I can’t remember when I became the person people sought after for their problems, but I can certainly tell you my first experience was when I was 12—one of my best friends came to me seeking for some consolations about a boy who she had a crush on but didn’t reciprocate in the manner she wanted to. Gosh, that was one entire earful year! To elaborate more dramatically, I had to be the messenger between them. It would have been easier if we weren’t in missionary schools. Because everyday after school for half freaking year, I had to walk half a mile to pass those handwritten messages and then back again to my BF before heading home to relate the whole experience when he received her message and then analyzed every word and punctuation contained in his message to her. No surprise here, this reading-too-much-into behavior is still practiced religiously among young and mature ladies, of course they do it on emails and text messages.

I’ll digress. Let’s do some math here and see if I can truly become a millionaire base on this one-dollar-per-minute listening/problem-solving situation?

There are 12,410 days in my thirty-four years since my first recalled experience as an active listener and passive “advisor.” Supposedly I spent 90 minutes per day doing this untitled work and that would amount to $1,116,900 as of today.

For the sake of simplicity, I’ll round up to one million dollars because not everyday I’ve friends and family flock to me with their problems (thank God!) but I can certainly assure you that when they did, it was no 90-minute per day/session. Some of them, especially relationship matters, could really go on forever from lunch to dinner, which easily amount to six hours to say the very least.

Also, this is not counting my four years volunteering work as a part-time hotline BGR “advisor” to older teens and a year as a president in a parish youth group.

Fair enough, I can’t include those youths knew nothing about seeking outside help to their problems, but don’t my friends and family know any better that there are proper and professional channels for their endless problems? The last thing I want now is to have an earful life otherwise I wouldn’t have left my voluntary work to continue my life-long pursue in helping animal shelters. The thing about dogs is that they don’t talk or talk back or blame you for dozing off after three hours of intense listening.

Sometimes I do wonder if I had majored in the wrong college—psychology or sociology instead of finance. If I’d taken that route, would I still be working in either of the field? Maybe not, just look at me now, I rarely have friends and family members come to me for financial advice. Maybe money is a sensitive subject to discuss without looking into their financial statements. Numbers don’t lie and you’ll get to see both sides of the situation. In my next life, I’ll be a psychiatrist or psychologist or whatever occupation I get paid to listen and not blamed or patronized for unpredictable outcome.

In all honesty, this situation of mine is a bitter and sweet experience. In one aspect, I do feel flattered that they came to me for advices but on the other hand, I’ve my own fair shares of challenges and a life I want to pursue and enjoy.

When I do face with life challenges, who or where do I turn to for advice and listening ears? No one, to be precise, since the last nine years! I sought for professional help piror but in the end I was left more confused than I began. Since then, I seek within because many answers are already there for us. The question is whether one bothers to find them and is able to be truly honest with oneself. Or if one wants to invest in some self-help books and seminars.

It is so sad that many have become so narcissistic and want instant gratification that they no longer take the time to seek within. Who or what is to blame for this behavior?

To go back to my question, would they have paid me for my so-called service? The answer is no! If it’s a yes, they always received more than what they’d paid for.

In the next rant, maybe I’ll tell you why and what went so wrong for lending my ears to friends and family members’s predicaments.

• No related posts for now.

And guess what? I don’t know who the sender is. Sure, there is a card attached, “signed.”

RENEE

APOLOGIES FOR THE CONFUSION

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON

INAHAMANI

But who the hell is Inahamani? Female? Male? Or Animal?

One thing I’m certain is that there were quite a few people pissed me off (really bad) the last couple weeks, but having to receive this bouquet is a bit dramatic and puzzle to me. And I DON’T say it affectionately.

1. The card is not handwritten, therefore insincere.
2. They are all in capital letters, therefore rude.
3. Where the hell is the word ‘Dear’, therefore impersonal.
4. The sender has big ego, vague apology with zero stench of remorse.

This is what I read between the lines. The sender knows that he/she had done something despicable as he/she could not make himself/herself elaborate the cause of confusion, for fear I might relive the incident. Therefore, the sender stays as vague as possible (including the name) so I will forget the whole situation.

If the apologizer is really sincere, he or she would follow up with an appearance or at least a phone call. So I would know who the hell Inahamani is?

• If the sender is a male, he is an idiotic self-centered prick.
• If the sender is a female, she seriously needs a sex change and become a duck.

By the way, terrible choices of flowers. I hate Gerbera daisy and white roses. Whoever you are, you just got yourself into a deeper shit.

As a matter of fact, I favor a verbal apology over anything else. Cut the crap and be sincere. I will always accept it in a heartbeat, 99%!

• Getting Lost in Singapore?

This secret simply blew me away. I never thought “aluminum coated plastic bag” has more than one functionality. I usually use it as a mini trash bag for cooking. That way, fruit flies or any creepy crawlies won’t linger around my trash bin before I clear my bin in the evening.

Secondly, I think it’s an awesome idea to safe some unwanted resources which most people would discard them without second thought.

Without further ado, here’s how “aluminum coated plastic bag” comes into action.

Any aluminum coated plastic bag will do, it doesn’t have to be from Quaker.

There is plenty room for you to put any choice of fruits or vegetables in it.

Do not fold or seal the opening of the bag. Just leave the bag open and it will do the magic work for you.

After one week, the vegetables remain fresh. Amazing, isn’t it?

A close up shot of the vegetables, they are still very fresh without any dehydration!

Go have a try! I bet you will thank me for it!

Instead of throwing useful things away, reuse them, and you’ll be inherently joining the group of “Saving the Mother-Earth” Campaign.

Best of all, you are hitting two birds with one stone.

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Having different opinions is never much a bother to me. Everyone has their right to air their views even a three-year child has to be respected to.

Just recently, one of my posts from another niche blog was heavily criticized by another blogger. Apparently, a few got “axed” to but mine got the special privilege. Well, this blogger wrote a lengthy post about my article and criticized relentlessly.

At the first read I was fueled with rage because she took my article totally out of context. After inhaling two deep breaths and one more read, I began laughing.

As I read between the lines, she was the one who is seriously needed help yet not realizing it. Poor She! And to make my day even better, this is what I found on the comment…

…I would like to say that I think Small Dogs Paradise is a pretty good site overall. I have read through some of the articles and have learned a few things about how to handle dogs. But, like I said, everyone is different, so I may follow their advise, or not. It is, after all, up to me.

Most of the time, I don’t rebuke. And if I do, most probably I didn’t inhale deeply and often enough.

A quote from Dale Carnegie

Criticism is futile because it puts a person on the defensive and usually make him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person’s precious pride, hurt his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.

To defend myself in this situation would only make me just as childish as the blogger is. I’m so much intelligent than that. The thing is that the blogger is no longer on my list! Simple as that.

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At first I was afraid, I was petrified.
When you said you had 10 inches, Lord I almost died!
But I’d spent so many years just waiting for a man that long,
That I grew strong,
And I knew that I could take you on…

But there you are, another lie,
I was ready for a Big Mac and you’ve brought me a French Fry!
I should have known that it was bullshit, just a sad pathetic dream,
Should have known there was no Anaconda lurking in those jeans!

Go on now – go, walk out the door,
Don’t you promise me 10 inches, then turn up with only 4!
Weren’t you a brat to think I wouldn’t find you out!?
Don’t you know we’re only joking when we say size don’t count??!!

[Chorus]
I will survive! I will survive!
Cuz as long as I have batteries,
My sex life’s gonna thrive!
I will always have good sex,
with a handful of latex!
I will survive! I will survive! …Hey! Hey!

It took all my self control not to laugh out loud,
When I saw your little weiner standing tall and proud!
But to hell with your ego and to hell with all your needs,
Now I’m saving all my lovin’ for a cordless multispeed!

[Chorus]
I will survive! I will survive!
Cuz as long as I have batteries,
My sex life’s gonna thrive!
I will always have good sex,
With a handful of latex!
I will survive! I will survive! …Hey! Hey!

Original Lyric: I Will Survive
Sang by Gloria Gaynor
Written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris

• Is Computer a She or a He?
• How to Drive Husbands Off the Wall…Effectively

For those who have been living in Singapore for sometime or remotely heard of us know that this tiny little island has a population no more than 4.5 millions living in an area of 683 sq/km (266 sq/ml)

How congested can Singapore roads get during peak hours? Let just say that it doesn’t warren enough time for me to reach out my hand to struggle someone by the neck during a traffic jam.

Does Singapore have the best road structure? I dare not comment much as I’ve seen better somewhere.

Are road signs easily located and seen by moving vehicles? Not only there many road signs but they are also many “predestination” signs on highways and roads. Either you are blind or drunk not to be able to notice them.

Tom T. told me that he’d rather had me retrieve sample machinery from the office than have his wife drive there. For he fear she might get lost through the narrow winding streets in the industry estate. That’s totally crap. The office building is less than 50 steps away from the main road and would be very difficult to miss with its tacky colors of paster blue, dark orange and stone white.

What’s even more absurb is that they have been living in Singapore for the last 5 years. If she’s able to drive around ShenZhen, China with no difficulties then how difficult can tiny Singapore get? If Tom T. would to tell me that she understands no English, then I might feel empathy for her but not enough to convince me of no way out of the situation. Whatever it is, please don’t tell me of this crappy excuse of getting lost in Singapore.

• An Anonymous Apology

A SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.

“House” for instance, is feminine: “la casa.”

“Pencil,” however, is masculine: “el lapiz.”

A student asked, “What gender is ‘computer’?”

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether “computer” should be a masculine or a feminine noun.

Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men’s group decided that “computer” should definitely be of the feminine gender (“la computadora”), because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

(THIS GETS BETTER!)

The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine(“el computador”), because:

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

The women won.

• The latest Nokia model – Nokia5354
• You Wanna a Sexy Song?
• How to Drive Husbands Off the Wall…Effectively

M: Hi

M: How r u?

Renee: Hi, good

M: I’m 36, from KL, u?

Renee: Is in my profile.

M: oic

M: Wat ur name?

Renee: Isn’t it obvious?

M: I dun understand wat u mean?

Renee: In your skype window now, what do you see at the top?

M: normally ppl use their nick.

Renee: I’m busy now, if you don’t have any intelligent questions to ask me, I like to end this chat.

M: wah u r so mean

Renee: good day, ciao

M: ya, no meaning to chat wif someone whos so rude like u

M: damn, god day to u

Immediately, I deleted him from my contact list.

Those who are in my contact list know that I gave full details in my profile. I even listed my website for those who wish to know a little more about me can easily do so. Heck, my contact numbers listed on my profile are one of the kind.

Secondly, if that person had searched me via Skype, jolly well knew my location unless I stated otherwise on my dialogue board.

Thirdly, if I had use my nickname on IM, then why on earth would I want to review to a complete stranger. Duh!

Fourthly, I don’t enjoy reading abbreviation unless I’m very familiar with them. Even then I rarely use them as it denotes a bit of immaturity.

I won’t denied I was blatant on my responses, hey I’ve got my reputation to live up to, most certainly I don’t have the pleasure chatting with someone who won’t exercising some basic commonsense.

Geez, now you know Why Some Men Just Don’t Get IT!

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It has been almost 7 years since I last contribute my time and energy to less fortunate ones. I don’t consider myself to be the best volunteer among friends and acquaintances, but I always make a point to do it with unconditioned love. I know, it sound corny but it’s the honest true. However, the last 7 years had been a roller coaster ride  juggling  multi-roles at work and home.

Today, I was suppose to show up at the center to be an observer before I take on a specific role. Guess what, I forget! By the time I remember it was already six hours passed. I’m so ashamed of myself cause this had never happened to me.

I will have to call S.P on Thursday to apologize for my “irresponsibleness”.

Bad Renee ;-(

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