Some people are very lucky not to have any expectations placed on them in terms of cultural practices or traditional customs. Isn’t it nice not to have any weight on your shoulders when it comes to meeting these expectations?

I, for one, detest the formality imposed by customs and traditions. There are a few core customs that I don’t mind following but for the bulk of them, I am of the opinion of “What is the rationale behind them?” If they don’t make sense and are just done purely because “that’s the way it’s been all this while”, then I’d rather not follow them because I may comply but only half-heartedly. And I hate doing things half-heartedly.

Really, what is wrong with simplicity and casualness? I really don’t care if some customs die (such as the gift of a whole roasted pig in Chinese weddings) because I don’t see the point in this task.

Also, I wonder what is the reason behind the burning of those huge joss sticks, especially those you see at temples? You know, those huge ones which are taller than you and me and burn for umpteenth days and nights? There was a Taoist temple near my old house, which I used to walk pass on my way home from school. And at certain festivals, they would burn these huge joss sticks and the air would be filled with the smoke from these joss sticks and these joss sticks would burn for days. I would always wonder, we are already contributing so much to air pollution with our vehicles, need we contribute more with the burning of these joss sticks which serve what purpose? I think it’s ok to burn the small regular ones for whatever offering you wish to give to the Gods above but in this day and age, we need to ask ourselves if these practices are relevant anymore. Especially given the state of our environment. Same goes for the burning of paper effigies (is that what they’re called?). Have you seen how much smoke they emit?I don’t mean to be offensive but there must be other ways of practicing one’s beliefs to suit the current times we are living in.

When incidents like this happens, I hope people will remember that ultimately, these are wild animals and we may keep them captive and train them all we like but we will never be able to remove the wildness from them.

And we shouldn’t. Because being wild is their nature.

And when things like this happens, it is not the fault of the animal because it is just displaying its natural instincts.

I dunno whether to laugh or be appalled after reading this. Excerpts below :

“I always tell others not to underestimate Datuk Najib. He is not easily angered but do not provoke him. If he is angry, there is no forgiveness for you.

“Datuk does not say much but he would register in his mind what is happening around him. If I make a mistake, he will reprimand me. If he stamps his feet, I will shudder.

Does she even realize what type of picture she is painting of him?

Hahahahah! This is just too funny!

One of the headlines on Mkini :

“Ministry to organise global meet on caning” – The  Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will organise an international conference on caning as a sentence, says minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

Excerpts from the piece (my comments in bold) :

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, through the Secretariat of Advocacy and Empowerment of Muslim Women, will organise an international conference on the sentence of caning , said minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.She said the conference will discuss the sentence often imposed in Muslim countries.

“The ministry hopes that through the conference, which will be attended by ministers and experts, we can make a comparative study whether the sentence is normally practised among Muslim countries,” she told reporters.

“We can share ideas and practices and gain in-depth knowledge on how each country views the caning sentence,” she said.
Wow, there’s so much to learn about caning

“We hope that through the memorandum, we can exchange best practices and share experiences,” she added. 
Woo hooo… caning also got best practice 

But guess what? Oman has no provisions for the caning sentence either under Syariah or civil law. (Note : Oman is one of the countries to whom an invitation has been extended to send a speaker)

Seriously, I think these people really have nothing better to do. What a waste of our tax money. Is it that difficult to decide if caning is good or bad in this time and age?

Dumdums.

… hanging out with kids (or people younger than me) and animals because they don’t ask me silly and annoying questions that I don’t wish to answer.

Update

A friend remarked that she doesn’t mind getting asked the “When are you having kids” question because it shows that people are concerned and that they care.

Well, good for her if this makes her feel good.

But for me, I strongly disagree with this if I were in the same situation. I’m a private person – always have been, most likely always will be – and questions like this annoy me and make me uncomfortable. Call me sensitive or whatever, but it is MY life, MY decision to make and MY decision if I choose to discuss this topic with anyone aside from my partner. And no, I do not wish to discuss this topic with anyone aside from my partner. Why don’t people get this?

And it gets on my nerves when people try to frame the question like another third party had asked it (which may or may not be true) but they are just as interested to find out the answer.

Thank gawd I only encountered 3 instances of this during this CNY. That’s 3 instances too many for my liking but it could’ve been worse. Phew.

~~~~~

What I’m NOT looking forward to this Chinese New Year is people (read : family and/or relatives) asking me/us when we are planning to have kids *rolls eyes*

I think of all the personal questions one usually gets bombarded with by people who think they are showing concern (e.g. do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend, when are you getting married, why are you still single, etc.), ”When are you going to have a kid” is the most impolite (in my humble opinion) question and I detest it.

Why would I want to announce to the world when/if I plan to have a kid? As far as I’m concerned, this is none of anyone’s business except mine and my partner’s. In another scenario, imagine a couple who has been trying significantly long to have a child but were unsuccessful. How would they feel if people kept bringing up the topic and harping on the fact that they still haven’t had a kid yet?

Anyway, this is one part of the Asian culture which I could do without i.e. people automatically assuming that you are ready to start popping out spawn the moment the reception is over *rolls eyes again* As if that is the only reason to get married. Sure, it might be true for some people and they can do whatever they want for all I care, but I do not wish to be lumped in the same category.

People might think they are being caring by asking these questions but seriously, it is such an intrusion. Because most likely I won’t be able to tell the person off; I just have to grit my teeth and pretend to appreciate the concern *barf*

Here’s what I do every weekday, since I started work…

Mornings :
- Drag myself out of bed between 6:00 – 6:30am
- Wash-up
- Feed cats; change water supply when necessary
- Take my daily fill of friendly bacteria (need to have this in me for at least 1/2 hour before I eat)
- Start laundry, when applicable
- Sweep the floor with one of those brooms with fabric so the unwanted stuff sticks to it; wash fabric when done
- Clean litter pans
- Make breakfast and eat (breakfast varies)
- Wake Hubs up to take his fill of friendly bacteria; he goes back to sleep after
- Hang up laundry, when applicable
- Give cats their daily supplements
- Toilet ritual and shower
- Get dressed for work
- Take vit C out and place in front of Hubs so he’ll remember to take it (he would be up by this time and having his breakfast)
- Leave for work between 8:00 – 8:15am

Evenings :
- So far, this week I have been leaving work before 7pm. May vary depending on amount of work.
- First 2 days, I got home before 8pm – took me about 45 minutes. Yesterday, it took me an hour to get home due to the traffic jam caused by evening rain. So, duration to get home from work will vary depending on weather and traffic condition.
- Start rice cooker
- Vacuum floor
- Prepare the ingredients that I need for dinner, if I am cooking (I cooked this Monday and Tuesday. Was planning to cook on Wednesday but because I got stuck in the jam and it got late, we ate out).
- Wash up, if I don’t cook
- Clean litter pans
- Mop floor on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Bring in laundry, when applicable
- Go swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Shower
- Load the washing machine to save time the next morning (so I can just start the machine)
- Chill out before hitting the bed around 12am
- Begin the cycle again the next day

As it is, my weekday is already filled to the brim. Add another component in there and I wouldn’t know where to fit it in.