The firm’s retreat was quite enjoyable. We were sufficiently occupied, not overly. So it was quite relaxing for me.

Had a great time bonding with the team, though not all of them were there. I think I spoiled the market a bit for the two boys, since we were literally inseparable! LOL! What to do… people mostly hung out with their team members, the firm being so big and all.

Some notable things :

• I got my first Zang Toi apparel!!!! I dunno thru whose contacts it was achieved but I got my first (and most likely, only) Zang Toi polo Tee!!!!!
• I discovered that when some people get high on alcohol, the tone of their voices change, hehe… somebody got quite high on alcohol on Night 2
• Archery is quite fun! And I have my battle scar to prove it!

Here’s to hoping next year’s BUM will be better than this year’s!

Based on the reports I’ve read, the Bar Council forum on religious conversion was to address the conflicts of laws facing families caught between the separate jurisdictions of civil and syariah laws.

Since there has been quite a number of cases relating to the above topic, I think it is quite apt that a discussion should be held to address those issues.

What are they so afraid of? Can’t even discuss the religion, is it? So we’re all supposed to just sit down and shut up while they do whatever they want (like, take bodies of dead people and claim that they have converted to Islam and whatnot)?

This shows that they just don’t have the maturity to be civilized people to discuss topics such as religion with an open and logical mind.

Some more want to be developed nation by… when was it?

Huh… they have such a long way to go.

They’re fighting daily now

I don’t know what happened during the boarding period. They were fine prior to that. They weren’t the best of friends but at least they tolerated each other and didn’t fight.

I don’t know why the others are ganging up on poor Meg. She’s so wary of them now, she’s always in the room and growls whenever she sees the other cats.

I think I have to shut her in my room at night for the time being.

Have to find a new home for Meg. Am very sad. Depressed. Sigh

… will tell you a lot about the person.

Someone told me this. And I do agree. Observing the way someone treats animals can tell you a lot about the person. I can’t exactly pinpoint a list of tangible things that you can find out; it’s more personal and perhaps, almost instinctive.

On another note, it can tell you a lot about a person, but it can’t tell you EVERYTHING about the person. This is important to note.

I have not laughed as hard as I did last night in a long, long time.
I was literally in tears!

See, I had some problems with my mobile line yesterday. Not sure if it was a crossline problem or something but I was told that the recipient of my calls heard someone else on the phone while on my side, it seemed to me like the person I was calling couldn’t hear me (when this happens, I hang up and call again).

So I called SC yesterday. The first time I called, he heard some pissed off guy on the other end of the phone. I hung up coz I thought he couldn’t hear me. The second time I called, he heard some mat salleh guy on the phone, asking for a “Mr. Bau Han” or something like that. And SC was telling the person that there’s no such person but I guess the mat salleh guy couldn’t hear him either coz SC heard the guy telling someone else “He can’t hear me!”. While I was still on the line, trying to figure out who SC was talking to coz he wasn’t answering my questions! So there was like, a 3-way conversation going on but no one was able to hear anyone else!

I hung up again and texted SC to give me his fixed line no. The following was what happened thereafter, as related by Sam and Zhern.

Now, the phone at the client’s site can’t call mobile numbers. So we have to call the operator first and get them to call the mobile no. and connect us. Apparently, SC dialed ’9′ (for external numbers), followed by my mobile no — 016….. Then he started talking. After a moment, he realized that he was talking to the operator, not me! (The phone must’ve registered only the ’0′ in my mobile no) The others around him heard his entire conversation and burst out laughing. Sam was like “I was telling myself, ‘dun laugh, dun laugh’ but I couldn’t help it!” You had to be there to hear the stories. I was laughing myself to tears!

Ugh, the haze is back. Woke up with scratchy throat and the smell of smoke in the air

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Men who rape are more vile and despicable than words can ever describe, especially those who rape children.

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Stephenie Meyer’s new book in the Twilight series is being released here tomorrow!!!!! This definitely warrants a trip to Kino

It was over dinner with Chris, CW, and WP the other day when the topic of mama’s boys came up.

Before I get into the meat of the topic, lemme just say that this bunch of people is the most interesting and amusing friends that I have because we all come from different professions (legal, creative, media, IT) and because they are older than I am, they’ve experienced so much more things than I have and it is really very interesting for me each time we meet up because they have so many things to talk about!

Anyway, amidst the subjects of cooking (they are all amazing cooks, imo!) and fashion and matchmaking, the topic of mama’s boys came up because one of them (can’t remember who) shared a story of how a friend of theirs,  male aged 40+, an Indian but who has a preference for Chinese girls, has had a series of relationships but never married because his mother does not allow him to marry out of his race.

I don’t wish to go into the reasons why the mother doesn’t allow her son to marry out of their race because that’s another topic altogether. But the thing is, if the guy is really serious about someone and wishes to get married (Chinese or not), I think he should stand up for himself and just do it.

It is his life, no? I’m all for filial piety but there has to be a limit to what is required of one as an offspring. I’ve heard of stories where the men (the majority seem to be men, I’m not sure why) are so involved with their families (as in, their parents and siblings) to the extent of neglecting their own families/partner. Especially if the mother is a single parent and brought up the kids successfully, singlehandedly. And I’ve also heard stories where the guy’s family doesn’t like the wife and concocted stories involving the wife, and the guy actually believed and sided with his family instead of defending the wife.

I believe that there has to be a balance. Common sense, no? Sure, of course your family is important. They created you, they provided for you, they were there for you all your life thus far.  But if you decide to have your own family, you need to set your priorities straight because your wife and kids are your priority now. Obviously, it goes without saying that one has to use one’s logical reasoning and rationale to know when to do what but ultimately, it is to your own family (the wife and kids) to whom you are responsible for.

If one can’t cut the apron strings at some point, then perhaps one should save everyone else the heartache and not get into a relationship because if one can’t stand up for oneself, how does one expect to stand up for one’s spouse/family in time of need?