is it live... or is it memorex?

we used to just see them in the movies... you know, people getting alarmed or even paranoid at an outbreak of a certain plague, like a virus of sort. now we see it live.

people everywhere are wearing mask, afraid that they might get in contact with the h1n1 virus. it's indeed scary. somehow. especially here in thailand where, as my friends told me, that about 3000 people have been infected. and according to what i've read, has the most number of deaths in asia. (i could be wrong with the statistics.)

it looks funny, strange, and alarming at the same time.

but i have never worn one yet. i have a mask which i bought to cover my nose against the toxic gas coming from the buses. (i have allergic rhinitis most commonly caused by dust and irritating smoke) but i havent actually worn it cause it's too uncomfortable.

one of the personnels in my company used to wear one. he's young. he's protecting his youth. or just protecting himself. but later on stopped wearing it.

when i asked him why, he said, "it's pulling off my ear." (a literal translation of the words he's spoken in thai).

[picture pirated from yahoo]

along the winding road [version 2.0]

it wasnt long ago, i wrote about how time flies so fast. that was when the first quarter of the year passed. now the first half half of the year is over. it wont be very long and the atmosphere will be cooler and department stores and malls will be heavily decorated with christmas what-nots, even if this country is widely buddhist.

but so much for the not yet. it's the now that matters. [or does it really matter that much?] depends on one's perspective. recession is still in the air, the h1n1 fever [literally] is still collecting victims, and the earth is still warming. not to mention the political instability in this country and the country where i came from. and in many other countries, i presume.

through it all, life is still worth living. hope is still around the corner, and love is all around [ok. i did not just say that! or i said it for the lack better pharse to add to what i've just written.] so instead of looking at how the world we live is doomed, we can count our joys in life's small things.

currently busy with... teaching for the thai government's 99-hr free english program, open to all thai citizens in college, graduates, or currently looking fo jobs. there had been so much laughing the previous days.

presently watching... "supernatural" season 4. the show is as exciting as always.

currently listening to... "it's blitz" by the yeah yeah yeahs. the album is a blitz. sounds like: 80's post punk/new wave loaded with electronic hooks.

thankful for... laughter. having lots of it lately. in my class [just like i mentioned]. and then yesterday a friend of mine invited me to watch a thai comedy movie. and while the movie is really a typical, predictable, non-sensible thai comedy, there were a few good laughs. one of those movies that you need not do any thinking. just watch, listen to the dialogue, and allow yourself to be shallow for a moment and just laugh with the crowd.

also thankful for the new friends that i have made lately.

looking forward to... a short trip to cambodia or malaysia [or both]. i plan to do it after the course im teaching is finished.

what i miss the most... some real peace and quiet. not that my life is chaotic at the moment because it's not. i just want to slow down a bit somehow. some form of sabbatical rest.

what i need the most... sleep. long, quite sleep for few consecutive nights. fortunately, there is along holiday here in thailand which started last saturday and will end on wednesday, as the thai people observes the Buddhist lent.

if we look within and all around us, we'd realize that there are still many things we can be thankful for. so cheers...
.............................................................
have you stopped for a moment and thought of things that carry you thru life?
what are the things in you life right now that you are thankful for?
what's the one thing that you desire to happen to you before the year ends?

seriously... [version 3.0]

still doing the 99-hour english course for the thai citizens. it's our last day for the 2nd module today. during the break, i approached two of my lady students sitting by the pond next to the building. our short conversation led to asking age. my age to be more specific.

"how old are you?" one of them asked me.

"havent you heard? it's not polite to ask a person's age." i said. "...especially men" i jokingly continued. then i asked them how old do they think i am.

"around 32," one said. i smiled.

"33 or 34 years old," the other one replied.

"mmm... a little bit more..." i said with a smile.

and then they said that i look young, i could be mistaken for 31 or 32.

hah! seriously.... now my day is perfect!