Great Powers

"With great power comes great responsibilities..."

That's from the Spiderman movie, and I suddenly realised that it somewhat applies to me. So am I trying to say that I'm just like Spiderman? Do I look good in blue and red spandex?

Well, sort of...

You see, many years ago, I found out that if I smile a certain way and act all 'cute', I can pretty much get myself into or out of anything (usually it's trouble). And this only works with the fairer sex. Some people call it 'charm' and some call it 'being a weasel'... either way, I benefit from it most of the time.

The latest example happen about a week ago. I needed a letter from the bank. The actual procedure was to submit a form to a branch, and then wait 14 days for them to prepare the letter at their back office and send it back to the branch.

I have a problem with that. My schedule isn't exactly fixed. I may be in Penang or KL on any given day. So the letter might be heading to Penang when I'm on my way to KL. So what I did was I actually went to the back office. It's an actual processing office. They did not have a reception area... people there basically processed stuff for the branches. So I show up, talk to this nice lady, gave her a sad story about my schedule, flashed her a nice smile, acted cute and suddenly the letter was ready for me within 24 hours! That's a 1,400% improvement (I think... my math isn't as good as it used to be).

And it didn't stop there. I had to submit the letter with other stuff to a government agency. By the time I got there, they just closed the reception counter (ie. they didn't issue any new numbers). But me being me, I talked to the nice lady and asked her if she would just issue me a number. She did, of course. But then, I hadn't filled up the necessary forms. So by the time I got to the counter, they were already packing up to go home. It's a good thing there was a nice lady there... well, I think you can figure out what happened.

So now, I've got a question... is it wrong for me misuse my 'talents'? I get preferential treatment compared to other people just because I know how to 'act cute'... that doesn't seem to be fair.

Now how is this any different from attractive people getting their way more often than less attractive people... you use what God gave you.

Of course, there's a limit to everything... it's one thing to get people to keep the counter open for an extra 10 mins... it's another to convince somebody to hand over their entire life savings.

Everybody has their strong points. It's how you use them that defines you as a person... either you're Spiderman, or the Green Goblin...

Sitcom

There’s this cute couple I know… well, actually, I know only half of the couple. I’ve known the girl for about… errr… 12 years… I think… (I try not to dwell on the numbers too much… makes me feel old). But, she’s been telling me so much about this guy that I feel I know him. You guys know that feeling?

It’s like watching a sitcom on tv. After a few seasons, you feel like you know all the characters… they are like your close friends. (I constantly have to remind myself that I DON’T have friends named Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe).

So that’s what it’s like with this guy. Let’s give him a name… I love making up names…

Let’s call him CS, for “Childhood Sweetheart”. ‘Cause she’s known him since school. And of course, the girl has to have a name as well… let’s name her AG, for “Anxiety Girl”. Reason for this will be revealed later.

You see, CS and AG were ‘dating’ when they were in school. Now this was the sweet and innocent kind of relationship. They would mostly meet in class… sometimes go out for fast food… and once in a blue moon, they would hold hands… aaaawwwwwwww…

After high school, they both went separate ways, only to find each other again a few years later. But there was a catch. Both were seeing other people… plus AG had written off the relationship they had earlier as just puppy love.

So they started seeing each other as ‘friends’… now here is where things get complicated. In a sitcom, this would be a season finale. You would then have to wait until next fall before they air the new season premier…

But this is blog, and you should know the whole story in 5 minutes.

You see, CS still has ‘the hots’ for AG… he’s yet to find anybody who would come close to AG. So he tries to rekindle ‘the spark’… but he runs into a problem… CS has got as much spark as a flat AAA battery… and the best thing is, he doesn’t know it…

AG on the other hand does not know how to pick up subtle cues. She is often heard saying “I didn’t see that coming…” And of course, she didn’t. So AG has no idea that CS is still interested in her.

One fine day, CS actually proposes… while having lunch… fried chicken to be exact. Now try to imagine this… two people sitting on the floor of the living room, with a bucket of Original Recipe between them… the guy suddenly says, “let’s get married” in the most monotonous voice you can ever imagine...

AG froze for a few seconds, and then starts rolling on the floor, laughing… she didn’t think he was serious…

Suffice to say, CS has never brought up the topic of marriage with AG ever again.

Now you would think that the story ends there… but the network producers have decided to extend for a few more seasons…

Over the years, CS and AG have gone out several times… always with big gaps between dates… after 15-16 years, all that CS has had the courage to do was give her a peck on the cheek… he obviously still wants her. AG on the other hand has developed stronger feelings of CS…

So they declared their love for each other and lived happily ever after… NOT!!

You see, this is why I treat their relationship as a sitcom… it’s funny and it’s been going on for year… plus, you feel for the characters… AG wants CS to ‘make a move’… but he’s just too scared… probably because she laughed out loud when he proposed… though that was totally his fault.

See… sounds like I’m talking about tv show, right? And I’m just as frustrated watching these two as I was watching Ross and Rachel get together… (for those who don’t know what I’m talking about, what rock have you been living under?)

So I’ve been pushing AG to just make the first move… (I want to see the ending already!!) She’s been reluctant for the last couple of years… she isn’t sure if he actually likes her… she’s afraid that he’s just hanging around because he’s a friend, that sometimes says something nice to her and holds her hand in a soft and tender way… not that he actually likes her in ‘that way’… (now do you know why I call her anxiety girl?)

Then suddenly today, she IM’s him… “let’s get married”…

What’s with the extremes!? Oh well, better than nothing.

Instead of saying “Oh yes AG!! This is a dream come true!! I have been waiting for over a decade!!!”, he pulls a ‘Homer’…

AG : I want to get married. Let’s get married

CS : Yoou waln’t trroo gettt marrrrieddd?? (he panicked)

AG : Yes. Let’s get married

CS : Marriage is good… you know our friend X from school… he’s getting married… he called me up and asked for my address so he can send the invite… just got it.

AG : ???????

CS : Wait, were you joking about the marriage?

AG : …………………

OMG!!! You see!!!??? SITCOM!!

Sometimes in life, you don’t see what you’re doing wrong (or right for that matter). You see everything from only one angle – yours… but if you were to have an aerial view of things, or in this case, an audience’s view, then maybe you might see things differently…

If things don’t seem to be working out for you, ask for a second opinion… doesn’t mean you have to take it, but an outsider’s view helps you reassess yours.

I wonder what happens next season?

Taking Risks

I was out with a few friends the other night. We went to watch the Brazil-Holland game… just in case you have no idea what I’m talking about, it was the quarter-finals for the World Cup.

Anyway, found out that everybody at the table had bet on Brazil to win the game. After all, it was Brazil… it was a sure thing.

It’s a good thing I didn’t place a bet. Holland came from behind to win it 2-1. So all my friends lost quite a bit of money that night… I should have taken a picture of their faces… priceless.

But you see, they made a choice that had very minimal risk. The Brazilian side was the favourite. In other words, they were supposed to make quite a bit of money that night (they made bets which were larger than their usual amounts).

This right here teaches us a very important lesson in life. There is no such thing as ‘a sure thing’… you can’t predict what the future holds. You can only do your best, and leave the rest to fate.

So where does that leave the concept of ‘taking risks’? Should you go through life playing it safe?

Of course not! Haven’t you been paying attention?

In the example given (why do I sound like a textbook?), it was the safest choice to bet on Brazil. The bookmakers have done their math, and put Brazil as the favourites to win. So placing a bet on Brazil wouldn’t be considered taking a risk at all… a sure thing… and look what happened… I’ve seen funerals which were more cheerful.

We go through every day making countless decisions which pretty much have ‘life or death’ implications…

Do I go to the office today or work from home? – statistics show that there are around 7 million traffic accidents a year in the US alone.

Do I eat at the cafeteria or go out for lunch? – let’s just say I’ve gotten my fair share of food poisoning…

We deal with risks every day, so why stop now (it’s not like you can anyway).

I’ve got a few friends who are making important decisions in the very near future… some are making career changes, some are getting married, and some are taking the risk of staying put. I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

We do the calculations and make an educated ‘guess’ as to what will happen. Even if it’s seems too high risk, the rewards, if successful, would be tremendous.

After all, a sure thing like a Brazil win, doesn’t guarantee anything. So just put it all on the line.