Monday, July 23, 2007

Case 42: M.O.R.

Have you ever done something you regret so much that you want to go back in time to undo it? This thought filled my mind as I ran, with the seventh Harry Potter book on one hand and a pack of coffee buns on the other, covered in smoke, sweat, and dust under the blistering heat of the noontime sun.
The list of things I want undone is long, with one stupid decision always followed by another. I should not have listened to that absurd advice and gotten off the jeep in the middle of nowhere. There was no point, since I do not recognize the face of whom I was pursuing. I should not have boarded that jeep out of impatience. It was already full and I had to squeeze myself in to sit. Lastly, I should not have brought my phone when it was out of battery. Then the person seated beside me would not have easily stolen it.
As I lament over this tragic turn of events, I am quick to blame everyone that had caused this. First, I blame the saleslady who sold me the phone strap which made it easy for the thief to fish my phone out of my pocket. Second, I blame J.K. Rowling for getting me so excited to go home and start reading her last book. Then, I blame the thief's parents for raising a kleptomaniac. Lastly, I blame myself for forgetting the number one rule in commuting: Assume everyone is a thief.
But grieving too long for my loss is useless. Regrets only harbor pain. Thus, I just have to look at the silver lining while enjoying a coffee bun. I must learn to move on and try to do and be better next time. Because like what Harry said in the last sentence of the book,"I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."
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Monday, July 02, 2007

Case 41: Country Sad Ballad Man

To fill up the gap between lunch and dinner, I have been watching Korean and Japanese dramas. I like watching them because of the subtitles, meaning I can turn the volume off so as not to disturb my coworkers. And so as not to let them know I am doing nothing productive.
What is great about these shows is that the portrayals of the most mundane events in life turn out very entertaining. Japanese writers have the penchant of creating "hobby-stories", for example, dramas about cooking, the orchestra, and even synchronized swimming. Koreans, on the other hand, are experts on writing the funniest or the sappiest love stories, often ending with the most shocking plot twists, like the discovery of mistaken identities or the death of a main character due to cancer or being hit by a car.
I have been eager to get a laptop so that I can watch these at home guilt-free. I can take advantage of the wireless connection in the office and download the videos during the day. I have been looking forward to this plan to come into fruition for a long time now. *break*
Writing this made me reflect how these shows also fill up the lack of stimulation in my own life. I should start listening to you and find my own hobby or love story... Maybe after a few episodes.
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