Pursuit of Enlightenment

If life throws you a lemon – make lemonade

ivyeo — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 03:00:00 +0000

The quote above is by Joan Collins.

Anyhow, I am feeling sick and what better way to be upbeat than spinning some cheery songs? Hope your computer can play out the playlist that’s currently on this blog.

I am hooked on this song “Lemonade” by Chris Rice. (Thanks for the intro on your blog Karen!)

“Lemonade” Lyrics:

So go ahead and ask her

For happy ever after

‘Cause nobody knows what’s coming

So why not take a chance on loving

Come on, pour the glass and tempt me

Either half-full or half-empty

‘Cause if it all comes down to flavor

The glass is tipping in my favor

Life gave me lemonade

and I can’t imagine why

Born on a sunny day, beneath a tangerine sky

I live life without pretending

I’m a sucker for happy endings

Thanks for the lemonade

Now take your time to answer me

For the beauty of romancing

Is to calm your trembling hand with mine

While begging love to fill your eyes

I can hardly breathe while waiting

To find out what your heart is saying

And as we’re swirling in this flavor

The world is tilting in our favor

I’ve got it made

Rest in the shade

And hold my love

While God above

Stirs with a spoon

We share the moon

Smile at the bees

More sugar please
He really loves us after all

We’re gonna need another straw

Baffling Consumerism

ivyeo — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 06:50:00 +0000

The ‘IT’ bag of the moment. Go green they say.

Trash plastic and use shopping totes instead.
Throw in a very very mediocre statement bag by a renowned designer (Anya Hindmarch), have some celebrities lugging it around and you get a winning sales formula. Worldwide queues for this bag can span the length of the Great Wall of China (ok, I exaggerate).

Run a check on Ebay and you will be amazed at how its original price of 5 pounds can fetch 500 bucks and more currently!!!

Is this world going crazy? Are they taking the message of ‘Live Earth’ a tad too seriously or is it just plain consumerism at work. Go figure.

Daily Trivia:
Do you know that paper bags cost 5 times as much to produce than plastic bags? They are also BIGGER polluters as they require 4 times the energy to PRODUCE and almost 100 times the energy to RECYCLE.
Contrary to popular belief, paper bags DO NOT degrade faster than plastic ones in landfills as the garbage is compacted. Paper bags also take up more space in landfills.

So you see? The shift to paper bags is just plain misguided plastic politics. At least championing the use of shopping totes makes more sense. But 500 pounds for what everyone’s slinging on their arms? SERIOUSLY.

Sunshine After the Rain

ivyeo — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:58:00 +0000

Rain on a sunny day. Weather of this sort is like an oxymoron.

From which perspective should I view this?
Does it mean that I can expect to see a pretty rainbow after the rain? Is this sudden downpour a reprieve to the summer heat?
Or does it mean that life sucks? Even on sunshine-y days, you never know when it will pour and soak you to the skin?

Whatever it is, it’s good to see sunshine after the rain.

Random Thought of the Day:

ivyeo — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 10:40:00 +0000

Glass ceiling in the office, age ceiling in clubs

ivyeo — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:06:00 +0000

Apparently there’s a age limit to having fun—at least according to St. James Power Station.

Too old, no complimentary drink. So, you have to work your sophisticated womanly charms to get some intoxicated guy to buy you your share. -_- Either that or stoop as low as you can—dress trashily. Look hot enough so that they will make a concession just for you.
Not femininely dressed or look like a butch? Sorry. Please don’t enter the club. So instructs some mean bouncer.

Seriously. Man, it makes me feel like a DINOSAUR. A historic relic of some sort. Or a soon to be one.
How ageist and sexist. Stupid policy, I say. Trust Dennis Foo to sanction this ‘bright’ idea of his management staff.

So you call it positioning. I call it ‘not my cup of tea’. I am sure many ladies, young and old will be put off by your niche positioning. The mature ladies will bring their spending power elsewhere and the younger ones will grow old soon. If you’re planning on ‘hurting’ their business by boycott, just keep their chain of clubs in mind (e.g. Devil’s Bar).

A Marriageable Candidate

ivyeo — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 06:45:00 +0000

Grey’s Anatomy is a terribly addictive drama series. Fortunately, not having Season 3 for the matter is the best way to stem the madness from taking place. Phew!
Anyway, Isaiah Washington, the man who played the role of Dr. Burke is fired and thus, Season 4 does not include him. At least, not for now. Entertainment is fishy business and nothing is absolute in this industry. Remember, cocaine snorting can make you richer. -_- How terribly absurd.
Anyway, while devouring the series, I suddenly thought about the issue of “marriage- ability”.
Given a choice, who would you pick in Grey’s Anatomy?
As for myself, I would narrow my options down to Patrick Dempsey—Dr. Shepherd and Isaiah Washington—Dr. Burke.
It’s a tough decision if one has to pick just one. But I would eventually pick a character like Burke to pursue a spousal partnership.

Both are equally intelligent (in the show). But Burke’s character is more dependable. Grounded. Faithful. Homely. Strong. Manly. Seeks a long term relationship. (Bonus: Can whip up a mean dinner).

Shepherd’s character makes girls go weak in the knees, inspires feelings of lust but gives a sense of insecurity.

Oh well. So, my heart whispers “Shepherd” but my head says “Take Burke”.
Plus, being a cardiothoracic surgeon, Burke is more capable of mending broken hearts.

Is it crappy to engage temporarily in this exercise of choosing a fictitious life partner? To some extent. But it does throw perspective at the types of people we will take as soul mates, doesn’t it?

It’s so telling. I am a person who is not into looks but reliability in a man.

(Well, but many ladies these days are drawn towards good lookers and when they gush about how handsome their counterparts look, I wonder if that’s a big priority in shaping their choice. The only consolation? Man is not the only gender who objectifies human beings of the opposite sex).

Queen of Style (continuation of the previous post)

ivyeo — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:09:00 +0000

The undisputed queen of style is called Voodoomary (nickname).

Link: Voodoomary’s Style Diary

I love gawking (yes, it’s really a mouth agape look) at whatever she’s wearing. Her style is to be worshipped. Her collection–well, let’s just say, it can rival Hollywood celebrity standards.
A very tall classy lady with unlimited cash to look fabulous. A modern age tai-tai with an equally stylish husband who brings her out to nice places on dinner dates. Crap. I think I sound so enviously materialistic when I pen down these descriptions.

Oh bother, just shoot me but I seriously desire for such a lifestyle too. Hm…in a couple of years I guess. And casual weekends could be spent karting with the tot in tow. (tsk tsk…)

I wish she can take shots of herself with face included though. I half suspect that she doesn’t need to turn up for work on time. What a luxury! And has all the time during office hours to post these shots on multiple web fashion forums. Cool! Self employed perhaps. Way to go. =P

Stylish in cyberspace

ivyeo — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:59:00 +0000

Style Diaries, Forum Threads…these are avenues for fashionistas to display their outfits, ensembles of the day and post their pictures up for all to comment and appreciate.

Sometimes, while browsing these sites, I think to myself, “How do they manage to capture their pictures in the morning before leaving for work? Doesn’t it take up at least another 8 minutes of their time to stand around their digital camera (I think they must have placed their gadgets on tripods to capture their full length poses)? Or do they employ a poor maid who has to double up as their photographer?”

How do they manage it is a beautiful mystery. But I do enjoy viewing pictures they put up. It’s like a fashion magazine that updates itself every day and I only need to pay my monthly internet bill to watch these gorgeous but apparently leisurely ladies strut their stuff.

I am not complaining.

My only gripe? I want that dress she’s wearing too.

Wish list 101

ivyeo — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 05:30:00 +0000

Overseas Holiday (I want the sky, the clouds, my wide open road)

I want to twirl in a field full of cornflowers, enjoy nature for all its goodness, sit under a tree and scribble thoughts in my journal. I want to star gaze in the countryside and find the Northern Star once again. I want to live in a cabin and cook pancakes for breakfast. I want to take leisurely walks and listen to the brook gurgling merrily. I want to spot pretty bluebirds flitting from branch to branch and walk amongst the dancing butterflies.

September, the month when wildflowers bloom in glory in the Southern Hemisphere. Go, I should. What a perfect birthday present it will be for myself!

In All Silliness

ivyeo — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 06:50:00 +0000

I was running late for my dental appointment this morning and drove a little faster today on the highway.
Some car was hogging the road and as I drove past, I turned to check out what the driver was doing. Talking to a beautiful companion? Or just trying to be a safe driver?
Unfortunately, that guy had a problem with that. I didn’t notice that he was tailgating me until I took a glance into my rear mirror.
I furrowed my brows in perplexity and realized it was the same car I had just overtaken. “Wassup with that fella?”
Satisfied that he had finally attracted my attention, he proceeded to rev his engine and speed past me.
Ok, point taken. You do know where your accelerator is located.
-_-

A big guy trapped in a tiny car with a huge ego problem.

(N.B. I have nothing against economical cars. Just that I am definitely not getting a Getz now. It is really not a very powderful small car.)