerning what we choose to see, choose to believe in, and choose to accept. Not that we do this deliberately, or are right at the arrival of our opinion, it's just the way we humans are. Thus, we err in judgement in a quite innocent and undeliberate way, but still, we can never be judgemental without our very own consent. Such are the sins that our 'coloured vision' commit, in the forefront of our pseudo-sharp and intellectual minds that are tainted with complicated ways of the world. Still, we march on believing that we are right in how we find fairness, reason-blind and spiritually-blind. No one's exempted from these very humanistic flaws, the only variant of its dosage amongst individuals are its magnitude and frequency of occurence. A check and balance has to be in place, but how, where and when do we begin?

Recently, I sat down with one of my colleagues for a long, long lunch, who happened to be amongst the most judgemental person I've ever met - always passing 'death sentences' on others by verbalising her opinion of others to another. Obviously, her opinion matters, as I've not seen a colleague (though innocent) who is not 'bad mouthed' by this colleague, would survive this company. No, no, no, she doesn't have a bad heart, but she has very high expectations of people, and the benchmark is her - the perfectionist. I happen to be doted by her (whew! I wonder how long would that last!), and by some sheer luck, I escaped her scrutinity by the skin of my teeth. During lunch that day, she got my brain ticking over a story she has to tell, and I wonder, how did she not apply the very same story to herself? I mulled over what she has said for days, thinking of the best way to relate the story she shared, which is so apt and truly something that we could apply to our lives, here goes:

In a land yonder, there is a church where all who enter are blessed in miraculous ways. Year in and year out, people from all four corners of the world would trickle into the church with different burdens, agendas and needs in their hearts. Those who couldn't find, would eventually find, those who sought, would receive. It's truly a place where no one leaves without their prayers' being answered. People who have been there and blessed in various ways would even make a second pilgrimage there to give thanks in forms of offerings and praises. Such is the miraculous works of God within that very church.

There is a young, ambitious and zealous man, who doubted the great wonders of this church. He decided one day, that he will be the first to defy all the 'good' he heard of this church, because he has insurmountable 'unjustifiable' issues to question God and make God squirm. Armed with his ammunition of questions, courage and confidence, he made his way to the church, ready to confront God with issues of injustice that God, as he has 'perceived', has not attended to - natural disasters, the meaningless deaths caused by war, children born handicapped, orphans, children who pass on before their parents and many, many more.

By and by, he reached the church, and to his surprise, there is no grandeur surrounding or within the church. It was simple-looking, and one might miss it if one wasn't intently looking for it. Each step drew him nearer to the church, and he began to falter, thinking how he should 'word' his accusations in the most convincing way that 'God has failed'. With his mind ready, he pompously marched past the entrance, and saw no one in there - still, he couldn't help to feel it's cosiness and simplicity - no sight of a pulpit, just rows of wooden benches facing a slightly elavated ground that has a wooden table set in front of it. Behind the table, he could see a large wooden cross. He searched for a place to kneel, and decided that he'll position himself right before the elevated ground, facing the wooden table and looking straight at the cross ahead of him.

He spoke aloud, with all his heart and anguish of all the issues he has in mind - to God. To his amazement, each time he pauses for an imaginary reply, he would hear a voice answering in his head, "In time, my son, you will understand". It went on that way each time he 'fires a question'. He wanted to feel frustration, but it never came, but still, it came to a point where he is lost for words. Finally, his mind ceased forming questions to confront God. At that point, a bright light appeared before him, and he fell back from his kneeling position, and flat on his rump in amazement, feeling a little 'fear' for the first time. Somehow, the light and tranquility surrounds him slowly eased the fear away, and he thought he has died and went to heaven.

A voice broke through the light, seeming to come from all directions, a voice that he has heard before, but louder this time, "Sit by my side, my son, and listen to all the people who comes to this church. You will learn the answers to all your questions, BUT on one condition, you must never ever speak up or respond, you will only listen and keep your peace." He agreed, and before he knew it, he finds himself lifted from the ground, and his body was turned towards facing an empty 'congregation'.

Facing the 'congregation', he could see many 'people' kneeling and saying prayers, voices filled his head, and he could hear and understood every prayer at the same time. He looked around the church in amazement, at how it is filled with people. He thought to himself, "Why didn't I see that before?" Still, he went on listening to all the prayers, feeling that he is with God, moving amongst HIS people - for the first time in his life, he understood the profoundness of God's 'omnipotence'.

Amidst all these, the young man's eyes focused on a fat man at the entrance of the church, walking towards the altar, carrying a heavy and bulging bag. The fat man soon stood before the wooden table, and facing the cross. The young man couldn't help noticing 'what a kind and serene face this fat man has' and he concluded that 'the fat man must be a good follower of Christ'. There he was, the fat man, kneeling where the young man was kneeling before, before the cross and eyes afixed to the ceiling of the church. He closed his eyes, and opened it again with tears streaming down his face. He stayed that way for a minute or two, and finally opened his tear-filled eyes again, and quickly turned to his bag to opened it up - filled with wads of cash - he ran his fingers lovingly through the cash, and closed the bag tight, leaving it at his side so that he could clasp his hands together in front of him in the act of saying a prayer. He looked up at the cross, saying, "Thank you Jesus, for blessing me with so much money when I prayed that I wanted to be rich. Thank you, thank you, thank you". With that, the fat man stood up, and scurried off without bringing the bag with him. The young man, was dying to holler out to the fat man, "Hey, you forgot to bring your bag of money", but he knew he couldn't say a word, as he has made a promise to God in keeping mum.

Minutes went past, with the young man watching over the bag of money. More and more people came forward, but none of them seem to 'see' the bag of money. The young man finds this most strange, and looked on intently, thinking that there would soon be someone, who'd spot the bag.

A shabbily dressed man dragged his feet into the church. which caught the young man's eyes. The young man was sure that this man, who reeks of rotten fish and has red-rimmed eyes would spot the bag. The poorly dressed man is an impoverished fisherman, how the young man came to know about it, he doesn't know... the vision of the man casting his torn and tattered net to the sea is all he could see. Before he knew it, the fisherman kneeled before the cross, and prayed aloud, "Oh God, I'm just a poor fisher man with a very sick daughter and a dying mother. I don't even make enough to provide them food or firewood, let alone pay for a physician to heal them from their sickness. The fish I catch are small, they can never fetch good money. Whatever sold off are just enough for me to pay rental of the shack that my daughter, my dear mother and I share." The fisherman, broke down in loud, noisy sobs again, and looked up the cross again, he is praying in his heart this time, and the young man could hear it, "I feel so wretched and cursed with poverty. My daughter and my mother are both dying, and I love them very much. I have no will to live anymore if they die. Oh Lord, if you are a living God, please help me in my hour of need."

After he has said those words, he looked to his right, and saw the bag of money that was left by the fat man. He took it as a sign from God, of showing him the bag - he opened it and saw all the money in it. Tears of sorrow at that instance, turned into tears of joy. He praised the Good Lord and took the bag with him, and left the church. At that instance, the young man felt it wasn't right, as the fisherman took money that does not belong to him - to the young man, it wasn't money for the fisherman, and he thinks that it wasn't good for the fisherman to take what wasn't his. He got really excited, and kept wanting to tell God that it wasn't right for the fisherman to take the money. However, he still had to keep 'mum' since he promised God that he will not speak up.

Right after the fisherman left, a newly married couple came into the church, singing of praises to the Lord, asking the Lord to bless them before they embark for their honeymoon in a couple of hours' time on a newly built ship, Queen Mary I. Before their prayers of thanks ended, the fat man rushed back into the church, wailing that he has lost his money. He blamed the young couple for taking it. The couple started defending themselves in anguish, saying that they were just there to give thanks before they embark on their trip - a trip to commemorate their union as a couple, a trip where they've spent every cent they've saved - a trip that will not wait for them if they were late. No one seemed to listen, everyone's just interested to see 'justice' done. Even the congregation of people started to gather round the couple, refusing to let them leave the church, while someone went to call the authorities - the police.

The complications have begun, police soon came, whisking the couple away. The couple kept on declaring their innocence, and swore that they did not see any money, nor any bag that contains money. Both the fat man and the police will not hear any of it - the judgement has been passed - 'the couple took the money' - afterall someone needs to foot the blame. The couple were treated like criminals, in the process of bringing them to prison.

The young man, having seen this, could no longer hold his tongue, he spoke. The moment he opened his mouth and spoke he found himself appearing before the 'scene', quite miraculously. The congregation, the fat man, the couple and the police have no idea where did the man appear from. However, the moment of 'amazement' soon faded as the young man told the whole story of who took the money.

At the end of the young man's 'story telling', the police rushed out to the sea, and arrested the fisherman. The fat man got his money back, and the couple need not go to jail. Now, that's justice done! Great applauses came from the congregation for the young man.

With all that fiasco behind him, the young man beamed proudly and faced the cross again, hoping to be seated at the right hand of God once again. He stood there for a long time, looking for the bright light that he experienced much earlier. Somehow, there is no more 'God's voice' in his head - he looked around him, he no longer hears prayers. He sees no one in the church. Just himself. In his confusion and frustration, he prayed once more in his heart to God, "I've done good - why am I not seated at your right hand anymore, where did all the people go - was I dreaming earlier?".

The bright light appeared before him and the voice of God returned, "No, what you went through was reality - it was not a test and you have been given a chance to change lives for the day. Yes, you have just changed the course of life for everyone that you judged on today."

The young man quickly answered, "I've brought justice to the whole situation... to the fat man, he has gained back what he has lost. The thief (the fisherman) is put in jail for taking what is not his, and the innocent couple are not framed and they are now free to go on to their trip - it's the right thing to do".

God began explaining, "Who are we to decide what is right for others, my son? What you have just seen do not appear as they are to the naked eyes. You have rushed into judging with the preliminary information you have received, but only if you have waited, you would have seen what is there to come."

"What do you mean, I have done the right thing - it's only fair for me to speak up and bring the wrong to justice and bring light to those who are deserving".

God continued, "My son, the fat man earns his money from selling little babies birthed by prostitutes to rich couples. He buys teenaged daughters from poor fathers and use them as prostitutes. With the loss of money, the fatman will not be able to expand his business to recruit and buy more prostitutes, and eventually he will lose his business in time to come. The money that he left behind at church, was part of God's plans".

The fisherman is to receive the money, so that he could save his mother and daughter. With the money, the fisherman will be able to buy warm clothes and food, and he will have enough money to mend his boat and nets to catch better fish to sell to provide for his family. Now he is in jail, his mother and daughter will die tonight and eventually, the fisherman will die in prison. No one will be burying the mother and the daughter - as no one cares. Tonight will be a cold night, colder than it was ever for the past 10 years, the daughter and the mother will not be able to fend for themselves, with their bodies are too weak to stand the cold and work - too long they've gone without food.

The ship that the couple will board will sink tonight as a storm will claim the ship together with everyones' lives on it. It's God's plan that they miss the ship tonight and they are spared from perishing in the sea tonight. If they were in jail for tonight, their lives will be saved, and they will able live to have children and lead a happy life together. They will make another trip in another grander ship in years to come. Tonight they will perish in the sea - all are at lost for them - they are robbed of their lives forever."

The young man got really angry and shouted to God to change things around, but God said, "There is a timing for everything, and lives would be saved tonight if you have been patient and let justice prevail instead of making quick decisions with your arrogance based on what you see for the moment. There are reasons for everything that cannot be seen with naked eyes. There is a timing, God's bigger plans to affect others and saving others at the same time - the big picture of God's plans."

Filled with sorrow, the young man begged God to give him another chance to undo what he has done. God said, "You have had your chance, and you can't undo what you have decided. But, you can make other changes. Today, lives are changed because you took things into your own hands. You have also broken your promise to keep quiet - the power I gave you earlier is now gone forever due to your folly, but you still have a chance to live a life to help others and not be judgemental. This will be a valuable lesson to you". The light went away, and the young man fell on his knees once again, in humility this time.

A lesson learned, but God did not banish the man because of HIS grace. Because we are only humans, we sometimes possess the arrogance of having wisdom in decoding the meanings behind the reasons of bad news, mishaps, or even anything that is good in life. Humility is the key here - and trusting and having faith in God would have saved more lives.

What's wrong with our eyes that we do not see beyond the meanings of the suffering or even witness sad happenings that range from unfair happenings to natural disasters that happen on this earth and the meaningless sufferings that the innocent go through. We wonder 'There mustn't be a God, and if there is, all these will not happen...' So, is there a living God out there?
Yes, there is a living God - and God has HIS timing for everything.

The practice of 'Godliness' should be in us, and this is completely different from 'playing God'. 'Godliness' in us is to let God be part of our lives, and allowing God to work through us. God always has HIS timing for us - reasons that are beyond our understanding at many times, but in time to come, we learn to understand why did things happen the way it did. Life can be fair if we practice perserverance and patience and be less judgemental, and practice a little love, grace and kindness in our daily lives.

As much as each of us is deserving of a chance, so do others. We are humans, we are hard to please, and we can never be 100% satisfied and agreeable to everything around us. We are flawed, but we have our choice of doing our 'check and balance'. Our eyes, as naked as they are, cannot help themselves but to be selective in their vision - open to receive some that comes our way, and blind to some. We are almost 'experts' in being specific at detecting and overlooking flaws that are linked to what we perceive as fair or unfair in life. 'Check and balance', and see beyond the meaning of justice, as it comes with a dosage of love, grace, perseverence and patience. Have you been there of late?

The great cooks / caretakers of Guthrie Bungalow - that's (L-R) Martin, Mrs. Lim & Mr. Lim. We were treated like a King and Queen!! Good food all the way! 

At the porch of Guthrie's Bungalow - right before we left Fraser's 

Out for a crab meal! Yums! 

The waterfall at Fraser's hill - we took a long walk to this place and it was drizzling all the way! 

Me enjoying tea at the patio  

The happy lil' vegemite! 

Martin enjoying his Crab meal!!! lol 

Another one of us - in the car - on the way to a Sunday night dinner 

Martin & me at Fraser's - we were treated like royalties at Guthrie's Bungalow!! 

Something's in the air!

*Sniff sniff*... lol Did you smell that? What hast thou smelleth? Oh well, I'm just being lame about starting this blog as 'chemistry' and 'scents' have been a discussion between my beau and I recently. Needless to say that the power of smell is undeniable when two persons are attracted to each other! Why is that? Well, it's because the nose knows better than our brains at times! We humans are not only influenced by nice aromas, fragrances and perfumes, but also by airborne chemicals undetectable as odors, called pheromones.

Anyway, smell acts as catalysts in a relationship or between two persons (at least in my case). Check out what I've found as a definition to pheromones while I was having fun with the search engine: Pheromones are naturally occurring chemicals that send out signals to the opposite sex (or the same sex) that trigger power sexual response. The word, 'pheromone' is a combination of two words, with the first part taken from the Greek word 'pherein' (Yeah, Greeks again!), and hormones pheromones mean 'to transfer' and 'hormon', means “to excite�.
What are them pheromones, anyway? They are actually odorless, airborne chemical signals that are released by an individual into the environment. Although pheromones have been shown to exist in virtually all species of insects and mammals, they also control the behavior of humans, acting as sexual attractants. So, it's secretion by humans is believed to dramatically increase both desirability and sexual attractiveness in both men and women. So, human pheromones affect us more than most people can imagine. Our knowledge of visual input, and of how vision might influence our sexual behavior, pales by comparison. During this decade, it is predictable that many more people will learn that our sexual behavior is driven in the same manner as it is in all mammals: directly via olfaction and pheromones, and only indirectly by visual input. This knowledge will help both to predict/explain behaviors, and even help to resolve problematic behaviors. Confused? Well, read on if you've come this far on this blog!

With it's specific function in transmitting social signals, pheromones sneaks up on ya and goes beyond your mental processes, as it draws you and your partner to each other like moths to a flame. Even in the course of friendships, you would enjoy spending more time with someone that smells good rather than someone that reeks. I truly don't remember having a close friend that smells offensive. Makes me sound like a bloody snoot, aye? A new gobbledegook for ya - 'smellism' which is not half as bad as racism.

Anyway, just to elaborate more on pheromones, researchers at the University of Chicago say they have the first proof that humans produce and react to pheromones in which we laymen refer to our attractions to the opposite sex (or even the same sex) as 'chemistry' between with each other. In findings published in the journal Nature, they claim they found that female ovulation can be regulated -- made longer or shorter -- when pheromones are involved. Kind of interesting, aye? Though there are two pheromones -- one that makes ovulation more likely and the other that suppresses it and makes it less likely,� said Martha McClintock of the University of Chicago. So, if you find yourself feeling attracted to someone, but you don't know why, blame it on their scent! Or, if you see someone you are attracted to, but when you meet them, the attraction is gone, again, it might be pheromones at work again (a rejection of scents!) lol

So, when we actually 'smell' each other, and say "I like your scent", it actually means that 'we' DETECTED and like each other's pheromones without really realising it! It's all in the 'science of love', as these 'chemicals' affect the physiology or behavior of other members of the same species. In the market place, we even have perfume factories nose-diving into researching and imitating various scents that are said to be pheromone enhanced, bottled and up on the shelves in malls! I am a real sucker to perfumes, and the sense of 'good' smell have always turned me on more than what massages my eye-balls (most of the time, anyway). In fact, pheromones and olfaction are more important to the development of human sexuality than are visual stimuli. The subtle influences of smell over our behaviour are shown by the vast amounts we spend each year on perfumes, fragrances and flavourings - or is it just clever marketing from them folks out there?

So, all ye lasses and lads out there, wonder why you always want to smell good? You are unconsciously wanting to be attractive. True enough, there's always something in the air when you find yourself attracted to someone! Excuse me now, I'm going to take a good whiff of my room and smell that pillow that my beau laid his head on.