My one moment in fame

Yes, I was called upon to be a judge. Yes, I made it on somebody's website.

I never knew I'd go places but this short '15 seconds' of fame to be one of the judges for marketing magazine's agency of the year award sure had been fun. But mind you, it was also hard work to go over the submitted pieces plus timing wasn't great as I had to do this while balancing my trip to US to meet my new boss and colleagues for the first time at our global marketing meeting.

Nevertheless, this probably only comes once in a lifetime and glad I did it.

Porcupines and pricks.

 I had chanced upon this article written by an author called Bill Hart on his blog page some time last year about a porcupine named Elvis he had 'met' and it reminded me of somebody.

Until this day, I never got through to my porcupine. Guess some quills are never meant to be broken off.

 "I think a lot of people are like porcupines.  We grow some nasty quills on the outside to protect ourselves because we feel so vulnerable.  The problem is that no one can get through the quills, not even people who would be our friends or lovers.  Therefore, we spend our days and nights in solitude, always looking out for the fisher cats and dimwits who would hurt us just for the sake of hurting us.

So what else have I learned from Elvis?  Elvis likes my company and tries to be friendly, but he just can't seem to get past whatever made him decide to become a porcupine.  We sit out in the field in the evening, he in the apple tree and I below it.  I talk, he grunts.  It's the best we each can do and I am now content to let him be just who he is, a young porcupine with social issues, while he lets me be myself, a middle aged writer who spends most of his time with a porcupine." -- Bill Hart

Brunch came early

This week I went for brunch with an ex-colleague on Saturday instead of my usual Sunday gig.

We went to try out Wimbly Lu and Jules cafe at Jalan Riang. And I enjoyed myself and am glad I came out for a fulfilling meal and good company.

Albeit it was wet and rainy, but the weather did not dampen our spirits and we had fun catching up, eating and laughing.

Brunch at Wimbly Lu for me was SST - smoked salmon on toast with scrambled eggs and a good cup of skinny latte. We even got to meet Wimbly and Lu. The owners of the outfit. Very nice ladies and my company poured on compliments for the coffee and we made small talks.

After round 1, the greedy in me coaxed my ex to go for a second round at Jules where I had eggs remy (a rendition of eggs ben except leeks and other veg were used instead of ham) while my company had risotto, which both were good. The skinny latte here was not too bad but I think I prefer the one at Wimbly Lu.

We parted ways later after a 3 hour marathon of brunch and more brunch.

It was a good day.

Sometimes

Sometimes I wish you'd surprise me and appear out of nowhere to whisk me away...

Sometimes I wonder what it's like to be pricked by a porcupine....

Sometimes I wish you'd be more honest, open and sincere...

Sometimes I wonder if this is it...

Sometimes I wish I knew.

I miss my porcupine

Dear Porcupine,

The silence is painful but necessary for me more than you, because I know you'd never have the guts to do it. But I need this. For me.

I miss the banter terribly and hope some day I'd find someone who'd enjoy my company as much as I'd enjoy having endless conversations with under the sun and the stars.

Preferably, this person would be a whole lot more sincere and open.

I don't know if I can keep this up but I need to move on.